The Snow Nymph Within

Since my arrival at Cabin 11, I had been curled up one of the two windowsills. The residents of Cabin 11 sent looks in pity and concern to me. They muttered to each other at night, while I continued to gaze out of the window into the peaceful night. I pretended not to notice and tried to not let on how much this was all crushing me inside. I had been gazing out the dusty window, feeling rather sorry for myself. I denied all food I was offered and refused to come to the meals.

I just sat there, motionless, still as a statue.

A miserable look plastered on my face. I still believed that I was being held captive and would never be able to go home. To never see the smiling faces of my siblings as they danced in the sun. Twirling like they were pixies and glistening like they were made from gold dust.

So precious to my parents.

We were like gold to them.

My mind flickered to my parents. The ones who had loved me from the first day I was brought into this world, and who would continue to do so for all of time. They were probably going out of their mind with worry. I was meant to be at my Aunts' by now, and no doubt they would of phoned home when I didn't arrive on time. I wondered if there was anyone out there looking for me. My parents would be. I was sure of it. They loved me too much to let me go.

Many a time I was interrupted by people trying to talk to me, trying to persuade me to leave the spot on the windowsill. I scowled and shouted curse words to them from the high hell and back. Even the horse dude tried to persuade me to eat something. But I refused. Their food could of been poison afterall! He looked disheartened when he tried for a second time. I wasn't going to eat anything until they agreed to send me home. I told him that. He replied with he couldn't, and when I implored why, a sad look crossed his face. He never answered me before disappearing out of the cabin. No one had tried to talk to me since. A few noisy campers had stared at me through the window but besides that, nothing else happened. I just wanted to go home, was that too much to ask?.

For my captors, yes apparently.

It was the second night and I still hadn't eaten anything. I hadn't slept either. I wasn't going to lie, I was starving. I wanted to eat so badly, yet I couldn't will myself to do so. I hadn't slept due to the fact of being so wrapped up in my thoughts and in the fear that if I did sleep then something awful would happen to me. I could potentially die if I shut my eyes for even a second. I couldn't risk it. I would much rather starve and be on my guard, then die off my guard. So I kept staring out the window, just like I had done for the past two days. I felt so dead inside and every part of me numb. I couldn't feel my limbs anymore. They had gone to sleep and I knew that if I ever moved from this spot then I would get the worse pins and needles ever recorded in history.

I just wanted home.

I wanted to be in my mother's loving arms as she sang a lullaby to me, like she always did when I was depressed.

I wanted to see my father's eyes sparkle with laughter and his whole face light up as I told him many of my funny stories from college.

I wanted to share a room with Lucy once more and give her advice, good advice, not the bad advice I once given to piss her off.

I wanted to walk through the door to my home and have little Robert run to his older sister, his role model, to hug her tightly like he always did and tell me how much he missed me.

I wanted to pass the winter nights away playing charades with my family or arguing over monopoly.

Heck! I thought to myself. I would give anything to have arguments with my family. Just so I could see their faces and know that these people loved me, and I loved them, regardless of what any of us did.
I sniffed and blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall.

I wanted to tell my mother that I loved her for giving me her eyes, and for staying back and watching me shine.

I wanted to tell my sister sorry for all those times I had been mean to her and I wanted to tell her that I promised to always to be there for her from now on.

I wanted to tell my father that he was the bravest man I have ever met and the kindest too.

Oh and little Robert.

I was having a very hard time holding the tears that were about to fall.

I wanted to tell little Robert to not be afraid of himself, afraid of what he was capable of. I wanted to tell him that everything would be alright. Life was unfair that was all. Nothing was his fault. It wasn't his fault that she died.

I desperately wanted to tell both my beloved siblings that life was just a game, a very poorly played game of snakes and ladders, people were going to cheat by going the easy way out, others were destined to be winners all along and the rest were the underdogs. We, my siblings and I, fell into the third category. We were ones who shone through and gave the most pleasing surprises. The ones who took the easy way out, shocked people the most. While the winners kept winning, and it gets a little bit boring after a while, doesn't it? As the underdogs we won some we lost some. Therefore we must of continued playing this daring game of snakes and ladders to see what we could get out of it.

That last thought caused me to start violently sobbing. For the first time in two days my legs moved. I found the energy to move them. I pulled them up to my chin and buried my head in them. My arms hugged my legs tightly and I rocked back and forth, my cries increasing in volume due to the pain of my limbs. I was awfully sore, the pins and needles were almost unbearable as my body started to work again. It was like my body was a piece of machinery and someone had hit a button on the control to get it working again. My brain had started up again and was working in overdrive to get me moving.

