Black ice covered the cobblestone streets, nearly invisible in the dark. Snow fell in fist-sized clumps that helped hinder the visibility of the city streets. Raised garden beds of the residential area were buried under the snow, trees had clothed their branches in fluffy snow drifts like a coat of winter leaves. Above the pale white streets shone a silvery full moon. The dense clouds of snow parted ways to keep the moon shining, though some audacious clouds would refuse to divert from their paths.

Walking their patrols were the city officers, yawning to their partners and elbowing each other as they paused under the fading pale light of the streetlamps. Dusting the snow from their shoulders and hats, tightening their scarves and coats. Kicking their icy boots against the base of the lamps. Whispering to each other about how bright the full moon was, so bright it was powering the solar panels of the street lamps long after their power banks would have depleted. Leaving the ring of fading light and mumbling about a hot coffee at the end of the shift. In the far distance, a streak of morning blended into the deep dark of the night. 

The ice on the cobblestones cracked, and one officer drew their flashlight. With a click it cast a harsh light into the streets, the snow hindered any keen sight, but the windows along the street were dark, the stables were quiet and not even the smallest of strays were about in the clawing chill. The officer shrugged and put their flashlight away, resuming their beat alongside their partner, all the while a figure dressed in darkness scurried along the streets, leaving them far behind. 

Dressed in the darkest blacks, the woman moved about the streets like a shadow. Tightly bundled together with deeply hunched shoulders. She’d have been wildly out of place in the upper scale neighborhood had her cloak not been ornately embroidered. With the quiet clicking of rings and jewels following her every step. Her thick hoods wrinkled as she rapidly looked around the quiet streets, paranoid that any minute she’d be spotted. But she already was. He hid in the blind spot created by the woman’s multiple hoods. Dressed in all white like a moving snow drift. 

The city was surrounded by massive stone walls made barren by the winter. Piles of snow climbed up their sides, shoveled clear of the gates where city guards diligently watched their posts. The pale lights over the gates were powered by the city’s power banks and didn’t run down or dim. The winter heard the hum of the steam generators that helped keep the city’s power stores plentiful when the sun was hidden. 

Ice cracked, and the guards stood at attention. Drawing their lights and clicking them on. The only sound was the hum of the steam powered generators from inside the city walls. Ducking away from the light of the flashlights, the shadow slid up against the buildings and into the little walking paths between the buildings and the city wall. The snow let up as she came to the wall, between the snowdrifts, covered in false grape vines and ivy that were identical to the ones all over the wall, was the barely visible seam of a service entrance.. Shifting the weight under her cloak to the side, the woman felt along the seam until she found the lock, keeping her eyes on the lock she rummaged around her pocket until she found the key. 

It slid noiselessly into the lock and turned, unlocking with a heavy click. The service entrance swung inward, letting in a small avalanche of snow where it was previously untouched. Taking the key out of the lock, the woman entered the wall. It was warm, with only the fluorescent lights that hung on either side of the door to light the iron and stone halls. The generator's hum and hiss echoed throughout the halls, drowning out the sound of the door falling closed. The woman shifted her weight again and quickly stole through the halls. It smelled of wet concrete and metal. 

Through the wall to the opposite side where the lock of the next service entrance stood. The woman unlocked the door and slipped through it. Out of the pleasant warm hum and into the silent cold. By the time the door closed, the woman was already past the line of trees and heading deeper into the evergreen forest. Only after wandering out of sight of the city did the woman pause. With a deep breath, she brushed back her cloak to reveal the small bundle. It was bundled up tightly so the cold wouldn’t wake the sleeping infant. Satisfied, the woman covered back up the bundle and looked around the forest. Wandering aimlessly between the trees, humming an eerie little tune that echoed through the trees. A breeze through the trees shifted the branches, and the forest turned itself around, opening up to the woman a clearing.

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The clearing was devoid of any snow. The trees blocked out the light in the clearing but the clearing was anything but dark. A ring of silvery white flowers bloomed around a reflective pool of still water. The water reflected a light that didn't exist, making the whole clearing glow with a ghostly light. The woman stepped into the clearing and shrugged her cloak off her shoulders. In her arms, the tiny bundle shifted. Warily the woman approached the fey circle, staring into the reflecting pool without breaching the ring of flowers. Staring into the waters, the woman saw not her reflection but that of a fae. 

"Come to fulfill your bargain?" The voice far spoke through the pool. 

"I have," the woman said. "As promised." The pool rippled and from it the fae rose. Fae were conceptually genderless unless otherwise stated, they were colorless as well. With silvery hair and skin white as snow. Their eyes held no pupils and came in only blue or purple. 

Fae covet gold. This fae was decorated in gold bangles and rings. With chains of gold around their neck and a crown set up on their head. The crown connected to more gold chains that fell down into their silver hair. Even their cheeks were dusted with gold.

"Allow me to inspect your offer," the fae didn't ask. They held their arms open for the bundle. The women looked down at the fey circle and stepped back. Holding the infant up but not crossing the ring. The fae snickered under their breath but stifled their laughter. With nails painted gold, the fae reached out and brushed away the cloth from the round face. The child stirred at the icy touch but still didn't wake, the fae smiled gently. 

“The child appears very well.” They said, the sleeping infant scrunched up their face and their eyes opened. The fae gasped quietly in awe of the infant’s green eyes. “Your offer is accepted.” Touching the child again, the fae’s magic seeped into the child. 

“That’s Enough!” 

Out from the treeline the man dressed in white stepped out, holding a clockwork polished pistol trained at the fae. 

“Remove your hands from my child.” He removed his hood, unveiling sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. The fae looked accusingly at the woman.

“What is the meaning of this?” they asked insulted. 

“Clark, this is none of your business!” The woman hissed. 

“You’re using my child to bargain with a-” The man stopped before saying something he’d regret. “Whatever is happening here is over, give me the child.” 

“Too late for that, the bargain was accepted.” The woman said, shifting to hold the infant out to the fae. The fae smiled slightly at the tiny infant and reached for them. A loud crack echoed through the clearing as the pistol fired. The shot hit the fae dead center in the chest, stumbling them back. The woman recoiled back, her breath caught in her chest, stopping her scream cold. Spooked by the loud gunshot, the infant screamed. The woman was too stunned to keep a hold on the baby as the father snatched it and ran. Smothering the crying child in his coats. 

He vanished from the clearing and disappeared through the trees. The woman regained her senses and ran after. When she neared the edge of the clearing, the snow lifted from the edges of the clearing. Creating a barrier that she couldn’t cross. Her heart leapt into her throat as she caught sight of the white bell flowers that had been hiding under the snowbank. She felt her skin go cold as ice, behind her the fae stood.

“Your contract has been terminated.”

The man stopped running once he was sure he wasn’t being pursued. Breathing heavily, he holstered his pistol and readjusted the infant. Trying to rock and hush the infant, whispering small comforts. Screams eventually dying down to small whimpers as the infant's attention changed to playing with the button on their father’s sleeve. Tears welled up as his throat closed painfully. The infant looked up innocently, their green eyes were noticeably lacking pupils.