Snow Storms
Copyright © 2019 Elle Middaugh
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
Published by: Moon Storm Publishing LLC
Cover Designed by: Cover Reveal Designs
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Afterword
Acknowledgments
Also by Elle Middaugh
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About the Author
To family & friends.
Life can be busy, and time can easily slip away.
Make sure you take a moment to enjoy the little things with your loved ones.
Chapter 1
"There are a million ways we could celebrate the holidays," I told my guys with a cheerful smile as we trotted down an empty, snow-covered road on horseback.
We’d left Ebony Chateau a few days prior and just recently crossed from Western Blackwood into Southern Blackwood. Into Rob’s domain. Sohsol—the kingdom of the undead.
Thanks to the letter Dan had sent ordering the towns to evacuate, our road had been mostly vacant. Hollow as a graveyard. Hushed as a ghost.
Until now.
A town lay up ahead; the only unabandoned settlement we’d seen so far on our journey. Probably because it was on the Sohsol side of the border. Rob’s citizens had refused to flee.
White smoke puffed into the air from each house’s chimney, and people—a very loose term for the creatures I found myself staring at—were shuffling through the snow-covered streets, simply going about their day as usual.
Ignoring my guys’ silence, I continued to make my case. "We could stop at this village, decorate trees, light candles, hang garlands, make snowmen and snow angels, go sledding, sip hot cocoa, give gifts—to name just a few."
I never imagined they'd be so against the idea.
Rob groaned and scrubbed a hand across his handsome face. He turned in the saddle and stared at me. "Jewels, we don't have time to celebrate the holidays. The second Sohsol Apocalypse is about to hit any day now, and we haven’t even reached Onyx Fortress. There are a million more important things we need to be doing."
"We have soldiers to train," Cal added solemnly.
"More citizens to evacuate," Dan tacked on.
"Strategies to formulate," Criss continued.
Ben nodded. "Allies to coordinate with."
Even Ash seemed to agree. "Archways to find. There's got to be one here in Sohsol somewhere. If I can find it, and somehow get it opened, then I know I can convince Dion to help."
I pursed my lips and stared straight ahead, feeling tension wrap around my chest and squeeze. I took a deep breath, one that didn't truly calm me.
"Every town we passed in Western Blackwood is abandoned,” I said, gripping Caramel’s reins tightly. “We can’t train soldiers, formulate strategies, or coordinate with allies until we reach the fortress. Which is a bit of overkill, anyway, considering they’re soldiers. Fighting, strategizing, and killing is their entire life. I’m sure they don’t need you guys to tell them what to do. And as for the archways…”
I forced myself to loosen my grip and feign a false sense of calm. In truth, I’d been trying to suppress a niggling feeling that there might be one nearby. But that’s all it was; a feeling. I hadn’t sensed any actual magic. No energetic vibrations pulsing through the air. I was afraid it might’ve been more of a hope than a hunch.
“Perhaps we’ll find one if we stop at this town?” I eventually finished.
But Rob shook his head. “You lost me at stop, Jewels. We can’t afford to waste a single moment. You know this.”
I sighed. He was right, of course. I just so desperately needed the distraction.
Rob pursed his plush lips and crossed his burly arms. "What's really going on, Jewels? Why do you want to ‘celebrate the holidays’ so bad? Why do you want to stop here?"
I suddenly felt like crying. My lips tingled and my eyes watered as heat rushed to my cheeks.
Stop it, Lex! You're a princess, not a baby.
Biting my lip, I glanced ahead once more. The hoary town and its undead citizens looked gloomy as a cemetery—pun intended. Solemn expressions, tense postures, an overall aura of unhappiness blustering through the chilly air around them.
Maybe that's what suddenly had me going so crazy? My empathy powers were practically drowning in misery.
"Look at them, Rob," I whispered, pointing to his people shuffling about the snowy Square. "They're like zombies."
He sighed. "Well, Jewels, some of them are zombies so that's to be expected." He shook his head sympathetically. "Honestly, zombies are just like demons: they get such a bad rap. Just because they have a bit of a hive-mind and get obsessive about monotonous things..."
"Ugh! You know what I mean. They're just so lifeless and—no, not lifeless, obviously I know they're undead." I sighed and tried again. "They're so... stressed and depressed, and my empathy is soaking that up like a sponge. I think we could all use a day of cheer. Just one day, Rob. Twenty-four hours to forget about the Storm King, and the second Sohsol Apocalypse, and the intrusive fucking gods, and just... live." I groaned, acknowledging my second mistake. "Okay, not live, since most of them are dead. But just... enjoy a single freaking holiday for once. It might be the last one they have before they're wiped off the map."
That last part seemed to resonate with all of us.
Maybe that’s what was really bothering me? Fear of dying without truly having lived.
I saw the last walls of the guys' defenses break as gentle smiles replaced their worried expressions. Even Rob grinned softly, a sight I rarely ever saw—and thank the gods for that; it had the power to melt iron hearts.
