The Winter People

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  “You’ll be okay though, right?” My hangnails suddenly became intriguing.

  “Yeah,” he answered. “If you need anything, call to me and make sure you carry that rowan wood on you at all times.”

  I didn’t want him to go, yet I knew he had an obligation to his people.

  I rushed forward, flinging myself into his arms. “Be careful.”

  “You, too. And, Salome.” Gareth touched my cheek like I was fragile glass. “No matter what happens know you can trust me. In the end, I’ll be there.” He bent forward, his lips brushing my forehead.

  Above everyone else, I trusted him. Truth be told, I trusted him more than Nevin. I clung tight to him. Somehow I knew when we saw each other again things would be different.

  When he finally left that night, I sat on the deck contemplating how to end the curse once and for all. I had two ideas. One seemed almost too easy and the other one meant making the ultimate sacrifice. Because looking back over the last year, I realized one very important thing. Nevin wouldn’t kiss me, which meant there was a reason for it. And this had to be the key.

  As darkness set in, I headed toward the door.

  “Your time draws close, Salome. I tire of taunting you both. Soon, I will add another headstone to the cemetery and Nevin will be destroyed, stuck in winter forever.”

  Panic raked greedy claws down my spine, a cold sweat breaking out on my brow. Oh God, what if I failed? She had already proven the human soul was no match for her. How was I any different? In a few months the first flakes of snow would fall. And I was eighteen.

  Winter

  Fond lovers’ parting is sweet painful pleasure,

  Hope beaming mild on the soft parting hour;

  But the dire feeling, O farewell for ever,

  Is anguish unmingl’d and agony pure!

  Wild as the winter now tearing the forest,

  ’Till the last leaf o’ the summer is flown;

  Such is the tempest has shaken my bosom,

  Till my last hope and last comfort is gone.

  —Robert Burns

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Grandma and Grandpa had their suitcases in the living room, even though they weren’t leaving for another week. The weatherman popped up on the screen.

  “Looks like we’ll get our first taste of winter tomorrow,” the TV echoed the weatherman’s prediction. “Several inches will fall before noon and by tomorrow night we’re looking at a total of eight inches.”

  “Guess I better get the shovel and salt out,” Grandpa muttered. “Damn cold weather anyway.”

  Snow. I’d been both dreading it and looking forward to it over the past months. My mind conjured visions of icy cold graves, blustery winds, and her. Everything I feared came to be when the snow flew. The pond, the woods, the voices—they would soon be my constant companions.

  I shivered, hugging my arms across my chest. But winter also meant Nevin was coming back. My savior who had rescued me from her when I was six. I missed him, but I also dreaded his reappearance. He had lied to me and used his magic to charm me; forcing my love for him. But he had succeeded—I had loved him—and old feelings die hard. This was going to be a rough winter.

  “You okay, Salome?” Grandma sat next to me, worry lines etched deep into her forehead.

  “Yeah, a little nervous is all.”

  “You can still choose to walk away and go with us to Arizona.”

  I clasped her hand in mine. “I gave my word I would try to break it, I have to make the attempt.”

  “Of course you do, and I’ll be here when you face it down.”

  “I suppose I should head home. I’ll be back tomorrow.” I gave them hugs good-bye.

  Tomorrow. The day that’d change my life forever. I took a deep breath. There was so much more at stake than just Nevin and me. There was my family to consider. Nevin and Gareth’s kingdom. In that moment, I realized I’d be willing to do whatever it took to make things right.

  When I woke up the next morning, I rolled from bed, wiping the sleep from my eyes. I hadn’t slept well, too many nightmares and worries played through my mind.

  White flakes hit my window like pellets. The wind howled like monsters in a horror flick.

  It was happening.

  Throwing my closet open, I grabbed a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and my winter coat. Mom glanced up from her cup of coffee as I raced past.

  “Where are you going?” she asked as I tugged on my boots and hat.

  “To Grandma’s.” I tried to ignore the thrashing of my heart against my insides.

  “You haven’t eaten yet.” She pointed to the stack of pancakes on the table.

