I’d never been so cold in all my life. My teeth were chattering, and my muscles were seizing up as my body shivered violently. Each step became harder and harder, until a strong gust of wind barreled into me and I started to stumble backward. I slipped on the fresh snow, and a scream ripped from my lungs as I began to slide off the edge of the pathway.
My hands desperately clawed through the snow as I tried to find something to grip onto, but there was nothing but snow and ice, and I continued to slide back. My legs dropped out behind me as they met open air, and I cried out again as my hands clambered to stop the fall. My whole body slid from the path, and I was about to drop into the abyss below when my hand finally grasped onto a rock.
I screamed in pain as my body stopped falling and I was jerked to a stop, slamming into the rocky cliff below the path. My arm burned from the strain of holding my body up, and frosty tears wet the corners of my eyes as the wind continued to pound me. Panic pulsed through me as I glanced downward and saw the sheer rock face I grasped onto descended all the way to the ground far below. I quickly lifted my gaze. I wouldn’t be looking down again.
I focused on the rock I’d managed to grasp onto and let out a groan as I reached out my other hand to grab hold of another rock close to it. My hands were so cold and numb that I didn’t know how long they could hold me. My body was beyond exhausted, but I knew I couldn’t give up. I had to climb back onto the path if I wanted to live.
I took deep calming breaths in as I started to try to pull myself back up. My arms strained under the pressure, and grunts of pain echoed from my lungs. I had little upper body strength, but adrenaline pulsed through me as I slowly inched my way upward. When I was nearing the top, my foot found a hold, and I managed to push myself the rest of the way.
I let out a cry in relief as I crested the edge of the path and managed to pull my body to safety. I lay on the frozen ground, my heart racing and every muscle burning. Cold tears still wet my eyes, and aftershocks of fear still rushed through my system.
I took deep breaths in and out as I willed myself to stand once more and forge onward. But I was too afraid. I was freezing and had nearly just died. Continuing felt impossible, and all I wanted to do was turn around and give up. Even if I did decide to turn back, I had to wonder if I’d make it back down the mountain before I froze to death. I was starting to realize why no one else had returned with the star. Without magic, the route to get to it was deadly. The question was: did those who came before me give up and go back or had they forged onward only to meet their demise?
It was suicide to continue, but I knew I didn’t have any choice. I had to get to the star. So, despite the protests of my exhausted body, I pushed myself off the ground and continued onwards, one step at a time.
I gritted my teeth as I tried to ignore the pain I was experiencing. I could no longer feel my toes, and my fingers and nose had gone completely numb. I kept thinking of Belsnickel though, reminding myself why I was doing this and somehow found the strength to keep going. I wasn’t going to give up.
Finally, I felt a change in the air. It was just a warm breeze at first, but then suddenly the terrible wind and snow stopped completely, and the dark clouds that rolled overhead began to disperse. They disappeared in the blink of an eye, rolling away and dissolving into nothing. I lifted a hand up to shield my eyes as the bright sun returned, and I noticed that the ground at my feet was no longer covered in snow.
As I glanced behind me, I saw the pathway was completely clear. There was no evidence of the storm I’d just battled to get through, and I almost started crying at the sight. My body was still shaking and my skin still cold after everything I’d just endured. The storm had nearly killed me, but now it was though it had never even happened. It must have been one of the challenges I had to overcome. I began to feel my resolve strengthen now that I knew I had passed it.
I looked onward and upward to see what was next. With the skies now clear, I could make out the top of the mountain once more. It barely seemed closer than it had been before the storm though. I’d been trekking for at least an hour, and yet I couldn’t have risen more than a few meters up the mountainside in that time. It was disheartening, but I couldn’t let it get to me.
“I’ll make the time up now,” I murmured to myself before setting out once again.
My body was stiff and sore as I continued. The cold seemed to have retained its icy grip on my limbs, but the longer I walked, the more the pain seemed to ease, and I could feel myself thawing out. After surviving the storm, I knew I’d never look at snow the same way again.
I focused on the way ahead, nerves thrumming through me as I waited for whatever challenge came next. I wished my father had been more specific about what I would face on the journey, but I had a feeling a few words from my father wouldn’t have helped me much in the blizzard. Getting through the storm was more about willpower than knowledge.
Just as I was beginning to wonder whether another test would even come, I heard a piercing scream up ahead. The sound sent a chill down my spine. It had definitely come from a woman, but I had no idea who could be up on the mountain with me. When I heard the scream sound again, I set off at a run toward the noise. Her voice had been filled with pain and fear, and even though I was supposed to be focused only on the star, I couldn’t just ignore someone’s cry for help.
I raced up the slope, my legs burning beneath me as I ran. The path grew increasingly narrow as I went, and the sharp drop to one side had my stomach doing summersaults. I didn’t slow down though as I continued my charge up the mountain.
The path took a sharp turn up ahead, and as I ran around the corner I came to an abrupt stop, sliding across the gravel and loose rocks beneath my feet. The path had come to a sudden end at the top of a cliff face that descended all the way to the valley far below. My stomach dropped as I looked out over the vast canyon. If I’d been running any faster, I might have ended up plummeting over the edge.
