As Alec's feet carefully carried him towards the gate entrance, he found himself slowly beginning to embrace the cold, even as he flexed his hands to keep the bitter chill from reaching the blood that flowed through them and kept them from freezing over along with the rest of his body. It crossed his mind that he should no longer be capable of moving, but though his mind argued with the possibility, his body moved forward as if being drawn in a current. Or a dream. Alec decided that this must be a dream. Which would explain why he couldn't feel anything. Or maybe he was just numb.
Alec wasn't really sure what he would find once inside, but since he didn't know what he was looking for anyway, he supposed that it didn't matter. As he brought his hands up to his chest, he became acutely aware of his rapidly descending heartbeat. With each step closer, it seemed to grow fainter. Maybe once is stopped, he would awaken. Once Alec reached the gate, his immobile fingers grazed it in a clumsy, feeble attempt to open it. It took him a few tries before he was able to do so. Alec cautiously stepped through the tiny, iron opening. It was like walking deeper into another world, he graciously noted. The old world grandeur of wherever he was, was certainly not lost on him. Alec approached the hauntingly beautiful castle that leaned against the dark sky like the shadow of a million lost souls. Which is exactly what came to Alec's mind as an incredibly strong gust of wind blew past him and for the briefest second, he could have sworn he heard it whispering to him. Urging him onward. But that was just silly. Wasn't it?
Alec glanced upwards in a vain attempt to see just how far the castle reached up. But the black, smoky sky blocked his view as he realized that the castle shot straight up into it in a twisted, darkened knot of old style architecture. He could once again hear the whispers and this time he knew that it was not just his imagination. Someone was beckoning to him and he allowed himself to be led by the haunting voice. Straight up the three small steps that led to the charred, wooden door that was way too small for such an enormous home. Alec's gaze fell over the blackened door, and as he pushed it open, a stubborn groan sounding out to him like thunder as it creaked open, the damp charcoal smell that greeted him made him aware of why the house was so black. There had undoubtedly been a very large fire once upon a time. It was amazing that the house had managed to stay standing at all. Alec reached the conclusion that it must have been build with a very strong foundation. Yet he was still wary as he entered, mildly afraid that the ceiling would come crashing down at any moment.
"Alec." Alec spun around quickly as he heard someone whisper his name and felt a soft, flowing material brush across his arm. His shallow breath came out in small, rapid pants as his eyes widened in fear. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he just wanted to wake up. His eyes flew quickly to the door, but as it slowly flew shut, he decide his only hope was to continue on within the house. He absent mindedly drug his hand through his hair and brought it down to interlock with his other hand, meeting at his lips as he desperately blew into them, trying to warm up. But his breath came out cold and he quickly saw the futility in his actions and abandoned them to ascend the tiny staircase before him. The last thing that Alec wanted to do was go upstairs, but he could still feel the voice drawing him on and his curiosity was at it's peak. He could feel the terror gripping mercilessly at his heart, but he could deal with terror. At least it was something. And it was without a doubt better than the apathetic numbness that he was leaving behind.
As his foot landed heavily on the first stair, Alec paused to brace himself for a noisy creak, but it never came. Instead, he heard a soft thud ... and then silence. He swallowed the hard lump lodged in his throat and lifted his other foot. Then brought it down. Still nothing. Feeling more confident, he quickened his pace and had no problems until he reached the eleventh stair ... and his foot fell through the weakened wood. Alec managed to stifle his horrified scream before he caught the attention of any unwanted company. Like whoever was whispering to him. Or...whatever had touched him downstairs. Alec shuddered as he recalled the incident. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as he concentrated on lifting his leg out from the broken stair. The boards made a loud, mournful creak as he pulled and pulled, his leg muscles on fire and screaming for rest. Finally he managed to free himself and needless to say, was much more careful as he continued up, ready at a moment's notice to jump over the side railing should the stairs try to collapse beneath him.
Though Alec suffered no repeat incidents on the stairs, his terror expanded greatly once he had traveled all the way through the long, pitch black hallway and into the first bedroom he came too. His lips moved silently in awe as he took in the sight before him. There in a glass tube, standing still as death, was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.