In Exchange for Happiness

SILVERMIST's POV

I walked directly towards my room and locked the door as soon as I got in. My parents aren't around yet and I don't have any idea where they went.

I remained staring into nothingness, trying to sink everything Periwinkle said.

"Look, Sil! Everyone's lives depends upon your decision. You're the only one who's capable of doing this job since guardians only got one apprentice and your kinds are the only ones who can see the guardians' staffs aside from them."

"Frost has gone wild," she added in a frown. "Didn't you feel the weather? It's getting colder and soon, he's gonna freeze everything and won't let the spring, fall, and summer take place. And when that happens, humankind will surely die."

I grimaced in frustration when I remembered what she said. I should be happy since I happen to be a guardian's apprentice, right? But the fact that she wants me to do something really, really crucial is the thing I can't be happy about.

She wants me to break Frost's staff to stop his wicked plan!

"Come back at midnight if you'll take the job and I'll tell you how to win aganist him."

I mentally rolled my eyes and threw myself on the bed.

"My family's hell, that asshole left me and now this," my voice trembled. "Should I just kill myself? I think I should kill myself."

I raised my hand and looked at the mark near my wrist. It looks like an ordinary mark but Periwinkle told me that it's a frost.

I don't know what she meant by that, because this mark doesn't look like frost at all, but somewhat like a maple leaf.

"That mark is the reason why you saw everything a while ago," Periwinkle said, pointing the mark. "It only appears on the 18th-year of an apprentice's existence."

I glanced at the calendar hanging above the mirror.

Oh, I see. So, it really is my birthday and I forgot. Everyone did!

I sighed and slowly sat down. I took my netbook out to message one of my closest friends, Rain, on Facebook.

The moment I open the screen, a message suddenly popped up which sent tingles to my chest.

"Happy 18th birthday, Sil. I'm supposed to tell you that personally a while ago but you already left. I'm sorry if Gail went hard on you again. Don't worry, I've already talked to her about it. I hope you can already forgive me."

I felt tears misting my eyes again. I bit my lip and slowly wiped them away.

I promised myself not to cry over the same reason ever again, but here I am.

I took a deep breath and closed the screen instead. It's hard, but I need to find a reason to be happy. I need to move on!

I stood up and took my jacket off. I was about to hang it inside the cabinet when I remembered Periwinkle's last words.

"If ever you've made up your mind and take my offer," she paused and beamed. "I'll make your dreams come true and give you the life you've always wanted."

Forehead creasing, I sighed.

Should I do it? Will breaking Frost's staff make my life better?

I looked at the photo stuck inside my cabinet's door. It's our photo together. It was taken the day he asked me to be his girlfriend.

"Will I forget everything about you if I do it?" I whispered and a tear fell down again.

I inclined my head towards the window leading outside to where I saw dad's car parked.

By how the way he stepped into the brake, I could tell he and mom are having an argument again.

"I told you to just stop it, Lance!" I heard mom yelled followed by the sound of car doors banging.

"STOP TALKING LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, ODETTE!" Dad yelled back in an even higher tone that could draw our neighbors' attentions.

I had to walk near the window, so I could see the both of them, but they have already headed inside the house.

I sighed for the nth time around and averted my gaze towards the falling snow which made me stop in one pace.

"First snow in September?" I almost choked in my own words and gasped when frost crept in the entrance of my window which had me dashing backwards.

My back touched the wall behind me so I had to stop.

Is this what Periwinkle's talking about?!

"I should go and-AHH!" I squealed and almost fell when Periwinkle suddenly popped beside me.

"What the heck!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sil. I didn't mean to!" She rushed to help me up as I am already squatting.

"I-It's okay," I swilled, eyes shifting from one direction to another. "It's good that you came tho."

"For what reason?" She asked before distancing herself from me.

"That," I pointed the window. The curtains looks to have been frozen already as they are no longer swaying from the cold wind.

"I can already see what you were talking about," my eyes shifted towards her.

"I'm glad to know that," she nodded, looking all troubled. Her breath shortened as if a terrifying and vivid memory of Frost flashed in front of her.

"We really have to hurry, Sil. His frost is unwinding."

"A-Alright," I sighed. "Tell me what to do."

"Very likely," Periwinkle agreed, dismissing the subject. She took something from her pocket-a floral necklace.

"Here! Take it," she handed it to me which I gladly took and wore it out of common sense.

"What's this for?" I had to ask, but he only plastered yet another smile.

"You'll know when you get there."

My brows raised, lips parting as I was about to ask another question, when all of the sudden, she disappeared and I'm already talking to a cosmos flower placed inside a crystal vase on a crystal table on the crystal floor inside a crystal palace!

"What-" I gasped and immediately covered my mouth when that soft noise I created echoed throughout this mysterious and fantastic place, as what I must say.

"Where the fucking heaven am I?" I mouthed to myself, careful enough not to create another unnecessary noise.

