Her eyes fluttered open.

She found herself standing on a clear, clean floor. It seemed like glass, except a bone chilling cold arose from the ground. She shivered, looking down at the expertly crafted round symbol of an intricite snowflake. From the round symbol, encircling steps lead down to more tiled floors made of this ice. Ah, ice. Hanuh knew ice well. She was born into it.

Despite her shivering, she felt at home in this ethereal space. Looking up, there was nothing but a pitch black void. Why was she here? In confusion, she slowly descended the three short steps and walked across the floor. Her boots made every footstep echo ever on, into the void. She kept walking, feeling confused and nervous. How did she wind up here? She had fallen asleep. Was this a lucid dream? The steady fear of entrapment rose in her chest. Despite freezing, she was sweating. Gripping her hands tightly, she started to sprint. She started to run.

Panting, breath visible like smoke, she darted through the endless vacant ice floor. Some kind of never ending subliminal space. Eventually, she noticed a dot in the distance. She shuddered in relief as she bolted for the object. Her lungs were on fire as she approached what appeared to be an archway made of, of course, ice. It was far more crude than the artistic floor, she observed as she came closer. At last, she skidded to a halt, almost wiping out. Her hands slammed on her knees as she bent over panting. What was happening? Why was an archway in the middle of this void?

She looked up. She was... horrified.

Through the archway seemed to be a portal to another realm. A similar void with no sky, no smell, and barely any sound. Yet, in place of a frigid ballroom floor was a sea of roaring, endless fire.

With a gasp, she took several steps back. Her breath made it look like smoke was already filtering through the archway and to her. She cried out, backing further and further away. What in the name of the Thaynes was this place! She felt trapped! She wanted out! Now!

Though she was positive no one would hear her, she screamed, "Let me out of here! Let me out! Now! I-"

It was as fast as a blink. She was startled to see herself in a pitch black area. No light, no cold floor, no roaring fires. She blinked in utter confusion, feeling dizzy.

Then, a soft candlelight. The candle glow was warm and enticing, far different than the sea of fire. In the candlelight, she realized she saw a familiar figure.

"Father?"

Julius Tabor smiled. Brown eyes met brown eyes. He reached up and pushed some of his curly hair from his brow, "Daughter. Hanuh, you know what you are."

Hanuh nodded, "Of course. I'm the daughter of both the Tabor and Icebreaker clans."

Julius nodded, "Indeed. An event that has never taken place before, throughout Eiskalt's four hundred year history. You are a phenomenon, a rare entity. But take head, my precious girl."

Goosebumps coated Hanuh's skin as she listened.

"Do not let what you are define who you are." Julius said, "Do not become trapped in nothing but your lineage. You are far more than that. Eiskalt will not welcome you, our families are exiled. And even now your two families in the afterlife both battle for and are baffled by you. You are free, Hanuh. Never forget that. Be more than your bloodline."

Hanuh would never forget those words. Even far after she had awoken.