  “I’ll eat later.” The door slammed behind me and I ran like I was in a marathon, across the yard and up the driveway. I bypassed the house and dashed down the path next to the garage, skidding to a stop when I reached my grandparents’ backyard.

  There, leaning against the gazebo, was Nevin. Dark hair fell across his forehead. His ice-touched features just as I remembered them. His glacial eyes met mine.

  “Nevin.” I flung myself at him.

  He caught me in his arms and swung me around. When he set me down, his fingers traced my cheeks.

  “I’ve missed you.” He pulled me against his chest once more.

  “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

  “And yet here I am,” he teased. Taking a deep breath, he rested his chin on my forehead. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hold you. To feel your warmth.”

  “Eight months. Well unless you count the dance we got this summer.”

  He chuckled. “I forgot how funny you think you are.”

  “And I forgot how arrogant you are.” I pulled back to stare up at him.

  “Have you had any more thoughts on the curse?” He ventured to bring up the one subject I’d avoided.

  “I—I think I do.” My teeth grazed my bottom lip.

  Wind whipped across the yard, carrying snow with it. It sprayed the side of my face and I closed my eyes until it stopped, then wiped my cheek off. It was so cold.

  “Please try, Salome. Even if they don’t work, I’m no worse off than I was,” he whispered.

  With shaking hands, I touched his face. God help me. Just then, the gate squeaked behind me. I went still. The hairs on the back of my neck bristled. It was supposed to be locked.

  Very slowly, I turned to find Colton leaning against it, clapping his hands.

  “Together again, but not for long.” A sardonic grin splayed across his lips.

  “Colton, what are you doing? The gate is supposed to be shut.” My eyes widened with fear. I jerked away from Nevin, terror washing over me. Colton’s gaze looked cold.

  “I thought you might like to meet Kassandra. The woman my cousin destroyed. The one who cursed our people because of him.”

  A gauzy figure made its way through the gate. Red eyes glittered, dark hair snarled, with nature’s litter clinging to her. There were sticks, leaves, and thorns all stuck in her hair and to her skin. Long fingers looked more like bark than flesh. She smiled at me, teeth sharpened to thorny points.

  “We meet at last, Salome,” she hissed.

  “Kassandra? From the letters?” My voice squeaked as I turned on Nevin. “The woman you deceived with Aidrianna?” I couldn’t breathe. He’d hurt this woman—this creature—and she’d cursed him. And he deserved it—at least some of it. Now, he wanted me to free him.

  Nevin stared at the ground, then back up at me. “Yes,” he lowered his voice. “I made a mistake. I am a selfish person, but I did not deserve this.” He flung his arms wide, gesturing to the wintry landscape. “Year after year of cold. I can’t build a fire, go indoors, or enjoy the seasons. I can’t even enter my homeland. I have been stuck in a place worse than death.”

  The creature hissed. “You deserved it, Summer King. To feel the same coldness that clung to me after I found you and Aidrianna together. And hearing from the servants that I was just a tool i
n your sick games.” Kassandra’s thin lips twisted into a sneer.

  “And don’t forget what you cursed the rest of us to, dear cousin,” Colton said. “I had no part in your games, but because I was in the human world that night I ended up stuck here. I might not have had to face the winter, but I couldn’t return home. I was exiled with the rest of you. Not able to use the portals or see Faerie.”

  “So that’s why you betrayed me, cousin? Handing over our people’s lives for your own?” Nevin snarled. “You told me you would help to keep Salome safe.”

  “My lies are no worse than yours. And Kassandra promised if I helped destroy you by aiding in the capture of Salome, she would lift my curse, which is more than what you offered me.”

  “But I never did anything to you, Colton.” My stomach knotted as tears pricked at my eyes.

  “It was more fun to make Nevin mad and see just what he had to lose,” Colton sneered.

  How could I have been so stupid? My throat went dry, legs quaking beneath me. “That day on the bus, you meant for me to be on it. You practically pushed me onto it after the fight at school.” My words barely registered above a whisper.

