The Ice Behind Bars

Chapter VIII : Unusual Feelings

"Akkhh, it stinks in here!" Anna spoke, her hand closing her nose, a grimace on her face, while she held her bow on her back.

"AAghh, we are in the sewers Anna!...now can you stop whining!" Aiden deadpanned while carrying his spear.

"I know! And the more we go deeper the more it gets cold!" Rapunzel reminded the obvious.

They were walking in a tunnel, where the sewer water reached their knees, the horrid smells, so thick and cloying that they felt it permeating their clothes and skin, their noses burned, rats were swimming under them, yet they could barely see them as the water was a thick black-green color, and the only light they have, was Flynn's torch.

"Remind me to take a bubbly bath when we get back," Anna said.

"When we finish this, I'm so gonna demand a vacation!" Flynn announced.

"Well, smells are better than screams, at least they stopped a while ago," Anna was saying then Aiden shushed her off,

"Do you hear that?" Aiden asked,

They silenced themselves so they can try and hear to what Aiden was talking about. And then they heard it, a man's laughter.

"Over their.." Aiden pointed up front where a ladder stood straight leading upwards.

"Come on!" Anna whispered, motioning with her hand for the others to follow her, "...stay silent!"

As they approached the ladder, they were able to hear an old immoral man's voice from the upper floor saying, "I'll be back in a minute now, darling",then they heard footsteps echoing, fading away, then a metal door to what looks like was heavy, creaks open then closes.

They reached the ladder, then looked up to see that there was a sewer doormat and in the middle of it, were three holes, allowing some of the light of the upper room to come down on them. They climbed the ladder silently, not willing to make the sound of their feet hitting the metal of the ladder to imitate. Aiden was first to lift the doormat very slightly allowing only their eyes to peek around. The first thing they saw was a huge thick metal door, with bottom bars, and behind the bars, was a dark room, barely visible yet, they saw a pale figure on the ground…a woman.

Their faces went slack, mouth slightly open, body unmoving, and color draining from their faces as they stared wide-eyed at something no one else could possibly believe to see, they just froze up to a point where they can hardly breathe, a haunted look splattered their faces, they couldn't blink, they just couldn't blink at such a mere sight.

There, a woman lay on the stony, harsh floor, unmoving, she was so skinny, her back facing them, yet just by a look, can be clearly described with one word, misery. She had pale as white yet bleeding skin, platinum oily, bloody and dirty loose hair spread on the floor, her back was bare from cloth, yet it wore raw, red gashes arbitrarily scattered all over it, strips of flesh torn, trickles of crimson blood seeped down it, dripping on the disgusting black stained floor, that Anna could only recognize as old and dried blood, her arms and legs were bare, bruised all over. The bruises were a multitude of hues, colors that normally should not be on someone's skin. There were garish purple splotches, roughly the size of a fist, while others were more grayish, but still looked just as bad. And they were all over her. It was horrible. And it wasn't just the bruises. There were scars, too. Lines across her body, like someone or something had dug it's nails into her, tearing her flesh. Someone had clawed away at her, the gashes told the whole story. Deep knife cuts, and the thing that was suppose to cover her body barely did its job, she was practically nude, wrists and ankles overwhelmed with cuffs and chains. A broken mirror lay in the corner, and a broken bull whip lay on the other side. The four comrades could hardly bear to look at her.

Anna felt her heart ripped out, she felt like someone just stabbed her in it, she didn't know why she felt so overwhelmed with sorrows, she never felt so woeful, she wanted to just smash the door open and free this stranger, poor, miserable, tormented woman. Anna didn't understand what she was feeling towards this woman, perhaps Pity? Sadness ?Anger? Confusion? Sympathy? …Love?. Who is this?! Why is she here!? Who did this to her? I need to get her out ! I…I…why do I even care!? Do…Do I know her!? She was thinking before she felt a sudden headache, as she winced in pain, she was about to cry, not even knowing the reason, then she heard a voice. They couldn't see who, as the little line to peek in from only showed what's in front of them.

