The woman in white

A long time ago, in a small village, there lived a girl. A beautiful girl with long black hair and fair skin. People said that her eyes had a strange color, different to everyone who would look at them, but all would see scales slither through her pupils. As she grew older, she became more and more isolated. She hid in the woods thirteen times a month. No one knew the reason why. Years were passing by, but she didn't age. She just grew more beautiful and youthful as the time flew. It seemed like she couldn't die. People in the village became vary of her. They avoided her, and the forest, for thinking she was a witch.

One day she didn't come. Nor the day after. Days passed by and she hadn't returned. Everyone assumed that she was finally gone. After a few weeks an infant was found dead at the forest entrance. Then, after another few weeks, a dead one-year old was found at the same place. It continued like that until there was a dead twenty-one year old man. Then it stopped. But after 13 days the cycle started again. Everyone was afraid.

One day, a boy of 17 years, went to the forest to rescue his twin brother. He ran, and finally came to a small clearing. He saw his brother taking slow steps towards something, or better yet - someone. It had a long black hair which, at the end, had snake heads. It was a complete contrast to a white dress that it was wearing. A blooded, dirty hand reached out of the dress and towards the young boy. The brother ran and stopped in front of his twin and begged the creature to take him instead. It was surprised by his bravery and determination so she decided to let them both go, but under one, and only one, condition: they must never fall in love. Hearing this, the twins asked it to stop with the killings. The creature accepted.

Years went by, killings stopped, twins were now 21 years old. One day, a woman came to the village. She was very beautiful. The younger twin saw her and immediately fell in love with her. His brother reminded him of what the monster in the forest said, but the other didn't listen. He said there were no more dead kids and that he believes that the creature is gone for good. The first brother wasn't as convinced. Days passed, and second brother took the girl to the same clearing where he was about to be taken by the monster all those years ago. He told the woman that he loves her and wants to marry her. The woman hugged him. But the hug was weird, it wasn't warm as it was supposed to be, it was cold like the gravestone. The earth started to shake and it slowly opened beneath them. When the brother looked down, he could see the fire starting to rise. He tried to stand up, but couldn't because the woman in front of him was holding him too tight. Her hands turned into vines and went deeper into the ground forcing the boy closer to the flames. When he looked at her, she changed into the monster from all those years ago. The black hair was now a bunch of snakes who were sliding over every part of his body. Her eyes were changing from black to red and every time she blinked he could see snake scales in them. The older brother, who followed them, ran out of his hiding and tried to stop the woman in white. She turned towards him and sent out her snakes. He tried to escape them but it was of no use. He was trapped and forced to watch his twin burn. The smell of burnt flesh was unbearable. When his brother was burned, the woman turned towards him. He asked her why, and she said:
,,He loved. One rule there was, and broken he had it."
The brother asked her the reason for everything. She was quiet for a bit, while her snakes were sliding over him. But than she answered:
,,I was young, people feared, but one said that he loved.
We met in woods, it became home, but one day, he didn't come alone.
He brought a cross, a gun, a rope. Tied me up and burned my feet.
Cut my stomach taking organs out. One by one till I could no longer shout.
Then he stabbed my eyes and put a match in my chest.
HE KILLED ME THAT NIGHT while the people of the village stared and smiled!
So I made a vow, right there, that every one will suffer fate worse than death.
But you made a deal, and I said let's try again. Maybe his descendants more of cleverness had."
With that last sentence, the brothers face lit with recognition but it was too late, because her fingers met his eyes, and one of the snake met his heart.
It started again.

New bodies, more deaths. Years after years and it was always the same. 21 dead boys, from infant stage to 21 years. Every now and then, someone would see the woman in white, leaving the body as she slither away.

No one knew her real name,
But they all knew the curse that she bares
So they gave her a new one,
That is forbidden to say.
Anyone who says her name,
becomes Serpentina's next pray.