Frostbitten

by Heather Beck

  “Then we’re the perfect people to solve this mystery,” Anastasia stated confidently. “Strange isn’t exactly a new concept for us.”

  Despite himself, Frost smirked. “Okay,” he agreed, “we’ll try it your way.”

  Frost started the car and began to reverse, only to come to an abrupt stop seconds later. Startled, Anastasia turned around to discover that another car had entered the driveway. She furrowed her brow in confusion as she realized that the vehicle belonged to Marissa. Anastasia had thought that Kate and Marissa’s friendship was long over, so what was she doing here?

  “We don’t have time for this,” Frost stated quietly as a reflection of Marissa exiting her car appeared in their rear-view mirror.

  “It’s not like we can just leave,” Anastasia whispered. “I promise this won’t take long.”

  “Hey,” Marissa greeted in a pleasantly surprised manner as she leaned toward Anastasia’s window, which was still rolled down. “Chloe and I have been trying to reach you for days. Everything’s alright, isn’t it?”

  “Of course,” Anastasia answered, touched by her friend’s concern. “We were sick,” she added quickly, sensing that Marissa expected an explanation for her sudden disappearance.

  “Yeah, you guys don’t look the best,” Marissa admitted, probably noting their pale complexions and dark bags under their eyes. “Well, at least you’re alive. I was starting to think the werewolf got you or something.”

  Suppressing the urge to cringe, Anastasia asked hurriedly, “What are you doing here, Marissa?”

  “I’m dropping off every piece of clothing and jewelry that Kate has ever lent me. Sure, it’s worth more than my entire wardrobe, but I’ll be glad to see it gone – just like her.” She paused slightly before inquiring, “What are you two doing here?”

  “We’re looking for Julia,” Anastasia began to reply.

  “Kate’s grandmother?” Marissa interrupted in shock. “What in the world do you want with her?”

  “You know her?” Frost inquired with wide eyes, ignoring Marissa’s question in the process.

  “I’ve heard about her,” Marissa corrected him. “I think she’s like a family secret because Kate would never mention her. Once, when I was at her house, I overheard Kate’s mom and dad talking about Julia. They were discussing the possibility of sending her to a better nursing home. It was obviously a very private conversation, and Kate was so embarrassed by what I’d heard that she acted strange around me for a whole month.”

  Anastasia felt a flutter of hope within her chest. Combined, there were probably only a few nursing homes in Cedar Falls and the surrounding areas. This was exactly the type of lead for which she and Frost had been praying.

  “We really appreciate everything you’ve told us,” Frost thanked Marissa as he restarted the car.

  “I don’t want to discourage you guys from seeing Julia, but I’m pretty sure she’s crazy. Why else would Kate’s family be so hush-hush about her?” With that said, Marissa gave Anastasia a small wave goodbye and then stepped backwards, allowing them to drive away.

  “Slow down,” Anastasia cautioned as Frost sped along Kate’s street. “You’ll get a ticket – or worse.”

  “I know what I’m doing,” Frost reassured her, decreasing his speed nonetheless. “I remember seeing a sign for Mourning Dove Care Residence. That will be the closest senior’s home, and it’s still on the other side of Cedar Falls, practically on the border of another town. We need to get there now.”

  Studying Frost’s intense gaze upon the road and the way he clutched the steering wheel, turning his knuckles white, Anastasia knew that he was barely holding it together under all the pressure. If they didn’t stop the hunters from transforming into werewolves, she worried that he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. These thoughts troubled her until they finally found their destination forty-five minutes later. At this moment, she had new fears to deal with, such as if Julia was even here, and if she was, would she agree to see two complete strangers?

  Although Mourning Dove was settled amongst the beautiful scenery that Anastasia had come to expect from Cedar Falls, it was a stark contrast to the building, which looked old, gray and in need of some basic maintenance. Shivering, she rushed alongside Frost and toward the entrance. For some reason, Anastasia felt as if she was being watched through those small, frosted windows, even though no one appeared to be there.

