✨❄️December the faerie ❄️✨

*This story is underneath my folder titled “What lies in the wintery woods?”. Gacha Club character designs are in my forum “My character designs<33”. Enjoy!*

Introduction

Could a faerie really love a human? Yes, they could. For though faeries and humans are different in a vast number of ways, they share in how they feel deeply, for their hearts work the same way.

December was such a faerie. He craved one human in his life, so much so that he felt no one else would do.

But to keep her forever was just like making wishes on a dandelion. Fleeting and faraway.

December was persistent, though. With faeries, humans, monsters, and any creature with a beating heart, love is the one thing that must be had, and all would stop at nothing for that happy ending.

Even if it wasn’t happy for others.

Chapter One

December watched from the snow-covered trees as the Princess picked berries off the evergreen branches. She seemed to like the icy Holly Berries, even though they were poisonous. Then again, not everyone collected berries to eat. Sometimes, they just wanted them as decoration, and since the Princess was still alive, that seemed to be what she was using them for.

He brushed off the snow from his blue nightgown, in an attempt to distract himself. No matter how many times she came to the forest, he could not talk to her. He was a faerie, and she a human. Sure, her amber eyes seemed kind enough, and sure, he’d love to run his claws through her dark, chocolate brown hair, but it would never be. They were too different, there was no way they could be together.

Yet, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to her, would it? Just once. Just to get an idea of her. Just to know her name would be enough.

And so, December found himself stepping out of the trees, approaching the Princess.

Chapter Two

The Princess spotted him and tried running, but slipped on her dress.

“Don’t run! I won’t hurt you, I promise!” December cried out. His legs were shaking underneath his dress, but thankfully, she didn’t notice.

The Princess reached into the folds of her dress for a dagger and once she had the holds of it, brandished it in front of December.

“Don’t come any closer, faerie. I won’t fall for your tricks.” The Princess said sternly, eyes hardening like the stone that surrounded him.

“I won’t. Your fear is understandable, Princess, but know that I mean no harm. I admire you from afar and I wish to be yours, if only you’ll have me. I am called December.” He said. He bowed in front of her, to show her his courtesy.

The Princess lowered her dagger, but still, she glared at him.

“Consider us…friends. My name is Inclementia.” The Princess said.

He reached out a claw to help her, but she recoiled away and got up on her own.

She said “friends” so coldly, but at least she told him her name. That was a start.

All he needed to do was prove himself to her. That was all.

Chapter Three

“So…would you like to hear a song?” December asked.

He and Inclementia were walking back to her palace. He wanted to loop his arm around hers, but she declined the offer.

“If I hear one song from you, will you silence yourself?” Inclementia asked.

December nodded.

“Alright then. Sing your song.” Inclementia said.

In a soft, flower-blooming melody, he sang:

“Princess of the ice

She glides along the snow

Hair flowing and free

Eyes sparkling more than gold

Deceive her not, for she will find you out

Gut you from the inside-out

A graceful nightmare, a demon in silks

Princess Inclementia, the warrior Princess”

Inclementia laughed, and for a moment, December wondered if she hated his song.

“You think me a warrior Princess? It’s flattering, but I wouldn’t go that far.” Inclementia said.

December relaxed. She did like his song. She was warming up to him!

He reached a hand out to her and still, she recoiled away.

Well then. He’d have some work to do.

“Here we are. My castle. Meeting you wasn’t so terrible…but try anything, and I will end you. Understand?” Inclementia asked.

December bowed.

She tried to hide it behind a gloved hand, but he could see her beam down at him.

He watched as she walked back to her rose-adorned stone castle, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could prove to her that faeries weren’t all that bad.

Chapter Four

FLASHBACK

December cackled as he joined the faeries in their rampage, tearing away the flesh of any human who dared to cross their path. October 31st was his favorite day of the year, because that was when faeries got to come out of their hiding and have the feast of a lifetime!

The human villagers always tried their best to defend their kind, but it was no use. The faeries were stronger, the faeries knew exactly how to hurt them all.

Legend had it that if a faerie found their true love in a human, the they wouldn’t need to kill. They would just eat the human, and the humans’ ghost would be absorbed into their body. They’d be together forever.

