Jack
I stride through the gates of Ho, Ho, Ho Academy, my jaw clenched tight. The cheers and applause wash over me like an unwelcome tide. Gracie's hand finds mine, her touch warm against my icy skin. I force a smile, but it feels more like a grimace.
"Jack! You're back!" A group of younger students rush forward, their eyes shining with admiration. I resist the urge to recoil.
"Easy there, kiddos," I drawl, trying to inject some of my old charm into my voice. "Can't have you all melting the Snow, now can we?"
They giggle, oblivious to the storm raging inside me. I catch Gracie watching me, her brow furrowed. She opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off with a quick shake of my head.
"Later," I mouth, and she nods, though her eyes remain troubled.
We make our way through the crowded courtyard, accepting congratulations and dodging well-wishers. The darkness inside me roils, hungry for release. I clench my fists, willing it back down.
"Jack!" Headmistress Scroogess booming voice cuts through the din. She approaches, arms spread wide. "My boy, we were so worried!"
I endure her embrace, every muscle in my body tense. "Thanks, Headmistress. Good to be home."
She steps back, studying my face. For a moment, I fear she sees through my facade. But then she smiles, clapping me on the shoulder. "We must celebrate your return! A feast, perhaps?"
"Actually," Gracie interjects, her voice smooth as silk, "we're all pretty beat. Maybe tomorrow?"
Scroogess nods, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Of course, of course. Rest up, you've earned it."
As we escape to the relative quiet of the dormitory wing, I feel Gracie's eyes on me. I know she wants to talk, to unravel the mystery of what happened during my capture. But I can't. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
"We need to plan our next move," I say, desperate to change the subject. "Santa's still out there, and we're running out of time."
Gracie nods, but her gaze doesn't waver. "Jack, are you sure you're-"
"I'm fine," I snap, harsher than I intended. I soften my tone. "Really, Gracie. I just... need some time."
She doesn't look convinced, but she lets it drop. We gather the others in my room, spreading out maps and ancient texts. As we debate strategies and pore over clues, I feel the darkness inside me recede, just a little. This is familiar. This, I can handle.
Hours pass, and fatigue begins to set in. As the others file out, mumbling goodnights, Gracie lingers. I know what's coming, and I brace myself for the inevitable confrontation.
But instead, she simply takes my hand and leads me to the window. Outside, snow falls softly, blanketing the academy grounds in white. Above us, a sprig of mistletoe hangs, glowing with a soft, magical light.
"Enchanted mistletoe," Gracie murmurs, her eyes meeting mine. "It only appears for those who truly need it."
I want to pull away, to protect her from the darkness that threatens to consume me. But as her lips meet mine, soft and sweet, I feel a spark of warmth in my frozen heart. For just a moment, the shadows retreat, and I allow myself to hope.
I break away from Gracie's kiss, my heart pounding. The warmth lingers on my lips, a stark contrast to the ice in my veins. I want to lose myself in her, to forget everything that happened during my captivity. But the darkness inside me whispers, reminding me of the danger I pose.
"Gracie, I-" I start, but she places a finger on my lips.
"Shh," she says, her emerald eyes twinkling. "I know that brooding look, Jack Snow. You're not pushing me away that easily."
I can't help but chuckle. "Brooding? Me? I prefer 'mysteriously aloof.'"
She rolls her eyes, but I catch the smile tugging at her lips. "Oh please, you're about as mysterious as a snowman wearing sunglasses."
"Hey, that snowman could be up to all sorts of nefarious deeds behind those shades."
We laugh, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders lifts. Gracie takes my hand, leading me to the overstuffed armchair by the fireplace. She plops down, pulling me with her. I land awkwardly, half on her lap, half on the arm of the chair.
"Graceful as ever, Snow," she teases.
"I'll have you know, this is a very dignified warlock position."
She snorts, shifting to make room for me. We end up tangled together, her head on my chest, my arms around her. The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows across the room. Outside, the snow continues to fall, muffling the world.
"Jack," Gracie says softly, tracing patterns on my arm. "You don't have to tell me everything. But... I'm here. Whatever you're going through, you don't have to face it alone."
I close my eyes, inhaling the scent of her hair - cinnamon and pine needles. How can I explain the darkness that now lives inside me? The things I've seen, the choices I've made?
"I'm not the same person I was before," I whisper, the words barely audible.
Gracie lifts her head, meeting my gaze. "Good," she says fiercely. "Because that Jack Snow was a real pain in the ass sometimes."
A startled laugh escapes me. "Only sometimes?"
"Well, you did have your moments. Remember the Great Fruitcake Incident of '22?"
I groan, burying my face in her hair. "I thought we agreed never to speak of that again."
"Hey, you started it with all this 'I've changed' nonsense. I'm just reminding you that you've always been a disaster. My disaster."
Her words warm me more than any fire could. I tighten my arms around her, marveling at how she can make even the darkest moments brighter.
"Your disaster, huh? I like the sound of that."
Gracie shifts, her emerald eyes meeting mine. "Well, someone's got to keep you in line. Might as well be me."
"Keep me in line? Please, I'm a model of decorum and-"
She silences me with a kiss, soft and sweet. When she pulls back, there's a mischievous glint in her eye. "You were saying?"
"I... uh..." My brain short-circuits, and I forget what I was about to say. Gracie's triumphant grin tells me that was exactly her plan.
"That's what I thought," she says, settling back against my chest.
We sit in comfortable silence for a while, watching the flames dance in the fireplace. Outside, the snow continues to fall, blanketing the world in a soft, white hush. It's moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with winter in the first place - the quiet, the stillness, the way everything feels new and clean.
