Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It was snowing, the day they took you away. You remember how your blood droplets bloomed in the snow as they beat you into submission. The colour spreading across the pure white like poison. You blamed yourself, really, how could you forget the cruelty of man so easily? His cruelty towards beasts, nature, and anything lesser. But most importantly, his cruelty towards his fellow man, fellow woman.

In the beginning, you were terrified; your mama had warned you with tales of burnings, inquisitors, and the so-called gentle tortures. You would both quietly scurry from settlement to settlement, hiding away from the smoke like cathedrals rising into the sky as your sisters screamed and lost their souls to the blackened air suffocating them. The flames would consume their bodies and, along with that, their hopes, their dreams. The fire would take from them everything that made them so beautiful, everything that made them unique. All of this was robbed by a ‘so-called’ benevolant God that promised a garden of forever peace, he would only ask that you would burn for the pleasure of the prospect. Disgusting.

Those years were terrible. Awful, horrific years. In those years, you lost your mother, she said it was inevitable. It made you proud that, even as they took her away, she remained as strong as an ox. You believed she tried to keep a brave front to soothe your terror, but in reality, it was to stop her eyes from widening in utter horror, to stop her body from trembling, to stop her from screaming.

That night had been an indescribable type of torment for your young soul. You watched on from afar while the bastards lit the kindling beneath your mother, and for the life of you, you couldn't look away. You couldn't force your eyes to move as the fire took her too, peeled away her beauty, layer by layer. Luckily, the smoke had choked her before the fire crawled up her chest and ate the rest of her bound body.

You finally forced your weighted being to move when the flames died down, the husk of your mother's corpse slowly disintegrating into the wind. A gentle breeze carried the ashes to what you hoped would be a better, more accepting place. That incident not only robbed you of your mother but also of your innocence, too. It was a weighted, cold reminder that as long as you were other, different, you would never fit. You were not made for stunning dresses, for dainty parasols that protected your porcelain skin from the sun as handsome suitors tried to catch your eye.

As far as man was concerned, you were no different than a rat. A well-educated rat, at that (thanks to your mother), but a rat nonetheless. But if rats were good at one thing, it was hiding.

In time, your patience paid off. You had finally settled down in a small village on the outskirts of Edinburgh. By the time you had laid your roots and gained your footing in the village, the royal court had abolished the trials, and for once, the air seemed clearer. No longer did you have to fear exposing your true nature to the world, to introduce your fellow man to what you had been since birth. A child of magic. A witch.

Your acts of service began small in the village, just to test the waters. After all, it wasn't easy to unlearn the terror that had been so deeply ingrained in your soul; you swore mistrust pumped through your veins, and gods, you wished it had stayed there. You would brew a healing tonic to aid an elderly soul, a powder to enhance soil fertility. The kinds of acts that proved to your fellow neighbours that you weren't a threat, that all you wanted was to shed a little bit of life on this otherwise dreary earth. Through all the horrors, you dared to persist with your love for life, dared to dream of a world where you could truly be accepted for what you were, where you could be loved.

And to your utter joy, the village did love you! They had never experienced such abundance before, and they thanked you vigorously for it. Birth mortality was at its lowest that had ever been recorded, the crops grew plentiful, farm animals thrived, and the settlement was happy. Until it wasn't.

It was never your intention to be an object of the male gaze; hell, your upbringing and life experiences had prepared you to be anything but! Alas, you caught gluttonous eyes following your every move, no matter how mundane the action. Something as simple as collecting water from the well or tending to your herb garden surely couldn't have been considered a sultry activity, and yet, here we are. You felt like you couldn't go about your simple routine or even hold a conversation with a friendly neighbour without making one of the village men hot under the collar.

You had made two good friends since your time in the village, both wonderful girls you had the privilege to call friends. The first was Elizabeth, an upper-class girl who had wandered too far from home. You had found a kindred spirit in her gentle soul and had quickly formed an attachment. Unfortunately, she had found herself captured within the company of one Victor Frankenstein, with whom you had the displeasure of meeting on a night you would never forget...your hatred for the man burned hotter than any pit in hell. Between that and the ever-rising threat of burning at the stake, you had kissed the girl on the cheek and begged her to stay away. Stay away until death doesn't follow us, stay away until we are both safe, you had begged. You had been inconsolable when you had found out death had completed his game with her.

The other was Mary. Mary had been unremarkable when you had first met her; she had a friendliness about her with the disposition of a doormouse; she was no threat. She sought you out regularly when you would tend the fields together, and in time, you had become fast friends. When the truth came out about your nature, she seemed ecstatic! Unaturally so, it really should have been your first warning. You can recall the night when she approached you a few moons after the reveal.

“You aren't at all what I would imagine, a witch that is. Aren't you supposed to be hideous? A hag?” the plain girl had asked, her eyes taking in the herbs and spices you kept neatly on your desk as she stood beside you. You had huffed a laugh, continuing your work, “ Mind yourself, Mary. Besides, I’m sure the men in this damned village would call me hag; I cannot stand their prattling.”

“I would disagree,” she hummed, “they are enchanted by you, the simplest action, and you have them begging with their eyes for your attention. I would give anything-”

“Mary,” you had turned around to face the woman. She was visibly distraught; you could almost hear the self-deprecating thoughts that flew around her head like angry wasps. You gently held her hand. “In you is a soul of beauty. To the right man, your appearance should be a third thought. Your heart and your mind should be first and second love.” You tried to soothe your friend, but she snatched her hand away as if burned, shaking her head in disbelief.

“It's easy for you to say, you have all these qualities and more! I am plain and in need of a husband! My best years shall be behind me soon! Father grows restless! The men won't look at me! I need-”

“Mary,” You warned, your voice cautious. “Help!" She urged, "Please! Please? You have helped so many, my dear friend. Please, won't you do this for your long-suffering companion? I beg of you!” She cried, her feeble body folding in on itself; she crumpled at your feet, and the sight made you sick. It angered you that this sweet soul should take into consideration what others thought of her before considering her self-worth, nurturing it.

In her, you saw yourself, a creature beaten so badly by unrequited love. A creature brought up to understand it had no worth until somebody else, a man, told it that it had any kind of meaning in this world. A soul so tarnished by expectations and the ideologies of a society that would inevitably kill us all.

I should have said no...I should have said no...I should have said no...I should have said no!

She left that night with a tonic, not even a strong one. It would simply help her complexion brighten and glow; you hoped against hope that that would be enough. But the human mind is a funny thing, isn't it? The power of suggestion is, of course, very compelling.

The girl changed. It was in small ways at first; she managed her hair, styled her state of dress to be far more alluring for the pleasure of the opposite sex, or anyone who would pay her mind. She spoke with grandeur and confidence that had failed her before, added a seductive twist of her lips, and in no time, she had suitors at her beck and call.

The feeling of nausea persisted; you could feel the wind change its course, something in the air warning you, begging you. Run away while you still can. You should have listened.

It wasn't enough for her; it would never be enough. Still, the villagers looked to you. You and your natural radiance, you and the way you embodied magic, you and the way you dance through nature, and laughed in the sun. She hated you, loathed that no matter what she did, no matter how much blood red lipstick she applied or swayed her hips or submitted herself. She didn't have EVERYONE. And soon it became apparent what she had to do: eradicate the competition.

Which brings you to your current predicament. Comfort had been a concept you’d long since given up on, since you had been thrust into your prison of jagged stone and water. It couldn’t even be called a room; it was humongous, it was a natural cavern discovered in the early years of settlement when the founders had happened upon the cave that led into it.

The walls offered no respite from pain if you should be chained to them; the stalactites attached to the ceiling of the cavern hung with a great threat that at any moment, they would break off and surely impale the unfortunate individual below. There was one other peculiar feature the cavern had that truly enhanced its ability to mentally torture. A stream ran through the centre of the cavern, leading to a huge maw of an exit that very few knew about.

You blamed the blood loss, but you found it amusing that so many knew about the tiny entrance leading INTO the cave, but hardly anyone knew about the exit out of the cave.

And the heartbreaking thing about it all? This prison was specifically used for creatures of magic like yourself. It was common knowledge that Iron could nullify all magic in an individual. It was unnatural, purely evil. As soon as the shackles had been placed on your wrists, your hope of escape had died. Even though your escape was so damned close, so damned big and right in front of you. The shackles that burned and scalded your wrists reminded you, your hope is dead.

Your hope of escape had started to suffocate the moment you heard the pounding at your door, had begged for breath the moment you opened it to so many angry faces, so many hateful eyes. Your hope turned to hopelessness when wood collided with your head in blistering agony, screams and shouts of betrayal echoed from those around you. You wrestled with your hope while they dragged you out the door. They demanded to know how you had placed curses on them all, how you had hidden small wooden symbols of the devil in their homes, under their pillows, in their cupboards, their animal stables, how how how?!

Your hope trembled weakly as you saw the very world you had thought you were safe in, the very world that had finally, finally welcomed you with open arms, turned its back on you, spat in your face, and reminded you that you were other...you would never belong, and you would burn. Your hope fell silent when they lifted you and carried you to your prison; your hope was buried when you looked into the eyes of Mary; her black eyes shone back with gleeful death. In her hand, she waved a little wooden figure of the devil, and he smiled too.

Chapter Text

An exhausted, pained whimper escaped your chapped lips when you tried to shuffle your body again. No matter how much you twisted, how much you contorted against those damn chains. It would do no good. The thrumming of your blood furiously pulsing through your body to multiple wounds made you sick to your empty stomach. You wanted to tell it, plead with it, ‘Stop! It’ll do no good! There’s too much broken...too much’

You had thought the gentle tortures you dear mother had warned you about would eventually numb you to all sensation. However, there was nothing gentle about this hell. They already knew of your true ‘monstrous’ nature, and so no confession was needed; it came down to a simple fact that they were the butchers and you, the meat that needed to be tenderised before it was fed to the hungry flames. They would break you, crush your body and soul until you became easier for the fire to digest.

In a sick, twisted way, you found yourself proud of what you had endured. Surely by now, a lesser man would have died. Your fingernails had been ripped from their beds, your back flayed open with a cat and nine tails, your body doused in ice-cold water because god forbid should you try to find solace from your torment in sleep.

But it got worse, if at all possible. Not physically, no, the psychological torment took centre stage in the worst possible way. It seemed that after your capture, the settlement erupted in a frenzy. The royal court had no time for an insignificant settlments strife, and so they were allowed to continue. Neighbour turned against neighbour, friend against friend, father against daughter. Through paranoid ignorance, a hell mouth had opened in the village, and its inhabitants were all damned. That's when the girls followed you into your torment.

You had screamed and begged until you tasted iron in your mouth, until no more sound would come out. Hot tears stung your unmoving eyes; you refused to let these poor souls suffer alone, without dignity. How could they do this? They were children! Someone's daughter, someone's sister, did none of that matter anymore?! Had the cruelty of one single woman caused these fools to lose their senses so completely? Clearly it had and that, that had lit a rageful fire in the deepest pits of your soul. Something truly monstrous, unhinged.

It was a hatred for humanity unlike anything you'd ever experienced, even with all the injustice you and your kin had faced. The images of the poor souls haunted you, engorged your anger, and had it not been for the iron shackles around your wrists, you would have let your magic, the very thing you swore to use to help those in need, you would have let it massacre them all. For those lost souls, you would gladly become judge, jury, and executioner to the so-called wicked.

As you sat in your cell of stone, the vile anger simmered just below the surface, warming your entire being. Everything seemed to fuel it: the droplets of water from above that fell into the river, the never-ending burning from the shackles, the concept of the bastards above living on as if the world hadn’t ended for so many innocents; you hated them all.

Such was your luck that one of those repulsive creatures should grace your presence, a man called Robert Campbell. A rotund short man that you distinctly recall having a thing or two to say about no longer being able to burn innocence at the stake. You could only imagine his glee when he heard about the latest witch hunt. Your suspicion was confirmed when he approached you with a hop in his step and an air of giddiness about him; your teeth already ached from pressing them hard together. You would not speak to this fool.

“Well, lass” He began, a huge grin on his red face “, Of course it would be you. We welcome you into the village, trust you with our sick and dying. And THIS is how you repay us...by enslaving our men to your wickedness and demeaning our women, shameful,” he tutted, feigning his shame in you, you couldn't help yourself, you laughed. His face plummeted into a stony grimace. He leaned closer, “Something to say, witch?” he sneered.

“Oh, nothing really. It's just, it's so funny. You think you're all so strong-willed that I would need to use magic to enslave you. I’d only needed to bat an eyelash, and I’d have your eyes staring at me like I was the finest slop, only for the finest pigs of course-”

Your neck screamed as your head cracked to the left, your right eye tearing up and pulsing painfully from the blunt force of his fist colliding with it. You bit your tongue and held back a cry of agony; you would not give him this pleasure of your pain, you refused. With trembling hands, you held your already bruising eye; you paid no mind that the man was now behind you and fiddling with the chains attached to your shackles. After a few minutes of jangling and muttering curses under his breath, your wrists suddenly dropped lower with slack. Your upper body burned with misuse; it crumpled further against the wall, and the man took a pace back, glaring at you in disgust.

“It's a reprieve we offer the bitches the night before they meet their maker. One final walk about before you burn...not as if you deserve it, witch,” He spat at your bare, dirty feet and left without another word.

It took you a few moments in the stony silence, but finally you sat up, fighting the protests of your weak body. So that was it then. Tomorrow you would stare death in the face and leave this nightmare of life. Even though the journey to that final resting place would be raw, incomparable agony, you wondered if it would be so bad. You had suffered so so much, and by the gods, you were tired. You had tried. Tried to see the light and the beauty, tried to follow your mother's words to the letter and be a force for good, but trying could only survive so much.

It was there, as you lay on the unforgiving floor, that tears fell down your cheeks. You were too exhausted and couldn't comprehend if they were tears of great sadness...or great relief. You didn't even make the most of the extra slack in your chains. For the first time, you fell into a deep, dark sleep.

Time had no concept in this place, and so it was difficult to know how much of it had passed before you heard the heavy footfalls echo in the cavern, the sound bouncing off the walls and giving you no choice but to pay attention. That sound immediately stopped when you bolted up from your position, and a whine escaped your throat at your sharp light-headedness. After the feeling cleared, your wide eyes scanned the cavern, rapidly adjusting but failing to find the intruder.

“If this is another unwanted visit, either come out or leave. I tire of your games,” you threw into the air with annoyance, Couldn’t these imbeciles leave you alone for your final night on earth? Must they be so cruel? After a few moments of silence and your rising frustration, you called again.

“ I am NOT in the business of keeping company right now, leave or state your business sir!” You could only assume it was a sir from the heavy footfalls.

“I do not wish to frighten you. I sh-should not have come here.”

The voice boomed and yet spoke softly, a bizarre contrast that gave you pause. You had not heard this voice before. Interesting. Your eyes squinted again in the darkness, and there! On the opposite side of the river, behind a large stalagmite formation, you could see a...goliath of a shadow hunched behind it. You could have almost laughed if not for the fear that dwelt in your stomach. A stranger had somehow entered the cavern, and without your magic, you were completely vulnerable, a feeling that didn't sit well with you.

“How did you find this place?” You had to know, an outsider couldn't know the location of the exit to the cave, could they?

“I was looking for shelter from...from the rain. I have travelled far,” The voice spoke again. It seemed to have a strange lack of confidence with speech, how bizarre. “Rain...” you muttered, “ I haven’t seen the outside in a while. I’d almost forgotten what rain felt like.”

“Why are you in h-here?” The voice broke your musings before they could drift too far. Definitely an outsider then, if he was not, he was sure to know your business and about your impending doom. You tilted your head in thought, and an idea struck.

“Come out, and I will tell you.” Your mind itched to know who this person was; it had been so long since you had spoken at this length with someone, and you longed to know who the speaker was. There was some deep part of your mind that still had a pathetic glimmer of hope, a hope of connection before your demise. Why? Why now? Had some entity decided to torment you further with this mysterious visitor?

“I don't think I should, you...may not like what you see.” The voice sounded sad, and against your will, your treacherous brain decided it didn't like that. What on earth was happening?! Before you could stop yourself, a defeated laugh left you. “Believe me sir, the state I am in, the horrors I have seen, and the fate that lies ahead of me offer me no need to be afraid anymore. You cannot scare me. I promise,” Why? Why did you feel the need to placate this intruder? Why did feeling suddenly matter to you? You mentally scolded yourself; it was too late! Too late for meaningful connections.

Once again, your thoughts were interrupted by a melancholy sigh, and then the shape shifted from its hiding place. Before he even entered the light, you could see how truly massive he was. As well as his height, he was incredibly broad-shouldered. The scraps of fur and his long coat added to the mass there. You could feel your body moving on its own, stumbling and locking up with misuse, until you stood on weak legs, your right hand holding on to the wall for some semblance of support.

The figure moved into the light, and even without removing his hood, the revealed details gave you pause. The long, rich brown untamed locks that slithered out from beneath the hood, with a lock of white nestled within. The bright yellow pupils that glowed beneath the hood stunted your breath in your chest, captivating you. His hands were wrapped in dirty bandages, and you could see deep, wretched scars along the flesh of his chest that poked out from beneath his tattered layers. You could feel your heart squeeze, not in fear. But in sympathy. What had befallen this individual to merit such an appearance? What was his story? His stature screamed an imposing, loud presence, and yet his hunched shoulders begged to silence it.

You finally found your footing and moved towards the figure. In what you hoped would be encouragement, you finally took advantage of the slack in your chains. You had to admit it felt nice to walk freely, even if it was just a little. You felt like a caged bird that had been placed in a slightly bigger cage. How fitting, how depressing.

“Please, stranger, remove your hood,” You requested quietly. Already, you knew that would be a monumental task as the being seemed to shrink further in on himself. His body begins to crumple into the shadows again. “I fear I have already shown too much, I-”

“Please!” The plea was far too loud in the large room and made you both flinch with its desperation. You quietly scolded yourself, cleared your throat, and began again.

“Please, I have precious time left, and I would like to know who my visitor is. Grant a dying woman this one wish." The man gasped, "You are to die? Why?" You could see the hood move with his head tilt. It was almost adorable. You likened it to a dog, not quite understanding that it couldn't live on treats forever. Enboldened, you took another step closer, just out of reach of the dim light source that the wall touches offered you both. "Take off your hood, and I will tell you," You reminded him again.

With huge shaking hands, the visitor conceded. "Very well," His voice boomed again in the too-small space between you. His hands firmly held the lip of the hood. "But remember this...I did warn you," he almost sounded apologetic. He removed his hood, and you gasped at the sight that revealed itself to you.

He was...beautiful...and....familiar?

A cold realisation hit you...colder than any water you had been doused in days before, it almost knocked you off your feet with its force. You KNEW who this was...

Chapter Text

It is often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but over time, you firmly believe it has lost its meaning. What was once such a profound thought, a celebration of individuality and a willingness to seek beauty underneath the surface, had become superficial. You had mostly heard it from the mouths of ‘gentlement’ who had commented on the opposite sex about their minor flaws. Qualities that were a slight inconvenience, but didn't spoil their appetite too much. A waist that wasn't as trim as it should have been, a small beauty mark adorning otherwise flawless skin, that sort of thing.

Your mother ensured you took the philosophy as it was meant; she had taught you well, and in doing so, you could quite confidently find wonder in the most grotesque, the most misunderstood of things. You would gaze for hours as a common house spider weaved her web, and with patience, you would be rewarded by her with her quiet art. You could find beauty in an old beggar playing his flute not just for coin, but to fill the streets with a colourful tune. Never mind the gout or the feebleness of his bones. Forget about the stench from his unwashed clothes, just enjoy what little his soul had left to offer. He may not survive another night.

Healing also had a loveliness you couldn't deny. What an honour it was to have the ability to preserve a life, a pleasure to sew flesh back together, to help your fellow man to survive another day. Whilst others sqirmed and felt nauseated at the inner workings of a body, you looked on in quiet awe at the serenity of life. The pumping blood, organs expanding with oxygen, muscles contracting in liveliness. You never felt more alive than when you had to toil to find hidden beauty, and for your work, you were often greatly rewarded with the most exquisite discoveries.

So when you came face to face with deep brown eyes, surrounded by a mosaic of mismatched skin. With lips shaped in a perfect cupid's bow, but painted with the colour of death. A nose and chin flawlessly sculpted, yet covered in rivets of scarred tissue, you had no problem marveling at the beauty; it was as plain as a brilliant summer's day.

But the bone structure of his face had given you pause. Had it not been for the patchwork of skin or the brown orbs that stared back at you, you would have known this individual anywhere. Someone who had meant the world to you in such a brief period of time, robbed from you. And yet, here he was. You felt a deep sorrow build within you. Of course, this creature would have HIS face.

It seemed you had taken far too long in your musings; the poor creature took your dreadful silence, your wide-eyed stare as another failed attempt to have a meaningful connection. He began to move away from you with a resigned sigh. You rapidly blinked and shot out your hand to stop his retreating form. “No, wait! I-oh”

How could you forget your hands? You zeroed in on the disgusting state of them, the surely infected nail beds, torn wrists bleeding freely, with the frantic movement under the shackles. The poor thing looked puzzled. You tried to put his mind at ease as your hand retreated. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare for so long. Please know it wasn't a stare of hatred or disgust. And then...then my hands! I didn't want to-you shouldn’t have to have these horrid things upon your face.” You had finished in a rush, desperate to be understood. “I am sorry.”

Without a word, the creature looked to your hand hidden at your side. You didn’t even react when he bent down, lifted the appendage with such tenderness, such childish wonder. He lifted it closer to his face to examine. Once again, his head tilted from side to side, almost like he wanted to ensure he had taken in every single detail of your hand, to soak in every bit of information he could about the thing. You blinked away the gathering wetness in your eyes, gods, it had been so long, so long since someone had touched you with this level of gentleness, with this much care for your comfort. You had almost forgotten the concept of gentle things.

“You are hurt? Why?” He asked you, and you could hear the deep worry, the need to know; the innocence of it all crushed your heart further. It really was like speaking to a child, a child who had just grasped the concept of knowing. In the back of your mind, you wondered how long this creature had truly lived for, if the timeline you had to go on was correct. He had been here for mere years; of course, his thirst for knowledge would rival that of a child. And yet, he was a man. In his eyes, you could see, he understood the concept of deep-rooted, undeserved pain.

“To the people, I am a monster. To them, I must be punished for my existence. My only crime was wanting to live a life in peace.” You sighed wistfully.

“But you aren’t a monster? You do not look like me?” His nose scrunched in confusion. His eyes furiously flicked over your face, the soft yellow catching in the dim light of the chamber, and your breath caught again. "How could they perceive you as a monster when you are so..." He looked away shyly, " Beautiful". Gods, you swore then and there that if you were to come back as a vengeful spirit, you would protect this being with your everything. This lifetime truly didn't deserve such an innocent individual, completely unaware of the gravity of his words. This whole time, he still held your hand as if it were a delicate petal, and damn the glutinous beast you had become, you hoped deeply he didn't drop it.

You laughed quietly, "Thank you, kind sir, but" sighing, you thought how to explain in simpler terms ", You see, I was born with magic...You have heard of magic, yes?" He nodded furiously, "I have read about it in...in books! Some of them spoke of its beauty, some about its evil." he shook his head ", I didn't... like those ones."

"Well, those books that spoke of its evil? Those books were written by men who do not understand us. We do not fit their image of normal. They don't understand that most of us want to heal the sick and help people." You could feel the deep rage, the sorrow consuming you again. The tiredness of it all fell upon you like a heavy woollen cloak, suffocating you, your hope. "All we want is to live in peace."

The creature listened intently, the empathy practically flooding off of his being. You could only imagine how awful his life had been up to this point; he would not have appeared to you in such a sorry state if it had been any different. You cursed the world that had brought both of you such wretchedness. Was the desire to live really that impossible for folk like you?

"I am sorry" He rumbled and dropped your hand lightly. It took all of your might to suppress an undignified whine, 'please,' you mentally begged, 'not yet'

Whilst he seemed like he wanted to say more, his thoughts must have still been a labyrinth to him. Too many ideas and emotions could cloud the minds of even the most educated men, let alone a reanimated brain that was furiously trying to play a game of catch-up. And yet, his silence spoke louder than words ever could. You both stood in that companionable silence for a moment, listening to the droplets of water, the running river. It was almost...tranquil.

Before you could stop the words tumbling out of your mouth, you spoke again. You mentally scalded yourself. 'Why? Why keep talking? None of this matters! You'll be dead by the afternoon, stupid girl.' "You know...I know you" drats! What was WRONG with you? Had you truly gone that mad?! It was too late; his head perked up again, eyes searching. "How do you know me?" He sounded desperate, as if you and you alone could give him the answer to everything he had been searching for. Perhaps you truly deserved to be in your stony prison. The words felt like poison on your tongue as you lied through your teeth, "I was aware of your creation", a partial lie, a partial truth. "I know you are the creation of Victor Frankenstein." The name felt wrong in your mouth; you had hoped to never utter it again. Now there was a disgusting creature. You had felt immense joy when the knowledge of his death had reached you through rumours across Edinburgh.

"He was my father. It...it took us a long time to arrive at that destination. But in the end, he was my father," The creature said. You could hear the longing and... reverence in his voice. How odd. The Victor Frankenstein that you knew, pompous arse that he was, did not care for such softness. And yet here this creature was telling you different. You couldn't comprehend it; you HAD to know what had brought about this dramatic change.

"Please, tell me your story."

"But I have already told my story?" The visitor seemed visibly confused. "I told it to the captain of the ship where I found my father". You could almost laugh, this blessed creature and his naivety. "Ah, well, you see, when you have lived such an interesting life or experienced such a perilous journey, people will often ask you to retell your story. It means they find you interesting."

"Oh," he paused, "So...I will have to tell it again if...if someone finds me...interesting?"

"I'm afraid so." You sighed in feign sympathy and offered him what you hoped was an encouraging smile. You were surprised that you remembered how to perform the simple act. "Please, sir, and if we have time...I shall tell you what I know."

"Do you promise?"

"I swear with everything I am...now, your story?"

And that was how you found yourselves for a few precious hours. In that blessed time, as his broken words carried through the air, you were at peace. Your body continued to ache and scream, but it wasn't nearly as loud as it had been when you were alone. You could almost pretend that you were away from this dreadful place, away from the threat of death. Away from all of the hate. When it was all too late, you had found a kindred spirit to share your time. How unfair. He spoke with such conviction, and you feared you had been enchanted, as he recounted his tale of how he came to be, you hung onto his every word as if it were succulent flesh and you, the wolf, who gladly feasted.

So when you could see the light of dawn begin to creep through the hidden maw to your prison, you felt as if you'd been doused in the freezing waters of reality. They would come for you; you were going to die. Oh gods, you were going to die. But you could do one more service, you could save this soul from them; they would not have him!

As he began to recount his time in an icy land, you could hear the heavy footfalls from the stairs leading to your prison. You had no time to think. You must act now! You held up your hand to silence him. "My visitor, I thank you for spending your hours with me, I am so sorry...My time has run out. You must go before they find you here!".

His eyes widened as he too heard the sound above, "I can help you! My wounds heal, I can save you!"

"You will be hunted!" You howled, "and I refuse to have another hunted for my wretched soul, please, I beg one thing of you." You grasped his ice-cold hands, held them as tenderly as possible, your eyes connected "Live...Live for both of us, do what I could not! Do not squander this freedom you deserve; find your peace. Now go...go!"

You wouldn't soon forget how he had looked back at you when he left the cavern. His brown eyes begged you with such despair, with such a need to keep you; it was beautiful. It was scorched into your memory how, in your time together, he looked at you as if you were a gift, for simply allowing him to exist in your space. The creature looked at you how HE had looked at you long ago. The rivers of tears burned your face before you even realised you were crying. Through all the rage, all of the sadness, you had remembered what it was like to truly exist with another and enjoy their company, to be accepted.

That small taste of sweetness turned to ash on your tongue the moment the footsteps stopped before you. Your sore eyes filled with untamed rage as they swept across Campbell. The hatred that the presence of the creature had quelled returned tenfold; you could feel the angry red fires licking at your broken soul, and it turned your very bones black with malice. If your magic had still been your own, you would show them evil, for evil is all they had shown you. Even without your magic, you could feel the atmosphere bend and shift around you with dark intent. If your captor had taken notice, it didn't show. He stood, round pot belly shoved forward proudly, sickly yellow teeth gleaming with a stomach-turning grin. "It's time to burn witch"

You felt what little hope that had been rekindled leave your empty ribcage. You were to face death alone.

Chapter Text

Fear is a beast, this much you knew. You became acquainted with his horrifying presence far sooner than any child should. Sometimes he would lurk on the outskirts of your mind like a wolf in the woods, stalking, playing. Most of the time, he scratched at the door with razor-sharp claws, baying for blood. In this very moment, he had torn through the wood, sniffed you out and gutted you without mercy. Each step closer to the pyre felt like his monstrous talons had found a fresh organ to tear through. Right now, it was your lungs; you couldn’t breathe.