But those were nothing but lies. Why would a faerie want anything to do with a human? Faeries could only be with faeries, that was the cruel reality of it all.

December’s eyes caught a young maiden in silks wielding a dagger to a group of faeries, trying her best to protect a human family.

Though she was fighting his people, she was doing it to protect others. She cared, just as fiercely as he did…

Such a pity that she was human and not a faerie. The boiling fire in her eyes, the commanding way her voice rose, how she slashed into the faeries…

She’d make a lovely addition.

But no, he had to get back to work. There were humans to eat.

Chapter Five

December couldn’t help but twirl once he got back home. It was a childish thing to do, yes, but his heart was so full of easy, light love that he thought he might just burst into tiny, flickering snowflakes!

“What’s got you in a good mood?” A jagged, dagger-pointed voice asked.

From the icicle-glazed trees slunk out a pale, white-eyed girl in an airy, glimmering celeste-blue dress, who seemed to blend into the winter forest, just as everyone who hid there did.

She was Aspen, his younger sister, thirteen years old, only three years younger than him, and yet already, she had a negative view of the world.

“Oh, Aspen, I’m in love! I found the one! We’re just friends now, but soon, we’ll be together forever and I won’t have to go hungry ever again! It’ll be a perfect happily ever after!” December gushed.

His heart felt like it would spill out of his chest from how violently it beat at the thought of Inclementia planting a kiss on his lips.

Aspen rolled her eyes as she leaned against a birch tree, a sigh of disapproval leaving her lips.

“You don’t actually believe in those legends, do you? They were made to keep us happy. They’re not real. We have to eat, December. That’s just how it is.” Aspen said.

“But what if you’re wrong? What if there is a way out?” December asked.

There was always a way out. Always a better ending. There had to be, or else what was the point of living?

More faeries began to emerge from behind the trees. They were hearing his story, and soon enough, December would be called to see the Fairy King about it.

But that was alright with him. They all needed to hear that love was out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

Feathery blooming, dagger-sharpened freezing, love.

Chapter Six

“December, what brought forth these illusions?” King Yukio asked.

Just as December thought, the faeries had taken him to the King’s Court, where twinkling white ropes strung about the trees like twine, magic ringing and singing through the still, calm, cold air.

“They’re not illusions, Your Majesty. They’re real, true feelings! I love her! She may not know it yet, but she loves me too! Just you wait and see, I’ll prove the legends to be true. I’ll-“

“Now, my child,” King Yukio said, putting a hand up to stop December’s words. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You only just met her.” He said.

Though the King smiled, his ice eyes hardened.

“I know what you’re thinking, but trust me! She’s my true love!” December cried out.

King Yukio raised an eyebrow. He heard the other faeries sigh in pity, but they were wrong. They were all wrong! She had to be the one, or else he would have been dead upon meeting her.

“My child, talk to her if you wish, but if she endangers you, take no hesitation in killing her. You are a faerie, you deserve every bit of power given to you.” King Yukio said.

It didn’t matter what December’s parents would say. If the King approved, then he could stay! Then December could be with his one true love!

Of course, even if the King didn’t support him, he’d still visit Inclementia, but it would be much easier with the King’s love.

Chapter Seven

NIGHT

December flew to Inclementia’s window, dried, black roses in one claw of his. The day had passed and night had fallen, stars dotting the sky like freckles. The faeries were asleep, as were most humans, but he just had to get her the roses.

“Inclementia! Look here!” December called out. Inclementia was brushing her hair in front of her vanity till she heard his voice.

Startled by his presence, she ran towards him, fright and fear in her eyes.

“What are you doing here? Planning to kill me, faerie? Eat me for my flesh? Well, I won’t-“

“Calm down, Princess. I’ve only come to give you flowers.” December said, tossing the flowers to Inclementia.

Inclementia blinked in surprise. Her cheeks bloomed the lively crimson the roses were when they were alive, and a smile twitched on her face.

“I’m sorry that they aren’t alive. Where I come from, it’s hard to find living plants.” December said apologetically. A Princess deserved the best, and in his eyes, dead roses were still worth the praise.