As I gathered myself, I noticed that the mountain path continued over the other side of the gap and there were two wooden bridges extending out before me leading to two different paths. One bridge appeared to be brand-new with strong timber supports that crossed the ravine. But the other bridge was a wreck.
It was shaking in the breeze, and the rope holding it together was fraying. Several of the wooden planks were missing, leaving gaping holes. It looked like it could collapse at any moment, and my heart leaped to my throat as I finally saw where the screams had come from.
My mother was standing in the middle of the old and decaying bridge, and my pulse started beating rapidly as I realized she was stuck. There were large holes in the bridge on either side of her and she was standing on a lone wooden plank with no way of getting herself free. She was gripping onto the rope that ran along the side of the bridge like her life depended on it.
“Mom!” I yelled, racing to the edge of the cliff. Her eyes whipped up to meet mine, and the fear in them only seemed to grow as she set her gaze on me.
“Clio!” she shouted back. “I’m trapped!”
I frantically shook my head as I tried to figure out what to do. “How in Christmas did you get here?”
“I was worried so I came after you,” she replied. “I never should have let you come up here alone.”
I could see pure terror in her eyes as tears began to fall down her face. “I’m going to get you to safety,” I called to her.
But she immediately started shaking her head. “Don’t!” she called out. “This bridge isn’t safe, and you need to get to the star. I was stupid to come this route, and I can’t risk you getting hurt.”
I glanced at the other bridge, my heart still racing. It was clearly a far safer way to cross the ravine, but I couldn’t just leave my mother stranded. Not now, not ever.
Ignoring her protests, I slowly started to edge my way onto the ruined bridge. Through the large gaps in the planks, I could see the drop below me. I was hundreds of meters up in the air, and my sto
mach sank as I tried to ignore the fear pulsing beneath my skin. Yet again, I was facing a potentially fatal fall. I really wished Dash were with me. A flying reindeer was useful to have around when you were plummeting to your death.
I took each step slowly and carefully, making certain to test every plank of wood before I placed my foot onto it. Wind rocked the bridge as I drew closer to the center of it, and I had to grasp the rope handrail tightly to stay steady. I felt like I was going to throw up.
When I finally reached the huge gaping hole that separated me from my mom, I looked up. Tears streaked her cheeks, and fear lit her eyes. She was still grasping tightly onto the rope.
“You shouldn’t be out here, Clio,” she said. “Go back and use the other bridge.”
I shook my head though. “I’m going to help you out of this,” I said.
At that moment the plank beneath my mom’s feet let out a loud cracking noise, and my gaze dropped down to see a large fracture had appeared in the wood. I needed to get my mom off the plank before it shattered beneath her. I had no idea how I could get to her though. There was a gap about four planks wide separating us and another gap at least that size on her other side.
“If only I had my powers,” I murmured. The moment I muttered the words aloud, a thought came to me. I hadn’t been able to use my claus powers to summon anything earlier, but that didn’t mean my godly powers of creation wouldn’t work.
Another splintering noise sounded as the wood cracked again, and I knew I didn’t have time to try anything else. Digging deep inside myself, I thought of the urgent need I felt to protect my mother and keep her safe. I drew on that desperation within me, coaxing it out with my powers. I pushed my hands out in front of me, and my golden magic responded by flaring at my fingertips. It rushed out of me in one big surge of power, and I watched as planks of solid gold replaced the gaps in the bridge.
I didn’t hesitate as I quickly rushed over them toward my mother. Even as I stepped on the golden planks, I could feel them sinking beneath me, and I knew they were too heavy for the fragile wooden bridge. We didn’t have much time before the whole thing collapsed.
“We need to hurry,” I said to my mom as I reached her. But the moment I reached out a hand to take hold of her arm, she disappeared from in front of me, dissolving into thin air just like the clouds had done after the storm.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I shouted angrily into the air. “Another test?” Using an illusion of my mother hit way below the belt.
I barely had a chance to expel all of my anger though, as I heard an ominous snapping sound behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see the ropes at the end of the bridge coming apart, breaking away from the rocks they were connected to one thread at a time. I swore and started racing across the bridge to the other side. There were still gaping holes in the bridge up ahead, and I hurled my magic out in front of me, creating more golden planks to fill the gaps as I ran. Several of the wooden planks cracked beneath my feet when I stood on them, but I was already on to the next plank before they had a chance to break.
My heart was racing as I sprinted across the collapsing bridge. When I was a few meters from the rocky cliff face on the other side, I heard another loud snapping noise, and the rope handrail went limp at my side. With one last grunt of effort, I hurled my body forward and launched myself through the air before landing face-first on the hard ground of the mountain path.
I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see the bridge falling into the ravine behind me. My heart beat hard against my chest, and I struggled to catch my breath. I rolled over and lay on my back, glaring up at the sky high above. That had been far too close.
The two bridges had clearly been another test, and I wondered if I had picked the right course. Once I climbed to my feet and looked back at the ravine though, I knew I had made the right decision. The brand-new bridge was nowhere to be seen, and I wondered if it had ever been there at all.