The humiliating thing of it all? You couldn’t even walk to your own death with dignity; they had to drag your bleeding, frail body down the muddy, well-trodden path. The iron shackles remained on your wrists, playing their haunted tune as they sapped what magic, what little soul you had left, leaving you a husk, crumbling in the wind. Your wounds stung with fresh pain when the crisp morning air whipped around you and your captors, one final sweet flogging before your death.

You couldn’t really fathom what happened between the dragging and the tying of your body to the large wooden stake, flashes of rope biting into your flesh, the heat radiating off the torches that would scorch you, the feel of the twigs and kindling under your sore feet, the screams of your neighbours demanding satisfaction, and yet there was one more thing. Underneath the soul-crushing terror and the hate that threatened to consume you from all sides, there was a small sliver of something…clarity.

It came when you lifted your head to look beyond the village. You could see the green hills for miles, gently dusted in snow. You swore if you squinted just right, you could see the hills glittering. What you would give to dance in the frozen powder one last time. Your eyes misted over when the gentle rays of early sunlight peeked over the hills, the light rising to witness your end. You couldn’t think of a better onlooker to welcome you back to nature, to bring you to a place you truly belonged.

Death had chased you your entire life, reclaimed your kin. Haunted you like a ghost. You had always known with every move you made, the reaper waited patiently on the horizon astride his white steed. Creatures of magic were notoriously hard to kill, and so the concept of dying had been foreign long before your birth. However, the element of fire was infamous to all for decimating any living being it came into contact with. Once man had realised this also applied to magic folk, death quickly became a fast friend of any poor soul who should face man’s wrath.

A bell rang, snapping you out of your quiet acceptance and back to Campbell, who had taken up station beside you upon his arrival. “Kind people of our settlement!” You scoffed, he glared, “We are gathered here, as we have so many times before, to witness the cleansing of evil! We welcomed this creature into our village with open arms, and how should she repay us? Heresy”, he finished with a disgusted hiss. The crowd roared.

“We cherished her!”

Cheers

“Fed her!”

They grew louder,

“Let her tend to our sick!”

Louder,

“Invited her into our homes!”

Louder!

“And what do we receive in return?! Our men are enslaved! Our women are forgotten!” The sound was deafening! But it wasn’t just the crowd, with what little life was left in it, your blood roared! How dare he! How dare they! Was the act of merely existing so wrong? You realised with a sick certainty that this ending was inevitable for you; all you had to do was draw breath, and it may as well have been treason! From your rickety lungs, your aching core, you couldn’t contain it, a deranged laugh erupted that gave Campbell, gave the fifty or so people there to watch you burn, pause.

He sneered again, “Something to say, witch? A final confession before you are reunited with your hellish lover Satan, down in the pits below?”

“You can’t believe this?!” You had no idea who you were crying to, Campbell, the villagers, the world, anyone who would listen! “I have done nothing but serve this village with everything I have! Loved you as if you were my own, nursed you back to health! Why now, then, would I harm any of you? The only liar here is one of your own! Mary Perth!” Your eyes shot to her at the bottom of the pyre. You knew she was there. It was hard not to see her vibrating with glee and a twisted smile as they dragged you to the pyre; of course, she’d want an unhindered view to watch you burn. You had to give her credit; she masked her intentions well, her face pulled into a somewhat convincing, shocked expression. Had the situation not been dire, you would have laughed at her comparison to a fresh carp on a fishmonger's slab, ugly.

Before she could say her peace, the rotund man interjected, “Silence, witch! I’ll not have you vilify a child of god just to sustain your wickedness! Your evil nature shall be a plague on this village no more! Men! Set the witch alight!”

“Evil?” The tone of your voice stopped the advancing villagers in their tracks, as if you were a terrifying dragon breathing fire and they, your victims. Underneath the current of raging emotions, you could feel it: sadness. You had loved these people, would trade the world for them, but now…it was all too late… “You…you would have the audacity to call me evil? When you have killed so many of my kin? Murdered women! Slaughtered children! They had committed no sin except the sin of living! I shouldn’t have and yet…I forgave you, forgave you your ignorance about us. I loved you all, treated you as my own family and yet you have the Gall to call me devil. Very well,” the torch-wielding villagers took a tentative step forwards “I can no longer afford to give you love, no longer shall I devote my toiled kindness to the likes of you! If a monster is what you crave, a monster is what you shall choke on!” You screamed to the blackening clouds above your proclamation.

Your magic may have failed you, but words, the very energy of a spoken word, can be just as powerful. The torches flew through the air and burst into terrible flames at the bottom of the wood and the kindling, its Teeth would meet your flesh soon. “May your village know the terror you have gifted to me! I gift to you threefold! May your dreams transform into unending nightmares! May your yield fail, your sows become barren! By all that is in me, may you rot in the very hell you have forced upon me! SO MOTE. IT. BE!” Your mouth filled with the taste of iron as the words tore the tender flesh of your vocal cords; it's not as if you would need them in death.

Your weak head dropped to take in the horror before you, your bravado sapped from your body immediately when the crackling flames began to creep up the wood below you, uncontrollable whimpers leaving your trembling chest. The scorching heat made your brow sweat, the rising smoke watering your hot eyes.

Before fear had time to burrow further between your ribs, an earth-shattering roar tore through the screams of the crying mob, and even the fire seemed to temper down to a hissed crackle in respect. Your heavy head lifted to watch the crowd part, and in the centre of it all, he stood. That very same hulking figure that graced your cell mere hours ago had come to gift you with his presence once again. What little air you had stored in your lungs left and gazed upon this mountain of a creature. He was large before, but in this moment, his stature seemed impossible.

Without a word, the being advanced with absolutely no opposition from the crowd, for they had been quite literally scared stiff. Your visitor towered above the rest like a god, a higher being that could not be comprehended; his audience quaked and dared not to interrupt his journey. Only when he had reached the bottom of the pyre had the idiot Campbell returned to his body, his senses back, and he bellowed from the side of the new arrival, his fist shaking in fury. “What is the meaning of this stranger?! Can you not see you are interrupting a monumental moment! Be gone!”

The growl from underneath the cloak made a cold yet not completely unwelcome shudder run down your spine, the flames at your feet temporarily forgotten. “Monumental, you say? The death of an innocent? You men truly are all the same,” the creature sneered in disgust “Give the woman to me, and we shall be on our way. This shall be my only warning."

“An innocent?!” Campbell laughed incredulously, “Don't be a fool! You shall have to tear this monstrous bitch from my cold, dead body-”

“Don't you dare call her that!” The creature bellowed inhumanly and, with one fell swoop of his fist, he caved Campbell's jaw in on itself with an ungodly crunch, sending the fat man flying into a nearby hay bail, his body falling still as soon as it collided with the ground. The mob erupted into chaos.

You could only make out small bits through the smoke; it had risen above your head now, choking you on its polluting fumes. Pained whimpers tore from your throat when the first tips of the fire licked your feet, its lips smacked wetly as it finally made contact with your flesh. Through the haze and the pain, you could make out the desperate cries of the villagers as they tried in vain to flee, the angry howls of those foolish enough to contend with the creature. You could hear the familiar crunch of bone, the sickening quelch of visera being ripped from its owner's carcass and thrown to the floor.

Your mind screamed. The carnage was so overwhelming that you couldn't comprehend the madness unfolding before you. However, all that noise seemed to silence when his face burst through the smoke, the gold in his iris shining through to you like a lighthouse, beckoning you home.

Your visitor wasted no time; your brain barely had the chance to realise that he was now standing in the flames with you, risking himself to come to your aid. This creature was burning with you, and it was beautiful, but you would not let him sacrifice himself for something already dead. You could feel your mouth working, a desperation to tell him as such, but all that left your chapped lips was a simple sentence, “you...came back for me...”

“Of course," he replied just as simply. How gorgeous was it that as this very soul burned with you, he could still offer you such a gentle, quiet smile. The tears ran then from your burned eyes. You allowed yourself to cry...for everything and nothing at the same time. You felt when he pulled you free from the rope, as if it were paper, as if you were precious.

He held you to his wall of a chest with more care than you had ever experienced in your damned existence. The various furs of his coat tickled your skin, invited you into its comfort. He brought you back from hell, he brought you back to life, but something remained a torture.

"Please..." You tried. He turned his questioning brown eyes to scan your face, patiently waiting for you to speak your need. You tried again, whilst you had the chance, whilst the chaos continued around your little world and nobody paid you any mind "My...my wrists. The chains" You moved your limp arms up to his face with what little strength you had left, they felt like lead. He peered at the iron shackles, grabbed one of the cuffs and turned his gaze back to you "I am sorry, s-sorry if this causes you more pain", he crushed the iron into bits within his palm. You released a blood-curdling scream as a powerful energy pulsed through your body, unlike anything you had ever known...Your magic sang. The world fell into darkness...

Chapter Text

Consciousness didn't return like a shock from an ice-cold bucket of water dousing you. It came to you quietly in a very distinct ‘you're not dead’ fashion. Blessedly, your brain gradually received sensory messages from your leaden body and your unfamiliar surroundings.

The stinging from your wounded back and infected nail beds, the burns on your wrists and your feet, a full body ache seized your entire skeleton in an unforgiving grasp. You felt a gentle breeze on your face; it whispered across the skin and down your neck, until it met a barrier. This was the next thing your tired brain registered: you were so warm. Whilst it was nowhere near as agonising as the flames from the pyre, it bordered on comfort and discomfort, making a soft sheen of sweat sit on your brow. And then there was the soft weight on top of you. It was so damn heavy!

Your sleepy mind decided you just had to open your eyes and investigate. Testing your strength, you began to shift under your cosy prison, but immediately fell still when you heard a rustling to your left side. You felt it as the presence frantically, albeit clumsily, drew to your side. Two massive paw like hands gently rested on your shoulders to steady you. Unlike the rough, unkind hands that had manhandled you so cruelly during your tortures, these hands held you as if you were more precious than gold, more breakable than glass; you knew these hands. It was only confirmed when the deep, rumbling voice spoke tenderly to you.

“p-please...do not move too much, you are still very weak.” Golden brown eyes met yours when they focused. Of course, he had saved you, your visitor. Of course, he hadn't run away when you begged it of him; the determined gleam in his eyes should have told you as much. You looked from his concerned furrowed brow to the great weight on your chest, a ghost of a smile graced your lips, his humongous coat of furs and leather lay on top of you like a lazy bear, ‘well,’ you thought, ‘that explains the weight’.

“Thank you for saving me. I had given up hope that I would live to see another day.” A sudden realisation came to you then, “My god, you walked through fire for me! You must be in dire pain!” You quickly shifted into a sitting position, but your companion gently hushed you, “I am alright. My maker made it so I heal quickly...I” he paused, a sombre look taking over his scarred features, “I cannot die” he mournfully sighed, as if the concept robbed him of all joys in his life, maybe it did.

Your breath caught. Of course, he couldn't. His very being was a complete anomaly, an abomination to nature. Of course, this poor creature couldn't die; in the nonsensical of it all, it made perfect sense. The very fact seemed to crush his tender soul, and you refused to cause him any more suffering; you decided that you would not assist his melancholy. He has saved you, and you repay him in kind.

“Be that as it may, fast healing or not, you deserve to be looked after and tended to as well. You went through the hells to save a woman you barely know.” There was that look again, the look of absolute wonder in those soulful, innocent eyes. It made you tear up. How could this creature look at you as if you’d hung the very stars? Look at you as if you were a goddess? The pedestal was too high, and you were terrified of falling to the depths below. This hero worship was showered on you for your simple kindness, your willingness to be in the same room as your visitor. You wished you couldn't relate, but this pain was oh so familiar to your bleeding heart.

You continued, “Please, even if there is nothing there, allow me to attend to your pain. It can do wonders for the soul,” He shook his head, “your body is still damaged, you must heal.” Now that you thought about it, whilst the pain was still ever present, it wasn't nearly as bad as it should have been. You had no idea how long you’d been unconscious, but even you knew that without a skilled hand tending to you, you should still be an infected mess. Whilst your magic would eventually assist with the remaining damage, it had been locked away for far too long. You had no idea how long it would take until you felt any semblance of normal again. 

The creature seemed to hear your thoughts. His impossibly pale, mismatched cheeks painted themselves in a lovely crimson, exactly how HIS used to. Your heart tore another fraction.

“You-I-” he stuttered and tried to fight for the right words. You placed a tentative hand on the one that remained over your shoulder, covering it and squeezing it with reassurance. He swallowed thickly and tried again, “In your cell...It wasn’t the first time I had seen you. You see, when I came back from the snow land, I- I felt lost. I didn’t realise I’d wandered back to my place of birth...the place of my creation. I found your village, I kept my distance and simply watched. It’s a lot safer for everyone if I just...stay away”

The tear in your heart transformed into a deep cavern, this poor, poor soul. Such a kindred spirit and yet so different. You remember the details of his tale he told you before, you would curse every single bastard that had made him believe his existence wasn't wanted, made him feel like HE was the problem. How could they? Such an innocent, impossible young soul, tainted and beaten down by the very beings who should have taught him, should have supported him! How you wished your paths had crossed earlier in his life, how much tragedy could have been prevented?

You could feel the poor thing's anxiety spike at your souring mood. Chastising yourself, you took a deep breath and nodded for him to continue, you would NOT make him feel as they had. “I...found myself drawn to your home, I watched you during the day and left w-well alone when the sun set. I would watch you heal the sick, watch as you tended to their wounds. I learned a lot from you, how to heal. How to help. I saw how you would try your hardest to save the unsavable. I- I saw you dance in the sunlight. I...I liked to watch you smile,” he finished as if in a dream, remembering better days.

Oh, moon mother, this creature. He had no idea what he was saying, no idea how his words stirred and moved your cold heart. Your cheeks heated up, eyes averted, it may as well have been poetry, gorgeous, kind, wonderful poetry. It was beautiful. It was beautiful that now, you took stock of your own body, you could feel the healing balms gliding under your clothes, feel the bandages covering swollen joints, smell the calming lavender and chamomile that had been delicately rubbed into your skin.

The blush deepened further when your brain was bombarded with the fact that, to reach all of your ailments, this creature would have had to see you naked. “I hope you don’t mind, I m-managed to go to your home in the night and bring back what I needed. I brought you better clothes...B-Brought you anything that might help” Ah, you had unfortunately voiced your thoughts. However, what startled you the most was the sheer lack of shame. Not in a pig-headed way, mind. Your companion spoke as if it were logical, as if it were innocent. It was only logical to assume then that he had not been taught the appetites of the flesh, interesting. Something to store away for later, perhaps.

“I-” It was your turn to stutter “Yes, thank you. I do feel more healed than I would have been had you not helped me. You did a fantastic job” his head perked up, eyes shining with joy “I- I did? Thank you...I had a very good teacher,” Gods, he was like the cutest puppy you had ever seen in this lifetime, eager, greedy for your good graces ‘maid, mother and crone...Save me, I beg’ you mentally begged. If the fires hadn't taken you, your companion surely would.

“Well then, whilst we wait for my condition to improve, I ask you once again to bring me my balms and show me your legs and feet. And no, I shan’t be taking no for an answer, sir,” You said with finality before he could protest again. Whilst he preened like a dog, he also huffed like one too. His shoulders sagged with a puff as he completed your request. You couldn't help but grin. How adorable.

It was during this quiet time that he recounted how you got to your current position, where that current position was. As it turns out, once he had removed both your shackles, you were out cold. He fought his way out of the village and made for the rocky peaks you had seen in the distance at your execution. He had waded through grasslands, rivers and over stone bridges to get to his cave in the peaks. At most, it was only half a day's walk away from your village, he told you he had visited you often, keeping a close eye and wandering the border around your house to ensure no harm came to you. You remember the tragic tale he had told you about his poor, blind friend, fed on by a pack of wolves; he refused to let it happen again. 'What an honour and a privilege. To already be so dear to him, that he would save me from danger' you'd thought as you continued your work in silence. 

In this moment, you found yourself in what you could only describe as a cosy cave, with only one chamber; it wasn't hard to navigate at all. The chamber was littered with different things the creature had picked up on his travels. On top of the numerous animal skins and sheep wools, the random buckets and water skins, there was one item that out-ranked them all. Books. They were everywhere! Large and small piles made numerous homes around the cold floor. You could even spot a few of your own medical books that you could only assume he had brought up in a mad dash in hopes of healing you faster. His sheepish expression as he scratched the back of his brown locks confirmed this.

In this quiet moment, you decided that you felt something you hadn't felt in a lifetime, comfortable. You sat up in your makeshift bed with support. The creature then sat opposite you with his impossibly long, thick legs perched next to your side for better access. His shoulders hunched in again, and his arms fell limp in his lap as he existed in the moment. You had taken your infamous lavender chamomile paste, lathered it between your unbandaged hands to warm it up. When he had tried to protest again, you would have none of it. You had argued that the paste actually felt good on your aching hands and would speed along the healing process if you used liberal amounts.

After asking the creature to lift his trouser legs to his knees, he obliged with trembling fingers. Your own soft hands glided along his long limbs then. Taking in the gorgeous scarred divots of mismatched skin that came together to create an almost ethereal pale landscape of flesh. Where there should have been deeply burned, welted wounds, there was only perfect canvas flesh; you almost felt jealous. But how could you when you could hear the quiet sobbing above you? How could you question his mortality when contented purring was interrupted by gasps of wonder? How could you dissect a being who had hardly known a kind touch in his short lifetime?

You would quietly continue your work of keening flesh, worshipping muscles and petting flawless skin as you allowed the creature to enjoy this moment of kindness in the soft candlelight of the cave. It was the least you could do.

You absolutely refused to acknowledge how he looked at you again. How the tear tracks that fell down his face shone in the dull light. He only looked at you this way because of kindness, kindness and nothing more. It wasn't because of anything deeper, because of the same reason that HE had looked at you that way. He was too new to the world to understand that concept... wasn't he?

Chapter Text

It was a few days before you could truly relax; being forced into solitary confinement with the threat of death would do that to a woman. As time passed, your magic slowly returned to you, which you greeted like an old, dear friend. It sped along your healing process fantastically, much to your companions' delight, but he would still insist on helping you as much as he could. Whether that be helping to rub creams into your burns, moving and rotating your limbs so they wouldn't lock up, or changing your dressings every other day. He was born to be a caretaker; he was in his element! He may even make a fine apprentice, you had thought with glee.

The days were spent in much the same way. You found it fascinating how much the creature read; his mind was ravenous for knowledge. But rather than a need to ingest information for power, it was clear that your companion felt he had a lot of catching up to do; he just wanted to know how the world worked, wanted to seek the answers to his burning questions through worn-out pages.

You brought this up one lazy morning, after he had dutifully made you breakfast from food he had found outside of the cave, before he could settle in to read yet another old tome, you broached the subject. “Tell me.” His head perked up, giving you his full attention. Your lips quirked, “What do you hope to find in those old books? You’ve read so many since I arrived here.” You tried not to offend him, you were genuinely curious, and fortunately, he didn't seem to take offence. His brow creased in thought, nose scrunched up as his eyes looked to the floor as if it would open up and spit out his thoughts for him, “I... feel like I have so much to learn. The world is so big, and my-” he tapped his forehead with a blue finger “my mind feels so small, I’d like to change that.”

“You are wiser than you know for feeling that way”, you quietly praised. He looked at you with that look again, you chose to ignore it and continue “, Most people accept their ignorance, let alone know how they feel about it. You are more intelligent than you think, my friend, more than most I’ve met in my life. Still” you pointed to his book with your less swollen finger (Thankfully with a stumpy nail now attatched to it, god you’d never take advantage of your nails ever again) “You will not find all of your answers in a book, most questions are often answered by living the question, living the experience to receive your own answers, your own perception. Do you understand?” He took a moment to digest your words and then nodded, a quiet rumble of contemplation filled his chest.

“Good, then I think it's time”

“Time? Time for what?” The creature tilted his head to the side in confusion.

“Why is it time for me to get up! I can’t stand to lie down and twiddle my thumbs anymore; I can’t hide either. I must meet the world again”. Your companion's face dropped. Clearly, he thought you meant to escape him, run away from this comfortable little bubble of togetherness you had created. He couldn't hide it; his shoulders slumped in defeat, and the poor thing looked truly devastated. Your heart clenched at the sorrowful display.

“You know, it doesn't mean I want rid of your company” You gave him an encouraging smile. “In fact, the very thought of being in anyone else's presence right now cripples me with fear and...I do not want to be left alone” His soft smile was the epitome of sunlight; it didn’t have to split his face open for you to appreciate the beaming light that radiated from the small expression. The soulful, genuine joy that shone through his golden brown depths stole your breath once again. You were blessed to be in his presence, oh, wicked attraction, cease with your sweet torture.

You asked him then if he would help you to stand. His heavy brow set in concern, asking if you were sure, you quickly shushed his worry. You compared him to a mother hen, and yet you couldn't say you complained; it was strangely endearing.

Being encased in the care of this behemoth of a creature was unlike anything you had ever experienced. Even though there was no danger within the cave, you felt protected from all angles. As if you were a treasure, or a fragile princess, and he your guardian, your dragon whose soul mission it was to protect you from undeserving knights, from those that would covet you for themselves. His large frame towered behind you, his entire being wrapping around you, his arms gently but firmly hoisting you up into a standing position, and he stood stock still while his chest supported your back. You couldn't quite tell if you needed to catch your breath because of the weakness of your wounds, or your weakness for him.

He held you firmly with his hands the entire way to the mouth of the cave. At one point, he left you to lean against the wall as he checked to make sure it wasn't too cold outside for you. How sweet.

Eventually, you found yourself basking in the rays of the sunlight that shone directly into the maw of the cave, blue, cloudless skies welcomed you back to the land of the living, and you smiled. You lifted your arms, no longer feeling like lead, you embraced nature and all of its wonders and released a contented sigh, “Hello, old friend”. You hadn't realised you’d closed your eyes, but when you opened them, you caught him staring at you again, but this time there was something else in that look, a haunted, wistful look, as if he had seen a ghost. Clearly, this was a private matter for the creature, and you wouldn’t pry. Instead, you allowed yourself to sink into the peacfulness of the moment.

“My kind” you began “, our power, our way of life is blessed by nature. We bask in the sun and the moon equally, as they are both important. The moon goddess guides our way in the dark, controls our tides and helps us to find our way home on the blackest of nights. The horned god, the sun, helps to grow our crops, keeps us warm and humble and feeds the life of this world. They give us so much, and so we must give back in return.” You turned to him then, your eyes alight with gratitude “Thank you...You have given me more than you’ll ever know. In the darkness, I'd forgotten the beauty of the world. Everything I’d been taught. I’d forgotten how to find the wonder in the less desired. I forgot my way. My hatred has clouded my mind, and whilst I'm getting better, it may yet take a while to return to myself”

You took a step closer to your companion, “I can’t stay here”, before his face could drop again, before he would retreat into himself, you raised your arm and placed your hand on his clothed bicep, squeezing it with reassurance “, Neither can you. You have given me so much, my friend, I wish to repay you in kind.”

“Please...you have nothing to repay me for, your company has been the best gift I have ever received, it has meant the...the world to...me”, he muttered quietly, bashfully. You smiled again, gods, this creature had made it such a habit in such a short period of time, you feared it would become a permanent expression if he carried on. “I am a stubborn woman, my friend, I shant take no for an answer, I'm afraid”, you sighed in mock exasperation, a glint of mischief in your eye “You deserve a home as much as anyone else, more so in fact!” Actually, now that you thought about it...

“It's settled!” The creature jumped slightly at your triumphant cry. You ignored his rapidly growing look of concern “I can't live where I used to, hells, the villagers would try to kill me the moment they saw me, no.” You thought for a second, “We shall go back to my hut at night. We’ll gather what I need and then...then we set off for a new beginning, I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again! And you, my dear! Will finally have a home to call your own!”

You had never seen such an excited look upon your companion's face; his eyes shone with tears of what you believed was unadulterated joy, they escaped and cascaded down his scarred cheeks. Before you knew it, the creature had dropped to his knees, his hands grasping yours almost painfully tight; you couldn’t find it within you to complain. You couldn’t do anything but look upon this creatures' adoration and worship of you; you were the altar, and he your devoted follower, you felt so undeserving of this reverence that you could feel yourself choking up. His words broke you.

“You...you would give me this gift? The gift of home? I-I-” He broke into unrestrained full body shudders, his entire body crumpling in on itself, you couldn't help it, you too fell to the floor. You knew it was wrong, felt like you were taking advantage of the poor creature below you, maybe you truly were wicked. But in that moment, you could do nothing more than wrap your arms around his broad shoulders, cry with him and weather this storm of overwhelming emotions he had found himself encased in. You didn't know it, but this was the first time he had ever felt this much happiness. He couldn't comprehend how to react, what to do with this feeling. But he knew, as long as he was with you, as long as he was in your arms, he would be alright. “I will do anything...anything in the world to make you happy...my lo-” You caught yourself. You couldn’t do this again to your frail heart. Even if he reminded you of HIM. It was painful. It was beautiful.

The sun had moved in the sky to late afternoon when you made your move; your friend reminded you that the road to your village would take half a day to traverse if you wanted to get there by nightfall. You wanted to be unseen, unheard and unbothered when you took what supplies you needed to dissolve into the night to start your new life.

Unfortunately, the chance to take ALL you owned was robbed from you. Why did you think it would be any different? It was a delapidated husk when you finally arrived at your hut, the thatch roof missing and most of the walls burned black, the doors had been caved in and left a mess on the floor, what little furniture you had was either destroyed or stolen. While you walked around in the ash of your old home, the creature followed you, his head hung low as he took in the ruins "I am sorry...they must have, done this after my last visit" You shook your head "It's quite alright, I should have known this would happen after our magnificent escape."

Your companion hummed "I know... what it's like to find your home when it has become a wreck, my maker burned down mine. It was a prison, much more than a home, but...it was still mine" You sighed and placed your hand on his arm in comfort again, empathetically nodding.  "I shouldn't be so sad...It's not like this is the first time this has ever happened to me."

"This has happened to you before?" the creature gasped "Yes, I have moved from place to place over twenty times in my life. At least, from what I can remember,"

"For your nature?"

"For my nature", you agreed solemnly.

You really did make a sorry picture between the two of you; however, you wouldn't let it sully your moods any more than it had. Without a word, you walked through where the back door would have been, into the largest room of the hut. It took a few moments, but you found what you were looking for in the centre of the space. You dropped to the muddy floor, undeterred by the dirt on your skirts, and began to dig.

The creature stood over you dutifully on the lookout, protecting. You could feel his inquisitive stare on your back, but you paid no mind. After you scratched through the loose dirt for a while, your fingers finally came into contact with a solid surface. With a little effort, dusting, and digging, you unearthed a wooden box, no larger than one to house shoes.

Your mother had always taught you that, should they ever come for you, pack light and ensure that everything you held close to you could fit inside a shoe box. It could very well be the difference between life and death should you need to run away. You had carried that wisdom with you to this day, and a part of you ached and missed her presence, desperate to see her face again. Shaking off that desperation, you stood and moved to leave. Trusting your creature would follow behind.

Without a word, you passed the village, the place you once called home. It filled you with a great unease when the silence suffocated the air. At this time, the small settlement would still be abuzz with merriment from the pub, the men sloshing their tankards of ale and the women chatting and dancing together, the children safely asleep in their beds. It was a shock then to see only one or two windows still alit with a candle. It was even more of a shock to see the massive pile of covered bodies in the centre of it all. A large stone of guilt fell into the pit of your stomach; you had done this, had cursed them with their doom. You had spoken the words to ensure their suffering, and your companion, it seems, had acted out your will. You turned to look back at him, and in the dim light that caught his golden hues, his solemn face confirmed your suspicion.

There was nothing more to it; it was done. Time to move on.

Chapter Text

The work was hard, and things were anything but easy. A lesser being would have probably given up; fortunately, neither of you would stoop so low as to give up on your shared dream. Besides, between a bitter witch and a 6-foot-5 supernatural behemoth made of different men, you thought you’d done pretty well.

You had settled upon a patch of land on the border of a tiny forest. It was large enough to create a canopy of shade, small enough to be useless as a home for larger beasts. If wolves were to attack, you would see them coming from miles away. It had filled your heart with a great warmth when your friend had told you to stay back while he investigated. He refused to let any harm come to you, and yet he had no idea that the more time you spent together, the more it wounded your very soul with sweet pain.

The rolling hills bordered the back of the homestead, and before it, never-ending miles of green. Truly, you couldn’t have found a better place. And what’s better, it was a decent distance away from any other settlement or strangers. You were truly on your own out there. It was bliss.

In the beginning, you had both worked through the first day and night to create a small hut, a place for rest and refuge whilst the real work continued. At that point in the year, the weather had turned bitterly cold; no matter how big you made the fire, you felt it seep into your bones, freezing you to the core. One night, you couldn't sleep, your teeth chattered, and your body shook under the ratty cloth blanket you’d managed to source.

