Snow Heart (29 page)

“It’s the truth!” screamed Nieves. “All of it is the truth!”

The Maiden became tired and leaned her body against the silver glowing bark. She released a sigh and the tree began to grab hold of her yet again. “If you are telling me the truth then step forward, dearest.”

She gave a laugh that filled the chambers of the tree. “No, not at all. This heart is not mine. It belongs to Olf Macter. If you can return it to the Head Macter while he is in his Demon form then the curse will be broken.”

Nieves swallowed down the pain in her throat. “Olf Macter?”

“The Macter who I loved and was betrayed by.” She tilted her head with tired and weary effort. “Go now and take the heart.”

Nieves reached for the Maiden’s chest. She pressed the tip of her fingers against the center. It pulled away. The skin parted and pulled itself open to reveal a broken breast bone. Beating behind the gape in her chest was a heart. Hesitant, Nieves reached inside and grabbed hold of the beating organ.

It felt strange and slick in her hands. It gave out a last beat then died. Nieves gasped, looking up at the Maiden. “What happened?”

“My magic kept it alive and well,” said the Maiden.

Nieves turned to leave but as she reached the center of the room she stopped and turned to the Maiden. “I think maybe if you leave this tree, you’ll find someone who will love you better than Olf Macter.

“Somewhere in this world, there is someone who loves you. He’s waiting but you’ll never find him unless you leave this place and live your life.” Nieves smiled. “After all, life’s only meaning is to live.” She turned and walked out of the silver barked tree.

CHAPTER 40

“She what?” asked Wilhelm through the bars of Alric’s cell.

Alric pressed his warm forehead against the coolness of the bars. He felt feverish His bones were beginning burn inside of his flesh. It felt like napalm was coursing through his veins. He moaned, knowing his body wouldn’t hold on much longer.

“What am I to do?” Wilhelm racked his brain for ideas. “Alric, please. How can I find her in that forest? There has to be more than a thousand acres of trees out there.”

Alric dropped to his knees. “I know!”

Wilhelm got down onto his knee and looked Alric in the eye. “Hold on just a little longer, Alric.” His body was shaking with adrenaline. “I’ll find her, I promise.”

Alric looked up, his eyes darkening, the whites spiraling and twisting with vines of black. “Find Nieves and keep her safe. Do whatever you have to but don’t let her see me like this.”

Wilhelm hardened his expression. “I will.”

He spun around to leave but Alric reached out through the bars and growled with agony. “Wilhelm,” he grumbled. “After I’m dead, will you take care of her for me?”

Wilhelm looked down at Alric’s hand. The strange black scales were already beginning to form. Scales that would be able to slice a Mortals skin like it was melting butter. He slowly replied with all seriousness, “I promise upon my life I’ll watch over Nieves for you after you’re gone.”

Alric withdrew his hand. “Go. Go find her for me.” His voice was shaky and fading. Slowly Alric fell to the floor with clenched teeth. The pain was snaking its way from his bones and into his organs.

“Wilhelm!” yelled Aunty who was running towards him across the large open field. The houses were just small rocks on the horizon behind her. “How is Alric doing? I’ve been looking around but I can’t seem to find Nieves.”

“She’s in the forest,” Wilhelm informed. “Nieves went in search of the tree.”

Aunty took a shaky step backwards. “She what? Doesn’t she know it’s dangerous?”

Wilhelm smirked. “She’s blinded with love. Right now the only thing she cares about is saving Alric. But I promised him I’d find her and hide her away until all this is over with.”

Alric gave another scream of agony that shattered both Wilhelm and Aunty’s strength.

Aunty jerked her attention to the holding cell where Alric was being kept. “I…” She closed her eyes tightly, lowering her sunglasses down. “I’m going to help you find her.”

Another ear shattering scream erupted from inside. It darkened into something hallow and morbid. It sent a cold chill down their backs like fingers stroking the strings of a harp.

“Let’s hurry.”

Wilhelm nodded. “He’s already beginning to change.”

†

Nieves stepped out of the tree and over dead leaves and moss. “Sneeuwbal?” she called out. Nieves followed the water’s of the brook back to the place Sneeuwbal had been waiting.

He stood there, head hanging low and a paw curled up from the ground. “Did you get what you came for?” asked Sneeuwbal, barely alive.

“Oh my god.” She held the heart to her chest while running to Sneeuwbal’s side. “Are you alright? You look like you’re about to faint.” Her eyes held a thin sheen of burning tears.

“She gave me the heart of the Macter ancestor that betrayed her.” Nieves stepped over a thick branch. “I have to return it to the Macter family by placing it in Alric’s chest while he is a Demon.”

Sneeuwbal made no reply.

“Then the curse will end,” Nieves added with a happy smile, tears streaming down her cheeks continuously. She didn’t know why she was crying but she also couldn’t stop. They kept coming, one large tear drop after the other. A part of her knew why she cried but the other part wanted to deny all knowledge of what would happen.

“You’re going to climb on my back,” he told her. “I can make it to the edge of the forest but I’m not sure how far I can go beyond that.” He limped to a stop. “Go on.”

“Alright.” Nieves held the bloodied heart to her chest then used her freehand to pull herself onto the dog Demon’s back. He even lowered himself a bit as to help her advance.

“I’m ready.”

“Take hold of my mane,” he said and she did with one hand.