I felt every waking cell in my body wake up and spring into action. A excruciating pain of coldness running up and down my body. My sobs turned into a hysterical shrieking as I felt the pain briefly leave me, before it came back in an even stronger wave.

By now the few unclaimed demigods and children of Hermes were wide awake and had noticed me having a breakdown. They rushed over and tried to calm me, saying words of comfort and trying to shush me. I ignored them and blanked them out as I rocked back and forth, my head still buried in my knees. "LET ME GO HOME!" I demanded, but no one listened. They never did as I had come to learn.

Soon the cries turned into loud screams of grief and pain. Grief for not being safe with my parents, regret for not telling them "I love you enough." And pain as my body was deadly cold, I felt like I was going to freeze. Something in my brain whizzed and told me this had happened a few times before. I was going into overdrive. I struggled to lift my head that had previous been buried in between my knees.

I heard gasps of shock and panicked screams as the whole of cabin 11 began to freeze over. The floor of the cabin was covered in snow and ice started to climb up the cabin walls. I thought it looked beautiful with all the different shapes the ice made as it travelled up the walls. I felt something cold land on my nose and I looked up expecting to see the ceiling, but instead I found snow raining down onto the floor. My wailing had stopped by now but nobody noticed as it was lost all amongst the loud chatter. I half smiled in awe. Whatever drug my captors had given me, it was certainly a funny one for sure.

I turned my head to the window and placed my fingertips on the glass. I let out a short breath of astonishment. The moment I brushed my fingertips against the glass, ice spiralled out from my fingertips and covered the dusty windowpane. I drew my hand back instantly and gazed on at the ice. I stared down at my hand, eyes wide. My hand was being cradled by my right hand. I could distinctively see a blue light fading from my fingertips. I frowned and looked around the room. This didn't make sense, if I was on some crazy type of drug then how was I making this happen? I was pretty sure I wasn't on some drug as the other kids in the cabin were seeing this too. Unless they are also on the same drug I am. I debated with myself. No it all feels so real. I frowned in confusion.

My eyes quickly flickered to my feet when I felt something extremely cold beneath them. I drew a sharp breath and my hands flew to my mouth at what I saw. It had happened again! Ice was escalating from my feet and freezing the entire cabin, just like what happened a few days ago with the table! I blinked. I had to be dreaming.

Child, remember the night with the monster... The poltergeist perked up. This was the first it had spoken to me in two days.

I bit my lip in concentration, ignoring everything else that was happening around me. I closed my eyes and the events came spiralling back in a blur to me. Something had happened, which had caused me to destroy that beast. I flinched at the memory.

Don't fight it. The voice urged, following my thoughts. Let the memories take control for once. You've been fighting the memories for far too long Eira. You've been denying yourself of the truth.

I obeyed the poltergeist and let all the memories of my past come flooding back to me. I learnt that the ice statutes that had randomly created, were me. I had caused them to happen!

I had a vision of three year old me smiling at the falling snow. I danced in it and twirled. The snow spinning with me. I remember that I was twirling and the snow followed me. I laughed in delight as I thrusted my hands into the air quickly. The snow flew into the air and a gorgeous snowman was formed. He was perfect! About six feet tall. The creature smiled kindly down at me.

My vision suddenly changed to another scene. I was five here. I immediately recognised the scene. It was the day my mother said I 'burned her hand.' My mother and I were walking along hand in hand through Walmart. We paused to look at the toys. I remembered asking Mum if I could have a toy truck that I had my heart set on. She said no and I ended up have a tantrum. I squeezed her hand so hard and was so angry at her that her hand went very cold. She yelped in pain and drew her hand quickly away from mine. She looked at her stinging palm. It was bright red and a burn mark was quite clearly there.

My eyes shot open.

It had all been me. The ice statues, the burn, everything, it had been me all along.

I looked around, realisation hitting me hard. I hadn't been drugged! This was me becoming extremely overwhelmed. I had lost control, like all those other times. I had, had these powers since birth. But why was it all only making sense now?

You'll see child... Came the answer of the poltergeist.

I rolled my eyes. Figures, I thought, I get stuck with a super creepy poltergeist too! I swear I heard the poltergeist lightly laughing.

Slowly I managed to put two and two together. My freaky powers, demigods, this camp, that guy who was apparently called Dionysus, the centaur dude, Cedric the satyr - who was actually called Belkon. Even the bracelet that boy had been wearing. It was Greek. This was all Greek.

Realisation hit me suddenly and I slumped. I didn't notice the ice starting to retreat as I got my emotions under control. I didn't notice the campers starting at me with wonder. I was wrapped up in my own mind, confusion written on my face.

"But... That would mean..."

Yes child. The poltergeist said, chuckling. The Greek Gods are real.

Notes