I barely relished in the relief that I had made it past another challenge though. As I turned to focus on the path ahead, I could see I was close to the mountain peak, and nerves began to rattle through me. I wasn’t sure what waited at the top, but I felt like whatever tests the mountain still held for me they would be far more trying at the top than they had been at the bottom.
Whatever treacherous challenge waited for me at the peak, I hoped it wouldn’t get the better of me.
Chapter Sixteen
The last stretch of the climb to the peak was far steeper than the rest of the journey had been. I was puffing by the time I crested the top of the mountain, and I came to a sudden halt when I saw what was waiting for me there.
Two huge golden statues stood at the far end of the plateau. They were built slightly apart with a gap between them. The one on the left was of a woman I didn’t recognize, while the other depicted the very god I had left at the bottom of the mountain: my father, Bethalial. I started toward the towering statues, hoping I’d finally reached the place where the Christmas star was kept.
I couldn’t sense the power of the star, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t nearby. I’d also failed to sense the second star’s powers when I’d been in the Dead Lands. The star had been kept in a box that had managed to muffle the intense magic. The same could also be true of the final star, but I wasn’t going to assume anything just yet.
As I neared the statues, I saw a golden pathway cut between them. It reached out beyond the statues and over the edge of the cliff. It looked like some kind of long balcony or viewpoint over the valley, but there was no railing, and I couldn’t imagine anyone would try to overcome the mountain’s challenges just for a pretty view.
I stopped when I reached the base of the statues and looked up at my father. His golden figure reached high into the sky above me, and I searched his face as if it might give me some idea about what I was supposed to do next. I couldn’t sense the star, and there was no clue about where it might lie. I also hadn’t been confronted with another challenge, and unease swelled in my gut over the thought. What if I was currently being tested and I didn’t know it?
I was still considering the statues when I caught sight of a sparkle of magic out of the corner of my eye. My gaze whipped down as a figure appeared between the two statues. They were wearing a long red coat that dusted the ground, and as I looked up at the new arrival’s face, a jolt of recognition ran through me.
“Nicholas?” I asked.
“Welcome, Clio,” he said in greeting. His voice was so quiet it almost sounded like a breath of wind. “I see you’ve made it this far. Though I suggest you turn around. None who have come before you obtained the Christmas star, and none who will come after you shall either.”
I shook my head at him. “How can you be here and also in the Human Realm?” I asked, deciding to ignore his advice.
“Because I am like you, Clio, and the magic that runs through my veins allows me to come to the Realm of Gods. My ability to move between the portal and the mountaintop is because it is my sworn duty to protect the star.”
My heart skipped a beat as I heard the words. “You’re like me,” I said.
“I am a young one,” he said with a nod. “Though I am the son of Belphia. We are both unique in that our parents only had one child. All the other young ones are children of Belsnickel. Like them, you shouldn’t have come here. You must leave.”
I shook my head though. “I can’t leave,” I replied. “I need to get the star so I can protect it.”
Nicholas tilted his head as he looked at me, and some flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. “I see,” he said, but I wasn’t sure whether or not he did.
“So, how do I get the Christmas star?” I asked.
“You must take a leap of faith,” he replied. He waved a hand toward the end of the golden balcony that extended over the edge of the cliff behind him. “Only one with pure intentions for the star may obtain it. If your intentions are not pure, then the fall will kill you.”
My
throat constricted and I found it harder to breathe. “But what if my intentions are pure?” I asked.
“Then the star is yours to take,” he replied.
I nodded at his answer. I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about jumping from a precipice at the top of a mountain. I liked to believe that my intentions were pure though. I wanted the star so I could help others, but I hesitated as I searched my soul for any sign that wasn’t the case. Was there any part of my intentions that were corrupt? It felt almost impossible to tell.
“How many have attempted this leap of faith?” I asked.
“Only a few,” he replied. “Not many make it past the challenges the mountain sets them.”
I didn’t like my odds, but it did sound like I was one of only two young ones who weren’t fathered by Belsnickel, who was as evil as you could get. Perhaps that would be what made the difference.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.” I only wished my voice sounded half as certain as my words.
“It is your choice,” Nicholas said. “But you may still turn and go back if you wish. You will be safe in this realm, living with your mother and father for the rest of your life.”
My heart skipped a beat as I considered his offer. It was far more tempting than I was willing to admit aloud. I’d been so alone these last two years without my mom, and if I stayed in the Realm of Gods, I’d have the complete family I’d always wished for when I was a child. Mom’s house was just like the one I’d grown up in, and I could easily imagine how our days would be filled with laughter and love. I could even finally get to know my father. The realm was beautiful and magical, and the thought of spending the rest of my days with my family warmed my heart.
The real world felt so cold and dark in comparison. But as thoughts of Tomi, Dash, and all my other friends started to creep into my mind, I knew I couldn’t just abandon them. The lure of making up for lost time with my parents was hard to ignore, but I couldn’t just give up on my search for the Christmas star when I’d been through so much to get to it. If I didn’t take the leap of faith, I knew it was only a matter of time before Belsnickel came for the star, and then all the magical realms and everyone in them would be in danger of being destroyed.
Christmas Curse (Christmas Magic Book 3) Page 15