In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. But not in this story. Not in this lifetime. Abandon faith; we all did. And we suffered for it. We are still suffering, because in the beginning was a witch, and the witch was a Venerian, and the Venerian was a curse.
"Rabee sakaitami, sakaitami sa LA rabee!
With this cursed vow, I'll bring forth a fright,
And shroud all of mankind in endless night.
My life for sorrow, for terror, and pain;
No mortal's plea will be heard in the rain.
For the king of the darkness has come here to stay;
On this hallowed ground, your children he'll slay.
His staff of death, with which he holds power,
Will see all your children fall in this hour.
I, Masami, have spoken my pledge to this day:
For humanity's death, I have nothing to say.
The king of the darkness won't leave you alone,
Not until the last human is gone."
Five Years Ago…
"Gather around, little ones, for a tale as old as time—when the trees talked and the sky communicated with the ground—a tale both wise and true," Tomoko, the ancient witch, sang, her voice a soft, melodic hum that always drew the children in. She gestured with a gnarled hand, gathering the inquisitive young faces closer to hear her story.
Tomoko was the oldest and wisest witch in Veneria. Some said she had lived a thousand lifetimes; others assumed she was a goddess, but that would only be true if goddesses aged. Many from far and near who came to her for advice and help never left unsatisfied. Veneria became a popular healing center. Though it was a small village in a different realm, it could only be located by the pure of heart. It was a home only to witches, a realm hidden from the rest of the world, which eventually became popular because of a single woman, daughter, and mother: Tomoko. The village lived in peace and happiness.
"A story that the gods whisper in the dead of the night," she continued, her eyes distant, lost in memory.
"Her voice is still as angelic as it was in her youth," a passerby complimented, nodding approvingly.
People believed Veneria was a village carved out by the gods, a place where the gods communicated with beings. "The point of contact," people would say, but it was popularly known as "home of magic."
Its meadows looked as though they were touched by the heavens. The sunflowers shone in the sun like the finest gold. It was, indeed, a wonderful place to be. Its clear blue sky with the sun as a golden ball, the clear sea as the sun kissed it… but alas…
"A story of life!" Tomoko's voice rose slightly, a twinkle in her ancient eyes.
"Ohhhhh!" the children chorused, their eyes wide with anticipation, as Tomoko waved her staff, making colorful air puppets dance and swirl to assist her in her narrative.
"Never gets old," Leticia, Masami's best friend, remarked with an amused sigh as she sat on a garden chair, watching from a distance under the magnificent moonlight.
"I suppose," Masami, Tomoko's great-granddaughter, countered, a faint sigh escaping her lips. She leaned back against the cool stone pillar of the barn, her expression a mix of affection and weary familiarity. "She has only told that story like a billion times, and yet I'm the only one who seems to notice." The girls had just chased the animals into their various pens and had decided to take a break before Tomoko gathered the kids.
"You have to admit Tomoko's pretty good. A particular story, a million times, in different ways," Leticia smiled, a genuine warmth in her eyes.
"She is really something," Masami agreed, a faint, almost wistful smile touching her lips.
Masami slowly sat on the bench, the smooth wood cool beneath her. It wasn't the first time people had complimented her great-grandma. Masami's parents died in an accident a few weeks after her birth, so she never got to know them. All she had were stories about their bravery. She had lived with Tomoko her entire life. She felt pressure because people expected her to be just like Tomoko, and when she did anything less, it was a disaster.
"It's like they forget I'm human," she would cry out in frustration during private moments, sometimes thumping her fist lightly against a nearby surface.
"Half-human. We don't age like humans do," Leticia would correct, her tone gentle but firm. The truth was, one day in Veneria was like a week in the other realms.
"She's like a princess!" "Just like her grandmother!" were compliments that drove Masami nuts at the marketplace, making her jaw clench almost imperceptibly. She wasn't like Tomoko at all. Yes, she loved her grandma, but she never wanted to be like her. Tomoko was like the village leader, so Masami was practically royalty. While Tomoko's magic was pure and innocent, Masami secretly practiced dark magic, which was forbidden in Veneria. Tomoko had seen it in her visions and had tried her best to train Masami right, but one can't really deny destiny, now can you?
"It's getting late. You should get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow," Leticia announced, stretching languidly as she stood up.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Masami asked, her brow furrowed in genuine confusion.
"You forgot? The recently crowned King is coming to our village tomorrow."
"You mean Kilo?" Masami's tone held a hint of dismissive irreverence.
"Manners, Masami! It's King Kilo to you, and he is so handsome," Leticia said dreamily, her eyes unfocused with a romantic haze, which made Masami snort with laughter.