"Princess!" the voice whispered, making them all exchange utter confused looks.

Princess?! They all thought strangely in unison.

"Princess!...can you hear me?" the voice was gentle, concerned, full with worry.

"Is she dead?!" another voice called.

Are they talking about this woman?! This probably dead woman?!...there is no way this is the prin- Aiden thought before his eyes shot wider, as the pale poor thing stirred, lifting her head just an inch from the ground ever so slowly.

They all felt faint, horrified, they could barely see in the dark yet they were able to see the woman's face which was covered with more bruises and blood, then the woman's voice came out, terribly weak, trembling, hoarse and barely heard, "K..Kai?.." the voice was so innocent, it sent shivers and stabs threw their hearts. Then, the woman started to open her eyes very slowly, even her eyelids were slightly shaking, as she tried to open them as if she was using all her mighty strength to just do this simple movement. Then they saw it, their jaw fell as they stared at unnaturally impossible cyan eyes. Albeit these eyes were brilliantly beautiful, they showed agony, misery, suffer…and guilt.

Anna felt another wave of pain in her head, and this time she whimpered silently, making Aiden and the others give her a concerned look, and Rapunzel mouthed, "Are you okay?" placing a hand on Anna's shoulder, and she received a slow reassuring nod from Anna.

"Oh thank goodness!...i thought…I thought he killed you!" Kai said relieved

The princess let her head fall again, she was exhausted, it looked as if she used all her energy to just assure this man, Kai, that she was okay. Which clearly showed, she wasn't. Then they heard another woman asked.

"Why did you do that, princess?" she asked her voice so full with guilt and regret, making the thieves more confused, they didn't understand why would she ask that to this dying princess. Then they heard her again, the princess.

"I….its b-because…it's the only th-thing that….reminds me.." she was trying to say through coughs, her voice so weak and shaking, her head still resting on the ground, she took a shaky breath then, "That I am at least a p-princess…and not j-just….an unholy..M-Monster." She finished with a sigh full with sorrow.

"NO!...you don't deserve this!" the woman screamed, "I am a criminal! Not you! I am I am! I did the bad things ! why would you tell him that you would take MY punishment!? WHY WHY!?"

Anna felt her heart stop, would she really sacrifice herself and take the punishment for a total stranger…and criminal ?! why did she even say she's a monster? She thought.

The princess opened her mouth to speak again, then her eyes shot wide with terror and panic when they all heard the main dungeon door being unlocked with keys. They were shocked to see the princess showed sudden strength and lifted herself in a sitting position, her dirty bangs fell upon her face, chest heaving and dropping incredibly fast from distress. "No! please no! he's coming! HE'S COMING!" the princess screamed making the thieves themselves panic. The room temperature dropped incredibly fast, making the thieves shiver.

"Princess! Princess look at me! LOOK AT ME!" Kai screamed gripping his bars, "Don't show him you're scared!" he screamed yet she didn't seem to listen, she already have passed scared, she was horrified.

"KAI! HELP ME!...He's coming to hurt me! He'll hurt me! PLEASE No, NO, NO!" the frightened princess screamed, darting her eyes and head around, making her dirty loose hair swing as she did, trying desperately to find somewhere to hide, she crawled away from her cellar door, making the chains rattle. She was trembling, her hands flew to her chest, "HELP ME!... KAI HELP ME PLEASE! STOP HIM STOP HIM STOP HIM!...the pain….THE PAIN!"

"Princess!...Princess look here!" Kai tried hopelessly to draw her attention to him yet she was clearly in her own panicking world, not even showing any sign that she even heard him, all she could hear was the dungeon door opening. Kai couldn't take it anymore, he started crying himself, he fell to his knees surrendering, sliding down the bars, yet he found his last voice say, "Princess…I'm…I'm sorry I'm sorry..i can't…j-just-" he sighed then" just close your eyes…let it pass….let it pa-" he fell to the floor sobbing.