The soft, deep breathing of your companion from the other side of the fire faulted and ceased. You cursed yourself for waking him, even though he was inhumanly strong; you insisted he needed his rest for the heavy labour the following morning. You could hear him shift into a sitting position, and you pretended to sleep. You hoped he’d leave well enough alone, but luck was not on your side that evening it seemed. There was shuffling until you felt the very presence of him looming over you again. He really had no concept of personal space, did he?

“You are cold”, he stated simply. Wow, straight to the point then was it? You turned on your back to look up at him “It would appear so. Leave it be, I’m sure I'll drift off soon” He shuffled uncomfortably “If...my body, it- it runs warm. I don’t know why, but I don't feel the cold as much. I could warm you up?” Oh, oh, hells. Before you could even utter another word, or quell the raging inferno that had become your face. The behemoth was moving again. He shuffled his large frame behind you, took your blanket and tenderly placed it over your form. With a few more moments of shuffling, he was flushed against your back, his arms wrapped around you, as if deeply afraid you’d run away. Your traitorous mind whispered, 'I would never dream of it, my love'

Your bulging eyes stared straight ahead, your heart rate beating rapidly at the sheer closeness to this being. When you realised he was a creature of action rather than words, you didn't realise how damn TRUE that was. Your poor little heart couldn't keep up with the situation! It threatened to come out of your chest if you didn't get it under control! “Your heart, it is beating too fast...are you...Are you uncomfortable?” You furiously shook your head. A quieter, sadder rumble followed “Are you...afraid of me?”

The question nearly caused a sob to leave your throat. With what little space you had, you lifted your hands and gently curled them around his arms, squeezing them tenderly “I could never be afraid of you, dear”, you whispered, praying he heard your conviction. He released a huge sigh, all the tension leaving his body, and good lord, he snuggled further into you. “Good, then we shall stay like this until you warm up” Oh, hells.

The touching, along with your home stead, grew day by day. As the walls of your new home climbed high, hands would hold each other and guide. As the thatch roof came into shape, the reassuring arm squeezes increased tenfold. When the completed skeleton of the home finally sprang into existence, you couldn't help yourself. Overwhelmed with joy, you embraced the creature, arms wrapped tightly around him, head buried in his impossible chest and a huge grin plastered on your face. In a shock of realisation, you tried to pull back, but it was too late. His arms slowly curled around your waist, holding you as if you were precious, as if you were beautiful. He placed his head softly on top of yours, and he released one of the most contented rumbles he had gifted you yet. He uttered one simple sentence, a sentence that brought tears to your tired eyes, "We are home" It was beautiful.

But beauty had a funny way of running away with things, didn't it? And you had let it run for far too long. You felt like a monster, a woman taking advantage of such a simple, wonderful creature. The more you bonded with your friend, the more your feelings twisted and turned into something far more serious. You had refused to name it. Did you feel this deep emotion because the creature held HIS face? Or was it something much, much more? It was in this moment, sitting on your bed so lovingly crafted by you both, that you had decided to tell the truth.

Your companion had done so much for you, saved you, kept you company, built a home with you...The least you could do was tell him what he deserved to know. Would he turn you away? Discard you and hate your feelings? It was a crushing thought, but his feelings meant FAR more to you than your own.

The dread ran deeper with every step from your room to the back door. You took a moment to take in all you'd built together. Who knows, it may be the last, precious moment. Flowers were a constant on every surface, no matter how little or small they were, you ensured they bloomed and filled with life, in return, they blessed you with their gorgeous colours of blue, green, purple and a few red. The floor was smooth, and in every other spot, there would be an animal fur you had acquired from the market a few hours away. The creature was concerned about your cold feet, and so he was adamant that you stay as warm as possible. It made the forbidden feeling run deeper within you. His need to keep you comfortable, safe was earth-shattering. 

It was still so bare, however; it had only been a few months since you had started working on the interior, it wasn't complete yet, but it was yours.

You grasped the door frame and looked to the glorious sight before you. Out back, the space had become your work area. This was the place you'd build, construct and create together. The creature was in his element. He found such a deep pride, such a peace within everything he made. You had brought hammers, saws, and chisels. Anything and everything you'd need to construct your home. It was slow beginnings for both of you; you were hardly versed in the art of woodwork, let alone ironwork, and your poor companion had literally been on this earth for just under two years; the reminder gave you a cold shudder. He was still so new.

But here he was, his powerful arms hammering nails into wood, a look of deep concentration on his face, small grunts of exertion leaving his dark lips, and yet, he was content. So lost in thought were you, that you hadn't realised the noise of hammering had stopped; your line of sight was filled with a familiar broad chest, now covered in a soft blue linen; it looked so good on him. Those wonderful, large hands gripped your shoulders with care "Are you alright?" the creature asked with worry. You snapped out of your stupor and looked at him, his own golden brown iris burrowing into you with adoration; you felt like you were dying all over again. What a wretched feeling.

"I- yes, I need to speak to you about something, please" You took him over to the wooden bench he had crafted, a simple seat made for the two of you to sit and bask in nature on the sunny days, It was your favourite thing and now, it was the throne that would injest your lies as you sat upon it meekly. You could feel bile rise in your throat. You turned to him, now or never. "I have a confession to make, and please...I ask that you let me tell you my tale before you speak. Do you understand?" You asked softly with pleading eyes. The worry only grew in your companion's expression, but he nodded all the same, his eyes fully transfixed on you now. "Thank you...Do you remember when I told you that I knew you? Back in the cave? I said it was because I'd heard rumours of your creation. That and nothing more"

The creature nodded.

"I lied" You uttered.

He froze. Before he spoke his mind, you lifted a hand to silence him, and he dutifully obliged. You released a shaky breath and gave him a watery smile. "Thank you, I'm going to tell you a story now about a witch and a soldier. You might know the witch, actually," you laughed mirthlessly "It's about betrayal, about a love that was destroyed before it had a chance to bloom...It's a story about Adam"

Gosh, you were bored. Border than you had been in a long time. Work was steady, and life was subpar. Mary hadn't visited in a while, either, not since she'd found her new lease for life thanks to you. She'd much rather spend her time in the pub, flirting with anything that had a pulse and a bulge in their trousers. You'd wrinkle your nose at her antics, disgusting.

It was on such a boring day, as you hung your washing on the lines to dry, that the most remarkable thing should happen to you. The Crimean war had touched so many parts of Europe; fortunately, it hadn't made acquaintance with British soil yet, or that's what you had thought when lo and behold, as you looked out to the fields, you noticed a figure slowly advancing towards your hut, a tall man in a soldier's uniform, his shoulders hunched, his hand furiously clutching his side. Of course, of course it had to be you who would bear witness to this strange site.

Without thinking, you dropped your laundry basket and rushed into the field to greet the clearly wounded man. When you finally stood a few feet away from him, your breath caught in your throat. He was beautiful, his deep brown mullet of hair was slicked back with sweat, a sculpted, dimpled chin and gorgeous cheekbones with a strong brow made his handsome face. Deep, relieved blue eyes met yours. He reached out his arm and uttered a word, "Please...". You barely caught him as he dropped to the muddy ground below in exhaustion.

After dragging him from the field, cleaning him, changing his clothes and dressing his wound, you tended to him until he woke up. It was only a matter of days before he opened his brilliant blues once again and introduced himself as Adam. He had been unlucky enough to be inlisted in this god forsaken army, and after bearing witness to the indescribable horrors only war could breed, he couldn't take it anymore. When he suffered the misfortune of being stabbed in the side, he swore to himself he would use the chaos to slip away, they would claim him dead, and he would simply become a ghost. He had no idea how he had made the journey back on a stolen boat, with only rags to keep his wound plugged, an act of god, or something else he was sure. 

"I'm a coward," He chastised himself. You shook your head and gently placed a hand on his larger one "No, Adam, those men out there are cowards, the ones who created this war, those who expect the innocent to go out and fight as their toy soldiers. You are NOT a coward, you chose to live, and that is a noble cause"

"Hm, you speak with great wisdom and such passion. Maybe I SHOULD listen to you," He'd chuckled deeply, his blues twinkling with mischief. In that moment, as you gazed into each other's eyes, a deep, warm something you had never felt before, bloomed and grew with vibrance in your chest.

Things after that were anything but boring. After that fateful meeting, Adam had decided to stay with you. At least, until things died down and he could walk the country freely, after all, a deserter of the war was to be killed on site, such a barbaric notion; however, it kept Adam near, and for that, you were grateful. You had told Adam about your nature as a witch, and to your delight, he took it in his stride! He had joked, "Of course it makes sense! Someone so wise, clearly you HAD to be wicked!" You had punched his shoulder, and he had laughed.

The soldier helped you where he could, tended to the fields with you and brought supplies from the market for you. The locals took a shine to him, and you did too...more than you should.

It was inevitable then, that on a warm summer's day, as you gathered herbs in your back garden for a ritual, the man who held your heart should appear behind you, turn you to face him with soft, reassuring hands. It was inevitable that he would grasp your chin as if it were made of glass, and he would lean down to capture your lips. He would profess his undying love for you and you for him, he would take you passionately in the night, and refuse to let you go until morning.

It was the following night when your world had come crashing down around you, like the sky had shattered and all the glass pieces now fell from the great heavens, slicing you open, yet refusing to let you die. As you lay peacefully in bed with Adam, basking in your fledgling love, your door would suddenly burst open with angry soldiers storming in. They would scream their orders to arrest the deserter, and they would take your world away. You had desperately clung onto each other and refused to let go, terror shared between your eyes, tears streaming down your face. They had hit you around the back of the head with the butt of a gun; you'd blacked out immediately, the distant cries of your lover fading into the falling rain.

The agonising pain brought you to the city of Edinburgh, your mind numb with the fact that this was the place he would be executed. What were you even doing there? Were you there to rescue him? To watch him hang? What wretched motive had brought you here? It was only fitting in your tormented life that as you rounded the corner to the gallows, your love would already have a rope around his neck, his terrified eyes finding yours, and in that beat of a second, everything stood still. There was nothing. No sound. No feeling. Just that singular moment of sheer, desperate connection. It was broken as soon as the bag was placed over his head. You screamed, and the crowd turned to you.

In your rage, your magic had sent poor bystanders flying. If only you had harnessed it more, instead of dwelling in fear, leaving it unattended, you think you would have been able to save your love that day. A large group of guards subdued you, and sensing the commotion, the hangman swiftly pulled the lever. A blood-curdling scream ripped from you again as you watched in horror as the bodies fell through the trap doors, their neck snapping and then...nothing.

You don't remember how you escaped, and honestly, you don't care to revisit it. What you do remember is returning to that site the very same night. You would have his body, and you would bury him as he deserved to be buried. Your gorgeous boy would come home with you and finally find a place of rest; you would ensure it. By the time you'd returned to the gallows, however, you weren't alone. Already, two men were assessing the bodies that had been left there to rot.

The first was one, a smaller, hunched man was the master of ceremonies that had been there during the day, and the other...you had not seen him before, but his very presence bothered you. "The spines have been broken, useless! Absolutely useless! Can you do nothing right?"

"Sorry, Doc, S'not like I can change the actual snappin' of the neck, you know? T'is what it is" The smaller man shrugged his shoulders, clearly unbothered by the more refined man's outlandish requests. You could hear the well-dressed man grumbling to himself as he looked over the corpses. He walked along the gallows until he stood in front of Adams' limp body. Your eyes widened, 'please no!' you could hear your very spirit screaming.

"This one" the 'doctor' tapped the body with his cane," bring it down and remove the hood. I wish to see his face". The smaller man set to work and did as he was told. Once Adams' corpse had been brought down, he was laid carelessly on the floor, his hood removed. You had to hold a hand to your mouth lest you release a cry of anguish at the disgusting handling of your lover's body. The doctor took a step towards him, his head turning this way and that, as if assessing a higher purpose for this dead man. You didn't realise then how right you were.

The man clapped his hands in triumph. "I believe you have still earned your coin yet. The bone structure of this man's skull is immaculate, unfortunate for the tissue. It appears the rats have already made a feast of his face" He turned Adams' head with his cane, and you had to turn away to vomit. The man was right, clearly a rat had made its way under the hood and had made a meal out of your lover's face, patches of his lovely flesh were missing, his gorgeous blues gnawed away too. When would this torment end?!

You needed a moment to clean yourself of the vomit, in this time you heard rustling, a metallic clank and then...oh gods, you threw up again. The wet sound of flesh being sawn into. You knew that sound anywhere; you had walked past the butchers enough times to know what was happening. Moon mother, please! Please make this stop!

Blessedly, the noise finally ceased, a bit more movement and then the master spoke again, "Well... It's not every day you see the distinguished Victor Frankenstein at work"

Victor Frankenstein...the name felt poisonous on your tongue.

"A pleasure, my good man" The bastard had the gall to sound jovial. He bid his farewell and skulked off into the night, a bloody hessian sack tightly wrapped in his knuckles. Numbly, you followed.

It had been mere minutes of weaving between the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, under street lamp and in the shadows, before the 'good' doctor addressed you. He abruptly stopped, cane slapping on the floor almost crossly, "Look, I know you're there. I don't make a business of being stalked. Show yourself!" There was no point in delaying the inevitable. Your form swept into his line of sight, your skirts gently gliding beneath you, like a phantom. He certainly seemed to think so as he took a moment to collect himself "A woman? Interesting, how can I help you miss?"

"Adam"

"Miss Adam? What a peculiar name"

"NO!" You screeched, moving closer to him with a hiss of breath, pointing an accusing finger towards the bag, "In there, THAT is my Adam, you took him from me" As you seethed, a glint of recognition appeared in his eye, a sly smile crossing his tanned lips "Ah...I remember you! The witch in the courtyard, yes. You caused quite a stir" he tutted, the man was clearly condesending you and you hated it! You could feel your magic boiling hot under your skin, ready, so god damn ready. "Well, miss, what would you have me do to rectify this? hm, maybe give you the skull of your dead lover back?" He began to hold it out to you before cruelly snatching it back, you barely had a chance to move "No, no, I don't think I will. You see, I am in the business of putting a stopper in death, and your dear Adam will help me to achieve that! I can't possibly let him go to waste. After all, a miracle needs a good bone structure"

"You are playing with things you do not understand, fool", You seethed quietly, fingers crackling with energy, just one more push...

"Incorrect miss", he quipped sharply ", In fact, I am far closer than anyone has ever been! Yes, I will prove to you, magic user, to the non-believers in my cause, I shall master death and tame him to my will. You can harm me if you want, I can see it in your eyes...and your hands" His glinting brown eyes moved down to the offending hands and then back to you, the cockiness returning "And whilst the execution of witches has been outlawed, There are a fair few people who know my where abouts, those people wouldnt mind buring a witch themselves, you understand of course" He grinned, like a fat cat that had just got the cream.

You raged silently, but then an awful, horrible idea crept into your wounded mind. You'd heard stories, stories of other witches who'd gone mad with grief, rage, hatred. You'd never dreamed of doing it to another living soul, never dreamed of becoming what humanity judged you as. But those souls weren't Victor Frankenstein; those souls hadn't desecrated your love. This soul had, and you would have blood. 

A twisted, unfamiliar smile contorted your lips "Dear sweet, naive doctor Frankenstein. I don't need to KILL you right now to seek my vengeance, no." You proceeded to lift your right hand in his direction, the thing cracked and moved unnaturally as if bending the very energy around it "What you have done to me, I return in kind threefold! You dream of conquering death, and I promise you, you will acheive your goal" for a moment the doctor was horrified, but your last sentance almost seemed like a...blessing? Your lips stretched further, stupid man.

"BUT! Death will not leave you; he shall be your constant companion until your dying day! You shall look over your shoulder constantly; your bloodline will suffer the same fate! If you want death as close as you say you do, SO MOTE IT BE!" The very air came to life around you; there was no crack of lightning, no smoke, no fan fair but in your heart of hearts, you both knew, the universe had heard your guttural hatred, and accepted it. The doctor remained frozen for what felt like a lifetime, eyes transfixed on you in terror. His lids rapidly blinked his thought process back into existence. He shook himself off, righted himself, turned on his heels and without another word, left your sight. You would never see him again.

The memory faded, you returned to the present day, the feeling slowly bled back into your fingers, and it followed through your body until you felt fully present. It was only after a moment that you realised tears had been streaming down your face for a considerable time. Your entire being was trembling, your shoulders hunched, your breath short. As you looked into the startled and somewhat horrified eyes of your companion, the feelings amplified tenfold. You had to leave this torment right now! You couldn't breathe! You stood abruptly, startling your friend, without realising it, you had begun to back into the forest behind your garden "I-oh, hells, I am so sorry...I-I can't"

You turned away from the agnosied eyes of the creature, and you ran.

Chapter Text

It was pathetic, truly, utterly pathetic. You didn’t run far. What was the point? You had once again destroyed something beautiful in your cursed life. Like a coward, you’d run. You knew he was fast and strong. You’d seen him move, tear apart trees as if they were nothing. He could decimate you with one blow. Right now, in your deep melancholy, you’d welcome his violence with open arms.

You ended up deep in the small forest by a babbling brook and rested your weary bones there. The noise of the water lapping and the gentle sway of the trees helped calm the panic that had wracked your body. Now, all that remained was a deep, heavy sadness. It filled you as if you were a small well, but the sadness was filling you too fast, and your crumbling bricks couldn't contain it, and how did you even end up here? Through all of the tragic events in your life, this one was the one to finally plunge you into a black sea, never to return. Your heartache was interrupted by the softest sound, wings flapping in the breeze, descending into your space. Curiously, you turned to look over your shoulder. On a rock perched an utterly gorgeous creature—a proud raven. She regarded you first and then proceeded to preen her feathers.

A raven, a bird which symbolised so much to so many, and, in a more sensible state, you would have recounted that. But in this moment, sensibility had abandoned you, and your mind screeched to a halt at the most stereotypical, fearmongered symbol...death. It was clearly the only conclusion; you released a humourless laugh at the timing, it seemed nature did have a sense of humour, and she was laughing at you.

“I shouldn't be surprised at your visit, should I, my darling?” The crow regarded you again with her lovely beady eyes; such intelligence and wisdom hidden beneath them, it would be cruel to be cross at this creature, harbinger of death or not, she was innocent in the message she carried to you. You stood up and approached a convenient berry bush not a few feet away and collected some of the small fruit. You kneeled in front of the magnificent bird, hand outstretched with the fruit, a silent offering of a final friendship, kinship.

The bird gently pecked at the berries, quietly content. You spoke again, “Tell me, dear raven, is your appearance a foreshadowing of the death of my vessel? Or the death of this connection with my companion, whom I hold so dearly to my breaking heart?” The bird, of course, remained silent. You allowed a sad smile. The universe was never straightforward with her answers, no matter how many berries you fed her. For the time being, you let your words tumble from your mouth, the woods had become your confession booth and the raven, your priestess. She was eager to hear your sins.

“I have not handled things well, and I live with the guilt every day. To curse not once but twice...I am what the people say I am. Before, I felt my punishment at the hands of man was so unjustified...but now, I am not so sure. I see their faces every night in my sleep. And even though I hated them, loathed them, their deaths are on my hands. Somehow, my poor companion carried out my terrible will...oh god...have I made a murderer out of him?" You covered your mouth in utter horror at the stark realisation. What had you done?! The words fell from your lips like water now, escaping between trembling, blood-tainted fingers "- I had thought my reasoning was justified... I’ve had everything taken from me, my mother, my kin, my first love, my friend...and now” you paused “Well...I put a stop to that before it could even begin, didn’t I? Who am I to taint such a beautiful creation? His existence is impossible, and yet... the world is so blessed to have him. The way he looks at me, gods, it's like I created the sun for him! Hung the stars in the sky for him. I am so...so undeserving of that type of worship. It's my fault...I did this to him...He must hate me”

By now, the bird had finished her food, but still she stayed in your company, which you greatly appreciate. She would listen to your woes and carry them on her wings when she inevitably flew into the sky, away into the setting sun. You longed to fly with her. But this was your punishment, to sit in the ashes of your poorly built empire of revenge and regret. It was all you deserved.

“He told me about Elizabeth, you know? Sweet, beautiful Elizabeth. I miss her with my everything. I had warned her, tried to tell her to stay away from that monster...that, Frankenstein. But like Icarus, she flew too close to the sun. It gladdens my heart that I had never wished ill will upon her soul, her death is not on my hands, my dear beautiful girl...too tender for this world" You held the feeling for a moment, the desperation to see your friend again, the hope that she was somewhere better, far away from this wretched existence.

"It is obvious my friend loved her; how could he not? She was one of the few who’d ever cared for him, treated him with kindness. I’m so glad he found her,” you sighed and looked down at yourself “But I am not her, I’m not dainty...perfect, soft like a butterfly. I am hard, damaged and bitter. He deserves better. He-”

The pounding of heavy feet had your words sticking in your throat, choking you and refusing to let you speak. Even though your body had seized in its position, your neck still had freedom to pivot your head to face the imposing presence. The creature stood tall, taking in lungfuls of air, and he just stared at you. His golden brown rapily moving over your form, assessing.

“I-” you began, What would you say? 'I'm sorry I'm a monster, and I made you do those awful things’? ‘I accept that you're here to kill me’? ‘I understand if you don't want me anymore, hell, I wouldn't want me either’

“You're safe...I was worried about you. Are you...hurt?” Oh...you weren’t expecting that. Your mouth refused to move, and you just stared ahead at your companion while he moved closer into the space. He towered over you now as he spoke again, still slightly breathless “Why did you run?”

You felt like a child.

“I-”

“Did I do something wrong?” he looked devastated. Oh gods, what had you done? “NO!” You cried, “I-”

“Are you scared of me?” Why did he have to keep asking that?! You knew the answer perfectly well, but it didn't make it any less painful “No, I-”

“Then why did you-”

“BECAUSE I FEEL SO MUCH FOR YOU!” You cried desperately. There it was, the nail placed carefully on the coffin lid, may as well hammer it in “Because my feelings for you scare me, because I do not deserve you. Because I made you...made you kill them...I willed it! With my curses, my magic...I did...” No more lies, it was out now. Ugly and writhing on the floor, the unfiltered truth. It was so, so scary to look at, but you refused to turn your watery gaze away. He deserved your pain; he deserved to drink your anguished tears.

The creature was muted, his face scrunched up in thought. This was too much for his young mind; you should have known better than to place this heavy burden of emotion on top of him like this. Still in silence, he lowered his large form to the floor cautiously, as if you were a forest creature he didn't want to frighten away. He looked so young, so unassuming, so HIM.

After a few moments of quiet contemplation his words rumbled out to you, eyes shining with conviction “I am...still finding my way with my words, you know this. One of the reasons I read so much, its so I can better explain myself but-” he held a fist to his chest, his heart “I think I know enough words to tell you how I...feel. To tell you what I know...” Your eyes widened. Here it comes. Whether you wanted to hear this or not, you had conceeded, nodding your heavy head for your companion to continue.

“From the first time I saw you...like my old friend, the blind man”, he explained, "I was moved by your kindness, your need to save everyone who walked through your door. There were days when, I would have to stop myself from walking through it. I heal, and I cannot die, yet I would make an excuse, somehow, to receive your care. I thought about cutting my hand, wounding myself just...just to know the softness of your hands.” He grasped your hands then, turning them slowly in his own huge ones, he released an amused huff, “Now I do, I fear I have become greedy.” His mouth quirked.

Before you could interrupt, he held his hand up this time, very much imitating you earlier that day, you could almost laugh if not for the stifling air surrounding you “Please, let me say what I need to say, and then you can talk...Do you understand?” You could howl with the cheekiness of it! A wrecked grin covered your face. Was he trying to...cheer you up?

“Thank you. As I watched, I learned so much from you, about you. I learned how you liked to dance in the fields on a summer's day, how you would berate yourself if you could not save a friend. You would cry for hours, and I wished, more than anything to hold you. To tell you that you had done your best. But more than that. I learned about your shame, the shame you privately carried, the shame you felt at what you are...I had truly found a kindred spirit”

“When I saw you in that prison, I felt it more. My maker had placed me in shackles as soon as I was made. To him, I wasn't perfect, and he...hated me for it” He grunted, his anger suddenly rising. You flipped your hand over in his palm, rested it on his forearm and gave a soft squeeze, reassurance. He took a grounding breath with a grateful smile.

“But to see you in that place, so beaten, so broken by these people. I saw a mirror of myself, and to me, that was far worse. I no longer felt rage for myself, but for you. How could they treat something so beautiful, so poorly? I knew I had to help you. I had to save you in any way I could.” he paused, as if to pre-formulate how he would deliver his next words. It was adorable and such a wonder to see his mind work.

“When I stayed with my old friend, He let me read his books. I read one called The Sorrows Of Young Werther. It taught me much. About sorrow, hopelessness and...love,” You gasped, his poetry moved you, and yet the mere mention of love, that wicked emotion, terrified you to your core. However, you had promised to be silent had you not? And so that is how you remained.

“People do not comprehend how deeply I understand the feeling of love. I think it is one of the first things I felt, for my creator, my father” You had to push down a hiss, now was not the time “I have then felt heartache, Unrequited love and then from his rejection, the loss of it. To be discarded so easily. My mind, struggled to keep up with his demands, and so, I lost his love. I didn't feel it again until death carried him away."

"I felt true love, and then heartache for Elizabeth. Time had been robbed from us, that and our fledgling love. And then you. I was not looking for it when I found myself outside your hut, and yet, without realising it, you had gifted it to me” he looked at you now, really looked at you, as if you were a wonderous specimen under a microscope, a masterpiece of art in a distinguished art gallery. You couldn't take it.

“With you. Through it all, my love has grown. It had the time I needed; to nurture it and for once, to truly feel it. You would not run away from me; you have accepted me as I am. I had one sole petition from my creator: to make someone like me, a companion I could spend my endless days with. With his death, I feared it was impossible. And yet, in you, I have found that. Someone...like...me..."

He took a moment then, to allow you to process his words, to feel them and know them. He understood that such an impossible concept as love needed time, needed understanding.

"The story you told me. It does not make me hate you. In fact, I feel my love for you grow. You have committed acts you regret, like me. But...You did it for your love, whether wrong or not, you did it for love. And please do not blame yourself for the acts of violence I have enacted. Like you, my love was damaged, and so my rage was indulged. I only knew one or the other. I, too, lashed out in anger when those I cared for had been taken from me, when I had been hunted, merely for existing. In those heated moments of passion, it seems rage is the only answer. If you would permit me, we could learn to temper that rage together? And- I could never hate you...for being human"

You collapsed into his arms, and he gathered you with crippling tenderness; it only made you cry into his blue shirt harder. Through it all, he held you, rocked you back and forth and encased you in arms that could eradicate a town of people, had done...all for you. His arms held you close, with such delicacy, such love. He rested your head underneath his chin and whispered to you, adoring words of encouragement, words that let you know that in all of this strangeness, all of this newness, it would all be alright.

Time faded into the background; you had no idea how long you had both stayed in that embrace, but if you could stay in it for a lifetime, you gladly would. Once you felt your emotions had stabilised, you leaned back to look at him. You placed your hands gently on either side of his patchwork face, your thumb a feather-light touch on his cheek. A touch he happily leaned into, you were certain if he were a cat, he’d be purring right now. The pleased rumble he released instead delighted you.

“You have his face”

“I know...” he mumbled, his eyes softening in understanding “, But...I am not him. Sometimes I have dreams, memories that are not my own, the longer I am alive...the more they fade. My...my thoughts and feelings are my own, my soul, it is me” you nodded, relief washing over you. You couldn’t quite explain it, but you were glad. Whilst you missed Adam, you supposed the same way the creature missed Elizabeth, this was vastly different. The loves you’d both had before... they were gone. Their souls washed clean with the tide, becoming a part of the universe again, they were in a happier place, you were certain of it now. It was time to put that chapter to sleep, time to embrace something new.

“I am glad. Whilst you may have his face, your soul, your eyes, your body...It is you. I do not know if that makes sense. Even if you are made of different components, you are you and-” You gently threaded your fingers through his soft brown and white strands with as much love as you could muster in such a simple action “I fear I have fallen deeply in love with all of it. I love you” You let the admission fall from your lips in reverence. What a beautiful, wonderful truth indeed.

The creature's face broke out into a life-changing smile, so radiant, so ethereal, you couldn’t help yourself any longer. Men spent lifetimes trying to reach god, trying to encourage a visit from one of his angels, and yet here you were, achieving what felt like both. With trembling, tentative fingers , you pulled his face down slowly, giving a chance to pull away, you guided him to you and touched your lips to his in a gentle press.

A supernova of warmth exploded between you, a feeling, a connection so wondrous, even philosophers wouldn't comprehend it, poets couldn't write about it. You would hardly call it a kiss, but you refused to scare this gentle creature and just the simple touch of your lips to his surprisingly smooth ones had lit your world alight as no other could. You had closed your eyes to bask in the moment, but you could feel his own burning into you, setting you on fire with their intensity.

After a few moments of pressing your lips to unresponsive ones, you gradually drew back, convinced that you had broken this poor soul. Larger hands encased both sides of your head in a soft cocoon and drew you back in with eagerness. This time, those divine lips responded to yours; even though it was a simple press back, the action held so much enthusiasm, it was everything. He was everything. 

