THE NIGHT THEY MET

1922 Words
The night fell like a sinister veil over the people in mourning. Just two days ago the little twins of the blacksmith had been found dead in the main entrance of the church. Their flayed bodies were almost unrecognizable, no one would have known that they were the only two daughters of the blacksmith and the village midwife if it weren't for the fact that they both shared the same birthmark on their right arm. A small star-shaped mole. To Sia it was just a scrawl on their skin and not a star. “Where are you going?” Sia’s mother stopped her before she could set a foot outside. It was almost pitch-black outside, and the snow was just starting to fall. “I’ll be back for dinner, mama.” Sia tried to soothe her mother but the woman was a stubborn as a bull. She could take care of herself. “What if something bad happens to you? Do you want to end like those girls?” Sia’s eyes widened, “Bite your tongue!” “Sia!” “Mother!” “Why do you need to go out right now? Is not safe, child.” “Is not safe because I’m a girl? Is that what you mean to say?” Sia was done with that kind of ideas. Why should the woman live in fear while the man was the brave one? She was fearless. There was nothing in the dark that could hurt her. No wild animal would drag her into the ground to deliver her body to the devil. The worst that would happen was her stepping on s**t. The mere smell would scare away any evil spirit. “Fine but bring water from the well before you return, or you’ll be sleeping in the barn with the chicken and the pigs!” “Perhaps I will choose to forget the errand!” Sia stuck her tongue out at her mother and jump out of the way before she could smack her on the head. She lit the lamp and headed to the meadow. When she passed through the crowded church she sighed. Masses throughout the week would be dedicated to the little twins. Sia knew perfectly well that listening to the father speak and read the Bible would not bring peace to the heartbroken parents who cried all the time since the death of their daughters. There were not many people outside and those who were in the street were chatting pleasantly while playing with the snow. A few people greeted Sia as they walked back home and gave her strange and curious looks when they realized that she was walking in the opposite direction. She smiled and waved at them anyways. She needed to be fast. When Sia reached the meadow, she began to feel anxious. Not because of fear but because it was a feeling that he evoked in her. Soon a pair of warm and callused hands covered Sia's face from behind, she let out a yelp and turned around smiling broadly. She had to raise her head to meet his eyes because he was much taller than her. “Gideon.” She sighed his name as he bent down to kiss her cheek. “My love.” He murmured against her seeking lips. Gideon was a handsome boy. His blue eyes glowed brightly in the starlight but when there was a full moon like this winter night, they were almost phosphorescent. As if two fireflies had landed there. Sia ran her fingers through Gideon's black hair, pushing errant strands away from his handsome face. He copied her gesture. “You look lovely tonight.” “Only tonight?” He let out a throaty laugh, “Always.” Sia was too in love with this man. He was the prince of her dreams, the answer to all questions and for now the only reason she had not to go crazy. They had met on a night like this. A full moon night. Sia was standing on the edge of a cliff, the wind was unforgivable, slamming into everything in its path. Sia's long hair danced on her head and in front of her face in all directions as did her dress and cape. When she looked down, the waves crashed violently against the rocks. The fall would be painful but hopefully she would die instantly. “Is that something you want to do?” A smooth male voice snapped her out of her dark thoughts, forcing her to look over her shaking shoulders. “Please leave! For this does not concern you!” “I’m just passing through.” “Then I must insist for you to follow your path and leave me to my business.” Even though it was dark she saw him grin and could have sworn his canines appeared to be longer than a normal human would possess. Strange. But this man wouldn’t go, he would only come closer in a very slow pace as if trying not to scare her off like a cat. “Don’t come any closer!” She stepped back, nearly fell off but held her ground. “Alright.” He held up his hands, trying to calm her. “Why don’t you come over here? Let’s talk.” She shook her head and continued to shuffle away from him. “I won’t hurt you.” “If I were worried for being hurt, I wouldn’t be here tonight.” But Sia felt like a piece of earth split when she stepped on it and suddenly time seemed to stop. The air in her lungs choked for a few moments and a scream of terror left her just as she began to fall. The stranger wasted no time and rushed over the cliff, sweeping the ground with his whole body and reaching out to hold hers. “Don’t look down!” He pleaded as he tried to hoist her up. Sia swallowed and closed her eyes as she held on for dear life and let him pull her up. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” After saving her he had the audacity to scold her for being so reckless with her own life. He was not sure if she would try something like that again, so he asked her to meet again at the same time. Sia thought it was something strange but accepted anyway. The next night he was waiting for her. Sia blushed when she saw that he held a beautiful white rose and handed it to Sia as soon as she reached his side. And so, began a friendship that soon turned into a romance. Sia wanted Gideon to meet her mother but he told her it was impossible since he could only see her at night. She thought that was strange. Sia asked him several times but every time he refused and changed the topic until one night he was late for their meeting, she worried about him and dove into the woods to search for him (for she had seen him walk out from there before) and after some time she finally found him. He was laying on the ground completely naked, covered in blood and cut to ribbons. She covered him with her cape and waited for him to open his eyes. “I’ll be alright.” He groaned and promised to explain tomorrow. He kissed her forehead, got up and walked away leaving her more confused and scared than ever. The following night she rushed to their spot and he was there. There were no traces of injuries and he looked as perfect as ever. And that’s when he finally told her the truth about him. About whom he really was. “You’ve been wondering for so long and you deserve to know this. I didn’t want you to find out like this but it’s better… It’s for the best.” “Tell me.” “I’m not a human. There is a reason you and I can only see each other at night. Have not you noticed? My eyes are different, my fangs are longer and sharper, especially if I am experiencing strong emotions. I look like an ordinary man once the sun goes down but when it rises again ... I transform into a beast. Do you know what kind of beast I turn into, Sia?” “No…” “I turn into a wolf.” “A wolf?” Sia had heard stories of men turning into wolves but what he said made no sense. The werewolves only transformed when the moon rose in the starry sky. He was painting a completely different story. “Yes. You don’t believe me? Don’t you think it’s odd to see that I’ve healed completely?” “I don’t know.” Gideon asked Sia to stay with him until dawn so that she could witness the transformation. As daylight covered the meadow, Gideon's body began to contort painfully, the skin on his body beginning to fall apart and evaporate as soon as he hit the ground. In front of her was no longer her beloved Gideon, but a huge wolf with beautiful black fur that reflected the rays of the sun. He seemed to recognize her because he didn't hurt her. In the eyes of the animal there was sadness and shame, a few seconds later he left but they met again when night fell. After Gideon's reveal, Sia discovered that he was cursed. That his entire pack had been the victim of the cruel intentions of a sorcerer. And even though they had looked for a thousand ways to break the spell, they were still transforming. The only thing they wanted was to transform at will, without pain, without shame, without feeling like a threat to others. So Sia decided to help. For months she allowed herself to be absorbed by the world of magic, by the power of the occult. She prayed one night, she asked Mother Nature for the power to save the life of her beloved Gideon and just one morning Sia was no longer a simple woman, but a powerful witch in contact with the elements. Sia's attempts seemed futile, until one day she heard the trees and forest spirits whisper. There was a method to help break the curse. The only thing they needed was a little blood from the whole pack and the heart of some sorceress. Blood was easy to get but heart ... it would be difficult. “Do you have it, my love?” She kissed his throat as she rubbed her palms against his chest. They had agreed to meet tonight so he would hand over his pack’s blood. A simple drop of the entire pack almost filled the silver jar she had given him the night before. He nodded and reached behind him, into his bag to pull out the jar and show it to her. “We still need the heart.” “We will get it, I promise.” Gideon smiled and Sia couldn't help noticing that he looked immensely sad. When he bent down to kiss her, he stole her breath. His hands ran over her back, her breasts, ran over her body, lit a fire that only he could control. His hands stopped around Sia's throat. “Do you have any idea of how much I love you?” He said with a strange edge of despair. His eyes were too bright tonight. “As I do.” A single tear trailed down his marble cheek as he spoke, “But you’ll never know how much I’m going to miss you.” And with that he squeezed tightly around her neck. Sia tried to get away from his hands, from the force with which he was crushing her throat. No matter how many times she tried, he wouldn't let her go. Sia's vision began to blur and little by little the darkness took hold of her, taking her to a place where there was nothing or no one and the last thing she heard was the heartrending scream of the man who betrayed her.
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