The princess finally obliged, she cowered in fear, laid back on the floor in a ball, she brought her hands to her face and closed her eyes, waiting for whoever is behind that door.

The four thieves watched, silently, bewildered, shocked, as a tall regal man came in, followed by a creepy looking old man. Anna's shoulders lifted, she bit her lip and cowered a bit, she couldn't help but feel so afraid as she stared at this strawberry-blond man in front of her, as if strangely and instinctively felt unease upon looking at him. He was walking so calmly, as if he was about to have a cup of tea, his footsteps echoed in the dungeon, with every tap of his foot, made Anna blink.

Who are these two!? Anna thought, her eyes now on the frightened princess, as if the question was addressed to her. Anna saw the other prisoners cowering away as he passed.

The two men reached the princess's cellar door, opened it, making the princess whimper as she heard it, her hands on her eyes, her tortured body quivering, making some of the chains to send barely heard rattles.

"Now now," the tall man comforted, making her sob as he approached her.

That voice.. Anna was surprised for she felt that this voice was so familiar, but she was brought back from her thoughts when another pain hit her head making her wince again.

The strawberry-blond man knelt next to the princess, "You shouldn't have taken the punishment of that bitch over there, yet you insisted, and I was just obliging your desires!" The man mocked cheerfully, "And now, It's time for your training," he informed placing his hand on Elsa's shoulder, who quickly flinched away, yet in place, from his touch. "Don't worry," he said brushing her bangs from her face, "I trust you'll get it this time." He said standing, making her cry out another sorrowful, muffled from her hands on her face, loud sob.

"Please…please" Elsa begged with a breath, yet her voice barely was heard, as her hands still covered her face.

Anna started to shake her head slowly to herself, in disbelieve, Why is she so afraid of him? What will he do to her?! Did he do all this ?! She thought staring at Elsa's injured body.

The creepy looking old man at the other end, came to the side of the tall one, and bowed, "Do you want me to start, your majesty?" he said with a smirk.

The four thieves gasped silently, their eyes were about to blow out from shock, Rapunzel squished her mouth with her hands, not willing to make a sound, Flynn and Aiden gulped, Anna just….froze. They looked at each other in utter disbelieve and surprise.

THAT'S THE KING!? They all thought, exchanging looks, before they turned their head to the scene up front.

The king nodded to the old man, before he reached the table behind him, where glass cups laid on it, arranged neatly. He grabbed one of the cups in his hands, smirked then looked at Elsa with determined eyes.

Anna was shocked as she saw the princess lowered her hands, revealing an immense amount of tears, and a woeful, surrendered look, before the princess started to turn on her stomach, and laid on the floor stretched, as if she was commanded to do so.

Elsa knew what she was suppose to do now, there is no way to run, no way to hide, just like every claimed to be training, she was suppose to lay on her stomach, still shackled, and try and hold the glass cup without freezing it, yet she has to do all this, while Mad had to slash her back with his knife. This will help you get full control of your curse, Elsa. She remembered her father's words. He told her that pain let her powers get loosen dangerously, so if she was trained with pain, she will have full control over them. Elsa felt so broken, as she tried to lay on her stomach, she winced at every movement she made, the bruises and wounds already painful, just close your eyes, Elsa…close your eyes! She remembered Kai's daily advice. Elsa let out one more last sob, before she let her forehead rest on the ground and she closed her eyes, her shackled, yet bare hands stretched above her, and she waited for Mad to start, trembling, scared, silent.

Mad came above her, and he quickly blindfolded her with a dirty piece of cloth, making her whimper again at his touch, before he rushed to the table and held a knife. He brushed the knife feeling its smooth touch, and smirked with a sanguine grin.

The king approached Elsa, and placed the glass cup in front of her hands, motioning for her to hold it.

