𝘽𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝| Vkook

6

"They hunted me through the woods until they caught me. And when they did they burned me, or at least they tried to. The legends surrounding my supposedly supernatural powers convinced them to wisely leave my veil on, but imagine their terror when the flames burned it away. And the men who had condemned me to die a fiery death condemned themselves instead, consumed by desire as they rushed into the fire, desperate to be with me.

"I can still see the horror in their widows' eyes as they stood around the smoldering remains of the pyre the next morning, weeping for their men, and watched me crawl out naked from beneath that pile of charred sticks and bones, alive and unharmed. That was the day the legend of witch mihal was born.

"I retreated back to the safety of my Carpathian home and dwelled there far from the superstitions of men. There was the odd hunter or shepherd who was unlucky enough to cross my path, but most knew enough of my legend that they quickly turned back the way they'd come and fled for their lives. And, of course, there were evil men I encountered too, but I felt no guilt when the curse struck them down.

"And while I walked the woods women would still seek me out, leaving offerings at the ancient stone circle with notes begging me to lead their wayward husbands home or punish them if necessary. But there were other women too, ones who still recognized my 'witchcraft' as a healing art and would seek me out, hoping I would share my knowledge.

"I remember one in particular, a handboy of a countess named Erzsébet Bathory. Have you heard this name before?"

When I shook my head no, jungkook continued. "Her husband, the count, had a mysterious illness that none of his court physicians could cure. Desperate, the countess sent her handboy Abel to seek me out. She'd been warned I was a witch, but she'd also heard of my skill as a healer.

"I was reluctant at first; it had been many years since I had lived amongst people. But Abel's devotion and a lingering desire to see how the world had changed since I'd turned my back on it finally swayed me.

"I warned him in advance that any man who dared to lay eyes on me would meet his doom, so he spirited me back to the castle, hiding me inside a coffin that everyone assumed was meant for the dying count. Once inside the walls, I stayed hidden in the servant' s private quarters and taught him everything I knew. But even that wasn't enough to save his master.

"I should have returned to the woods then, but Abel begged me to stay. Tragically, I agreed. What I did not know then was that it was more than my healing powers that had driven the countess to seek me out.

"She'd heard tales of Mihal since she was a child, including ones that said I never grew old. And when she saw me, saw how youthful I was, she knew the tales were true. She came to me after her husband's death and ordered me to share my secret, she also found out I was a boy.

She believed it was witchcraft that kept me young. I tried to deny it but she would not relent.

"Fearing the lengths Countess Bathory would go to for the secret of my immortality, I decided to return to my mountain home. Abel agreed, and surprised me by asking me to take him along. I knew that he had fallen in love with me, but I was surprised to find that I'd fallen in love with him too.

"We agreed to leave at first light and spent our last night in that castle together in his bed. I was nervous when he first touched me, but honestly believed that the witch's curse could not harm what I believed to be true love...

I have never been so wrong.

"I'd forgotten the witch's vow to destroy anyone I loved, and abel was no exception. His tongue had barely touched me when the curse surged through me, dooming him. I'll never forget the sound of his wailing, screaming as his life bled out of him. I was still holding him when the doors to the chamber burst open.