A Frozen Heart (A Blood War Novel Book 1)

by Alia Johnson

  She shrugged her shoulders helplessly and said, “I'm so sorry, I can't speak your language.” The yeti’s face turned shocked, the hair on its body standing on end. The large ear pivoted to hear her sounds better.

  Lifting her bonds to point at herself, she stated, “Odesha”.

  The yeti roughly repeated back, “Oda?” It was a good first try, but his mouth was having trouble saying her name. She tried again, repeating her name slower hoping he wouldn't become angry. Finally, after a couple tries, the yeti got it right. “Odeshhhhhhaaaaaaaaahhhhh.” The syllables grunted from his mouth sounded like he had choked on his food, but at least she could understand him.

  She nodded her head warily. “Yes.” She pointed to herself again. “Odesha,” Then pointed back to him, trying to encourage further communication. It grunted again, the harsh sound hard to decipher. Attempting a guess, she hesitated and asked, “Dek?”

  The name was manly, and she prayed she had guessed his gender correctly. He nodded hard, his great bone necklace clicking together loudly with the movement.

  He gestured toward the chains. Odesha raised her hands cautiously. He gripped them tightly in and broke them with his bare hands without any effort. She reevaluated her first impression of him.

  He was as strong as a demon, but she would bet his bulk slowed him down. There wasn’t a weapon on his side she could see. He must be harmless, she reasoned. Odesha didn't inherit many traits from her father, who was a pure demon. Her sister, Vashti, had his strength and brave spirit. All Odesha’s strengths and weaknesses were inherited from her mother’s side. Her speed, the curse of the ice, and her taste for blood were from the vampire side.

  Dek grunted deeply and gestured towards the doorway, expecting her to follow him through it.

  While Odesha tried to decipher his words, he clasped both hands to his forearms. He repeated slowly, “Odesha. Dunka ari Dek.” Watching her reaction closely, Dek noticed her distress at not understanding the garbled language. The yeti repeated the gesture and phrase. Hands folding, then releasing, and a slice of his hand across the front of its throat caused her to wince. “Odesha, dunka ari Dek ro bov.” Odesha nodded. She understood that.

  Stay with Dek or die.

  Dek stared silently at Odesha, his face serious. Reaching over slowly to not startle her, he squeezed her upper arms, testing the strength she carried. He snorted in amusement. Dek’s head shook from side to side, conveying his sadness. She kept her thoughts from her face in case he could read her easily. He had decided she was weak because of her size, Odesha was sure of it. Like the demons to the south, Dek's size and strength were both intimidating, helping him survive this tough environment. She would survive here, she wasn’t concerned. The ice was already inside her, it didn’t matter if it was around her. Turning, Dek gestured for her to follow. Odesha stayed close to his heels and left the shed with him, hoping he would keep her safe.

  Odesha looked around at her surroundings to find the way home. She kept Dek in the corner of her eye the whole time. The orik forest was behind them, far enough she could only see the shadow of the line of trees. Together they trekked towards a large wooden structure encased by ice. The structure was large, pointing high in the sky. The wooden planks were perfectly preserved in the ice. In front of the structure, a worn path through the snow had been walked frequently. On both sides of the same path, small wooden booths were set up, creating a quaint marketplace. It was crudely built, holding wares of all types. Several hanks of meat were sitting inside wooden totes covered with snow. She could see homemade cloth of fading colors. The yeti vendors were packing up their wares. They were chatting with each other in that deep grunting language that Dek had spoken. Silence permeated through the crowd when they noticed them approaching.

  The other yeti resembled Dek in appearance. Their furry faces peered out for a better look. The yeti pointed and gasped at her approaching. Odesha assumed they were not used to a hairless person.

  The yeti in the marketplace were dressed in light colors with loose tunics and dresses. Women yeti, being giants, lifted items easily from their stalls. Their faces had less fur and were softer in appearance. Their colors of fur differed from a light blue, white, gray, even some light browns. Different lengths of thick hair hung from each gender’s head, some with plain beads woven in. They were very easy to tell apart now that there were so many in front of Odesha.

