My ice castle  has changed entirely. The ice hardens and darkness settles through every corner and crevice. 

I run up the stairs. My icy blue gown trails behind me. I push the door open and slide onto my balcony.

The sky is heavy and dark. There are no stars in sight. I wrap my fingers around the banister.

Where has the moon gone? Has a cloud covered it when I needed its light the most?

"Pitch Black!" I cry his name. Anger surges inside me. How dare he turn my castle into shadows and darkness? How dare he tear apart what hope remained in my heart?

"No need to shout." He says behind me.

I want to turn around. I want to blast him with the ice burning inside of me. But I don't.

"You did this." I whisper. "You changed my castle."

"No, I didn't." Pitch leans against the railing. His black cloak brushes against my arm.

I flinch and pull away from him. "Who else could have done this? You are the King of Nightmares."

He trains his gaze on the starless sky. "You did this, not me."

I turn my face towards him. My mouth falls open. "That's impossible."

His golden eyes glimmer in the darkness. The light of his eyes contrasts the gray pallor of his skin.

What does it mean to be the King of Nightmares? Is he even human?

"Your fear changed you and this castle that you created. I did not give you that fear. It has been inside you all along, ever since you hurt Anna years ago. I merely tore down the walls around that fear."

I tighten my grip on the banister until my skin pales from the strain. "I do not know why you hate me. And I do not care. Get out of my castle and my kingdom and leave me alone."

He scoffs at my words, his laughter loud and sarcastic.

"This isn't a dream anymore." I soften my voice, my words cutting more than my ice ever could. Without warning, my hand slices through the air and ice splinters from my fingertips.

A cloud of darkness springs in front of Pitch and absorbs the shards of ice.

He materializes behind me. "There is no need for us to fight. I can help you."

"I told you before. I don't want your help." I bite out and spin towards him, lifting both of my hands.

Pitch reaches up and clamps his hands on my wrists before I can attack him. "Now, now, little queen." His nails dig into my skin. "You and your sister are too much alike. You don't think before you act."

Suddenly, the clouds part in the sky and the moon shines through. Its clear, white light penetrates the darkness surrounding Pitch. And in that instance he disappears.

I step back. What happened? Is he gone? I doubt it.

I rub the tender skin of my wrists and retreat into my dark castle. I want to curl up on the floor, but I am afraid of the dreams-or nightmares-I might have.

"What is that sound?" I whisper out loud. A soft song weaves through the silence. I cannot make out the words, but the melody calls to me. "Pitch? Is anyone there?"

The music seems to be coming from a door in the corner. I open the door and look up the staircase. I don't remember creating a tower.

I climb the stairs carefully and knock on the door at the top of the tower. "Hello?"

The singing pauses before continuing softly.

Curiosity pulses through my veins.

I would rather know than wonder. I push open the door and step inside the small room.

A woman bends over a spinning wheel in the corner. Her withered hands rest on the scuffed wood. Straggly gray hair falls around her face. I have never seen someone who looks so old and...time-worn.

But what is she doing here? Does she work for Pitch? Perhaps she is one of his prisoners...

"Hello? Pardon me, but-who are you?"

She continues to sing under her breath as she runs her fingers over the wooden wheel. "Change the Fates' design, save what has been-"

I touch her arm gently.

She lifts her head. Her eyes squint up at me. A tear drips down her trembling cheek.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I drop onto my knees. My dress folds around me.

She covers her face with her hands. Her entire body shakes.

"Did someone hurt you?" I ask. I don't know how she came to be in this tower, but I am sure that Pitch was behind it.

She is probably scared of me too. If only she would stop crying and let me help her.

"No, no." She sniffs and lifts her head just enough for me to see her eyes. "No one hurt me."

"Then why are you crying?" I lean back on my heels.

Her hand skims the wooden surface of her wheel. "I miss my daughter and I wanted to make a dress for her."

"You have a daughter?" I look around. I still don't know why she is in my tower. The tower I don't remember making. Is her daughter here too?

"Yes. I had a beautiful little girl. She loved to sing. I used to brush her hair every night. I loved her so much."

I nod. My mother used to brush my hair too, but that was before the accident, before the gloves and the secrets and closed doors. "Why can't you make her dress?"

"I don't have the needle."

"Oh, of course." I stand up. "I'm sure I can find one for you." Would it work if it was made out of ice? Maybe someone in town has one.

"No, no, my dear. It can only be a certain needle. It is a special needle, my needle. And he stole it from me."