AUTHOR'S POV
The saumen carried Helena on the side of his head as they climb atop the Snow Mountain. Helena held on the snow monster's soft fur and her other hand on its black twisted horn, as she feel the frosty blast of the wind that bursts on her face. She's glad she found saumen. With her sprained ankle and slowly returning strength, it would take her hours to climb Caluso. Greatly, she got a free ride to the top of the snow mountain.
"Can I call you Cloud?", Helena blurted out as the saumen effortlessly clamber up.
"Cloud?"
"I have nothing to give you, but a name that you can be called with. Besides, you look like a cloud", Helena chuckled softly, caressing its fur.
"Cloud.. nice. Me like"
Helena smiled as she learn that not all things are what they seem to be on a different perspective. Cloud is one of the several beautiful things in Nether that she would always treasure in her heart. Reaching the top, she started to feel glum again…
"I go.. this place.. not safe. Here get food.. for you"
Helena took the persimmon handed by Cloud. She smiled at the thoughtful gesture of the creature whom no one would think they are capable of such emotion. "Thank you, Cloud", she said.
Cloud didn't stay long. Notably, the creature was truly fearful of Caluso that he had to leave as soon as they arrive. Standing alone in between the tree wells, Helena was suddenly struck with a déjà vu. Bearing the pain in her ankle, she trudged the knee-deep snow with all the courage that's knocking in her chest.
In Helena's dreams, there were lights in blue and purple hues above the crest of the snowcapped mountains of Caluso. The wind continued to blow, howling like ghosts of the past. Then there was a voice calling her name repeatedly. And through that voice, she found the markings of a hummingbird on the frozen mountain wall that opens a door to a cave. Marching laboriously, Helena couldn't wait to see which among her premonitions is true.
Finally… Caluso.
This is where her people lived. At every step, she imagined her fancy ancestors of soul travelers getting homey in the cold. Their beautiful dwellings where they cook warm soup and make bittersweet coffee. The children's laughter making their home more joyous. And the beautiful lights dancing over Caluso.
Everything is gone.
All that's left is the remnants of a grotesque past, and no any good thing remained. Freya was right. There were no more lights glistening in the Snow Mountain. No more lights to ignite the leccy. There's no way home.
As she reach the mountain wall, Helena searched for the wall markings. And it was there, just right where she thought it would be. Moments after, a stone wall opened that cleared a way to a long stretch of ice path inside the mountain. With nothing to lose, and hopefully, nothing to fear, Helena entered the icy cavern fueled with anticipation and nonetheless, sadness.
Her foot ache less now, but her head started to throb a little at the bright glow of the icy walls. After a few more limped walks, Helena reached a room connection to three other chambers. The walls were covered with shimmering ice. Her eyes feasted on the entirely different world she stepped in. Everywhere she look, there were unreal ice formations, frost crystals, frozen waterfalls and ice columns that complimented the glacier cave worthy of the gods.
Her jaw dropped at the shimmering frozen dripping water with pointed tips scattered in the ceiling, along with the bluish sleet of ice that bed them. The perennial ice glows at the gentle touch of light, giving it a soft mesmerizing hue. It was a breath-taking place, indeed. Then, she led herself in one of the chambers, and was caught off guard at the four people trapped in a frozen glass of ice on the wall. She thought they could be like Argus, prisoners of the kingdom, that were imprisoned in ice. By the look in their faces, they seemed to be in unimaginable pain before they were buried in ice. Unable too look anymore, Helena snooped around until she found a stairs spiraling down. She followed her intuition that what she seeks must be down there. She shuddered as she proceed to the lower chamber, with high hopes that the leccy is found there.
It was more beautiful in room where the spiral staircase led Helena. The ceiling was high in the blocky chamber, with a circular oculus right in the middle that exposes the blue sky. Underneath the perfect round opening was a short ice table, solid but clear looking like glass.
"The leccy.", Helena uttered. She placed the king's talisman on top of the table. Then, she placed her crest right beside it. Instantly, the ice table flickered as the entire chamber shook. The ice crystals danced making it clink softly at the power of leccy. Moments after, a phantom slowly appeared above the leccy. A figment that's too clear to see, but intangible to touch.
"Mother?", Helena felt her heart sunk at the sight of Beatrice. Her longing deepened, her tears shallowed. The pain that she buried in her heart overflowed to her eyes that it suddenly bawled uncontrollably.
"Helena, my darling", Beatrice stood before her daughter, on the leccy right by the King's Talisman.
"Is it really you?", Helena' smiled despite her eyes were flooded with tears as it infinitely flow down her cheeks.
"Yes, Helena…", Beatrice looked exactly how Helena remembers her.
"You .. you were pregnant.. where's the baby?", Helena asked looking at her mother's belly.
"He died. That time you soul traveled before we were stormed? I lost your brother, Henry", Beatrice said with sadness in her eyes.
"And you didn't tell me?", Helena felt dejected knowing her mother kept the grief behind the comfort and smiles in front of her. "And now, i'll lose you too. Can't you stay?" she asked.
"You've come a very long way, Helena. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you", Beatrice didn't want to hear more heartbreak testaments that would cause tears to both of them.
"You taught me everything I needed to know. But mother, I'm not sure if I can still go any further. Not without you and father", Helena stepped forward to see more of her mother's face.
"No, sweetheart. Don't say foolish things", Beatrice told Helena, hearing her daughter lose confidence in herself.
"I'm no match with Argus, and I can't fight Celeste. I can't even save myself, much more save an entire kingdom", Helena doubts her own, bawling her eyes out.
"Helena", Beatrice crouched down and stared intently at her daughter. She gave her the same cold stares when she teaches her a lesson. "You can't outrun your destiny just because you are terrified of it. Remember, you're a celestial and the daughter of Tris… Silvius and Gaius", she told her daughter the truth that was kept from her all these years. Seeing Helena not surprised relieved the ghost of Beatrice.
"But Aelmere is our home", Helena uttered as she wipe her tears with her hand.
"You are my home", Beatrice smiled. "I don't have much time Helena. My powers will serve as a conduit to light up the leccy, and I'll leave the decision to you if you want to stay… or go", Beatrice stood up and lifted her hands before she disappears.
"But mother", Helena reached for her mother but, her hand only went through Beatrice's spectral body.
"I'll always be with you. I love you Helena", Beatrice's ignited the light on the leccy using her remaining celestial powers, until the sky of Caluso was lit with blue and purple dancing hues.