Park Jimin has never found himself beautiful. Seeing himself as ugly wasn't merely an opinion-it was a fact. Because of this, he remained isolated in the hat shop he worked in until he found himself cursed by a wicked mage. Now ugly and appearing to...
Humming to myself, I head to my house on the hill with the meat that I was able to buy from the marketplace through selling some vegetables and flowers. The cold air nips at my skin, so I pull my blue cloak tighter around me and fight against the wind as I make the long journey to my abode.
The cloaked stranger has been coming more and more often for longer periods of time and I find myself yearning to develop some type of relationship with them. I just want someone to respond to my words verbally. Turniphead and the flowers listen, but they can't use words to express their thoughts and I feel like they don't really have the choice to leave me. So it'd be nice to have someone around who makes a conscious decision to spend time with and talk to me.
My body begins to shake as the wind picks up and it starts to downpour, soaking me. Groaning, I shield my food and try not to get pushed over by mother nature.
The rain suddenly stops and I look up to see Turniphead holding an umbrella over me. I smile thankfully, but I can't stop the sobs that escape.
"Oh, Turniphead, what am I going to do? The winds are so strong and the rain is so intense that I don't think that rickety old house can take it. It's all I had. And we worked so hard to make it work. Although it wasn't comfortable, it was safe. And now I'm again without a home. I wish to be put out of my misery. Why is it that fate plays cruel pranks on me? Everything keeps piling up and I don't know how much more I can take before I shut down and let time do its thing. I feel ready to die. There's nothing more to live for. Leave me, Turniphead. You're free! Find someone more beautiful to keep you company. Leave me here to die." I sit down on a rock and curl up into a ball, feeling my throat close in on itself as my hands start to shake uncontrollably.
It's been quite a while since my last panic attack, but it hits differently once you're older. Instead of simply feeling like I'm dying, it may be a reality. My heart is beating so quickly. I can't control my body. The tears keep flowing as I cry my throat raw, but it doesn't stop. The only thing that will stop it is death. I crave it. I want it all to end.
Turniphead situates the umbrella and hops off, leaving me to drown in my sorrow-filled panic.
When he leaves, I feel even worse and the world begins to spin as I claw weakly at my neck before I wrap my hands around my neck and start to choke myself just so I can at least pass out and get this over with. I'm already massively hyperventilating to the point where it feels that there is a burning hole in my chest, so hopefully it won't take long.
As I start to black out, various images of the cloaked figure and the wizard from before dance through my mind. It's almost as if they're calling out to me, these mysterious beings who can't get out of my head. They're both beautiful to me. Even though the person who visits the garden hides most of their face, I've caught glimpses of the rosy complexion on their cheeks when they sit amongst the flowers. They're precious. I wish I could have seen them...
Suddenly, I am lifted up and I scream, noticing that Turniphead has returned and has me somehow attached to them as they bounce towards an awkward silhouette on mechanical legs moving towards us. My eyes widen and I flail around.
"Turniphead, no! That's Jungkook's moving castle! We absolutely cannot go there! He eats the hearts of—" I freeze, drawing my eyebrows together.
Why am I so afraid of Jungkook? He only goes for young, beautiful people. I am neither. I am perhaps the person most safe from his evil ways. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea. It'd be rude to decline an elder, right? And it'd just be until the storm is gone. That isn't too much to ask, is it?
We reach the door, but my cloak is taken by the wind and I frown. Before I can say anything, Turniphead is already on his way to retrieve it, making me giggle.
I inhale and exhale sharply at the daunting front door. Nervously, I make a fist and knock on it, but the door swings open not even seconds after the first knock.
"H-Hello, is anyone there? May I come in?"
"I don't care. Hurry up."
Surprised, I scramble inside and look around. Where did that voice come from? "J-Jeon?"
"He's not here right now. That bastard is always gone flirting with whoever will give him the time of day. He even brings a guitar around with him like a tool. Good riddance, I tell you. If I wasn't bound to this damn castle, I would be the first to leave."
I walk around the dirty common area, trying not to trip over spell books, trash, and other magical artifacts. "Where are you? I can hear you, but I cannot see you. There's no need to be invisible. I understand that I look... unfriendly, but I assure you that I am not a threat."
The voice scoffs. "Like I'd be afraid of a frail old man. I am in the hearth. Come here."
Not wanting to make him mad, I follow orders and look at the fireplace. "What a peculiar fire. It's quite small. How does it keep this place warm?"
"Small?! Small?! How dare you! I am Calcifer, the fire demon! I do not just heat this house, put I power it! It could not move without me!"
I just blink. "That's actually really cool."
The fire demon looks at me, astounded. "You aren't surprised or scared of my appearance? I am a flame with a face!"
"Would you believe me if I told you that so much has happened in the last few months that nothing surprises me anymore?"
Calcifer's eyes narrow. "I knew something about you was different when I felt your presence approaching the castle. That's quite the nasty curse you've got there."
"How did you—"
"Let me finish," he interrupts. "You and I aren't so different. We both want freedom, yes? If you break my curse, I'll break yours. Deal?"
I narrow my eyes. "Isn't not making deals with demons magic 101?"
He laughs. "You're a lot smarter than Jungkook in that regard, but this will be safe. Just don't promise yourself to me and it'll be alright."
"Okay." I nod. "Deal."
A wide grin takes over the fire. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Author's Note: Multiple updates in a day? Of course! Shit is going down!
What do you think of the chapter?
Make sure to take care and love yourself as best as you can.
With lots of love,
-BBM
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