Human or Blood Bank

Castle Hill Stories
Human or Blood Bank
3
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Time was moving on. Trin didn’t miss her father so much because she was enrolled in a wonderful preschool. Lauren had adjusted to having her Mom tell what time to come home. Dawn was working hard at her new job and even harder on making her house a home. She bought used furniture from junk store and yard sales to fix up for her house. Also she resold some items at a little shop in town.

The spring rains had come and the salt circle had never melted. At times Dawn and Lauren would be standing in front of the sink looking out the window at the circle. However they never said a word to each other about it. They also never discussed a man they had both seen from time to time in the back field.

Whatever had made her faint the day she moved in it hadn’t reoccurred and she was happy about that. She only had a few new strange things going on with her. She sometimes would wish she didn’t have to get up to shut off a light and it would turn off on its own. She started reading people better then normal. When the phone would ring Dawn always had known who it was but now she knew what they wanted too. These things didn’t bother her. She just wrote then off as her.

Fall came and everything changed one night. Dawn had stopped by a shop in town that was a reseller for some of her furniture crafts. They had some money for her so Dawn was in a good mood. She decided to treat herself with a great cup of coffee at a local bistro.

She walked in the bistro and placed her order. At the counter she spoke to a few people she knew about the fall festival coming up. She saw a nice looking gentleman sitting in a booth reading the newspaper. He caught her eye in seconds. Her coffee was up so she made her goodbyes and walked outside. The gentleman at the booth folded his paper and made his way out the door. Dawn was waiting for him.

“Human or blood bank?” Dawn blurted out.

The man turned his head back to look at Dawn with a smile on his face. “Pardon me?”

Dawn kicked a rock in front of her on the sidewalk and said “You heard me. Human or blood bank?”

“Blood bank.”

A blue bubble force field engulfed Dawn but she knew that humans couldn’t see it. The man in front of her could. She gave him a hard stare and said “Keep it that way.” Dawn turned and walked on down the street to her car.

The man shouted to her “It was nice meeting you too.” He repositioned the newspaper under his arm and walked on down the street in the opposite direction.

To be continued.....

New Beginnings

Castle Hill Stories
New Beginnings
2
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Boxes filled with bits and pieces of a life were stacked in the U-haul. Dawn pulled her sun glasses off and looked in the truck. Her beaten and bruised face was a sign of what her life had been. She picked up a box and headed toward the house and her new beginning.

As Dawn walked to the house she tried hard not to think about all the things she needed to get done in the next week. She needed to find a job and a babysitter for her younger daughter Trin. Keep her confidence up was going to be hard with her Mother around.

“Why did you waste the money dragging this junk here? You don’t even have any real furniture. If you think Dad and I are going to hand money out to you left and right you better think again” said Dawn’s Mother Bessie. Bessie was seventy-two and she came from a different time then her forty year old daughter.

“Thank you Mom for coming out here today. Also thank you for talking to Nick about a job for me. You might not believe me but I appreciate it.” Dawn had to bite down hard on her tongue to get that out of her mouth without screaming. She just had to get this stuff off the truck. One step at a time she told herself.

Lauren wasn’t as good at holding her tongue as her Mom. She carried a load of stuff past her grandmother and she said low so her Mother wouldn’t hear “lighten up will ya. She’s had the crap beat out of her and now your beating her with your mouth.”

“Well I never told her to marry that good for nothing.” Bessie said as she followed Lauren in the house.

The ladies got the stuff off the U-haul and in the house in a timely fashion. Bessie gave her remarks where she could. Dawn was growing ever so tired but she held in her hands the last load of stuff. Trin came bouncing around the outside of the house and up on the porch with her older sister and grandmother. They watched as Dawn walked with her hand full of stuff toward them. Right as she crossed the salt circle a pain ripped through Dawn and she collapsed in a faint.

Lauren quickly jumped off the porch and was down to her mother. Bessie grabbed Trin’s hand and came down beside Dawn.

“Mom! Mom! Mom can you hear me?” Lauren was frantic for a response from her Mother. She moved the stuff away from her and brushed her hair back from her face.

Dawn slowly opened her eyes. She knew her daughters and her mother were standing there. She understood that she was lying on the ground of the house she just rented. What she was focused on was the blue flames shooting up from the salt circle. And she knew with out question that she was the only one that could see it.