I couldn't stop myself from gasping here and there as I measured everything in here with my stares—EVERYTHING'S MADE OF CRYSTAL—From the ceiling to the walls down to the floor!

I could even see my own reflection from where I am standing at.

As what I have said, everything in here is made of crystal, the only difference is the color and what amazes me are the furnitures most especially the enormous chandelier above with its reddish, yellowish-rainbowish sparkle-that's it!

I once wish I was Elsa and I think that's what Periwinkle granted! Goddamnit.

"You're not cursing me, are you?!"

"Oh f-" I immediately covered my mouth before I could even swear.

I pressed my lips together. "And now you're talking inside my mind," I murmured in the softest way possible.

"Well, yes. I had to, how else will I give you the directions," she answered casually as if I ain't doing her a favor which had my eyes squinting.

"You could have just told me before you magically take me here, for Christmas's sake!" I softly groaned.

"I'm sorry, we're running out of time here. Let me apologize to you properly and formally later, because now, we have a very important thing to do, lady!"

"Fine," I rolled my eyes. "Where should I go then?"

"The way towards the Staffs' hall is through the corridor to your right."

I inclined my head towards the direction and my eyes twitched when I saw multiple corridors, leading to heaven knows where.

"Uhm, about that," I scratched my nape. "I think we have a tinny, tiny problem."

"What?"

"Which way tho?"

"Oh! I'm sorry. Look for the path which has vibrant colors. It will lead you to the hall where the staffs are placed."

My nose almost flared. "I'm sorry, you mean to say I have to check all of them one by one?"

"Yes."

My lips parted. I don't know why, but the more I look at those corridors, the mannier they get.

I slowly walked towards the first corridor from the right which is dark as hell. I think it's the darkest part of this place and just by looking at it, I felt like an invisible force is swallowing me, so I decided to skip it and distanced myself.

The entrance of each corridors are almost just an inch apart, but they looked like they're intertwining inside, but isn't.

The direction of the corridor on my right is heading left while the one on my left is heading right.

Hypothetically, they should be meeting in one direction in the middle, more like an intersection, but didn't.

I am starting to think that each of them leads towards different dimensions, but that's just me.

I leaped from one corridor to another and started noticing them getting brighter and brighter, just then I realized, I am only leaping in one place.

The dark corridor has already disappeared, but I am still on the exact place I am at from the beginning.

"What the hell's happening, Peri?" I muttered.

"Stay focused, everything's an illusion, but you're doing good. I feel like you're almost there."

"You don't say..." I sighed, sarcastically. "You know what, if something suddenly emerged out of nowhere and caught me doing something of what we call trespassing, I swear to God, you'll get it!" I warned her.

"Note that... Now, just a little more and you'll find the right path."

I rolled my eyes and continued doing what I am doing until another leap took me inside a hall.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples in frustration. If this is a dream, please wake me up. My brain can't take anymore of what's happening.

I took the deepest breath I could ever heave before opening my eyes and to my surprise, everything turned gold and I am seeing more colors than just white.

"Periwinkle? Am I still alive or am I already in heaven?" I asked out of nowhere.

"No, you're already in the right place!"

"Oh, okay," the frustration can already be heard in my voice that she had to lighten my mood up.

"Hey! It's okay. Everything's going to be fine. You're almost there and once you broke the staff, you will be saving the lives of the many and you will have the life that you've always wished for."

I nodded. "Yes, I know. So, where can I find this staff-ohhh fuck!"

I haven't had the time to cover my mouth to stop myself from cursing when a blinding light hit me from behind only to find multiple staffs emerging out of it.

The light became dimmer and dimmer, so I was able to focus my vision and there, I saw them clearly hovering in the air.

I couldn't stop my eyes from batting-none of these ain't making any sense to me still, but this is just so fantastic!

"Dear gods," I gasped as I took small steps towards their direction.

"Are you seeing the staffs now?"

"I sure am," I muttered. "Read about them, heard about them, but I never knew they were really real!"

I could still remember grandmother's stories before and she mentioned about these staffs. I just realized it now!

"Of course they are..." Periwinkle intoned. "Now find Frost's staff, so you could leave before the guardians arrive in five minutes."

"Sure, sure..." It was ony a split-second when my smile has been wiped away from my face when I realized what she said.

"Holy shit! They're gonna come?!" I panicked as I walked in one place to another, looking for Frost's staff.

"Which is which, Peri?!" I asked almost in a shout out of nervousness.

"Relax! The necklace I gave you will turn hot when you're near the staff. I just need you to focus on this or it won't work."

I almost slapped my own face in wreck. "F-fine. Where the heck did I get myself into?!"

I tried facing each of the staffs, hoping the necklace will do its job, but nothing's happening. I went back to the first one and waited for the necklace to burn my chest, but nothing's really happening.

"P-Periii! It's not working!" I groaned, fidgeting.

"Breathe, Sil! You're suffocating yourself. Breathe and feel the staff."

