The Wedding

It had rained all night. The reflections of passing cars’ headlights flickered on the wet asphalt like a hundred burning lightbulbs on the brink of burning out. The BMW turned onto the country road leading to Devin, a tranquil spa town nestled in Smolyan Province, situated in the valley of the Vacha River in the far south of Bulgaria. Only the monotonous hum of the engine persisted, disturbing the serenity of the night.

The Vacha River murmured gently in the valley, tracing its path alongside the road in quiet anticipation of human eyes admiring its beauty.

Gradually, emerging from the water, a halo ascended into the sky, pursuing the car. “He is back . . .” The eerie whisper permeated the air, and the lights swayed, dancing in a circular motion, up and down like a soaring kite.

The tires slowed, rolling over the gravelly shoulder of the road, emitting a crunchy symphony until they eventually came to a halt. A few stray cats scattered in alarm.

As he turned off the engine, the music ceased, and the halo dissipated.

Ivan noticed the warm, yellowish light emanating from a nearby small local shop, which filled him with relief and a sense of welcome.

“Ivan, my boy, welcome back, son! Where have you been all this time? Your mother was pining for your return,” the old man exclaimed, his words pouring forth as he patted Ivan’s back enthusiastically. “What can I get you? Thank God, you’re safe and sound. And, look at you, a fine lad in city clothes with an expensive car. Are you alone, or have you brought a wife with you?”

Ivan laughed, unable to find his words. The old man, affectionately addressed as “Bay” in Bulgarian, continued to express his joy, patting Ivan’s shoulders and back. His thick, long mustache wiggled, extending with his wide smile. Ivan, as a gesture of respect, gently pressed his lips to Bay Stoyan's trembling hand as he made his way out of the store.

However, upon seeing the old man’s reflection in a weathered mirror hanging from a rusty nail beside the front door, Ivan was jolted into a state of unease. The white, snow-like lock of hair atop the old man’s head radiated an eerie glow, causing Ivan to shudder.

A woman’s reflection blinked in the mirror, and Ivan recoiled his face blanching. Without uttering a word, he hastily exited the store, clutching a bag of groceries, and headed to his car.

Ivan had spent the last five years abroad, working as a tourist guide after graduating from the University of Sofia. His goal of amassing funds to establish his business - a hotel on a floating pontoon in Devin’s dam-had been long in the making. Now, his small, new hotel was nearing completion, poised to welcome its first guests in the coming spring.

However, unsettling memories haunted his consciousness, rendering him momentarily powerless over the car. Once again, he felt her presence - his entire body tensed, his eyes ablaze, compelling him to stop the vehicle. Ivan eased his body into the car seat and shut his eyes. The halo enveloped his car, casting a glow reminiscent of a disco ball. And once more, he heard their ghostly whisper: “He is back…”

The urge to scream overwhelmed him.

“Leave me alone!” he yelled, shaking his head in agony. “I know what you did, but I won’t let you do it to me!”

Then, suddenly, someone knocked on the car window. He stiffened, and the unfamiliar face staring at him from outside brought him back to reality. “Are you alright?” a young man asked, gesturing for him to roll down the window. Ivan hesitated for a moment, then nodded affirmatively and waved goodbye.

The couple walked away, and the young man looked back to ensure that Ivan was alright and didn’t need any help. It appeared that he didn’t.

Suddenly, a dancing light ruptured the night’s darkness and began to follow the couple. It swiftly embraced their unity, then everything turned dark once more. Ivan heard the sound of a body splashing into the water. The man’s screams of horror pierced the night, pleading for help, and Ivan’s body and mind froze in fear. He understood, but he couldn’t take any action. In a daze, he restarted the engine and slowly drove away, heading home.

Ivan’s mother, a widow for fifteen years, eagerly embraced her son once more and warmly invited him to join her for dinner. Ivan, exhausted from the evening’s events, didn’t immediately share what had transpired in the past few hours. However, his mother could tell something was amiss. His pale face and brief responses, more nods than actual conversation, did little to conceal the fear lurking in his eyes.

As time passed, Ivan began to relax, sharing some exciting new ideas about the hotel and the woman who was planning to visit him the following month. His mom was overjoyed to hear this wonderful news and couldn’t hold back her tears of happiness.

“Oh, son! This is such wonderful news. I cannot wait to meet her,” she said with a warm smile, resting her arms on the table. “Now, off you go to get some well-deserved rest. We have all the time in the world to talk.”

Time seemed to stand still in his mother’s house, with only a few modern additions like the electronic wall clock and a couple of recent paintings serving as reminders that it was, indeed, the twenty-first century.

Ivan cracked the window slightly open, allowing the cool night breeze to sweep away the old, musty smell in his room. The soft glow from an antique nightstand illuminated the space, and he watched the flickering shadows dancing on the ceiling. Then, he rested his head on the plush pillow filled with goose feathers and closed his eyes.

