Twelve days. It had been twelve days since I first summoned ice and frost, twelve days since my heart cleaved in two again. I never did find out what had turned Paris's eyes cold, and what had made him so angry. Spending weeks exploring my new power, I rarely saw him at all, and whenever we had meals together, Paris was always detached.

The wedding was today, my maids told me. Then proceeded to pull out a stunning dress of ice and crystals. That was how I found myself in a dress fit for an Empress. 

It was strapless, and delicate ribbons of ice decorated my arms. The top part of the dress had a modest neckline, with a light touch of blue on the almost white fabric. At my hips, the belt was made of flowers of ice. 

The skirt swept down to the floor, leaving a lovely trail of crystal droplets a foot behind me. The fabric of the skirt was soft and enchanting, the icy blue hue from the top swallowed by the dark midnight blue at the bottom.

A tiara of ice adorned my head, light sparking as it hit the beautiful tiara. My blonde hair was braided and piled into a delicate bun. Lacey had let a few strands of hair down, ticking my bare shoulders. Frost glittered off my hair, accompanied by the beautiful rose of the ice that Lacey had put, tucked behind an ear.

Paige had done an equally stunning job on my plain face. Frost coating my eyelash, rouge coating my cheeks, now flushed with a rosy red. I looked like an ice princess. 

She had coated my lips with dark red lipstick, exaggerating the paleness of my face. "You look like her, you know," Paige remarked, bringing me out of my thoughts. 

"Who?" I asked, as she added on mascara. 

"Lacey's sister. She's an ice queen, you know, Queen of Arendelle." She finished with the mascara and moved on to color my eyelids dark blue, fading into light. 

"Arendelle? Isn't that in the North of the Winter Realm?"

Paige leaned back to study her work, and started on the other eye, "Yeah. Queen Elsa. Her power of ice was almost as good as Lord Paris. Almost."

"What happened to Lacey's sister?"

She finished the eyes and began rummaging though the vanity drawers, "Oh, she still rules over there... but Arendelle is no longer a bustling city of joy and trade... it's cold as the mountains. Lacey took all of the happiness and joy with her when she died." 

I hesitated as Paige brought out beautiful sapphire teardrop earnings and a thin bracelet with a small diamond twinkling, "How...did she die?" 

Paige stood up, her skirts making a wisp, "That's not a story for me to tell." Then, she vanished. 

My head was brimming with questions, but I slipped jewelry with ease. The door clicked open softly, "Evelyn, hurry your-" 

Paris stepped in, his eyes taking the dress, me. I looked him over too. 

His (expensively) tailored suit fit him perfectly, loose, yet not baggy. His hair was fashioned in a side sweep that made him all the more handsome. 

"Shall we?" He said at last, holding out an arm for me. I nodded and fastened a beautiful cloak with a large hood, over my bare shoulders and took his arm. 

As dark winds of the Jump surrounded us, I noticed that this time, it didn't tear at us.  The gentle, passive wind left me untouched. Then, the darkness was gone.

I blinked a few times for my eyes to adjust to the blinding sun of the Summer Realm. We had landed right in front of the open palace doors.  Paris was already moving, dragging me with him. Thankfully, I managed to regain my balance by the time we reached the ballroom. Oh that fateful night when everything changed in this very room.

When the herald stumbled as he saw Paris, I almost snorted, but passed on with an amused smirk, the one Paris loved to make. 

"Ready?" He murmured as the herald regained his balance. 

"When have I ever?" I shot back softly, as the herald announced us. 

"The High Prince of the Winter Realm, and his Lady Evelyn." The herald bellowed. Whatever awkward conversation the guests were having faded away as we strolled down to our seats, cold smirks on our faces. I noticed silently that there were two extra seats in our table.

When we sat, the guests slowly began their conversation, this time, the talk more heated. They were probably talking about us. 

Paris leaned in, and murmured, "Don't you love how we're the talk of the show, and not the darling couple to be?" My lips tugged upwardly slightly. 

Reaching for the tea they had set up in front of us, I lifted the elegantly crafted teacup and brought it to my lips. Paris snatched the teacup from me, brought it to his nose and sniffed, "Lavender tea. Disgusting, but no poison." He said at last. 

I made a face and motioned him to put the teacup down, "Disgusting," I agreed. Then, as an attempt to make conversation, I asked, "Do you know anyone here?" 

Paris opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a lady and a man reached our table and took the seats remaining, "Well if it isn't Paris, my favorite Princeling."

Paris smirked playfully, and replied, "Long time no see, Hades."

I froze, forcing my face expressionless, as Paris waved a hand at me, "Hades, meet Evelyn, my lovely plaything, and Evie, love, meet Hades, High Prince of the Fall Realm, nicknamed 'Lord of the Underworld' for his terrible sense of fashion, and of course, his beautiful fiancee, Lady Persephone." 

I forced myself to drop a nod at my brother and my childhood friend, both of which thankfully had not recognized me, and said, "Nice to meet you."

My brother had grown so much. I was nine when I last saw him, and he 12, when he last saw me. His eyes were a marvelous brown, his high cheeks pale like the rest of him. His wavy brown hair was tied up in a "casual" bun behind his head, and was in a beautiful tunic that showed off his muscled arms, decorated with ink patterns and letters I didn't want to read. I was still well versed in Faerie language, I realized with dismay, as I read his words of grief and courage on his right arm. 

Persephone was even more beautiful than I remembered. Her hazel colored hair, wavy and smooth, was piled up in a fancy pun, her lips pomegranate red and her eyes a light blue, teasing. She was wearing a beautiful chiffon gown, the dark blue fabric shinning in the light with every movement she made. 

"Nice to meet you, Evelyn," Persephone said at last, her eyes studying me. 

My brother was also looking at me, his eyes confused, and said in a monotone voice, "A pleasure, Evelyn..."

"Tremaine," I finished. 

"Evelyn Tremaine," He repeated, nodding to himself. 

Paris narrowed his eyes at Hades, "Is there a problem?" 

Hades tore his eyes off me and back onto his buddy, "Nah, just wondering where you handpick these beautiful maidens from, Paris." 

He snorted, and Persephone slapped Hades's arm gently, "Manners, Hades!" 

Trumpets sounded and a hush fell over the crowd. The wedding was starting- well, about time! 

It was then I noticed that the Prince had entered and was standing at the altar, and the music began. 

It was played by an orchestra, and the bridesmaids swept down the aisles, all important duchesses and princesses, and well, I kind of zoned out.

That was, until, Ella appeared. Despite herself, she was beautiful. 

She walked with a grace I envied, though her eyes shining with sadness, her lips set in a forced smile. Even though she had done so much to me, to Amber, to Mom, I couldn't bring myself to ruin this moment for her. Even if she wanted to. Because... because she deserved to be respected.

And so, I watched in silence as she finally reached the Prince, vows exchanged, coronation vows and marriage vows, and their kiss.

Paris reached for my hand, reassuringly, and I gripped it, and at that moment, I felt no envy, no nothing, just me watching my stepsister kiss the man that ripped our family apart.

But, it seemed that fate had other ideas, when the doors blasted open and Amber stood there in all her glory.  "Hello, bitch." She purred at the shocked crowd.