“Lauren what the hell is this salt circle?

Dusty Roads

Castle Hill Stories

Dusty Roads

*****

Dust filled the air behind the Ford pickup truck on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Indiana. Mellencamp was singing about not being done with the night as Lauren drove the pickup truck to meet a friend about a house for rent. As the truck popped up over the raise Lauren could see the house and she was happy to find it in good order so far. She could see her friend Peanut sitting on the tailgate of his truck in the driveway. The truck whipped into the driveway along with the dust cloud.

Lauren jumped out of the truck, straightens her jeans and pulled her jacket tight. The gravel crunched under her boots as she walked toward Peanut. He looked shaky and nervous.

“Damn Peanut its cold, you could have waited for me inside the house.” Lauren said and half laugh at Peanut sitting there.

“I’m not going in that house. I really don’t know if this is a good idea Lauren.” Peanut blushed as he spoke to Lauren like he always did.

“Peanut my Mother is moving back to Indiana and she needs a place to move to. The price your Dad gave me over the phone is right so what could be wrong. The roof isn’t falling off.” Lauren said with a look of determination on her face as she placed her hands in her coat pockets.

“Just Dad didn’t tell you everything. This was my aunt’s house and she wasn’t right in the head. Look there is foot an a half salt circle all the way around this house. Who in there right mind does something like this. Also she’s been dead for 5 years and the salt circle is still here. Why? Lauren in 5 years my Dad has rented this place seven times and nobody stays more than a week.” Peanut adjusted his hat and got off the tailgate.

“Are you saying the house is haunted Peanut?” Lauren was laughing as she started walking toward the front door.

“No I’m not saying that. I’m saying there is something weird about this place.”

Lauren laughed and said “Give me the key.”

Peanut handed Lauren the key. She walked up the stairs to the porch but Peanut stayed in the yard. Before she placed the key in the door she turned back to Peanut.

“You going to show me the house or not?

“Nope!”

“Fine.” In a huff Lauren took the key and opened the door. She walked in but felt nothing out of the ordinary. She checked through all the rooms, bathroom and kitchen. The place was clean. She walked out the back door and down the stairs to the patio. She knew her mother would love the patio and it would be a great place for her little sister to play. There was a big red barn up against the back fence. Beyond the fence she could see part of a pond and cows out in the field. Lauren took in the fact that the house set in a valley between two tree covered hills. A big mansion could be seen on the top of the right hill. Lauren had no idea who lived there.

Done with her tour Lauren followed the salt circle around to the front of the house. Peanut was back sitting on the tailgate of his truck. He looked up at her as she came around the house.

“So who lives in the big house on the hill?” Lauren asked.

“You mean mansion and I have no clue who lives there.” Peanut was getting more frustrated by the minute.

“Maybe your Dad knows.”

“Nobody knows. See I told you, this place is weird.”

“Peanut you don’t make a very good drama queen so knock it off. Your Dad said he’d show my Mom how to use the tractor to mew the grass. I take it the tractor is in the barn.” Lauren turned to stare at the barn. A dark shadow went across the barn as Peanut and Lauren looked in its direction.

“Did you see that?”

“It was a cloud moving in from of the sunlight Peanut. What’s wrong with you?” Lauren turned back around to look at Peanut. She was growing tired of his behavior.

“It’s this place. It scares me. And before you ask I don’t know why. There is just a feeling I get when I’m here.” Peanut shivered.

“Fine! My Mom will take the house.” Lauren stated as she placed her hands on her hips.

Peanut said nothing just shock his head and headed for his truck. As Lauren and Peanut left down the country gravel road tiny blue flames started dancing out of the salt circle. Peanut and Lauren didn’t see them in their rearview mirrors. They also didn’t see the man in the back field on a black horse.

To be continued…..

Full Circle

Stories from the Ice Castle
Full Circle

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Green grass was growing under their feet but no one cared because the party was about to get into full swing. Archie and his guys had meat on the grill. The Bond Girls were dancing in and out of the house with stuff for the party. Miss Moneypenny stood at the door welcoming guest. The refrigerator was being restocked by Mike while P made Q a drink.

“Do you think we’ll ever know what really happened that morning?’ Q asked as P handed him his drink.