The sound of the cup being placed on the floor, made Elsa squeeze her already blindfolded eyes tighter. Elsa was blind now, she couldn't see where Mad was, nor her father, yet she knew where the cup was. She was used to this weekly training, she held her shaky, trembling hand up, before she grabbed the cup as if instinctively, and waited hopelessly.

The four thieves didn't understand what's happening in front of them. The cup, the knife, the king, the princess, the creepy guy, the chains, the blood, they were totally lost for words. They stared at the scene, horrified yet more curiously waiting.

"We are just trying to help you," The king lied. "you know why you're here don't you?" the king started caressing Elsa's hair, making her flinch, "Tell me, why are you here?" he asked her.

"b-b-because..i deserve this." She replied.

"why?" he asked again,

"I'm a-a-a criminal…m-monster…murderer.." she said again before she started crying a again.

"Good girl." The king said before he leaned forward and kissed her head.

Mad started approaching Elsa, making her breath more loudly and faster. The knife shook violently in his hand as he approached her, his lip quivering with anticipation, begging for bloodshed. He placed the tip of the knife on her back, making her whimper. He pressed the knife harder on her back, making her whimper again louder, then he started sliding the knife slowly on her back, cutting, enjoying every reveal of new fresh blood out, making her press her lips tightly close, not willing to scream, her hand gripped the glass like she was holding for dear life, don't scream don't scream don't SCREAM! Elsa tried desperately to encourage herself, tears soaked the blindfold.

Rapunzel couldn't bear to look, she closed her eyes with her hands, while Aiden and Flynn stared, jaw slightly open. Anna's eyes felt warm, not blinking once, tears came down her cheeks as she watches the knife sliding slowly, forming rivers of blood on the princess's back. She felt her back itching at the sight in front of her, as if she was feeling the pain, she started breathing fast, she was starting to panic.

Mad kept sliding down, forming a crimson line of a cut, Elsa couldn't bear it anymore, "mmmmm!" she let out a scream of pain, from behind her closed lips and suddenly the glass in her hand froze entirely, and ice formed underneath her. Mad laughed evilly, removing the knife, while the king shook his head violently, "NO you bitch! not like that!" The king yelled angrily, snatching the frozen glass from her grip.

"I-I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please P-Papa, I'm s-s-sorry!" Elsa begged, trembling, trying to forget about the fresh pain on her back.

Rapunzel had it, her brain couldn't take it anymore, where did ice come from?! What is that?! What's happening!? The ice…the knife…the blood! She thought before she suddenly felt faint. Rapunzel went limp and Flynn quickly held her, his face full with fear and concern. He turned to Aiden and punched him on the shoulder so he can grab his attention, "We should go now!" he whispered.

Aiden, shocked, his mind barely in reality, nodded quickly, turned to Anna and his eyebrows furrowed in concern. Anna just stood there. Unmoving, silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Anna?" he asked, his voice worried, can only be heard by the two of them. She did not respond, her eyes kept locked on the scene upfront, he didn't have time for Anna's frozen reaction, they had to get out of here as soon as possible. Aiden started shaking Anna's shoulder, desperate for her to hear him, but she still did not respond, as she watches these men torturing this woman. A father torturing his daughter.

The king went to the table again, after he threw the now-frozen glass to the other side of the room. He grabbed another cup, held it firmly, "You better not freeze this one." He warned.

The four thieves were very much confused and scared to even think about what the king meant with all these warnings and threats. Freezing, the ice, the dying princess, the cruel king, the disgusting necromancer, they didn't have time to adjust their minds straight and solve the puzzle, the room was dark, all they wanted to do is to run out of this hell.

The king walked towards Elsa, placed the new glass in front of Elsa's cuffed hands. "Hold it." He said, his voice terribly cruel.

Elsa did not wait another minute, she didn't want him to get more furious if she refused; in which definitely she won't do such a thing; so she held her shaky hand high enough to grab the glass, and waited, eyes closed, blindfolded, forehead rested on the ground, she couldn't see, she didn't even wanted to see, but she heard him, Mad's footsteps approaching, in which made her very, very tense. Please let it finish soon…please please please…just close your eyes, close your eyes She prayed for God, for anyone who can hear her, and stop this madness.