The voices returned. The halo entered his room and bathed the space in bright white light. Ivan knew he had to follow it, or someone would die. He quickly put on his jacket and stealthily slipped outside. It was nearly midnight and only nocturnal creatures like owls and foxes were celebrating life.

The "Stroilski Dol" waterfall, known locally as "Samodivskoto Praskalo," lay just a few miles from Ivan’s house, and he hoped to reach it without getting lost.

He felt an irresistible pull toward their enchanting and seductive voices; even from a distance, they sent shivers down his spine. The woodland fairies also referred to as Samodivi, danced in their flowing, feathered white gowns around the waterfall. Ivan vividly remembered their captivating appearances from his childhood. These six tall, slender women possessed pale, radiant skin, fiery eyes, and long blonde hair that seemed to emit a magical light. They twirled gracefully, moving in harmony with the wind. Ivan knew he must keep his eyes closed, for gazing at theirs meant succumbing to instant love.

His father had fallen prey to one of the Samodivi, becoming infatuated with her. Each night, he danced restlessly with her while she slowly drained his energy. One dawn, Ivan’s father was found dead by his best friend, Bay Stoyan, near the waterfall. Bay Stoyan was devastated and spent several nights at the waterfall, enraptured by their bewitching dance. However, whenever he attempted to approach them, the fairies would transform into monstrous birds and unleash fire upon him.

One fateful night, Bay Stoyan finally managed to steal a Samodiva’s magical gown. He playfully attempted to separate her from the others, harboring intentions to eliminate her, as well as the rest, one by one, to banish them back to their dark, supernatural world. The Samodiva pleaded with him to return her gown, offering a small portion of her magical hair in exchange, promising him power and eternal life. Still haunted by the death of his dear friend, Bay Stoyan callously tossed her garment into the river, enraging her.

In response, she soared over his head, sending him tumbling to the ground. Their eyes locked in an instant.

Little did Bay Stoyan know, Ivan was present that very night, concealed behind a tree, silently observing the unfolding events. Witnessing the Samodiva’s attack on Bay Stoyan, Ivan unleashed a barrage of rocks and logs upon her before charging at her with a massive branch, screaming in defiance.

As the first sunbeams began to sneak above the horizon, causing the Samodivi to vanish, Ivan emerged from the water. All that echoed in his ears was her haunting promise: “I’ll be back for you!” Then, they were all gone, at least for the time being.

Bay Stoyan remained unconscious on the ground. Ivan, who was fifteen years old at the time, found himself incapable of carrying him back home. Instead, he urgently hopped on his bike and pedaled tirelessly in search of help.

Later that morning, Bay Stoyan regained consciousness in his bed, feeling utterly drained, and pale, and a distinctive white lock of hair adorning his forehead. It felt as if an immense weight pressed down on his chest, making it difficult to draw breath. Her enchanting magic imbued him with overwhelming power, and he found it nearly impossible to resist the appealing attraction between them. Like magnets, they were forever destined to be drawn to each other.

Later that day, Bay Stoyan instructed his wife to lock him in a room, regardless of the sounds she might hear-his pleas for release or the beckoning voices of women. He implored her never to open the door.

Around midnight, he spotted the halo accompanying his wife as she sleepwalked toward the waterfall, lured by the captivating voices of the Samodivi. In sheer horror, he pounded on the window, screaming helplessly. Bay Stoyan never saw his wife alive again.

A month later, a fisherman discovered her decomposing body in the river.

The forced suicides in the village multiplied, and several more men watched in terror as their wives were ensnared by the halo, confined within their homes, unable to save them.

Since then, Bay Stoyan had to lock himself up every night until dawn to resist the alluring force of the Samodivi, lest he, too, would be lost forever.

And now, fifteen years later, Ivan found himself back at the waterfall, seduced by the very same Samodiva he had attempted to rescue his father’s best friend from-the same one who had caused his father’s demise.

This time, Ivan knew precisely what he needed to do. He patiently waited until they removed their magical garments to bathe in the river. Swiftly, he dashed to the riverbank and seized her gown. Instantly, fury engulfed the Samodiva. She pursued him with unrestrained rage, and just as she was on the verge of transforming into a fire-spewing bird, Ivan leaped toward her and pierced her with a thorn. She vanished in torment, disappearing forever, just as the legend foretold.

The other Samodivi transformed into malevolent birds, swooping down to attack him. One Samodiva knocked him to the ground and gazed at him. In a desperate move, Ivan tightly shut his eyes, and all he could hear was her eerie voice proclaiming, “We are wed now forever!” Then, he fell unconscious. The rising sun cast its rays upon their forms, and they all vanished without a trace.

Ivan regained consciousness a few hours later, gripped by cold and terror. He attempted to move, struggling to stand up but was quickly overpowered by sleep once more.