  “Yes, but I didn’t count on Nevin going behind my back and talking to Gareth. It didn’t take me long to realize they didn’t trust me any longer.” He stepped closer.

  I backed away, bumping into Nevin. “But you didn’t kill me when you had the chance. You could’ve used your magic at any point to do so.”

  “Because we wanted Nevin to be here when you died. For him to watch his last chance at freedom disappear.” Kassandra’s eyes blazed brighter than hot coals. “He will suffer as I did.”

  “That makes you no better than him,” I whispered. “I know he hurt you, but you’ve had your revenge. You’ve killed most of the females in my family for generations.”

  “You were all of Aidrianna’s bloodline. Her curse tied into Nevin’s. None of you deserved to live, but I was merciful. You should have thanked me, really, for I left a few of you alive—your mother, her mother, and hers. I left one of Aidrianna’s bloodline alive each generation, so that you would continue to have daughters, continue to fight the curse, and continue to fail. I have enjoyed toying with you.” She added the last line with a sickening laugh.

  The back door opened and Grandma rushed out, her walking stick in hand. “You cannot be here,” she hollered.

  “The gate was opened, old woman. I’ve come to collect the final price.” Kassandra raised her arms and a whoosh of magic flew from her hands, slamming Grandma backward, pinning her to the ground. The air stirred with currents of glowing fiery orbs, sizzling and crackling like flames.

  “Let her go!” I screeched.

  “Gareth, I need you.” The thoughts rushed from my mind and I watched as more forms fell in behind us. The winter people, Nevin’s cursed troupe. Icy features touched with the blues and whites of winter: tiny beings, tall beings, and incredible beauty. All cursed.

  “Salome, please, if you know how to break the curse—do it now,” Nevin urged, his hand brushing mine.

  I’d read enough fairytales—I just had to try.

  Spinning around, I clutched Nevin, taking his face in my hands. I pressed my lips to his. At first he tried to pull away, then his lips parted, kissing me back.

  “No, Master…Salome, no…You have to stop,” the voices called out around us.

  All of a sudden, Nevin shoved me back, his eyes wide. “What have I done?”

  My stomach clenched at the light-headedness. I didn’t feel so well. Dizziness gripped hold of me.

  The creature laughed, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. “Foolish girl. Do you think I would’ve made it that easy? Quite the opposite. His kiss is poison and you’ve taken a big sip.”

  “I know,” I whispered, staring right at her.

  The air changed. I glanced up to see Gareth rushing into the yard.

  “What did you do?”

  “Kissed him.”

  His face paled, eyes widening with horror. Grandma wailed from her place on the ground and the winter people receded toward the trees.

  The fairytales always had quests, or someone being rescued, or kissed, or…a sacrifice. The ultimate price, which most people weren’t willing to pay. But I wasn’t most people. I knew what I was doing. I just needed to say the words aloud.

  Kassandra stepped closer to me, Colton on her heels.

  “Soon you will perish, Salome. I hope the price of a kiss was worth it. This will be the end of Nevin because your bloodline will not continue, which means there is no other hope.”

  I glanced at Grandma, at Nevin, at his people, then finally to Gareth. I fell to my knees. Wet snow seeped through my jeans. Everything went still. The wind calmed. The voices hushed, there was just the occasional flake sputtering from the sky above.

  Winter would be the death of me. I always knew it. But at least now, I could go knowing I’d made a difference.

  “It was my choice to make. I knew what his kiss would do to me. I offered my life in exchange for Nevin’s. The ultimate sacrifice.” I looked at Gareth as I said the words and his eyes widened. I wanted him to know that I had not only sacrificed myself for Nevin, but for all of the winter people; so that they could go home, back to the summer. And maybe, just maybe, they would remember my sacrifice and stop tormenting my people.

  Kassandra shrieked. “No, what have you done you foolish girl? This can’t be. Why would you give your life for one who wouldn’t have done the same for you?”

