Frosts and Fears Read online

  Frosts and Fears

  Grimm Academy

  Laura Greenwood

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Blurbs

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Blurbs

  Gerda has always known her best friend would turn against her...

  Determined to avoid her prophecy by retreating into herself, Gerda's well-laid plans are put to the test when her childhood friend turns up at Grimm Academy. And when another girl starts to win his attention, she has to face the truth. Her prophecy is beginning, and if she isn't careful, she could lose everything.

  Frosts and Fears is the first book of the Grimm Academy series and is based on the fairy tale of The Snow Queen.

  Chapter 1

  Snowflakes drift across the window, the chill in the air confirming to anyone who doubted it that winter has arrived. Other students run around the grounds of Grimm Academy enjoying the weather, some of them are even having snowball fights, and I'm convinced I can spy one of the more magical students trying to compact some snow into an igloo.

  I cup my hands around my mug of hot chocolate and turn away from the window. The roaring fire barely registers for me. And not because there's several of the other girls from my class huddling around it.

  Winter is the worst time for me. It's the time my prophecy will come true, unless I can avoid it. I'm not oblivious to why my parents sent me to Grimm Academy, though I'm certain they think I am. I know I'm here to try and avoid my prophecy coming true, but unlike many of the others here, I'm not foolish enough to think that it'll be as easy as sitting in a castle and going to some lessons.

  Avoiding a prophecy takes work. And somehow, I have to figure out what that actually entails.

  I take a sip of my drink, enjoying the sweet taste along with the nutmeg the kitchens have used to spice it. This is the best thing about free lessons here, they came with the best refreshments.

  "Gerda." A voice I thought I'd never hear again roused me from my thoughts.

  I look up to find the last person I expect to see at Grimm Academy standing in front of me, a smirk on his face.

  "Kai?" I whisper, not quite believing my eyes. We haven't seen one another since we were seven years old and our parents moved away from one another. "Are you really here?" I set down my mug and jump to my feet.

  Without thinking twice about it, I throw myself into his arms. He hugs me back and my eyes flutter closed. It's always been so easy between us, and even though it's been eleven years, I can tell that we're going to be able to pick up where we left off.

  I can have my best friend back.

  The thought of what that might mean for my prophecy lingers at the back of my mind, but I push it to the side. Kai is far too important for that and I don't want to waste this second chance with him. Not when I thought I'd lost him for good.

  "Why are you here?" It's the only question I can voice right now.

  He shrugs and pulls away. "Do you think I can get one of those?" He points at my hot chocolate.

  I laugh despite myself, and gesture to one of the servants hanging by the wall. "Yes, but only if you stop avoiding my question."

  "My Lady, My Lord, what can I get for you?" the servant asks, dipping into two quick curtsies as she did. It took me a while to get used to that after coming here. My family wasn't poor, but we didn't have servants quite like they do here.

  "A hot chocolate for Lord Kai, please."

  She nods and scurries off to do that.

  I gesture for Kai to sit in the chair next to mine. "Now, tell me."

  He sighs loudly. "You haven't changed one bit, have you?" He accompanies his words with an impish smile, but at least he takes the seat.

  I sit back down too and wait patiently for him to tell me.

  "My parents found out I'm part of one of the prophecies," he admits. "Though they won't tell me which one or anything about it."

  "You might be able to ask the headmistress," I suggest, worry starting to churn inside me.

  "Would she tell me?"

  I nod. "She has a book in her office with all the prophecies in them. It's her job to protect those of us with them, and she can't do that if she doesn't tell us what to look out for, can she?"

  He starts. "You have one on you?"

  I'm saved from answering by the servant arriving back with Kai's hot chocolate. But then again, I know him. Just like I won't take any of his avoidances, he won't take any of mine. I'm not foolish enough to think I won't have to tell him.

  "Yes," I say after the servant has gone. "And not a very nice one either." And if I'm right, then it'll be the same one he's part of. My prophecy talks about a childhood friend and how he'll grow to hate me before turning towards the ice and snow for good.

  I glance out of the window and suppress a shudder. I don't want to think about why he's turned up now and not during the summer. Does this mean my prophecy is about to come true? Since I found out about it, I've avoided making friends for fear of it coming to pass.

  Turns out I may already be too late to avoid it.

  "I'm sorry," he says. "I know that can't be easy."

  I shrug. "It's not particularly fun," I admit. "But most people around here have them. I'm not unique in that."

  "That's what this place is famous for." He shrugs it off, but I recognise the look in his eyes. He's more bothered by this than he wants to let on. I get that. I feel the same way whenever I think about my prophecy.

  "What else are you looking to do while you're here?" I ask, a pang of jealousy travelling through me as I realise his plans may involve a girl.

  "I haven't thought about it," he admits. "I only found out I was coming yesterday. I didn't want to, but now I know you're here, it's not so bad." He flashes me one of his killer smiles and I swoon inside, just like I used to.

  "It all seems better now you're here too," I admit.

  "You haven't made any friends?"

