Fyn.
Built over centuries ago, the metal concave mirror in the middle of the town of Gashea, had always been used to light the torch with the sun's rays. The fire from the torch acted as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices of the women who the townsfolk had chosen as the bride of the demon. It had been a constant reminder of how easily life can turn for the worst, as it has for the people in the past.
Traditionally, the choosing would happen in the morning. In the village square, the townsfolk would adorn the hair of the next demon's bride with white baby's breath flowers. They would have the bride walk from up the wooden platform where the metal concave mirror was placed and have them light the torch. When the flame lights, the bride holds the torch up high for all to see, to symbolize her bravery in facing the demon for the betterment of everyone.
When night falls, the townsfolk would place a brown cloak on the demon's bride. They would accompany her all the way to the edge of the forest and watch her walk the well-worn path most brides usually took as they entered the chilling woods. Once the townsfolk could no longer see her, once the dense trees and shrubs swallowed her whole, the townsfolk would return to their beds, sleep on their minds.
Fyn had been one of those townsfolk.
The ones who would turn their back once the bride had disappeared from his line of sight. Not once had he considered the fear that was running inside the bride's mind when she walked along the dark path, towards a future she knew she would never be alive to see.
And now, as tears streamed down his cheeks, he tried to wriggle his wrists away once more.
They had placed him inside the chief's station. Fyn remembered the place just fine. The large, square room had matching wooden furniture. Varied animal furs served as the room's carpet, and the chief had papered the walls with light hues. Inside, various lanterns and table lamps served as the source of light. In the center of it all was a dark wooden table, where the chief would calculate all the taxes and decided where to spend everything.
"This is wrong," Fyn cried, "The demon would kill me, sir! He would expect a beautiful woman as a bride. Once he sees my face... he would kill me on the spot. Sir, please! Have mercy. Please."
The village chief didn't even raise his head to look at Fyn, who had his hands tied behind his back. He assumed the men that the chief had asked to kidnap him threw him haphazardly on the floor. Various parts of his body had hurt, and he could only imagine how they brought him here if he felt much pain.
And then, Fyn jolted in place. Slowly, he whispered, "There's a list, is there not, sir?"
That was the only time the village chief lifted his eyes away from the paper he was reading. Now, his full attention is at Fyn. Fyn didn't miss the way the village chief's eyes narrowed in his direction. He didn't miss the way the chief's lips curled in anger. Veins popped on the chief's forehead and his hands scrunched the paper he was holding.
There had always been a list. Ever since the choosing had begun, townsfolk hid their daughters and their wives. To make sure that everything was fair, they had made a list. Even though Fyn had been a recluse and lived far away from the village, he knew about this.
And he also knew the chief had a daughter.
"Your daughter, she was supposed to be the demon's bride," Fyn stated matter-of-factly. "Sir, it is supposed to be her. A man as a bride doesn't even make any sense. After all the lives that we had lost because of this, now is not the right time to become unfair."
Fyn didn't even know where he got the sudden bravery to talk back to the chief this way. He just knew that there would be no way that he would allow the chief to throw him to his death without even fighting back. As much as he could, he furrowed his brows and inched himself closer to the chief's table, glaring at him.
"Let me go," He demanded, wriggling his wrists again. "This is unfair, sir, and you know it. Plenty of women had died. I see it every day where I live. Just because she's your daughter doesn't mean she gets placed on a pedestal. Untie me and I would turn a blind eye on everything that had happened."
There, Fyn thought. That was terrifying, wasn't it?
Except, instead of shivering in fear and running quickly to untie him, the chief chuckled darkly. Fyn felt shivers run along his back. He gulped, trying to wriggle himself free again. His wrist was burning, and he knew it was probably bruised and bleeding now. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up to his knees. He tried again, "Please, sir. Untie me now, this is hardly fair!"
"What do you know by fair?" the chief sneered, tossing the paper he was holding moments ago down on his table. He stood up slowly, stalking towards Fyn. He crouched down when he was near enough, pulling Fyn's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "I'm not dumb, Fyn. You have skipped tax payments for months."
Fyn blanched, "A few unpaid taxes shouldn't equate to death, sir."
"But is it really just a few?" The chief hissed. His breath felt hot on Fyn's face, the scent was foul. "I don't remember your parents ever paying. Do you?"