“The girls got pretty silver bracelets with a snowflake hanging from them, Mike has a permanent blue mark on his wrist and I got a year and a half of my life back. Maybe we don’t need to know.” P stated and then down his glass.

“I guess your right. However, that sword is very impressive on your shelf there in the corner. How did Mike come by it?” Q turned his head to look at the Dragon sword. The last time he had seen it Mike was welding it saving them from Haden.

“From what I gather Mike swiped it from Ice. He said he had a feeling that it might come in handy.” A smile came across P’s face as he looked at Q.

“Thank God Mike has his talents.” Q said and both men chuckled.

The day progressed on. Everyone was eat, drinking and tell stories. P was relishing this time with his friends. He never knew such love and caring would be given to him by friends. A knock came at the door so P left his friends to answer it. He pulled the door open and a very tall woman stood on the other side. Her long hair had blonde streaks running through it but it was her green eyes P noticed. She held a floral wrap cactus in her hands.

“Floral delivery” said the woman.

“Thank you! Wait let me give you a tip.” P stated as he stared into those green eyes.

“Not required. Enjoy the lovely day”

“Why don’t you stay? We have plenty food and drinks. It will be fun. Stay.”

“Sorry, I have other deliveries but thank you.” The woman started walking to the road.

P watched her walk down his driveway and as she started walking on the road he yelled “One of these days you need to tell us all what happened Ice.”

The woman turned to face P. She smiled and winked at him but kept walking up the road.

P closed the door and took the cactus to his kitchen. As he took the paper off he noticed a bottle of bourbon was inside with the plant. He pulled the bottle out and noticed the note attached. A smile came across his face as he read the note.

“Nothing like a cactus and a bottle of bourbon to get you through. Be safe…Ice”

Chuckling to himself he placed the card down on the table. He opened the bourbon and took a drink.

The End

(Authors note: I hope you enjoyed the story. There's another story that's been brewing in my head for about a year I'd like to work on here real soon. Don't worry I'm sure P and Ice will get into trouble together real soon. Be safe...)

Stories from the Ice Castle
Friendship

White powder snow littered the ground around the water fountain. Light streamed through the spraying array of water. Birds sang from distant branches and in the sky the sun was rustling in its bed about to make its self known.

Quietly on a park bench Mike unbutton a few buttons of his long leather coat. He stared at the Ice Queen wondering what troubled her so. Her eyes filled with tears while staring at the statue in the fountain. The statue was that of a girl with one hand raised to the heavens and the opposite foot lifted back as in dance. It was Ice’s daughter but on this morn it was better to forget then remember the past.

“You’re nothing like I thought you’d be” Mike broke the silents of the bench.

Ice turned from the statue and walked toward the bench. She reached down and took Mike’s chin in her hands. He looked up at her unsure if he should fear her but she just smiled at him. She sat down beside him but her eyes stayed on the statue.

“Surely your not cold but your lips are turning a darker shade of blue.” He stared at her lips but she didn’t move.

Ice moved her eyes to the left and caught sight of Q, Miss Moneypenny and the Bond Girls strolling up the path toward the statue. But straight in front of her on the opposite side of the statue she saw Haden just at the tree line. Ice looked down at the gravel in front of her and saw a pearl amongst the stones. She smiled knowing this was her sign.

Flipping back her white fur coat Ice pulled out the Dragon sword and laid it on the bench between Mike and her. Mike’s eyes were screaming “O Shit” but she didn’t have time to explain herself to him. The party was about to begin.

In a flurry of snowflakes Ice was up and on Haden in a blink. He snarled at her as she raised her hands. Now the statue that everyone stared at was the frozen Haden.

“Mike get over here I don’t have much time.” Ice waved Mike over to Q and the Bond Girls. Mike jumped up off the bench and stood next to Pussy Galore his favorite Bond girl.

“Tracy the necklace looks good on you but I need it now.” Ice walked up to Tracy and held out her hand.

“We needed to talk about P first Ice before we’re handing over the necklace.” Q said as he walked to stand by Tracy.

“I need Tracy to take off that necklace right now, then I need all of you to place your hands on it and think about the love you have for this human. And I need you to do it now!” Over Ice’s shoulder the ice was cracking on Haden.