In the afternoon that followed, a group of local woodcutters discovered him still in a deep slumber and escorted him back home.

His mother was heartbroken when she saw her son lying lifeless, a prominent white lock of hair adorning his head. She immediately understood what had happened, for she had witnessed this very same white lock of hair on her husband’s head before.

When Ivan eventually awoke, it was close to midnight. He found himself in his bed, exhausted, and fragmented memories began to resurface in his mind. Slowly, he made his way to the bathroom, only to freeze in terror at the sight of his white lock of hair in the mirror. Panicking, he rushed to the door, but it was locked. Anxiously, he paced around the room, desperately searching for a means to unlock it, yet he remained trapped, fully aware of his dire predicament.

Meanwhile, Ivan’s mother stood resolute by the waterfall, concealed thorns in her pocket, and anxiously awaited the appearance of the Samodivi. She kept vigil throughout the night, but they never materialized; they had departed for a place known as “Zmajkovo”, a mythical village where they would spend the winter before returning in the spring.

At dawn, Ivan’s mother finally relented home to prepare some breakfast. They both ate in silence. “I won’t stop waiting for them, and when they return, I’ll send them all to the other world,” Ivan’s mother finally declared, her hand grasping her son’s. Their eyes spoke volumes, understanding that sooner or later, one of them might be lost forever, if not both.

“Are you sure we don’t need anything more than a pound of cheese and yogurt? Because Bay Stoyan wants to fill my bags with everything from his store,” Mary giggled cheerfully as she discussed groceries with Ivan on the phone.

“Yes, that’s all we need! My mom prepared so many dishes, and all she wants is to meet you.” Ivan replied, his excitement palpable. He hadn’t seen her in over a month.

It was Christmas Eve, and Ivan’s siblings, along with their spouses, were enjoying a feast like they hadn’t in the past five years. Laughter and teasing filled the room, reminiscent of the old days. There were tears of joy when Ivan announced his proposal to Mary, who accepted. The wedding was set for late spring, in May of the following year.

“Did you accidentally spill paint on your hair or something? You have a darker curl, it seems, or are you trying to impress me with a new hairstyle?” Mary smiled and gently stroked his hair that night in their bedroom.

“It must be the dim light playing tricks on your eyes,” Ivan mumbled, pulling her close and embracing her passionately.

He had decided to dye his white lock of hair, fully aware that it would otherwise stir up countless questions and evoke terrifying memories among his brothers.

The next morning, as he passed by his younger brother, the latter nearly knocked him to the floor in his nervous haste to reach the staircase.

“Why didn’t you tell us they’re back? I saw Mom heading to the waterfall last night. Why didn’t you say anything? Why?” His younger brother was visibly upset, pulling Ivan’s pajamas and shaking him vigorously.

“They are not here yet. That’s why. You don’t need to worry now!” Ivan finally snapped at him.

That was the last time he saw his brothers and their wives. They eagerly piled into their cars and drove away.

Over the next few months, Ivan and Mary basked in harmony and happiness. Ivan had almost forgotten about the haunting halo. Despite the unsettling undercurrent, Devin Village was a beautiful place to live and a renowned tourist destination. They planned to spend their honeymoon here and open their new hotel to guests. The grand opening was scheduled for April of the following year, and Ivan hoped everything would go as planned.

“Are you alright?” Mary asked Ivan’s mom one morning in March, noticing the old woman silently preparing breakfast.

“Yes, dear, just did not sleep well last night. That’s all,” the elderly woman replied, attempting to conceal the fear in her eyes.

When Mary left the room, Ivan’s mom discreetly slid a local newspaper article in front of Ivan’s eyes. “ A young girl’s lifeless body was discovered near the waterfall last night,” the article’s first sentence read. The halo had returned, more potent and wrathful than ever.

Ivan stiffened in fear, his thoughts racing with worry for both his mother and Mary.

Later that night, as Mary fell asleep, Ivan sat in a rocking chair, watching his future wife sleeping. Around midnight, the ominous halo filled his bedroom, lifting the window as Ivan sat in stunned disbelief. The lights instantly ensnared Mary’s body, rendering her paralyzed in fear, unable to move off her own volition. Their powerful magic forcibly dragged her out of the bed and compelled her to leap out of the window. Ivan watched in abject terror, screaming but inexplicably bound to the chair, unable to intervene. He heard the eerie whisper of the halo, “You took one of us down, so we take two,” and then everything faded into darkness.

The last Ivan image Ivan witnessed before pulling the trigger against his head was his future wife’s lifeless body drenched in blood on the backyard lawn, and his mother, ensnared by the halo, heading towards the waterfall.

And then, once again, there was a blinding light. Ivan and Mary were walking down the aisle, hand in hand, on their wedding day, accompanied by Ivan’s parents.