Chapter 16 – I owe her everything

Elsa buried her face into the silk sheets. She breathed in the familiar scent of jasmine and rose. Home. Her hand trailed along her pillow in contentment. In this place on the edge of sleep there was no need to be afraid. She was safe.

It had felt like a lifetime since she was at home in her own bed. Her foggy mind tried to work out why that was moments before a sharp voice awakened her.

"Elsa. Look at me." The voice commanded her and Elsa immediately obeyed. At her father's voice her hazy mind had a sudden clarity. She brushed her loose blonde locks from her face and turned to face her father's stern gaze. It took all of her strength to sit unwavering. She wouldn't chew on her lip or run her sweaty palms along the bed sheets, as much as the fatigue made her want to just throw herself under those covers and hide from the world.

Agnarr's finger twitched on his lap as he observed her. That unreadable gaze was all too familiar from their countless games of chess. Except he never tapped or played with his fingers, and a twitch was close enough to both.

"Allowing you to go on that camping trip with the Summers' was a mistake."

All bravery fled. Elsa's throbbing head was in her hands now as she recalled the fleeting images. Her hand trailed down to her lips and her heart fluttered. Anna. Anna had returned her feelings. Any relief she felt from the moment was harshly crushed as memories of the park filled her vision.

"Anna-"

"Stranded in freezing water for 12 minutes," Agnarr confirmed without emotion. Elsa's eyes went wide and within seconds the temperature of the room plummeted. She couldn't stop it, not that she even cared to.

"She was taken to the local hospital but there was no evidence of hypothermia. Remarkably like you," he told her seemingly unsurprised.

His finger tapped now but Elsa barely noticed. Her heart lifted and the storm in the room subsided to a light flurry of snow. Anna was ok.

"Her parents however were not so fortunate."

Elsa froze again. The relief that had just freed her was swept away with the growing storm.

"Mr Summers died in the lake from asphyxiation. Mrs Summers passed away last night from hypothermia," his words didn't express his judgement: it was all in that unyielding gaze.

I killed two people. I killed Anna's family. Anna... Her nails dug into her scalp in despair. How could I have let that happen? I knew it was dangerous to go on that trip and yet I-

"Your mother and I have not done enough. We both assumed this... condition... would resolve itself. We were mistaken. We're looking into finding someone who is familiar with this," He gestured around the room. A thick layer of snow blanketed everything. "We wanted to keep you away from tests and the like but your power is growing. We can't help you until we know more. We also believe it would beneficial for you to see a therapist," he hesitated and Elsa caught a rare flash of regret in those eyes, or was it just indecision? "...You aren't to leave the manor until further notice. Am I clear?"

She turned away in defeat. Her toxic thoughts buffeted her as much as the fierce storm in the room. She was ready to crumble and resign herself to any punishment, any rehabilitation her father wished of her.

I deserve this. No, I deserve worse. I'm so sorry Anna... Anna... And just by thinking her name the storm stood still. Something snapped inside her.

"Anna is 15." Elsa found herself speaking with a renewed resolve. "She'll be put into care. I owe her everything." Her gaze met her father's. She did not flinch or look away. She had never been surer of anything.

"Become her guardian, at least until she is old enough to move out. Give her everything. Do this for me and I'll endure whatever you ask of me." She would have done as he wished regardless, and she was certain he knew that. Even so, she couldn't think of any other leverage.

"No. This is not up for debate." Agnarr shook his head without hesitation.

Elsa's jaw clenched. "Then I'll turn myself into the police. It might not be murder but I'm certain it would count as manslaughter," Elsa challenged him defiantly.

Her father's steely gaze flickered to one of intense irritation. They stared into each other's souls, searching to see if the other would break. Elsa held fast. Thoughts of Anna out in the world alone haunted her. The naive redhead would be taken advantage of at every opportunity. She couldn't allow that. It might be cruel, it might be a betrayal but at least she'd be safe.

"...Fine," Agnarr relented. Elsa let out a gasp, unaware she'd been holding her breath. Elsa never asked much from her parents; in fact this may have been the first thing she had ever expressed a wish for, but she had not expected her father to give in.

"Anna will be looked after," he assured her. Elsa was still sat dumbfounded. The fiery resolve had left her body the moment she had won.

Agnarr's irritation faded away as he sat back in his chair in thought. Conflict warred across his features but even as she watched him wrestle with the words she couldn't understand why he was in such indecision.

Here I am demanding more when he works so hard to protect me. Of course he is disappointed. If I was just normal we could all have been so happy. She closed her eyes in shame. She didn't regret forcing him to protect Anna but she did regret everything else.

"Elsa..." he continued after some deliberation. "You're going to be ok." His hand reached across and swept a stray lock of hair from her face. She flinched under the unexpected brush of contact.

In the dimly lit room she boldly looked up into his emerald eyes. It was always impossible to see what he was thinking behind that mask.

Be strong.

Somehow she had kept the storm at a gentle calm but she knew it could overflow again at any moment. She didn't let herself think of what she had done. She needed to remain calm and in control before her father.

Conceal, don't feel. Don't let it show. Everything was numb, her mind forced blank.

Agnarr looked her over for another minute before letting out a low sigh. "I suggest you rest for the evening. Call for Kai when you're hungry. He'll have something made up for you."

"Thank you, Father," Elsa replied formally. Agnarr rose to his feet and brushed the snow from his suit. He gave her one last lingering look before taking his leave.

Elsa slumped back into the damp bed and as soon as the door closed she allowed her emotions to run wild. Now her father was gone she was too weak to fight it.

The storm raged around her alongside regret, shame and most of all guilt.