I feel like I'm gonna collapse before I could even find the staff, but I'll surely be in great danger if the GUARDIANS finds me here.

Besides, the life of the many will be in jeopardy if I let my fear get into me.

It's all your fault you stupid mark!

I was about to heave a deep breath when I saw something through my peripheral vision. I turned right to see an enormous family picture hanged behind two enormous medieval-like chairs, just then I realized, I am inside a throne room.

I don't know what's got into me but the next thing I knew is that I found myself walking near the frame to take a closer look.

The couple was sitting in the middle and twelve young boys were surrounding them together with a little girl at the rightmost part. She must be the lost guardian grandmother was talking about. She's still too young in here but she's reminding me of someone I can't picture out.

I gasped when my wrist suddenly stung. I immediately looked at it and my eyes widenened when it glowed into different shades of blue.

"Aw!" I winced when the necklace turned hot; really, really hot.

I turned around to see one of the staffs hovering towards my direction. It didn't feel nor look strange to me for some reason. The staff even landed on my hand on its own.

It felt heavy for a plain stick with frost coating its handle.

"Silvermist, are you still with me?"

My eyes batted when I heard Periwinkle after her voice suddenly disappeared a while ago.

"Y-Yeah... As a matter of fact, I already have the staff."

I looked up and all the remaining staffs were gone. I am just the only stupid thing left standing inside this place.

"Then hurry up and break it!"

"N-Now?!" I stuttered. "Can't I just do it once you teleport me back in there?! My time's running out!"

"No, you have to do it there or else Frost will find out his staff is already in the possession of somebody else."

"Oh god," I said, more soberly and held the staff in the air.

I couldn't find a way to break it than this one and this has to be done in one shot before I get caught.

"Here we go," I groaned sharply and slammed the staff on the floor with full force which had it break into multiple pieces.

I got stunned for a moment when the fragments floated in the air as if everything's in slow motion.

Fear got the best of me and shrieked back when those fragments were devoured by blue flame. I was holding a piece of the staff, so my hand got burned as well.

The fragments dematerialized into thin air until nothing's left.

"I-I did it, Peri. I broke the staff," I muttered.

My felt my lips trembled when I realized what I've done. I don't have any idea where this will lead into, but I trust Periwinkle's words and turned against my heel towards the door which I assumed to be the exit.

"Well done, Sil. It's time to head home."

I opened the door and my brows slightly raised when I found myself entering my room.

I had to stand there for a few moment to sink everything in before I was able to gather all the courage I could muster to enter my room.

I was about to sit on my bed and call Periwinkle when I noticed all the visible and obvious changes around.

"Oh... Oh... Ohhh-" I couldn't stop myself from gasping whenever I see a bit of changes.

"Holy heck of a mother freaking gooo-" I covered my mouth with both hands to stop myself from speaking abruptly and folded my generous lips into a thin, hard line.

"Doubtful of refusing orders."

I turned to my right and saw Periwinkle sitting on top of my bedside table.

"Uh-I am in my room, yes?" I had to asked and she chuckled.

"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't you be? You did what you had to do."

She hopped down and darted towards my direction. She even held my hands close to her chest and plastered a sweet smile.

"I'm only giving back the favor by keeping my promise, Sil. And when guardian gave their word," she stepped back and raised a pinky finger to draw an imaginary X mark on her chest. "They're bound for all eternity."

"So, you started by changing my room color from black to bright pink?" I paused and forced a smile.

"I have no idea," Periwinkle playfully shook her head, chuckling. "You are starting off too bluntly."

"Then what-"

"HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, SIL!"

I gasped when someone opened the door which is just behind me and was shock to see Junabel and Stella with their pink floral dresses.

My brows met. Hundreds of questions started flooding my mind again and I think I've had enough, so I decided to just smile but it only lasted for few seconds when what Periwinkle said a while ago echoed in my mind.

"When a guardian gave their word, they're bound for all eternity."

So, she's also a guardian? She can see the staffs? Then why does she have to use me?

I gnawed gently on my lower lip, considering the thought.

"You looked so pretty," Junabel squealed and scooted near me. "C'mon now! Everyone's waiting."

I wasn't able to say anything and just let them pull me downstairs. I still couldn't process everything in and this pink gown, which I don't know when I wore, adds more tension.

My jaw dropped when I saw fancy decorations in our garden.

"Happy birthday, dear!"

I gasped when I heard mom's voice. I turned towards the direction and tears immediately formed in my eyes when I saw her together with daddy and they looked so happy.

Mom kissed me on my cheek while dad kissed me on my forehead.

Am I only dreaming because if I am, please let me sleep forever.

Valorie, one of my closest friends, pulled me and let me sit on a stall in the middle of the crowd. I smiled when I saw all my close friends, even Periwinkle's standing in the back.

"Thank you," I mouthed and she smiled before turning around and walk away.

"Happy birthday, babe."

I felt a lump forming in my throat when I heard that very familiar voice just behind me.

"Levi."