64

Finally, the train's velocity seemed to go lower, as Regan could see some buildings passing by. During the travelling she had fallen into a deep slumber. When she had woken up, she had no idea where they were. Artemis only told her that they were in her realm."So, do these people in your realm have spells and powers?" She asked Artemis, who had stayed still and quiet."Most do, most don't. It depends." She replied.Regan nodded and looked at the servant, Cora. Cora was sleeping as well, but little did Regan care. She knew there was a thing about Cora."So, what's the name you thought to call me?" Regan asked after some time, remembering that Artemis had told to keep her identity hidden. Not that she wanted others to know."I don't know. Chose it yourself.""Cornelia," Regan said, thinking it sounded fitting. She didn't want to reveal too much about herself, but she also wanted to have a good, new name. Her own name, seemed boring and senseless for her."Alright, Cornelia." Artemis replied, still lost in thought."What about Cora? She knows my real name." Regan whispered."She'll think Regan was your middle name or something," Artemis answered.They continued to ride in silence for a while, the train chugging along through the lush forest. After some time, Regan noticed a change in the scenery; the trees were becoming taller and more numerous, and the air felt colder."Another forest? We're on another planet but the surroundings aren't very different," Regan thought aloud, trying to make conversation.The trees grew even taller, their branches intertwining to form a dense canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. The air grew colder still, and Regan wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, feeling the uncomfortable chills creeping in.They continued riding for several more hours before the train emerged from the forest and into a vast, snow-covered plain. The landscape was breathtaking; the snow sparkled in the faint sunlight, and distant mountains loomed in the horizon."Wow," Regan breathed, leaning forward to get a better look out of the window. "It's so beautiful here. And it's so damn cold. I'm very sensitive to the cold." She complained. "How do you live here, Artemis?"Artemis shrugged, not taking her eyes off the scenery, "It's not a problem for me. But you, probably because you have a fiery aura, you lose heat quickly on coldness," she said, as if it was obvious, "but don't worry, Cornelia. We'll soon get off."Something snapped in Regan's mind. Fire powers. Does Artemis have fire powers?"Well, uh....I was going to ask you something," she whispered, not wanting to be heard from the front and behind passengers."What?" Artemis asked confused."Do you have that eternal ember thing as well as me?" she asked. The strange thing for her was that she didn't quite feel connected through magic with her.Artemis's expression turned guarded, "That's not a thing to ask here. We should keep quiet," she advised.Regan bit her inner cheek, trying to swallow her curiosity to ask just then.Slowly, the train came to halt and it finally stopped. The loudspeaker instructed for them to get off. Artemis stood up first, while Regan, felt her legs wobble, having stayed sit for such a long time.She had some uncomfortable chills but stood, nevertheless. Cora followed them from behind and they kept the queue for the passengers to land on the land.As soon as Regan reached the door, she landed on ice, and nearly slipped. Artemis held her back, followed by Cora."So, w-where a-are we g-going n-now?" Regan stuttered, her voice shaky from the shivers."We'll go that way," Artemis pointed at nowhere. The strong wind was bothering everyone, while a thick mist hanged around the place. Regan couldn't see anything but just a grey-white horizon, stretching far.They continued to walk in the nothingness and Regan was really having trouble with the cold. Everything was covered by snow, she couldn't see a single tree or a single plant. Even the passengers had disappeared from their sight, everything was literally nothing and Regan couldn't help but wonder where this would lead.And then, after some time, they began to see a bit clearer. Regan realized it wasn't even day, as the sky got darker. Maybe the white mist was the illusion of the snow.They could see some lights, maybe city lights?"What are these lights?" Regan asked, her voice shaky."These are just lights from a city in the distance. We're not going there," Artemis said with a hint of annoyance," keep walking."They continued on, with the cold wind biting into their cloaks, Regan gripping it tightly. After what felt like hours, they finally came upon a large, imposing structure. It towered above them, its walls made of ice and snow, reflecting the dim, flickering lights that seemed to be its only source of illumination.The entrance was a tall brick icy fence, guarded by two figures dressed in armor, their breath visible in the frigid air."Artemis, Cora," one of the guards called out, "welcome back," The other guard nodded in acknowledgement."Cornelia, this is where we live," Artemis said, gesturing to the icy fortressAs they entered, Regan felt an overwhelming sense of isolation washing over her.She felt as suffocating from the cold and finally decided to heat up herself with the fire she had. She hadn't been doing that before, thinking that she'd seem weak from the cold.The fortress was a tower, a tall building with a blank interior. It was just as cold as the outside, with frosty winds and chills washing over her. It didn't feel like home, it didn't feel like a place to sleep. Right now, she didn't want to, but she couldn't help and admire Sirius's castle instead. Although dark and creepy, it still had warmth, life and fascination. Here, there was only coldness and dread. She felt like a lost girl in the void of nothingness and unknown."Come on, Cornelia." Artemis said to Regan. Regan glanced at the maid, who had a confused expression on her face, "My first name is Cornelia," she whispered to Cora. Cora nodded and followed her lady.Soon enough, they came to stop before a grand glassy door, adorned with glass panels of frost. The torches were casting cold lights on the walls. Artemis