“T-They’re nice.” Inclementia stuttered. Her eyes were skyrocketing into a million different feelings. He could feel her internal confusion, her twisting and turning struggle of deciding whether to keep the flowers close or throw them down the barren forest.

“You’re nice.” December said, blowing her a kiss.

His kiss had a chill, but he made sure that it was a welcome, sweet chill and not the kind to cause discomfort.

Oh, what he’d give to really kiss her, to pour his love deep within until she crumbled, her blood running through his, until they had become one, but that had to wait.

Time was running short, and seeing the flicker of a grin from her was enough.

“I’ll be seeing you soon.” December said as gently as a snowfall.

He faded back to his world, making sure to ingrain the image of his blushing Inclementia deep into his soul, because she was far more dazzling than anything the faerie world had to offer.

Because even if she wasn’t a Princess, he’d still watch with longing eyes and a yearning heart.

Chapter Eight

FLASHBACK

December plucked the crimson berries from the branches, picking just what was needed for the family dinner. Snow always made the berries sparkle more, and where he lived, the ice had its hold on nature.

A twig cracked underneath footsteps. December’s heart raced as he rushed behind a bush, berries in his hand.

A human was out. Faeries were never supposed to be seen by humans until that faithful day on October 31st.

December watched closely. From what he could see, there was a girl around his age with tumbling brown hair underneath a violet, white-fur trimmed cloak. Her emerald dress brought vibrance to the white landscape.

She sat on the snow, petting the fur of a baby doe. The doe’s eyes were closed in comfort, its head nestled close to her chest.

It was quite fascinating, how sweet humans could be. Faeries mostly ate plants, but they weren’t above eating animals, too. After all, they did have a feast on October 31st.

December’s claws grasped the bush’s branches tightly. Who was she? Why did she come to the forest?

And would she give him the same love as she gave the doe? Did he deserve that love?

December scurried off. No use wasting his time watching a human. They were too different, she could never love a creature like him.

Or maybe…

Chapter Nine

“You’re all wrong! A few minutes ago, I gave Inclementia flowers, and she loved them! She loves me! She’ll agree to stay with me forever, just you wait!” December cried out.

He was in the ice crystal cave of his family. His Mom, Dad, and his sister Aspen were waiting for him, pity in their cold eyes.

“Just because she liked some flowers doesn’t mean that she likes you.” Mom pointed out.

“Remember, she’s still a human, and a Princess at that. She could order our whole race to be destroyed if she wanted to.” Dad said.

December rolled his eyes. That was fine talk, coming from a faerie!

“And? So what? It’s not her who gives out the orders, anyway. It’s the King and Queen. Besides, we’re faeries. We could kill them all if we wanted to. Humans are no match against us.” December said.

Mom and Dad sighed. What was it with them? Couldn’t they just be happy for him?

“True, but sometimes, faeries die. Humans and faeries will die if something happens between you two. Not all, but a great many. You shouldn’t be seeing her anymore.” Dad said.

“But-“

“Why do you care so much about her? She’s a human! She’s food! She doesn’t care about you! In her eyes, you’re a monster. So why would you stay with someone who is afraid of you?” Aspen asked.

Her eyes were hot with tears, her voice was cracking with sobs. Mom put a comforting claw on her shoulder, and Aspen buried her face in Mom’s chest, letting her tears spill out.

“We only want to protect you.” Dad said, placing his hand on December’s shoulder.

December jerked away. He didn’t expect them to understand, but that was alright. Soon, they’d come to love Inclementia. He’d make sure of that.

“King Yukio approved. If even the King thinks that I’ll be okay, then you have to let me see her.” December said.

He stepped closer to Dad. Though they could not see eye-to-eye, December made sure to let all of his fury shine and sparkle in his eyes.

“And for the record, even if he said no, I would have met with her anyway. She’s everything to me, and nobody can stop what is meant to happen. Nobody.” December said.

He stormed away, to where he slept. Goodness, why were they all being so dramatic?! Inclementia loved him, and he loved her!

And nothing would stop them from being together…

Chapter Ten

The night had passed. He was back at the forest, watching Inclementia pick berries.