Mad stood above her, "Don't fight it, darling…you will only make it worse." He said his voice dripping poison.

"Conceal. Don't feel." The king reminded. "Monsters should not feel, they are not born to have feelings, they are only born to destroy, and I'm trying my best to help you not turn into one."

Elsa only nodded quickly, not willing to argue at all, something she haven't done in 15 years. I will do whatever you want just let it end…let it end! She thought, hopeless.

The king gave Mad a nod, motioning for him to continue. Before this lunatic could continue, he licked the blood out of the knife.

The thieves already saw enough, Aiden quickly motioned for Flynn, whom was holding the unconscious body of Rapunzel, to get out of here now. Flynn nodded and climbed quickly down the ladder, before he raced to the sewer exit. Aiden turned to Anna, whom was still frozen, "Anna come on! We have to get out of here now!", Anna, her eyes still staring up front only started shaking her head in disagreement, in which was the first sign that she was back to reality. No..No we can't leave her! She thought, but Aiden didn't wait for her to reply, he grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the scene. Anna, still shocked, didn't struggle, she just allowed him to pull her back into the tunnels, her mind was still with the princess and this horrible father, then she heard it again, but this time, it wasn't a held back scream, instead it was a loud shriek...The princess's shriek, followed by the sudden sound of shattered glass, and another angry yell from the king. "Conceal! I SAID CONCEAL!" the king's voice was full with rage and disappointment. Before she was shoved out of the exit door, Anna heard a yelp of pain, she knew whom it came from.

Aiden pulled her finally out of the sewer exit, meeting Flynn and Rapunzel who was finally awake. The four of them were panting, trying to understand what just happened, traumatized and bewildered, all of them staring at the door behind them, then Anna finally mumbled something. The three turned to face her, "What?" Rapunzel asked, her voice a bit weak.

"We have to go back!" Anna said louder, making her friends gap at her.

"Anna what are you saying?! Didn't you see what happened in there !" Rapunzel spoke, concerned about her friend's lost mind. Did she lose her mind?! She thought.

"Anna, stop it! We can't go back!" Flynn demanded, yet his voice held a bit of fear.

"No!..no! we can't leave her there! I can't leave her there !...Aiden come on!" Anna started walking towards the entrance again, but was held back by Aiden's rough grip.

"NO! Anna!...this is definitely something no one was suppose to see! Why do you think the king is hiding all this! He doesn't want anyone to see this! And yet we just did! This is too dangerous! We will not even tell anyone back at the fort do you understand ?! even your mother Anna!" he yelled at her, while holding her shoulders forcing her face to meet his. "You listen to me now okay! We are NOT going back!" he commanded. "Come on..lets move!" he said before he started walking away.

Anna still, shocked and defeated, lowered her head and stared at the ground with disappointment, before she felt a hand on her shoulder, "Come on Anna," Rapunzel's soothing voice spoke, "He is right." Rapunzel said before she started pulling Anna to follow her gingerly, but Anna pulled away,

"Rapunzel listen to me! there is something…strange, about this woman," Anna said her voice low and hurt.

"Anna what we saw today is beyond strange." Rapunzel replied.

"No no! I mean….i felt…I felt something, like I had to help her, I don't know why! But I felt so…its.." Anna was trying to say but surprised Rapunzel with tears coming down her cheeks and she sobbed.

Rapunzel's eyes widened she rushed to check on her suddenly crying friend, "Anna are you crying?!" she asked concerned.

"Rapunzel…I don't know what is happening to me, I never felt so…sad! Why do I even care?! I don't know! I just…i feel like I've known her for a very long time!" Anna tried to explain though her cries.

"Shhh, don't worry now Anna, you're just shocked that's all, and Aiden is right, this is something no person should see." Rapunzel said, whipping Anna's tears with her thumb, then started pulling her away from the entrance again.