Gently Tracy removed the necklace while the others moved around to place their hands on the necklace. Mike had his hand on the necklace but his eyes were watching Ice. The edges of her face had a tint of blue. She bent down to her knees and raised her hands to the sky. The wind whirled around the group.

“Ok, ladies give P all that love I’ve heard you bragging about for all of these years.” Q looked in the eyes of the women with worry.

Emotions were feeding the power to regenerate P but Ice’s powers were melting away. Haden lifted both arms to the sky and groaned. Lightning shot out of Haden’s hands and moved down to firer into Ice. The pain of bad memories cascade down Ice’s body As she withered on the ground Haden’s assault ceased. His was on the move for the necklace.

Miss Moneypenny screamed as Haden got close to the group but they held their grip to the necklace. A growl left Hadens mouth right before he maneuvered himself to snatch the necklace. He was too late. The group fell to the ground because the necklace was gone.

“Hey mister, need so help?” P’s voice brought shrieks from the crowd. Mike ran to his friend P’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder as Haden turned to square off. Mike reached inside his coat and pulled out the Dragon sword.

“No more! I’ve had enough goofy stuff in the past few days to give me nightmares for the rest of my life. I’ll I want is my friend back.” With those words red sparks shot out of the end of the sword and Haden disappeared.

P’s big hearty laugh filled the outdoors as he hugged Mike and said “Damn I’m glad to be back.

The ladies run and jumped all over P. Mike moved so Q and Miss Moneypenny could get in closer to P. As he stepped back Mike realized Ice was still on the ground. So he walked over and bent down to check on her. He picked up her hand and placed it in his but of course she was cold.

“P, Ice is still down.”

Because of the crowd in front of him P couldn’t see where Mike was so he said “What ever you do don’t touch her. She hates it when humans touch her.”

“Now you tell me...”

To be continued…..

Preparing

Stories from the Ice Castle
Preparing

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A warm breeze floated across the water then up to the beach. Ice sat on the beach letting the water lap up on her toes. She sat there on the beach with her head back looking at the stars in the night sky. Her body morphed out of the Ice Queen and into her true self. Her hair was streaked blonde and her skin was tan. She wore a bronze colored one piece bathing suit with a sheer wrap skirt. She was happy in her stolen moment of freedom.

The older woman carried a concerned look on her face as she walked toward Ice. She stopped just feet from her and said “Skia why are you here child?”

Ice turned her head and chuckled but she didn’t answer the older woman. She turned her head back to watch the moonlight dance across the water.

“Hiding out! Oh I see, Haden awoke your human emotions Skia.” The woman had images from Ice’s thoughts running through her mind. She smiled at them.

“Pearl, don’t use those against me. I have enough on my plate.” Ice stood and faces the older woman.

“Skia the answer you contemplate is love but you already knew that. Setting a soul back is easy but you don’t want to watch.”

“You know what all those emotions whirling around will do to me.”

“It will only prove that your heart isn’t made of ice.”

“There has to be another way to bring P back and change things.”

“Afraid not Skia. And don’t forget the one that you tricked.” Pearl raised an eyebrow at Ice and then turned and walked on up the beach.

Ice fell down on the beach and acted like she was died for a moment. She cursed and then sat up. Snapping her fingers her cell phone appeared. Within two rings Tracy was on the phone.

“Tracy have the Bond Girls and Q met me at the Trans Gardens at 7:10.”

“Ice what? Why then? And why can’t I take this necklace off with out being deathly ill?”

“Oh!” Ice had to laugh. “Tracy, P would rather hang between your boobs then have Q fondle him. Figures, right? To answer your other questions the gardens is a great out door space which I need and the time is sunrise. I needed to go pick up Mike but I’ll be there.”

Ice hung up on Tracy not wanting to answer any more questions. She rolled her eyes wondering what kind of shape Mike would be in. Laying there on the sand she decide she take a few more moments of freedom before finding out.

Archie’s house was a woman’s worse nightmare. There were dirty dishes, empty bottles and large men pasted out everywhere. Ice walked in and rolled her eyes to the sky. Ice was back to her reddish brown hair. Her skin glistened like snow as well did her white evening gown. Her white full length fur coat had the collar flipped up in back. Mike opened one eye with the realization that the Ice Queen was in Archie’s house.