Well, December didn’t need to hide, did he? He could just greet her, like any gentleman would!

“Hello, Inclementia. It’s a pleasure to have you here.” December said, bowing.

“Do you always watch me behind trees?” Inclementia asked, a smile in her voice.

“Only when you’re at the forest.” December said.

Sometimes, he wanted to follow her into her castle, but he refrained from doing so. It wouldn’t be very civil of him at all.

“Say, why do you come to the forest every day? You’re the only human who does. This part of the forest never sees Spring, it’s always Winter. Yet you come anyway. Why?” December asked.

Inclementia sighed, eyes alight with joy.

“It’s peaceful here. If I can forget that there are faeries that live here, it’s almost like Heaven. No people, only the trees, the snow, and the animals. Just like a painting that came to life.” Inclementia gushed.

December bit his bottom lip. What would it take to get her to trust him, to love him as he did for her?

“What if all faeries weren’t bad? What if…what if they loved just as passionately as humans did, if not more?” December asked.

Inclementia laughed, voice ringing throughout the forest.

“I’m no fool, December. The second you strike, I’ll strike back. I’m not going down without a fight.” Inclementia said.

She was so prepared to kill him, and yet, she hadn’t. Perhaps, deep in her heart, she did care for him after all.

December wasted no time. He swooped her close and flew, ready to show her just how much faeries could love.

Chapter Eleven

Inclementia gripped onto him as though he were her last lifeline. December laughed as he flew her above the Faerie Kingdom, a majesty of Winter.

“Why is it always cold in your Kingdom?” Inclementia asked.

“Faeries are cold beings. We eat humans, so naturally, we cannot exist in warmth.” December said.

It wasn’t something he enjoyed, but it was a fact that he had to live with.

“And yet you want to convince me that you’re warm inside?” Inclementia asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I won’t drop you. Will that convince you enough?” December asked.

Inclementia didn’t reply.

He understood her hatred, but how much would it take to get her to love him? What would make her change her mind? What would-

Why was Aspen flying towards them?

Chapter Twelve

Aspen grasped hold of Inclementia and shrieked as she tore through Inclementia’s flesh, the Princess crying out in pain as she tried to defend herself. It all happened so fast, like the blur of a dream.

December tugged on one of her arms, Aspen tugged on the other. Inclementia was caught in between them, the rope in a tug-of-war. December heard her bones begin to crack, the distinct crunch sound, and swooped Inclementia in his arms, pushing Aspen away from her.

Aspen hissed back at him, eyes wild and feral. He felt Inclementia grasp his shoulders as though he were her life source, and together, they descended to the snow.

His heart raced from the ordeal, while one question lingered in his head:

Why would Aspen do that?

Chapter Thirteen

“That’s how you want to gain my trust? My love? One of your faeries tried to kill me!” Inclementia cried out.

She coughed out blood onto December’s nightgown. They were both sitting on the snow together, Aspen was long gone.

“I…I’m sorry. She didn’t mean to do that. I just need to talk to her. Now, hold still. I’m going to heal you.” December said.

She struggled to get away from him, but she was much too weak to run away.

December placed a hand on her broken face and concentrated on her skin stitching together, blood seeping back into her body.

Her scars were fading away, her breath was becoming more calm. Her eyes began to shine, just like they did before Aspen attacked her.

“See? I told you that we’re not all bad.” December whispered with a smile.

“Thank you for…healing me.” Inclementia said reluctantly.

Again, there was a twitch of a grin on her lips, just like when he gave her the flowers.

He just had to do a little bit more to gain back her love.

Chapter Fourteen

A FEW MINUTES LATER

December watched as Inclementia walked back home, to her castle. She lived in such grandeur, but didn’t she ever want to share it with someone? Someone who would care for her like no other?

Wasn’t she ever lonely?

“Why’d you stop me?” Aspen snapped.

December turned around. She had her arms crossed, her white eyelashes drooped in annoyance, like moody, baggy eyes.

“She didn’t deserve to get attacked.” December said.

Aspen threw up her claws in frustration, the skin around her eyes sinking into her skull. Faeries looked like skeletons sometimes, when their emotions were ones of displeasure.

