a mere fairytale?
Once upon a time, in a faraway, blithe land,
God created an elixir and called it love. This "love" elixir rule the world so much, putting up pure goodness in the hearts of many mortals making them indestructible. The devil couldn't put up with this happiness that he decided to create a poison called "Love" too. Till then, nobody knows what's what. The devil descended to our land and vowed to destroy happiness. I still remembered how my grandmother told me this story. She said it happened when they visited the cursed cave near the rumored real 'Olympus' Zeus throne, found two bodies laying. One woman and one man.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whatever happens, do not-" she's really trying hard to catch her breath.
"Do what?" you asked as you hold her hand.
"Do not, do not pray! Whatever the **** you did- do not pray!" She said to you pleadingly.
You are a very religious person and obeying this kind of plead? You don't think so.
"The ones listening-" she silently said as she point on your lips to shush you. "You don't want them to hear".
You froze. You keep telling on your mind "Zeus, King of Gods please save us". You kept telling it over and over again. You felt a chill on your shoulder. You felt wind and heard the shushing of trees outside.
She faced you and said "My grandmother once said, the trees whisper the warning of the approaching forces."
As she said that, you both heard a growl. An unearthly one. A growl that could hunt you forever. It echoed through the vastness inside the labyrinth.
Your body became numb. You can't feel every single bone in it. You can't do anything but let the cold wind touch your skin. You're just standing there until you felt a hand grabbed you.
"Clear your mind. Don't let it take control."
You turned to her and stared. You can't even have the courage to utter a single word.
"Listen. I think-" she stared at your eyes. You can feel her fear in those emerald green eyes.
"This is not a part of our realm. I can feel it, like I've been here before." she said that, stood up and touched one of the tables.
"Ilaria Prydwen! Get back here!" you pushed yourself not to shout. You stood up. "It's gone?" you asked her but she kept walking forward.
You saw a painting on the western side of the labyrinth. You touched it and dust came off. You blew onto it and what stumbled before you is a painting of a man and a woman. It is more likely an ancient one. The woman resembles a golden youth of her time and the man, a fierce one.
You began to turn back and you can't see her now. You looked everywhere but she's nowhere to be found.
You followed down a path not knowing where it leads. You just need to look for her but you find yourself staring at the same painting before. "Isn't it the same painting?" You asked yourself.
You decided to touch it and down below it somehow revealed symbols engraved on its vintage design.
"It's ancient". you whispered. You can't even read it. Knowledge on ancient engravings is not one of your fields.
"Yes it is."
You're trembled for the sudden voice but still decided to look back for what it might be.
It is Ilaria. Just Ilaria. Your woman. Your love.
Your gut tells you something is not right. Something was off. It screams danger. Darkness and Deceit.
"Good Heavens, Ilaria where have you been? We are not supposed to part ways." you angrily said to her.
She did not answer back. She didn't even put a single attention on you but she kept on staring at the painting. She touched the engravings on the painting and uttered.
"Animarum vincula nunc et in aeternum". You frowned as she can read ancient writings? You're not aware of that.
"Do you know what that means?" you curiously asked her.
Again, she didn't pay any single attention on you. Emotions inside you are starting to create a storm so you grabbed her hand and decided to confront her.
She throw a glance on you. You froze as both of her eyes landed on yours. You suddenly realized one thing.
It's not the same warm emerald green eyes that's staring back at you. It's not the warm hands that you've touched. It's not your woman.
You're freezing, feeling rooted to your spot. You can't even move a single muscle. She looked at you with a grin plasted onto her beautiful face. She held your hand but you can't feel any warmth in there. Pure cold, darkness and danger.
"Where is my love?" you asked in your mind.
A shrill voice came from a distance. Scream of fear. Her scream.
You felt your leg muscles are tightening as you pull yourself together. You could have run but in some ways you can't leave this beautiful woman in front of you. There's this force that tells you not to leave her. Not to abandon her.
She looked at you with the most beautiful golden eyes you've ever seen at your life. It's so damn mesmerizing. She's more like a spell that captivates you and your soul.
"Don't leave" she said to you.
You couldn't help yourself but agree. She looked like an angel that came down from the heavens to tempt mortals. She looked so pure that you felt like you suddenly wanted her.
"What are you doing? You're supposed to run! Damn it." You started to put a quarrel in your mind.
"But she's so beautiful right? You badly wanna touch her" a voice said. Mesmerizing voice like of a siren. You looked all around but can't find someone else but you and this woman.
"Animarum vincula nunc et in aeternum"
she said and sealed it with a kiss.
"pertinet ad spiritum me mortale".
You gasped. You pushed her away from you. You're catching your breathe. "Fuck!" you muttered as you are gasping for air. You are now starting to collapse. She wickedly smiled and looked at you. "Et infirma mortalium audeat quia ego sum."
Suddenly, she vanishes into thin air and there revealed the body of Ilaria Prydwen. Now you understand, she looked like the one from the painting but in the form of a spirit.
You hit the ground. You're losing your breathe. You see your woman laying before you unconscious.
You start to close your eyes as you start to see lights. Natives approaching you but you can't really see them as your visions are getting blurry. The last thing you hear is
"This man touched Lilith. He's dying." Then everything went black.