Laughing you had to playfully bat the greedy fiend away when he refused to stop; you blamed yourself, really. You had given him this, taught him such a simple yet monumental act that now he was addicted. Even though he let you lean back, he wouldn’t let you move far from his lap, possessive thing!

“Now, whilst that was in fact life-changing, dear. It seems very improper to me that I have confessed my love to you, KISSED you and yet, we have not figured out a name for you-”

“Adam” He proclaimed proudly. Your face dropped “Oh, are you, are you sure? There are so many others? Why not think about it a little longer?”

“I do not wish to mean it as I am stealing the name of your first...love” His face scrunched up again. “But my friend, one of the first books he ever showed me...It was Paradise Lost, a story of the First man and First woman-”

“She wasn't the first woman” You interjected sourly. He looked at you in utter confusion. You waved your hand “I am very bitter about the subject. I will teach you, but please, carry on, love”.

Your heart did a strange jig in your chest when he visibly preened at the pet name. You were doomed “I would like to pay tribute to my friend, and I feel it is fitting with my beginnings. I have thought about it often, even before all of this; somehow, my mind was stuck with its rightness. If-” He looked at you from under his ridiculously long lashes, bashful and seeking your favour “If the name pleases you too?” You couldn’t help but smile proudly at him “Yes, my love, it’s perfect. My Adam.”

When you tried to embrace him again, the forgotten raven picked this very opportunistic time to hop from her perch and onto your shoulder, head tilting with a mischievous glint, she looked very pleased with herself. “Ah, my dear, I suppose I have some apologising to do. You were clearly here to bring us good tidings, weren’t you? The death of our past and the birth of something beautiful. Whilst you are an omen of death to the small-minded. You are also beauty, wisdom, and transformation. You have gifted up with a new chapter, thank you, my friend. You lifted your hand gently to pet her beak, which she gladly nibbled.

The creat-Adam looked thoughtful for a second and then declared, “That is what I will name you!”

“But...you already know my name?” You looked at him, puzzled “Yes, but I desire to call you something fitting of who you are. You are beautiful, fierce, wise, mysterious. Sometimes," he laughed "you are quite mischievous, but you are also my harbinger of good tidings” He placed a gentle kiss on your forehead, petting the bird with you, “You, my love, shall be my raven”.

Chapter Text

Life as you knew it had been bliss. More than bliss; it was perfection. Well, as close to it as possible. In your mind, perfection was a terrible construct. Why find something so mundane, so uptight, and so clean as perfection a wonder, when it is far better to find beauty in the jagged, the flawed, and the delicate? You had found that and more in your new life, something you never dreamed you’d have. Something you never dreamed you’d share. After the events in the woods and your declarations of undying love to each other, things between you and Adam had been true bliss.

By day, you would work together on your homestead whilst sneaking sweet kisses and tender embraces, much to Adam's joy. Most of the time, he would initiate such loving interactions, and you were more than happy to oblige your darling creature. His arms would find themselves wound around your waist, his lips would find yours, and his adoring eyes would find themselves gazing upon your form. And in turn, you would find him too.

Between Adam’s juggernaut strength and your flourishing magic, the work had become far easier. It made your heart swell when your love's face would break out in wonder at the growing display of your abilities. Whether that be lighting fires without matches, using the winds to carry and move things twice your size, or simply heating water for broths and teas that he had taken an instant liking to. Even though your magic had barely been nurtured and you still had much to learn, the look on his face, the easy trance he fell into at your display of quiet power, it was all the drive you needed to pursue it further.

In the evenings, you would rest together by the roaring fireplace. You would either sit on the floor atop plush animal furs or on the couch you had so lovingly constructed together (ensuring it was large enough for Adam to be comfortable on, of course). You would curl up and take turns reading to each other, the crackling of the fire soothing you now, no longer haunting you with the terrifying memories of your past.

Alas, it should come as no surprise that another problem would arise and shroud your perfect bubble with a dark cloak. Now, that was a bit dramatic, especially after everything you had both suffered together. This was nothing compared to the near-death experiences or the misunderstandings; it was just...frustrating.

Adam was everything to you, so beautifully made, so ethereal in every way. Whilst his spirit and his blooming personality were both something you treasured beyond everything else, there was one thing. He was absolutely gorgeous. Plain and simple, he was truly stunning. And you, oh, hells, you were just a simple woman, a passionate woman with...needs.

How could you help it? He was an Adonis! A very gift from the gods and all their splendour! His patchwork face was an exquisite contrast of soft and sharp, with soulful eyes that brought you to tears, to delicious cheekbones, and a strong, dimpled jaw that would often set with determination. His Cupid bow lips dusted the colour of death; their taste addictive.

His hair was another wonder to you. Once you had settled down, you had spent hours gently combing through the distressed strands. You had tried to be as soft as possible, but the little whimpers and grunts of pain tore at your soul. With whispered words, you had encouraged him to be patient, and in the end, you were greatly rewarded. The strands were like silk under your fingers, a lovely river of chocolate brown and the hint of white underneath, which you adored the most. You would now spend hours carding your fingers through the soft locks, and Adam, well, he enjoyed the attention immensely. He didn’t need to tell you with spoken words, but the deep rumble that vibrated through you both while you lay on his chest, gently kissing and petting his hair, told you EXACTLY what you needed to know. You would forever claim that in another life, he most certainly would have been a cat.

And then, you shuddered in delight to think about it, his body. Mercy, what a body he had! As soon as you had laid eyes on him, you had become enthralled. His height made you feel like a child, gazing up at a large oak tree, its brilliance impossible to comprehend. His broadness, too, you were ashamed to admit how many times you thought about those broad shoulders carrying logs and other such heavy things around your home. Your mind tormented you with the feel of his strong chest against you, whether you be curled upon it or he be carrying you for some reason only he could justify.

And then he’d gotten comfortable. Or rather, his concept for proper behaviour around a woman, no less an unmarried one, was severely lacking, you had been quick to realise. But then again, could you really say anything? Had you not slept with your soldier out of wedlock? Had you not pleasured yourself unashamedly, so often that you knew every single way to bring forth that sweet bliss you often craved? As your mother had often said, “pot calling the kettle black”.

Adam had often found no shame in stripping off at random points throughout the house; of course, his maker hadn’t bothered to tell him about such simple, yet important things. So when you’d had to school yourself away or rush off in a panic because you were face-to-face with...well...everything... You accepted the fact you’d have to do it yourself. With a beetroot red face and cursing Frankenstein under your breath, you had politely yet firmly told him to get changed within his room, the washroom, or your now shared room with the door closed, of course. When he had challenged you with an innocent head tilt, you had stuttered out a squeaked “It's easier to find your clothes all together for the wash, my love”, and abruptly turned away to attend to other things, your poor heart still in your throat.

After that, things had calmed down, and he had heeded your request, much to your relief. That was until you had managed to finally construct a bath for the house. Your creature seemed quite content to go and wash himself in the stream not far from your home, but with a newly available bath and the ability to heat up the water for ultimate comfort, you refused to let him venture into the woods to bathe.

And of course, YOU had to be the one to educate him on the matters of ‘a proper bath’. How you survived the first time you never knew. You could feel your very soul leave your body at the sight of his naked form, not only a reminder of the glorious flesh that you had been teased with before, but the rest else. Your greedy eyes travelled the length of him, his sculpted muscles, toned stomach, delightfully gorgeous long legs and arms, a back where you could see the play of each muscle with every movement and finally...oh sweet moon mother, his member. You had to laugh, truly you did. Because when Victor had meant to proportion everything, he meant EVERYTHING.

Your mind had been terrorised at the size of it in the beginning, but that was immediately doused with the waters of longing, needing, craving. How would it feel inside of you? How would it feel stretching your throat to its capacity? Would your jaw ache? Would you ask him to go gently? Or would you ask him to use you? Deep down, you knew within your darkest desires it was the latter. And gods, how would he feel in your womanhood? Would he do the same to you there? Stretch you until you begged for him to have mercy on you? Would your hips bruise with his aggressive movements? Or would he be a gentle lover? Would he bring you to orgasm on a fluke, or would you have to guide him, transform into an erotic teacher while he, oh, he would be your ravenous pupil, desperate to please you, to learn you...

With a huff of frustration, you shoved those thoughts to the back of your mind. How could you think such things? He was still new! A mind so fresh and innocent to this world, you almost felt a monster for feeling the way you did. This was the very reason you had found yourself in Craigmillar. You had not wanted to venture far, and going back to the city centre of Edinburgh had been out of the question since your last visit. No, Craigmillar had become an idealistic place; you could easily buy supplies, browse, and most importantly, sell your wares here. After settling down, you realised you needed to make your coin back, get a steady form of income in and branch out for your new life to work.

Fortune had smiled brightly on you, and for the time being, it seemed your bad luck was over. You would sell healing balms, teas and remedies for the locals. Nothing too showy and most certainly nothing that screamed ‘powerful witch’ and the locals couldn’t get enough of you! Within a few months, you had now established a wooden stall in the marketplace, a good working relationship with the other store owners, once you had assured them you were not here to step on any toes.

Your newfound links had afforded you trade and better bartering prices. For your traded stock, you had managed to come home with furniture, food, building supplies, herbs and spices for your business and best of all, livestock, which Adam greatly appreciated. His love for animals had amazed you, such an imposing figure with such a gentle, compassionate soul. It had been clear that his talents lay in the continued building of your homestead and the tending of livestock.

And so it came to pass that you would not only sell your wares but the wools, eggs and milk you would harvest from your many chickens, highland cows and woolly sheep. Both of you had absolutely refused to sell the meat and only took what was absolutely necessary for yourselves to survive; little to no harm would come to all who inhabited your little piece of paradise. Of course, you couldn’t forget your two beautiful shire horses, a proud steed and a mare for yourself and Adam, respectively, to ride and pull your cart to market.

Another fantastic little find was a small, barely visible bookshop. The owner was a kindly woman named Aileen, who delighted in making your acquaintance and in finding a kindred spirit who loved books as much as she did. With effort and through her contacts, you had managed to reclaim the books once lost to you in the destruction of your previous home. If you had continued to buy more books until the stacks in your home grew to obscene heights, well, that was nobody's business.

Besides, your love had the nature of a magpie when it came to stealing away with one of your latest purchases; his ability to flick through the pages and digest the words had become lightning fast, so in that logic, you had no choice but to purchase more to keep your beloved bookworm sated. What a shame.

It was the reason why you were here; desperation had reached new heights, and you needed a distraction, fast. After fifteen minutes of thankless searching and an unreasonable amount of dramatic sighs, your friend had shimmied her plump body down the aisle to stand directly beside you, a look of deep exasperation on her softly wrinkled features “My dear, I fear if you sigh one more time, my books will fly off their shelves! Spit it out, girl! What's the matter?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about”, you uttered nonchalantly, eyes refusing to move from their quest. You would NOT give her the satisfaction; you could feel her sharp emerald eyes probing you for information; you would not give it.

“You are frustrated”

DAMN IT ALL!

Your head snapped to look at her, eyes wide in sheer disbelief “How the hell did you know?”.

“’tis not the first time you’ve ventured into my little corner of the world with a face like thunder. It is also no coincidence that your face should sour mere months after mentioning your new fancy, I know that look anywhere, suffered it a fair few times meself. Come with me,” She beckoned you over to her counter, a huge grin plastered on her face. You cursed under your breath, and yet, your appreciation for the wicked woman grew; she truly was a sly dog in a dress.

Noises of fiddling with locks and drawers opening filled the quiet space while the woman crouched behind her counter. A few more moments passed until she let out a soft noise of triumph. She righted herself and returned to you, a small red leatherbound book in her hands. She held it out to you, “Take it”.

“What's this?” You asked, puzzled, gently taking the book from her hand. She shook her head and began to usher you out of the shop. You tried to stop her, but the woman was persistent with her hands shoving your shoulders. She began to speak as she followed you towards the door, “You will find out soon enough, dear. All I shall say is, a well-respecting bookshop owner shouldn’t have this in their catalogue. It could give the locals the most...debauched ideas” You turned to her again, mouth a gasp. Surely it wasn't? She waved her hand and shook her head, “No more questions! Now, if I were you, I'd tuck that away while you're in the marketplace. I shall expect it back when you return for trade. I have a very high demand from my patrons, but I think you need it more! Good luck, my girl! And, you're welcome!” she slammed the door in your face. You blinked a few times and found yourself back on the cobbled streets. What the hell had just happened?!

Your theory had been correct. As soon as you had gotten home, made an excuse to Adam that you MUST attend to something in your old bedroom and yanked the book from its hiding place to scan through the pages, your face had burned into a deep scarlet. No wonder the woman wanted you out of her shop as soon as she’d given you the damn thing! For now, you appeared to be in the temporary ownership of a deeply erotic fictional novella.

You had been no stranger to erotic fiction, far from it in fact, and you certainly weren't prudish. On many a dark night, you had indulged in the seductive words written on crisp pages, delved into your needs and desires and learned what being a woman meant to you. There was a power to it. A freeing, divine feminine power you couldn't deny, and so, you thrived in it.

But this book was unlike any other you had read. It told the tale of a woman from high society, tired of her station and the many proprieties she was forced to endure as a nobly born woman. She stole away into the night, leading a double life of debauchery and saintliness. She told the reader of the many encounters she had had with a secret lover. The way he had pleasured her, tasted her flesh, brought her to new heights of ecstasy with the taboo and delightfully depraved, and she would repay him in kind. But the thing that instantly drew you in was the utter devotion these two heroes had for each other. Whilst the sexual acts were carnal, they never lacked the alluring softness of love. It was beautiful. 

The deep connection had ensnared you, and so the book had become your companion for private release. A way for you to relieve the tension, the stress of wanting Adam so desperately it hurt and yet, so terrified were you to take. Whether you would wait for Adam to fall asleep in the evening and quietly indulge yourself next to his sleeping form, furiously imagining yourself and your beloved creature in the roles within the book. Or you would steal a moment to yourself when he went out to work, biting your lip as you would work yourself into a lustful frenzy until you reached the peak you so desperately craved, Adams' name escaping your lips as you fell into orgasmic bliss.

You had been confident in your ability to keep your little wicked sighs of pleasure to yourself. You had been confident in your ability to brush off your beloved's curious gazes as they became more frequent. You had been confident with your answers to his questions, why did your gaze linger on him for longer? Why did your breath become laboured when he embraced you? Had you become sick? You had been confident. That was until one day, when you returned from tending to the animals in the barn, body sore and seeking your little book of pleasurable escape in the exact place you knew you had put it, with confidence, of course.

That was until you realised it was gone. A feeling of dread robbing you of all of your confidence in one fell swoop.

Chapter Text

In theory, the finding of your book should have extinguished your debilitating anxiety. You would scald yourself for being so careless; consider it a lesson well learned and place it in a far better hiding spot, practically impossible to be discovered by anyone but yourself. That was, of course, in theory.

That theory, however, quite literally crashed and burned at your feet the moment you found the blasted thing. Your shared bedroom, separate bedrooms, the living room, and all the other rooms you had searched looked like a hurricane had ransacked them all. But rather than a vengeful act of nature, it had been the despairing search of an exasperated witch that had torn your house to pieces, with a sinking feeling and an unnecessarily drawn-out, tortured sigh, you conceded to the fact that you would have to ask your beloved creature if he knew the whereabouts of the book.

And this is how you found yourself with your theory shot to pieces at your boot covered feet, because once you left through the back door of your home, turned your gaze up to the roof and found Adam in his usual hiding place for quiet contemplation and reading (for some reason the roof had seemed like a perfect location for the hobby, as a solitary creature yourself, you had congratulated him on the logic), your heart plummeted to your feet so fast, it almost knocked you off the ground. There, encased in the huge hands of your beloved, was the little leather-bound red book.

Now, here you had two choices. You could either demand that Adam give you back the book and tell him never to speak of the matter again, which, when it came down to it, you’d rather die than go through with. Firstly, because of the sheer embarrassment of the whole situation. You would have to admit to reading such devious things to a poor creature who probably couldn't comprehend half the book's contents. But the main, and most important reason, you refused to be like Victor Frankenstein.

From what you could piece together, the man had not only been a neglectful parent figure, but a horrific teacher too. Had not given Adam the time of day nor nurtured his education. And even when he tried to expand his knowledge by learning another word, a single name, ‘Elizabeth’, the bastard had punished Adam in the most unthinkable way. No, you refused to take any sort of knowledge away from this soul that had been denied so much; who were you to continue his torment? Narrow his concept of the world because it made you uncomfortable. Did you not encourage him to pursue uncomfortable knowledge? To question the status quo and the mindbogglingly stupid ideologies the fools in their ivory towers had forced you both to swallow? Had you not said he could borrow any book of yours?

While your options continued their internal battle, your eyes couldn't help but drink in the sight of your love perched upon the roof. He adopted his familiar reading posture, leaned against the chimney, his shoulders hunched and his legs bent at an angle, relaxed yet aware and ready to move into action at any given second. You recognized that learned energy, it was that of a survivor, a victim.

Out of all of this normalcy, something was decidedly not normal. His face. Often, you could tell the genre of book or event Adam had come across between the pages. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and the shifts in his expression were as flawless as a tranquil stream. This time, however, you couldn't fathom it. His eyes furiously scanned the pages like two rabid dogs chasing a fox, desperate for the hunt. His slightly crooked teeth bit into his lower lip, his brow heavy set with deep concentration. Moon Mother, were the contents of the book so hard to stomach that it would cause such an unbearable expression?

With that resolve, option two was, without a doubt, the better choice. Before he could catch you staring, you had scuttled back into the house as if you were a door mouse who had survived another run-in with the hungry fox. Yet you knew, as the mouse did, that inevitably, you would have to face the fox, sooner or later.

A small, barely there whisper left your lips, “Fuck”.

If you had felt frustration before, the days that followed the incident severely dwarfed it; it gnawed hotly at your insides and had become unbearable! A game of cat and mouse had begun within your home without a single word uttered from either the cat or the mouse. The very energy between you ran to extremes of hot and cold, yes or no, will they or won't they?

The book had changed something within your beloved and the way he saw you, how he interacted with you. Where once there was an innocent shyness in Adams' eyes, now it had been washed away with a heated, yearning curiosity that rose in ferocity with each passing day. On more than one occasion, you would catch his eyes sweeping across your form as you stretched, cleaned, crafted or even cared for the animals. You felt like a hunted creature, but where there should have been fear, there was burning, aching need. The gold within those brown depths once shone with purity; now melted with dark desires.

His touch had also altered, whilst it still remained cautiously gentle, the fear of hurting you now mixed with something that would often have you trembling in delight. The need to know you. Usually, as he embraced you, his hands would stay within respectable, safe areas across your back. But now, those large paws would wander, drift down your spine with a sensual drag of his finger tips, desperate to feel the skin under your clothes. He would kiss you gently, but then his head would tip to allow his nose to follow the shape of your jaw, your neck. He would rest his head on your shoulder, his breath dancing from his parted lips and across your trembling flesh, teasing you with more, almost daring you to take it.

And then you would spoil it, or rather, the noises you made would. It became clear to you that even a catch of your breath would scare the poor thing away. He would mutter a quiet apology, his eyes deeply sorry as they scanned you for any injury he might have caused. Once he was assured you were alright, he would scuttle away like a beaten dog; the very sight turned your arousal sour, and the frustration once again wrapped itself around you like a please snake, happily choking your desires. It became abundantly clear to you that whilst Adam was indeed discovering a lot of complicated feelings, he was terrified at what he had found. What a terrible conundrum, to be caught between finding one of life's greatest pleasures, and yet, too scared to indulge in them with the one you love.

It all came to a head one evening when you had both turned down for the night, the animals safely in their barns and the house made ready to encase you both in drowsy warmth. As you sat content on the couch with a book in hand, idly twirling a lock of hair between your fingers, you heard Adam approach and stop in the doorway.

A few beats of silence passed, you grew impatient, turning your head you regarded the creature, a soft smile spreading across your lips “Adam, my love, what's wrong?”

“I would-” His voice tremored; he paused, seemingly cross with himself. He squared his shoulders, cleared his throat and tried again. “I think I have h-hurt my back-” in a flash you were in front of the gentle giant, without letting him finish, your hands were already upon his shoulders, gently assessing and keening the muscles. You barely had time to take in his alarmed eyes at the speed of your actions, words already falling from your mouth, “Where does it hurt, dear? How bizarre, your body usually regenerates any torn muscles, the pain should be nonexistent. You have been working incredibly hard, Adam. Maybe it's time to- mmmhhhh!” chapped lips met yours in a soft touch; it infuriated and delighted you in equal parts that Adam had picked up this little trick to quiet your mithering, the smooth bastard.

Once he was sure you would calm your mother henning, he took your hands from his shoulders and held them with a large paw to his chest, a warm smile upon his face as he regarded you and sank into the feeling of the love you feely gave him, the devotion. “I have read”, he began “, That a warm bath and a...massage will ease my pains”

Oh...oh! the sly fox. You knew this trick well. Page 42 of the little red book, to be exact. The titular heroine's fancy had feigned injury, in hopes of winning her sympathies and a tryst in a bath built big enough for two. It was one of your favourite sessions between them. Your mind easily moulded the characters into yourself and Adam, your bodies gliding wetly against each other as you chased your pleasure. If you fell deep enough into the imagination, you would hear the splashing water, smell the scent of roses and sweat, and feel his strong fingers gripping your waist. Your mouth would water at the thought of the patchwork of bruises he would leave there.

Your mind crumbled, and all sensibility flew out the window. You couldn't stop yourself as your hands slid from his fingers, up his muscled chest to their destination behind his neck. You could feel the heat within you burning brightly through your eyes, and you prayed to any entity that would listen that Adam would understand what it meant. You were the lighthouse, and he the boat that sailed rapidly towards your shores, desperate and longing for his return. A sultry whisper slithered from your lips, “My love, I think that can be arranged”.

To say you were proud of the site before you would be an understatement; what lay before you was a paragon of beauty. The candles dotted around the room, and the windowsill flickered with a low playful light, offering enough to see but not enough to intrude. The herbs and flowers you had collected that day drifted lazily across the surface of the bath water, scents of Lavender, Lemon balm and Valerian filled the air. You quietly chuckled as you threw the odd rose petal on the floor and added a few to the water; it still seemed, after all the trials and tribulations, a romantic could never be robbed of their passions to please.

While you waited for Adam to appear, your hand gently drifted over the water, arousing heated bubbles and a cloud of steam to follow after it. It was a simple spell, but one you had prided yourself on for its practicality; it certainly helped to stave off the biting cold and brought you both great comfort in the winter months. 

So caught in your musings were you, you didn't hear the door creak open. You turned with a jolt at the sound and met a sight so stunning, you had to catch yourself before you fell into the tub and made a fool of yourself. The living embodiment of a marble god stood within the doorway, a decedent feast of muscles and mismatched skin lay before you, a map of dark scars played over the landscape, moving in incomprehensible patterns across his body until the trail was interrupted by a towel wrapped firmly around his waist, you swore you had never cursed a piece of material more in your life.

Aware of how long you had been staring, your eyes rushed up to meet his own, but found his gaze missing. With a frown, you noticed his eyes were averted to the floor; the candlelight played off the gold beautifully, yet it highlighted doubt. He was unsure. “Do I...do I please you?” The deep timber mutter blurred your vision and tried to force an ugly sob from your throat. This would not do!

With a hasty step and fluttering skirts, you approached the taller being, your hands gently cupping and turning his face until his eyes met yours, the fearful brown looked to you now, desperate for praise or direction, or perhaps both. “Adam, my everything”, you began, voice steady and unyielding “Before I met you, I thought I had found all the beauty in the world, and yet here you stand, to prove me wrong again. Your very presence is impossible, your very being is a miracle. To me, you are beauty, your skin, your muscles, your scars, your eyes, my god, your eyes, Adam. I feel as if every time I look into them, I am surrounded by liquid sunlight; I feel I am home. I love you, my darling, truly,” you finished with a whisper, you softly thumbed away the tears that fell in rivets down your creature's cheeks.

A quiet filled the air while you held him through his small sobs. You had no idea your words of adoration still affected Adam so, and yet, with a despairing realization, you knew you would have to spend your lifetime reassuring him. The world was a cruel, cold place, and even if you accepted him so completely, others would not. As a being considered 'other' yourself, you knew that the only way to live amongst those dull, normal folk was to deny your true nature, to live a half-life. You would never live such a hellscape of an existence again, and nor should Adam. Your home's walls would keep the hatred outside, but within, it would nurture your brilliant love.

Silently, you coaxed the creature towards the bath, turning away, you instructed him to remove his towel and get in. When the sounds of water splashing met your ears, you rolled up the sleeves of your low cut blouse and fought against the rising heat of your cheeks. Well, it was now or never. Picking up a bottle of lotion, you turned around and advanced to the most promising yet nerve-wracking site.

Adam allowed his body to sag against the tub with a contented sigh, arms outstretched on the rim and head tilted back to present his delicious neck to you, the column of flesh beckoning you to have a taste. Your mouth ran dry when you rounded the tub and shifted into a comfortable kneeling position behind the creature. His closed eyes slid open a fraction to gaze at you, a curious love danced through his golden brown iris while they followed your every move.

You squirted a liberal amount of the muscle relaxant into your hands to warm it up. It would do no good to make him jump with the coldness; you wanted him to trust you wholeheartedly, to feel cherished and cared for as he so deserved.

His muscles immediately became lax under your kneading, slippery hands, and a deep rumble filled the room. It echoed through his chest and straight to your long suffering core, you had to fight tooth and nail against the sudden urge to rub your thights together, desperate for any kind of friction. Your fingers greedily explored the planes of wet skin, pulling and pushing at the muscles you found there, so entranced in your pawing, you didnt see Adam turn his head to you, see his eyes cloud over with a haze so wanton for you, so dangerous.

All thoughts of holding your desires back faded, You couldnt even fight your eyes as they traveled further down. Past the valley of strong pectoral muscles with dark nipples atop their peaks, past the once relaxed biceps that now buldged and flexed in response to your working hands. Hells, they travled past mouth watering abdominals that also danced beneath the skin, giving you a private show that rapidly increased the wetness between your legs, mercy your mind was drifting in a sinfully voyeuristic haze, it was well and truly lost when you reached your prize inbetween your loves chisled legs.

Adams cock broke through the hot water and lay upon his abdomen proudly. You had only seen it once or twice by accident, but now there was purpose, now you felt allowed. It was as huge as you remember and now fully erect, you marveled at the darker shade of grey it adopted. If he were human you imagine it would have been red, near purple with desperation but this colour pleased you much, much more.

Without a word uttered your bodies acted on their own desires. Your own inched slightly to the right, your hands weaving hot patterns along Adams skin as the creature followed your movements. With a start you felt warm breath dance upon the skin of your neck, a hum errupting from you when lips joined the dance. They moved upon your skin with impatient kisses and and made your blood sing beneath, breathy sighs falling from your lips as you moved your head to capture Adams dark lips. Your mouths pressed together but you refused to be innocent, with a gentle bite and a lick of his lower lip, his mouth opened to your exploring tongue.

For a moment he didnt recouperate, seemily shellshocked at your behavouir. Lucky for you that fear didnt last too long, a much larger, shyer tongue met yours in a unsure caress. You encouraged him into a soft slide between the muscles, as if guiding his with yours in a simple two step dance. Oh, to teach this marvelous being to waltz would be an honour, but you had time, so much time. Right now the urgancy crept upon you both, heavy breathing transfered between your mouths as they lapped at eachother with a firey urge you had never experienced from your love before and you were incredibly keen to add kindling to that passionate flame.

You barely pulled your lips from his to speak "Adam...my love..." He knocked his forhead against yours as he nodded, signaling he'd heard you in his haze "I want to pleasure you further, do you trust me?" His watery eyes looked to yours with such conviction "With everything I have my raven...I...You have given me more than I deserve already...I dare not ask for more"

"Oh my sweet love" You pecked him softly on the nose, your hand slowly drifting down his abs as they rippled at your touch "I would not do this willingly if I didn't want to. Please, If you get scared I want you to tell me to stop, do you understand?" He nodded, you smiled "Good. Now this will be new to you, to feel anothers hand on your most intimate part. I will kiss you through the nerves but you must tell me to stop if it gets too much for you love"

"Yes" he breathed "Yes let me taste you again...I beg you my love" before you could melt further at his words or even stop him, large wet fingers wove into your hair and dragged you back to him with great care, his lips once again feasting upon yours. Lost and appeased by his words, your hand drifted further to your prize, once it bumped the head of his shaft, your fingers gently wrapped around the silkly flesh. A growl ripped from the creatures lips at the sensation and drove him to devour you, his sligthly crooked teeth nipping your bottom lip and drawing you nearer, you could only answer with a pathetic whimper of your own as you felt your wetness seep into your small clothes.

