Roses In December {Labyrinth}

Sarah pulled the heavy fabric closer to her chest, the wind whipping past her seemed to cut right through the thickly filled down coat. But she didn't mind, not really. She was on winter vacation with her parents and Toby, or that is to say her father, Karen and half-brother.

Oh she didn't hold the same grudges she once did against her stepmother and brother, no those had melted like the snow in spring many years ago. Back during a time when she still believed in magic, when she had seen fairies outside her windows. When she had actually been to a place most thought to be purely fantasy.

She shook her head, it was best not to think about it now. It had been just a little over nine years since she had been Underground, she had made her choice and there was no going back on it now.

The first few flakes of snow trickled down from the velvet sky, she had been waiting for them. The news had forecast flurries for this part of the mountains, a light dusting. She had waited in her room most of the evening after dinner. She sat quietly by the window as she listened to the laughter of her family telling stories in front of the fire. But she had stayed away.

It was not that she had wanted to distance herself from them, she never did. But somehow every vacation, every get together was the same. She would wait off to the side watching as they talked and enjoyed themselves. And she was content to do so.

It seemed that she was content with everything anymore, not actually happy but not depressed either. Just simply content.

Such a strange word, content, so misleading. Its true meaning to Sarah so hard to explain to people. She was merely fine with this life, nothing at all exciting.

The snow was starting to pick up, the cold white creating a soft blanket atop her head. She wondered if she stayed there long enough if she would look like some lumpy snowman from inside the cabin. Would her family even realize when they looked out that she was even there? Or would they see right past her?

If she left then, when their eyes moved over her, would they soon forget about her? Would they be like Him? Overtime just forgetting she had ever meant anything to them?

A shiver passed over her and she knew it was not from the cold. She had often had such thoughts, they came to her at the strangest times. She knew they should have frightened her, but they didn't. She couldn't say she felt any emotion from them, and that was what had scared her. She had become numb, cold like the snow she sat in.

Watching her family over the years she would imagine herself at Karen's age. Most young women would have visions of a loving husband, sweet faced children running over a well kept house. But not Sarah.

She was alone, alone and cold. The halls of her empty home echoing with the steps of a single occupant. Her womb slowly drying up and becoming barren, her heart turning to ice.

Yes, ice. Ice was cold and hard, it could numb all feelings. Even the fear those thoughts in themselves caused. Ice and snow, that was why she was there now. Sitting out in the deathly cold night.

She wanted to be numb, anything was better than that blasted content! She needed it, needed to be cold like ice. She could live cold, no one should ever have to live life lukewarm.

Looking up at the sky several powder white flakes stuck to her long lashes. She closed her eyes against the stinging, the warmth of her flesh melting the snow so it ran in small rivers down her cheeks. She curled up tighter under her coat, the snow was really blowing now.

She could feel it as it whipped around her still form, and yet she made no move to return to the safety of the cabin. She sat, and for what she wasn't sure. The snow had always had a voice of its own. She had heard it many times as a child. Whenever her heart ached, whenever sadness claimed her she would hear it sing just outside her window.

She wasn't going to ignore it this time, she wanted to listen to it. Listen to it and memorize its wordless song.

Two tears found their way past her lids, following the same path as the melted snow. She never felt them fall, never knew where they landed. All she could feel was the cold as it pried its way into her body.

The sky once black with night's inky velvet now seemed as white as a sheet with the whirlwind of the storm. The wind howled as it whipped this way and that, pelting wet snow at the cabin walls making them slick with ice.

The storm raged on for only a passing moment, but when the sky cleared and the crystal stars once again twinkled above only snow remained.

Sarah was gone.

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Cold crisp air surrounded her body, filled her lungs and slowly began to creep into her bones. She wasn't sure where she was, the place was white-blue with ice and snow. She was reminded of winters when she was a child. Snow had a way of silencing everything it touched. And so it had where she now stood.

Her feet were bare as she padded along the frozen hall, it never crossed her mind to wonder where her clothing had gone. It simply seemed proper that she strode this corridor completely nude, allowing the frosted air to seep into her skin.

She never questioned the fact that she no longer felt the chill. Never questioned the blue tinge that crept over her flesh. It was normal, or so her mind kept repeating over and over as she turned down corners and into strange rooms.

Her once chocolate tresses frosted over, small ice crystals hanging here and there like small diamonds. Her lips that had flushed pink when she smiled now were painted deep blue. And her heart once passionate and beating stopped, frozen within crystal ice.

By the time she had turned the last corner she no longer resembled the once warm and living mortal, winter had finally claimed her.

Sarah welcomed her with open arms.

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Her eyes fluttered open and stared blankly at the solid sheet of ice which made up the canopy of her bed. She could just make out the swirling patterns where the water had slowly flowed as it froze. It was beautiful.

A slow smile stretched across her pale blue lips before she finally decided to rise. Pushing back the thin white curtain she set her bare feet on the floor, the frost covered marble tickled her soles making her laugh quietly.

Her powder blue toes wriggled in the soft white frozen carpet, the chill of her skin not allowing it to melt at her touch.

She moved across the room like water on crystal till she reached the thin sheet of ice hung from one wall. It had been polished till it shined and one could see into it like a mirror. She smiled at the image of herself, frozen perfection.

The sheer blue robe which she wrapped around her body was more for show than warmth. She needed no warmth nor wanted it. This was her realm, this frozen kingdom. Fire and heat would never be desired, she was finally cold. Finally numb.

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Sarah watched as her image appeared in the ice, somewhere in the back of her mind she was screaming. This wasn't right, she didn't belong there.

But you did wish to be numb, did you not?

A voice whispered to her, it was as chilling as the room in which she stood and as beautiful.

You wanted to be cold. I have brought you here, granted that wish. Are not you grateful?

The sound was like sitting in freezing water, it sent shivers up her spine.

Where am I?

Her own voice sounded much colder than she remembered it.

You are home my Daughter. Do not be afraid, come…

Sarah slipped a sheer robe over her shoulders and took a single step back.

Come…

As she turned and made her way down the hall the voice that was once Sarah was silenced.

Sarah was dead.

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Delicate fingers tapped against the arms of the throne, their sharp tipped nails scratching into the thin layer of ice that covered the white marble. The owner of those fingers smiled wickedly, her other hand tracing her cold blue lips.

Hair like snow toppled down over her shoulder covering the curve of her breasts and flowing down to the floor from her knees. Her skin was the lightest blue, like powdered aquamarine and her eyes like frozen sapphire.

She breathed in taking the clean air into her lungs and sending a delightful chill through her bones. Her eyes scanned the room soon landing on the man standing before her.

"She is ready, send maid servants to tend to her. I want her looking her best when I meet with her." Rowan bowed slightly backing away from the throne to whisper instructions into the ears of two young women, sending them off to tend to the girl.

"It is done Your Majesty." The woman nodded her head before motioning Rowan toward her once more.

"I think it is time His Majesty the High King was to visit us again, wouldn't you say? Have scrolls drawn and sent out to the High King and Queen and every lower ruler and noble requesting their presence for a ball.

"We shall be celebrating the introduction of my daughter into society." Yes, it was time she returned to the social circles. Five hundred years was too long, way too long.