"Whatever. I'm going to bed first." Leticia, with red cheeks and her nose slightly in the air, flounced off towards her room. Masami stayed for a few more moments, watching Tomoko finish her story, then slipped inside.
Tomoko dismissed the children with a final, gentle wave, then headed inside, her steps purposeful, going straight for Masami's room. She had had several unsettling visions throughout the day, a persistent tremor in her ancient bones telling her the end was near. She paused, took a deep, steadying breath, then knocked lightly before entering. Masami, who had been hunched over something on her bed, shot upright as if startled.
"Mother?" Masami gasped, a catch in her voice as she normally called her. She quickly shoved a thick, leather-bound spellbook under her bed, her movements clumsy, betraying her surprise. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes darted nervously between Tomoko and the bed.
"The stench of dark magic," Tomoko stated, her voice calm but firm, her nostrils flaring slightly as she sniffed the air, her gaze sweeping the room before settling on Masami's flushed face. Then she sighed, a deep, weary sound, and sat down on the edge of the bed, the mattress creaking softly beneath her. "Masami, what have I told you about dark magic?"
"I know, Mama," Masami mumbled, her shoulders slumping. She couldn't meet Tomoko's gaze.
"It is forbidden, Masami!" Tomoko's voice sharpened, though her expression remained sorrowful.
"It's just that… I feel a connection… I'm good at it, Mama," Masami whispered, a defiant flicker in her eyes despite her lowered head.
Tomoko gasped, a sharp, broken sound, and then her shoulders began to shake with a light sob, her hand coming up to press against her mouth. "Do you know why it's forbidden, child?" she managed through her tears.
Masami looked away, the defiance fading, replaced by a tremor of guilt. She slowly sat down beside Tomoko, the weight of her great-grandmother's sorrow pressing on her. She shook her head slowly. "No, Mama."
"Dark magic killed your parents." The words hung in the air, heavy and final, making Masami flinch as if struck.
Masami sat upright, her spine rigid, all previous emotions forgotten, replaced by a desperate eagerness. "What happened?" she demanded, her voice barely a whisper.
Tomoko took another shaky breath. "Like you, your mother practiced dark magic. Unlike you, she did so in the open. She received criticism as well as admiration. 'Dark magic is fun,' she said. 'It keeps her connected'… but there are consequences." She paused for a second, her gaze distant, remembering. "When Veneria was made, it was made out of pure magic. Dark magic disrupts that balance. I begged her to see reason, but she kept on. She ran away, married a man, a rebel. Your mother was… one day, your father fell violently ill. He was brought into our village. Our healers did everything they could, but to no avail. He died. But your mom couldn't accept it; she was expecting…" she paused again, closing her eyes briefly, a fresh tear tracing a path down her wrinkled cheek. Masami didn't say a word, her breath held tight in her chest. Tomoko continued, her voice gaining a somber strength, "Your mother couldn't bear the loss. Pure magic couldn't save your dad. 'What's the good of it?' she said. Despite our warning, she did the unthinkable. She disrupted the balance of life and death, and of course, the universe demanded compensation…"
"For every life given…" Masami muttered, her eyes wide, the pieces of a terrible puzzle beginning to click into place.
"Another is taken… the cycle of life," Tomoko completed, her voice now a low, mournful drone. "The gods were angered. Veneria started dying. Your mom… she didn't… she didn't learn her lesson. She tried to fix it with magic… made it worse. A price was demanded: a soul for the rest. Realizing this, she pleaded for your life. A few weeks after your birth… they took her. A life for a life. Your father couldn't bear the loss, fell violently ill, and died shortly after. You can't cheat death." Tomoko concluded, her gaze fixed on some point beyond Masami, lost in the tragedy of the past.
Masami was stunned, reeling. Her lips trembled. "You said… you said they died a hero… they were brave." Her voice was thin, a mere thread of sound, laced with accusation and disbelief.
"Your mom put the lives of everyone in the village on the line, but in the end, she laid down hers," Tomoko responded, her voice gentle, but firm.
"She didn't have a choice… that's not bravery…" Masami retorted, a bitter edge entering her tone, tears welling in her eyes, not of sorrow but of betrayal.
"Masami…" Tomoko began, her voice a warning.
"You are scared I'll turn out like Mom!" Masami cried out, jumping off the bed, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.
"I'm scared of many things, Masami, things you cannot begin to comprehend," Tomoko replied, her voice filled with a deep, ancient weariness, her eyes pleading.
"Mom used it for the wrong reason s, she misused it. I am not my mother!" Masami declared, her chin jutting out defiantly.
"The wrong reason? Was saving your dad the wrong reason?" Tomoko challenged, her gaze unwavering.
"She knew the law!" Masami yelled, her voice cracking with emotion.