“Yes, she did! They don’t like us. We don’t like them. That’s how it’s always been.” Aspen said.

“But what if there was something better?” December asked.

For a moment, Aspen’s eyes flickered with tears, but it was only a flicker.

“I don’t think there is.” Aspen said.

As she flew off, December wondered what got her to trust everyone else’s words, and what he could do to change her mind.

Was there anything he could do, really?

Chapter Fifteen

December walked through the forest with a heavy heart, thinking of Inclementia, the human who had captured his heart and made him want to run off, to disappear away with her.

How much more would he have to prove to her? Wouldn’t she love him by seeing his true self, watching his real soul shine?

He bit his tongue, tasting his own ice cold blood. Wouldn’t it be nice to taste her blood? To know that she was his and he was hers?

“It would be, but I would advise you not to.” King Yukio’s voice said.

December turned around, startled by the sound of his voice.

There he was. The faerie King himself, standing right behind December, ice eyes dipped deep in mourning.

Chapter Sixteen

“W-what do you mean? What are you talking about?” December asked, chuckling nervously.

King Yukio smiled bitterly, as though the action caused him pain, before saying:

“I can read all of my subjects’ minds if I so choose to, and I can see that you love her. I loved a human once, too, but it didn’t work for us. We were far too different. December, you can love her, but don’t eat her. She’ll run from you.”

As if it were doomed to never work. Why did everyone have to view love so negatively? Wasn’t there still hope out there, somewhere?

“But what if she agrees? What if she wants to be with me?” December asked.

King Yukio shook his head.

“I’d be pleasantly surprised if she did. Just be careful, December. Love hurts.” He said.

“Who did you love? Why didn’t it work? What happened?” December asked.

But the King disappeared into white sparkles, taking care not to answer his questions.

Everybody wanted to tell him to “be careful”, to “not get too attached”, but that was exactly what he wanted! For him and Inclementia to fuse together and never be apart, the two of them living for as long as they could with one another.

They didn’t understand how deep love could last, but he did. He knew.

They were going to be together, no matter what.

Chapter Seventeen

FLASHBACK

December watched the maiden slash through the faeries, blood splattering from their ice bodies. The family she was protecting, a mother and her two kids, had run off.

But the maiden wasn’t done. She locked eyes with him and ran towards him, raising the dagger up high.

December took one last bite of the human at his feet before flying away, never taking his eyes off the maiden.

As he continued to look at her, he realized that she was the same girl as the one he saw in the forest with the deer, except she was less gentle than before.

Her heart was a heart of gold, one that he wished could intertwine with his forevermore.

Perhaps their hearts could be intertwined, somehow, someway…

Chapter Eighteen

Night had brought the Earth into a darkened glow. December flew off to visit Inclementia, to charm her yet again.

He was used to going out at night, for he wasn’t the type to sleep deeply. He was used to how the branches of the trees twisted and turned, how the air got colder than usual.

But why did it feel particularly unsafe that night? As though something was waiting to slaughter him…

No. December was a faerie. Nothing could hurt him. He was going to be okay.

He always was.

Chapter Nineteen

“There he is! The faerie! Bind him!” A voice cried out.

December turned around, searching for the source of the voice.

All around him, human Knights began to appear. All at once, completely surrounding him. His heart began racing as he thought of ways to attack them. He could slash through them, one by one, but what if more came? How would he do it, anyway? They were wearing protective armor. He was a faerie, but there was more of them.

Maybe he should start with one. Maybe, after that, he’d be safe. Maybe-

A net wrapped him up, bound him together, as if he were some pest to exterminate.

There he was. The human King, with his cold eyes full of contempt. Even though he didn’t live in the realm of snow, his eyes still brought a chill down December’s spine.

He dragged December away by his ankle, December screaming out for help.

Why would they come? It was far too late for help, anyway…

Chapter Twenty

After much degrading dragging by the ankle, December was thrown into a steel, torchlit room that he considered to be a dungeon, the human King locking the door on him.

“I saw you that night, when you were giving my daughter flowers. I was at the garden. Did you really think I’d let that slide?” The human King asked.