  Passing through a set of automatic sliding doors, Anastasia and Frost came to a reception desk that was situated in front of a large, open concept room. This room, which seemed to double as the living and dining space, was brighter than the exterior, but it still lacked comfort and appeal – two essential features since the residents likely spent a great deal of time there. Awkwardly, Anastasia realized that almost all the elders were looking longingly at her and Frost, probably wondering whose grandchildren were here to visit. This depressed Anastasia and caused her to vow that she’d never end up in a place like this.

  “May I help you?” inquired a straight-faced receptionist, who wore a nametag which read, Martha.

  “We’re here to see Julia McKinley,” Frost said confidently, as if he was a regular visitor.

  “Are you a relative of hers?”

  “More like close friends,” Frost lied. “I know she’ll be pleased to see us.”

  “It’s our policy that non-family members call in advance,” Martha informed them. “I’m afraid we’d need to get permission from Mrs. McKinley’s family before you could...”

  “I speak for myself,” a woman interrupted Martha in a strong, steady tone, “and I say these two are visiting me today.”

  Unaware that anyone was there, Anastasia and Frost spun around to see an old woman who could easily be in her late eighties. She had unusually pale skin which was deeply wrinkled and a slender, frail-looking body frame. Her appearance contradicted the strength in her voice; although one glance at the sparkle and fire in her dark brown eyes was evidence enough that this woman was very much alive.

  “Alright, Mrs. McKinley,” Martha said. “Please keep your guests within our sight.”

  Slowly, Anastasia and Frost followed Julia as she led them toward a blanket-covered couch and a worn chair. Even though these seats were already occupied by three men, they hurried to leave upon seeing Julia approach them. With a small, satisfied smile, she sat down and then gestured for Anastasia and Frost to do the same.

  “I’m Frost, and this is my girlfriend, Anastasia,” he said politely, once they were seated on the sagging couch.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Julia,” Anastasia said with a flicker of excitement, almost unable to believe that they’d found her so easily.

  Julia offered no response. Instead, she stared at Frost, as if studying his every feature. Then, she turned to Anastasia and began visually examining her as well, paying particular attention to her eyes. Although it was extremely uncomfortable to be looked upon so closely, especially by a stranger, Anastasia sensed that she meant them no harm.

  Suddenly, Julia sucked in her breath like something delightful and unexpected had just occurred. “I know what you are,” she said in a quick, quiet tone, while shifting her attention between Anastasia and Frost. “I know what you both are.”

  Wrinkling her forehead, Anastasia asked carefully, “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t worry, child, your secret’s safe with me,” Julia replied, with an extra twinkle in her eye. “However, the truth will come out – it always does.” Focusing her gaze on Frost once again, she said softly, “You resemble your father when he was your age.”

  “You know who I am?” Frost was clearly surprised.

  “I already told you that. For someone who has such large ears, I’d expect you to listen better.”

  Anastasia felt her blood run cold as she looked at a stunned Frost. They both knew that he was perfectly proportioned; therefore, Julia couldn’t possibly be referring to his human ears. If she really did know that Frost was a werewo
lf, then it didn’t faze her in the least; she just sat there, while stroking her waist-length silver hair which hung over her shoulders.

  “Tell me, how is Symon?” Julia inquired. “It’s been far too long since I’ve last seen him.”

  “He’s, um, dead,” Frost was hardly able to choke out.

  From the pained expression upon Frost’s face, it was clear that he was reliving that fatal moment in the woods. In an attempt to console him, Anastasia reached for his hand. When he held onto her tightly, she realized how much he needed her.

  “Oh my!” Julia gasped, her eyes filling with tears as she processed the significance of his words. “It...it surely can’t be true.”

  “My father kept a journal, and he wrote about you,” Frost said boldly, seemingly driven by his grief. “You and werewolves.”

  Julia was silent as she reached for a box of tissues that sat upon a nearby table. She then dabbed her eyes and took a deep, shaky breath before speaking. “I can sense that you have a pure spirit, Frost, and I feel the love that Anastasia has for you. Both of you can be trusted with what I have to say.”