Sure of his pleasure you hand moved now, a simple glide of up and down along his long member, you had to work to keep your fingers wrapped around the thickness of it, it made your mouth water further with the thought of that thickness ramming into the deepest parts of you, you released a wanton moan into the kiss, speeding up your movements. As your thumb travled up a promiment vein and reached to the bulbous head, the creature tore his lips away from yours and attacked the side of your mouth with harsh kisses, they traveled to your buring cheek, your jaw and finally along your neck, allowing blissed out moans to escape your parted lips. Gods! you were in paradise.

So caught up were you both in your passion that you didnt realise you had given the poor creatures rock hard shaft a particularly hard squeeze at the bottom of it, or that your nail scraped under his cock head at a particularly sensitive side because what followed was an earth shattering roar right next to your ear, causing your poor ear drum to aggressivly vibrate and then...searing pain errupted from your shoulder as sharp teeth lodged themselves within your flesh. You threw your head back and cried out in a mix of dark pleasure and blooming pain.

In your daze you felt your hand being ripped away and the all encompassing present infront of you was scrambling away, terrified.

You blinked owlishly for a few seconds and then your eyes shifted down to your left shoulder, your brain furioulsy tried to catch up with the bright red seeping from a perfect set of teeth marks that hadn't been there before. With a shaky hand you dragged your finger through the blood slowly traveling down from the wound until it met the shallow puncutures, a sigh of relief left your tight chest, thankfully it wouldnt need sitches. With the quick assessment done, your mind turned to other more pressing matters.

Your poor creature was cowering with his back firmly pressed against the tub, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to help you, but fearing he would hurt you further. The thing that wounded you the most was his face, he looked positivly broken with tears dripping from his bright eyes as his brow scrunched up in anguish, his lip quivering as sobs escaped him. Oh your poor love, you had been so caught up in your own selfish passion that you had neglected to guide him when you promised to be his teacher, forced him to waltz before he could two step, what a wretched creature you were.

Tentativley you raised your hands to his face but he furiously shook his head away with a strangled whine "Please dont...I...I do not want to hurt you again". It was your turn to release a wounded sound, you nodded softly and placed your hands on the lip of the tub "Adam my darling, I am the one to blame"

"But-"

"Absoutly no buts my love. I promised to guide you through what should have been a wonderful experience and I did not. I failed you my darling and I am sorry...truly deeply sorry" You released a melancoly sigh, why couldnt anything be simple for you both?

Adam's eyes narrowed in confusion at your apology "Forgive me my raven but, I do not understand? It was I who hurt you? I should be the one to beg for your forgiveness, I DO beg it". You hummed for a moment, not in agreement but more in acknowledgement that you had heard him, you slowly held your hand out and was glad to have it encased in your beloveds again. "I think" You tried "We need to talk about what is happening, It is clear you have discovered something new, and yes-" You held your hand up to stop his interruption "I know about the book, I saw you reading it the other day, you are a sneaky little thing arent you?" You laughed as his cheeks bloomed red, his eyes shifting away from you in embarrasment "non of that love, I am not angry at you. I promised you that you could read any book of mine including...well...literature of other matters I suppose".

He slowly nodded "I have learned about myself, about the pleasures two people can experience together. My...mind and my...my body year to do these things with you" He rumbled, still refusing to look at you "But... I am a monster. You...you bring out the best in me, and yet, you bring out the animal in me. It is not rage that consumes me at the thought of your flesh, but it is something equally as passionate. I crave to know your body, I am desperate to hear you cry my name, I am ravanous to bring you to the very heights of pleasure that only an angel like you could ever deserve. I have developed an obession to make you...mine" He finished with a deeper growled octave, his eyes now drifting to the bite mark on your shoulder, they subtly glazed with lust as they took in the slowly congealing blood, but you caught the sultry embers before they could be snuffed out 'Oh...so its like that is it?'

You were lucky to be in the position you were in, for his words would have sent you collapsing in a trembling heap. It made you wonder how sick an individual could be to still feel pleasure pulsing between her legs whilst her shoulder stung with a fresh bloody bite from her lover. "I would like to try again" You said with finality.

"But I-"

"I would like to try again but...I would like to make sure we are both comfortable first. We shall talk and we shall prepare my darling. Your comfort is my top priority whilst you delve into this side of your nature. We shall talk in great detail about what we want and what we don't want, Is that alright with you love?" As the silent moments passed you began to think you had lost the fight but at last Adam nodded with a solem yet determined expression. W

ith that you lifted yourself off the ground to tend to your wound, assuring him you would be fine and he could continue his bath. But before you left the door you called out. "Oh and Adam?" He turned to you "Yes my raven?"

"I did so like it when you bit me, pleasure can be heightened with a dash of pain, you'll see" A wicked smile twisted your lips as you heard the wounded groan from behind the closing door.

You had preparation to do.

Chapter Text

The night he asked to have you, it was snowing, and you quite confidently think you will never forget the magic of it.

There was nothing remarkable about it—no life-threatening catastrophe, no eruption of existential dread, but it did snow. And judging by the reaction of your dearly beloved creature as the white flakes began to fall from the sky, it meant something.

You had gone about your evening tasks with little to no thought, so when you finished putting the last disgruntled cow away and turned to see his eyes shining with such incomprehensible emotion as the snow fell, a feeling you couldn't quite name began to grow.

Trepidation? Aprehension? Elation? Whatever this gnawing feeling was, it grew within your chest when his watery eyes found your searching ones. You barely registered his approach; you were too busy watching the complicated dance of emotion behind his golden browns. It wasn't until his arms circled your waist, his hot breath fanning over your cold skin, that you awoke from his spell.

He leaned down to your ear and uttered hotly, “I will have you tomorrow night", an earnest conviction with no stutter or lapse in bravery. A deep rumbled statement, not a request. And yet, you knew that you could still refuse Adam, and he would still hold you in the highest regard, showering you with such sweet love that only he could give you. But you knew, deep down, that there couldn’t have been any other response to his passionate need for you.

“Yes”

You felt a stranger to yourself as you gazed upon your reflection in the mirror the following night. You had not made an effort as monumental as this to please a partner in, well, it feels a lifetime ago.

The day had almost felt like the eve before a wedding. You creature had made himself scarce and busy with god knows what, whilst you worked on your own preparations. In the morning, you brewed a tonic your mother had taught you to make as soon as you came of age. Blushing crimson red, your mother took you to her cauldron and introduced you to this special brew, one to ensure you would not bear a child until you were sure and ready. Back then, you had balked at the very notion; now, you quietly thanked her gentle wisdom and stubborn mothering.

There was a ghost of that same blush, accompanied by a soft smile as you brewed it yourself. You wondered what your mother would think of Adam. You doubted she would be surprised that her darling daughter had entangled herself with a man-made creature that possessed abilities far beyond anyone's understanding. You think she would have liked him and mothered him until he begged you to hide him from her. However, life was cruel, and you would never know, perhaps in another lifetime.

The strange mix of yams, raspberries, and vinegar lingered upon your tongue as you brushed your long locks in front of your vanity mirror. You hate the word, vanity, you hated the very practice of it. It made you sick to your stomach as you’d walk through the city and towns and saw the terrible things others would do in the name of vanity. You thought the rich looked like walking corpses, caked in arsenic, belladonna, and other poisons that would gradually eat and pick at once supple skin. On the outside, they paraded like painted circus apes, and yet as you looked within their eyes, you could see the torment they longed to be free of. Their souls crying out for respite from the poison, death, vanity, poison, death.

So many lost to themselves to vanity, you would not be one of them.

Instead, you worshipped your skin in Mother Earth's creations. The pink of your lips gently changed into a deep rouge by simple beeswax with a dab of beetroot and roses. Your eyelashes darkened with a soft dusting of coal, and it was done. No fanfare, no arsenic, no death, problem solved.

With a sheen of elderflower water, your fingers glided along your skin, beginning with your forehead, you moved down to your cheeks, your chin, and finally your neck. Your fingers stopped when they ghosted over deep purple bruises along the column of your neck, and a sly grin split your face. It had been a few weeks since the bath incident, and both you and Adam had used that time VERY wisely. In candlelight and sunlight, you stole touches and passion from one another. Sometimes it would be a gentle caress of lips as you’d guide your creature through his yearnings.

Sometimes the lustful fires would be too great, and you’d become a rag doll encased in his huge hands. Your head was held with a vicious tenderness in one hand as he feasted upon your neck with sharp teeth and pawed at your waist with another. The serenity of the quiet air would be torn apart with wanton moans paired with growls that sounded as if they were birthed from the deepest pits of hell...Those, you swore, were your favourite.

Those moments filtered through your mind as you messed with the silks of your dress. One you had brought for this very moment, as soon as you saw it, you knew it was the one. The thin tulle layers fell down your thighs, no lower than your knees. The material was hugged together by a lush, corset-like shape that hugged your body perfectly. It wasn't garishly lavish by any stretch of the imagination, easy to don and doth it still made you feel like a seductive forest nymph.

The way it supported your breasts, the feel of the thin sleeves falling off your shoulders, you felt you could dance sailors to their very deaths, you felt deadly.

It was only when you heard the creak of the floor that your head whipped up to the dangerous creature leaning in the doorway. Your mouth ran dry when your hungry eyes followed the way his left abdominals shifted as his arm stretched above him. Gods, when did he learn to do that? When did he learn purpose seduction, oh right, the book.

It was only then that you realised the bastard was only wearing a tight set of dark leather trousers, which hugged his form in all the right places. His thighs and lean legs looked magnificent, and the prominent bulge between his legs? mouth watering. Between his long locks cascading over his shoulders and the garments, your mouth had swiftly altered states from bone dry to positively salivating.

Black and Gold danced within his orbs as they shifted over your trembling form appraisingly. The hungry fox had come to take the mouse, and she found herself gladly going into his waiting, dripping jaws.

With a grunt, he lifted off the frame and approached you, stalked you. His timber voice forced your body to erupt in goose flesh, your nipples to harden under soft material and a pathetic whimper to escape your mouth. “You, my raven, you are beauty. I have seen the sun rise over the snows of the Arctic; I had thought I’d found the pinnacle there. But I was wrong,” He growled as your back hit the wall, and yet still he advanced “She is here, within my wretched gaze. How should a beast such as I have the very goddess of beauty herself at my terrible, terrible will?”

His arms thumped above your head, as if caging a trembling animal. A large hand found itself gently wrapping around your throat. The paw coaxed you into tipping your head back to look directly into his eyes. His pupil blew out when a hopeless whimper escaped your throat. He kissed you sweetly for a moment when his lips easily found yours, but the pecks soon turned into an assault on well-trodden soil. What began as softness melted with heat as your lips battled each other for dominance, your tongues rallied to join the fight, the muscles sliding across each other with need for more.

In a flurry of movement, you were suddenly hoisted into the air by strong hands cradling the back of your thighs, gaps and grunts filled the quiet of the room inbetween open mouthed kisses as your legs wrapped around the trim waist tightly. A higher-pitched moan tore itself from within you when your heated core became flush with Adam's thick erection. You mentally cursed at the layers of clothing that kept you both apart, and couldn't stop your hips from beginning to seek friction.

A wicked grin spread across your face when Adams' wounded noises transformed into animalistic growls at your actions. The more you rocked, the stronger they rumbled through your heated body. A startled squeak left you when your body collided with the softness of your bed. You were about to chastise your creature for the hasty treatment; however, the bitter words caught in your throat when your eyes took in the terrifyingly alluring Adonis at the foot of your bed. His locks were dishevelled from your restless hands, his chest rose and compressed with laboured breaths and yet his muscles contracted as if ready to hunt, ready to pounce. His eyes were sharp and focused on you, always you.

"My wicked love...You have but one chance to turn me away. Tell me no, and I shall pursue you no further tonight. If you do not, I shall take my fill of you, I shall ravish your soul and make your body crave me, and only me...do you understand?" He growled deeply, his eyes daring you to say no. Instead, you allowed your legs to fall apart for him, your head tilting to the side in submission. Lips twisted into a pleased smirk at the appeased rumble of your lover. With quivering lips you spoke your request, "Love me, Adam...not just as a man...but a creature...Oh, gods destroy me!"

The monster at the end of your bed roared his passion for you and pounced.

Hands grabbed at flesh and muscle, teeth bit into skin, and lips added more possessive bruises across any expanse of skin they could find. Without thought, Adam grabbed the hem of your dress and tore it cleanly in two with a savage growl "Beautiful. M-my god, how do you exist for me? Please...Please, my beloved, I am weak for you..." He finished with a wet sob. You would have been angry, almost saddened by the damage, but how could you when this being was falling apart above you from simply looking at your naked form? What a heart breakingly gorgous creature you had!

With outstretched arms, you pulled him to your chest. His quiet sobs continued as he mouthed at the valley between your naked breasts, his hands moulding your soft flesh to his will with utter care. A breathy moan escaped you as his fingers found themselves stroking across your pebbled nipples "Oh, Adam...Yes, my love.... you're doing uh... you're doing so well! Please k-keep exploring me" You finished with a high-pitched whine when his fingers pinched your hard nubs. He nodded furiously into your chest as he continued to worship you.

His mouth replaced his fingers, and his warm tongue cautiously lapped at your right nipple. Encouraged by your pleasure whimpers, he bit and sucked at the hard flesh, as if playing you like an instrument; he was eager to know how to tune you to keep making those gorgeous sounds. He then alternated to the left one and gave it the same treatment, distantly you could feel his fingers ghosting their way from your breasts down your stomach towards a new destination.

If you'd have been in this situation months ago, Adams ability to play you so sweetly would astound you. However, you knew far better now, knew how deeply your lovers need to please you ran. The terror that Adam had felt after hurting you had truly stuck with him. His relentless quest to ensure it never happened again had driven him to the only source of answers he could trust that wasnt you, books.

You had spotted him on numerous occasions, hunched in a quiet place with the little red book tightly grasped between his fingers as if it could grant him the answers to the universe. The way his eyes furiously scanned the pages, it was a surprise the poor thing didn't combust in the creature's hands! Not only that, but he would explore your body with deep dedication as you both passionately kissed into the night. Not only did he map your sensitive spots, commit anything to memory that would please you, but he would teach himself restraint. He would force himself to stop and control his breathing. You knew this whole time he was preparing himself, training himself to ensure he could keep his strength at bay.

And while you found yourself deeply moved and grateful that your beloved cherished you so much, some twisted part of yourself mourned the danger. Some whisper in the back of your brain yearned for him to lose control again. He may want to deliver a gentleman to you, but you would forever want the creature.

A cry fell from your lips and detached you from your dark thoughts when you felt a long finger tentatively rub between your wet folds. It gently circled and collected your juices in an easy glide through your dewy soft curls. You could feel his quiet need to try and find the bud he'd learned so much about, the one that would bring you the deeper pleasure you so craved. Golden brown looked into your lidded eyes pleadingly, "Am I...am I doing it right, love?".

Your heart swelled, and you gave a jerky nod. Bringing your hand down to softly grasp his own, you muttered, "Let me...let me guide you, Adam"

"Thank you, my raven", He hummed and watched with bated breath as you guided his hand closer to your centre. Your cheeks exploded in colour at his wide stare, you almost felt like an organism under a microscope or a specimen ready to be dissected, you had to remind yourself his enthusiasm was completely normal, you would play the part of the patient teacher, and you knew deep down you would be greatly rewarded.

The reward came when his finger finally brushed across your engorged clit and elicited a delighted gasp from you. A deep rumble left him then, and his finger continued its gentle assault upon the nub; the simmering heat in the pit of your stomach began to boil and spill into your veins. The pleasure buzzed from your core and up your bowed spine, travelling to your brain, filling your mind with pleasant warmth.

Through hazy eyes, you could see Adams' own looking at you in utter wonder, feasting upon the sight of pleasure possessing your body, pleasure he had bestowed upon you. Enboldened by his discovery and confident he could find your bud again, his finger moved from your clit down to your opening. A startled moan filled the room as the large digit slowly slid into your depths, taking its time to move in and out of you. It was joined by a second, and they proceeded to move within your depths, stroking and parting to stretch and soften your walls, ready for something much, much bigger.

You whimpered at the thought, his fingers already filled you to the brim. How much more could you take? It should have scared you, but the idea of this creature's cock splitting you in two had you releasing wanton moans into the air, had more wetness spilling from between your lover's fingers and coating them liberally with your lust as your mind sang for more more more! 

You couldn't recall closing your eyes; they quickly opened when you felt empty at the loss of your lover's fingers. You could feel your blush deepening further and your eyes widening when you watched Adam regard the wetness upon his fingers before his eyes. His tongue tentatively poked out from between his dark lips and lapped along his digits. A pleased growl quickly followed as he sucked them into his mouth and greedily chased the taste of you. His orbs met yours in a heated stare; they had a dangerous golden glow now, and you felt your mouth go dry.

"You taste love....divine....I must have more!" He roared and leapt upon you as if you were a feast and he, a man absolutely deprived.

Without grace, he positioned himself between your spread legs, two large hands wrapped around your quivering thighs and pulled them even further apart as his tongue plunged into your depths. Your scream filled the room with suddenness, and to your delight, instead of scaring the creature, it only spurred him on.

Obscene noises filled the quiet, wet laps of his tongue exploring your sopping, pliant walls had you thrashing your head into the pillows, euphoric sobs muffled themselves into the wet softness where salt tears had collected. "No.." A deep voice murmured from between your legs. Adams hand slithered up your body to the side of your face and gently coaxed you from your hiding place in the pillow. "I wish to hear what I do to you, beloved," he stroked your cheek reverently and moved his hand back to your right breast, his fingers gently torturing your nipple again and forcing a keen from your throat.

You could feel his confidence brewing now, so sure of everything he did, he began to work you like a cherished instrument. His other hand moved down to join his tongue at your core, his mismatched fingers finding your bud easily. They twisted and played your wet clit to coax the sweetest sounds from between your laboured breaths. The heat within you had transformed into an inferno, your nerves pulsed and frayed with every lick, every pinch that Adam bestowed upon you, you didn't think you could climb any higher until-

"There! Fuck- there, Adam!"

You finished with a whine as his tongue connected with a spot deep within you. It felt as if you were being electrocuted and burned alive at the same time, but rather than pain, it was blistering pleasure that consumed your body and soul. The coil that had rapidly been building in tension now pulled tight within you, the tension too much for you to bear! With every sensation, your wails climbed higher in pitch, your fingers flew to Adams' head and clung to his locks as if he were a rock within a raging sea of euphoria.

A well-timed pinch of your bud and a particularly harsh press of his tongue had you plunging into the watery depths of bliss, the coil snapped and sparked with marvellous light within your core as you came violently. Entire body frayed, you could barely control the spasms as you felt Adam indulging what you had to offer him; his wicked eyes gleamed at you with golden satisfaction, a true devil.

You barely gave your body time to recover; you needed to taste him NOW. With clawing hands, you pulled your creature up towards you. So startled was he by your actions that he easily flopped onto the bed with an unceremonious "umph."

His body massivly dwarfed yours in comparison. Had it been any other situation, you would have laughed at the obscenity of it all. Laughed at the fact that you had to gather momentum to throw your leg over stradle the large creature.

His waist spread your legs delicioulsy and you moaned as your oversensitive core met his rock-hard and, much to your frustration, still clothed erection. You could feel it pulsing now, demanding to be released from its material prison. Soon, you promised yourself, soon.

Adam placed his large paws upon your waist to steady your moving hips and gasped out, "My love...please, slow down. Catch your breath, we have all the time in the world-"

"No", you growled lowly, his mouth instantly shut with a clank of his teeth. He eyed you cautiously and held his hands up in surrender to your animalistic will. His expression would have concerned you, but as soon as your lips clashed with his again, he was content to fall into the madness with you. The familiar pleasured rumble vibrated through his chest. He shared your taste with you as his long tongue slithered out to meet your eager one. Although it should have disgusted you, the fact that it was Adam with your juices on his tongue made a dark thrill jitter up your spine.  

A quiet whine left dark lips as you broke the kiss, but it quickly morphed into a contented growl when your kisses travelled across his sharp cheekbone and down to the column of his strong neck, where you alternated between gentle nips and open-mouthed kisses. Oh, to be able to leave a mark on this Adonis, what an honour. But his rapidly healing body would not permit it; you would just have to content yourself by refreshing the purple and dark grey bruises daily. What a shame.

"I shall not slow down...Do you want to know why?"

He nodded furiously, eager to hear your sinful words.

"It is because I have lusted after you for so long.....oh, Adam, you have no idea!" you moaned when your hips ground down particularly hard against him, but you would not stop, you had so much more to say to him." Gods, you are so beautiful, so- so strong. Do you have any idea how many nights I pleasured myself to the thought of you love? How many nights your face haunted my dreams? How I was so desperate to feel your hands upon me, feel you tear me apart with your love. I want your mouth," your lips now blazed a trail down his smooth chest, your wicked hands following your heated trail.

"I want your heart. You took extra time to give a gentle bite to the swell of his pecks, you kitten licked his nipples and grinned when he rewarded you with deep moans of his own. You could see his hands flexing in the sheets, tearing at the weak fabric in his desperate need to touch.

"I want your soul." You moved lower still, licking and biting at his quivering abs as your fingers massaged his sides and pulled softly at the taught muscles, displaying themselves proudly for you and only you. When your chin bumped into the hem of his trousers, your fingers shot down to tear at them and made quick work of pulling them down around his ass, distantly aware that he had lifted up to help you shimmy the material down.

And there it was, utter perfection. It was an angry, dark shade of grey, rock hard and leaking just for you. Your eyes raised to meet his desperate golden brown, mouth twisting into a self-satisfied grin at the truly debauched face of your creature.

"And I want your cock." You wrapped your still-painted lips around him, and he released a glass-shattering roar. He barely stood a chance as you proceeded to lick around his mushroom head, collecting the bitter yet addictive taste that leaked from him. Wicked hands joined you in your quest to bring this being the greatest pleasure he'd ever known.

You knew for a fact you would never be able to take him down your throat fully; you were no fool and still had some sense of self-preservation. So your hands began to move up and down his shaft, emboldened by the broken moans from your lover, you made sure to twist your wrist towards the top to drive him absolutely wild.

A startled sound escaped your throat when you felt Adam suddenly piston his shaft and hit the back of your throat. Without faltering your rhythm, you squeezed your legs tightly around him to stop his movements. You then grabbed his hands to hold onto your thighs and squeeze. Your creature was losing control and needed to anchor himself, but you refused to let this end. You wouldn't let him run away again.

His hands squeezed your thighs with a bruising grip in tandem with your mouth bobbing up and down; the noises he released acted as fuel to your engine. They alternated between desperate wails and feral snarls, both travelling to your core and forcing it to get wetter than you thought possible. You wondered distantly if you could cum again just from hearing Adam lose his control. You would very much like to explore the possibility.

Your musings were interrupted by a panicked sound from above you, immediatly you pulled away from Adam's member to see if you'd hurt him. It was your job to look after him during this experience, and you refused to let him down again. What you saw postitivly winded you. He looked absolutely ravaged. His rapidly moving chest was sleek with sweat, his head thrown back, and his throat furiously working to swallow around his heavy breaths. After a moment, he lifted his head, and you gasped at the teary, worshipping eyes that met yours. 'My gods, ' you thought 'what have I done to this creature?'.

"Something-" he swallowed, "Something was happening, I-I could feel it...it felt like...like I was going to explode," He almost sounded scared.

"Oh darling" you cooed to him, "That's...During intercourse...Its normal, it means you're going to orgasm...to cum."

"Cum," He repeated in childlike wonder that made your face bloom red, mercy. "Yes...I read about it in that book. I just...It's strange when-"

"When its your first time? When it's you?" nodding thoughtfully, you supposed it was. You could clearly remember your first time. Everything seemed so new when you had discovered your womanhood and the pleasures it could bring to you. And whilst the feeling of electricity coursing through your veins was exciting, it was also terrifying. Trying to reach that peak and not knowing what came next? You could absolutely empathise with your lover. What an exciting experience then. To experience it together.

"Did I....Did I ruin it?" He asked, sounding completely disappointed. You took his hand from your thigh and kissed it with as much reassurance as you could muster in the simple action. Shaking your head, you could only look to Adam with deep affection, "No...not at all, my treasure. You have been wonderful and everything I've ever wanted." he released a relieved sigh and nuzzled into your hand when it went to caress his locks in comfort.

During the moment of comfortable silence, you shimmied your way up his body again, a gentle whimper leaving you as your wet core once again met Adams' member. He released a shuddering breath when he peered down between you and marvelled at the obscene sight, his stare almost making you feel shy, but you refused to appear coquettish now, not when you both were so close.

"Do you want to continue Adam?" He nodded sharply, of course, he did.

"Very well, my love, I'm going to put you inside me now. You need to listen to me." His eyes met yours in complete determination, eager to please you and understand.

"Once I do, I'm going to give us a minute to breathe. The sensation it- it is a lot, especially for your first time. Now I need to know...do you trust me?"

"I trust you with my entire being, my entire unending life is in your hands, my raven."

His words made your heart clench with affection, but you did not respond with words; no more were needed right now. Instead, you grabbed his hand and held it tightly in support. Lifting yourself with a deep breath above his cock, you held it firmly as he steadied you. Your eyes met again, and with a nod and bated breath, you slowly lowered yourself onto him.

As soon as his head pushed past your entrance, a deep groan tumbled from your throat. Moon Mother, he was so big! He filled you as you took in inch after inch; it honestly felt unending. Your expressions matched, teeth clenched, eyes screwed shut, and breath held until you fell flush against him. Your hands grabbed onto his chest to steady you as you found the ability to breathe again. He was already so deep!

It felt like your lungs had no room to inflate within your chest. You knew it was impossible, but it truly felt like his length had far surpassed your cervix and your womb and made itself home in your stomach. You couldn't believe your womanhood had stretched to accommodate such a size. Even the pulsing of his cock had you moaning helplessly, he wasnt even moving, and yet you felt completely overwhelmed.

Adam wasn't faring much better himself; he looked positively wrecked. He had thrown his hands up to grasp the headboard above the bed, the wood already cracking and splintering within his punishing grasp. His chest moved quickly as dangerous growls spilt from him, his brow fell heavy in concentration as his golden browns burned into you. He drew another helpless whimper from you when he pulsed deep within your core, silently urging you to do something.

With a strained nod from you both and sheer determination, you lifted yourself slowly in his lap and dropped again, the movement elicited a choir of debauched noises from you both as you began a slow rhythm. Even with the slow tempo, the drag of his silky flesh across your inner walls was absolutely euphoric and in no time at all, your hips subconsciously picked up speed. They circled and ground themselves at the creatures, silently inviting him to thrust into you.

"Adam....Please, I-oh!" you cried in bliss as you felt his own hips begin to meet yours. At the start, they were clumsy, uncoordinated. But soon Adam followed your pattern as if learning to dance, and he quickly followed your lead with quick snaps of his hips into you.

Your world was suddenly turned upside down when you felt giant hands grabbing your waist and throwing you to the bed, without Adam's cock ever leaving you, he began a brutal pace within your sopping core as his legs forced themselves between yours, giving you no choice but to wrap your trembling thighs around his thick waist.

You forced your eyes open, and you groaned at the state of your lover. He leaned over you with one arm on the headboard and caged you in totally; the other was planted firmly against your head. His chest heaved, and his hips jackhammered into you. But it wasnt any of that that stole your breath away, it was his face, his eyes. The creature looked positively possessed as he snarled his pleasure, his eyes practically burning holes into you with possessive need.

Your sweet, naive creature was gone, you knew that now, and even though a tiny part of you mourned the loss, this dangerous creature...this monster above you had you enraptured. The fox had caught the mouse, and now he was tearing her apart, taking taking taking. Gorging himself on her wanton, desperate cries for completion. She was completely dependent on him to bring her a pleasure she had never known.

Even as images of your dead lover flashed before your eyes, of an Adam from a different lifetime, in this very position, the fervency of this lovemaking, no, this insanity, this carnal act far surpassed what you had back then, and as you looked into the ferocious glint of your creature's eyes, you think he knew that.

"Mine", he growled at you with finality. "You- you are mine. Nobody else shall have you like this, say it!"

"Yours!" you pleaded to him, to the gods, to the moon, to your dead mother, to anyone who would listen to you decree! "Oh hells Adam, yes! I'm yours....oh...oh yes!"

His mouth morphed into a dark grin then, and it sent you teetering at the edge. If it was even possible, His hips thrust harder, his speed impossible now as he staked his claim on your writhing body. Destroying you so completely, it was beautiful.

You felt him rhythm stutter for a millisecond and then become something messy, something close, he released a deep, wounded noise, "Uh...Its... it's coming... It's happening again"

"Let it happen love! Please, darling, give it to me! Together, we will cum together!" You threw your hand down to your core and furiously circled your neglected clit, hell-bent on completion with your lover for his first time. You squeezed your internal walls, clamping down on his pulsing cock and coaxed him closer to his own end.

He thrust once, twice and with a ear ringing roar, he bit down into your throat, exactly where he bit you all those weeks ago and muffled his groans as he came hard. The mix of the sudden pain and the pleasure of him releasing within you had the tight band snapping within you again, and your juices erupting around his member. A wrung-out cry rushed past your abused vocal cords as your vision completely whited out, it was then followed by breathy satified moans as your womanhood contracted and you gradually came back to yourself.

