Secret of the Snow Queen (Fire and Ice Book #1) *GOING THROUGH EDITS*

CH. 23 Unveiling Memories

                                                                                          Kelvin

The world seemed to blur around me as I watched Aurora disappear over the cliff's edge, her form vanishing into the raging waters below. Despair threatened to suffocate me as I grappled with the devastating realization that she had chosen to end her own life.

Memories, long buried beneath the surface of my consciousness, surged forward with startling clarity, each image a painful reminder of the bond that had once united us. I saw flashes of our childhood, moments of laughter and joy intertwined with the innocence of youth. But amidst the warmth of those memories, a chilling revelation emerged, casting a shadow over everything I thought I knew.

I recalled the days when Aurora and I would play in the snow, the cold air filled with laughter and the sound of our voices echoing off the frozen landscape. She had always loved the snow, her eyes sparkling with wonder as she danced among the swirling flakes, her laughter ringing out like music in the crisp winter air. I remembered the time when Aurora had first discovered her powers, a mere babe in arms reaching out with tiny hands to conjure snowflakes from thin air.

I had watched in awe as she wielded her magic with an instinctual grace, her eyes alight with wonder as she marveled at the beauty of her creations. In that moment, I had known that she was special, touched by a power beyond comprehension.

As the weight of this revelation bore down upon me, I fell to my knees, my heart heavy with the burden of guilt and remorse. How could I have failed her so completely, to have missed the signs that were so glaringly obvious in hindsight?

And yet, amidst the tumult of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me, another thought emerged, a puzzle piece in the intricate tapestry of my fractured memories. What had kept these memories hidden from me until now? What force had clouded my mind, obscuring the truth until the events of today had forced them into the light?

As I grappled with the sudden flood of memories, a troubling thought wormed its way into my mind: had Aurora been aware of the truth all along, or had she, like me, only just uncovered these long-buried secrets?

The possibility gnawed at me, a nagging uncertainty that refused to be ignored. If Aurora had known the truth, why had she kept it hidden from me? And if she had only just discovered it herself, what had triggered her powers?

As I wrestled with the enigma of our hidden memories, a troubling question lingered at the forefront of my mind: who could have orchestrated such a profound deception? The idea that someone had purposefully concealed our past from us seemed almost unthinkable, yet the evidence of our forgotten memories spoke volumes to the contrary. Whoever had woven this intricate web of deceit possessed a keen understanding of our identities and the power to manipulate them to their advantage.

But the more I pondered this mystery, the less clarity I found. The possibilities seemed endless, each one more ominous than the last. Was it the work of Morgana, lurking in the shadows and pulling the strings from afar? Or perhaps it was the machinations of someone closer to home, someone with a vested interest in keeping our true selves hidden from view.

As I grappled with these unsettling thoughts, a chill ran down my spine, a premonition of the dangers that lay ahead. Whoever had tampered with our memories was still out there, their motives and intentions shrouded in darkness. And until we uncovered the truth, we would remain at their mercy, puppets in a game whose rules we did not yet understand.

Before I could act, a shadow fell over me, and I looked up to see Dimitri standing before me, his eyes filled with malice and triumph. With a cruel smirk, he gestured to his men, and before I could react, they descended upon me, overpowering me with their superior numbers.