Chapter Text
The mist dragged across the ground, as the night air chilled even the most unhuman of beings.
Dragging with it, a pile of dust, that danced up into the wind, before it crashed like waves against a concrete coffin. A coffin that was left open, and as we peek inside, we can see, a woman, dressed in red. With a silk veil covering her face, keeping her hidden from view, as white flowers act as her mattress.
A red moon shines down upon her, its light so bright and blinding. But eerie in the night air.
The area where she lies is deserted, apart from 3 people, who stay cloaked and hovering around her casket, one of cloaked holds a silver dish, and inside, a liquid that resembles mercury. They dip their thumb in, and lean down, pressing his thumb against the veil where her forehead would be, before dragging it down to where her closed eyes are. Muttering what seems to be nonsense under their breath.
The night air carries with it an air of sinister intentions, but not much can be done as a red packet is handed over from one party to the next. With this, the woman's eternal rest is disturbed, yet she does not stir, but a sudden inhale releases her body from its frozen state, as breath once again overtakes her, her skin. Once pale and lifeless, regaining color. Yet she still did not move.
Slowly gifts were placed around the coffin. 12 in total. Ranging from jewelry to fabrics and instruments the corpse had once loved to play in life.
Once all was placed, the muttering fell silent. As a young demon stepped forward, his hand reaching towards the coffin, holding it still, before a moment later, a hand, slowly raised from the edge, and was placed into his. His bride was awake.
He pulled her up carefully, and despite her sudden return to life, she stayed silent. As most ghost brides did when brought back from death, he aided her in stepped out, and just as her feet landed on the carpet that was set out for her. The white flowers began to wilt, turning black, and then to ash.
She took a step away from the coffin, towards her intended, and with that the casket burned, like a bonfire, angry flames whirling and twirling into the air. A grin befell the young man's lips.
The ritual was complete, his bride had been accepted by the moon.
With that he turned, offering her his arm, as he began to lead her through the beginning of their ceremony. The wedding had just begun, but they had to hurry, as the marriage must be completed before the sun begins to rise.
And from a distance, in the surrounding wooded area, a young boy sat, hidden amongst the branches, looking over the scene with curious red eyes, A sudden harsh wind, not making him flinch, as he recognized the feeling of the breeze to be the same as that he associated with his mother.
His eyes never tore away from the scene before him, as the young boy asked.
“Mother, what was that just now? Was that woman not dead?” he asked
And from just beneath his branch, a woman, tall, with raven hair, a face far more beautiful than any mortal language could describe emerged from the shadows, having traveled with the wind to find her young son, who had seen fit to wander off late into the night.
They watched the young couple walk from a distance, before she spoke.
“Yes, she was. But she is a ghost bride now my son. A poor creature who is now doomed to follow that man wherever he is willing to lead.”
To that, the red headed boy peeked down beneath his feet, looking at his mother with clear curiosity, He had more questions to ask. There were more things he wanted to know. But he knew how his Mother got when he asked too many questions at once, so instead he settled for one.
“Do the heavenly courts know about these rituals Mother?” he asked, mostly because he knew how heaven seemed when it came to anyone who interfered with mortals, The woman who stood on the ground looked up to that.
Meeting the round little face of her son, A child that in her biased opinion far too attentive and smart for his age, but none the less it made her offer a small smile,
“Yes, but they pretend not to see it. Now never mind that, Come now Red Boy. Your Father is frantic from your disappearance”
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