  Leaning forward and lowering her voice, Julia continued. “Cedar Falls used to be a haven for a special kind of wolf. When my ancestors first arrived over two hundred years ago, we found a way to co-exist peacefully with these most magnificent creatures. Unfortunately, as the town grew larger, so did the fear and paranoia. Humans started to believe that wolves couldn’t be trusted, so they slaughtered them, almost down to the last one. The few wolves who did survive fled to the darkest parts of Cedar Falls Woods, where they remain to this day – or so I’d thought.”

  “Who else knows about this?” Frost pressed anxiously.

  “Hardly anyone nowadays. When I tried to pass on the stories of our heritage, my family declared me crazy. That’s how I ended up in this dreadful place.”

  And that’s why we never knew who you were, Anastasia thought, disgusted that the McKinleys had treated Julia like she was a shameful secret.

  “Perhaps I should make a new family for myself,” Julia said, smiling widely at Anastasia and Frost. Ever so carefully, she reached around the back of her neck and released a long, black heart pendant necklace. “I want you to have this,” she said, handing it to Anastasia.

  Taken aback, Anastasia stared at the necklace. It was a stunning piece of jewelry, and one she hadn’t noticed Julia wearing since it’d been hidden behind her hair. “I couldn’t take it,” she began to object.

  “I insist that you do,” Julia replied. “You may one day find it useful.”

  “Well, thank you,” Anastasia said graciously, even though she was still confused by the act of charity. “I’ll take excellent care of it.”

  “I’m afraid we need your help, not your jewelry,” Frost stated bluntly, ignoring the warning glare that Anastasia was now giving him. “Cedar Falls is at risk of getting a lot of new werewolves, and we need to know how to stop it.”

  Julia shook her head in disappointment. “Mistakes like these put everyone in danger. Fortunately, you already have the tools, but you must act fast.”

  “How?” Frost pleaded.

  “Mrs. McKinley, it’s time for your treatment,” someone suddenly said in a deep voice.

  Jumping slightly at the unexpected interruption, Anastasia looked over her shoulder to see a tall, middle-aged doctor with a muscular build. As he stood there, with his arms folded across his bleached white uniform, she knew that he was as stern as he sounded. There would be no use in begging for extra time.

  Anastasia’s assumption about the doctor must have been correct because Julia obediently stood up and began walking beside him. Not saying goodbye, she instead sang in an enchanting tone as she went. “Queen of poisons’ meant to burn. Heal, forget, then all is done.” With increasing passion, she repeated the lyrics, treating them like they were some sort of chant.

  Julia’s singing caused the doctor to hurry her down the gray carpeted hallway and around a bend until she could no longer be seen. Then, he cast Anastasia and Frost an odd, somewhat cautionary glance before disappearing himself. The doctor had seemed so strict and somber, and there was something about him which Anastasia didn’t trust. It was like he couldn’t wait to put distance between them and Julia.

  “We should leave,” Frost advised, causing Anastasia to notice how eerily quiet the room had become as everyone, including the staff, gawked at them.

  “Good idea,” she muttered, feeling awkward as they passed the reception desk and then exited through the double doors. It was all too evident that they hadn’t been welcomed there, even upon their arrival.

  Once they’d entered the car, Anastasia let out a frustrated sigh as she thought about what had just happened. Not only had they received no information that would be useful in stopping the transformations, they’d also allowed Julia to assume that Frost was a werewolf. Anastasia wasn’t sure if she needed to worry about that, though; Julia had been a friend of Symon’s, so it was likely that they could trust her. Besides, it’d already been proven that no one believed her tales about extra special wolves.

  The sound of the car’s engine snapped Anastasia out of her thoughts. She expected Frost to immediately speed away to their next destination – wherever that may be. Yet, she was surprised to find him remaining idle behind the wheel, even after several moments had passed. As Frost stared out the windshield, without really looking at anything, it was clear that he was greatly conflicted.

  “Julia was our only lead, and she could hardly give us a straight answer,” Frost spoke gravely, before Anastasia had the chance to inquire if he was alright. “The doctor mentioned that she was receiving treatment – maybe she really is crazy. Besides, I doubt werewolves and humans were ever friends. She probably didn’t know what she was saying.”

