Ice Queen

Twenty-Eight

Kirstie's POV

"I'm going to the Den," I announced. Mitch snapped his head up from where he was bouncing Autumn on his lap.

"What? Kirst, you can't be serious."

"I have to talk to Zima. I have to know what the hell their fascination with my daughter is, Mitch. I have to."

"Fine, I understand. But... be careful. I don't think they'll be too happy to see you."

"I'll be alight, Mitch. Promise." I kissed him on the cheek and left the house, summoning an ice cloud and heading towards the nearest entry to the Den. One I was there, the ice cloud melted and ran into a nearby sewer, and I went inside.

I walked quickly, not wanting to be caught until I had spoken with Zima. I found her in the World Room, examining the globe worriedly. "Zima?" I called out timidly.

She looked to me, her features creased in a frown. "Ah, Ice. I... I was hoping to speak with you, but I feared- nevermind, you're here now. I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I listened to Heat and asked rashly, and now I realize that taking the girl was a horribly wrong thing to do." She inched forward and rested a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Kirstin."

"I understand that Autumn is... out of the ordinary, as Elementals go, but you must respect the fact that I care for my child more than anything in the world, more than Mitch - more than myself, even, and I would stop at nothing to protect her. Surely you must understand at least somewhat? Don't you?"

Zima sighed heavily. "Sit, please," she said, leading me by the arm to the place where I'd sat with Gust and watched Mitch's predecessor be killed. "Kirstin... I'm going to tell you something that no one aside from a very select group of people know. You must swear that you won't tell anyone, not your daughter, not even Flame."

"I swear, Zima." I said, curious to know what this secret was.

Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, Zima ran her finger along her dress in the region of her abdomen and the ice melted away. There was a long, thin scar there that looked remarkably like - "my Caesarean scar."

My eyes widened and my hand went up to my mouth, as I had gone completely slack jawed.

"Before you were born, Ice, I... I gave birth to a baby boy. His name was Cole. I loved him. I was happy with his father and my son. But when the time for Cole to transform came, he... he didn't make it."

I could tell she was holding back tears at this point, and I could hear shakiness in her voice.

"I was devastated. I couldn't eat... couldn't sleep. He had always been a sickly child. He almost died of pneumonia when he was two. But he favored his father's powers and it had never happened before, so we thought he was closer to the Summer Element than the Winter, and that was that.

"His father and I fought constantly after that. The father wanted to move on and have another, but I knew that one would die, too. I felt like it was my fault. Like there was something I could have done. Eventually this caused a rift between us, but I still loved him.

"That's why I sided with Heat. Why I helped him in taking the child. As well as my own more... selfish reasons. I saw my son in Autumn and I... well, nevermind. I'm not proud of it, Ice."

"That's why you sided with-?" I gasped. "Oh, my God."

"Yes, Ice. Heat fathered my child. We were in love at one point in time. But now... I realize that he was cruel and heartless, even then, even towards Cole. He thought the punishment for breaking a window or saying a swear was a belt. Subconsciously, I hated him for it. He weakened my already sickly child, and perhaps if he hadn't... well, nevermind. The point is that Heat has to be stopped."

"Stopped? As in... as in killed?"

"Exactly, Ice." Her voice was grave and determined, and perhaps a bit sad.

"But he's an original. There's no way... I mean... is there?"

"There is... one way. There's an ancient bit of magic that only a very few are privy to. It would take a lot of work and a lot of secret recruiting."

"Recruiting? As in turning mortals?"

"Precisely."

"But I thought-"

"There are things even Heat does not know, child, much less yourself. If you will agree to rule with me, we will overthrow Heat and create a new world order."

I bit my lip. "And my friends, they'll be safe? My family?"

"Autumn will not fight. No, she's far too important. Flame is in the line of fire, yes, but we could use a ready mind like his. As for your mortal friends and family, they should be in no danger unless they're turned."

"Well then, Zima. I guess we go to war."

-

To be continued...

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed! Peace!