"All right, Jewels. One day." He turned to his brothers as our horses trotted along. "Do you guys think we can manage to not talk about war, or the Storm King, or the Greek Gods for a whole twenty-four hours?"
"I think so," Ash decided immediately.
Ben nodded his agreement.
Cal sighed. "It's going to be difficult..."
"I think we can do it for a single day," Criss reassured him. "We'll get right back to the old grind first thing in the morning."
Cal nodded slowly, but Criss's encouragement seemed to help sway him.
Dan smiled but there was a forlorn look in his pale green eyes. "When Lexi, Ash, and I took time to play games with the kids in my kingdom after the attack, you should have seen the difference it made. I think your people need a distraction. It'll make them feel better."
Rob nodded, seeming to take Dan’s advice to heart. "Then it’s settled. We'll celebrate for one day, doing all the things that Jewels suggested."
“Do you think we could also have a winter ball at the end of the night?" I asked, already feeling hope chase away some of my stress. "Nothing perks peasants up quite like a royal ball."
He smirked and shook his head. "Go big or go home, right?"
“Does Blackdell even have a hall?” Dan asked, scanning the shops and houses that lined the central
square as we made our way toward the community stable.
Rob nodded. “Near the South side.”
"Yay!" I clapped my mitten-clad hands and hopped from Caramel’s back as a lanky stable boy wearing a pauper hat took her reins. His dark hair was greasy and unkempt, but he seemed quite happy, given his status in life.
Rob dismounted last and tossed the stable boy a bag of jewels, grinning as the kid’s mouth fell wide open. “Happy holidays. Share it with your fellow barn workers.”
Shock morphed into joy as the boy smiled from ear to ear. “I will, Your Highness. Thank you so much.”
My heart practically melted. I lived for moments like those, when my princes proved time and time again just how different they were from their supposed father and how utterly deserving they were to rule this land in his stead.
I just hoped we didn’t die before they ever got the chance.
Rob jogged over to a frozen fountain in the center of town and climbed up on top.
"Citizens of Blackdell, listen up! As prince of Southern Blackwood, I'm officially declaring a royal holiday today. I want to see happiness, cheer, and generosity. I want to see snowmen, snow angels, and snowball fights! I want to see decorated trees, sled riding, and flagons of malted cocoa! You think you can handle a day of fun and games?"
They applauded, but their enthusiasm was a little lackluster.
I climbed up onto the fountain beside Rob. "And afterwards, there'll be a royal Winter Ball for everyone in the entire town to attend!"
That time the cheering was almost deafening.
I winked at Rob. "Told ya."
He shook his head and hopped down, catching me in his arms a moment later. As soon as the people saw our speech was over, they scampered and scurried all over the place. Some immediately got to work on playing in the snow, others rushed to bakeries and cafés to stock up on cocoa and goodies, while others seemed to be heading home—perhaps to start decorating or to lay out their dancing clothes.
"So?" I asked the guys, rubbing my mittens together in excitement. "What should we do first?"
A snowball to the face was apparently my answer.
The boys wanted to play dirty, huh?
Well, game on.
Chapter 2
"We need to choose teams!" Ash shouted, running to hide behind the fountain.
I wiped the freezing cold snow out of my eyes and scrambled to the nearest shop, hiding in the shadows of an alleyway. I was surprised when Rob crammed in after me.
"I want Alexis on my team!" he shouted into the square. "If this fight gets ugly, I refuse to have her mad at me in my own kingdom!"
I chuckled, scrunching my nose slightly as he pulled me into his arms. "That's actually a pretty smart idea."
Ash jumped up, threw a snowball at Dan's head, then booked it into our alley. "I'm with them!" he announced to the remaining four.
So, it was three against four—Rob, Ash, and I versus Cal, Dan, Ben, and Criss. Uneven numbers were beautiful things, but I wasn't super enthused about being outnumbered in a fight.
"What are the rules?" Dan shouted back. It sounded like he was across the square near the shop with the sign that read: Zombay Café. "Get hit three times and you're out?"
"Sounds reasonable," Ash said to us, waiting for any signs of protest. We didn’t give him any. He glanced at the clocktower at the end of the square, then he shouted, "Yeah! And the game is over when the clock strikes ten, or when there’s only one team left standing! Losers buy hot cocoa!"
"You're on!" Dan replied with excitement in his tone. "The fountain separates each team’s side! No crossing the invisible line!"
I peered across the square, trying to spot Dan as he bartered rules with Ash, but all I could see were the smiling faces of the citizens as they prepared for their mandatory holiday. We were going to hit so many unsuspecting victims, I just knew it...
Hey, wait.
I peered a bit harder at the faces passing me by.
I know those two pulling the cart.
"Taron!" I shouted, causing both of their heads to turn. "Tamara!"
Holy shit, I hadn't seen them since the last time I was at Blackwood Palace, and even then, it was only for a brief training session.
