Chapter 7
The tents had been covered in frost by the morning, the team had exited their shelter to see that a terrible blizzard was taking place. "What.. This doesn't make any sense! This isn't biologically possible to be snowing like this in the middle of summer!" Varian shouted, fighting his uncontrollable trembling to the cold. "We can't stay here and camp out in the tents! We need to find a cave to settle in until the storm passes, NOW!" Cassandra ordered. But Prince Varian was secretly struggling, this wasn't an average tempest, the snow was black and much colder than a normal winter's day, and he didn't know why, but it was almost unbearable for him. Hugo kind of noticed it, but he couldn't fully put it together and he just tried to ignore it. Varian looked down and saw that his fingers were encased in black frost. "What??" He weakly whispered to himself. Suddenly, he went unconscious and collapsed into the snow. "Vari!!" Cass screamed as she darted to him, realizing that the ice was spreading. "He.. He's freezing.." Eugene gasped. Hugo was now regretting for not asking Varian if he needed help. Now unusually afraid for him, Hugo picked up the Prince and continued running, Eugene and Cass sprinting after him. "Y-You're going to be okay, just hold on for us Varian.. Please.." He stammered while Varian shuddering violently against him. "Oh kid.. Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Eugene thought. "There! There's a crystal cave ahead of us!!" Cassandra yelled. "Get in it then!" Shouted Eugene. Hugo laid the Prince onto the ground in the cave, Varian still shaking uncontrollably. "Please.. Wake up.." Cass tearfully mumbled. The black ice had traveled up one of Varian's arms, and was starting to reach his chest. "Frick.. Frick frick frick frick frick!!" Hugo muttered, clutching his head. He suddenly sat against one of the cavern walls, his eyes stuck on crystallizing body of Varian, his breathing becoming faster.
IN THE PALACE OF EVASHAR..
Rapunzel had pretended to fall under the spell of Nebulus again and saw the blizzard from the balcony, her breathing became shallow. "No.. Varian.." She whispered. From afar, she countered the tempest with her light and sent it far away from her friends before falling under his control again...
WITH VARIAN, HUGO, CASS AND EUGENE..
The storm had suddenly ended and passed as quickly as it started, immediately melting the black ice taking over Varian and he began to regain his strength.. "Cassie??" He weakly asked. "Oh, thank God you're alright!" Cassandra exclaimed in relief. But Varian looked over to see Hugo having an anxiety attack, which he didn't expect from him. He struggled to stand but was able to and he walked over to Hugo's side. "Hugo.. It's okay, I'm fine now.." Varian comforted. Hugo looked back at him, staring each others eyes, then, he surprisingly embraced Varian tightly, saying, "We thought we lost you!" Varian was shocked and said, "Well, you didn't, because I'm staying right here.. I promise.." TO BE CONTINUED..