Tumblr Chronicles

Sno

Humans of Tumblr

“If Snow White Literally had “lips red as a rose, hair black as ebony, and skin white as snow,” she’d look like a walking nightmare.” - Just-shower-thoughts

“Honestly this sounds like the description of a vampire. Which would also explain how she convinced seven dwarves to let her stay with them. How she could control some animals to do her bidding. How she could sleep for a long time without aging. Why the hunter betrayed the queen for her, and why the queen wanted her heart, so she could be sure she was killed properly.” - Play-read-write

“Shit, THIS is a retelling I want to read.” - Spyderqueen

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It began long ago, deep in the forest. Many had forgotten Her existence; She had passed into myths and legends told by the elders around campfires and in pubs. The villagers in the towns surrounding the forest by the lake liked to whisper of Her to frighten children and gullible fools. The whispers told of a beautiful, terrifying enchantress. If one saw Her true form, it would be the last thing they ever saw. Near-legendary historic accounts said that one man, Prince Ronyth, survived the time of her reign of terror. He was the one who found a way to curse her and put Her into an eternal sleep from which She would never wake. He whispered of Her bone-white skin and hair black as night, and bloody red lips. Her true face haunted his nightmares for the remainder of his days. But other rumors of Her insisted that She was a goddess with blush red lips and soft dark hair, and creamy, luscious skin.

The villagers assumed any and all of these tales to be foolish ghost stories and no one paid them any heed any longer. But one day a youth, Theron, disappeared and was never seen nor heard from again; the realm’s queen and king had even sent soldiers into the woods to search for him. Some whispered of Her, but of course, no one really believed in Her. The village of Aderes mourned his loss, but eventually the people assumed he had run off or had met with an accident as sometimes befalls those who wander off alone in the depths of the forest. Time passed and the villagers forgot again.

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“Louisa!” Tem called, searching for the love of his life. He tripped over a thick tree root; they had wandered deep into the forest. Louisa liked to tease him and skip ahead, ever the adventurer. He proceeded much more cautiously as night continued to fall on the beautiful summer eve. Louisa had suggested a game of Hide-and-Find and then had run off before he could say anything. The dark-skinned beauty was an excellent huntress and could move quietly through the forest, much more so than Tem could. He tripped on a rock and cursed. “Louisa! Where have you gone? It’s growing dark! We should head back to the village!”

Tem paused on the thin game trail, breathing heavily, his heart freezing over as he listened for the sounds of the forest. Not a single bird sang, nor a single bush rustled. No squirrels chattered, and no chipmunks scurried by. His next gasp of air stabbed icy fingers into his lungs. He coughed at the unexpected cold.

“Louisa?” he croaked out. He took a jolting step forward as the night descended upon him like a wave.

The ice stole into his bones and robbed him of power. His body would not respond. Tears of fear welled up and spilled down his cheeks and solidified. His body ached all over. He tried to call out for help but only a rasp escaped. Ice creaked behind him and he struggled against the pain in his bones but could not turn. Something rustled through the underbrush, disturbing the terrified silence of the woods. Through the oppressive darkness he felt rather than saw a man-sized shape move to stand before him. The shape wore metallic armor so dark it created a void in the night. Tem could barely make out a dark-skinned face through the gloom. His frozen eyes could not even squint to try and see the man. The man knelt and Tem realized that the rustling behind him had stopped. Crystalline ice wrapped his body and a deathly cold stroked his cheek. Tem tried in vain again to struggle; panic leant him some semblance of strength while his heart raced as if he were running. He managed at last to turn his head just a fraction to one side and saw blood red lips set against bone white skin.

No sound could escape him as the lips curved into a smile. The creature struck; pain lanced through Tem’s neck.

--To Be Continued--