Yes. I decided to write a story based on my avatar. And here it is~
"Come away from the window, child," a worried grandmother breathed, rocking in her wooden chair. The careless child frowned and stayed by the window, staring out into the world.
"But grandmama, why? There's no such things as monsters or demons. Ghosts aren't even real. Nothing can get me here."
"Child, you are still young to the world and know little. I will prove to you that there are ghosts and even demons."
"How?"
The child glanced at her grandmother and then back outside. She jumped.
"There's a lady out there in the cemetery!"
"Is she wearing a veil and a black dress?"
"Y-yes. How did you know?"
Grandmama merely smiled and got up, shuffling over to the bed her grandchild stood on. She took a careful seat and glanced out the window, "She is one of the ghosts."
"She's a ghost? A real ghost?"
"Yes, yes, child. Do you want to hear her story?"
The young one nodded and sat down, leaning close to her elder.
"Well, it all started a few years ago when she was still alive. She was one of the rich town-folk, living in the nice house down the road. Her family, nor her, ever flaunted their wealth exceedingly. In fact, they shared it. When a family needed a new home because of any kind of damage--weather, thievery, or what have you--the Lyn's were there to lend their hand and their money; even their time and patience.
That girl out there is Sukii. The only girl out of seven children. All her brothers were older and wiser than she, but that never stopped her from getting into trouble. She always dressed as a common-folk and made her way into the market, buying food for some of the starving children. It was frowned upon that she should hide herself in common-folk clothing, especially to her parents. The towns people didn't mind that she was rich and had better clothes. In fact, they were proud of their Sukii. She was a kind, gentle soul.
Now, she wasn't much younger than she is as you see her now out there. And on one of her trips into the market, she met a young man. He was new to the town and didn't know of her stature. And, oh, he fell in love with her. And she with him. When he gave his name, it was only "Phoenix". And she gave her's willingly; Sukii Leandraa Lyn.
Unfortunately, it was getting dark and they had to part their ways. She went home and immediately told her mama everything. And then her mama had to break the news to her; higher class folk were not allowed to marry into the middle class folk like the towns-people.
Sukii's heart was shattered. She stayed in her room for many days, crying over the loss of the only true love she would have in her life. Life was being so cruel to her, when it had only been so kind. She was young and foolish sometimes, but she knew that Phoenix was the one that she shared her soul with.
You see, True Love isn't just the sharing of love and marriage. True Love is when one soul inhabits two bodies. And people know when they see each other that their soul has found the other half. And you only have one soul, so only one True Love.
Her brother's tried endlessly to cheer her up. Her father, unknowing of her problem, called for the best doctors to try to treat her 'illness'. None could give any diagnosis, because there was simply nothing wrong with her physically. Her mama cried when the boys and their father were off working, cried for her poor child. She would give anything to help her, but there was nothing she could do.
Before a week had gone by, her mother had given up hope of Sukii fixing herself. She creeped out and away one night to the Bone Lady. This Lady was a sorceress, reading the bones of dead animals to predict futures, to fix problems, and to cure people. Mama begged the Bone Lady's help, begged her to cast the bones and read another man in her daughter's future. The Bone Lady did, indeed, cast her bones. But the reading was just what Mama feared; the man in the market was Sukii's other half.
And it was then and there that Mama knew what she had to do to save her daughter from the heartbreak. She thanked the Bone Lady and paid her, leaving silently through the night. Her next stop was a mercenary she knew all too well; her own brother. She told her brother of the problems and offered to pay him. Hearing his niece's distress, he refused payment. He offered his deadly services for free."
Grandmama paused, watching out the window. Sukii's ghost continued to stand over a grave, a necklace around her neck shining to provide her light in the after-life. A Death Imp hung around her shoulders, trying to tempt her to move on and pass into Hell. His words fell on deaf ears, however. She was not wise, but she was more than enough wise for His foul words and promises.
The child began to cry, grabbing her Grandmama. "Please, tell me Phoenix lives. I don't want him to die. Sukii would be so hurt!"
"Patience, child, I will continue. My old voice isn't what it used to be. I need only a moment to catch my breath."
The child sniffled and wiped her tears on her shirt, nodding.
"Mama came back that morning, telling her family she just wanted to visit on her brother, whom she had not seen in many years. Her husband smiled and accepted it, trusting his wife completely. The boys all shrugged it off, knowing that their family was always trying to stay close.
Mama went to Sukii's room and sat down on her bed, the young girl asleep. It pained her to have to wake her daughter, but she did. Mama told Sukii that a young man had been found dead, a man much like the one Sukii had described as her other half.