  Dek's stern appearance was unique compared to others in the market, harsher, as if life had worn him down long ago. He must have had a great burden to bear. This tribe on the ice had no one to depend on but each other. That would be tough for any species. So many things could go wrong and there would be no one to turn to. They pushed forward to the large structure. Dek’s powerful strides sliced through the snow. The smell of wet snow and wood swelled through the market. The ice shards dug inside Odesha's heart. It caused her to wince, and she rubbed at her chest. It was getting worse each day. In the beginning, she had tried hard to find her spark. But as the days went on, she gave up hope.

  They walked around the large wooden structure, going around the entrance. The ice had locked the structure into place for eternity.

  On the other side of the structure, was a large clearing made into a circle. A raised wooden dais had been constructed on one side of the clearing. A large fire sizzled on another side. The burnt wood was the source of the smell she had experienced when first entering the marketplace. More yeti clustered in groups. They grunted and laughed with each other. A large celebration was about to occur. The yeti in the clearing were dressed in finer cloth and their hair was loose and free in the light of the fire.

  Some seemed to be…missing…certain items of clothing. The nudity made Odesha avert her eyes for modesty’s sake. The naked yeti did not seem to be making a stir. Instead, they blended in with the others. It would have been a riot in court if someone had dared wear such revealing outfits.

  When shouting sounded off in the distance of the clearing, a small fluffy ball barreled into Odesha's healed side. Even though the ball was small, it still knocked her off balance. It didn't hurt, just scared her, so much that she cried out in alarm, alerting Dek. He turned with teeth bared, clutching a wicked-looking knife he had pulled from his back. The sharp point almost skewered Odesha while she tried to regain her balance. He was slower than she was when he moved, but much more powerful. What worried her was she hadn’t seen him carrying the knife beneath the feathers. Chiding herself to be more careful, she pushed the blade to the side, nervously looking down to the bit of fluff clutching her legs. A small yeti with long brown hair and dark eyes had Odesha’s legs wrapped in her twig-like arms.

  Dek’s eyes.

  A cherub-like face, with soft hair framing its face, peered up at Odesha. It made her think the small yeti was a girl. The child smiled at Odesha with a toothy grin. Tightening her arms, the child grunted a softly worded question to Dek. Dek sighed and placed the blade back in its holster to safely hide the knife. The knife had looked to have been crafted crudely, but the bent edges and worn handle looked like they had been in many battles. But what would these people have battles with, Odesha wondered. Dek grunted a quick reply to the little one with a smile and opened his arms wide. She released Odesha's legs and jumped to wrap her arms around Dek's neck, while he nuzzled her cheek gently. Dek’s show of affection surprised Odesha. He had seemed so stern around her that she had thought he would be the same around his children. His large hairy arm gestured to Odesha and the girl to introduce the two.

  “Odesha, Dede.”

  Odesha nodded her head in understanding. She whispered, in vampire tongue, “Dede, very pleased to meet you.” The lyrical sounds of her voice were pleasing compared to demonish. If she continued to whisper, she thought it would help show Dek she was meek and not aggressive.

  Dede looked confused at the foreign tongue, scrunching her face prettily to grunt a question to Dek. After shaking his head in response to her question, Dede shrugged and climbed down
his body to hold out her hand to Odesha patiently.

  Odesha glanced at Dek, worried to touch the child. He stared back at her in grave warning, tilting his head to the side, waiting to see what she would do in response. Odesha translated that look with a gulp. He was warning her, if she harmed his child it would be a horrible fate and he could easily do it with that sharp blade. Not wanting to test his patience, she placed her hand over her heart and bowed her head to let him know she wasn't a threat.

  Not yet, at least.

  Dek looked suspicious at first. His body gradually relaxed when he recognized her sincerity. With a sigh, he turned around to walk closer to the fire. Occasionally, he would glance back and watch them walking hand in hand with a thoughtful look. It was a good start.

  Chapter 6

  The fire was a beautiful backdrop to the ice surrounding the group. The dancing reflection carried across the snow, casting shadows. The large full moon shined brightly, giving the air an unearthly glow. It was a winter wonderland full of beings she never knew existed. But she wished her family was here. Vashti would’ve loved to join the celebration, Saphira would’ve loved to explore the new environment, and Endemion would’ve been looking for the tribe’s weakness to use against them. Father would’ve been drinking along with the groups, making merry as always. The thought of her lost family caused Odesha to shiver as the icy cold continued to batter her failing heart, insidious in its pursuit to overtake her. It was getting harder to move her extremities. Like a great weight had settled on her. But at least she would have the memories of her family in her last moments.