Fyn bit his tongue.
The chief's face turned sinister, "You don't even remember how they look like, don't you?"
Despite himself, Fyn felt traitorous tears prick the corner of his eyes. Some of the most traitorous ones falling freely on his cheeks. The chief saw this, and immediately he boomed into more maniacal laughter. His grip on Fyn's chin turned hard and cruel. Fyn knew this would bruise.
"It's such a shame," The chief muttered low on his breath. So low, that Fyn thought the chief didn't want others to hear what he was about to say at all. "You have your mother's delicate features. The same soft, black eyes. The same long lashes that touched your cheek each time you blink. Those messy arrays of freckles across your cheeks and nose. The same golden skin. If your black hair had been longer, I would think you are her."
The chief's gaze turned lustful in a few minutes, and Fyn wanted to vomit on himself. Just so that he would let him go. He had always hated having to look like a shadow of a woman that he barely even knew. And yet he hated it more whenever people looked at him like how the chief was looking at him.
He wasn't ashamed of how he looked like. He was angry that it was what his mother had given him. He would have loved it if instead of delicate features, she would have given him a memory of his parents. That would have given him something to think about whenever he felt sad and lonely. Instead of some stupid rhyme.
The chief's eyes fall on Fyn's lips, and his breath hitched. No!
Struggling, he started pulling himself away from the man. How long had he been far away from the village that everyone had turned into monsters? Those men that kidnapped him and teased him, the man holding him now, face inching closer to his. And here he thought the only demon that was in Gashea was the one within the woods. Apparently, there were monsters inside the town too.
There was a knock on the door.
Surprise flickers on the chief's face. Like someone had hypnotized him, he suddenly backed away. There was confusion in his eyes. It didn't last. The confusion quickly turned into anger and before Fyn could process it, his cheeks had stung and he was down on the floor. When he lifted his eyes, he saw the chief's hand up in the air.
The chief had just slapped him. Hard. So hard that he could taste blood.
The door opened ajar and peeking through it was a face that Fyn could always remember. Her hair was no longer in braids, her baby fat had gone. She was no longer the awkward teen that he once saw before. She was now a full-grown woman.
The chief's daughter, Hana.
"H-hana," Fyn muttered from the floor. "Untie me, please."
Hana barely glanced at him. Instead, she skipped towards her father, kissing his cheek. Twirling her long brown hair on her forefinger, she tilted her head. It almost made her look innocent, "The townsfolk were asking about what the plans were today. The flower crown's ready, so are the torches. The only thing left is..."
She drawled, her eyes falling on Fyn. "The bride."
Fyn watched as Hana watched him. He watched how her face seemed to melt as she smiled mischievously down at him. He could only look up and watch as her once beautiful brown hair turned greasy to reveal her bony, horrendous face. This had always been Hana's true colors, a true opportunist among the townsfolk. She stands towering among others, bullying her way to the top.
Fyn's gaze falls on her father, the chief.
There's something terrifying about the both of them. Fyn couldn't help but sag on the floor. Why did he even try to fight it when it already seemed like no one would help him? There were only a few villagers who even knew who he was. He closed his eyes a fraction, pondering about his fate. He understood that this was probably karma.
There had been dozens of women who had become the demon's bride. Those women he, together with the other townsfolk, once accompanied towards the edge of the forest. Watched them walk shakily inside only to walk towards their death. Not once had he offered to help, not once had he thought that it was wrong. He simply cared about being safe, about getting home in one piece.
He had only cared about himself. And this was his karma.
"Call the men," Fyn heard the chief order loudly, "It's time to dress up the bride. We wouldn't want him looking ugly on his big day, won't we?"
Hana's giggle that once sounded melodic to Fyn, now sounded like a witch's cackle.
"Anything for you, father!"