Sukii felt the pieces of her heart fall. She was out of the bed and dressed in only a matter of seconds. Her footsteps fell light as she ran through the hall and out the door. Mama only sat there on her bed, tears welling her eyes. She could only think about her poor little baby and what she had done to protect her.
The town was silent as Sukii ran through. She asked every so often for news of the man. The people could only offer that his body was found in the river and that it looked like he had been attacked by a bear or wolf. Someone finally gave her information about where the body was. It was being cleaned by a lady down by the river; the one that had found the body.
Sukii raced there, her thoughts dancing around in her head; a sorrowful symphony of her worries twisting around her increasing pain and love. She pleaded to any God that would listen for him to not be dead, but hanging onto life. She begged and cried in her mind for him to make it through. She could not live not knowing this part of her soul. She stumbled over rocks and fallen trees through the woods, pushing herself to keep going, though her ribs and legs ached.
And then she came upon the river and the house. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Her eyes welled with tears. Her body shook with anger and hurt. And then there was a great purple flash. Before her stood a demon of reputable status; the Devil Himself. He bowed properly to Sukii and gave His name.
Sukii's eyes grew wide with fear, as she asked what He wanted from a young mortal like herself. The Demon's tongue was clever and lashed at her, promising to bring her love back to life. She would only need to give up the rights to her soul when she died. Sukii, being the fool she was, knew that if He would hold up his end of the bargain, she could run away with Phoenix. Her parents would think her lost in the woods, or dead over her loss. She agreed.
The Devil smiled and nodded, kissing her hand, telling her 'your wish is my command'. He then vanished in the same brilliant purple flash. Sukii stood there, thinking of what she had done for only a moment more. A scream came from the cottage. She darted to the door and opened it. Phoenix lay there, slowly opening his eyes and struggling to breathe. All his wound had been stitched closed by the lady while he was dead. He sat up slowly and looked around.
And his eyes fell on Sukii. She ran to his side and held him close, her tears falling effortlessly. She had him back."
Grandmama paused the story again, wiping some tears from her own eyes. The child wailed softly.
"G-grandm-m-mama, did they end up t-together forever?"
"No, child. If you notice, Sukii is dead. I will finish the story."
"Please, Grandmama, I want to know why she can't be with Phoenix.
"Phoenix was alive again, as I told you. And Sukii went through with her plan. She paid the widow in the cottage to keep quiet and claim that she had cleaned and buried the body herself, as no one came to claim it. And to say that she had never seen Sukii in her life. And then she took Phoenix and ran.
No one knows where they went. We only know that she and Phoenix were indeed married and moved into a new town together to start again. Phoenix got a job working in the mines and Sukii became a house-maid for hire. She did not mind in the least. It was hard work, but she was happy to do it. It helped Phoenix keep them fed and clothed. It helped her stay with him.
We do know, also, that only a couple of years after they got to the town, a plague spread. It claimed Phoenix and herself in the first week. They were at home, sick, together. And they died together, holding each other.
Sukii was identified by her grieving family. As well as Phoenix. They buried them together in the cemetery here. Her Mama knew it was all her fault, but she never told anyone. She lived with her grief and pledged to herself to never do such things again. And when her youngest son finally found a wife, a common folk woman, Mama allowed them to move to a new town, with her blessings, to get married and live together happily.
All of Mama's sons found wives and had many children. Her brother found a wife and had a little girl he named Sukii, in honor of his dear sister and what he had done to ruin her life.
Now, as you know, Sukii promised her soul to the Devil when she died. But, she became a Ghost instead. Some believe it's because she had unfinished business with her family here on Earth. Others think it was an act of God, saving the girl that was so selfless and giving her time before she went to Hell. I think it's a little of both.
Whatever the case, not long after the towns folk began seeing Sukii wandering about, they noticed a Devil Imp always with her, whispering dire promises in her ear. They all feared she would throw away the chance God gave her and be sent to Hell. But Sukii proved far wiser than that.
Every night, she stands over the grave of her and her Phoenix, watching and waiting. Waiting for, perhaps, her family to come forgive her. Or maybe she's just waiting out her time as a Ghost, until she is called to Hell. Whatever she is waiting for, she is waiting by her True Love."
Grandmama wiped her tears away, as well as the tears of her grandchild. She gave a loving smile and kissed the girl on the forehead. The child smiled and kissed her grandmama on the cheek.
"Do you believe in ghosts, now, little one?"
"Yes, but... Grandmama Lyn... is she my aunt Sukii?"
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