A gentle evening wind tapped curiously at your window as your room fell into a blissful quiet once again. The candles, now melted close to their ends, offered a warm light that amplified with the glow of two lovers now encased in each other's arms after such an intense, emotional experience. The atmosphere of it all finally caught up to you and brought unbidden tears to your eyes. One escaped and hit the chest of your lover, alerting him to your state. He gently lifted your chin to look at him.

"Little Raven, are you alright? I-" his eyes drew themselves to the droplets of blood that slowly fell down your neck from the wound he'd inflicted, his crooked teeth perfectly preserved glared back at him, taughtingly "oh god...I hurt you again...I-" his own eyes watered into liquid gold "I'm so sorry"

"Don't you dare"

"w-what?" his lips trembled, eyes wide at your stern tone. You shook your head and placed your own hand over his "Don't you dare apologise for this. This thing that I've wanted for what feels like a life time. Adam...you- you have no idea-" you broke down into a sob then, burrowed your small body into his waiting embrace, his arms wrapping themselves around your shuddering shoulders, they protected you there, from everything wrong in the world, from everything that wasn't him. "I have been alone for so so long, and you. You have given me the best gift I could ever ask for. You have given me companionship, you have given me understanding, and you have given me love. This, what we are... We aren't gentle, we aren't refined or tidy. You were born into horrific circumstances, and I, well-" you shook your tears away with a sad smile "I am a creature made of circumstance, hated by the world for merely existing; we both are. And yet, against it all, we found eachother! Can't you tell my love? I cry in relief, I cry in euphoria, I cry because I am inlove! I am so...so inlove with you, Adam"

No more words were spoken that night, instead you cried together, kissed tenderly, embraced eachother and loved one another as nature intended. It is true what you said. Somehow, against all the odds, the vast number of souls that inhabited the planet and the circumstances that brought people together, somehow you had found eachother in the bleak wretchedness of it all. Not only had you made love for the first time, but you had consummated something so ancient, something so right that the very nature of things shifted around you; it acknowledged the connection of two true soul mates and welcomed your love into its warm, open arms.

The days that followed that were a flurry of love and fledgling lust. Anywhere in the house became a surface for your lovemaking, cries of pleasure would fill the place as Adam took you against tables, on the sofa, on the floor, in the bath, hells he even approached you and played you to completion with his fingers in the stable. You didn't think either of your appetites could ever be satiated for each other, and if you were honest, you didn't want it to be.

A full week followed when you finally found yourself returning to the town to drop off the little red book to your dear friend Aileen. A divious grin split the elder woman's face as soon as you walked through her door. Through spluttered words and blooming cheeks, you thanked her profusely for the book and told her you would not need the book again. Before you could leave, she snagged the thing out of your hands only to replace it with another book. This one much bigger and grander in nature. With brash pride, she stated, "It is the sequel".

So caught up were you in your need to leave the book shop as not to raise suspicion, you completely missed the leering pair of eyes that followed your retreating form down the street. But the pair weren't alone, not only that, they were baying for your blood.

Chapter Text

Kiss me hard before you go, summertime sadness,

I just wanted you to know, that baby your the best

-Summer Time Sadness - Lana Del Rey

The spring had started to melt away winter's cold grasp upon the land when you first noticed the small kitten. It was a tiny thing, and had you not such a keen eye, you would have never spotted it.

You had first noticed it when you searched for herbs and flowers further afield (no pun intended), a few fields away from your home. A mighty windmill emerged as you reached the top of the hilly land. It stood tall like an imposing wooden giant, its panels creaking and groaning as it rotated in the wind. It completely baffled you how you had not come across this marvellous beast before. It was surely big enough to catch an eye from miles away, and yet, you couldn’t for the life of you recall having ever seen it.

Upon further inspection within the rickety old place, you could confidently confirm it had been abandoned. The tarnished sacks of mouldy flour told you as such. What a shame. You could have used that to bake goods for yourself and Adam; surely it would have fed you both for a good two months. Never mind, it was better to leave things that did not belong to yourself well alone.

One more lap around the wooden goliath, and the sight of weeds suffocating the bottom of the structure with their growth brought no further clues as to who owned the windmill. It did, however, harbour abundant growths of dill and mint. Someone must have lovingly tended to a garden in a time before; there could be no other explanation for the abundance of healing herbs. You offered gratitude for your find and took only what you needed, sure you would return.

As you walked away, you took one final look at the breathtaking picture of the windmill. You hoped one day that it would stand the test of time long enough for an artist to capture the beauty of it all. The way the building almost swayed in the crisp air as the wispy clouds passed by lazily in the bright blue sky. And yet, a darker part of you hoped it would never be discovered, never be disturbed by another being. Man, you knew, was so quick to set aflame to anything that did not serve him, no matter how beautiful.

Had you stayed in your negative musings any longer, you would not have seen the small shape timidly slinking from within the building. Your head cocked, and your eyes widened as they connected with the small creatures. Its fur was a lovely light brown, but its eyes, its eyes were the brightest green you had ever seen. With those brilliant orbs, it seemed to regard whether you were friend or foe, and as quickly as a flash, it darted into the tall grass nearby. As if the whole thing had never happened.

You took a few minutes to look around the mill again to see if you could find more kittens, or at least a mother, but you found none. And the kitten did not make an appearance again. Knowing Adam was waiting for you, and with no time to spare lest he begin to worry. You turned and went on your way back to your home.

The small thing became a regular sight over the next couple of days. For once in your life, you were pleased to be followed. You knew of its whereabouts in the barns when you’d hear the disgruntled huffing of the cows, the surprised whinneys of the horses as it slinked and slunk in the shadows, but even calmed after a time, as if the animals had also accepted the presence of the creature. You even found yourself putting out small bowls of milk for it, in hopes that it would come to trust you enough to make its presence physically known to you.

*

The sun was low in the sky, and it painted brilliant hues of pinks and purples across the horizon. You sighed in contentment while you basked in your favourite time of the day. There truly was nothing better than a perfect dusk. When day married night in harmonious companionship, as the moon and the sun joined within the union of the sky.

You could feel his presence long before his heavy footfalls interrupted the murmur of the farm. It wrapped itself around you in the form of heavy animal skins and a strong chest to your back, your body naturally melted within his arms and snuggled further into the warmth his heavy coat offered you both. You could feel yourself smiling and your cheeks blooming as he gently laid his chin upon the top of your head; now this was true bliss.

“You are cold”

“Yes,” you hummed in agreement “but it seems my ever present guaridan protects me once again. What a dashing knight, however shall I repay him?” You felt your smile widening as he nuzzled his nose into your hair, clearly hiding away from your teasing as he so often did. Especially when the teasing mingled with compliments for him. It was adorable.

“What are you doing out here, beloved? It is not yet time to put the animals away?” he murmured warmly next to your ear, causing a soft shiver to run pleasantly down your spine. You snuggled into him further. “I am looking for our little visitor; it seems to be eluding me”

“Do you mean the small cat?” he enquired

“I- yes! You’ve seen it?” You turned around in his grasp “The small cat- I mean, kitten? Baby cats are called Kittens Adam.”

He nodded thoughtfully at the new word. It astounded you how he still had so much to learn about the world, so many words to add to his vocabulary. Once his brain had processed the new information, he gave a final nod, as if to say ‘yes, of course that's what they're called, it makes total sense now’ and spoke again “after you returned from the windmill I spotted it that night. I tried to approach it but,” he sighed “it seemed frightened, I think I- I think I scared it away”

“Oh, love,” wrapping your arms around his waist, you gave him a comforting squeeze “It's only a baby, I’m sure anything would scare them at this age-”

A tiny squeak of a noise interrupted you. You both turned, and who should be approaching but the tiny kitten on wobbly little legs. You turned to meet your lover's bright smile with your own excited one, but before he could utter a word, you quickly ushered him to get a bowl of milk and a small blanket for them, and you would keep the creature occupied.

The furry thing was momentarily startled by the sudden movement. It wasn't until Adam retreated into the barn that it began to make its way to you again, with its eyes set on you in determination. By the time the kitten had made it to your feet, you ever so cautiously bent down, desperate not to startle it and let it sniff your hand.

A relieved breath left when the kitten sniffed for a moment or two and then butted its tiny head against you, demanding more attention. A child-like glee washed over you as you petted it with care, and once it started to push into your doting hands, you ever so gently wrapped them around the furry body and lifted it to you. Once again, the creature startled but quickly calmed down when it realised that you were a brilliant source of heat. Ah, that was its game then, to find more heat and comfort than the barns could offer.

Just as Adam was making his way out of the barn, you moved over to the space quickly with the creature in your arms. He released his own sigh of relief and gave a small triumphant laugh as you both took the creature into your home to better warm it up.

Dusk turned to night, and you both doted on the kitten with the utmost care. You had determined she was a little girl and surprisingly healthy; the way she practically pranced around your home as if she’d always belonged there told you both as such. Once she had drunk her fill of milk, she moved herself into your lap as you lay against Adam on the sofa, where she proceeded to nuzzle into the blankets there and fall into a quiet doze, her contented little purrs made your heart swell impossibly further.

“It seems,” you began “That are family has just gotten bigger” You looked up with a smile on your face, which only grew as you caught the innocent wonder within Adam's golden brown eyes. They refused to move from the small creature, even when he could tell you were staring.

Without a beat, he proclaimed, “We must name her”

Without a beat, you responded, “Little Liz”

You gasped, where the hells did that come from? You could feel Adams breath catch in his chest as your world suddenly zeroed in on his widening eyes. Your souls connected in anguish for a moment as your eyes grew bigger, too. Tearing your glance away, you stared down at the kitten in morbid horror. “I- I don’t know why I said that....I haven’t thought about her in ages” Your breath caught in your chest again, and you could feel the torturous burn behind your retinas at the stark realisation. It was juxtaposed to what felt like a bucket of ice-cold water dousing you in freezing shame.

“Oh gods,” you uttered, “I haven’t thought about her...” A deep disgust filled you then. How could you forget so easily such a massive yet such a small part of your life? How could you forget her?

Sensing your distress and feeling the need to ground himself, Adam drew you further to his chest, his comforting scent of sandalwood, smoke, sweat and something so wholly him calmed your nerves, it allowed your muddled thoughts to relax and leave you with only a deep sadness.

“I remember you telling me long ago that you knew her, how- how did you know her?”

“It's not a pretty tale to tell, I assure you, love” He hummed thoughtfully, “I understand, but I should like to hear it. As you know, she also meant a great deal to me too...I would like to know her better, if that's alright with you”

How could you deny your beloved anything? He was right; he knew and cared for her deeply as well. It wouldn’t be fair for you to keep this from him, and you knew it.

With a resigned sigh, you settled against him further, your hand gently carded through the kitten's fur. “Very well, from my memory it went quite like this...”

*

The day had been tiresome when you stumbled upon the strange girl. It had barely been a week since you fled to yet another quiet village on the other side of the city of Edinburgh, and truth be told, your nerves were frayed. The mutterings of witches abroad were rife, no matter where you ran, no matter how much you tried to hide.

To be quite honest, you had never felt more alone.

It had been at least four years since the death of your mother…and yet, the deep wound still seeped with loss, still stung with rage. You searched for her in your dreams, in the wind blowing through the trees, in the sweet scent of the flowers, but you could not find her ghost anywhere.

So you toiled, you worked yourself to the bone because it was the only thing you had. The wealth of what you did meant nothing; the coin you had was heavy in your pocket. It all meant nothing.

It was the sound of her skirts that dragged you from the nothingness, your tired head raised to find this gorgeously out of place creature staring right back at you, a look of utter helplessness upon her doll-like face. “E-excuse me, miss…I appear to be lost”

You took one look around the place and back at her “Yes…it seems you are” Her lip quivered hopelessly.

It made you feel something deep inside you, something that hadn’t been disturbed for quite some time. Was it pity or Intrigue? You weren’t quite sure. You sighed and wiped your dirty hands on your work apron “Come inside girl, tell me what happened, and we’ll see what’s to be done with you, miss?”

“Oh! My names Elizabeth,” she beamed with a curtsy.

The name was like a punch to the gut; you knew what that feeling was, and you didn’t like it, not at all. It was fate, inevitability, knocking at your door. “Elizabeth,” you muttered, “of course you are” She made a face of puzzlement at your mutterings, but followed you into your hut nonetheless.

It turns out Elizabeth was quite the wandering explorer. After you told her your name, she recounted her adventure to you. With a lust for something different, grander than herself even, she came to the realisation that being encased in four walls of floral patterns and decadent art would consume her sanity, and she would rather perish than fall to a terrible fate of high propriety and society.

The final nail in her coffin was the announcement of her engagement to a young William Frankenstein; she’d barely met the man, let alone felt any resemblance of love for him! Anterior motives were at work, she was sure, and she refused to be a pawn, and so, she walked. Aimlessly and without destination, she walked.

At first, she was determined to walk a field or so out of the city, and then it turned to two, and then five and then ten. As the sky darkened and the air filled with the taste of rain, she realised how truly lost she was. Aimlessly and hopelessly, she wandered until she found herself within the field you tended.

You whistled, “That is quite the tale Miss Elizabeth”

“Just Elizabeth please”

“Well, ‘just Elizabeth please’” she made a face, you laughed.

“Betrothed to a man you barely know? I suppose I can see why you fled so quickly!” You couldn’t believe it, you had thought the pompous arseholes at the top had lost their minds, but not to this point! To marry off their young children, the ones they were supposed to protect and adore? Madness, absolute madness.

“You see! Yes!” She cried in relief, “Finally somebody who understands”

She continued on her tirade. She spewed forth her hatred for the life she had been born into, lamenting about the silver spoon she was forced to choke on. It brought you perspective, truly. It seemed that no matter if you were richer or poorer, as a woman, you were all condemned to the flames, physically or metaphorically.

Now and again, she would wince between impassioned words. When you questioned her, she begrudgingly told you her feet were incredibly sore from her travels.

Without batting an eyelash, you set to work, ignoring her pleas that she would be fine. You proceeded to lift her skirts, take off her shoes and tend to the bleeding flesh you found there. She was shocked into silence as you gently applied a disinfecting tonic, a cream to help with irritation and finally bandaged her feet before setting them down into her bloody shoes.

“w-why did you do that?” She looked positivly awe struck, the expression confused you deeply, and you dismissed her words with a wave of your hand, “because you were in pain? I'm a healer, its my job. You come to me with an ailment, and I will heal it...It seems quite simple to me. Now miss Elizabeth, I believe you should make your way home. Allow me to help you find a carriage”

She spoke no more, still in a daze of awe, she followed you like an overenthusiastic pup to the village's stable, where, as luck would have it, a carriage was ready to leave. You bid her farewell and ignored the questioning stares from the stable hands. It would do no good to raise alarms with suspicious behaviour. To see a person of wealth consorting with a poor maid? Practically unheard of.

You were sure, as you scurried away from the whispering men, that you would never see the strange girl again.

You did, in fact, see the strange girl again, on multiple occasions, actually.

More often than not, she would happen upon you whilst you worked in the fields or while attending a sick patient in your hut. Her visits either went one of two ways. She would either stand back and watch silently as you worked, or she would have more questions than a prosecutor in a courtroom: “Why do you do this?” “How does this work?” “What does this do?” why why why?

It would have been annoying. No, it should have been annoying. But you couldn’t quite bring yourself to hate her company. You even found yourself waiting for her, searching for her upon the horizon and hoping she would have more inane questions for you. To hell with the villagers, to hell with being careful. If fate decided that you would have a friend, hells a person to care for, shouldn’t you welcome that gift with open arms? Forgetting all previous tragedies, you stupidly threw caution to the wind. How you would come to regret it later. 

It was a sunny afternoon where you both basked in the warm rays, and you realised how deeply you did care for Elizabeth. You could hear her before you could see her, but you feigned your awareness of her and allowed her to place her soft hands over your eyes. With a girlish cry and a twist, she grabbed onto your shoulders and released the sweetest laugh you’d ever heard, your own hands naturally grabbing onto her slim, silk-covered waist. It felt right. It was beautiful.

She followed you and filled the air with gossip from within the household as you looked for your herbs. It wasn't until you heard a shocked gasp from her that you shot around to see what was the matter, only to find her gasping wide-eyed at a butterfly that had landed upon her grand skirts. Why did they have to be so big?

“Gosh! What a beady little thing!” she cried, a look of disgust upon her porcelain face. You shook your head and chuckled, plucking the offending creature from her skirts, your eyes shifted to peer at her, and the world stopped.

She looked at you as if you’d saved her life, as if you were special, as if you were everything she needed. The breath between you both paused, and nothing seemed to matter for those few blissful moments. Could she? Could you?

The butterfly flapped its wings and crawled up your finger to your hand, shattering whatever magic had enveloped you both. You cleared your throat and looked to the beautifully coloured creature, blessing its distraction.

“There's no need to fear Liz,” you soothed cooly “It's just a butterfly”

“It's wretched! Look at its eyes! They're so, so bulbous!”

“Now Elizabeth!” you chastised, and she shrank away, clearing your throat again, you tried a softer tone “Look at her, really look at her. What you call grotesque is quite normal to her, beautiful within her species, even"

Gently approaching the other girl, you turned the butterfly as it stretched its wings, almost as if it too hoped to educate the girl. Silently thanking it again, you continued your lesson, “Take the wings, for example, do they not look similar to your dresses? The way the patterns swirl and complement each other, the colours so bright and eye catching, it's as if a flower has taken flight!” you twisted your hand again as the creature began to saunter up and down your hand “her legs, her antenna and probuscus, they are all so delicate, so smooth in the way she moves them, as if she is dancing for us, she is living through dance, do you not also love to dance?”

Begrudingly, the rich girl nodded, her eyes no longer looking at the creature with total disgust, but the beginnings of intrigue, thank the moon mother you had her.

As the little creature flew from your hand, confident that she had done a job well done, you followed her journey for a moment and then returned your sights to Elizabeth. Your eyes shone with passion and conviction. “You, my dear girl, can empathise. You see things for what they really are, and you reject what is not authentic, what is false. Truth can be ugly, and yet you sought it out. You have a choice and the ability now to find the beautiful in the truth, the real and the natural. I have taught you of my nature, and yet you still come back to me, is this not true?”

She nodded furiously, of course it was! After her many visits, you had confided in her about your lineage encased in magic. She had mentioned the name of her betrothed's brother, a certain ‘Victor Frankenstein’, and immediately, you shouted at her, begged her not to pursue this man. It was as if you were posessed but something deep and dark within you offered you flashes, images of things to come. They weren’t completely formed, but they contained blood...so so much blood and pain. When she demanded how you could know of this...well, what choice did you have but to tell her?

You thought she’d run. Instead, she grasped your hands firmly in between hers and thanked you for your trust, promised you that she would never, could never run from you. It may as well have been a confession, a confession you chose to ignore, for both your sakes.

“I implore you, Liz, my Liz, to live your life in pursuit of true beauty then. Look upon the insects, creatures and patterns within this world and find the beauty that others cannot. Cherish them, for they are the ones who deserve to be cherished the most. Be that beacon for them, so they may find a light in this dreary world. You are capable and so smart, my dear; you can accomplish anything”

She rushed into your arms then, fresh tears poured from wide eyes that stained your shoulder and beckoned your own to join her. Her sobs refused to calm as you gently shushed her and carded your fingers through her soft hair. When she was able to finally draw breath, she uttered to you, with haunting words and a heartbroken sob, “I am to leave for Vienna...to be with William. I don't...I don't know when I'll return”

Your world had been reduced to ash once again. Another joy so spitefully dangled in front of you, gone. Why were you even here? To be a toy? A thing that destiny played with as if it were a vulture and you, a dying animal? Was it really that hard to allow you joy? You wished you had the answers.

But it didn’t get better, in your experience, things only got worse...

After Elizabeth's last visit, the villagers' whispers about you intensified. No longer did they hide their distaste, their distrust of you. A woman of wealth coerced by a poor woman to be her friend? To visit so often? It was unheard of, it was unnatural. Your body ached with tension; you felt as if you were constantly on eggshells, offending everyone and everything by doing the bare minimum. Their eyes felt like fire burning you; you may as well have already been tied to the stake. It was then that you knew you had to leave. It was only a matter of time before they came for you.

*

It rained the night she visited again. Her hair was drenched, her clothes sodden and weighing her down, so much so that as soon as she forced herself through the door of your hut, she collapsed on your meagre bed, her breath harsh and terrible.

Her wide eyes eventually fell upon you as you finished packing what little you had to spare. “W-where are you going?” You looked at her in despair then and shook your head as you continued your job.

You couldn’t hear the mob of angry villagers, but you knew within your heart that they were coming for you.

A stone of dread fell into the pit of your stomach when you looked back at Elizabeth, my god, she was in danger! Because of you, they would come for her, too! Her status be damned, they would burn her aswell! No, you wouldn't let them hurt her, you couldn't!

You sprang to action. Pulling your meagre sack of valuables around your back, you grasped Elizabeth with unrelenting hands and stormed your way out the door, dragging the poor woman into the rain. She cried and begged for you to stop, but you continued, running into the muddy field you had met in what feels like a lifetime ago.

Eventually, she shook her arm out of your grasp and screamed your name. You halted to a stop and turned to her with wild eyes that searched behind her for any danger. She looked positively terrified of you, and that hurt so much more than any torture you could endure. “What in hell's name are we doing?! What are you doing? It's pouring with rain, I’m hardly dressed for a run! What madness has gripped you?”

“They're going to kill me, Elizabeth! And you too if we don’t hurry!”

“I...what?” she stuttered to a pause, her mouth desperate to make sounds but her throat refused to let them free. You took her by the hands, the rain still pouring around you. “Elizabeth, they know they- as soon as our meetings began, they seemed to suspect something.”

“Oh god, it's my fault-”

“NO!” you cried and shook your head, a defeated groan bubbling from you “Elizabeth, you, this,” you pointed between the two of you “nothing is wrong with this. They suspected anyway, I could tell. But a girl of high society coming to visit a dog in the mud? Its fairy tale Liz. It doesn’t happen”

She grasped your wet cheeks then, her hands carding through your sopping locks as her eyes searched yours with conviction “But it does, it can! I'm running away! I can’t go to Vienna! I’m coming with you instead! Oh, don’t you see? I want to be together with you! Look, I have money to help us! We- we can get a cottage far, far away from here! Just you and me!” She smiled with pleading brightness.

Your heart ached, your soul fractured in two at this gorgeous, impossible thing. Before she could begin to rummage through her purse, you grasped her hand tightly, your left hand coming to rest upon her forhead, she stopped abruptly and stared at you, in a trance, but fully aware.

“Elizabeth Harlander, listen to me and listen closly” A broken yet commanding voice rumbled from deep within you. You hoped and prayed this would work, for your sake, for hers “Within the night you will forget me. Forget me totally. I am only strong enough to take one thing from your mind, and that shall be me, my presence. You shall remember all you have learned from me, but it shall feel like a dream. Remember your empathy, your compassion and your adoration for inner beauty and-” you laughed bitterly “deep down in your subconscious, remember that I love you, I love you so much, my little Liz. So mote it be.”

You sealed the declaration with a kiss upon her cold, soft lips. What a torture it was, that your first and last kiss should end like this, but in some deep part of you, you knew it was perfect and fit your tragic, tragic life beautifully.

The girl pulled away softly from your lips, still in a daze. She looked at you with forlorn acceptance and quietly rumaged through her purse. Then, she produced a tiny closed picture frame. She pushed the thing into your hands and placed a soft kiss on your tear-stained cheek. In the pouring, drenching rain, she looked at you one final time and uttered, “I love you, my dearest,” and turned to leave as if a phantom on the moors.

You almost felt angry at her vaugness but you knew it was the magic working as intended, subconsciously you had made it so she would not fight what was inevitable. You hoped it made her understand that what you were doing was out of love and not spite. You knew this was for the best. You wouldn’t realise until much later how wrong you would be.

Without another word, and before you completely broke, you turned to move on. You could hear the sound of angry cries in the distance and knew they would be sorely disappointed that there would be no burning tonight, for you would be long, long gone.

You knew in good faith that your magic would protect Elizabeth for a time, not forever, but it would get her to safety until she was in Vienna.

It wasn’t until the sun peaked over the horizon that you finally stopped and permitted your exhausted body a moment's respite. Slumped against a tree, you felt a sharp stab from your apron pocket. Your hand reached in and brushed against something rectangular.

With a start, you remembered what it was and wrenched it out of your pocket with force, your poor pocket coming undone at the seams; it would be an easy fix later. With shaky hands, you gently pried the photo frame apart. What was inside made an inhuman sob rip from your throat.

On one side was a picture of Elizabeth looking back at you with earnest eyes, her face ethereal and glowing with perfection. On the other, a beautifully sketched image of yourself with a tiny message scribbled at the bottom. It read

“My witch, forever and always”

*

The only things that filled the room were the timid crackling of the fireplace and your broken sobs. By now, the small kitten, little Liz, had woken from her slumber and stared at you with keen, bright green eyes. The arms wrapped around you were unmoving and felt like stone at your sides. You chanced a look at your lover and were met with an equally heartbroken expression.

“I am...I am sorry, my Raven. I am so sorry,” You sniffed pathetically, “I told you, not a pretty story."

"There is one thing I do not understand." Adam puzzled lowly, carefully, "You say you loved each other, but you are both women? The stories I've read do not mention-"

"The stories you've read are ignorant," You seethed hotly. You eased Liz to you and turned to face your lover fully "Love is love, my darling. It does not matter your sex, your gender, your background. If you love something so wholly and reverently. If you are not hurting others with your love, then it should be cherished no more or less than others' love. Whether that be man and woman, woman and woman or a man and a man. Do you understand my treasure?"

He digested your words slowly, as if feeling the meaning of each one. 

"Yes, my raven. In you, Elizabeth, the old man and even my father to an extent, I have found in different forms. It is a wonderful feeling that I have been blessed with, especially from you and Elizabeth. I find what you both had to be beautiful and-" he sighed sadly "I know she suffered so, please know that the lessons you taught her, she- she followed them. She treasured and cared for me even though I was so other. I have you to thank for teaching her to love openly, as you are teaching me now. Thank you, my everything"

He grasped you softly, wiped your tears away with tender fingers and turned you back to his chest, his hold so reverent, so filled with worship. You knew you could happily die here, and you would have no regrets. You knew Elizabeth would be happy for you both.

It still didn't stop the hurt or the mourning deep within you, though "That was the last time I saw her alive, you know? The next time was in that god-awful cave. She- she looked so peacful”

Adam gasped then, his brow raised in surprise at your admission, “You found her? But how? What happened?”

What happened indeed. You would never forget the terrible feeling that pulled upon you that day.

A bitterness had filled your entire being as soon as your eyes opened that day. News has travelled fast of the Baron's younger brother marrying Elizabeth. It wasn’t often that exciting things like that happened. But deep, deep down, the feeling of dread tethered you. It made you sick with worry, it wordlessly told you to walk, and so you did.

You had no idea where you were walking until snow crunched under your boots, and you saw the blood, so much blood. You followed the red-stained snow until you came upon the cave. The feeling of dread only increased as you made your way inside.

The dread erupted into a scream of true anguish when you beheld the sight of her lifeless, unmoving form. You rushed to her side, and even though you went through the motions of trying to revive her, you already knew she was gone. There was only one thing you could be grateful for, and that was that the temperature of the air had kept rigour mortis at bay. You could still bask in her beauty one more time as you kissed her stone-cold lips while your tears fell upon her frozen cheeks.

It was at that moment you felt the connection within you fade and wither within your soul. You had been so bonded, so close to this beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime creature that your soul essence had connected with her and now, it was gone. Dead and buried like every other person you had grown to love. You would not feel this same connection until a soldier wandered onto your land, or much later, when a creature visited you on the night of your execution.

Within that cold cave, your curse for Victor Frankenstein festered, the very one you had placed upon him when he stole your Adam away. It was obvious he had brought about Elizabeth's death as predicted. And so, you would ensure that wherever he was, whatever he faced, he would NOT return. You would not permit it. You continued to mutter your dark intent as you took Elizabeth from that terrible place. Within your arms, she would travel to her place of rest as it should be.

Adam nodded along to your explanation. You could see it within his eyes that he was struggling to keep up, but his valiant effort had your heart swelling for him all the same. Every day, you thought it was impossible to love this being even further and yet, wonderfully, even within the sorrow, he proved you wrong.

Silence once again followed; it was so long you thought Adam might have fallen into a slumber behind you or had lost himself to his thoughts. He made you jump when he spoke again, “I think it is a fine name, for the kitten that is. Little Liz”

A small smile ghosted your lips, and you looked to him again, “Yes?”

“Yes” he rumbled pleasantly. Once again encasing you within his strong arms. The horrors of the story began to melt away, and home, safety and love made themselves known to you once again.

