Chapter 1
Elsa
"Elsa?" Father calls, knocking on my door.
"Y-yes?" I call back.
"Let me in. We need to talk," he demands.
"Of course," I mumble as I dash to my door.
My fathers eyes are alight with anger.
"What's wrong?" I question, dreading the answer.
"This," he holds up a cup, icicles protruding and frost brimming over the edge. "This is what's wrong."
"I'm so sorry Father. It was an accident. I took off my gloves for a second. Just a second," I explain, my voice shaking.
"You're 19, Elsa. We should be able to trust you to take care of yourself."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was...it was nothing," I try to think of an excuse.
"Remember the rule-"
"Conceal, don't feel," I recite.
"Exactly. Now, let me bid you goodbye before your mother and I leave on our journey," he hugs me, and I slowly embrace him.
"Goodbye, Father. Tell Mother that I'll miss her."
"Of course. And don't forget, conceal. Don't feel. We don't want anyone getting hurt," he says as he closes my door. I sigh.
"Do they think you're a monster or something?" a boy, maybe my age, stands on my balcony, leaning in the doorway. He has short, frosty blue hair and eyes a greenish blue with a mischievous glint in them. He clutches a long wooden staff with frost around where his hand is.
I jump back, clasping my mouth as to not emit a scream.
"Who-who are you?" I gasp.
"I am Jack. And you are Elsa, princess of Arendale," he explains. He winks at me.
"I-I don't need...what are you doing here...wait. Get out!" I realize. He could kill me. That's why he has that staff.
"Nope. And I'm here because without you, I'd be all alone."
"It's my curse. It's getting to my head. I knew I would go over the edge eventually," I mutter to myself.
"Excuse me? Curse?" he rebukes.
"Y-yes. I was born with it," I try to explain.
'Why am I telling him this? He already knew who I was. He might've been stalking me,' I think to myself.
"Well, can I see this 'curse'," Jack inquires.
"No," I say as I clench my fists tighter, gripping my gloves.
"Elsa?" Anna asks. She's knocking on my door again.
"Shh," I whisper, covering Jacks mouth.
"Elsa, do you want to do something? Take a walk in the garden, maybe?"
I hold my breath, waiting for her to give up. It breaks my heart to ignore her, but I can't risk hurting her again.
"What was that about?" Jack wonders as he pushes my hands away.
"Anna, my sister, has no idea about my curse. She can't find out," I hurriedly explain.
"I'm still confused on this curse you have. Let me show you what I call a gift," Jack says, his eyes glinting. He pulls me to my balcony, and I struggle, trying to break free of his grip.
The shining summer sun bears down upon me, causing my hands to sweat. I'm tempted to take off my gloves, but I can't.
"Watch this," Jack exclaims. His hands start moving in rhythmic motion. A blue light starts to grow from his hands. The light grows brighter and brighter until a cold wind picks up.
I shiver in excitement. 'He has the curse too,' I excitedly think.
In his hands, a swirl of snowflakes and ice circulate through the air. He drops his hands, and the snow melts away almost instantly in the heat.
I look up at him in wonder and fear. I'm not alone.
'He could be a monster too, you know,' I worry.
"If you ever need to-or want to-see me again, just shatter this," Jack holds out a globe, the base made out of snow. Inside, a delicate snowflake rests in icy water. I reach out to take it.
"Don't forget, Elsa of Arendale," he says, jumping from my balcony.
I run to the edge, peering over. Gone.
I walk back to my room, my heart in my throat.
'You should stay away from him. He says your curse is a gift,' I think. 'But he doesn't think you're a monster.'
I peer out my window, watching the frost fade away, and feel a tug in my heart.