"You don't control dark magic; it controls you. It feeds on you, corrupts you until you become a mindless zombie," Tomoko warned, her voice rising, mirroring Masami's intensity.
"Is that why the villagers freak out if I make a mistake? Is that why they want me to become like you?" Masami asked, her voice now dripping with a raw, embittered anger, a single tear escaping and streaking down her cheek.
"No, Masami! Nobody wants you to become like me… I have visions… You will not end well…" Tomoko cried, her voice breaking, the pain of her visions evident in every word.
"I don't care about your visions!" Masami screamed, the words sharp and cruel, immediately regretting them as soon as they left her lips.
"Mind your tongue, child!" Tomoko's voice was a sharp clap, but even as she spoke, her hand flew to her head, and she swayed precariously, her eyes fluttering. The sudden dizziness stole her strength, and her knees buckled slightly.
Masami's anger vanished in an instant, replaced by searing concern. "Mama! Mama! Are you all right?" she cried, rushing forward to steady her great-grandmother, gently helping her to a sitting position on the bed. Her hands trembled as she fetched a glass of water from the nearby pitcher.
Tomoko took a slow sip, her breathing shallow. She looked at Masami, her eyes filled with a profound sadness. "I am afraid my time in this world is coming to an end," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Grandma, don't say that! Don't leave me!" Masami sobbed, her earlier anger completely forgotten, clinging to Tomoko's hand.
"Silly child, I've been here long enough and my time has come. Tomorrow will be my last day in Veneria." Tomoko's voice was soft, resigned.
"What do you mean?" Masami whispered, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
"Promise me something, Masami." Tomoko held her hand tightly, her grip surprisingly strong, as tears streamed freely down Masami's face. "Promise me you will quit dark magic, Masami… it will be your doom."
"I'll… try," Masami choked out, the words tasting like ash in her mouth, a promise she wasn't sure she could keep.
"I'll go for now. Get some sleep, for the road has become rough." Tomoko stood up, her movements slow and deliberate, then left the room, leaving Masami alone and utterly bewildered. "What's happening tomorrow?" was the question that echoed in the quiet room, a question that, in that moment, felt like the turning point, changing the very corners of her story.
***
Kilo was in his private chambers, lost in thought. For years, he had enjoyed the privileges of being a royal. After his father's death, he had commanded power beyond imagination, but the thought of his own demise, just like his father's, made him afraid. He had searched for ways to become immortal so his power would not end in the grave, but all his efforts were to no avail. Lost in his own world, he didn't notice when his servants entered.
"Sire!" the servant called for the fourth time, his voice a frantic whisper that finally shook Kilo back to reality.
"You dare enter my chamber? You must have a death wish," Kilo thundered, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. The servant, terrified, threw himself at Kilo's feet.
"I'm sorry, my lord! It's urgent! I have been knocking for hours but received no reply!" The servant's body trembled violently.
Kilo drew out his sword and placed the cold blade close to the servant's neck. The man, shaking, squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head, fearing the worst.
"What is so urgent that we had to become 'roomies'?" Kilo growled.
"I am," a woman said. She looked to be in her early 30s but in reality was over 200 years old. She was tall and slender, with a curvy figure and a captivating beauty. Her long, dark hair framed her oval face perfectly. She walked with a confident sway of her hips, moving closer to where the servant lay, trembling with fear.
"Let the sleeping dog lie… now, shall we?" she said smoothly, gently pushing Kilo's sword away from the neck of the poor servant.
"You may go," she dismissed the servant with a casual flick of her wrist. The man scrambled to his feet and ran out of the chamber as if he were being chased by a beast.
"Tell me why I shouldn't behead you right here for this insult," Kilo demanded, his pride stinging.
"Because you can't," the lady smiled, and her dark eyes glittered with a malevolent spark.
"Witch!" Kilo said, his body going rigid with alertness.
"Good eyes."
"Who are you?"
"The solution to your problem," she smiled wickedly. "I'm Cedilla, the Queen of Dark Magic. You've heard of me." She said this as she made herself at home, sitting on Kilo's bed and crossing her legs.
"Of course. Your sisters banished you from Veneria," Kilo scoffed, turning to look at her.
Her composure broke for a moment as she rushed to defend herself. "Fools! All of them! They didn't know the power I possessed! With me as their ruler, my village would have overflowed with milk and honey!" Her eyes burned with a fire of anger and resentment.
"With all that power you say you possessed, why not invade and conquer?" Kilo asked, now amused by the conversation.
"I would, but that old hag Tomoko…"
"So you met your match," Kilo scoffed, a genuine smirk spreading across his face. "I'm beginning to like you." He clapped his hands and called for wine. When it was brought, he gestured to a cup for Cedilla.
