Fang & Tooth

Romania 1736

Before that night I was living in what felt like a never-ending cycle. I would wake up, get ready for work, grab something small for breakfast, go to work, and after work, I would come home, make some sad excuse of a dinner, sleep, and repeat the next day. I had grown pretty used to this life. I never believed there was anything more for me out there. This is the life I had expected to live. It was already a risk living alone as a woman. If it was ever found out that "Florin Vidraru" was just a 30-something-year-old woman who refused to marry a man just for his house.

One day, I broke the cycle. I had decided to go for a walk through the deep woods behind my house. I couldn't remember the last time I had been in those woods. Was this the first time? I grabbed a coat and set off. As I walked something changed, I felt as if I was a magnet and I was being pulled towards something familiar yet unknown. I wasn't in control of my body and my head was like a void, empty of thoughts. I kept walking and walking. Soon I reached a clearing. Surrounded by darkness was a directional signpost, most of the locations had been scratched out or worn out by the elements. The only readable sign said, "Hradný Zub tesáku" roughly translating to "Castle Fang Tooth".

I began to walk in the direction the sign was pointing. I wanted to stop but something in me took over, there was no stopping, only a further plummet into what would change everything. By the time I reached the castle my only light source was that of which the moon provided me. My body was aching, my feet were numb and my legs tingled. I couldn't tell how long I'd been walking but it couldn't have been some small journey. Before me was an ancient-looking bridge. The boards looked destroyed by rot, some were missing, and the rope guides appeared to be so fragile even the lightest touch would cause them to crumble. Still, my body was moving, racing towards the castle. As I crossed the bridge I could feel my feet snapping the boards, leaving me no easy return home.

On the other side, there was an overgrown path, it continued until it reached the castle. After a long while I reached the doors, limbs weak and barely able to support my own body. The doors creaked open as if it were the castle itself inviting me in. The castle was supposed to be abandoned but the room was filled with lit candles. On the wall across from me was a large painting, It was very old but I was able to make out that it was a woman dressed in exquisite clothing. On either side of the painting were two dark brown doors, both were covered in intricate carvings and sigils I didn't recognize. To my left was another door, this one was pitch black with gold lines and swirls. This door was open slightly.

I went through the open door to see a long hallway, the walls were covered in many paintings of various landscapes and old portraits. Along with the paintings there were carefully placed sconces. On the floor was a dirty rug covered in large dark stains that covered the entire length of the hallway. I'm nearly at the end of the hallway when I hear a noise, a door creaking open, followed by loud, but slow footsteps. The noise is coming from where I just came from. At that moment I try to decide if I should stay still and attempt to talk to whatever is coming or hide and observe from a distance. Before I can decide a tall figure appears in the doorway. They stop for a moment but eventually continue to walk towards me. It isn't until they pass by the candle on the wall that I can tell it's a woman. I'm still frozen in place by the time she's just a few steps away.

"Vitajte." She says, her voice low but gentle. I say nothing, barely breathing. I analyze her face, too distracted by how the candlelight brings out her cheekbones, her amber eyes glowing like the sun. The way her dark hair falls far past her shoulders with a gentle curl, perfectly contrasting her pale skin. I finally snap out of it when she places a hand on my shoulder. Once she has my attention she says, "I was expecting you. Please, come". She walks past me, brushing against my shoulder as she enters the room behind me.

I follow her into what appears to be a large ballroom. It's dimly lit by three large candlestick chandeliers and the sconces that line the walls. She takes me to a long table which is up against the farthest wall. On the table, on top of the dark tablecloth is a silver chalice, filled with a dark red liquid.

"I know you suffer, I've been keeping a close eye on you." She says to break the silence. "Drink, it'll help."

I look down at the cup, its contents thick. "What is it?" I ask, nervous about what might happen if I ask too many questions. "I told you I had been watching you and I know of your struggles. This will help, it'll change you, but it'll make your current troubling circumstances non-existent. Listening to her explanation, I decide there's nothing left for me to lose, plus the way she's staring at me with that calm tone makes me feel like I've been swaddled in a warm blanket, as safe as can be.

I pick up the chalice, I take one more look at the woman who lured me to her home as I take a sip. The taste is of metal, it's awful. I nearly spit it out before the woman takes hold of the back of my head with one hand and places the other over my own hands on the chalice, forcing me to down the whole thing. "You must drink it all". She says as the last drop slides down my throat. I gag, and cough, but then a strange feeling comes over me. The woman then quickly but carefully pulls me in and bites my neck. I try to scream but the only thing that escapes my mouth is a heavy exhale. The last thing I see is her slowly pulling away, red liquid pooling in the corners of her mouth. My vision goes blurry, my ears start ringing, and I pass out.

When I woke up I was in a bed that was too comfortable to be my own, in a room that was too decorated to be my own. When I remembered what happened I tried to get up, but found my body too weak. It felt like there was fire running through my veins, my vision was still hazy but something felt different, the room so overbearingly bright, and my mind was consumed by a strange hunger.

I'm lying in a large canopy bed, with ornate wooden posts on each corner. The sheets are soft and clean, and the pillows are plush. In the room there's a lit fireplace, providing just the right amount of warmth. The ceiling is tall and the moulding is beautifully carved wood. From the outside of the castle, you would never imagine a room like this would exist inside.

My vision begins the clear, and I see the woman sitting in a chair in the corner, she appears to be asleep, I take a moment to admire her face while the fire glows beautifully on her face. I don't notice when she wakes up but after a few moments, I look and see that her eyes are now open, staring straight back at me.

"Who are you? What are you?" I say. I see her face twitch at my second question though she quickly steadies herself. After a few moments pass she says, "Ileana...my name is Ileana. The other question I will answer in a bit, for now, you need rest." She stands up, she walks over to my bedside, and picks up a damp cloth that is sitting in a bowl on the end table. She gently wipes my forehead. I stare at her as she does this and I say, "I'm Miruna". She doesn't say anything but she gives me a small smile and puts the cloth back in the bowl. She straightens herself and walks to the door. She stops at the doorway to look back and says, "This isn't going to be easy, but I assure you it'll be worth it in the end." She doesn't give me a chance to ask any questions, not that I would be able to think of one in this state.

Hours later I woke up yet again. This time is different, the burning in my veins has grown much more painful. I begin to scream, it feels as if my insides have grown claws and are trying to rip through my skin to get out. My heartbeat is thumping faster and faster every second. My screaming seemingly gets the attention of Ileana, she comes rushing into my room. She puts her hand firmly on my chest, feeling my heartbeat. "This is the worst of it, you're almost through, just breathe". She keeps her hand on my chest, both to keep the status of my heart but also in an attempt to guide my breathing. I put my hand over hers and take long deep breaths, slowly I feel the pain start to dim.

I look at Ileana, she seems completely focused on the feeling of her hand. Something in me changes, she looks at me the moment it happens. "It's over". She says in a comforting tone. I look at her confused, she simply takes back her hand and tells me to sleep a little longer, leaving the room.

I can't sleep, staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out what's wrong with me, finally, I do what Ileana was doing to me. I put my hand on my chest, my heart was no longer beating. I panicked wondering what was going on. Who was this woman? How was I still alive? Was I even alive? Eventually, my mind got lost in all the questions and I drifted off, only to be awoken no more than 20 minutes later by the sound of my stomach. I successfully stand and walk to the door, hoping to find Ileana and finally get some answers.