Anna sighed, took one last look at the entrance, then turned and followed the others, sadness splattering her face, then turned into a determined expression, I don't care what Aiden said, my mother should know about this. She would understand me. I will free her.

Mad pressed the knife harder on Elsa's back, and started sliding down, bringing life to red cuts. Elsa held her mouth shut, the pain was incredibly unbearable, she squeezed her hand around the glass harder, her eyes can't get any more shut, no no no no don't scream don't scream…you will only make it worse!…you just deserve this! …Don't scream ! Just close your eyes! Don't scream! Just close your eyes! don't- Elsa couldn't handle It anymore, "aaaAAGGGGHHHHH!" she let out the loudest screech of agony her voice can master, the cup in her grip, immediately froze again, but this time, the ice was too cold, the glass shattered in her hand, shards of glass flew around the room. Mad backed away again, he knew the king is furious, so he just smirked and watched in amusement. The king groaned in rage, then started yelling at her, "Conceal! I SAID CONCEAL!" he yelled before he ran towards her, kicking her in the belly, making her roll onto her side, and yelp in pain. The king kneeled quickly next to her, removed her tear soaked blindfold, revealing her red puffy eyes, and bloody face, he gripped her hair, and forced her to look into his eyes, making her whimper the more louder, "I-I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm s-s-sorry! I didn't mean it PAPA please please! I'm sorry!" she tried to beg, trying to forget the pain on her back, the pain in her stomach, the pain overwhelming her whole body. The king gripped her hair harder then spoke with his furious, horrifying voice,

"You are nothing but failing filth! Nothing but a piece of trash laying in this castle! Nothing! …nothing but a unholy monster! A criminal! A murderer! An abomination! A freak!...you think your mother and sister deserve what you've done to them!? DO YOU!?" he slapped her, and she yelped in pain, "DO YOU?! TELL MEEE!" he yelled again, not allowing himself or her to breath. She only replied shaking her already quivering head vigorously and a loud trembling, frightened sob, trying to turn her head, trying not to look inside the demon's eyes. The king finally let go of her, his rage dissipating to oblivion, he sighed, "I told you to conceal, you brought this upon yourself," he said before he motioned for Mad to get out of the room, and Mad frowned, but obliged. Its finally finished! its finished! He stopped! She thought, feeling desperately joyful, tonight's torture had come to an end. The king turned to his trembling daughter, and kneeled, "You do know I am trying to help you, right Elsa?" he asked his voice intimidating.

Elsa nodded quickly. "Y-Y-Yes Yes.." she tried to answer.

"And you do know why you are being punished…" he scoffed then, "beside the training of course."

Elsa nodded again, silently. The king gave her a stern look, Elsa knew what it meant, and she spoke again, "B-Because…I-I-I Killed…them." She said new tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes.

"Who?.." the king continued, he wanted her to say it, aloud, he wanted her to hear it every day and every night.

Elsa tears finally ran down her cheeks, mixing with her sweaty, muddy and soaked face, "M-Mama..a-and Anna," she managed to say before she broke into cries.

"Good, never forget that." The king said stroking her head, whilst she cried, hiding her face with her trembling hands in shame.

The king stood, walked towards the door, then spoke again, his back still turned to her, "I love you Elsa." He said, his voice showing utter lie. Elsa didn't respond, she kept crying silently. "I said...I. Love you. Elsa." he said, this time his voice horrifyingly intimating, commanding and warning. Elsa finally managed to stop her cries for a split second and managed to speak her daily words, "I love you t-too…P-Papa." She said before her cries quickly returned, the king closed the door, and locked it, the sound of his footsteps fading away gave Elsa utter relief. She tried to peek at the broken mirror, the mirror she broke, I killed the only ones that ever loved me…the only ones that ever will. Because I'm nothing but a beast amongst men.

There, lay silently, broken, tortured and alone, Princess Elsa Of Arendelle, the tormented body, the afflicted soul.