"What do you want?" he asked, pouring wine into her cup.
"I've heard of your little quest for immortality," Cedilla said, standing up and walking to the window, her hips swaying slightly with each step. "Such a pity a handsome man like yourself is almost becoming insane because of your greed." She sipped her wine, her gaze fixed on the city below.
"And?" Kilo's face hardened, his jaw clenching.
"That's what we have in common… greed. Awful as it sounds, that's what we both want."
"What's your point?" Kilo asked, growing impatient, his fingers tapping on the sword hilt.
"My point is, I can help you achieve your immortality."
"How!"
"Patience…"
"Greed isn't patient," he retorted.
"He admits it. That's a start. But in order for me to help you, you have to help me. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours," she said soothingly, leaning in to whisper in his ear.
"How about I force you to scratch my back and then kill you afterwards?" Kilo grabbed her arm tightly, his grip like a vise.
"Cute… I have lived a hundred lives. It's cute of you to think you have a chance." She didn't flinch, her gaze steady and unafraid.
"I don't bargain with witches," he said, slowly releasing his grip on her arm, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"You would let your pride cloud your judgment?"
"What's your proposal?"
"I want the head of Tomoko."
"Are you high? You can't even beat her… what makes you think I have a chance, witch?" Kilo scoffed, throwing his head back in a short, bitter laugh.
"True, but there is a loophole. Her magic is pure… she can't take a life. She can't harm a king… she's bound by honor."
Kilo sank onto his bed, pounding on the information he had just received, his mind racing. "Say I kill Tomoko… what's next? Will you make me immortal?"
"What? Me? I can't," she stared out at the city from the balcony, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Tomoko can."
"No wonder she lived longer than she should… what's the guarantee that she'll talk?"
"She won't."
"Why are you here then, witch!?" Kilo drew his sword again, placing the cold blade on her neck, the gesture of a man who was running out of patience.
"You will help me kill Tomoko whether she talks or not. She is the only one who knows the secret of immortality. You said it yourself: she has lived longer than she should."
"What good is it if she won't talk?"
"You can try," she said, her voice a low purr. She pushed the sword away with a single finger and drained the rest of her wine. She walked towards the door, her hips swinging confidently. "So… what's it gonna be?"
"If she doesn't talk, I'll have to kill her. If I do that, I'm doing you a favor… either way, you win… what do I get?"
"A chance… not that you have any other options," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. She left the chamber, closing the door softly behind her.
THE NEXT DAY
Kilo and his armies rode to Veneria. With the help of the witch Cedilla, they found the hidden village just as Tomoko's vision had foretold. The villagers welcomed them wholeheartedly, but Kilo's purpose was a betrayal. Just as Tomoko had said would happen, she was taken captive, and the village mourned her absence, their joyous atmosphere instantly replaced by a thick, suffocating dread.
Silence filled the streets of Veneria. No sound was heard from human or animal. People tiptoed in and out of Tomoko's house to console Masami, but she had other plans. She had had enough. Later that night, she packed her things and disappeared into the Blackwoods, as they were popularly called, to confront Kilo about his betrayal. Along the way, she saw firsthand the tyranny of King Kilo. She arrived at his palace days later, fighting her way past guards with a fury she didn't know she possessed.
"Kilo! We need to talk!" she panted, her breathing ragged, her body scraped and bruised from the fight. Kilo recognized her as the girl who had tried to save Tomoko.
"Leave us," he said to his counsel, his voice a low command. They all bowed and obeyed, their faces unreadable.
"I demand you release my mother!" Masami screamed, her voice hoarse with rage and exhaustion.
"Why would I do that? She has what I need, and until she gives it to me, she remains," Kilo said, a cold, indifferent look on his face.
"Don't make me ask twice," Masami said through gritted teeth, her hands beginning to glow as she prepared to cast her spells. But before she could finish, Cedilla emerged from the shadows behind her and knocked her out with a single, swift strike to the back of the head.
"You're ruining the fun," Kilo muttered, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"You're welcome," Cedilla replied with a dismissive shrug. Kilo ordered Masami to be locked up.
Days passed, and Tomoko remained adamant. Cedilla decided to use Masami as leverage. Tomoko couldn't bear to see her granddaughter killed, so she decided to open up.
"All I know is, if you are looking for a deity to grant any request… you go to the devil… the King of the Underworld. Make no mistake, his favors are expensive."
"How can I find him?"
"That's all I know… now let her go," Tomoko pleaded, her eyes fixed on Kilo.
"What good is that to me?" Kilo's anger grew. The next day, Tomoko was burned at the stake in the village square before Masami's very eyes.
And that's where our story begins…