Reaching across to her bedside table, Elsa pulled her tablet off and plopped it on her lap. Brushing the snow aside, she tapped the screen on.

Snowman267: I saw the freak storm on the news earlier. You ok?

Elsa smiled despite herself. The message was from yesterday.

Batman53: No. I messed up really, really bad. I need help, Olaf.

Elsa sat back; eyes closed as the gravity of what she had done came crashing down upon her. She had killed two people. And even worse, those two people had been Anna's parents. She gritted her teeth, chest heaving as she struggled to keep her breathing level.

The tablet pinged.

Snowman267: I thought we agreed codenames only.

Batman53: I'm being serious!

Snowman267: I know ...I'm sending you my number. Call me.

Elsa blinked in surprise. There before her eyes was the personal number of the stranger she had met online. Was calling him really a smart idea? She had no idea who he was aside from the anonymous snippets of conversation they had. Was she really that desperate? The answer was a resounding yes. She had started the video chat before she even had time to process she was doing it.

A pale, scruffy looking kid with impossibly big blue eyes popped up on her screen.

"Wow Elsa. Your room is covered in snow," He said in awestruck surprise and Elsa immediately considered terminating the call. As if sensing her panic, or maybe he just saw it plastered all over her face, Olaf continued. "Do you want to build a snowman? You'd be on your own, of course. But I could instruct you. I make the best snowmen." His grin widened.

It was all Elsa needed to break. Wet tears rolled down her face. She rubbed the ice away as they froze.

"I've done something terrible," She choked out. Her fingers trembled as she held the tablet tight but she didn't need to worry about hurting him.

"Tell me all about it," Olaf's voice was so soft and sincere. She let out a sob before blurting out everything to him. For the first time in forever she didn't care about her parents or hiding her powers. All she could think about was Anna and the terrible pain she had inflicted on her lover's heart.

Hans waved out a small group of armed men from the trees. Elsa didn't as much as move. Hans' end game had never been about breaking her heart and she knew it. The armed men in black armour surrounded her and held their weapons high.

"You know I expected more bite," Hans spoke as he circled Elsa. His hand brushed against her blonde braid. "You really loved her didn't you? Gods, I knew this would work but I didn't think it'd work so well."

Hans helped himself to one of the men's handguns. He held it down and pressed it to Elsa's forehead.

To any ordinary person the feel of steel against their skin would have felt cold but Elsa felt nothing but the pressure of it. Even then, she didn't so much as flinch.

"Don't you have anything to say? Aren't you afraid to die?"

The storm stilled. Snowflakes stood suspended in the air as if caught in a freeze-frame. Elsa looked directly at him with an unafraid acceptance in her empty eyes. Even if it wasn't by Anna's hand she was ready for judgement.

Hans shook his head with a mild chuckle as he withdrew the pistol and stepped back. "Restrain her." He commanded his team and all at once they knocked her out.

Anna skidded to a stop as the storm froze. She reached out and plucked a snowflake from the air. She examined the detail, amazed by how real they were. Elsa can really make this happen? Even though her eyes were seeing it her mind couldn't quite believe it. It was beyond impossible.

"Has this happened before?" She asked Olaf. A feeling of dread was threatening to overcome her. For the first time she could see just how tightly Elsa's emotions were tied to the storm. The wildness from earlier had faded. But what had replaced it? Something serene? Or something more sinister?

Olaf's reply cut through her like steel. "No. Elsa has never done this." The tone he used told her all she needed to know.

In silence the pair rushed through the park. Anna's heart and mind were racing. How could she have been foolish enough to leave Elsa behind? She gritted her teeth as she recalled her eyes: those empty royal blue eyes begging her for forgiveness. The regret made her stronger though and more determined as they raced through the snowdrifts. She glanced over at Olaf and she saw the same look of desperate concern mirrored on his features.

The pair paused again as the flurry of snow began to fall again. Its power was muted when compared to the initial fury.

"What does this mean?" Anna turned to Olaf, almost shaking him in agitation.

"She's maintaining some control," Olaf paused mid-step. "...Or she's asleep."

Anna didn't need him to explain. Her fears were realised as soon as they reached the site. Anna bent down at the spot Elsa had been kneeling. Her hand traced a line through the red splashes on the white snow.

"He hurt her," Anna's voice was cold and distant as she examined the blood stained snow on her fingertips. Olaf walked around the area in quick movements examining all the details in lightning precision.

"Hans had a team ready to capture her. There's no evidence of a struggle-"

"Her blood is all over the floor!" Anna protested as she gestured around her.

"There are footprints of at least five people and I don't see any icicle spears," His reply was curt and Anna looked down in shame. He was as stressed as she was. She needed to cool her head.

Can she actually make icicle spears? Why didn't she defend herself?

Taking a deep breath, Anna continued. "She surrendered." She drew the same conclusion as him. "But that doesn't explain why Hans would have taken her. He works for a software company. What purpose could he have with her?"

Olaf didn't answer for a long time. The silence threatened to suffocate Anna but if it wasn't that the worry would get her instead.

"We need to regroup. Where ever Elsa is she's long gone." He was resigned but strong. "We will find her Anna. I promise."

Anna nodded. She glanced around in every direction but it was no use. Olaf was right, Elsa was gone.

She clenched her jaw, unable to get her thoughts in line as she paced around the area. Too much was happening too fast. She didn't even know where to start making sense of everything. The more she thought on it the more confused and frustrated she became. How had she been so blind to everything before today?

Elsa... Dammit Elsa what the hell are you mixed up in?

A/N: Sorry for the short one but it just came to a natural end. Now Elsa's secret is out how will Hans abuse that power? How will Anna and Olaf save her? ;)