He walked away before December could reply.

What happened? Did Inclementia tell on him? If so, then that confirmed it. She hated him. She wanted him dead. She-

“December?” A soft voice asked.

December rolled on his side, ever so hopeful that the voice would belong to who he thought it was.

There she was! Inclementia herself, except she was sitting in the dungeon corner, her eyes full of sorrow.

“I didn’t tell him about us, but I should have known that he would take one of his nightly strolls. I should have warned you…but you were just far too charming for me to focus.” Inclementia said.

Huh? Charming? That was what she really thought of him?

“My father always wears black in his nightly strolls, so that no one sees him. I was going to tell you, but you…you have this great desire to show me life, this passion for all that exists around you. I admire it. I really do. Your race fascinates me. You’re not bound to human rules, you do as you please.” Inclementia said.

Faeries fascinated her? He fascinated her?

“But your race also scares me. I want to love you, December. I want to trust that you won’t hurt me, that I’m more to you than food. I want to be whisked away with you, but reality is far less sweet.” Inclementia sighed.

December took a deep breath. He had to tell her how he felt, before it was too late.

“I love you, Inclementia. You’re gentle but you’re fierce. You love and you hate greatly. You are beautiful on the inside as well as the outside, I can sense your soul. You say that my race fascinates you, but do you love me? Have you considered that we eat not because we want to, but because we’re searching for someone to complete us? There’s an old legend in my Kingdom that if a faerie found the human that they love, that if they ate that one person, then their souls would be intertwined, and they wouldn’t have to kill anymore. I want that, Inclementia. I want to be with you forever. But do you want that?” December asked.

He watched as the expression on her face changed, as she smiled at him.

“It relieves me to hear that you’re not selfish, December. Everyone wants to find love. I look at you and see a faerie who cares greatly, if not too much.” Inclementia said.

She crawled over to him and wrapped her fingers around the ropes that bound him.

“I love you. I want to be with you.” Inclementia beamed.

With that, she began to untie him, a pale blue blush blooming on December’s face.

It wasn’t all for nothing. She loved him!

Chapter Twenty-One

December and Inclementia fled down the spiraling stairs, his heart racing within. They had to get out before the human King and Queen found them, before they were locked away yet again into the darkness.

“Halt!” The human King cried out.

It wasn’t like they had a choice, anyway. Knights waited at the bottom of the stairs. When they turned around, the King and Queen were waiting, Knights also behind them.

The King’s eyebrows creased with concern when he saw noticed Inclementia clasping December’s claw.

“I kept you there so that you could think about your actions. Why are you with him? He’s a monster.” The King said, his voice laced with…sorrow?

What did he have to be sorry about?

“Faeries need to eat people so that they can be connected. It’s for love. He’s been nothing but good to me, and to know that he doesn’t see me as food brings absolute joy to my heart.” Inclementia beamed.

December could have bounced off the walls, could have leapt in circles, but stayed rooted to the ground. Finally, Inclementia loved him! She didn’t see him as a monster, but as a person, with thoughts, feelings, ideas, hopes, and dreams!

She saw him for who he really was!

But the King’s hands began to shake, his lip curled into a snarl. The Queen reached out to comfort him, but he pushed her away, shouting:

“You don’t understand! That’s just what they do to trick you! They give you flowers and magic, only to eat you in the end! They don’t care about us! Don’t you get it? To them, we’re food. Things to be devoured without a second thought.”

The King took a deep breath. He let the Queen wrap her arms around him. No longer was there vicious anger in his eyes, but deep heartbreak instead.

“I should know. I loved one, once.” The King said softly.

“You never told me.” The Queen said, a look of mild surprise on her face.

“I never wanted to. I wanted to keep it a secret, to protect you and our daughter. But now I think it’s time that I tell you.” The King said.

“You were foolish enough to believe their lies.” King Yukio’s voice said.

December and everyone else turned towards the only window in the stone hall.

There, sitting on the window ledge, was King Yukio himself, staring the human King dead in the eyes with something that could only be described as…hatred? Regret? Love?

It all looked like a jumble of emotions, a flurry of brimming tears, of icicle-edge despair.

