Fire and Ice by Michele Barrow-Belisle Page A

sweet scent of rusted metal and salt, which made my stomach roil. My head dropped back to the ground and I stared in paralyzed horror as my vision blurred, before fading from white to black.
    ****
    It was silent when I opened my eyes. The room was bathed in soft buttery sunlight streaming in through an open window. I blinked, trying to focus in the brightness. The faint scent of cloves and roasted chestnut lingered in the air. It was warm… too warm. Across from me were voices in hushed tones. One familiar, the other I didn’t recognize.
    â€œHow long will it take before she wakes?”
    â€œNot long now, son. She has to adjust to the air here. It’s lighter than what she's used to.”
    â€œThis is making me crazy, Hawthrin. How long can I go on like this? I mean, I can’t get her out of my head. She’s all I think about.”
    Was that Adrius? Who was he talking about? Couldn’t be me. Was I hearing things correctly or was I dreaming. I closed my eyes, straining to listen over the blood rushing in my ears.
    â€œYou have to do something. Too much is at stake.”
    â€œAdrius, you know there is little I can do in this matter. You brought her here. We must let things play out from here. One cannot pick and choose between prophecies. For one to come to pass, all must come to pass.”
    â€œThis wasn’t supposed to happen. I didn’t know the full prophecy. You carefully left out my part in it. You know I can’t control it…”
    â€œYou will control it. Or… you will not.”
    There was a deep sigh, I think it came from Adrius. “But if she does this, and anything were to happen to her…”
    â€œThat, my boy, is beyond your control I’m afraid.”
    A door creaked open and the muffled voices ceased.
    â€œShame on the two of you.” A female voice joined the others. “She needs her rest, you shouldn’t be disturbing her,” she scolded. “Fine job you’ve both done. You’ve woken her.”
    The knocking of hard shoes against hardwood grew steadily louder until it reached me, and then stopped. Someone was standing over me. My eyelids cracked open, taking in a slender face framed by long dark hair and golden eyes. I frowned. Who was she? Then it occurred to me I had no idea where I was. It was a struggle to sit up and a stabbing pain shot through me. My head ached and my limbs were weak.
    â€œTake it easy, dear one. You’re not yet fully healed,” she said in a voice which sounded like wind through the trees.
    Memories came back to me like snapshots; the performance, my mother, the forest, losing Adrius. Where was he? Panic rose, but I consoled myself with the reminder I’d heard his voice. He had to be okay. I looked up at her again, opening my mouth to ask about him. My lips were dry and chapped; it felt like I’d swallowed sand. I tried to speak but what came out was garbled. She leaned in to offer me a sip of clear liquid which seemed like water, and her salt and pepper hair fell away from her angelic grandmotherly face. It was then they came into view, the long slender ears that tapered to a long thin point.
    I gasped sharply, sucking in more air than my recovering lungs could hold. When I finally stopped sputtering and coughing, I attempted to jump out of this strange bed and demand some answers. But my body wouldn’t cooperate. Heavy limbs pinned me down, immobilizing me.
    â€œLorelei? Are you in pain?”
    Adrius was suddenly there, leaning over me, his brows furrowed in concern. He looked nearly unrecognizable… otherworldly, in a literal way.
    â€œWh-what’s going on? Who is she?” I pointed, my hand gripping the bed sheets.
    â€œIt’s okay. You’re safe here,” he soothed, sweeping hair away from my face. I turned away slightly and he immediately dropped his hand. The smile in his eyes faded.
    â€œWhat do you mean I’m safe here?” I rasped.