opened the door and it revealed a cold living room. Maybe just the colors were cold. It was nicely decorated, with white seats, tables, and expensive carpets. There was a fireplace in the center, burning brightly, but Regan could still feel the cold."You may sit here, Cornelia," Artemis motioned to a comfortable-looking armchair."Who is she?" A raspy voice was heard, coming from the shadows of the room. A man, or an alien, stepped in, his hair, white as snow, his face, paler and angrier than snow and ice combined. His ears were pointed and his irises were just white and dull. A long robe in white and gold, hung around him. He was rather tall. As he walked to them slowly, his gaze was predatory and an evil smirk crossed his alien face."Who's that werido?" Regan thought, her expression turned into a frown, "He seems to act like 'all that'."Why did your travel take that long? What did you do with that loser sorcerer?" He yelled at Artemis, his voice angry and menacing.Regan stood up from her seat, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the alien's presence. He seemed to be just another one of the bastard leaders, only interested in power and control. His appearance was far from intimidating, and she couldn't help but wonder how he had managed to gain such a position. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves and not show any fear."I didn't do anything with Sirius," Artemis replied, her voice shaky and uncertain, "I only brought the girl. She's Cornelia and she'll stay here for a while."The man glared at Regan, his expression unreadable, "What's your business here?" he growled."Don't worry, I'll leave." Regan retorted, her expression one of defiance and determination."She'll stay only for a while," Artemis said to him, trying to calm the matter down, "Cora, go and show her to her room," The maid nodded and led Regan to a room. "It's not what you think," Artemis assured the white haired man, "she's no trouble."As Regan followed Cora, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread settling in her stomach. The fortress was eerily quiet, the only sound was the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath their feet. The further they went, the colder it became.Finally, they arrived at a small room, its walls adorned with frost and ice. The bed was nothing more than a stack of blankets. There was a white wardrobe and a small nightstand, with a lavished torch. A thin layer of snow covered the window.Cora told Regan she'd bring her food and then, left her alone. A sense of fear accompanied with the coldness washed over her. She was alone, her sister wasn't there and she felt scared. She wanted to leave there as well. Maybe but maybe, his castle, Sirius's caste was better than this place.She sat on the bed, the cold seeping through her clothes. She never thought she'd like to stay in the place of her sworn enemy instead.A knock was heard and it was Artemis who entered, "Regan, sorry for leaving you alone. I had to deal with—""Who is that white haired?" Regan interrupted.Artemis took a deep breath and sat down, "He's my husband.""You're married?" Regan asked, confused that she was married, but also confused of who she was married with. "How can you stand to be married to that?" she added, her voice trembling with anger. Artemis sighed and looked away, her expression pained."It's...complicated," she began. "He can be cruel and controlling, but I...I loved him once. Before he changed. He was different. But he's my husband, and I can't change that. I love him."Regan listened, feeling a mixture of sympathy and anger. She didn't understand how Artemis could love someone like that.For some reason, Sirius's words ranged in Regan's mind. They struck her one by one, his words for royalties, kingdoms, princes, princesses, whatever he had said."Is your husband a prince?"Artemis looked surprised by the question, as if she hadn't expected Regan to ask about it, "Yes, he's the heir to the throne of the North. His father is the current king. That's why he has so much power and influence here," she paused, her expression distant, "he is a bit spoiled but...he was different when we first met. I think he changed when he became the heir. The pressure, the expectations...it all got to him.""Now, what? Am I going to stay here? I don't want to stay here. I mean, I want to stay with you but not here. And I want to find our parents," Regan said, never forgetting the quest to find her parents.Artemis sighed, her posture tired, "Regan, there's nothing as 'our parents' or 'our kingdom'. Sirius destroyed all of this and you can't bring it back."Her words stung, but Regan knew she wasn't going to give up. And she knew there was more than left on the surface, "I don't think our parents are dead. I don't believe it. I think they're alive and I will find them," She said, her voice firm and determined, "And as for the kingdom, I don't care about it. I just want to want to make a difference, to make things right."Artemis looked at her, and Regan could see the pain in her eyes, "I wish I could believe that, Regan. But Sirius is not done yet. He's planning something bigger, something terrible. He warned me not to keep you here," she paused for a moment."But, I don't know where to go with you, when Agnar would never accept to move to another realm. I can't divorce him either, not when it would mean civil war. So, I'm trapped, just like you."Regan didn't know what to say. She couldn't just leave Artemis here, not when she was in the danger herself. But she couldn't stay either. She wanted to go back on Earth, at least she had a home there. But Artemis couldn't come there, "I'm just a burden for you," she said with a sad voice."No, you're not. It's just....the circumstances we are, aren't good. We have dangers all around the corner. But if you stay here quietly and not be seen by Agnar, I'll find a way for you."Regan frowned. She wasn't willing to stay there. She wasn't willing to submit and she wasn't willing to take anyone's orders.But at the same time, she didn't want to ruin Artemis's marriage without knowing how it really was. It could not be that bad or be just worse, She was going to find out who Agnar, the prince was.