_A petty thief called god of ice

Afina had her eyes gawking at the young man who had stopped her.

The butler addressed him briefly before walking away, she noted.

She started to size and calculate who he might be. From the casual jean and white t-shirt he wore which a baggy jacket had covered the most of, Afina decided he was just a commoner.

Maybe a plumber boy or someone from the slum.

Of what right did someone like that have to order her to halt?

Clearing her throat with her hands going to her waist, she decided she would give him a piece of her mind.

"Whoa..!" she heard his exclamation as he approached her. "How are you in the high house?"

The way the cap was covering the better part of his face arouse Afina's suspicion. What if he was a thief?

Yes, he was definitely a thief. That explains his dress code and sneaky attitude.

But would the butler speak to a thief and even allow him to walk away?

"I think the question should be, how are you in the high house?" Afina frowned at him intently.

Slowly, he raised his head up as if surprised to hear such a tone from her, and through that one motion, she saw his eyes clearly.

Was she being edgy or was there a dominating aura engulfing her essence and it was emanating from this person in front of her?

When her blue eyes met his red ones, she stiffened. There was something about his gaze. Something cold, something authoritative, predominant – something distinct and heavy.

Who the hell was he?

As if amused by her words, he chuckled. "I came to tend to important matters," he explained.

Not that she cared what he came to do in the high house anyway.

Reprimanding herself to not let his dominating aura intimidate her, she gulped. "You are getting me wrong. I don't care what you came here to do. I only sarcastically throw your question back at you." she shrugged.

Now, he raised his head up higher. She could see all the features of his face.

His face was— simply innocent.

If she were to see an angel in reality, she would have imagined him having such a face.

Looking into his red irises, she found herself searching.

She was not the one to judge people for their distinctiveness for she was a bag of difference in solid. But his red irises which sat between a pool of black eyeballs were enchanting.

True, he had an angelic shine to him.

"Why are your eyes like that? And your hair? Who are you?" She heard his curious question.

Afina had to seize herself from analyzing his sinless face and be stern with him for talking to her with such a commanding tone.

"It is none of your business why my eyes and hair are this way. And I am a high house scholar so you should know it's not healthy regarding me with such a tone!" she spelled, pronouncing the last words one after the other.

A little deeper now, a frown reappeared on his face. Or was it a surprised gaze?

"I thought my bro— prince Cargan does not tolerate colors? At least not with his high house scholars alias dolls." the young man said.

Was he referring to them as dolls?

"Instead of poking your nose into certain matters which have little or no concern to you, why don't you get a job or something? That way, you won't look like a beggar in such a luxurious setting." Afina scoffed at him.

With a raised brow, "Who the hell are you? Do you not know me?"

What the hell is wrong with this slim plumber boy in front of her?

"Oh, I know your type. You think since you have such a face, all the girls around would know you. Or maybe drool over you?" she rolled her eyes.

It was fun acting dominant over someone. One of the perks of being a high-house scholar is. She would giggle and replay the moment on her way back to the duplex.

The young man nodded and said, "I see now that you are an ignorant one. I thought Cargan's dolls were all educated. Seems he made an exception this time. Arouses my suspicion even more." his hand went under his chin looking thoughtful.

By jones, this boy did not just regard the prince without any formalities. He did not just call the prince by his name. Did he?!

Like a mother scolding her child, she rushed to him, and with her palm, she covered his mouth. Her other hand was behind his head, supporting her weight on him.

"Do you want to be arrested for treason? Why would you call the prestigious prince Cargan that?!" she hollered.

The young man looked too dazed to talk as he only stared deeply into her eyes.

Again, she felt that chill run across her body in a vibration. Gazing into his eyes was like gazing into the walls of heaven.

She felt little, felt minor in front of him. And there was something about his skin.

It was cold, very cold. The kind of coldness a dead body would have if not more.

"You look like you are about to kiss me and figure out the curiosity with your mouth in mine," he whispered, his gaze still holding hers.

That was more than enough to send her out of her short trance.

Jumping as though startled, "Don't be ridiculous!" she shook. "I— I was only" she started to scratch her elbow at a loss for what to say. "Why are you so cold?" she finally settled for that.

"Is that really what you want to know?" he asked her with a smile.

