Mysterious Whisper

Claire led me across the Winter Court. The buildings, as I said, were made of ice. But they weren't just buildings. They were intricate ice structures, latticed and sculpted to perfection. Each one looked like they might have taken years to make, yet I had seen none of them hours before.

She led me down ice alleyways and streets covered in snow with snowmen on every corner. I could see more black-eyed children around. They were having snowball fights and laughing and singing. They looked happy.

And yet, every time I looked at them, I remembered Professor Holly Sachs, her eyes frozen and shattered, and Henry, so afraid of being alone.

She led me to an ice rink. And as we approached, more and more black-eyed children began following us. They whispered behind our backs, unintelligible whispers, and whenever I tried to listen in, they always looked at me and giggled and then ran back.

"Where are we going?" I asked Claire.

"To see Him," she said.

"I've already seen him," I said. "I know what he looks like."

"No, you haven't," she said. "You have seen the form He takes. I'm going to show you His true form."

"And what does that look like?" I asked.

She smiled. "I can't describe it. You have to see it for yourself."

Finally, we approached a building, the only building not made of ice. It looked like it was made of densely packed snow. There was an opening to a hallway, the inside dark.

"You must go alone," she said. "We can only see His glory once. Now you must see it."

"And you think that'll convince me?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. "I am sure of it."

"Fine," I said. "But if it doesn't, you have to let me go. Let me leave this place."

"I promise," she said. "Once you see Him, you won't want to."

She kissed me on the cheek and I turned away from her. Then I walked into the building.