December held onto Inclementia’s hand tighter. Whatever King Yukio would say next would not stop him, because love was pure, and if one pursued it, then everything would work out.

Nobody was going to stop him, especially since Inclementia saw the truth about him for the first time…

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Yukio.” The King breathed in shock.

“Thoreau.” King Yukio said with bite in his voice. December flinched, for he had never heard the faerie King speak in such a way.

“What’s the meaning of this? What’s going on?” The Queen asked, eyes going wide in panic.

Inclementia gripped December’s claw tightly, as though awaiting the worst. He didn’t let go, he simply let her hold on, for sometimes, people needed to latch onto someone for comfort, for their last, dying hope.

“I think it’s time that you know the truth, December.” King Yukio said, turning his head to December.

For a moment, there were tears in King Yukio’s eyes. But as quickly as they came, they froze up.

“What do you mean? What truth? What’s going on?” December asked. If he had a place to run, he’d bolt. If he had a chance to fly, he would.

But there was no time to disappear. No time to fade away.

“Faeries didn’t always eat people. When I was your age, we lived in the shadows, peacefully. I was in love with a human once. I had seen the world through your eyes, once.” King Yukio said.

King Yukio locked eyes with King Thoreau, never faltering his icy gaze. King Thoreau froze, swallowing hard.

“And I thought that he loved me too.” King Yukio said.

“But the humans were afraid of us. They saw our teeth and thought that we would kill and eat their race. Thoreau, you drove us further into the darkness. You looked at me and saw what they saw, not what I truly was. I thought that you were different, but I should have known better. You’re only human, humans only care about themselves.” King Yukio seethed. His nails contorted into claws, into weapons that could slash through soft, breakable flesh.

“I did love you, Yukio! I regret what I did every day! But you, you’re no better than I! I know what you’ve told the faeries. It happens every October 31st, the day everyone comes to kill my Kingdom. I see hope in some of their eyes, passion in some of their eyes. The kind of look you used to give me. Not all of them believe it, but some do.” King Thoreau said.

“This one certainly does.” King Thoreau said, looking at December.

“You told them that if they find the one human to complete them, then they’d stop killing. Yes, their true love would complete them. But that doesn’t stop the killings. Your race, I believe, has evolved to eat humans. Is that true?” King Thoreau asked.

King Yukio nodded.

“I suspect so. I know what you want to do to me, Yukio. I know you want us to fuse together. But it won’t happen. It’s been much too long. I’m sorry that I failed you.” King Thoreau said, his eyes spilling with tears.

King Yukio’s tears didn’t come out. Were they forever frozen? Did he lose all love within him?

That could not be. Love was pure, light, and feathery. It couldn’t end in such dismay, such sorrow, such…evil.

December’s love for Inclementia was beautiful, wasn’t it? It was destined to come through, destined to be true!

It could not end in betrayal…right? RIGHT?

Chapter Twenty-Three

“You heard what he said, December? It’s all a lie. True love doesn’t stop faeries from killing.” Inclementia said.

December stared at all of their fearful eyes, save for King Yukio and Inclementia, who seemed to only look at him in pity. What did they think he was going to do? Kill them all? No, no…he was just upset, that was all. He just needed a few minutes to rest…to think…

But it was all real. He’d still be a monster, with or without Inclementia. What did it matter that she loved him back? He’d be the same faerie that he always was: A heartless human-eater.

There was no longer the question of him being cured. There was the question of if he would rather exist alone or with her.

December smiled, his heart lifting with hope.

He knew exactly how to fix the deep, gnawing, gaping hole within him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

In a flash, December wrapped his arms around Inclementia and flew out the window, ignoring the protests of the humans and King Yukio. They were after him, trying to stop him.

“What are you doing?! You promised not to hurt me!” Inclementia cried out, her voice rising in fear.

No, she had to trust him. She didn’t trust him before, he wouldn’t let that happen again.

“I’m doing this because I love you. They may be apart, but that doesn’t mean we have to be.” December said with a smile.

“But us being together doesn’t fix your curse!” Inclementia said.

