Snow Bites

Chapter Fourteen

The gems embedded in the glass coffin were nearly blinding in the setting sun. Anyone who could see past the dazzling display would see the young woman just beneath its surface. Her pale skin was a match to the white flowers woven into her ebony hair. Blossoms of pink, red, and purple dotted the bed of white petals. Nestled among the flowers were the small gems Eirwen had so dutifully collected.

Alfmoor was the one who had found her. When they'd returned home from the mines and hadn't seen their Snow outside waiting like she always did, a creeping dread filled them. While the others began their search on the outside, Alfmoor had stepped into the front room with Zelig and there she'd been.

He must have cried out because they all ran to him. The comb in her hair began to emit a dark smoke when Galen pulled it free from her hair. The poison was unmistakable but no magic they used dispelled it from Snow's veins. It was far too late now. Ryker had managed to fill them in on what had happened the best he could. All but the very dregs of his strength were gone and their magic barely kept him alive in the small bed inside the cottage.

The vow she'd forced them to make plagued their minds even while they mourned. None of them could manage to lift the heavy knife that would truly end her life. Her heart still beat under the glass of the coffin. It was soft and slow but it would beat until they stopped it, not that they had any plans to.

The sun rose on her birthday and they dragged themselves to the lakeside where her coffin rested. Fresh blooms surrounded it and grew up the sides thanks to their magic. The gifts they had spent so much time preparing joined the spring flowers. They stood in silence around her with their heads bowed. A joyful tune reached their ears and they collectively tensed. The prince had promised to appear for her birthday when she would finally be free.

Ezekiel had kept his promise. His calls for her reached them but not a single one called back to him. As he stepped into the small clearing, the bouquet in his hands tumbled to the floor. "What... what happened?" His voice trembled uncontrollably.

Galen shook his head, hands resting atop his pickaxe. "We came home and she'd been poisoned by this." He pulled a square of purple silk and uncovered the comb carefully wrapped inside. It had cracked down the center and the main ruby had been shattered. It no longer smoked but Galen was very aware of the oily sheen along the teeth.

"You're magic, aren't you? FIx her," Ezekiel demanded. He strode up to the glass coffin and pressed his hands to it, fingers spreading wide. To anyone walking by she would look as though she was only sleeping.

"There is no magic that can stop the poison once it's reached her heart. The only way to save her now is for her to complete her transformation," Galen said. Around him, the others stepped back nervously. Any one of them would have gladly given their lives, but they were less inclined to break the vow they'd made. When she turned she wouldn't forgive them. The idea of her rage and disappointment turned on them broke their hearts.

"You're not going to do it, are you?" Ezekiel snapped. He threw his cloak to the side and shoved against the glass coffin top. It didn't budge and instead emitted a blinding white light that pushed him back. He was back on his feet in a matter of seconds. "Get this thing off!"

Several of the mages shook their heads, but Placidus shocked them all when he rested the tip of his pickaxe against the glass. The air around them vibrated with the two magic sources that pushed against each other. He'd never needed words to get his point across and that held true now. Placidus met each of their gazes in turn.

An unspoken agreement ran through them and they stepped forward. Each of them set their pickaxes against the glass together and the air grew heavy around them. Together, they swung their arms back and brought down the pickaxes against the glass. It remained intact but the slight shimmer that had covered the glass disappeared in a blinding flash of prismatic light. They dropped to their knees breathing heavily.

"Go then, prince," Alfmoor waved him forward.

Ezekiel shoved against the glass, hesitantly at first but more firmly when it didn't blast him away. The impact when it hit the ground cracked it from one corner diagonally to the opposite one. The prince leaned over Eirwen's still body and gently slid his hand under her head. "I know this wasn't your plan. I'm so sorry, I should have been here to protect you."

Her skin was cold as ice against his, blue veins spider webbing across the pale surface. Deep breaths still made her chest rise and fall but that was the only movement he saw. After a moment, Ezekiel took the dagger from where it was clasped in her hands. It had been a gift from Falix and he'd been sure to make sure she'd be able to take it with her.

The sharp edge ran along his skin so smoothly he almost didn't feel the sting. It clattered to the floor as he lifted her so that her face rested in the crook of his neck. "Please, please grant me this one wish," he whispered to anyone he thought might answer him. His heart leapt when her head turned ever so slightly and her mouth inched open.

Ezekiel continued to encourage her until he felt the sharp needle-like teeth sink into his neck. The whole event took minutes. Eirwen clung to him until he went limp and slipped from her grasp. The mages held their breath and waited, pickaxes raised.

Alfmoor took the first steps toward her with his hand held up.

Red eyes locked onto him.