Chapter Ten: Lover

As if the time stopped at that moment, Diamond was utterly stunned, wide-eyed, as the old woman in front of him transformed into a completely different person – One that was familiar.

The blinding light behind her faded, unveiling the face it tried to hide from the eyes of the spectator. He could now clearly see her face. His mouth parted open. It was a face that he couldn’t bear to look at without being enthralled.

The old silver-haired lady’s wrinkled face and wrinkled hands were gone. Her skin seemed to belong to the newborn babe – pale silky skin void of any flaw. Yet her pair of eyes same as the color of the deepest sea, remain unchanged.

“Diamond…” She said, almost hushed but enough to make his heart leap. He stayed frozen and stunned while seated on his bed, head leaning on the bed’s headboard.

“I-Ice queen?” He said for the second time. Uncertainty and confusion can be traced in his cracked and dry voice.

‘There’s no way this is reality. She is…she is dead.’ Diamond accused himself of losing his mind yet refused to deny it at the same time. ‘I may be a fool but I’m not a lunatic!’

In a heartbeat, the woman was right beside him. Up close, his mind became more of a mess. At every angle, the woman was a spitting image of the notorious Ice Queen of Atarrah. Even her innate intimidating cold presence was there – which he believed no one, nothing could imitate.

However, the queen he knew never smiled openly although before, he secretly caught a glimpse of her lips slightly curving.

“Yes…” She uttered, smiling. It was natural and not forced. She looked even more ethereal. And her eyes which seemed to stare straight through his soul captivated him.

He breathed the air, short and sudden. “Are…are you–”

“Yes, I am real.” She lifted her hand and gently stroked his golden hair.

He didn’t know why his eyes started to get a little bit watery when he felt her gentle touch. She felt so real!

Diamond gasped. “You…you healed me?”

The queen nodded. “I am real. Believe me,” she let out a soft chuckle. There was a tenderness beneath her melodious deep voice.

Slowly, his withered and weary body lightened. As she stroked his hair, a warm gentle sensation filled his body, as if he was a baby cradled to sleep in a mother’s arms. He felt so good. He felt so safe. It was a moment he didn’t want to have end.

The rumors he heard about the ice queen were far from what he experienced of being with her in a short period. Or maybe, he was yet to witness what kind of monster she’s hiding within. However, why…why does she treat him in a different somewhat…special way. He couldn’t deny it anymore. He could feel it…down to his bones.

“How?” One word from his lips but it carried a hundred questions inside his head, words left unsaid. What happened to her? How did she came back alive?

Once again, she smiled. Diamond wondered if she only smile in front of him or if there was someone else as privileged as him to see this side of hers. Yet the smile lingered for a moment before it turned to a bitter one.

“I–I hope you’ll forgive me…” She stopped stroking his hair. She clasped her hands on her lap and hung her head low. The ice queen, never he could imagine seeing her like this – so low. So humble. And for who? Is it for him?

He mentally shook his head. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “What do you mean?”

Queen Natalia didn’t respond right away but her next action surprised him more.

The ice queen got on her knees, before him. “I used you…”

Diamond was beyond speechless. He didn't know what to say. He didn’t know how to react. Should he get mad because he was used without him knowing? Or he would forget it because he started to make the woman in front of him matter in his life? – Does she? Really?

The coldness in her deep-sea green eyes vanished completely, without a trace. There was pain, and it was so visible, even tangible that he could feel it.

‘What sort of magic is this?’ He asked in his mind. He couldn’t believe that he could feel the way she feels. She was in so much pain.

The ice queen at his feet held his hands. She planted a kiss on them.

“What are you doing?!” He abruptly yanked his hands away from her and he pulled up the blanket to cover half of his burning face.

It was this time Diamond bravely listed in his head several reasons for the effect the ice queen had on him. Among the list is the most ridiculous idea he kept trying to ignore – It is to be especially fond of her.

Does he like the idea? These questions keep bugging him. He was confused by his feelings more than certain. Because, the overwhelming void deep inside him, which seems to never get away no matter what he does to fill it, was still there.

It was as if something was missing within his very being. A missing piece stolen in his puzzled life.

He kept looking for the answer but he couldn’t find it. He didn’t know where and how to start. Goodness! He didn’t even know what he wanted to find, what he wanted to look for!

“I–I need to…” The ice queen stammered in her words – another new side of her Diamond had witnessed.

“I needed to save your lover,” she said in one breath. She couldn’t look directly into his eyes compared to before.

“Catarina, she is–”

“W-What did you…did you say?”

Once he heard the word ‘lover’ Diamond tossed the blanket aside and shook the ice queen’s shoulder.

“I need Catarina…your lover. That’s why I saved ”

“Who has a lover?” He asked.

Queen Natalia gazed at him. Her eyes carried even more pain.

“I understand…” She muttered under her breath.

Diamond was about to be thrown into a chaos of total confusion. “What did you understand?”

“Why you can’t remember…”

“Can’t remember what?!” His head throbbed painfully, more painful than before. Diamond gritted his teeth as he held his head between his arms.

Natalia knew what he was going through. She cast on him a magic that could ease the pain internally but it was merely temporary.

“Stolen memories between lovers…” she said solemnly. “It was Vernon’s doing to separate the two of you.”

“Diamond…I used you for my own desires. I know it was unforgivable. However…I hope to restore the missing piece stolen in your life.”

Diamond was gasping for air. The pain-relieving magic didn’t instantly ease his headache but it slowly disappeared.

He looked at the ice queen and was surprised by the sight of tears cascading down her cheeks.

“Diamond…” She said as she pulled a knife into her pocket. She used it to cut her finger. Blood dripped and once it fell on the floor it turned into a blazing blue fire.

“I swear I will make your love story a happy ending.”

“I will break the curse of the darkness inflicted in your life.”

“I will set you free…You and your dearest one.”

Queen Natalia summoned her power – the ice magic, causing the temperature in the room to plummet. The once warm room was quickly transformed into a frozen space, with icicles forming on the walls and floor. In an instant, Diamond and the ice queen were teleported to a new location, entering a chamber where a slender, pale red-haired girl rested quietly on a bed. She was in a deep slumber, her breathing slow and shallow.

“Prin-princess?” Diamond said, walking closer to the girl.