Fractured Fairy Tales Read Online Free PDF Page B

Nix, but she seemed to stand there, like a frozen statue, just so that he could ravish her with his stare.
    Nails of silver and lips as red as blood, the madam descended from her throne down a flight of steps. A black lace train followed her like a shadow, like darkened angel wings dragging across the floor. When her shoes of black leather touched down on the steps, frost crawled out from her heels and layered the surface with their cold touch.
    The windows cracked as frost swam up their glass and the chandeliers shuddered as the madam walked beneath their light. Ayden didn’t dare to move, to breathe . The owner of the marvellous estate, someone he had once called the Snow Queen, stood before him in glorious beauty that made his heart ache so painfully, and he loved it.
    “Ayden…” she spoke from behind her veil.
    “You…” he swallowed loudly. “You know my name?”
    She laughed, the sound like bells. “Of course. I’ve been waiting such a long time to meet you.”
    “You have?” he shivered and she tilted her head to the side.
    “You are cold,” she pouted. “I don’t want you to be cold.”
    “I’m not!” Ayden then cleared his throat and shrugged as casually as he could under her gaze. “I’m fine, really.”
    With the lift of red lips, she clicked her silver fingers, and Ayden immediately felt a heavy fur coat wrap around him. It was thick and very warm, as white as her hair and it smelled of crisp winter. Madam Nix smiled widely at him, at her new toy, and went right up to him.
    He was as tall as her and at such a ripe age. Perfect. Just perfect . She purred as she caressed a fingertip down his cool cheek and strong jaw. Ayden shivered under her touch and stepped closer toward her. She noticed the gleam of silver in his one eye and almost laughed in glee, but only allowed a smile before leaning in toward him.
    Ayden’s heart felt as if it was about to burst as the beautiful creature neared him. A chill still touched the back of his neck. He wished to rip the veil from her face so that he could witness true beauty. He wanted to feel her lips and taste her skin. He wanted her…
    “I love you,” he spoke softly as she neared.
    “I know,” she cooed. “And I’ve loved you since you were born.”
    “What?” He frowned, pulling away from her.
    He heard someone calling out to him. A girl’s voice, somewhere in the distance. Who was that? Why is she calling me? The madam touched Ayden’s hand, and he immediately forgot about the voice, but it kept on calling.
    Ellie was searching for her brother. She banged fists against the door her father had locked after throwing her into a small room smelling of rain. Inside the bellow of darkness, the young girl kept shouting for Ayden as loudly as she could. She knew she had to escape. The room grew colder and colder. Soon, she knew, she would freeze to death, and her brother wouldn’t find her again.
    “Ayden!” she banged and screamed. “Ayden!”
    No one came. She was trapped. Swallowing her tears and turning to the darkness of her prison, Ellie reached out her hands in search of some form of light, but she only felt cold air all around her. Becoming desperate and fear gripping her heart, she tripped forward and fell against something hard and ice cold. The young girl gripped at the cold item and pressed her forehead against its icy surface, allowing herself to weep.
    “Ayden, I’m sorry,” she cried, hot tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. “Please come back to me. I don’t ever want to lose you; you are all I have left.”
    Her shoulders shook from her quiet sobs and her tears touched the object she clung to frantically. Upon the touch of her fat tears, a subtle glow erupted from what she held. Ellie jumped back as the light grew brighter and bluer. Soon, the room bathed in its light, and Ellie’s breath was stuck in her throat.
    It was a statue of a young boy. He was about Ayden’s age, with beautiful eyes and pale hair falling over