  “Because, I’m different than you. I’m different than Aidrianna. I care…”

  A bright light flared. I watched in awe as the winter people began to glow. Their features thawed and they had golden and bronze skin, flowers bloomed at their feet, chasing away the remnants of snow piling on the ground around them.

  And Nevin looked celestial—a crown made of sunshine shone bright on his head. His smile widened as he tipped his face toward the sky, welcoming in the warmth.

  “You broke the curse, Salome, now the price must be collected,” Kassandra hissed.

  Then all hell broke loose. Colton rushed forward and Gareth unsheathed his sword. I watched the two of them circle one another. Metal clanged against metal after Colton produced his own sword.

  Nevin shouted orders to his followers while I knelt where I’d fallen.

  Kassandra rushed toward me, dagger glinting in her hand. But I couldn’t move.

  “Salome,” Gareth shouted in my mind. “The rowan, use the rowan.” In the midst of his own battle, he tossed a piece of the wood to me. It fell in the snow several feet away.

  Dizzy, I tried to reach for it right as she plunged the blade into my chest. A scream tore through me, but all I heard was silence ringing in my ears.

  But before she backed away, I saw Grandma charging at her from behind. In one swift strike, she plunged her rowan walking stick through the witch’s back. Kassandra screamed. Writhing in pain, she fell to the ground beside me.

  Her body twitched then exploded into dark, shadowy plumes of dust that showered the snow and thawed areas of ground.

  The last thing she shouted was, “You will still perish, and Adirianna’s bloodline shall live no more!”

  Coldness gripped me and I teetered the rest of the way to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I sputtered, gasping for breath.

  The muted smell of pine wafted to my nose.

  The clash of swords, the grunts and cries of battle swirled, then ebbed.

  The chill breeze brushed tufts of my hair across my forehead.

  The scents, the sounds, the touches of my world faded as I fought to fill my lungs.

  My fingers scratched the ground, as if I could hold on to my life, but I was fading. Fast.

  “Salome.” Grandma staggered to my side. She fell to her knees, hands touching my chest and coming away with blood. “No. No, not my baby.” She sobbed. “Nevin! Do something. She gave her life for you.”

  As my eyes blurred, Gare
th shoved his sword through Colton’s chest. Colton slumped to the ground, blood seeping into the snow around him. In a way I felt sorry for him. All he’d wanted was to go home.

  Then the darkness beckoned, chilled fingers trying to pry my soul from my body.

  “Please, do something,” Grandma said again.

  Nevin glanced at me, his face stricken. “There is nothing I can do for her. The curse called for a sacrifice. That kind of power cannot succumb to my own.”

  “Will you not try? It’s your fault she’s dying.”

  “Doris, I never meant for this to happen,” he said. “I will do what I can.” He knelt beside me, cradling my head in his lap. The warmth radiated from his fingers, but it wasn’t enough. He released me, peering around at the others.

  “Nevin, you have to do more.” Gareth dropped down beside him and grabbed my hand. The song of his blood called to mine, but even the ringing of the bells diminished, then died. “I am bound to her.”

  I heard several gasps fan out. “You’re what?”

  “She is bound to me. By blood.”

  Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, my heartbeat slowed. So tired. The pain felt so far away. Shadows reached out for me, tugging me along, and I drifted after them. So cold.

  “Use your power, Nevin, and I will call to her,” Gareth said.

  A glistening river flowed before me, ghostly figures floating by. I lay in a wooden boat, bobbing back and forth as the currents carried me. Sun touched my cheek. I smiled. I was going home. No more pain. No more tears.

  “Salome, don’t you give up. Come back to me,” Gareth said.

  “I don’t know how.”

  “Yes you do.”

  “But I’m almost there.” I stared at the glowing white lights up ahead and the soft music playing me home.

  “No. Salome, you cannot leave me. Not today.”

  The sun disappeared and the boat moved faster. As I sat up, Colton drifted past; his dark gaze met mine. His hand reached over, grabbing hold of my boat. He pulled himself up, rocking me back and forth.

  “You cannot escape me. I won’t let you go back,” he said. “You chose death. You chose me.”