Seren slammed their door. Falling to the ground on the other side of it. They had too many feelings to identify any one, all they knew for sure was that they felt bad. Everything was bad. The room felt uncertain. As if the floor would give out on them at any minute. All they could do was reflect, trying to understand why they were being replaced. Was it because they were fae-touched?

As if in response, the mirror beside the wardrobe frosted over. It’s edges cracking. Seren held their hands tighter. Their stomach flipping around. They weren’t any good for the work, Seren had thought they were but it was clear they weren’t. They pressed their palms into their eyes, Everything was so overwhelming. So confusing. Unfair.

They got up. They couldn’t stay here for a single second longer. They never wanted to see this house, or anyone in it, ever again. Seren stripped the pajama’s off and left them on the floor. Putting on the plainest clothes they had. Putting on their shoes and snuck out of their room. Downstairs where they pulled on their coat, freezing when they heard the creak of the stairs.

“Serenity? Are you out of your room?” Eric called down the stairs. Seren quietly opened the front door and slid out hastily into the street.

Eric listened at the bottom of the stairs. He heard the curtains that kept the cold out of the broken windows, flapping in the wind. He swore he heard their door open and the stairs creaking. But he was also sure that Seren wouldn’t have kept quiet for so long.

“Serenity?” He called out again, finding it irritating he wasn’t getting a response. He hiked back up the stairs and down the hall. “Serenity.”

Their bedroom door was cracked open. It didn’t shut when he approached, nor was there any movement from inside it. His irritation morphed into worry.

“Serenity? You better answer me.” He warned, pushing the door open only to find the bedroom empty. The bed lay unmade, dresser drawers hanging open with the pajamas thrown haphazardly in the drawer. Eric felt a pit sink into his stomach. He turned and sped to the library, it was empty. Up the last flight of stairs to the study, it was untouched.

“Shit.” He muttered and ran back down the stairs, checking every room, closet, and space that could be used to hide in. In the front closet they found Seren’s shoes and coat missing. He huffed and grabbed his own coat and shoes. Looking around the front yard but didn’t see any sign of anyone in the morning streets. He ran next door and up the walk. Knocking on the door.

“Yes?” One of the kids of the house asked opening the door.

“Is Serenity here?” Eric asked the child.

“Who?” The child asked innocent but clearly uneasy.

“AUNTIE!” Eric yelled into the house.

“I’m coming!” Came a voice from the sitting room. The Lady of the house came through the halls with a mug. “Oh Eric! I’m glad you decided to join us for Yule-”

“Is Serenity here?” He asked.

“No,” His aunt said surprised. “Are they okay?”

“They’re probably fine, just keep an eye out for them. Okay?” Eric said, he left without listening for an answer, too busy trying to figure out where Serenity would go. He went back inside and called up Mrs. Houper.

“Hello? Do you know what day it is? I have-”

“Monica, Is Serenity with you?” Eric cut her off in the middle of her angry tirade. Her tone changed instantly.

“No, they aren’t. Is everything okay?” She asked. “Is she taking the loss a bit hard?”

“Y’think?” He asked. “Just… Just send them back home if they drop by. Or call me.”

“We can do that.” Monica said, “be gentle with them, okay?”

“I just want to know where they are.” Eric said. He hung up and paced. Trying to figure out where they would go. There was no way they’d be able to get into the palace. Favored or not. So who else would they go to? He hiked up the stairs again and took out the phone book, flipping and marking numbers. Someone, somewhere has to know where to find them.

Seren wandered around and around the center of the steamworks. Running their hand around the wall idly. There wasn’t a single other person about. Everyone spending their Yuletide morning somewhere warm, dry, and surrounded by friends and family. That thought made Seren’s stomach flip again.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

They turned away from the steamworks and wandered into the snow packed entrance to the Winter district. It looked so different to how Seren remembered it. Or perhaps they weren’t used to the clear dilapidation and neglect everywhere you looked.

Among the streets was their old house, though much more destroyed then they last saw it. All the windows had been smashed in, Huge holes had been made in the walls and the roof nearly had fallen in. The sight of it made the floodgates keeping Seren’s tears back collapse and they started crying. Just pushing on the door made it fall into the main room. All the furniture was smashed and the counters were torn apart. The coin jar was broken to bits over the kitchen floor.

The curtain separating the rooms from the main room was torn down and the bed and dresser were both destroyed.

“Someone was very keen to have this place torn down,” Wynne said, slouching through the door. Seren choked and ran to them.

“Why?” They asked, curling into Wynne’s warm coats. But found they weren’t warm. Something cold as ice touched their cheek. Seren dove back, cutting their hand on the glass over the floor.

“What is it?” Wynne asked.

“You’re cold, why are you so cold?” Seren asked, standing up and wiping their hands on their pants.

“Seren,” Wynne said but there was a long pause. Finally a sigh and Wynne slid into the room fully before standing and shedding the layers of fabric.

Beneath all the cloth, Seren got their first real look at Wynne. Their skin was ice as snow, silvery hair and ice blue eyes.

“You’re a fae!” Seren cried hoarsely. Unable to really articulate the realization. The years of being around Wynne flashing before their eyes.

“I am not just a fae.” Wynne said, Their voice clear and ringing like a bell. “I turned you.” Rage built up behind Seren’s breast.

“You what? Why!” Seren’s voice was returning in volume.

“You were promised to me, you were going to be mine.” Wynne sank to her knees, pleading. “I watched others with their babes and I wanted one, no I needed one. And you were to be mine.”

“But dad said mom tried to trade me and he-” Seren shook but couldn’t bring themself to run or to cry out.

“Yes, your dad took you back, and I hold no grudge or even bitterness. I’m happy he was your father and he raised you in love. As I wanted.” Wynne moved the silvery mist that made up her dress and revealed the dark stone scar on her shoulder. “Your mother fell into the fae realm but I chose to stay here and watch over you. To make sure you were always cared for.”

“But what about all the times I was miserable?” Seren asked, looking for any reason to run, to hate.

“Life comes with misery. If I did everything for you then you wouldn’t be the wonderful person you are.” Wynne said. They stumbled up to their feet, small cuts from glass on their knees bled dark blue. “We should get you home, it’s Yuletide. You should be home, warm and safe.”

“This is my home,” Seren sniffed.

“No, this is your past. What’s done and gone. You have moved past this, you don’t have to come here any longer. This is nothing but a ruin.” Wynne said, slowly approaching them. Seren let the fae, still uncomfortable with Wynne touching them but letting them try and talk sense into them.

“Mr. Asche is going to replace me.” Seren whimpered.

“No, he’d never. I made sure of it.” Wynne soothed. Seren looked up confused. “We had several talks about you. I promise, I even bet he’s out looking for you. In fact, I know he is. I stopped by to give you my Yuletide present.”

“He’s mad at me?” Seren asked.

“No, he’s worried sick.” Wynne comforted, their hands hovering over Seren’s hair. “So let’s get you home.”

“Okay,” Seren said quietly.

“Oh, wait. Your gift.” Wynne snapped, they smiled and knelt down. “Your hands?”

“I guess,” Seren said with a shrug. Putting their hands into Wynne’s. A shock of cold crept up Seren’s hands and into their chest. Stealing the air out of their lungs.

“I cannot make you fae without the silver river. But I can give you the power of a fae.” Wynne said. “And the knowledge we carry.” Wynne pulled Seren in and their foreheads touched. A brain freeze dug it’s claws into Seren’s skull and with it came a flood of memories that didn’t belong to them.

A sudden scream shattered the ice around them. In the doorway, Miss Jass was holding onto the doorframe for dear life.