“I made a beautiful grave for her, my- our Elizabeth. Would you like to visit it?” Adam held you tighter and gave a soft kiss to the top of your head. “I would like that”

*

The trip to the grave would take two days of travel. With the animals well stocked with food, a fresh bouquet that would keep, everything all taken care of and little Liz accompanying you, you both mounted your horses and rode off in the direction of Elizabeths final resting place, with hearts full and a bond strenghtened even further, it was once again easy to completely miss the rageful eyes that followed your every move, watching, waiting.

Chapter Text

Something was wrong. You couldn’t put your finger on it, and that was a problem.

The trip to Elizabeth’s grave had been beautiful and, honestly, something you both needed for closure's sake. Surrounded by blossoming flowers and nature, you had ensured her grave was perfect and so inherently Elizabeth. You cried together and took in the tranquility of it all.

Adam wound his arms around your waist and crushed your much smaller body against his. As he held you, you could almost feel the whisper of another set of arms holding you from behind in a lovingly dainty manner, a manner all too familiar. Concentrating, you allowed yourself to sink into the feeling, and there she was in your mind's eye, your lovely Elizabeth.

The moment brought further tears as you sank into the feeling of unfathomable love. The creature didn’t question it when you held on tighter and sighed happily into his shoulder. You felt contented in this sea of adoration; you felt an island between the land of the living and the dead. It felt wonderful. It was beautiful. And so when you had both returned home to animals rejoicing and the forest singing, it all felt wrong.

*

Even as you took out your little wooden box, the one you had kept close to you for many tormented years. Even as you pulled out the much-loved photo frame of yourself and Elizabeth and showed it to your beloved Adam, it still felt wrong.

Adam approached you one night. He wrapped his arms around you, sinking his nose into your freshly washed locks. He breathed in your scent and stayed there for a moment or two. You both gazed at the picture frame on the mantle and just took a moment to exist. Your neck prickled with goose flesh when the tall creature shifted from behind you. He righted himself with a sigh and rumbled, “I would like to do checks around our home. Every morning, every night if I have to. Something feels…”

“Off?”

“Yes, off,” he turned you to face him now, a huge palm cradling your warm cheek, “you have felt it too beloved?”

“I have, for quite some time, Adam. I just thought-“ you worried your lower lip between your teeth, concern setting in now that you knew Adam felt the same dread as you “I thought after visiting Elizabeth we’d return to calm and yet-“ you sighed “I feel watched Adam…like I did before…before…”

“No harm shall come to you.” He held you tighter then, as if this invisible force would drag you away from him in a heart beat, as if he could lose you at any second “my raven, I will protect you with everything I have, everything I am. My unending life is yours, it is your shield” he kissed your head reverently “I will not lose another I hoped so dearly to me”

*

With that declaration, you both set to work the next day. Adam did as he said; he patrolled the borders of your home relentlessly. You felt sorry for any passerby who may come across the huge creature; he may as well have been a savage guard dog. The golden hues shone menacingly as he scanned his surroundings, growling a warning to any living thing that might threaten your life.

Normal folk would cower at the sight of this terror and surely flee. But you weren’t normal folk, and so you allowed the sight of your ravenous beast to heat your insides and fuel the never-ceasing passion for this gorgeous soul.

Alas, your regular coupling had been stunted. How could you throw yourself into passion when the fear lurked on the border of your psyche as it did? 

In between your jobs, you had torn through every page in your mother’s magical tome, devouring with your eyes any information that would keep you safe. It was on a well-worn page where you found your answers. The bottom of it thumbed down from its sharp edge to a more rounded shape, as if-

As if it had been used time and time again. You held the book close to your chest with a sad smile. “Thank you, mother,” you uttered your gratitude quietly. Of course she would use this very spell to protect you for as long as she could; it only made sense that her kidnapping should happen outside of the bubble she had created. Once she stepped outside of it, only then could the monsters steal her away from you.

It was something to consider.

This wouldn’t solve all your problems. But it was a start. With practice and barely any time to spare, it was done.

From the moment it manifested into existence, an invisible force sat on your shoulders. You didn’t realise how draining it would be, and you feared you wouldn’t be able to keep it up for a few weeks, let alone a lifetime. With this sobering revelation, you knew deep down, you could not run, could not hide forever.

To the naked normal eye, nothing looked amiss, but to you, you could see the slightest ripple in the air. The protective barrier trembled even when something as significant as a fly passed through it. You felt it all, as if it were an extension of you. It wasnt the long-term solution you had hoped for, constant magic never was, but right now, it was enough.

And yet, the growing number of eyes continued to follow your moves.

*

No matter how many times your creature patrolled and how many barriers you erected, you had to face the facts: life must continue. You had to earn your keep, and the ingredients wouldn't fetch themselves. It is with a deep feeling of resignation that you knew you would have to leave the barrier.

Adam hated it. You could tell from his constant heavy-set frown, and he threw his weight around like a brooding teenager. Even the quiet cuddles with little Liz didn't ease his tension on the evening you inevitably had to address the subject. "Very well," he rumbled, "But I shall accompany you."

"No, you shall not," you replied defiantly, "you know that someone has to stay here. You may get the wrong thing if I send you out, and the animals and our home need to be kept safe. You know I'm right, love." You tried to soothe the raging beast, but remained strong, your shoulders set back and your head held high as you kept your fiery eyes upon him.

Adam opened and closed his mouth a few times, but the words, the retort he was looking for wouldnt form upon his tongue. His argument died on his lips, and his shoulders sagged with a sigh of defeat. Even as you shifted little Liz out of your lover's lap and wrapped yourself around him, even as you held his head to your chest and mumbled words of comfort, you could not calm the waves of anxiety flowing from your love.

The first light of the morning brought no peace either. You had both hardly slept and hadn't moved from the sofa, and woke up stiff from contorting yourself into Adam's chest within the small space. A lack of sleep certainly didn't help the restlessness you felt; it followed you while you made preparations for your trip. A little voice in the back of your head accompanied you through the motions, telling you that if anything were going to happen, it would be today.

A firm hand grasped your wrist before you could take even one step out of the door. Startled, you spun around to find wet, pleading eyes burning holes into your skull with their intensity. One word and one word only could describe the expression you were faced with, terror.

"Please," it was barely a whisper. A plea so quiet yet filled with so much weight, it felt as if you'd been punched in the gut with its sincerity.

If the same request had presented itself months ago, you would have caved. Your mind would have crumbled, and your soul would have demanded that you appease this creature, do anything and everything within your power to tend to his frayed nerves. But now- "You know I must." You grasped onto the hand tightly; you could feel a finality burning within your own eyes.

You tried to plead your case with him, but you could feel your temper rapidly rising. "We cannot live in this bubble forever, Adam. There is a world out there that we need to face; we need to endure. We cannot sustain ourselves on this lifestyle forever-"

"The world," Adam sneered and drew back. The distance felt significant; it felt wrong, this was all wrong.

It made your eyes widen, your mouth unhinge in shock. You had never seen such an expression on your lover's scarred face, didn't know he was even capable of it. In your stunted silence, he continued, his voice rising with anger. "This world has taken so much from us! From me! I have lost countless to it, and I shall not lose again. I cannot and will not lose you! You will not go!"

"YES I SHALL!" The house rumbled.

Blinded by your rage, you didn't notice, but Adam did. His mad tirade was instantly stunted by your wrath, the way it not only metaphorically but physically shook the foundations of everything you had built together. "I will NOT be beaten by this world! Do you hear me?! You think you are the only one to lose so much?! Have I not also lost so many?" Your voice lowered, but it still seethed with molten fire. "I have been tortured, robbed, and tormented by the men of this world. I shall NOT give them the satisfaction of being my captor. In you, I thought I had found a kindred spirit and yet-"

You took a breath. This was the nail in the coffin; you could feel it, Adam could feel it, his eyes begged you not to say it

"I was wrong."

You turned and walked from the door. You did not look back, nor did you stop in your tracks when you heard the enraged yet anguished cry of your beloved. It echoed terribly through the trees. Birds erupted from their nests at the monstrous cry, but you ignored it all the same. Moon mother...how you wish you hadn't.

*

The windmill stood as a harrowing beacon. It was the gallows for a man convicted of a crime he did not commit. It was the slaughterhouse for a piglet. It was the burning stake ready to consume you once again, and this time, it would finish the job. And yet, you marched on with conviction, stupid, stupid conviction.

Whatever the danger, you would face it. The logical part of your mind screamed that you had everything to lose. But the prideful part, that ugly warty creature that bathed in the swamps of your lack of reasoning, reveled in your need to prove you could do this, was it to yourself? To Adam? Or to the world? It didn't matter. It was your master and you, the puppet forced on by tight, unyielding strings.

With a backdrop of stormy grey clouds, the wooden statue loomed over you while its blades creaked and moaned in the wind. Even if the wooden giant were more appealing, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate its beauty, how could you? When you found yourself checking over your shoulder every few moments, and then returned to scan your eyes over the suddenly too wide space. Sightseeing couldn’t be further from your mind.

How is it that in such a wide-open place, you felt trapped? A deer in an endless field came to mind; it had so many places to escape to, and yet it knew it could never outrun a bullet, it could never outrun death.

Get the herbs and go home. That was the only thing that mattered. In that moment, you didn't care that you’d left your lover in such an angry, heated fluster. To be able to go home and soothe each other with apologies and declarations of love, you would lick your wounds and hopefully his if he let you, and you could carry on living and loving as you had.

The space was deathly quiet now as you scurried behind the mill. All existing sound had stopped. It was as if the entire field, the entire world, held its breath and watched, just to see what would happen next. You refused to be its entertainment.

Shaking hands worked; you picked your herbs and knew you would later chastise yourself for picking too many or not enough of the right kind, but right now, you needed to go.

The air crackled, and the voice inside your head went from a whisper to screaming in a matter of seconds. Your body seized with anxiety, your fingers trembled as the voice boomed louder and LOUDER! 

NOT SAFE RUN HIDE GO GO NOW STUPID STUPID THEIR HER ADAM ADAM AD-

A blunt force to the back of your head knocked you unconscious, and all was quiet.

*

How much time had passed? Minutes, hours, days? You had no clue. It was hard to think. And you felt so heavy, so so heavy.

Shapes of Orange, black, and white danced in front of your clouded vision; the rapid movements only encouraged the nausea bubbling within your stomach, it threatened to force bile up your throat as cotton inflated within your brain, making the dizziness unbearable. The loud commotion didn't help; it filled the air and gave your poor ears no reprieve.

Only when you began to squirm and find yourself very obviously tied up did the chatter simmer down; a singular, mocking voice made itself known. "Finally! The witch graces us with conciousness"

An ice-cold hand wrapped its fingers around your heart and squeezed. You knew that voice anywhere. You shook your head to free yourself from your daze. With clear eyes, you looked into the hateful, leering orbs of the last person you least expected to ever see again, Mary Perth.

She was not as you remember. The visage of plain beauty had melted into an ugliness you found hard to believe. You can recall your mother's words from a happier childhood:

"remember child, that, given time, the repulsiveness within a person's soul will inevitably bleed out and infect the physical body. We cannot masquerade our inner selves from the world. Stay true to yourself, my little flower, and you need not fear a hideous visage."

In Mary's case, she looked positively vile.

A thick layer of makeup caked the woman's cracking skin. The white powder congealed and dripped from a sweat-covered forehead and even sweatier locks that, now you looked closer, had receded and fallen away in clumps from the blond's head. Your eyes traveled to the angry-looking warts dotted around the woman's face, below her ears, one on the inner crease of her left eye, but worst of all was the clustered bloody mess decorating her thin lips; it had been obvious they were irritated by the tasteless red lipstick that looked as if it had been drawn on by an infant. You also noted the dark rings around hazy blue eyes, the wrinkles forming from clear stress and sleepless nights.

"Mary," You greeted cooly, "You've aged."

The dranged woman threw her head back with a piggish laugh, "Always one to play coy arent you? Well, not this time, old friend. I will do what Campbell stupidly couldn't, I will make you BURN!" she shrieked and grabbed a torch from the ravenous crowd, frothing at the mouth for your murder.

In the time she had been shouting her intentions, you had taken in your surroundings. Once again, you found yourself on top of a pile of wood. But this time it was crudely made, and the log you were attached to was even cruder. It would have been so easy to shift yourself, so easy to shake yourself free of this torment and run to safety, but you shook your wrists and, yes, there they were, blasted iron bindings.

But these were far different from before, and the very reason your heart threatened to jump from your throat. Instead of thin shackles, your burning wrists were engulfed by the cuffs; they rubbed your hands awfully when you so much as flinched. With every moment that passed, the metal leeched through your entire body, using your veins to travel and sap all energy from within.

Being a child of nature, your very soul and life force was magic. This torment wasnt meant to just take from you a small portion of what made you, well, you. It was designed to take ALL of you.

In a sluggish daze, you barely caught Mary's frenzied shouting, "-but why should we make do with killing one monster?! What of the other one! The one who dared to storm through our village?! Murder our loved ones?! Tear through our homes?! No-" She turned to you then, a disgustingly warped grin on her face, "We shall wait for the monster to come and watch his bride burn."

They didn't have to wait long at all. For mere minutes after the declaration, an almighty roar shook the very foundations you were strapped to. Even the windmill seemed to quake with fear as the war cry permeated the air. You could hear him long before you saw him; the pounding of heavy footfalls could have mistakenly belonged to a heard of raging wilderbeast, his grunted breath mistook for that of a starving wolf.

Adams' huge frame came into focus through the torchlight, his shoulders heaved, and his eyes burned with golden murderous intent.

Those eyes regarded you for a moment, cataloging any injury or any hurt that may have befallen you. It made your heart swell with love, but also rekindled the sorrow you felt at the way you had left things before this terrible event; you had so much making up to do; you both did.

His eyes shifted to Mary. "YOU," he snarled, raising his hand to point at her, "free my love NOW! And I may let you live. Although your chances are slim."

Instead of cowering like you thought Mary would, a sqwaking laugh forced its way from her; it twisted her body unnaturally with its force. Some of the crowd laughed with her; others, the more intelligent ones, remained silent in terror of the creature in front of them.

"My my, it seems the bitch has taught her dog to speak! Well done!" With a snap of her fingers, four or five men carrying blunderbuss moved towards Adam with intent; some of the men cowered, some bayed for violence. "But you see, my dears, I am far more prepared than last time. This will be your last night. I will fucking make sure of it! Now, boys!"

Everything moved too fast, shots fired as fire flew through the air and landed on the kindling at the bottom of your feet. Unlike last time, there was a lot less to burn through. Terror consumed you when you felt the heat already licking at your bare feet, the skin blistering and peeling away in agony. But it was a distant feeling as your teary eyes looked at the horror in front of you.

Bullets flew, and Adam roared again, each shot colliding with his poor body. You could have sworn he howled your name as you begged and screamed for them to stop. It wouldn't kill him, but it could slow him down, could render him motionless for a time as his body healed itself.

Seeing your love in any state of pain, no matter how big or small, gutted you. And this time it was worse because it was all your fault. No matter which way you looked at it. It was YOUR fault!

Mary twirled and danced to the sound of violence. Her body moved and contorted like a grotesque puppet, and when her demented eyes landed on you, you knew there was no reasoning; the woman was mad, dangerously so. She approached you as the gunfire continued, pausing the creature in his attempts to save you.

She looked up with almost reverent eyes as she appraised her tortured masterpiece.

"Oh, love," she paused, feigning empathy, "It's better this way. Besides, you should have learned your lesson when I took your last lover away, your Adam."

The world stopped. The fire didn't matter, the guns didn't matter, Mary didn't matter. Not as memories swarmed and attacked your brain. Memories of your beloved Adam in the field, sweaty and smiling while he helped you with your workload. Adam leaning over you as your naked bodies danced together on your bed in the light of the full moon. Adam, as he kissed you tenderly and proclaimed his undying love for you. Adam screaming and begging to return to your arms, the soldiers refusing to listen as they took him to his death, and then there, in the shadows, Mary watching on with a grin that split her face in two, a deathly joy as she watched her handiwork play out in front of her.

SHEDIDITSHEDIDITSHEDIDITSHEDIDITSHEDIDITSHEDID-

"YOU KILLED HIM!" The scream was inhuman. It was the voice of hundreds silenced by the same flames engulfing you, it was the voice of the ones you had lost, it was the voice of your pain, raw, deep, and bared, it was your voice.

A brilliant, bright white light beamed from your retenas; it controlled the very flames that threatened to consume the rest of you and threw them to the masses that dared to harm you, harm your creature. Screams of agony erupted from the crowd, and a surprised grunt from your lover joined them as the bodies all fell to the floor, lifeless.

It took everything from you, what was left inside, it was gone. To release an immense level of magic whilst encased in iron, it was unheard of. Although the cuffs barely hung on your wrists now from the force, they had done their job. Without anything to hold you up, your singed body collapsed into the ashes of the wood beneath your feet.

And so when a shape drags itself over to you, spitting venomous words under its dying breath, you couldn't dream of stopping it as it swiftly plunged a dagger into your side, wringing a pained cry from your raw throat. Instantly, you could feel its effect, for it too was iron. Blasted Iron. 

"I w-will be the death of you," Mary's ragged voice barely reached your ears. Turning in her direction, your eyes met.

"Why?"

"Because," she coughed pitifully, "you...are...beautiful." She fell to the ground, motionless.

Your blurry vision fell in and out of a black haze. You knew the blood loss was becoming too great, knew the iron would prevent you from healing. You knew you wouldn't make it. The realisation released the tears in your eyes, they ran down your ashen cheeks and fell into the dirt below.

A body moved out of the corner of your dying vision, between slugish blinks; it was far, and then it was next to you. Gentle arms lifted you towards it. You should be terrified. What if it was one of Mary's men? Come to finish the job. A more cynical part of your brain whispered 'what does it matter? You're dying anyway.'

"My love." The deep voice trembled, and then a wetness hit your cheeks. Ah, you knew who this was. A small smile twitched on your lips, and you forced your eyes wider. If this were to be your last moments, you would use them wisely and take in the beauty of your dear creature.

"My love." You parroted and nuzzled weakly into a large, warm palm. "Do not be too cross with me."

"I could never," He sobbed, "But I shall fall into rage should you leave my side, I ca- I can't lose you." He openly wept then, his forehead falling to yours as his eyes pleaded with you, begging you not to go. As if he were the moon chasing the sun and begging, begging for more time to spend in the sky with you.

"Adam-"

"Shhh, love, save your strengh"

"No, please," you pleaded back now. "You must hear me. I have loved before, you know this. But you," laughing weakly, you placed your trembling hand upon his, "I have loved you most. You- you are my moon. My reason for living. But know this, I would die a thousand times to protect our peace. Protect our way because..."

It was getting harder to breathe now, but you had to try. You held his scarred hand with what strength you had left. "We deserve to be happy. You...you deserve to be happy."

"The only thing that will keep me happy is a lifetime with you, my raven. Please, his lips found yours and kissed your rapidly chilling ones. He whispered his prayer to you, "Please...spend my lifetime with me."

Your hand fell, your world became black.

Adam screamed.

*

You heard more than you saw, felt more than you witnessed. You heard the agonised roar that should have hurt your ears, but somehow it kept you tethered. Not quite alive, not quite dead.

Wind whipping past your face almost painfully as you were taken to god knows where. Then a soft feeling, you were being dropped onto a matress you thought.

Within the blackness, you could hear desperate pleas, glass moving, bottles and jars perhaps, and then a pinprick of pain. A moment later, another pain exploded within you. A scream tried to tear itself from your throat, but you could do nothing but endure. The prick was nothing compared to the blistering pain of something unlodging itself from your side; there was no care, no gentling of the object being removed. It was viciously taken, and left a gaping hole.

More pin pricks and a dull ache moved around the hole until it became smaller and smaller. Then another feeling came.

The feeling was a rush of something; it started from the first, insignificant pain and traveled from there up your arm and down to your fingers. Soon, it was coursing through the rest of your body to any corner it could find. Through your veins it traveled to your still organs, pumping them full of life liquid. You felt like a raisin reverting to a grape.

There was no word to describe the feeling that coursed through you now, but then it presented itself to you in all its gorgeousness.

Gold tore through the black that threatened to swallow you whole. It bathed you in warmth and light, such life-affirming light. It was beautiful.

Your eyes flew open, the brilliant white glowing from within them, they found desperate golden brown and locked on with such love, such devotion.

"I will never leave you," you uttered.

Then it was black again. Not of death this time, that blackness had gone. This blackness was softer, more welcoming. It was the darkness of sleep.

Chapter Text

A calm had fallen upon the land that you had missed so dearly. You joyously welcomed the feeling with open arms as if it were an old friend and hoped that it would stay for a long, long time. The suffering you and your companion had both endured could span a hundred lifetimes and then some; you were well overdue for some compensation.

The blackened remains of the windmill now served as a brutal, charred reminder of the event that took place that fateful night. Most of the structure had burned into nothing; the wood that remained lay useless on the ground, scorched beyond repair. Among the wood lay the ash of all those who did you wrong, their body’s had been decimated and now flew away with the sweet breeze. You felt they deserved a far less peaceful journey to the afterlife, but it was not for you to judge. That power remained in Mother Nature's hands alone.

Amongst the ashes were Mary's. In your mind, the dusty remains of her body appeared darker and more viscous than the others, almost sludge-like in their pollution. None of it mattered now. All that mattered was that you would never have to deal with her again, in this lifetime at least.

A new feeling settled upon you, a feeling of awakening. If you were being honest with yourself, it terrified you. The discovery of the true power that thrummed beneath your skin, amplified by the sharing of Adam's blood, was not something that should be ignored, nor should it be pursued without caution. After all, your mother had warned,

‘Power in the wrong hands is power easily corrupted’

Gods, you wished she were here to teach you now, it would make everything so much easier. For now, your magic remained dormant, but you could feel its patience for you to act, to understand it dwindling.

Adam's reluctance to be near you was another newness that you decidedly did not like.

After days of recovery from your blood loss, you finally regained full consciousness, and your bleary eyes were first drawn to the mess of equipment on the floor of the spare bedroom. It was a smaller room that you used for your healing practice; you had decided this after you began sleeping with your darling creature and migrated to the larger bedroom.

The space became a sanctuary for training and learning. You had even hoped one day you could allow patients to enter your sacred space for treatments. Of course, that all depended on Adam, and people's willingness to be open-minded to his appearance. It still agonised you that not everyone could see him for the beauty, the wonder that he really was and deserved to be revered as. 

One of your pieces was severely complex and so became something of an obsession for you. You had worked exceptionally hard to acquire it through your market contacts. It was a blood transfusion kit neatly stored within a wooden box that you had been eager to study and bring to the smaller settlements to help those who were far less fortunate.

So far, only two cases had succeeded in medical history, and much, much more understanding was required.

But Adam, wonderful, kind, intelligent Adam, had performed the transfusion with his own blood and saved your life. Even though you had been momentarily furious to find your precious apparatus on the floor, the strong arms that engulfed your entire body wiped that rage away. The very knowledge that this entity, against all the odds, had used his hours of studying to save your life was truly soul-crushing in a most enchanting way.

Adam had cried with joy and peppered your face with relieved, life-affirming kisses, and he had looked at you as if you were a delicate angel, securely wrapped in his arms. He was a constant presence at your side. Returning once more to his duties of cleaning your burns, wrapping them up with care, and ensuring no infection had snuck its way in. He truly had learned from the best.

But, to both your delight and concern, the healing process was far quicker than it had been before. A little inkling in the back of your mind supplied that it could be a component of Adams' blood. Of course, your newfound healing capabilities were severely dwarfed by your beloveds. Within a fortnight, your skin had settled down into new bright pink scars that littered your entire body in their intricacy.

That was when Adam began to distance himself.

He had caught you getting changed, and his eyes immediately filled with...something. You had hoped deep down it would be lust, at least longing to be near you again. Gods, it had been so long. But it was neither. In fact, when your mind flipped through every emotion it could be, and finally arrived at a conclusion, you did not like it at all. It was rage. Pure, undiluted rage.

It didn’t get better, and the fact was you were spiralling.

You had made multiple sly attempts to entice the creature with your revealed flesh, to ensure he would catch you changing more often than not. Hells, you had even gone to extreme lengths of loudly pleasuring yourself one afternoon with lustful thoughts of him and making damn sure he heard you cry his name. Alas, he did not answer your siren call, and your failed climax left you in an even fouler mood than before.

Trying to coax the answers out of the goliath bore no fruit either.

“Adam, my love?” the question floated between you both as you attended to the animals in the barn. He barely grunted an acknowledgement, and you sighed. “Have I-” You tried again around the anxious bubble in your throat, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, beloved,” he responded as if pained, as if he’d rehearsed it a thousand times in his head and still couldn't get the two words right.

Your lip trembled.

“I see, then what is wrong?”

He actually looked at you then, a secret war within his eyes. His face contorted with emotions, trying to pick the best one and deciding that each one wouldn’t do. He growled in frustration, his hands clenching at his sides. With one more forlorn look at you, he took off into the night, barely finishing his task of brushing a displeased highland cow.

You stayed to do the job yourself, tears cascading down your rosy cheeks. The cow butted her head against your shoulder in comfort, and you offered her a watery smile.

“At least,” You whimpered, “you still love me.”

It came to a head one spring evening. When the beautiful pinks and purples of dusk should have filled you with a deep pleasure that they usually gifted you. But right now, you could barely function as you dutifully cleaned and cut vegetables for your dinner, the sharp knife in your hand sliced through the flesh of carrots as your glazed eyes looked on unseeing, barely monitoring the position of your fingers to the knife, barely caring for your safety. Why should you? Nobody else did.

To the outside world, it would appear you did not care for the opinion of others, and for the most part, you didn't. You particularly didn’t care that so many men thought that you should measure your worth by your attractiveness and your usefulness to them. You would often laugh and go about your day, their opinions of you and your flesh be damned.

But for those few near and dear to you, their opinion meant everything. It brought a deep sense of joy to you when their eyes shone upon you with uncompromised affection, whether they be the eyes of your mother, Elizabeth, or your soldier. But currently, and most importantly, you sought that same endearment from your beloved creature, and to find it absent from its usual space, that was more terrible to you than the sight of any pyre, of any flames that could consume your body. You feared his lack of love for you more than death itself. 

Fresh tears filled your eyes as the thoughts raged in your mind. After everything that had happened, had Adam decided you were simply too much trouble? To risk unimaginable pain to save someone from death was one thing, but to do it twice? It must be inconceivable!

‘You are a burden to him.’ A vicious voice, it almost sounded like Mary's whispered within the self-deprecating storm. It laughed as a stray tear fell down your cheek and taunted again ‘you see? You claim to be so strong, but you are weak without him! Pathetic really. And he knows it. He won't touch you, won't even look at you, because you are disgusting to him!’

“Please stop,” you begged quietly. So caught up in the torment, you didn't take in your surroundings. You didn't register that Adam, mutely setting the table, had stopped his task, his head tilting in confusion as his eyes looked upon you, but remained quiet; he could tell something was wrong as you conversed with no one.

The movement of the knife quickened, hitting the wooden board and slicing through the poor vegetables at a fast pace. The sharp metal rapidly descended upon your unmoving digit. The fat tears now escaped your eyes with the help of the cackling phantom voice, ‘Do you think,’ it sang, ‘that your precious Adam realised how much of a monster YOU are? Normal women cannot control fire the way you did. My my, you killed so many. Of course, you did try to warn him didnt you? You did, after all, curse us all. Set in motion all these terrible events, and for what? your own revenge?’

“No, I-”

‘Yes, you did! Selfish! It was all so selfish!’

“But I-” your lip quivered, the knife beat against the board faster.

‘Did nothing! Your justice did nothing! Nobody came back! They're all still dead, and more died because of YOU!’

“No!”

‘YOU killed them all, and now he sees it! You know what you are! Say it!'

“NO!”

‘MONSTER!’

“STOP!”

The silence that followed was louder than anything you’d ever heard. The static whirred through the cotton that had invaded your mind; it took a moment, but your surroundings finally cleared to you. The first thing that caught your eye was red, lots of red. It was worse than it looked, but the pain that zinged from the digit up your arm confirmed what you were looking at. You had carelessly sliced your finger.

“Damn it!” you whispered with venom and brought the wound to your mouth.

Iron exploded across your tongue while you tried to soothe the gash, a hiss whilstled past your lips at the pain. You would have reached for a towel to cover the inconvenience, but you were suddenly rendered immobile by the warm, muscled torso that collided with your back, pushing your stomach into the counter and making a soft ‘oft’ force its way out of you.

The bleeding digit was wrenched forcefully yet somehow with care from one mouth to another, and you couldn't help the pained whimper as a heated tongue swirled around the wound and black lips held it firmly in place. If it were possible, you fear you would have spontaneously combusted with the sheer heat that blazed from the golden browns staring at you with the intensity of the sun.

Wounded, needy noises fell from your slackened jaw as you watched the obscene display of Adam sucking at your finger, as if it were the most delicious treat. Once the creature had finished, he moved his attention to the next finger. Dark lips enveloped your middle finger, and the large tongue again lapped at the flesh reverently. His piercing eyes never leaving yours.

