Chapter Text
You knew you should have done something earlier. Your parents were a disturbing pair. Running away with your sibling was the right choice that was not followed through. You were awfully scared of the consequences. This tragedy would not have happened if you were now far away together.
But they would find you, and they would surely punish you both. Severely. That's what fear whispered in the back of your extremely paranoid mind.
Impassiveness led to a disaster, your sister disappeared. Now you are shaking like a leaf, hidden inside a bush and thinking how to get out of this mess. Bravery is certainly not your forte.
You had no idea how you're not possessed or eaten by any demon yet. These most vile creatures are attracted to intense emotions. The amount of fear and distress you felt was a feast waiting for the guests. The warnings you heard about this place did mention it's awfully popular among the citizens of the nightmares.
The darkness of the forbidden forest was closing in like the walls of the prison. The bark on the trees resembled eyes, they followed you everywhere. You gulped and focused on looking at your dirtied hands. Coming here alone was a mistake. Still, you had to find her, you had no other choice.
The knowledge you possessed about this area was entirely lacking. The map in your pocket that you tried to draw yourself was good for nothing. You were no fighter or mage, just an ordinary citizen too. Dread overcame you as you were already lost.
When they get to know, what will they do?
Your parents would surely throw you out. At the very least, they would be disappointed. You're way past the age of being allowed to live with them apparently, but they couldn't get rid of you in a satisfying way. The whole household was deemed “cursed” by outsiders. They couldn't wed you off, people from the village wouldn't even try to look your family's way. The rumours about you all were straight out horror stories. Not that you could blame the citizens considering where you resided.
The grim building that resembled Gothic architecture, located on a top of a cliff like an evil castle from bed stories. You live there. The construction used to be abandoned but your father and mother decided it would be perfect to move in apparently. They did not care how it affected their already rough reputation of people who allegedly performed witchcraft. From what you heard from the local community, they always picked such horrid allocations and were viewed in unfavourable ways. Both preferred it to be like that. To not associate with the “unenlightened”, whatever it meant. Their life did not sound to be any different before they brought both of you into this world. They were and still are solitary and weird.
You always wondered what was wrong with them, really. But there was never any concrete evidence of any morbid deeds, nothing to call them out about. No proof to shove into their faces. They gave you the shivers that always ended up unanswered. Your sibling remained silent whenever you asked her opinion on the matter. Their strictness regarding everything closed off all possible answers. Despite living with them, you realistically knew nothing outside what they showed and taught you. You did not see even a trace of their magic and rituals being used for evil. Truthfully, they really scared you. You felt the most primordial type of fear near them. Not being able to pinpoint why, you blamed your paranoia.
One of the images seared into your brain really haunted you. It makes you doubt both them and yourself. During a long gone night, you thought you saw something horrific in the dark basement. The place that used to be off limits both for you and your dear sister. You had no idea how you even entered it. Being very young at that time, you did not trust your memory, deeming it was possibly only a dream. An image of a monster that can't be even described in human words plagued your thoughts. It loomed, standing there in the darkness of this room. Remembering it gave you an even worse scare inside this already terrifying place.
Nothing of that mattered now, you failed the important task, which should have been easy. The few ear pulls you gave her did not stop her from going near the forest and bringing something from it. Your parents trusted you to keep an eye on her while they're on another mysterious trip. They of course told you nothing about their destination or what they’re doing during it. She disappeared when you went out to get some basic groceries. You bought them from the only woman that was willing to speak with you. She was pretty odd herself so maybe that's why her store almost did not see any other clients but you.
It's been two days since you last saw your sibling. You could not find her anywhere. No footprints which would bring you any answers, no letters or any marks. The people that actually answered you instead of giving you a cold shoulder knew nothing too. Considering where she went last time, your search brought you here.
You stopped the panic train of thoughts and gathered the last wits of courage. You took a breath and darted out the hiding spot. Right towards clearing visible behind black and crooked trees. Your brief happiness got interrupted as you heard something. A pair of blue flames, perhaps orbs, appeared beside the tree. You gasped and dashed forward as you realized those were eyes. You wanted to cry as loud steps followed you, fast.
It caught you and strongly latched onto your ankle. You screamed and grabbed the small knife hidden in your pocket then slashed whatever was behind. To your surprise, a smug laugh answered your attack. This instantly grounded you and your body stiffened like a board, falling flat with a thud and bringing up some dust.