“You, I want P’s box back. You’re not right in the head for taking that from me. Do you eat human bones? Is that how you have magic?” Mike looked at the tall Ice Queen with fear on him face.

“Mike I know you don’t have any reason to but you’re going to have to trust me.” Ice snapped her fingers and Mike had on clean clothes. His face was shaven and his hair was combed.

“You ask me to trust you and then you dress me funny. Lauren is a girls name, these aren’t girls clothes are they? I bought a coat once…” Ice placed her hand over Mike’s mouth before he could say another word.

“Take my hand. We needed to go see P.” Snowflakes and Mike’s screams whirled away into nothing.

To be continued…..

The Kiss

Stories from the Ice Castle
The Kiss

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She slumped over right as the limo reached the air field. Tracy had been a Bond Girl for some time and had been through a lot. As her breathing got slower and her eyes heavy she knew this was different.

“Q something’s terribly wrong!” She tries to stay focused.

Q sat up and studied Tracy’s face “When did this start?”

“Right after I handed you the necklace” Tracy said.

Q looked in his hands at the necklace and wondered what magic along with P that it concealed. He leaned forward and carefully clasp the necklace back around Tracy’s neck. The color came back to her in moments. She sat up and looked at the other Bond girls.

“Wow! I feel fabulous now.” Then she began laughing really hard and the other ladies just stared at her. “Oh come on, P’s between my boobs and I feel…well I’d rather not say.” Tracy giggled out as she placed a hand over her mouth.

All the Bond Girls were laughing and glad Tracy was herself again.

“Ladies lets get our hormones in order and up to the plane quickly. Miss Moneypenny is there waiting to hear the news. Also we have a problem to solve.” Q stepped out of the limo heading toward the plane and the Bond Girls followed step.

At the gallery Ice had evade Haden and made it to a court yard garden. The trees were lit with tiny twinkle lights that cast a glow to the snowy ground. She took a seat on a bench and waited for him. Ice’s lips turned a dark blue which was a sign of danger near but she was going to make sure Haden would be the one to suffer this time.

He step out of the gallery and walked to her slowly. “Come now Ice, don’t be so blue. I would never hurt my favorite pet” he grinds and chuckled at Ice.

“What did P do to you?” She needs to know why a soul collector broke rules to go after a human.

“He helped a woman that I wanted. He showed her how to take a different road diverting her from me.” He huffed out his response while looking down at Ice setting on the bench.

“Poor Haden, so lonely and bored playing with humans now? Isn’t that what you said about me? Rules are rules sweetheart and P doesn’t belong to you.” She gave Haden her classic cold stare then raised from the bench.

He pulled her into his arms. “Will you play with me Ice my darlin’!”

She raised her head and placed her lips to his. She deepened the kiss and tasted him. For a moment, memories of being human entered her mind. The she softly withdrew from him.

“No!”

Snowflakes filled the place between them and Ice was gone.

To be continued.....

Stories from the Ice Castle

Gallery Night

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Ice melts in a glass of ice tea that sets waiting by three monitors on the desk. Q walks in pulls up his trousers a bit before taking a seat. He clicks away for a few moments on the keyboard checking information on the three different screens. He rubs his chin with his hand as he plans his next move.

With the mouse he clicks open a screen to send a message to the Bond Girls.

: Ladies Ice will be at the Gallery opening tonight at 8. Face to face is the only way to get answers from her. Text me when contact is made. Q!

Q backed his chair away from the desk and said to himself “P my friend will get you back”

People chatting and music filled the air inside the art gallery. Ice stroked a finger over the title card as she read Josh’s name. Ice loved seeing the world through Josh’s photography. She had lots to do but she couldn’t miss his opening tonight. She looked up from a picture to see the Bond Girls on both sides of her.

“Ladies, I’m so glad you’re here.” The Ice queen stated with a smile. Pain was growing in her head which meant Haden was close. Ice couldn’t believe her luck but she knew what to do. Removing the necklace from herself she placed it on the closest Bond Girl.

“Now ladies you have what you came for but only I can unlock it. Flee now before the
Soul collector finds P.” Ice was harsh but she had to get them and the necklace out of the gallery.

“What Soul collector?”

Then a very tall well dressed man turned the corner with an evil snare on his face.

“Ladies walk away slowly and leave the gallery. I’ll find you later.” Ice spoke to the Bond girls but her eyes never left Haden. She smiled at the ladies and then walked on down the row of pictures.