  The tribe of yeti was larger than Odesha previously had thought. Unable to count their numbers, many groups were clustered around a large charred animal being roasted on a spit. Easily big enough to feed these numbers, people rotated to give others a break at turning. It took a lot of strength to push the heavy animal. Odesha squinted, trying to identify what they were cooking, but it was so badly mangled and cooked she couldn't. The smell of blood was mouthwatering. The meat smell, not so much. She still remembered the taste of the broth from earlier. She grimaced, smacking her lips, not wanting to go through that again.

  Many yeti looked to be teenagers. They danced around each other to the beat of drums played by several older yeti. They were showing off for the crowd. Their moves were boisterous and coordinated. Odesha could tell they had been practicing for a long time together. The yeti that watched, cheered them on, clapping loudly and yelling encouragement. She wasn’t used to this type of celebration. The ones at Merdi were calm and controlled, until the king had too much to drink. At that point, Odesha would retire to her room to let others coral him, usually Endemion.

  There were many children participating in the celebration, unlike Merdi where children stayed at home with servants. Dede noticed a group of children playing with a ball covered with animal hide and started to fidget. She released Odesha's hand to join them as they kicked the ball around and screamed in happiness. Odesha tapped Dek on the arm, gesturing to Dede playing to let him know where she was going, so he didn't think she ate the poor child. He looked to where she pointed at and nodded his head. He must be used to Dede running away, Odesha reasoned.

  Suddenly, a yeti tribe member broke away from one of the larger groups on the other side of the circle and sprinted towards Dek with arms wide. Odesha’s jaw fell open when she noticed the large yeti had only a band of cloth around her swinging breasts and a loincloth to cover her very large derriere. The cloth was unable to hold her size, bouncing from side to side, showing everyone her assets. Odesha's face heated, her hand slapping across her forehead. She just wasn't used to this much nudity around her, but she was trying not to offend by her stares and opinions, hurriedly putting her hand down.

  This yeti was one of the shortest adult yeti she had seen, but was still larger than Odesha. Her gray hair hung in giant waves to just below her shoulders. The screaming grunts pulled attention from the crowd to the approaching Dek. Cheers and raised clay bowls began like a ripple from the crowd of yeti. The female yeti was a bouncy whirlwind of chaos. Odesha wanted to shield her eyes to give her privacy, but she worried if that may have been another insult. The tribe around Odesha was taking it in stride. The two embraced in a tangle of limbs. Dek dipped her down low to the ground, making the female laugh in joy. They rubbed noses together and smiled at each other, oblivious to the scene they were creating. How odd. Do they not kiss? Odesha had seen courtiers engaged in affairs in the castle’s halls, watching them moan in enjoyment of each other. Their mouths clung to each other with passion, making her burn in sadness to never experience what they felt. Odesha had always walked away feeling lonelier than she had been before. This open affection was refreshing. The joy and happiness felt contagious. Sighing, feeling sad, she would have liked to experience this kind of happiness one day, but that wasn’t in her future.

  Dek grunted and pulled his female upright. They clasped hands and walked towards the circle of yeti she had just left, talking back and forth in their language. Dek forgot about his captive so quickly, Odesha realized the new yeti must be his fire. The thaw to a heart caused from a spark, as mother used to say. The one thing that could save her, now. Or kill, just like her mother.

  Odesha sighed and looked down at a slab of ice at her feet, seeing her rough appearance reflected. The blood she had drunk earlier made her lips turn a dark red. Her straight white hair lay in disarray. She ran her fingers through the tresses to fix the worst snarls. Her long, slim legs shone brightly in the moonlight. The crown she once wore was gone, reminding her she wasn't a princess there, just a regular person trying to fit in where she didn't belong. The loose, pale dress barely covered her bottom, so she tugged on it uncomfortably. It must’ve been made for a child since the female yeti's garb would swallow her whole, hanging from her thin frame. At least being frozen she couldn't feel the cold. Alarmed, she reached for her chest and gasped. Where was the necklace? Odesha let out a breath of air when she felt it nestled protectively between her breasts. The yeti hadn’t removed it.

