Come in From the Cold

by FrozenPaladin

In an alternate reality where the Ice Queen, Elizabeth Petrikov, has begun to regain the life she lost a thousand years ago, her son takes a duty upon himself to make himself and his family better understood to the inhabitants of Aaa. (Orignially published to my tumblr, prince-of-midwinter)

7. Chapter 6

My royal blue schoolbag smacks down against the polished tile floor as they toss it away. I hear the fragile bottles of ink smash, and my bag starts to bleed black. They close in on me, and I don't have time to think. I'm gasping, crying out in terror, as there is a sharp cracking noise echoing in my ears, and a pain in my ribs. Then comes another pain, lower, beneath my ribcage. Blood wells up in my throat. Then a shove, and I'm going down, down, down. Then a whiteness as my vision cuts out for a moment, followed by a sickening crunch and a throbbing, blistering pain as my vision returns, albeit vision that leaves the world swimming before my eyes. I lie there, letting the tears come. They laugh. I hear the words "freak" and "witchspawn." Then comes one more blow in a very sensitive place. I writhe and shriek and foam at the mouth. They laugh a little more, before they decide that they're done with me for now. They leave and I stay.

I try not to retain negative memories, and more often than not I fail to recall the faces of my tormentors. Some details, however, remain lodged in my brain, clear as day, like flickering flashes of ultra-bright light. My brain taking snapshots of fear, taking in critical, sharp details in order to heighten my chances of survival.

I'm in the infirmary. Blood is running down one side of my head. My white hair is matted with red. The wounds hurt less than my failed attempt at a hello.

"Fractured skull and a broken rib, some bruising of the abdominopelvic organs as well. For goodness sakes, Andrew, please never run down the stairs again right after they've been polished. Your body isn't built for taking heavy impact. I know you're immortal, but that doesn't make you invulnerable."

"Okay, Prince Gumball."

He patches me up and sends me on my way. I wander down the halls, unsteady on my feet, making for the front doors of the palace where my mom will meet me to take me home.

I didn't tell the prince what really happened. That would just cause more trouble. It doesn't matter, anyway. Boys will be boys, after all.