19. Snow
Chapter nineteen
Snow
I don’t even flinch anymore when the door opens at the other end of the hall. Nor do I tense when those footsteps approach my cell.
It's Saint again. Since I’ve had nothing better to do since being confined inside these miserable, four walls, I’ve memorized the sound of their footsteps.
Saint’s are confident, self-assured, yet cautious. Angel’s are almost soundless, like a ghost’s. Prince’s…
His are slow, deliberate, as if every step he takes has a purpose, like a predator stalking its prey.
It isn’t lost on me that I am the prey.
I’m wasting away in this place. I’m barely even a small flurry of snow these days, let alone a raging blizzard.
Maybe Saint has come to tell me that my days are finally numbered. Prince has decided to kill me and send my head to Regina as a warning.
I should at least know the names of my captors. I know their firsts, but not their family names.
Knowing would make no difference, though, since Daddy kept the names of his former associates to himself.
Finally, he arrives at the cell, sliding the bolt across the door as I remain on the bed, staring at the same wall over and over.
At least I get to leave this dreary cell. In a body bag, I suppose, but still, I will get to look at something new.
I grow weary of this place.
Saint steps inside at last, appraising me with his ice blue eyes. I only know because of the shudder that races up my spine.
As tired as I may be of this cell, I will never tire of the sensation of his gaze on me.
The same goes for his twin brother.
“Morning.”
Again, I wouldn’t know. I can’t see the sky in this cell.
Time has become meaningless.
I don’t pick up the scent of soup, and if I had to be honest, I am becoming tired of eating soup.
Even if it is fantastic soup.
I wonder which of them made it.
I guess I will never know now.
“Well, are you going to say morning back?”
I shut my eyes. Again, how can he be so cheery?
Is the Grim Reaper this cheerful when he comes to collect his souls?
Saint is a strange one.
“Come on, get up. We’re leaving.”
Now that grabs my attention, and I finally push the blanket aside, staring at him in shock. “Leaving?”
My blood roars in my ears.
The smile on his face taunts me next, but I try not to get my hopes up. He’s either taking me to my death or the torture room at the other end of the hall.
Either way, it can’t be good.
He moves closer, and I stare at his boots as he approaches. “Thought you’d be more excited.”
With a sigh, I meet his eyes. “Why should I be? I’m a dead woman, right? Prince is going to kill me at some point. He’s convinced I know something about Regina, but trust me, I don’t. We never exactly shared our feelings.”
One side of his mouth tugs up in a tight smile as I go on, lost in the past.
“There was nothing between us. The woman is a stranger to me, yet she got everything . My Daddy’s money, and my Mama’s money. All of it.”
I don’t meet his eyes again as I let the words pour out. I’m not even sure why I am confessing so much, nor why I felt inclined to use the terms Daddy and Mama in his presence.
So far, I haven’t been so foolish. I didn’t want to make myself appear vulnerable, like a little girl who was still grieving her parents.
Mother and Father just sounds so cold and formal, though.
I'm pretty sure Saint deflates a little at my sad confession, but I’m done with keeping all my thoughts to myself.
They’ve been swirling around in my head for far too long, and they need a way to get out.
They hurt less when I tell someone else.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he whispers, and I shake my head, a hoarse laugh escaping my lips.
“But that’s life. In the end, Daddy chose her as his wife. So, it only makes logical sense that she gets it all.”
Saint is quiet for a moment. Then the hair rises on the back of my neck when he rasps, “But you were his daughter…”
He captures my attention at that, and the ice I see inside his eyes freezes me in place.
I’m his enemy. He hated my father, yet he offers me comfort.
My eyes sting, but I fight back the tears this time, refusing to cry in his presence.
It was bad enough the last time.
I have to know…
“What did my father do to you?”
His eyes narrow at that as he stuffs his hand into his coat pocket, pulling out a swathe of material.
“That’s not important now.”
“Look, I know what my Daddy… Father was. I’m no idiot. But… whatever it was, I am sorry.”
He pauses at my apology, regarding me strangely for a moment. The ice almost cracks inside his eyes, but then he schools his features again, handing me the cloth.
“Cover your eyes.”
I gaze down at the material, realizing it’s a blindfold.
My heart beats in dread.
I won’t be able to see.
I meet Saint’s eyes again. He sighs. “Prince’s request. It was the only reason why he agreed to this.”
Agreed to what?
“Where are you taking me?”
He points at the blindfold. “Put it on, and you will find out.”
With a deep breath, I place the blindfold over my eyes and face him.
I can no longer see him, and it terrifies me to my core, yet his breath stills when he spies the material over my eyes.
I don’t think he’s breathing.
The blood rushes through my head again, and I become light-headed.
With a heavy exhale, he grabs my shoulder and leads me out the cell. My heart rings the entire time we leave the hallways, and I stumble several times on uneven ground.
But he’s patient, letting me take my time as I gather my balance. His hand even dips to my lower spine a few times, and I ignore the sparks when he splays his fingers across the small of my back.
“Almost there now, Snow.”
Where, exactly?
We come to a set of steps, and my body freezes in terror. But again, he’s there to offer me words of support as he guides me up the stairs.
I trip about four steps up, but I’m airborne when he lifts me in his arms, carrying me the rest of the way.
I haven’t been carried since I was small, and it’s a surreal feeling.
No, it’s a good feeling, and I nod off briefly in his armsas I think about placing my cheek against his shoulder, his footsteps matching the steady beat of my heart.
But the moment is gone once he reaches the top, placing me down on my feet again. “Sorry, but it would have taken us all day, and Prince is a pretty impatient man.”
I bet he is.
Wouldn’t want to anger the king now.
“Is he your boss?” I say without thinking.
Saint scoffs slightly as he pushes me through a door, and fresh, cold air hits my cheeks.
Just when I thought I would never feel the fresh air again…
How long has it been?
“Yes, and my cousin, too.”
Cousin?
It makes sense. They do all have the same nose.
I don’t ask any more questions as Saint leads me down a gravel path. I only know it’s gravel because of the way the stones crunch under my shoes.
Birds tweet in the trees, and it’s a magical sound after being locked away for so long. I’m grateful for the blindfold now as Saint won’t be able to see me cry.
Nothing eventful happens again as Saint guides me in total darkness, and I only know we enter a house when warmth hits me.
Our feet echo as we walk across a spacious foyer and toward another set of stairs. He doesn’t bother carrying me with these ones, and it’s almost as if he is afraid of being caught.
By who? Prince?
Would he really reprimand him for merely helping me?
At least these steps are little easier to navigate. The steps are marble. I can tell.
Daddy had marble steps back at the estate, too.
We soon come to a door as Saint raps his knuckles, and now I wait.
“Enter.”
My heart stops when I hear that cold voice.
So, this is Prince’s domain.
I suck in a trembling breath as I am about to enter the king’s throne room.
I just hope I come back out alive.