Fyn. Panic took over Fyn's mind the exact moment an old woman placed the very same macabre flower crown he had associated with death on top of his head. Thoughts of the endless pain he would experience once he reached the woods crept up in his mind. What if he never got to see the dawn break? What if the demon decided he wanted his death a few steps into his domain? Wave after wave of anxiety kept coming, and Fyn tried his hardest to stop his tears from falling. Desperate for some form of relief, he sought every solution. Ignoring it, working through it, using it to fuel his strength. But nothing seemed to work. He even repeated the same rhyme that often brought him comfort, but right now, it was nothing but a jumbled collection of letters. He closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles. He took a deep breath, and then another. When he opened his eyes again, an old woman was looking at him with a worried expression. "Don't run away now,"
Fyn. Two jagged antlers that seemed to be as thick as leather rested neatly on the demon's forehead.Fyn had been too busy ogling at the demon's attractive form that he missed this. Of course, he thought, He was a demon. He could choose any form he wanted. Why would he settle on something monstrous when he could look like a god?Fyn's eyes fall on the demon's chest. There were markings, symbols Fyn couldn't quite decipher on it. They were dark, smoking, and even seemed to glow. The demon took a step forward, making Fyn jolt in place. Almost immediately, he felt his heart beat against his chest, his arms raised up in defense purely by instinct. The demon tilts its head at Fyn's action, and Fyn swore he saw something akin to curiosity flicker in them.Again, the demon walked towards him, its muscular legs carrying his demonic body with such a calm aura that if Fyn hadn't known it was the demon in front of h
Fyn. Fyn looked up at the demon's eyes as it pressed the jagged rock he was clutching near its throat.Gritting his teeth once more, he clenched his jaw and his fist along the hard rock. This was an opportunity, wasn't it? Fyn was familiar with hunting, even though he rarely did it. He once hunted for small game, like rabbits, fawns, and sometimes even boars.He knew that a slice to the jugular would mean immediate death.And if he were to grab this opportunity, then that would mean the village of Gashea wouldn't experience any more misfortune under the hands of some malevolent demon.Still, as he looked at the demon's eyes, Fyn felt like something was wrong. A powerful demon such as the one that was in front of him surely wouldn't look like they were ready to embrace death. Surely, even demons could feel fear. The demon's eyes looked welcoming, like it was waiting for Fyn to just kill him. He already felt as if the
Fyn. Fyn didn't know how long he stared at the demon, but it was probably long enough that the demon got tired and left him there, gawking.If he had been red before, he knew that his face probably turned a deep shade of red enough to consider him a tomato. Had the demon actually brought him something to eat? Surely not. Still, if the demon didn't eat fruits, why would he bring a wide variation of them? Did the demon usually feed his captives before killing them? Nothing made sense.Blinking after a long while, Fyn followed the direction of where the demon had gone to. The cave system was dark, but he could hear the demon's wings flapping as he walked. He might still be near. Taking a deep breath, Fyn placed the fruit back inside the rucksack and placed the entire thing near one of the walls. After he secured it, he combed his hand through his hair and slowly walked towards where the demon was.Was there a different demon
Fyn. It was dark out when Kavan returned.Havu had nestled himself comfortably around Fyn's shoulders. They were leaning against the entrance of the cave, waiting for Kavan's return. Kavan landed safely by the cliffside, kneeling as he drew back his wings back inside his skin. The whole scenario felt bizarre, but Kavan did it magnificently. Once his wings were perfectly back inside his skin, he turned around and stopped in place.Kavan's eyes fell on Havu, and it narrowed slightly at the sight. With a growl, Kavan grits his teeth, "Havu, why are you on the mortal's shoulders?"The snake slithered off Fyn's shoulders and went towards Kavan. Crouching down, Kavan extended his arm towards the snake. Fyn watched as the snake round around the demon's arm, nestling just above his head, hanging off his antlers. Kavan stared at the snake's eyes, and Fyn knew they were sharing a silent conversation. With a stiff nod, Kavan's gaze f
Fyn. A vine that carried many grapes lowered just in front of Fyn's head.By how Havu tightened around his waist, Fyn knew the smart choice would be to just accept whatever it was the forest was giving him. Scowling, he took a handful of grapes. His mouth automatically watered at the sight of the luscious fruit. With how it smelled, he knew it would be sweet and tasty. When the grape seemed to melt inside his mouth like butter, he tried his best not to moan out loud."The forest is starting to annoy me," Fyn said loudly to Havu. "Why are they forcing me to stay here?"Havu slithered off his waist and started to climb up the path towards Kavan's cave. And as if teasing him, the serpent turned its head back and darted its forked tongue out of its mouth. The same smooth voice echoes inside of Fyn's head, "It is time to go. From what I had learned, it is always the wise decision to listen to what the forest tells you. It is fu
