Frozen Heart Chapter 02
Grey clouds covered the sky, making the already dark forest more creepy. The snow was fresh and crispy, like really soft blanket or sugar. In the silence something flew across the forest, heading right ahead to the great Dragul Castle.
"Brrrr why we need to go there?" asked an albatross from his tiny passengers "This place just makes me shiver."
"We need to go to the castle Orville. Remember the message" tried to reassure him a white, female mouse.
"Message, message! I just not want to become some wolf snack! Understand it, Miss Bianca" frowned Orville.
"Over there" pointed ahead the third one, a brownish male mouse. Behind some trees they finally noticed the castle. It was so big and so creepy.
"Oookay ladies and gentlemen. Hold on your breakfast, we gonna land there" said Orville and flew much faster, approaching to the wooden entry. Maybe a bit too fast
"Orville, Orville, stooooooop!" shouted up Bernard scared, both of them grabbed on the belts tight. Too fast to be stopped, the albatross crashed into the wooden door with a "splat". Suddenly the door open, with the bird still in the wooden structure
"Someone have knocked?" said one of ghosts of the castle "Oh!" the ghost just realized the poor albatross on the door "Someone of you need something?"
"Eh-heh... another successful landing..." moaned Orville and fell into the snow.
"Idiot chicken!" frowned Bernard as he struggled out from the seat, helping Bianca out.
The door open more and the ghost said "My dear guests.. you need to talk with my lord?"
"Ezra, there's someone at the door?" a familiar voice behind the ghost requested, and the Count Mickey in person appeared in front of the three travelers "who are you?"
"Ah, you must be the Count we heard about" Bianca fixed her hat and fur before the mice went closer "My name is Bianca, this is my partner Bernard, and that albatross is Orville. Forgive us to disturb you at this late hour, but we brought a message."
The count ed at the mice and step back "We'll talk about this in, please come, here's cold" talked gently and let the others inside.
"Thanks, its really chilling outside" grimaced Bernard.
"Oh can you help on Orville please" Bianca asked the ghost, pointing to the dizzy albatross
"Oh sure..." the ghost took the poor bird by his tail and brought him inside, while Mickey, Bianca and Bernard went into the throne room. The count sat on his throne and watched his guests "Tell me everything, what's the message?"
They made a polite bow "Well... we brought some sad news... to Miss Mina..." muttered Bernard.
"Sad news?" Mickey halyard his ears, then Mina appeared, coming out of a curtain behind the dragon statue.
"Mickey, my dear what.. oh who are those guests?"
"Mina..." Mickey spoke on a serious tone "These messengers have some news to tell you..."
"News? What kind of news?" Mina raised a confused brow, turning to their guests.
"Miss Mina..." Bianca walked a bit closer, fidgeted with her scarf nervously "We regret to inform, but several days ago.. your uncle has passed away."
"W-what?" both she and Mickey were shocked "M-my uncle..?"
"Yes... sorry for the loss" said Bernard, holding his hat in hands.
Mina needed to hold on her mate, not to collapse. She buried her head into Mickey's clothes and cried.
"How horrible..." sobbed.
"How great..." Mickey just barely could hide a smile "Eh.. I mean khm.. horrible, really horrible. What happened? Drowned in his money?"
"We not sure about that, only heard rumors." answered Bernard, then lowered his voice a little "But it seems he was murdered..."
"M...murdered?" Mina glanced down at the mouse with red cheek.
"Yes. The police we talked with said, he was found in his study. Someone has cut his throat."
"But Bernard! Don't scare the lady more!" scolded him Bianca with a sour look.
"I'm sorry. But there was something weird..." rubbed his head the other.
"Weird? What do you mean?" asked Mickey.
"They said..." the mouse licked his lips "His heart was missing too."
This stunned the couple. Mina's whole body trembled in shock.
"Dear God... who could be this cruel..?" whispered on weak voice, red tears streamed her face again.
"Mina, my love, please calm down..." Mickey gently hugged the female, trying to reassure her.
"Miss Mina, we're really sorry for what happened with your uncle" Bianca softly touched Mina's clothes. Then her partner came and placed a hand onto her shoulder.
"Better... if we leave." he said.
"Thanks your effort." Mickey nodded with sad expression.
The two mouse managed to leave when suddenly the main door slammed wide open, chilly wind blew in, almost blowing the tiny mice away.
"Who dare to enter without permission?" demanded Mickey, using his cloak to protect himself and Mina from the storming snow and cold. In the doorway they noticed a figure, the hail hacked it's long ears and jacket. It hurry stepped inside and locked the door.
"Oswald?" Mickey asked with a surprise when he recognized the guest.
The rabbit leaned to his knees as he tried to breathe. Snow and ice covered his shoulders and the end of his ears. Seemed he was near to exhaustion.
"O-Ozzie... Hey, everything is okay pal?" Mickey stepped closer to his friend. Ozzie raised his head , glaring at the Count tired and with an expression Mickey barely saw from him: frustration and fear.
"Mick... Finally... There's no time... Hurry take your family and run..." the rabbit talked in hurry, but he run out of oxygen and gasped.
"Hey hey, easy boy. What are you talking about?" Mickey hold his friend to slow down "Why I need to leave the castle?"
"For your own sake...Please listen to your friend!" Oswald grabbed Mickey's shoulders tight "There's someone who wants to kill you!"
"Huh? Kill me? Oh please Ozzie, it's ri..." Mickey made a soft smile, thinking only the exhaustion speaks from the rabbit.
"I not joking!" shouted Oswald angry "There's a person who's hunting you. I heard with my own ears. Mick, you're my friend, so trust me, please..."
The Count stared at him for a moment, hesitating if he's right or not, then sighed and nodded.
"O-kay... if its makes you reassured I..." suddenly a new voice echoed in the throne room, a soft chuckle and claps. Everyone looked around where the sound came from.
"Who's there? Show your face!" asked Mickey, standing in position.
"What a nice performance. I love it so much." from behind a column near the door a person walked out as I clapped its hands. They couldn't see its face, a long coat and hood hid most part of the body. "Sadly... the show is over for you, Count Mickey!"
To be continued...