Sneeuwbal pranced forward jaggedly, not as liquid like before. His speed was still remarkably skillful. Faster than cheetahs and a mustang combined. He had to be running at two hundred miles an hour through the forest. Dodging low branches and leaping over objects was nothing for him.

The light of the forest’s edge sparkled as they grew closer.

“Nieves!” Wilhelm screamed through the cold winter air then coughed heavily. Nieves could tell his voice was growing hoarse from calling out so much. “Nieves!”

Sneeuwbal slowed to a stop then lay down in the grass outside the forest. “I am sorry, Nieves, but I am too weak to go on.” His chest heaved slowly and shallow.

The girl slid off his back, pressing the heart against her. “Will you be alright?”

His eyes drooped closed. “Yes. I will be fine. I’ll put in a good word for you when I get to the afterlife. Now go and finish the task we started.”

“Afterlife?” screamed Nieves. “You can’t die?”

Sneeuwbal barked, “Go Nieves!”

She scrambled to her feet and began to run but something snagged hold of her arm. The heart nearly slipped from her fingers with how slick it was. She kept her hold, spinning around to find a hard chest.

A row of sharp teeth leapt from the ground, ready to take hold of Wilhelm’s wrist. Sneeuwbal gave a low growl and Wilhelm let Nieves go and backed away. “Do what you must, child.” Sneeuwbal gave a raspy cough, blood streaming from his mouth. “Hurry as I hold this one back.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Nieves raced across the field, feeling the heart warm in her hands. Strangely it felt much warmer than it had ever been before. She tripped to her knees but quickly got up making sure the heart was still in hand.

“Alric,” she thought. “Alric.”

CHAPTER 41

Thick heavy clouds began to cover the sky with darkness. Night had suddenly come ahead of schedule as Nieves pressed on towards the main house. A row of howls broke the silence, sending her in a fret. She glanced around, searching through the thick darkness for Alric.

Nieves climbed the steps of the main house then followed the porch to his room. “Alric,” she said, sliding the door open with a blood soaked hand. “Alric?” She found the room empty. “Where is he?” Nieves asked the heart in her hand.

It was warm, burning warm. She glowered at it for a moment, realizing that its blood flow continued. Slowly, she watched as it began to beat again. One slow lazy beat after the other. More blood began to drizzle from it in thick rivulets. It veins became plump with liquid.

“I have to find Alric,” she told herself while looking away from the heart.

Her heavy footsteps down the stairs drew attention from the field. Rows of glowing beasts stood restless for a fight. They all turned their heads, glancing at Nieves with one eye then the other. They sized her up then realized she was meaningless. It was Alric they were searching for.

The last glowing fox spirit joined with them from the forest—most likely Wilhelm, Nieves considered. She snuck behind the house and followed it until she was on the other side.

Nieves felt the heart beating in her hands. “Alric,” she thought intensely. “Where are you, Alric?”

A horrid screech clawed its way in her ears. Nieves groaned, dropping to her knees while holding the heart tighter. The screech died away but was followed by another. Something black yet glowing stepped into Nieves’s sight. Its shadowy body was like fire. An icy fire that shimmered along its raven-like body. Black scales and black feathers decorated the creature to prefect beauty.

She felt in awe of this being, this blackened phoenix.

The silver spirit foxes all lowered their heads, ready for the hunt. Their growls rolled and rumbled.

Nieves darted her view from the Cursed-Ones to the phoenix. It was then at that moment she realized where Alric was. He was standing right in front of her. He was wingless for now. He was a two-legged dragon.

She didn’t wait any longer. “Alric!” Nieves leapt from behind the house and ran to him. The blood had stained her clothes, her skin, and everything she touched. But her mind blocked it all out. Her thoughts were only focused on getting the heart into Alric’s Demon chest.

The dark phoenix lowered its head and turned it to look at Nieves. It eyed her suspiciously then screamed. It took a step forward and aimed at her. Something silver rammed into Alric’s side. A fox spirit was already taking its part in the attack.

“Wait!” Nieves screamed, lunging forward between the silver fox’s next attack.

The fox skid to a stop and looked upon her. It wasn’t sure what to do. The fox examined Nieves up and down wondering who she was. A Macter, perhaps?

Nieves turned to Alric but he was already to his feet. “Alric, I brought you this heart. Please let me—” Something hit her from behind, knocking Nieves to the ground. She nearly hit her head against the wooden post to a house.

She moaned, pulling a hand to her head.

The silver rays of the fox reached out to her like arms. One of its transparent tentacles wrapped around her arm and she screamed. It burned her skin like acid, like a thousand needles digging down into bones.

The phoenix raised a leg then hopped onto the fox’s back. Its talon dug deep until pools of glittery white liquid poured from its body. The fox howled as one of its comrades jumped towards the phoenix. The black fiery bird hopped away landing inches from Nieves’s sprawled out form.

Nieves got to her feet and touched the bird’s chest with a bloodied hand. “I just need to get this into your body,” she told Alric.

His beak lowered and gave a quick snap; it startled Nieves until she was stumbling. Alric’s eyes were empty black with a round circle of fire burning at their core. It gave a screech, snapping its beak at her again.

“Don’t you remember me?” yelled Nieves.

It grunted just after a fox leapt for another attack. Two foxes followed. Only one succeeded in getting a bite into Alric. The phoenix roared a breath of icy blue flame that lit the air. The smell of burning grass filled every corner of the sky and stained Nieves’s skin.