Kavan. Kavan stared at the white flowers on top of the mortal's head.He knew damn well what the forest was implying, and he would rather face death instead of doing whatever it is they wanted him to do. It was already annoying that the mortal had to stay at his abode, but to have the forest take care of him? Gritting his teeth once more, he grabbed the crown of flowers from the mortal's head and threw it roughly on the ground.Then he grabbed the vine that wrapped itself around the mortal's waist. Shaking his head, he wrapped his hand tightly around the vine, narrowing his eyes, "Stop. I do not need this."'I do not need him.'He felt something sting in his chest. Confused, he blinked and looked down. Surprise flashed in his face once he noticed that his chest stung because the mortal was currently slapping him on the chest. The mortal's face was a deep shade of red, and Kavan tilted his head at that. He h
Fyn. Fyn pinched his arm to make sure that he wasn't seeing things.Standing just a few feet away from him are turnips. Normally, turnips wouldn't make him so dumbfounded. Occasionally, he would plant some turnips at the back of his hut and harvest them during early spring. That's why he was obviously aware of what turnips should look like, smell like, and taste like. He knew for sure that turnips weren't supposed to walk.Turnips most especially shouldn't have faces.And most of all, turnips don't talk.The turnip just a few feet away from him had not only eyes, but a mouth, and four limbs. It was standing on two legs and standing two feet tall. Fyn pinched himself again, blinking as much as he could. He gaped his mouth wide open, staring unbelievingly at the thing right in front of him. Sure, he could accept a telepathic snake, a demon with wings, antlers, and a tail, and a forest that moves all
Kavan.Kavan lifted his head, just in time to see Fyn enter the cave.As expected, he was carrying more baskets full of fruits and vegetables. Fyn took a deep breath and leaned down, dropping all the baskets he was carrying in one swift motion. He then wiped the sweat that dripped from his forehead with the back of his hand, "They just won't listen to me." "Have you told them?" "Countless times!" Fyn muttered, crossing his arms against his chest. "I told them that there's more than enough food here, but they still keep on leaving these on the edge of the forest." Kavan chuckled. He closed the distance between the two of them, curling his arm around Fyn's waist. As usual, Fyn blushed, averting his gaze. Tilting his head, Kavan gripped his chin with his fingers and brushed his lips along with the man that he loved. "How is her daughter?" Fyn's eyes twinkled. "She's almost ten now. It's really strange when I think
Fyn."That was a terribly long slumber." Fyn rubbed his eyes, blinking warily as light invaded his vision. Slowly, he pushed himself up, confused. There was something heavy on his chest and when he tipped his head down, he saw Havu, curled in a ball on top of his chest. The serpent lifted its head, tilting it as if bowing and darted its forked tongue out."Hello, Fyn," the serpent's voice echoed inside his head. "That was a terribly long slumber."Fyn pushed himself up, carefully placing Havu down on his lap."What happened?" Havu met his gaze, tilting its head to the side. As if in a trance, Havu crawled off his chest and walked towards the entrance of Kavan's cave. Running his hand through his hair, Fyn pushed himself up, stretching his arms up in the air to get his blood pumping. A groan escaped his lips when he stretched too far up, a pain erupting on his side.Furrowing his brows, he
Kavan.Fyn fell limply in his arms.There was nothing but silence. Kavan was still staring at the villagers of Gashea. He could feel blood pumping to his head, could feel his heart beating erratically. What just happened? What was happening? He licked his lips, still unsure of what just unfolded right in front of his eyes.Surely not, he thought. Surely not, he prayed.Not Fyn.Please, he prayed again, silently, the thought repeating inside of his head in repeat. Not Fyn.With widened eyes and his mouth agape, he looked down. He watched as Fyn's blood seeped through his blouse. What was once white and clean was now stained with deep red. A red that was still spreading on his blouse like a paint on a canvas. For a second, Kavan thought his blouse had always been red, but that was impossible, wasn't it? Not