As the Bond Girl made their way outside of the gallery a limo pulled up. The driver opened the back door and Q stepped out. The lady that Ice had granted the necklace to stepped forward and handed it to Q. He studied the center stone then motioned the girls into the car.

Ice caught a glimpse of the limo leaving as she turned to face Haden.

To be continued…..

(Authors note: I rushed this so it might not be wonderful. Sorry...)

The Power Within

Stories from the Ice Castle
The Power Within

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The mountain ridge had light snow fluttering down giving the reassurances of peace. However Ice felt no peace in her castle with P floating about in his cloud state. She stood looking out the lead paned window trying to figure what to do next. P floated about and every now and then would bump something to unnerve his capture.

Key elements were needed to reconstructed P’s human body. That would not be the difficult problem for Ice. Keeping P under control and out of trouble would be a hair pulling nightmare. There were rules that needed to be met and P never liked rules. He enjoyed living in a tempest of danger. Ice just wanted to be reminded that she lived period.

“Oh what now ole queen of icy delight?” P’s laughing jest at Ice.

"Shopping! But before we go I need to secure you in something. I can’t have you drawing attention because it could mean trouble for us both.” Ice walked from the window and took a seat on her beautiful floral couch. Sinking back into the cushions of the couch Ice closed her eyes to rest.

“Well I’m not going back in the Hello Kitty box. So you mean to cage me again so I can’t cause you any trouble. Am I missing something here? What’s with the scare tactics?” Confused by Ice’s statements P didn’t know what was really going on but he meant to have the whole truth.

"I could be stopped at what I’m trying to do for you. My icy state is a punishment.”

“So there are others out there that might try to stop you to punish you more? What the hell did you do?” P’s cloud whirled around and around.

“Stop whirling! You’re making me sick. To answer you it’s not what I did but more what I didn’t do. Let’s stay with the problem at hand. What do I put you in so we can travel?” She exhaled hard trying to keep her mind from drifting back in time. Then the answer came to her.

“I’ll put you in the Necklace of Laurel. You will be safe in its center stone. You’ll know where you are but you won’t be heard by humans.” Ice walked over to a high boy chest in the corner of the room and pulled open one of the drawers. Her hands lifted out a beautifully ornate metal box. She opened the box and pulled out the necklace. She placed the box back into the chest and walked back to the couch and took a seat. The necklace glittered in Ice’s hands then she placed it on the coffee table in front of her.

P laughed out loud. “Are you going to wear me between your breasts? Now how ironic is this.”

Ice grew tired of P’s constant ribbing and that’s when the pain hit her. She yelled at P “Jump into the necklace’s center stone now!”

“Why?”

“Hind yourself now!” P knowing Ice well enough moved the purple cloud swiftly to the center stone and settle inside.

The room exploded into a mix of lighting, snowflakes and mist. The roar of this storm went on for a few minutes. Ice lowered her head but hardened her eyes on the immortal standing before her. In her mind she willed P to be quiet and then she took a fighting stance.

The storm died down around a very tall dark immortal in all black with a full length black fur coat. He looked like a black panther ready to pounce. In his left hand he carried a crystal walking cane with a silver knob on top.

“Icy dream how have you been and what do we have here?” The immortal lifted the necklace from the table with his cane in front of Ice.

“Haden I don’t remember inviting you here but I’ll thank you for handing me my necklace.” She clasp the necklace around her neck quickly and ask “Why are you here?”

“My little Icy Pop I want P’s remains back. Where are they?” Haden walked over to the window. He acted totally bored by his surroundings.

“I’m sure they are between two icy mounds someplace.” Ice smiled at herself for her coy little joke.

“So the great Ice Queen wishes to play games with me. Remind yourself that you are my toy not the other way around.” He moved walking out of the room but Ice’s eyes never left him.

“Maybe you need to remember.” He turned and pointed his cane at Ice. Lighting ripped through Ice’s body bringing her to her knees. Images of a body floating face down in a lake flipped like slides in her mind. Wind, snowflakes and thunder blasted the room then Haden was gone.

On stunned legs Ice made it up from the floor. Her body was still convulsing from the terror released up on her mind. She placed a hand on the necklace as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

To be continued.......