Thread: Winter's Kiss (Ursus Peregrinus & Candy_demon21)

From where she had sunk down, enjoying the fire, eyes locked on it, she hadn't spied Nikolai watching her enjoy the warmth of the roaring fire. She had felt his eyes, but feared to looking into those black holes, to her, they felt as if they were burning straight into her flesh. Even before she had spied they had been just black empty portals, she had felt that burning. In the carriage, she had felt that burning of her skin as he watched her. That same burning of her skin, had returned. He was watching her, as he had in the carriage with those limitless black orbs. His response to her living situation made her cringe visibly, If you consider it isolation, yes highness, I live in isolation. Mother has never told me exactly why we live as hermits. It is just her and I in our home. Perhaps you're right and it is because she wishes to protect me, but I am forbidden to ask any questions about her past, why we are as we are, or anything about you highness. Her gaze had been locked on the warm flickering light, for a brief moment, they had flicked up to those eyes she feared yet oddly found hypnotic. I do not know how she will react highness, perhaps come here and try and collect me. From what you stated earlier, three days I'm to stay here, and on the fourth I leave. I suppose when I do leave, and my mother is waiting for me there at the house, I'll have to beg for forgiveness. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. A thoughtful smile curled up the corners of her full mouth, but that smile faded as memories of past transgressions filled her head. Her mother had been fair with her punishment, but to Odette, it still seemed rather unfair. Expecting a girl of her age to not ask question about where she had come from, or where she might be headed. She was lost in this world, and the man sitting across from her seemed to hold the key to all the questions she had locked away. Their eyes were still locked when she saw that dangerous, enchanting flicker of sapphire in his eyes. An audible gasp slipped passed her lips, raising a hand, she pressed her long finger to her lips and listened to him speak of his people. There was a coldness, almost bitter, to his voice. The moment he had finished, Odette shook her head and let her hand fall back at her side. I understand you treat us fairly, but I still don't understand your thinking, regardless. We aren't objects highness, thus why the gods gave us freewill. If they wanted us to be objects to be owned or to be moved about like pieces on a board, they would have never given us the option to CHOOSE our fates. Fear is a strong emotion highness, you've seen what it does to your people. They are reluctant to be your subject, but do so because they fear you. Fear is strong, but love is stronger still. I'm sure, and I speak for the people, but we are eager to love you, but you leave no room in our hearts to love you, when all you do is make us fear. When he stood, Odette feared that her words had somehow offended him. Like a monster creeping out of the shadows, he made his way over to her. When he had made it over to her, he had sunk down onto one knees, his hands locked on the arms of the chair, trapping her. In that instant, her heart rate picked up. It thundered in her ears, out of habit, she grabbed the locket and began to work it over again, hoping this mindless task would quiet her heart. He would hear it, he would hear it and make a cold comment about it. It was a silly fear, but having the prince so close, Odette was having trouble even breathing. The moment the words 'died' eased out of his mouth, her heart shuttered. Though the words struck a cord, she couldn't muster up the feelings to cry. She had never known him, and he had never known her. How can you truly miss someone you do not know, nor had the opportunity to love. Still he prince continued on, and as he did, it felt like as if he were going to plunge a knife into her chest. The chuckle that graced her ears suddenly made her shiver, Beloved? She repeated, as if she was surprised the Prince might have loved at one point. You are what you are because of her? My mother does not do anything without reason. Your heart was turned to ice for a reason highness. The moment he pulled the glove from his hand, that same cold radiated from his skin, chilling her even with the heat of the fire. I am sorry that she did not love you in return highness, but you speak as if my mother is cold and cruel. I may not know exactly what happened between you and she, and to be quiet frank with you, it is none of my concern. But I will not sit by and listen to you speak as if she is a monster. The heart does not choose who it loves, the gods ordain that, we simply just follow.Those beautiful emerald orbs of hers had locked with the prince's, a sort of conviction flicker like fire beneath them. But that fire faded when that wolfish grin turned his lips up, showing those pearly white teeth of his. She watched in silence as he touched the scar, wondering again how he had come across it. 'Killed' rang out in her ears, over and over again it called to her. He had killed her father, he had taken him away. HE had been the reason why she had never known her father! That knife she had felt, it was now firmly planted in her breast. She ached to pull it out, but fears she would die if she did. Stop it, stop it, STOP IT! She yelled, raising her hands to cover her ears, her eyes squeezing shut, Just stop it! Her voice broke, when she looked up at the prince again, her emerald eyes held silver tears. You are a monster. You say my mother 'bewitched' your friend, you speak lies, blasphemy sir! But you killed him! You killed my father, you took him away before- there was a small sob, -I could even love him. You're the reason why I envy every damn girl in my village who HAS a father. It was all you! Now I see why my mother locked me away, kept the truth from me. I curse my fate, and I grow eager for the day I leave your cold hell. Her words were hasty, but they had been everything she had locked away, she had pulled the knife out, and this was the result. Only now, after the truth had been told to her, was she able to finally release everything, and it came crashing out of her like a great wave. I said that your people are eager to love you, but if you say your heart has been turned ice, then you sir are the one that is incapable of love. My mother cursed you because you took from her the man she loved. You were jealous, angry that you did not hold her favor. So you took away the thing she cherished most. As punishment, you became what you were highness,she had spat out the last word, to live this half-life as it were. You deserve your fate, and I curse the gods for ever making ours intertwine. tag