Fyn.Fyn clenched his basket full of herbs tight against his chest.He blinked, the sky right in front of him. The cool grass brushed his cheeks while the soil was warm against his back. Slowly, he pushed himself off the ground, a tiny bit groggy. How had he not noticed that he had fallen down? Shakily, he stood up, brushing dirt from his knees and elbows. Like a mantra, he kept repeating the nursery rhyme, One for sorrow.Crouching down, he picked up the herbs that had fallen from his basket when he had fallen down. Strangely, he couldn't remember how he fell. There didn't seem to be rocks blocking his path or could have caused him to trip. Neither were there strong winds that could have made him unsteady. It was truly strange, yet some part of his brain was telling him that everything was completely normal. "That's all of it," He muttered to himself as he chucked the very last herb into his basket. The herb looked funn
Fyn.Fyn wanted to laugh.If things had been different, he would appreciate just how Kavan looked in orange light. The demon looked utterly magnificent under the crimson rays of the blazing fire. The flying embers and charcoal making him seem like an angel that had just been sent down from the heavens. Still, Fyn knew that with the amount of sweat that was now dripping from him and Kavan, their scenario was a whole lot different from the image that he conjured up in his mind.Oh, but how wonderful it would be, Fyn thought to himself, forcing himself not to smile. It would be inappropriate to do so at that very moment. If only things were that simple.If only.But it is not."Can you hear that?" Fyn asked, his ears straining as he leaned once more in Kavan's arms. He should be scared. It should have terrified him, being in such close proximity to the demon that his village had feared for ages. And ye
Kavan.Something was wrong. Wiping the sweat that formed on his forehead, Kavan couldn't quite tell how he knew.There was something off. Instinctively, he felt his wings escape from under his skin, protruding in great lengths and width. As softly as he could as to not wake him, he wraps his wings around Fyn, bringing the mortal close to his chest. As soon as he felt the small breath Fyn did in his sleep, Kavan felt himself relaxing. For a few moments, he stayed still, just enjoying the warmth of the small mortal.Until he feels the same shivering sensation that climbed up his spine. Sighing, Kavan raised his hand between the both of them and softly brushed his knuckles along Fyn's cheeks.Surprisingly, the mortal leaned into his touch, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. Without meaning to, the tips of Kavan's lips tilted upward.He realized he's been doing that whenever the mortal does anything surprising
Kavan.For a moment he sat, waiting, lips pressed together.Kavan couldn't help but wonder if he had heard Fyn correctly.Surely not, because then that would mean that Fyn was a bigger fool than he was. Had he imagined the mortal saying but a few weeks ago that he wanted freedom above everything else? Had he imagined Havu telling him about how Fyn couldn't let a day miss without reminiscing about his old tent back in the village of Gashea? And yet, Fyn's eyes were unwavering, staring straight at him.Brown ones staring at red ones.Fyn was serious. Kavan inhaled sharply. Something in his chest was pounding and he can't help but tighten his arms around Fyn. A breeze gusted along with them, making loose strands of Fyn's hair fly and cover half of his face. Softly, and ever so gently, Kavan retracts his claws back into his skin. Something that he rarely does anymore. He brus
Fyn."How long?!" Fyn screamed, his head tipped back up towards the tall trees."Just how long have you kept me in here?"Fyn roughly wiped the tears streaming down his face with the back of his hand, careful not to let go of the herbs they ordered him to retrieve. Once he got back to the forest, he kept running. The face of Hana was stuck inside his head for who knows how long.His mouth forming the same words over and over again.That it was his fault that a sudden typhoon had struck the village.That it was his fault that a sudden tornado destroyed the houses and the sheds.That it was his fault that some of them had been injured.His mouth kept repeating the words repeatedly inside of his head.'Your fault.'His fault.Choking back a sob, Fyn falls to his knees. His chest felt heavy as he heaved. His forehead touched
Kavan.Kavan could tell from the moment he opened his eyes that his mortal had left him.He's not quite sure how easily he could tell.It was probably how the scent of the surrounding cave turned differently. With Fyn by his side, the cave he considered his home smelled of lavender and ocean breeze. It could also probably be because the warmth beside him before he had fallen asleep had disappeared. It left him with nothing but cold, barren walls that offered no comfort.And maybe it was about how his cave, who he considered was puny, especially with the size of him and the size of his wings, had turned inexplicably large.And inside that inexplicable, cold, barren, and large cave, Kavan felt lonely.Maybe that was one reason he could tell that his mortal had left. There was no other explanation for the clawing inside of him. The mortal must have been a witch, having him, a powerful being, feeling something that's ak