A warmth you had missed so dearly sparked from your core at the alluring display; it languidly travelled from your core that grew wetter with each pass of his tongue. Your body surrendered to the delicious heat; if Adam hadn’t wrapped his strong arm around your middle, you would have surely dropped at such a simple action. It further proved that you had gone so long without his attentions; of course, you would melt so easily within his heated embrace.

Pain suddenly bloomed from your middle finger, your hazy eyes instantly cleared to see a new trail of blood escape from between his lips as his sharp fang pierced the yielding flesh of your finger, his pupils blew wide, and he released a terrible yet sultry growl when your blood assaulted his taste buds. You release A confused whimper while your creature continued to massage the newly wounded finger with his tongue.

Once he had had his fill, he moved his large head close to yours, and wet heat caressed your ear from bloody lips. “Only I,” he nipped the shell of your ear and growled appraisingly when your body began to tremble within his hold, “will make you bleed from now on. Only I will cause you pain.” His large hand grasped your throat in a sure hold, confident as he supported your chin. He softly squeezed, and your mind short-circuited.

In all your life, all those passionate moments, even with your past Adam, your soldier, this had never happened before. A feeling so strong and so primal, a need to submit. Gods, you had been so strong for so long, and then this behemoth of a creature, a being that shouldn’t even exist, tears through your life and gives you a chance, a gift, to simply let go.

It was so animal and something you didn't realise that your very bones craved with a deep, incomprehensible ache. It was a need that now brought tears to your eyes and made you lose yourself within the black depths of the pupils that threatened to swallow you within their darkness. You should be frightened, terrified even, to give so much of yourself to this other being. And yet, as your mind and body sank further into his sure hold, as your brain relinquished what little control it had left, you couldn’t think of anything better than to let the monster dominate your entire being.

“Only I will bring you such pain as I ravage you with pleasure, my one. I mould you and protect you,” his voice dipped lower still, the sound like rocks grinding harshly together “Only I will fuck you.”

“Yes.”

As soon as you uttered the word, your world was turned upside down.

Strong arms span you around and grabbed your skirt-covered thighs, he hoisted you up to his chest, your legs wrapping around his waist smoothly, they moved as if remembering a dormant dance that yearns to be remembered. Adam crashed his lips to yours without finesse; he lapped and bit until you granted him entrance. Once you relented, his eager tongue plunged into your wet cavern and explored it with possessed eagerness. Your own poor tongue tried to keep up but quickly surrendered to the maddening dance, and it allowed the bigger muscle to plunder and seek as it pleased.

The passionate exchange forced you to close your eyes and lose yourself to sensation, until you heard the crashing of plates and the clang of metal cutlery hitting the ground. Your eyes widened in fear at the speed Adam was moving; you worried that your head would collide with the table most unpleasantly. You had no reason to fear. Because, of course, even in his frenzied state, your creature still held your comfort in the highest regard. He cushioned the back of your head with his arm, barely lapsing in his rhythm, and he began his journey away from your mouth.

It was a path well trodden by lust and devotion, but the purple love bites that often adorned your neck were not there. The lack of sighs of his ownership of you was wrong, and he bit and sucked the flesh with ardour, ensuring that there would be no mistake made about who you belonged to. He took care with every nip and lick to your delectable skin; his attentions would draw no less than a gasp or whine of pleasure.

His right hand clutched with a strong grasp at your still clothed flesh. He soon got frustrated with the cloth that denied him and rapidly tore at your cloth blouse like a rapid dog. A pleased rumble sounded between biting kisses when his hand finally made contact with your newly revealed breast, and he thoroughly got to work, squeezing the flesh with his rough touch, fingers working to pinch and tease the quickly hardening nipple, which drew wanton sighs from your parted lips.

“Adam”, you tried “You must stop- oh! You must stop tearing my clothes! I shall have none left!”

“Never”, he growled as he moved to loom over you, gently releasing your head from the cushion of his arm. He looked down at you with dangerous obsession and intent. You could see it clearly in his glowing golden iris, the need to reclaim, own and possess. You didn’t think it was possible to be wetter. In sheer desperation, you rubbed your thighs together to get some kind of relief. Adam immediately picked up on the movement and grinned darkly.

“If I had my way, I would have you naked from the second you woke up to the moment I took you apart again at night. I would watch you work as the sunlight shone on your perfect body. I would lose my mind to see you practice your craft blanketed in nothing but the pale moonlight. I would have you, however I wanted, WHENEVER I wanted. Infact-”

With sure fingers, he grabbed both the hem of your skirt and your small clothes, and a tearing sound echoed through your kitchen, the tatters of your remaining clothes unceremoniously thrown to the floor. The creature's black lips pulled back with a snarl, and the attack began. You could do nothing but scrabble to hold onto the sides of the table and mewl with delight. Adam was the wolf, and you were the helpless rabbit that he tore into with his sharp teeth.

He consumed your entire torso, he bit into your breasts, swirled his tongue around your nipples, and blissfully tortured all those sacred areas that forced the most lewd cries from your raw throat. There would be no gentling tonight, and if you were being truly honest with yourself, you wouldn’t have it any other way. Your heart soared from its melancholy; by the gods, you had missed the wildness within your lover!

It barely registered when the creature threw your legs over his shoulders, and in a mad dash, you had just enough time to thread your fingers through his chocolate locks before a shameless moan released itself from you. It echoed through the empty room as the creature's devilish tongue lapped through your sodden folds with practised ease.

So long had it been since the creature had last taken you like this, you could already feel the familiar tightening within your stomach, the cord so taught and frayed, you couldn't stop your rapidly approaching orgasm even if you wanted to. Especially when Adam bit your bud in just the right way and pushed two fingers into your sopping entrance, a pleased growl vibrated from his teeth straight through your clit and added to the electricity already ravaging your body with sensation.

“Already so wet for me”, He purred with approval “, but of course you would be. Do not think I didn’t hear your sirens call for me, for your wretch to come and please you as you clearly so desperately need. I will wring release after release from you beloved. You will beg me to stop” He grinned maliciously up at you from between your thighs, his eyes twinkling with wicked intent as he then plunged his tongue along with his fingers into you. He parted his fingers in a scissoring motion and flicked his large tongue across your walls with ease, licking your essence greedily and straight from the source.

It was too much, it was all too much! With three high-pitched moans, each raising higher in tone until you screamed your release into the air. Your cunt gushed around the intruding tongue and digits, and with each satisfied grunt that Adam released, you responded with an airy whine of bliss.

Without a moment's breath, your lover was already manoeuvring your legs to wrap around his torso, he flung your arms around his neck and stole you away to the bedroom.

The entire time, he fed your affection and sheer need to be close to him. Your lips moved in perfect tandem against each other, tongues soothing down to a lavish dance as he shared your taste with you. It was bliss...it was beautiful.

All too soon, it was over. He threw you onto the bed with little fanfare, and in your temporary clarity, something occurred to you. You were as naked as the day you were born, and he, he was still fully clothed, and that did something to you. The very idea that you were so naked, so vulnerable, and he so covered, so in control, you could barely explain it. But the idea stoked the sweet simmer within your belly back to a roaring fire again, and you felt no shame in spreading your legs for your creature, beckoning him with your eyes to take you apart once again, your arms reaching out to him as if he were a god and you, a simple devotee.

He tore his clothes and boots from his beautiful body with alarming speed and crawled onto the bed with the grace of a panther into your outstretched arms, his glistening cock intimidating yet teasing you with its size, its promise to split you in two as you so craved.

Talon-like hands grasped at flesh whilst lips and teeth collided in all their beautiful carnality. Adam rumbled his pleasure at seeing your desperation for him; it clearly pleased him to know your longing for him equalled his own for your heated flesh.

“You,” he growled fiercely “, you have reduced me to a monster yet again. I have tried to be gentle with you, tender and calm my nature, but you...” Adam secured your trembling legs around his slim waist and lined himself up with your begging entrance. He lowered his head to bite into your neck, and you could feel him smirk around your flesh at your wounded noises.

Your core, still so sensitive from your last orgasm, quivered in delightful anticipation.

“Seeing you on that god-forsaken pyre again, feeling that all-consuming fear of losing you, dreading I would never feel this-” He prodded your entrance with the head of his dick, eliciting another impatient cry.

You began to open your mouth to complain, but snapped it shut with an audible click when he gave you that look, as if daring you to defy him.

“Yes, this, I feared I'd never feel this desperate cunt wrap around me again. Never again. You will never leave me ever again! You have reduced me to this wretched monster once more, and now you must take responsibility!”

The scream that left you could only be described as unholy as he savagely thrust into you.

The burning pain and electrifying pleasure collided together in a mess of sensation, and all you could do was hold on. It barely registered that your sharp nails had embedded themselves within the strongly muscled back of your beloved. The golden inferno that consumed his eye sockets burned brighter than any sun you had ever seen. He roared with triumph and set an unrelenting pace that you joyfully followed with answering thrusts.

In madness, unquenchable love and need for one another, you had both been reduced to primal, hungry creatures. Hell-bent on ravaging each other with fangs and claws, all in the honour of love. It was beautiful.

Your blood-clotted fingers found themselves within the creature's mouth again. You don't know why or what led to this. But in the dance between your hips, the punishing kisses and the need to be inside each other's skin, your creature sucked at the wounded digits, his grunting breaths blowing around them.

“Bite”, a moaned request, and one immediately granted.

His sharp teeth bit into the wounds, and purely on instinct, you tore them from his black lips and placed them upon his own lesions you had inflicted upon his back.

As soon as they touched, as the liquids mixed, the previous pleasure felt insignificant to the one that burst forth and possessed you both, body and soul. A duet of ecstasy filled the space, your cries and his growls of pleasure such sweet music to your healing soul! It was all instinct now, something that had no rhyme or reason.

You began to speak your soul to the very universe, and by the gods, it would listen!

“You shall have me always....oh! I shall be yours forever beloved!”

“Yes!” he nodded furiously, cock pistoning into you now with such devotion, the coil within you once again wound itself tight and threatened to peak before you’d finished your declaration.

‘Just a little longer!’ you mentally cried to your body.

“My life is yours, and yours is mine! We shall be entwined forever! Oh...Oh gods, Adam! I’m yours...I- I’ll never leave you! So...So Let It be!”

With an elated scream, the coil burst viciously within you and pulsed through your very being, into his through your heated blood, sharing your orgasmic pleasure with him. Your juices gushed around the creature, and your vision whited out.

You came too with a surprised groan, by the gods, he was still going!

Your position had also changed, and now the creature rutted into you from behind your slumped form, with barely any strength but to hold onto the blanket for dear life, you allowed Adam to hold your hips up and use you to find his pleasure.

A delirious smile formed on your spit-slick lips. What a delightful feeling! Even though your inner wall sparked with overstimulation as Adam's cock dragged against them, the need to make up for lost time, the addiction to this fucking that only your creature could bless you with, had you moaning and begging your lover like a common whore to keep using you, keep you in this obscene position with your arse in the air, back bowed and head becoming blissed out pulp within the sheets you grasped upon so dearly.

Time was lost then. You barely felt human as you allowed yourself to float in existence between the senses. The heavy scent of sex and the sounds, hells the sounds! What would have made an individual of propriety blush behind lead-covered cheeks, made your soul spread its wings and take flight. The growled grunts from your creature as he furiously chased his pleasure within you, skin hitting skin as his balls slapped against your thighs in quick succession. Not even the sweetest, most finely tuned instruments playing in perfect time could compare to this sound.

White-hot pleasure burned you again when large, clever fingers found their way to your clit, they pinched and twisted as his thrusts grew sloppy, and you knew he was losing control. “I'm close...you- you will come again, with me”, the deep, sultry voice growled next to your ear.

“Yes, love...anything...uh...anything for you!” You surrendered to his touch and tilted your head in an act of utter submission to your creature. He rewarded you with a deep, almost purring growl. A satisfied noise that vibrated through his sloppy kisses to your neck until he bit harshly into the tender flesh between your neck and your shoulder.

The sensation of his monstrous girth tearing you in two, the pinching of your swollen clit, his crooked teeth drawing blood from your shoulder, and the visual of this ginormous creature caging you like a defenseless animal had you teetering on the edge of your orgasm so tantalisingly, you were more than ready to dive into the waves of ecstasy, all you needed was-

“Now, cum”

Your very bones became wood, and your second orgasm a wild fire, that was the only logical way you could describe the feeling. As your walls clenched, a deafening roar of your name boomed behind you, you would have complained about the volume hurting your ears, but you could do little more than moan weakly into the saliva-soaked sheets whilst the creature grinded into you as he filled you with his spend, prolonging your own release.

Aside from your shared laboured breaths, the room fell into a peaceful silence. You would have almost drifted off into a well shagged out slumber had you not felt yourself being manoeuvred once again. You quietly whimpered when Adam gently eased his member out of your swollen folds. He muttered an apology to you and continued to move you until you lay on his endless chest, safely wrapped within his arms.

Another moment passed, and then small, restrained sniffles caught your attention. You hurriedly looked up to your lover, and the very sight broke your heart in its tragedy. Golden browns looked at you with such deep love yet even deeper sorrow, whilst tears escaped them and cascaded down scarred cheeks.

This would absolutely not do! You had experienced one of the happiest moments with your beloved after so long, and so you refused to let him suffer. Your hand, still trembling with pleasant aftershocks, raised and caressed the creature's cheek with the utmost care. You hoped your darling would feel all the love and adoration you had for him through the simple touch.

“Adam, what's wrong?” you cooed softly.

“I- I am so sorry...I said some truly horrid things to you...I...I...I was so scared to lose you...I missed you so much and...and I didn’t know how to understand how I felt...I wanted to tell you and...and I-” he hiccuped on his words, shook his head in defeat and continued to weep.

“Oh...oh, love no! I mean...we may have to discuss how you express yourself in future. I thought you had surely grown tired of me, that you didnt” You sighed, also feeling very defeated if you were being honest “I thought you didn't love me anymore-”

“No!” you startled, and he groaned again, shaking his head again in self-deprecation.

“Sorry...I mean, I still love you, my Raven. How could I not? You have given me so much. More than I could have ever asked for in this wretched life. I just-” His brow creased, and you could once again see the cogs turning within his brilliant yet still fledgling mind; it wirred and ticked as it tried to articulate his emotions. Fascinating, truly fascinating.

“Seeing you on that pyre. My- my world collapsed. I have never loved anything as much as I love you. Even Elizabeth, with how brief our time was. And the thought that our last conversation had been so bitter. I- I could never forgive myself if the last words I ever said to you were not that I love you, with my everything, I love you. I am...aware that I can be possesive”

You cocked an eyebrow, and he sighed again, correcting himself, “ I am very aware that I am possessive. This is something I need to work on, and I hope,” he peered at you uncertainly “That you will help me?”

A radiant smile pulled at your lips, and you shuffeled up his body to gently kiss his lips. They lingered, and he slowly returned your affections as his lips lazily joined yours in a slow dance. The scorching passion had burned down to a gentle simmer, and you knew with gladness that that heat would never be extinguished.

“With pleasure, Adam. As long as you’ll have me, I will always be here for you.”

“Thank you, my beloved, I will always have you. I- oh!” A sudden thought hit him. “I forgot to mention, your eyes! When we were....ah,” his very pale cheeks quickly became very red, and you couldn't help but laugh at his bashfulness, which earned you a wry look.

“During our coupling, your eyes...they glowed...when you- when you spoke about always being...mine” The bashfulness dissipated into wonder, as if the very notion that you were his was the greatest treasure he could own.

The thought of your eyes glowing startled you. Glowing eyes werent a foreign concept to you. There had been stories circulated in your youth about great magic users who had such a deep understanding and such strong capabilities within the magical world that their very power manifested in such displays.

Of course, it had never happened to you; you were still so young and inexperienced due to hiding your nature. That kind of magic took years of practice, understanding and discipline from a very young age. If anything, you had quietly resigned yourself to the fact that it would never happen to the likes of you. A concept you secretly mourned and tried to forget about. To be a being of magic and yet to never understand it or have an intimate relationship with it was like a normal being not understanding why they needed air to breathe. 

It was not something to concern Adam with right now; it required studying to better understand. There was no point in making uneducated assumptions. You returned to stroking his cheek and offered what you hoped would be a reassuring smile. “It is nothing to concern yourself with now, love, it is difficult to explain, and we’ll discuss it in time.”

You could respect that Adam knew when not to press matters involving magic or your nature. Although he looked like he wanted to argue, he let the matter lie to simply bask in the afterglow of your passionate exchange while you lazily kissed his chest with soft worship.

A few more minutes of quiet breathing passed by, and a thought suddenly occurred to you.

“Adam?”

“Yes, my love?” he rumbled in content, his fingers gently carded through your messy locks.

“How do you know what the word cunt is?”

His fingers immediately stilled, and his cheeks flushed with a deeper red than before as his eyes widened.

“I...I have some explaining to do...”

It was certainly nobody's business as he went into innocent yet excruciating detail as to how he became fascinated with the word for the female anatomy from that blasted little red book he had hogged from you for so long. It was also nobody's business that such an explanation made you both incredibly hot under the collar, so to speak. You thanked every single deity within the universe that your walls and little Liz (who had very smartly hidden herself within a nice cosy little nook to escape the carnal acts) could not speak because over the course of the night, you both indulged in activities with each other that would make even the most well-seasoned prostitute blush.

Chapter Text

The soft caress of summer upon your skin was invigorating.

Contrary to what others who knew you might think, you truly had a soft spot for the hottest season of the year. The longer days meant more time to hone your craft, both medically and within the realm of magic. You could spend longer outdoors to truly acquaint yourself with the gifts Mother Nature had to offer.

Your heart sang with the buzz of the busy bees, the soulful calls of the multitudes of birds that came to visit you, and marvelled at the herds of Deer that traversed the lands in search of sweeter pastures.

The crops and farm animals thrived within the blistering heat as your skin beaded with sweat whilst you worked, and yet, through the minor sunburn and the need to find relief from the heat. You wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Adam embraced the bright season with a sense of wonder and elation. He had told you that this would be the first summer he would experience without the worry of running away from something or towards a distant land. His mind had been cleared of all the troubles and torment it was often plagued with. No longer did he have to move from one shelter to another, wondering when his next meal would come. No longer did he have to worry for his safety or whats worse, the sheer fear others felt towards him.

It was a very common sight to see your darling lover basking in the gentle rays of the sunlight and simply existing in the moment with his long arms outstretched, as if he thought the great burning star would rush down from the sky and allow him to embrace it. The contented smile and the softness of such an expression would have your heart clenching, and often you would turn away to wipe a stray tear from your eye. He deserved this peace more than anyone you had ever met in this dark, dreary life.

The fact that he also preferred to walk around the farm without a shirt on may have indeed contributed to your extended love for the warm weather. It was certainly nobody's business when you found yourself pausing your tasks to watch him complete his own work. Strong, chiselled, sturdy, half-naked, basking in the golden sparkling light, you could write sonnets about the gorgousness that had been blessed to you!

Where heated eyes linger, lust often follows, and Adam was more than willing to indulge you. After the night of rekindling your love, you had both been ravenous. The house had been debauched thoroughly within an inch of its life; each surface had been used by the creature to either bend you over it or lay you on top of it whilst he had his wicked way with you, and now there was no need to be chased inside by the cold; well, the possibilities had become endless.

Nowhere was safe. You had made love in the field, the forest, the babbling brook on an exceptionally hot day, and much to the chagrin of your beloved animals, the barns. Your voices sang with the euphoria of your coupling, and to your infinite pleasure, nature sang back. It sang in triumph of your love and acknowledgment of your growing power, which you gladly gave back to the earth in any way you could.

It was on such an occasion that you found yourself slowly wandering back from. After a particularly charged fucking with your lover in the woods, which consisted of seeing how many times he could bring you to completion with his fingers and tongue, you had ushered him away, stayed within the shade of the trees, and meditated.

The concept had been foreign to you before, and past circumstances simply didn't allow you to explore this area of your craft. The idea of finding five minutes to yourself in between hard labour and running for your life was, quite frankly, laughable.

But now that you can sit and allow yourself to feel the moment, feel the very fibres of existence, and feel your own essence leave its home within your muscles and bones to weave into the tapestry of life, it was something overwhelmingly beautiful and an activity you could never see yourself living without ever again.

You felt your mother.

After a few frustrating sessions that yielded no results, you realised how overcomplicated you had made the whole thing. With a fresh perspective, you sat yourself down in the middle of the forest, took a few deep breaths, and just let go.

She was there, had been there ever since she died. Your mind flashed with all the moments that you had wished, so desperately that she was with you and could quite clearly see she was there all along. You cried when you felt the warmth of her arms wrapping around your quivering shoulders. The cries further grew into wretched sobs when her words of love and adoration flowed through you like the warmest, sweetest honey you had the privilege to taste.

‘I am so proud of you, daughter’

‘You chose your soulmate well, dear’

‘I will always be with you; you are on the right path’

The tears continued to fall. Even when her words grew quiet, and her presence began to fade. It didn’t leave totally, and with sparkling clarity, you knew it never would. For she was, and had always been, right by your side. 

Adam had come to you a few moments later, concerned that you hadn’t returned and hearing your wounded noises, he feared the worst. When you explained to him what had just transpired, he collected you within his strong arms and rocked you gently as you cried through the complicated ensemble of emotions. Adam listened eagerly as you recounted happier times with your mother. He listened until your exhaustion made your eyes droopy with sleep and quietly took you back home.

After that, and one or two terrifying encounters in which you had thought people had come to tear your peace from you again, the visitations were often. Sometimes from people you knew, sometimes not. There was a particularly nasty one where you had caught that bastard Frankenstein out of the corner of your eye one dark day; he didn’t speak, and by the time you had turned your attention to the spot, he had vanished. You hadn’t told your beloved and did not plan to any time soon, lest his father return.

So, as you walked towards Adam at the front door of your home and leaned up to give him the gentlest kiss and turned around to take one last look towards the barn before turning in for the evening, it did not surprise you to see a crooked apparition in the distance. It stood on the well-worn road between two fields that bordered it and seemed to be looking directly at you.

“It appears,” you turned to Adam “We have a visitor.”

Even though Adam didn’t have the gift, he still humoured you and peered out to where you had been looking “I see.”

You laughed and gave him a gentle nudge, to which he also breathed a chuckle at the irony. You loved that his humour and personality blossomed day by day; the overwhelming love had you kissing his cheek reverently.

He blushed and spoke again, “Are you going to speak with them?”

You were about to respond, but when you turned again, the crooked figure had come closer. It startled you, but it quickly passed when you saw the visage was that of an old man with the whitest hair you had ever seen and perhaps the kindest eyes. It was in this moment that you knew you had nothing to fear; you grasped your creature's large hand and stayed put.

“I do not think I have a choice, he is coming to us!”

The bearded man with long hair took his time as he travelled towards you. He walked slowly but surely, with the help of a well-loved wooden staff. His eyes spoke of blindness, but he could clearly see the two of you. But the thing that gave you pause was the sheer joy this soul seemed to radiate from those white orbs as if seeing the two of you gave him the deepest pleasure one could experience.

A sudden realisation hit you, and you had to cover your mouth with your empty hand to stop a surprised sob from escaping. Of course, this joy soul was elated with your appearance, more specifically, Adams. This was the blind man, the one and only friend Adam had ever known besides Elizabeth! You remembered this from the first interaction you had ever had with your lover in that damned cavern, gods, it seemed like a lifetime ago.

“My dear”, the spirit greeted, his voice was so soft, so full of wisdom. You could listen to it for hours “You are even lovelier than I had hoped you would be.”

“Good sir,” you bowed and tipped your head in greeting “I have heard so much about you, you must know how dear you are to my beloved. It is an honour and a pleasure to finally meet you”

“Indeed!” the old man smiled, his very eyes shone with a love for you that you felt you did not deserve. It wounded you deeply that you had not known him in life. A part of you longed to build a kinship with this tender soul, to know him as Adam had. To learn from him and share in his goodwill. You turned to the creature then and found his eyes looking at you with apprehension. It must have been so frustrating to bear witness to one side of a conversation, no less with someone who had been so dear to you in life. How you wished you could share this joyous experience with Adam, he, more than anyone, deserved to speak with his friend again.

The old man seemed to understand your desire. “Will it to be child. You are bound by more than the love of mere mortals. For what you share runs far deeper than the comprehension of man. Will him to see me, and he shall."

You swallowed around your nervousness and looked to your love again as you reached into the deepest parts of yourself to your magic, calling it forth and guiding it to your intention. You squeezed Adams' hand reassuringly.

“I want to try something, do you trust me?”

“With my life”, He spoke with such conviction and squeezed back, his eyes gazing upon you with devotion and deep, unwavering trust.

You could feel your orbs begin to warm, and you knew they were glowing. A sudden zing of heat passed from yourself, through your hand and into Adam's own. He shivered with the feeling of it and turned to see the visitor.

Tears burst from your eyes with the rush of emotions upon Adams' face. His eyes widened as they rapidly scanned the visitor and released their own tears with obvious relief at seeing this man again. A single word passed his black lips before he collapsed to his knees.

“Friend”

Moments passed as you consolled your creature, falling beside him, you gently rubbed his broad back and soothed him with soft words. It was a feeling you understood all too well, to suddenly see someone so dear to you materialise after missing from your life for so long, it choked you and filled you with so much. It was impossible to comprehend and to truly describe to somebody who would never feel that same level of emotional calamity.

The two old friends spoke for a time. You happily stood by and quietly observed. You didn’t realise how much it would affect you to see the love of your life, who had suffered greatly at the hands of man, converse and share pleasantries with somebody who wasn’t you. You loved being Adam's entire world, really, you did. But it made you realise all too quickly that he needed more than just what you could offer. He needed to go out and see the world and hopefully, hopefully, make those other connections that he clearly needed.

Once again sensing your thoughts, the old man regarded you both.

“I see that you have come a long way, and my lady, if I may say so, my friend could not have picked a more perfect life partner, a more perfect bride” The comment made you blush. To be Adam's bride, what a beautiful, gorgeous concept.

He continued, “You have both suffered much, but in the end, you have found your peace. Your forever happiness within eachother, and yet, I wonder if there is more for you to do?”

A silence fell upon the three of you then. It wasn’t a statement, more an idea, one that had been left in the air for interpretation, for YOU to decide what to do with it. “You must know you are bound to one another in more sacred ways than can be thathomed. The powers and energies of this world have heard your decree that your lives are bound together, and I am pleased to say that they find your joining most beneficial and pure. Adam, for now, has an unending life, and so, the deities that watch and protect you, young witch, have seen to it that you become his unending mate. You shall not be parted from eachother for life times to come.”

You both rejoiced, and the old man let you. He watched with an easy smile as you cried together and embraced. Blessed moon mother, mother nature and all those who have been your guardians, your manifestations have been answered!

“But,” the man interjected. As soon as the joy appeared, it vanished. You knew that good things always came at a price, and as you turned to regard the visitor again with pleading eyes, a lump formed in your throat. How could your miracle be taken away so soon?! Was this sheer hell you had endured together to continue? How much more could you take?

“Be at peace, young ones, it is not as dire as you think” he held a gentle hand up to stop your panicking and soothed you.

“As you know, nature and her ways have a price, for there must be balance in everything. The magic that has woven you together is powerful and demands to be used with wellness and good intention.”

The man paused. Subconcioiusly you both leaned towards him, awaiting his command with bated breath.

“There are others who share in your nature, magic, and otherness, who have not yet found the peace you are graced with. They find themselves in the very hell you have both crawled out of. Help them, save them. Be the help that you so desperately needed in your fledgling days. Heal what has been broken, and you both shall live a very long and happy life together. So mote it be.”

Once the final word had left the man's lips, he faded away with a gentle smile. Like your mother, you knew he wasnt gone, not totally. He also joined the ranks of the hidden guardians who watched you and counselled you. It brought you a deep sense of gratitude to know that, finally, you weren't both alone in this terrifying endeavour.

The man was right, and as you looked upon your beloved, your creature, your Adam, you knew that he understood that too.

Your journey together to find your happy ending had come to a close, and yet, it had only just begun. From that fateful night that Adam had stumbled into your cell, passionate nights together, trials and tribulations, and nearly losing each other again, your story had barely started.

And what of others within this world who didn’t get that same luxury? You found it hard to believe that many magical folk had as much luck as you had. The thought chilled you to the bone, the image of pyres alight with hellish flames, the screams of the innocent as their devastated families watched on in utter heartache.

No. You would not let it happen. Man needed to pay for what they had done to your kind and to Adam; they would rue the day they had decided to wage a war on this witch and her beloved creature.

Your house would still be here, and you wouldn’t have to leave your animals often. You would devise a plan, and you would save as many as you could.

The setting sun cast a gorgeous golden glow that encased you both within its sparkling arms. Adam held you tightly to him and connected your lips. They moved together, and your tongues danced in a familiar waltz. You parted for breath and placed your foreheads together.

“I love you, my darling.” You whispered with love, with devotion and with thanks to your life together, but most importantly, in thanks to that creature who saved you on that dark, rainy night.

“I love you too, my Raven. Let us live our long life...together.”

What he said was simple, yet in its simplicity it was everything. It was beautiful.