“Don’t you see? You fix my curse. I won’t be lonely when I’m with you.” December said, trailing a claw along her cheek.

He noticed her smile a little. She was always so reluctant, always so quick to attack.

He didn’t blame her, but once it was done, there would be nothing to fear. Everything would be right.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“It’s wrong of me to agree with you. That’s what I have been taught my whole life. It only happens once a year though, right? And you don’t even feel good about doing it. That’s got to mean something, right? That you’re human, just like me.” Inclementia said.

December nodded. He could see it in her eyes that she was trying to make a choice, that she was struggling between the “lovely” option and the “right” option.

Who cared about being right? As long as she was around, everything was always right.

“My heart wants to go with you but my head is screaming at me that you’ll be nothing but a monster.” Inclementia said.

“You’ve got to choose. We’ve only got a few minutes before they catch up, so I would advise picking an option now.” December said.

He kissed her forehead so that she didn’t feel too pressured. Too much pressure would lead to stress, and someone like her didn’t deserve to be put into such debilitating stress.

“I know that you’ll pick the right option.” December said with a smile.

For they belonged to each other, in the end.

Chapter Twenty-Six

They both stopped at a clearing in the winter forest. December placed Inclementia gently on the ground.

“Now, there will be excruciating pain, but when it’s done, you’ll feel nothing but bliss.” He said.

He didn’t waste a single second, for fear of her changing her mind and running away.

He raised his claws and ripped through her flesh, blood staining the white snow, the taste of soft skin slipping in his mouth.

Finally, finally, finally they would be together!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Her body lay dead on the ground. All he had to do was suck her soul and-

“Rise from your body

Go not towards the darkness

Flee to another time

A time where you are free

Worry not of now

And sink into a better world”

December turned around, towards King Yukio, who was singing the song. It was the song that would stop Inclementia from coming to him, a song that would reincarnate her body into another time period.

Everyone had caught up to him. King Yukio, the human King and Queen, the Knights of both sides, and…and December’s family.

They were all trying to stop him from being with his one true love!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“What have you done?! I was going to be with her, we were going to be together! She said yes!” December cried out.

Still, they all looked at him as though he were a lost cause, as though he was someone to be pitied.

“I didn’t want you to eat her, December. It hurts the humans to be eaten.” King Yukio said.

“But if we were together, then it wouldn’t hurt. Now I’ll never find her.” December said glumly.

He plopped down on the ground, caressing strands of Inclementia’s hair. Aspen placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, but he nudged her away.

Just like that, the love of his life was gone.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

He stayed right where he was, next to Inclementia’s dead body. They were all watching him solemnly, and then, they began to part, leaving December with his lost love.

Some were afraid for him. King Yukio, his family. They were afraid of what love would do to him.

The humans were afraid of him. They were afraid of what he and his race would do when wronged.

A smile crept up December’s face. King Yukio merely had her reincarnated into someone else, sent to another lifetime. All he had to do was wait until he met her again, and then, nothing would ever part them. All he had to do was make himself immortal and not tell a soul.

Because he’d be damned if his love story ended like King Yukio and King Thoreau’s.

Chapter Thirty

All he had to do to stay immortal was to give a piece of his soul (only a piece) off to the forest, and then, the rest of him would be free to live forever.

Without a moment’s hesitation, without a second thought, December reached into his innermost self and pulled out a small, thin blue string.

He cast it out into the forest, dreaming of being with Inclementia again.

Dreaming of fulfilling his desires.

Epilogue

December made note to never tell his family of what he did, even though they asked questions about why he didn’t age. He simply laughed and said: “I must have been blessed to be ageless!”.

Aspen would look at him suspiciously, as though she knew that he was hiding something, but couldn’t pinpoint what.

But that didn’t matter. Eventually she died, his parents died, King Yukio died, all of the faeries that he knew died.

December left his home once a new century of humans and faeries began. With each century that passed, the faeries became more and more driven into the darkness, while the humans continued their pursuit of taking what they believed was theirs.

Just as the humans continued to conquer the world, December continued in his search for Inclementia.

Though she would have a new face, a new name, she’d have a certain sparkle in her soul that only belonged to her.

He’d find her. One day, he would…