Room of Ice

Flina P.O.V

Zulia and Zamora stared at me happily, just seeing them made my anxious nerves relax.

The king seems delighted as I danced to the melodious music, each swirl i did, felt like I might fall but with the wind in my hair and the eyes silently watching me, I mustn't make a mistake before the king, I shall prove myself, my anklets dangled giving off a jingling sound, it feels like I'm floating with step I make.

My part ended as I went for a quick break, someone entered after me, I turned to see the masked Fourth Prince.

"Greetings Your Grace, what brings you—".

He leans in carefully, as he gently places his lips on mine, so soft, so soothing, it feels like never before, I try to push him away, but I'm drawn to his scent, it smells so familiar, is it...

"Ivan?" I muffled on his lips.

"Yes, you finally recognized me". he takes off his mask, his black eyes twinkled like a black shiny onyx.

"Ivan!" I am perplexed, not knowing in what way to react.

He stares at me intently, "Aren't you curious?". he asks.

"You're the fourth Prince" I said calmly.

He smiles, he looks more appealing in his royal dress, his well combed hair, his eyes, his lips down to every corners, perfection i see,

"Yes you're definitely the fourth Prince".

He covered my lips with tip of his finger,

"Come, I have something to show you" he walks as he stretches his hand out, I grab on to it as he rubs his thumb on my finger, he walked in front, leading the way, we walked deeper and deeper, the more we walked further, the colder it gets, I can feel the cold through my light linen dress.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask.

He kept quiet as we walked, finally we reached a large door, he opens the locks with bunch of keys, He enters and called me in.

As I step in, a large cold breeze i felt, colder than ice, freezing than I can explain, it becomes hard to breath the longer I stay in here.

He walks up to an ice alter with two ice coffins, I spot a green gem, but with a black core, Ivan controls the gem as he directed it to me.

"Ivan... what's going on here?" It's more harder to breath, my muscles are stiff, I can barely walk.

Ivan directs me to walk closer to him to the alter.

I moved closer freely until I realized I was being summoned, the room filled with blue ice turns black red, just like blood, I'm frightened and have no inkling on what's happening.

Ivan looks at me, emotionless and impassive. I finally reached the alter.

I can't talk, move willingly or try to stop, it feels like an invincible chain surrounded me. The restrain tightens each time I try to move on my own accord.

"Ivan..." I forcefully said as the invincible chains tightens on my skin, tears rolls down my cheeks.

After a long while of Ivan chanting some words to the empty space, Ivan finally releases the invincible chains, I could speak, but it felt like my energy and power was being sucked out by that gem in his hands, my soul is flickering, I can barely stand.

I fell to the icy floor, my muscles tightens, I can't move anymore, I stare at him, he stares back at me with no remorse, he walks closer to me then knelt beside my iced body.

"You're stronger than I expected, I thought you'll either be frozen by now or dried as bone.

This gem, it's called Xanxer, let me give you hint on what's going to kill you, It's not the gem but your foolishness and naivete.

What am I listening to?, this hurts, alot, the pain I feel as my energy is been sucked away is excessive, but my heart doesn't ache one bit, for I already knew from the start you've been pretending but I still...

"I still love you" I managed to say, no matter what happens I'll still love him.

He turns over as he laughs menacingly.

"Did you think by saying you love me, my heart will sway and I'll let you free?, how foolish of you Lina!!!".

"I love you..., all of you" I said.

he looks at me, blue in the face, furious and deviously.

"I love even the parts that are dark, covered with shadows of secrets, scars...none of those matter, I love all of you",

He grabs my face brimming with anger.

"Deny me all you want, I will love every of your flaw, every fault, every imperfections" tears rolls down, it hurts, I'm in pain and I can't last for long.

He tightens his grasp, "You really are naive than I thought, your callowness disgusts me".

"No matter what you say to me, for I'll not be hurt, deep down I'll love you, cause from the times we shared, I already knew you were pretending but as time grew, I knew you more, loved you more, I know you have bit of love for me, and all you're doing is your pushing me away saying you don't need love, but I'll always love you, even as my body dries, it's still you".

I placed my hand on his cheek, as we locked eyes.

"I know deep down, you also feel it".

His face remains the same, lack of reaction... seems this is how I die, in the hands of my lover.

I can no longer breathe, I can't... take it anymore, the pain is unbearable, I won't last for long.

I fell into a deep everlasting sleep...

I felt a light touch on my back, "Now... I'll take over from here".

I saw a blinding, radiating replica of myself, she smiles at me, you're still weak, you can't contain me.