Gracie's fingers trace lazy patterns on my arm, sending little shivers up my spine. "You know," she says thoughtfully, "we never did finish decorating the common room."
I groan. "Please tell me you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting."
She sits up, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Come on, Jack! It'll be fun. We can enchant the tinsel to chase people around, charm the ornaments to sing off-key carols..."
"You're evil," I mutter, but I can't keep the smile off my face. "Absolutely diabolical."
"I learned from the best," she quips, booping my nose.
I catch her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Fine, you win. But I get to choose the colors."
"Deal," she says, then pauses. "Wait, you're not going to make everything black and silver again, are you?"
I gasp in mock offense. "I would never! I was thinking more along the lines of midnight blue and frost white."
Gracie rolls her eyes, but she's smiling. "Of course you were. Come on, Frosty, let's go spread some holiday cheer."
As we untangle ourselves from the chair and head for the door, I feel a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the fire. Maybe I have changed, but with Gracie by my side, I'm starting to think that might not be such a bad thing after all.
We slip out of my room, hand in hand, tiptoeing down the hallway like a couple of mischievous elves. The corridors are eerily quiet, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. As we round the corner to the common room, Gracie stumbles, nearly taking us both down.
"Smooth moves, Knight," I whisper, steadying her. "And you call me the disaster?"
She sticks her tongue out at me. "I meant to do that. It's a... new dance move."
"Oh really? What's it called? The Clumsy Reindeer?"
"No, it's clearly the Sassy Snowman. You should recognize it, being one yourself."
I clutch my chest in mock hurt. "I'll have you know I'm a very sophisticated snowman."
Gracie snorts, then claps a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. We freeze, listening for any sign that we've been caught. After a moment of tense silence, we burst into quiet giggles.
The common room is a blank canvas when we enter, devoid of any holiday cheer. I wave my hand, conjuring tiny balls of blue light that float near the ceiling, casting a soft glow over everything.
"Show-off," Gracie mutters, but her eyes are shining with admiration.
She starts rummaging through boxes of decorations while I survey the room, plotting my design. A mischievous idea strikes me, and I can't help the grin that spreads across my face.
"Oh no," Gracie says, catching my expression. "I know that look. What are you planning?"
I wiggle my eyebrows. "You'll see."
With a flick of my wrist, I send a stream of frost spiraling up the walls. It forms intricate patterns, delicate snowflakes and swirling designs that glitter in the blue light. Another gesture, and icicles begin to form along the ceiling, not sharp and dangerous, but soft and rounded, like crystal wind chimes.
Gracie watches, open-mouthed, as I transform the room into a winter wonderland. The floor becomes a glassy sheet of ice, perfect for sliding. In the center, a massive ice sculpture takes shape - a towering Christmas tree, its branches tipped with glowing crystals.
"Jack," Gracie breathes, her eyes wide. "It's... it's beautiful."
I shrug, trying to play it cool, but her wonder warms me from the inside out. "It's not bad, I guess."
She punches my arm lightly. "Not bad? It's incredible! But... isn't it going to melt?"
I shake my head, grinning. "Nope. Enchanted ice. It'll stay frozen until I decide otherwise."
Gracie's eyes narrow. "And how long might that be?"
"Oh, you know... maybe until finals week?"
Her laugh echoes through the room, bright and clear. "You're terrible!"
"I prefer 'creatively disruptive,'" I say, pulling her close.
She wraps her arms around my neck, her smile softening. "My creatively disruptive disaster," she murmurs.
As our lips meet, surrounded by the glittering ice and soft blue light, I feel something inside me shift. The darkness recedes, just a little, pushed back by the warmth of Gracie's love and the magic of the moment we've created together.
* * *
I wake with a start, my heart pounding. The room is dark, save for the soft blue glow of my ice decorations. Gracie stirs beside me, her warmth a stark contrast to the chill air.
"Jack?" she mumbles, her voice thick with sleep. "What's wrong?"
I shake my head, trying to dispel the lingering shadows of my nightmare. "Nothing. Just... a bad dream."
She sits up, her emerald eyes searching my face. Even half-asleep, she's breathtaking. "Wanna talk about it?"
"Not really," I mutter, running a hand through my hair. "But I could use a distraction."
A slow smile spreads across her face. "I might have an idea or two."
Before I can respond, she's on her feet, tugging me towards the door. "Come on, Frosty. Let's go for a midnight slide."
We tiptoe through the halls, stifling giggles like a couple of kids sneaking out after curfew. When we reach the common room, Gracie's eyes light up at the sight of the frozen wonderland.
"Race you to the other side!" she challenges, taking off across the icy floor.
I grin, my competitive streak kicking in. "Oh, it's on, Knight!"
We slide and slip, bumping into ice sculptures and each other. Gracie's laughter echoes off the walls, bright and infectious. As we near the far wall, she starts to wobble.
"Jack! I can't stop!"
I reach for her, but we're both moving too fast. We collide in a tangle of limbs, crashing into a snowdrift I conjure just in time.
For a moment, we lay there, breathless and covered in snow. Then Gracie lifts her head, her nose inches from mine, and we burst into laughter.
"My hero," she teases, brushing snow from my hair. "Saving me with your quick thinking and soft landings."
I smirk, pulling her closer. "Well, I couldn't let you crash. Who else would keep me on my toes?"
Her eyes soften, and she leans in, her lips brushing mine. The kiss is gentle at first, then deepens, filled with unspoken emotions and promises. When we finally break apart, we're both breathless for an entirely different reason.
"You know," Gracie murmurs, her cheeks flushed, "I think I like this distraction method of yours."
I chuckle, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Oh yeah? Maybe we should make it a nightly tradition."
She grins, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Careful what you wish for, Snow. I might just take you up on that offer."