Read Snow Heart for Free Online

good.” Nieves nodded her head as if she were making the thought complete. “Yes. I wish to help him heal his wounds.”
    Angel gasped. “You know about his scars?”
    “Scars?” asked Nieves, jolting her head to the girl sitting next to her. “What scars?”
    Angel gave a hesitant laugh. “Nothing. I don’t know what I was saying.”
    Nieves knew Angel was lying but she did not argue.
     
    †
    Rusuto sat across the table from Wilhelm sipping the last of his tea. Dan was sitting off in the corner with his arms tucked behind his head in his usual “don’t mess with me” visage.
    “How is Alric?” Rusuto finally said after placing his tea cup onto the table.
    “Not so well,” Wilhelm said. “I believe he’s simply given up hope altogether.”
    Rusuto pursed his lips with scrutiny. “Why is that?”
    Wilhelm calmly replied, “His birthday is in a few days.”
    “A few days,” repeated Rusuto.
    “His birthday?” asked Nieves, opening the sliding door.
    Everyone in the room jolted their attention to the young woman as she entered the room. Angel was right behind her until taking her place at an empty side of the table. Nieves didn’t hesitate to join the kind, gentle Angel.
    “We should have a party.”
    Wilhelm eyed Nieves for a moment.
    Angel gave an excited scream. “That’s a great idea.”
    “Whoa.” Dan held up his hands at the hysterical girls. “Aren’t you forgetting something, Angel?” Dan quickly sat down at the corner between her and Wilhelm. “Like how much Alric hates his birthday?”
    Rusuto gave a small barely noticeable sigh.
    “He hates his birthday?” asked Nieves with disgust.
    Rusuto nodded his head and stated, “Alric has made celebrations forbidden. His birthday especially.”
    “What for?” asked Nieves still revolted at the idea.
    Wilhelm smacked a hand against the back of Dan’s head. “Good going, Dan. We will have to explain everything to her now and Alric will not like that.”
    “Explain what?” Nieves’s words were easily overlooked.
    “It’s not my fault,” Dan barked. “She shouldn’t be here in the first place. This is Macter land for Macter’s only and if I can recall correctly she isn’t a Macter.”
    Wilhelm was just about to smack Dan when Angel beat him to the punch.
    “Idiot,” she hissed. “I’m ashamed to call you friend.”
    “Now, now,” Rusuto calmed them down. “Since she’s living here we have no right to keep secret the Macter Family Curse. Nieves is one of us now—trapped behind these wretched walls.”
    “Trapped,” Dan laughed. “Angel and I go to school in the city. We’re not ‘trapped’.” Dan rolled his eyes at how overdramatic Rusuto was being.
    Rusuto closed his eyes—for tranquility. “I was being theatrical, Dan.”
    “More like a drama-queen,” muttered Dan under his breath.
    “Uh…” Nieves raised her hand nervously. “Would someone explain?”
    Rusuto laughed gently. He was definitely the kind and caring type. He took Nieves’s raised hand in his. “I am quite apologetic. You see, Nieves, many years ago our ancient ancestor fell in love with a beautiful maiden. For many months they spent time together until finally he proposed to her. When the beautiful bride arrived at the altar, she stood there abandoned. She waited many hours for him in the cold winter’s snow.
    “When she discovered that he had left her there for another woman who was rich, the maiden bride was absolutely enraged. In actuality the maiden was a fox guardian who protected the very land we are standing on.
    “She ordered the foxes in her kingdom to search for him and bring her meant-to-be husband back to the land. When he arrived she placed a wicked curse upon his family. Every child of the Macter family, born on the night of a red moon would—”
    “Enough,” Wilhelm blurted. “We shouldn’t explain anymore.”
    “But,” Nieves interjected, “Why are birthdays forbidden?” The story explained very little.
    Rusuto