Jack swallows. "I guess this means that you don't need a trainer anymore."

I step toward him. "I doubt that." I still need him, but he's never needed me.

Less than an inch spans the distance between us. If I wanted to I could lift my hand and touch his unruly hair.

His long, dark eyelashes frame his deep blue eyes. And I lose myself in those mirrors of blue.

My breath catches in my throat. "Jack?" His name is but a whisper on my lips, a fire buried beneath the ice of my soul.

I can't turn him over to Pitch.

The realization bursts through me, setting my heart aflame.

I open my mouth, ready to tell him everything about Pitch and his past.

Before I can, the door bangs open. Tooth flies into the room. Her wings flutter behind her as she squeals, "Jack! Elsa! Hurry, we have to return to Arendelle."

"What happened?" I spin around. "Is Anna okay?"

Tooth presses her hand over her beating heart and catches her breath. "Anna is fine, but Hans isn't. I don't know anything else. We must hurry! North is waiting for us."

Jack and I run after Tooth. What could have happened to Hans?

I flex my fingers inside my gloves. At least I know that I am in complete control of my power now.

Mission accomplished.

**

"Where is Prince Hans? What happened?" I run up to the nearest guard.

The soldier bows stiffly. "Queen Elsa!"

"Tell me where the Prince of the Southern Isles is!"

Jack catches up to us. "Calm down, Elsa."

I can't. I am worried. I don't really care for Hans, but he is a prince and Anna loves him. She is probably devastated now. I know that when I find Hans, I will find her.

"Come with me." The soldier gives me a curt nod and spins on his heel.

Tooth calls out to us. "We'll just stay up here."

"Must you always spoil our fun by being polite?" Bunnymund rolls his eyes.

"Your curiosity can wait." Tooth lowers her voice, but I can still hear her clearly. "For all we know it might be a private matter. He is Anna's fiancée."

Jack touches my arm. "Do you mind if I come along?"

"I don't mind." I shrug, my heart still burning from our 'moment' in North's workroom.

The guard leads us down the hallway and deeper into the castle. He doesn't say anything. His boots click across the wooden floor. He sweeps open the door to the lower staircase that leads to the dungeon.

"Are you certain you wish to visit the prince?"

"Yes, but why are we going down here?" I haven't been down here since Hans locked me here. I never held it against him. I was threat and no one knew what to think of me after my storm.

But I always hated the dungeon. When I was a little girl, my father forbade us from coming down here at all. He didn't want us to see the dark corridors and locked doors that hid pitiful prisoners.

"Hans is down there." The guard says quietly. His eyes stare straight past me, but I can tell he still watches me warily, judging my reaction.

My mouth falls open. Hans is in the dungeon?

What is going on?

I push past the guard and scurry down the steps. I can hear Jack and the guard behind me.

"Slow down, Elsa!" Jack huffs, but I ignore him and stride into the hallway of the prison.

The watch guard sprawls on his chair next to a small table. His head leans against the wall as he balances on the back of his chair

I march over to him. "Excuse me, sir."

The watch guard bolts to his feet. "Queen Elsa!" He swipes his hands over his disheveled uniform. His rotund form sways slightly as he bends forward in a clumsy bow. "It is an unexpected pleasure, my lady!"

I perch my hands on my hips. "Where is Hans? Or my sister for that matter? And would you please take me to them at once?"

Jack and the soldier run up behind me.

"Of course, your highness. If you will follow me." He fumbles with the large ring of keys hanging from his belt. "This way, my queen." He trips down a hallway of small prison cells.

I avert my gaze at the sight of the filthy, half-dressed. I feel sorry for them, even though I know that my father was a just king and our laws are more than merciful.

The men and women here deserve their fate. They have all done despicable acts against their fellow countrymen and against the crown.

Even so, my heart burns inside me at the sight of their suffering.

Why is Hans here? What happened in the short time that I was gone?

Whatever he did must have been horrible.