  “You don’t have the right to be skeptical,” Anastasia argued, feeling a little hurt by Frost’s disbelief in human-werewolf relationships. “It’s not like anyone would readily believe our story, despite it being true.”

  “Let’s just grab some lunch and then return to downtown,” Frost suggested with a heavy sigh. “We need to think of a new plan and can’t waste any more time here.” Without waiting for Anastasia to respond, he pulled out of the parking lot and then drove away, causing a heavy silence to fall over them.

  Anastasia had always thought that hope was one of the most precious of sentiments because with it anything was possible, but without it everything would seem bleak. Unfortunately, she was now part of the latter category, and who could blame her? After returning to the downtown core, they’d parked behind a building that saw little to no human activity. Then, for almost two hours they’d sat there, wrapped in blankets which she’d found in the car. They had talked – or rather argued – about what actions they should take next. These proposed plans had ranged from highly impractical to just plain stupid, and in the end they both agreed that none of them would ever work.

  Despite the unspoken realization that they would have to go back to the cabin and tell her grandfather that they’d failed, something kept nagging at Anastasia. It was Julia, and although Frost had already written her off as crazy, she couldn’t bring herself to do the same. Julia said they had the tools to stop the transformation, yet what did that even mean? Since Anastasia hadn’t figured it out by now, she doubted that she ever would.

  “I’m sorry for putting you through this, Anastasia,” Frost said, gently reaching for her hand as if to show her how much he cared. “Even if coming back here was a mistake, at least I’ve realized what I have to do – I can’t allow your grandfather to kill those men. When they become werewolves, I’ll be there to help them.”

  And how the hell do you plan to do that? Anastasia resisted the urge to ask, believing that the idea was more foolish than noble. Instead, she pointed to the clock which read 3:17 p.m. “Dusk falls in less than three hours, and if I know my grandpa, he won’t be waiting until after they’ve transformed to shoot.”

  As t
hey hastily started for Hartfield, Anastasia’s mind unwillingly returned to thoughts of Julia. Instinctively, she reached into her pocket for the heart pendant. It was a heavy, unique piece made all the more unusual due to the ornate leaves which were etched onto the rounded black heart. Wondering if the back was engraved as well, Anastasia turned it over to discover a slit running along the side. At first she thought it was an imperfection, but upon closer examination, she realized that the pendant was actually a locket. With growing interest, she used her fingernails to carefully pry it open. Inside the hollow heart she found a strange-looking dried flower which had a hint of color still left in it.

  “Why would she give you that?” Frost asked, glancing at the flower.

  Anastasia shook her head in bewilderment. It was such an odd object to keep in a locket that her curiosity was immediately peaked. Beginning to rifle through her grandfather’s belongings, she searched for his copy of The Encyclopedia of Plant Species. Although Anastasia distinctly remembered making fun of him for keeping such a large book in the car, she’d never been so grateful to see it lying underneath the backseat. Grabbing for the book, she ignored Frost’s warning for her to sit back down and put her seatbelt on.

  Opening the encyclopedia, Anastasia flipped through the yellowing pages, searching for a plant which had a delicate thin stem and a long, purplish-blue flower that sort of resembled a hood. Since the flower was so peculiar, she was certain that she would recognize it. The problem was the length of the book; no matter how many pages Anastasia turned, it felt like she was getting nowhere. Then, just when her hand had begun to cramp, she saw a flower identical to the one in the locket. Beneath the picture was the word, Wolfsbane.

  With a racing heart, Anastasia realized that this was no coincidence. Julia had given her the flower for a reason, and she was going to find out why. Unrelentingly, Anastasia hastened to read the description, learning that wolfsbane grew mostly in mountainous areas of the northern hemisphere and, despite being poisonous, it had long been used for medicinal purposes. There were several other interesting facts about this intricate plant, but nothing else mattered when Anastasia’s eyes fell upon the words, Queen of poisons; it was an alternative name for Wolfsbane and something which Julia had sung about when she was led away by the doctor.