“Beware, you might even kill someone by waving it like that”
Your mouth formed a little “O” at the sight. Above you stood a tall and blonde man wearing the weirdest glasses and the coolest coat you have ever seen. He was pretty handsome and his voice had a charismatic tone to it. You could not help but stare at the large object on his back, it looked like a coffin. A piercing gaze bored into you from behind the purple glass.
“I'm sorry! I thought I got caught by a demon. I did not hurt you with the dagger, right?”
You got yourself up and tried to gather some composure, feeling a little self-conscious about your state. Not sure how to proceed, you apologized while bowing. It frankly confused him and he raised his eyebrows.
“... you don't have to apologize...and shouldn't you be worrying about yourself?”
He looked at your knee, which was bleeding unknowingly to you. All of what was happening had you in such shock that you didn't even notice. Your body worked in distress mode.
“Oh...yeah, you're right. Well, thank you for at least not killing me, I guess.”
He snorted, he had never met someone who would thank him after he basically slammed them to the ground. Usually he would not even bat an eye at just another mortal who was stupid enough to enter this forest. No one sane does this, but luckily or unluckily for you, your attitude wasn't the only odd thing.
“You're awfully bright, you know? With a red, pulsating centre. I have never seen something like this in a soul”.
The man got uncomfortably close, and you could see how terrifyingly blue his eyes were behind the glass. You could not look away. He poked your forehead twice, clearly checking something and then drew a symbol here with his finger.
“Normally I don't sweep ladies off their feet this way, but I thought you're a fiend too.”
He suddenly took a silver nail out, it was smaller than the other ones on his belt. Your instincts screamed in panic to get away from him but you were glued to the floor. Three larger stakes were stuck in the earth around your feet.
“So let's find out what you are, shall we? This will hurt, a lot. But only for a moment”.
He gave you his smug smile and you calmed down a little. Somehow you felt that you could trust him, perhaps you were going insane.
He took your hand and pricked your finger with the little nail. It was extremely painful. The tool caught on blue fire, beside the pain, you remained unaffected. You wanted to scream but the spell he used on you petrified all of your body.
“Just....great, this answers absolutely nothing.”
He sighed loudly, ending it with a bitter laugh. The man quickly bandaged your finger with ornate material that he took out of a large object hanging on his back. He also did not forget about your leg. The coffin was fully packed with oddities. Skull, some herbs, candles, sigils on paper and various items you could not name. His gentle movements contradicted how sharp he looked. The silence between you kept dragging on, and he was painfully aware of your stare. Especially how your eyes followed the marks on his body. He figured you must be curious.
“Good girl, you were brave.”
He whistled then gave your back a reassuring pat. You nearly jumped up not expecting the casual gesture and words.
“There is something wrong with you though. You're supposedly a human, but that thing inside. I have never seen anything like that.”
He looked unsure, you assumed he would kill you to not take the risk, but he still bandaged you. Sweat started gathering at your brow. Your mind raced, your guts instantly went to the thought of your parents. Did they know and did they have a hand in this?
No matter what, you couldn't die there, not yet. And he surely could be an ally if you only got yourself together. You cleared your throat as the magical bindings finally let you go.
“I assume you’re um… a mage? Can you help me find my sister? Please, lend me some aid. Whatever you do to me later on, I do not care.”
Your voice sounded almost pathetic, and he did not expect a sudden change of topic. Like you did not care about the fact bomb he just dropped. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at the ground, letting out a chuckle. You had no common sense or were plain crazy. You didn't even plead for your life once through the whole exchange. Whatever was wrong with you, he felt like seeing it through.
“So this is why you're here in the first place. Only those who wish to die or are insane would enter this den of devils. I suppose it also concerns the desperate.”
He took out a larger nail and started spinning it in his hand.
“What will I have out of it, your condemned soul? If you're looking for redemption, I'm not your guy.”
His eyes were terribly honest. At the close distance, which he still did not further away, you could see he wasn't serious about what he said. You were almost baffled he was being so carefree right now. He was shamelessly playing with you, aside for the mysterious red, your soul was pristine.
“My sister found a ring in an ornate box, if you would have any use for it. I have never seen something like this but every time we threw it out, it came back. I think that's what people call an artifact or maybe it's just a cursed item.”
He gave a nod at the description and started walking away, dragging you along. His hand’s warmth enveloped your wrist. You headed beyond the trees, towards a peaceful looking and vast field.
“Cursed artifact, from a probably cursed girl with a maybe cursed soul. I really nailed it this time.”
The man heard you let out a muffled laugh and felt oddly glad. Rarely ever did anyone find his puns funny. You no longer looked as mortified as a few minutes ago. His steps felt lighter than usual with you by his side. What did this mean for him? He did not know yet.