Arghh, what was she doing speaking to this boy whom she was sure was hiding something or sneaking out of somewhere?

In short, he was dangerous and she was supposed to call the guards on him.

"I could care less about that. Tell me, what have you stolen in the high house?" she questioned.

As though this was entertainment for him, he pocketed his hands inside the pockets of his coat. "And why do you think I might have stolen something?" he smirked.

"How about because you are dressed like a thief and acting all sneaky like one?"

"I was not acting sneaky at all. I talked to Baelfire and then asked for you to hold up because you awakened my curiosity."

Argh, if he kept that up, his head would be out of his neck in days. He was calling the butler by his name too.

Never had she seen a divine person with so many guts.

Afina could not give a reply. She only gave a squeeze of her face, indicating she was lost.

"Your hair was what drew me to you at first. But when I saw your eyes, I'm sure there must be a good explanation and reason." he continued.

"To what?" Afina blurted.

"My bro— if it suits your ears, prince Cargan." he paused. "Satisfied now?" he asked Afina

"About what?" Afina found herself lost and questioning him still.

His hands were out of his pockets now. "That I called your prince, prince Cargan and not Cargan."

"You just called him that again!" Afina hollered.

Amidst chuckles, "I'm sorry" he said. "I'm only surprised he let you in when he has always been a disliker of colors." He finished his statement.

"Well, I guess it's good to be beautiful. You see, I am so beautiful that the prince and all the high house got enchanted and they could not just let me go."

He was enjoying this conversation, she could tell.

He chuckled again.

"Well, beautiful you are. But I doubt that is the reason my—prince Cargan had admitted you in here."

Who was this silly boy to decide for her why she got admitted or not?

"Sounds kind of disturbing to hear that from such a petty thief like yourself who knows nothing about the high house," Afina said. She made sure she sounded like an elite and like one of those other girls.

To her dismay, this young man laughed so hard, she wanted to give him a knock on the head. Perhaps, that would help his manners.

"Petty thief?" he blurted, still laughing.

Afina maintained her straight face.

"Have you ever heard of where the god of ice steals?"

Was he asking her that nonsensical statement?

"If you are the god of ice then I'm the mistress of seduction." she sternly said.

The laugh ceased, and his face got serious. "Don't mention that bitch here. It ruins the fun."

Oh dear heavens! There was no limit to his insolence, was there?!

"You are sick." Afina spouted with a disapproving look.

If this boy wanted to get himself in trouble, he better do so and not get her in trouble too.

Right, she was to serve the prince from today. Why was she wasting her time with this mannerless lad?

"You are right. I'm sick" she heard him say.

Finally!

"This is the only accurate thing you've said since this meeting thief." she nodded and again turned to go.

Yet again, his voice stopped her.

"If I am to steal anything today in this line, it would be your heart."

Like a swivel chair, she turned back to him. "I will waste no more time with you!" she stated firmly and began to walk away.

He was just relentless, he jogged closer to her and was speaking to her still. "How dare you walk away when you haven't told me your name yet." he was smiling.

"I'd kiss the god of ice before telling you my name." she glanced briefly at him and returned to face the road.

"Really?"

"Yes"

"Wow, now I can't wait for that."

She halted now and turned to him. There, she saw he had a flirtatious smile on his face.

"Wait for what?" she inquired with irritation.

"The day you kiss the god of ice and tell me your name."

Of course, what was she thinking? He's insane!

She decided to continue to walk forward without giving him any attention.

"You can do as much as knowing my name right?"

She gave no reply and continued to walk away.

"Okay, my name is Fionn, Blue. Since you can't tell me your name. Is It okay to call you blue?" he demanded.

For some reason, the name sounded familiar.

She halted in her tracks and gazed at him. "Everyone calls me blue. Why does your name sound familiar?" she wore a frown on her face.

"I get that a lot." he shrugged. "I have to run along now. Thanks for making some of the pain go away by making me smile Blue. I will come to see your soon." he said and before Afina's eyes, he ran faster than anyone she had ever seen and was soon out of sight.

Afina stood in the middle of the running tracks and watched him as he ran off.

"What a strange divine person" she whispered and returned to walk to the duplex, bath, get changed, and the head to prince Cargan's quarters.