They released the cart’s handles and walked over in complete synchronicity, looking every inch like the badass twins they were. Taron wore a long trench coat, and Tamara had a tight, short-waisted coat that only covered her from the ribs up. Both of them wore boots, though only Tamara's were high heeled.
"Storms," Tamara said, her sharp teeth sparkling as she smiled. "Long time no see."
Rob fist bumped both of them and patted them each on the back. "How'd you escape the palace?"
“Escape?” Taron asked incredulously. “No one escapes the palace.”
Except for Gemma and Tristan.
I smiled to myself, brimming with joy that my best friend was alive and well.
Rob's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Then why are you here?"
Taron swallowed hard and Tamara bit her bottom lip, somehow managing to not draw blood.
"We have a message for you," she said quietly.
Glancing from the twins to the cart they’d abandoned in the middle of the street, I suddenly had a very bad feeling that this was going to ruin our temporary holiday. If they were here on orders from the Storm King, then the message they had to deliver couldn’t have been anything good.
I quickly hopped between Rob and them. "Please don't. Not today."
The vampires shared a curious glance just as Rob's gray eyes fell shut in frustration. I could tell he was struggling between his need to hear the information they had and his need to keep his promise to me and the guys.
"Is this time sensitive?" Rob eventually asked them. "If I hear it tomorrow morning instead of right now, will it change anything?"
Taron's red-eyed gaze dropped to the ground. "No, Your Highness. What's done is done."
That sounded extremely ominous. I almost gave in and let them say what they needed to say. Almost. But I honestly believed we all needed this momentary escape from the cruel reality we were living in. Whatever evil they had to report could wait one day; they'd said so themselves.
I did my best to smile. “Would you like to join us for a snowball fight?"
Rob sighed and attempted to explain my unexpected question. “We promised Jewels we’d enjoy one stress-free holiday before the next apocalypse. That’s why your news has to wait.”
They nodded, finally understanding why I’d butted in a moment ago.
"All right,” Taron said as he glanced at his sister. “We’ll join you."
I exhaled a shaky breath. Perfect. Now it was five against four. We still had the glory of an odd number, but this time with a better chance of winning.
"All right," Ash called out. "You guys ready?"
"Did you just get two new players?" Cal demanded from a different section of the square.
I glanced left and saw him crouched behind a snowman that a little kid was in the process of decorating.
"Yeah," Ash admitted rather shamelessly.
"Set," Dan said. Obviously, he wasn't perturbed by our new additions.
"Go!" Ash shouted, then he turned to us. "I’m going to run up to the fountain and play offense. Taron, you come with me. Rob, you start making snowballs for defense. And Alexis and Tamara, you girls start making a fort."
I blinked. "Um, a fort? How much time do you think we have?"
Ash shook his head. "A barrier, then. Just something that will shield you when enemy snowballs fly in."
Tamara nodded. "Okay, got it."
Giggling, I scooped up some snow and immediately started packing it into a wall. It was a little ridiculous to be treating a silly game with such seriousness, but whatever. If it took our minds off reality for a bit, then it was worth it.
Stupid, how one battle could take your mind off another.
"Incoming!" Ash shouted.
I looked up, just in ti
me to see a wave of snowballs soaring through the air. On instinct, I ducked, and the snowballs splattered into the alley behind me.
Those motherfuckers...
I shared a competitive glance with Tamara, one that seemed to say: let's get this damn wall built as quickly as possible so that we can start retaliating. She grinned and nodded in return, and we got to work smacking layer after layer of snow on top of our wall until the bloody thing was about four feet tall.
Snowballs came and went as we packed and, thankfully, I was only hit by one—thank you Daniel—while Tamara was hit by two. I was pretty sure the guys were mostly avoiding me out of pity. Or trying to keep in my good graces, or some shit.
Panting, I wiped my brow with a snowy mitten.
There. Barrier complete. We'll see if they keep avoiding me now that I’m playing offense...
I scooped up some snow and packed it into a ball, scanning the square for a target. I found Ben making snowballs in the alley beside Zombay Café. Dan and Criss were up at the fountain engaging in a rapid fire battle with Ash and Taron. Cal was still hiding behind that poor child's snowman—and I didn’t think any of us had the heart to aim at him for fear of ruining the kid's creation.
Dirty rotten cheater.
Dan and Criss were popping up like weasels, staying in view just long enough to launch a snowball before ducking back down behind the fountain. It was almost rhythmic how they worked. Pop! Throw. Duck. Pop! Throw. Duck.
I counted the beat in my head and as soon as Dan popped back up, I smashed him with a snowball.
"Yeah, Sweets!" Ash shouted, giving me a thumbs up from where he was crouched with his back to the fountain’s bricks.
I grinned, watching as Dan and Criss scrambled to react. My hit had momentarily thrown them out of rhythm, but they were soon back to the same subconscious pattern. Again, I counted the beat, and this time, smacked Criss with a snowball.
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