  That could have been disastrous if they had taken it, not knowing what it was for. If Vashti had been summoned, the yeti would have killed her in their fright. Of course, Dek happened to turn around when he realized Odesha wasn't following him. He noticed her own breasts in her hands, his raised brow said as much. Odesha felt a blush cross her face in her embarrassment, calmly lowered her arms down to her side, trying to look confident. Dek rolled his eyes and grunted a question. She walked closer to hear him, her head tilted in confusion.

  He gestured to the woman to introduce the two. “Odesha, Fanni.” Odesha froze when she realized what he said. She tried to keep her composure over the apt name.

  Odesha executed a deep curtsy reserved for visiting queens in Merdi, keeping a straight face and replied, “Greetings, Miss Fanni.”

  Fanni puckered her large mouth and made several attempts to say Odesha's name. It only caused a slight wince before she got it right. Being this close to the female, Odesha noticed her striking eyes. They were a light blue like the ice around them. When Fanni said her name correctly, Odesha nodded her head with an attempt to smile. It felt brittle, her lips almost cracking. She had watched the groups around smiling, so she knew it wouldn't be taken as aggression. They showed happiness and affection just like her own people. Except for kisses. Odesha hadn’t seen one yet, even to the children. Dek waved Odesha forward arrogantly, pleased that she was so well behaved. Odesha stood beside Fanni while they walked together. Fanni grunted and gestured at the yeti they passed, who continued to stare with bewilderment at their odd group. Nodding her head, keeping her facial expression serene, Odesha’s insides felt like they were in turmoil, unsure if Fanni was trying to introduce her to the tribe or if she was telling them to stay away. Her lack of facial and body hair must be horrifying for these people to look at. But if they only knew what she really was. A monster that lived off blood. That would be even worse.

  They reach
ed the innermost circle of almost naked people. The flames of the fire put off so much heat it reminded Odesha of the heat dungeon she took Vladeric to. Her low hiss alerted Fanni, who turned with concern to view Odesha. She tugged at Odesha’s gown and clucked her tongue like a chicken. That's why they were almost naked; it was like hellfire the heat was so intense.

  Odesha shrugged her shoulders. She motioned towards a large ice cap she had spotted in the near distance to Fanni. She didn't have anything else to wear, so she would just have to stay away from the fire. It was close enough to see and be a part of the celebration, but far enough she wouldn't be uncomfortable. Fanni gestured and nodded enthusiastically. A sharp tug to Dek's fur called his attention to her. They grunted back and forth to each other, arguing about what the best choice would be. Keep the furless creature close, or far away enough she could run, Odesha silently translated. She wasn't sure if that's what they were saying, but she still attempted to understand. A decision must have been reached between the two, because Dek turned toward Odesha and nodded his head, signaling she could stay on her ice cap.

  He gestured to the far ice in the distance, the darkness terrifying in its stillness, and grunted, “Bov.”

  Death. But because nothing could survive in the darkness or because he would hunt her down? Odesha didn't want to find out. Deciding to stay close, she bowed her head. Her soft steps took her to the spot she chose.

  If the yeti had been cruel to her, she would’ve killed them by now. They had been so kind she wasn't sure what to think. Were they civilized or did they just live simply? The curiosity about the tribe was the reason she hadn’t fled yet, Odesha reasoned. Not to mention the blood supply. She would need a lot to reach Antiqua, not able to survive the ice without nourishment. She sat down and tucked her short skirt to the side to get comfortable on her new perch. Dede ran by her while kicking her ball. The small child laughed happily, waving to her. The laughter and gaiety of the people were infectious. Dek and Fanni seemed to be in a hearty discussion with an elderly yeti. Odesha studied their body language. Most people bowed their heads to Dek. It showed her he had a place of high importance in the group, a chieftain of this tribe. He commanded respect and many came to speak with him. She studied the tribe closer and learned the dynamics and the social structure, but the language barrier made it hard.