INTRODUCTION
November 22nd, 1862
Our story begins with three men exploring deep ice caverns on Scafell Pike in England. With their kerosene lamps leading the way, the travelers soon came upon a man-made atrium ten men high and ninety men wide. Inside the room, there were church pews decorated with frozen flowers and ribbons. A carpet of ice ran down the aisle. A sculpture of a woman stood at the end of the aisle. She was dressed in a gown that looked as though it had been woven of the freshest snow. Her veil was adorned with the fragile arms of a thousand snowflakes.
As the explorers drew nearer, they marveled at the statue's beauty. Surely there was not another statue in the land that compared to the sheer perfection of her features. Her eyes were the coldest shade of blue and seemed to pierce the souls of the men who gazed at her. Beads of ice rested upon her breast. Her left hand was adorned with a delicate ring. Her visage held an air of solemnity and sadness, as though she had been gripped with grief just as icy as her crystalline home.
"She's gorgeous. " the youngest of the group exclaimed. He moved his hand to lift her frosty veil.
"Don't touch it!" The leader, who's name was Tom, grabbed Quinn's arm.
"Tom's right. We don't know what's up with this place, better not to touch anything." Nate said.
"Alright."
"Good. Now, the map we got off that old hag back in England says this is the right spot. Let's all spread out and start looking for the diamond seal. Holler if you see anything."
They all nodded in agreement. Quinn stayed back to have another look at the statue, and he did find something. The necklace on the statue's chest was moving. Faintly, slowly, but definitely moving. That couldn't be possible, it shouldn't be possible! Unless…
" Tom! Nate! Get over here! It's breathing!"
" What!?" they exclaimed simultaneously.
" The statue! It's, it's alive!"
~*~
"How is this even possible?" Nate exclaimed with wonder and excitement in his eyes.
"Beats me. How long do you think she's been here?" Tom asked, waving his hand in front of her face.
Unfortunately for Tom, the sleeping beauty was waking up, and that movement brought her out of her century-old trance. In one swift move, the frozen angel grabbed his arm, whipped behind him and then used his back to launch herself into a perfectly arched backflip. She landed in a crouch and slipped a throwing knife from a sheath hidden under the folds of her dress.
"Wait, has that been here this whole time!?" Quinn asked, pointing to the blade in her hand.
"Qui es-tu?" The lady exclaimed. "En quelle année sommes-nous?!"
"Calm down, love. We're only here to help, okay?" Quinn tried to catch her attention. "Do you speak English?"
"Anglaise?" She questioned.
"Oui, Anglais."
"Yes I do."
"Good, that's good." Quinn said, his hand stretched out to her. "How old are you sweetheart?"
She gave a soft chuckle that sounded as though it had been sung by an angle.
"I am two and twenty. Pray, what is the year, sir?"
"It is the year eighteen thousand sixty-two. It's November. Do you not know what year it is?"
"I've been slumbering for many years. Nearly 800." She spoke somberly.
"800 years?" Tom asked. She nodded.
"How are you still alive?" Nate inquired.
"Tis a question with an answer unbeknownst to myself. Speak, what is your plan of escape?"
"Why should we tell you?" Quinn interjected.
"If you value your fingers, twould be wise of you to tell me."
Silence filled the cavern. Quinn doubted that she could actually do what she threatened, but he admired her boldness. The thought put a grin on his mouth.
"What mockery is this?" She demanded to know.
Quinn chuckled, "No, no. I'm not mocking you, I'm just admiring your boldness. What's your name?"
"Eleanor of Castle Combe, daughter of Baron Reginald de Dunstanville. " she spoke with an air of authority. Nate gawked.
"THE Reginald de Dunstanville?!" Tom was shocked.
"Indeed." Eleanor affirmed. "He disapproved of my wedlock, and like a foolish wench I fled the safety of his household. Now I will Ne'er see him aftermore."
"Where's your husband?" Quinn asked.
"Placed a curse upon me and fled. I must find him!" Eleanor answered.
"What curse?"
"Twas he who trapped my mortal body in ice. Twas he who stole my life."
~*~