  I bite my lip, trying to think of the best way to put this without revealing the truth about my prophecy. "I haven't met anyone I clicked with." The lie comes out easier than I'm comfortable with, but I don't know how to tell him the truth without revealing the details of my prophecy. Now he's here, it could mean that he is the one it talks about.

  Something I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with yet.

  Chapter 2

  I walk into the main hall with a lightness I haven't felt in years. Kai's at Grimm Academy, and I'm going to get to spend more time with him. I know it's silly to be so excited about it, but I missed him in the years between our childhood and now, The last thing I want is to waste an opportunity to know him again.

  A light laugh comes from the corner we agreed to meet in and my heart sinks. It's too high to belong to Kai. Has one of the princesses moved in on him already?

  I turn in the direction of the laugh and steel myself for who I'm going to see. The gorgeous flowing blonde hair of Princess Caryn catches my eye first. I groan inwardly. There's no way I can compete against someone as beautiful and polished as she is. I'm merely a Lady and not a crown princess. Not to mention that my drab brown hair and sub-par gown is nothing compared to how stunning she looks in a shimmering creation of grey and white. How does she look so beautiful all the time? It's almost like it's effortless to her.

  "Lady Gerda," she says loudly. "Why don't you join us?"

  I want to tell her no, but I've come down specifically to meet Kai, it seems silly to backtrack now.

  "I'd like that, Your Highness, thank you for offering." I step forward and fluff out my skirts before sitting down. Up close, the difference in the intricacies of our dresses are even plainer. At least she doesn't comment on it. Some of the others would. There was a girl here up until recently, Fatin I think her name was, and she always said the cruellest thing that came to mind.

  "Please, call me Caryn," she requests.

  "Only if you'll call me Gerda," I respond, even though I don't want to. We're not friends, and I don't want to foster that bond between us. If I do, then she's likely going to be the one who ends up the subject of my prophecy.

  "I'd love nothing better," she admits. "Shall we get some tea?"

  I nod and wait as she gestures to a servant to order.

  "Is this normal?" Kai whispers to me.

  I nod. "It's what we do when we don't have lessons." Today is a rest day, meaning there are none for us to attend, something I'm grateful for after Kai's arrival. "Normally I stay in my room and read," I say quietly, hoping that Caryn doesn't overhear me.

  She's too busy ordering the tea and giving the poor serving girl a whole babble of instructions. I didn't think anyone could be so fussy about tea in the first place.

  "There, all done," she says with a smile, turning back to Kai and me.

  "Thank you." I smile, genuinely grateful. I always feel like I'm being an imposition when I have to ask the academy staff for anything. I know they're here to serve us, but it's impossible not to. The kitchen, laundry room, and anywhere else like that, are off-limits to students, which means I have to use them more often than I'd like.

  "How are you finding it here, Kai?" she asks, placing a hand on his leg.

  I narrow my eyes. What is she playing at? This isn't the place to act so brazenly around him. He may be my friend, but he isn't what anyone would call a catch. He barely
has a title, and his family came close to bankruptcy when we were smaller. It's not someone a princess should aspire to.

  "It's a big castle," he says, starting

  I almost roll my eyes at the comment. It's an understatement, but also the kind of thing that he's only saying this in order to impress Caryn.

  To my surprise, she giggles.

  I'm saved from saying anything by the arrival of our tea, placed on the small table between us.

  "Thank you," I say to the maid.

  "You're welcome, My Lady." She dips into a curtsy, not paying any attention to the other two who are staring at one another with gooey eyes.

  I pick up the pot and start pouring three cups. I don't know if they want any sugar, so I leave it off. Kai used to take sugar in his tea when we were children, but so much time has passed that I don't know for sure and it's safest not to make assumptions.

  I drop milk into my own cup, and pick up the saucer.

  The other two finally remember I'm here and turn to face me.

  "What lesson do you have next?" Caryn asks me.

  "Embroidery." I grimace as I say it.

  Caryn laughs lightly. "I know how you feel. It's so dull. But I've heard there's a new teacher, which should make it a little better." I think she's in the same class as me, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

  I nod. "I've heard those rumours too."

  She drops two sugar cubes into her tea and stirs it with the silver spoon before adding the milk. It's a good job that I didn't do it for her.

  "What about you, Kai?" she asks.

  "Erm, let me check." He digs into his pocket and pulls out a scrunched up piece of paper that must be serving as a timetable for him. "I'm out in the armoury, I think."

  "Let me see?" I hold out my hand for the paper.

  Our fingers brush against one another as I take it from him and I try to ignore the tingles that come from it. Kai is clearly into Caryn, I don't want to complicate matters by calling his attention to me.

  I smooth out the paper, finding his timetable written in neat handwriting that is only vaguely reminiscent of the way he wrote when he was a boy. I'm starting to regret the lost years between us. Our friendship could have had so much more time.

  "It looks like you have a blacksmithing lesson." I frown. "I didn't know they did those here." It sounds interesting, but I know it isn't the kind of lesson I'll ever be allowed to take. While some of the female students manage to do some of the male lead courses, most of them don't. We get stuck with the likes of embroidery and dancing.

  "I believe they do it so the princelings and lords can learn how to fix their own weapons if they are in a fix," Caryn explains. "But I'm not sure why. It's so long since there's been a war in the kingdoms. It hardly seems necessary."

  "Mmm." I have to agree, but I still find I don't want to out loud. Instead, I take a sip of my tea.

  "It sounds like fun, though," Kai says, taking the timetable back from me.

  "It does," I admit. "But don't burn yourself," I joke.

  "And don't you stab yourself too hard with a needle," he throws back, his impish smile reminding me of so many times past.

  If I can get Kai away from Caryn, then perhaps we can recapture some of our old friendship. I feel like this is a chance not afforded to a lot of people, and I don't want to waste

  Chapter 3

  "Is anyone sitting here, Gerda?" Caryn asks, already sitting herself down in the plush armchair next to me.

  "No," I answer anyway. But I don't smile at her. There's something not quite right about this woman, and now we're away from Kai, I can see it even more then. There's nothing I can do about it though. She's royalty, and I'm just me. Not truly anything special, just a middle of the road noble with no real connections. If my parents hadn't found out about the prophecy, then I'm certain I wouldn't have ended up here in the first place.

  An older woman dressed all in black sweeps into the room and cracks a cane against the floor. Her skin is weathered, giving her an odd almost scaly look. I don't think it's something that's caused by ageing. It doesn't even look natural.

  "Attention, class," she calls loudly. "I am Madam Froduir and I'll be teaching you embroidery for the foreseeable future. When you are in my class, you will not speak unless you are spoken to, and you will not interrupt when I am teaching. I expect nothing less than the best from all of you. I will be harsh in my gradings, but I only do that in order to get the best from all of you."

  I gulp. I don't have the steadiest of hands, so this may be a problem. It's not that I ever try less than my best, I simply worry that's not good enough. Probably a consequence of spending so much time around the royalty who attend Grimm.

  "Well that's no fun," Caryn whispers under her breath.

  Madam Froduir swivels her head in our direction, as if she heard the quiet words. I don't know how that's possible.

  "This is the pattern we're doing today." She pulls a cloth away from the easel it's draped over, revealing a complicated pattern of winter roses and snowflakes.

  I groan. It's a complicated one, and those never go as well for me as they should.

  "I'll help," Caryn promises.

  I want to tell her no. But that would be silly when I need all the help I can get.

  "Thank you," I whisper back.

  Madam Froduir bangs her cane again. "Come collect your materials in an orderly fashion." She gestures to a small basket by the side of her. It's filled with cloth and thread, each one neatly bundled. At least she isn't trying to make this more difficult than it is.

  All of the girls in the room rise to their feet, myself included. We make our way to the front of the room, forming an orderly queue. In silence, each girl leans down and picks up one of the packets before returning to her seat.

  The quiet in the room is deafening. Very few of us want to be in this class, with only two or three girls having any kind of skill at needlework. Which means there's a lot of us not wanting to do it, and using this class as nothing more than a chance to catch up with friends.

  Other than me, that is. I don't have friends, though Caryn suddenly seems to be interested in changing that. I'm not sure if it's just an attempt of hers to get to Kai, or if its something genuine. I suppose only time will tell on that front.

  I crouch down, using my skirts to cover the awkward position, and pick up one of the packages. As I rise, I catch sight of my reflection in a mirror. I frown. That wasn't there before. Does it belong to Madame Froduir? Something about it makes me uneasy, a little bit like Caryn does, come to think of it, though I have no idea why she puts me so on edge either.

  I shake my head and walk away, back to the comfy armchair I sat in before.

  "Did you see the mirror?" I ask Caryn, forgetting about my unease around her for a moment. I have more important things to consider and this is one of them.

  She nods. "It made me feel weird."

  "Me too," I admit.

  Madam Froduir throws a disapproving look in our direction and we both turn back to what we should be doing. I pull the linen out of the packet along with the threads. As odd as she seems, the teacher has also included a needle in there, though I prefer to use my own. I pull my needle pouch from my pocket and select my favourite.

  I'm not even sure where to start. Perhaps the border of vines, they should be easy enough. I choose the green thread and begin to sew. Somewhere in the back of the room, one of the other girls begins to hum.

  The thud of a cane stops that.

  I wonder how long Madam Froduir is going to keep up her methods. I'm sure it will only take a few days for the royalty in the room to send word home and the kings and queens to start complaining for it to stop, but until then, she's going to keep thudding that thing to keep us all in line, whether we like it or not.

  The silence makes the hour pass even slower than it would have before. I try not to go stir crazy as the pattern takes shape on my cloth. It's not the best replica, but it also isn't all that bad. Certainly one of the better pieces of embroidery I've tried. Once I'm done, I should send it home to mother, she'll appreciate the gesture I'm sure.

  The tower bell finally rings, signalling the end of class.

  No one moves at first, each girl waiting to see who the first one to rise will be and how Madam Froduir will react. I'd rather not be that girl, which is the way I'm sure many of them in the room are feeling.