A Victim of Superstition
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 13997
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"Are you willing to tell me now why they put you in that tomb rather than
just killing you, Ana?" Anastasia sighed, baring her fangs a little in frustration, and then spoke. "The age before my entombing was a superstitious one, and not without good cause. Far too many folk tales had their grain of truth. I, myself, was a fairly independant soul, ill at ease with what others expected of me as a woman. That alone had put me under suspicion of witchery when I was barely out of my sixteenth winter, and kept me on the fringes of whatever village I would travel to. "It was in the ghettoes and outskirts that I came to meet my first true companion in ages, who later became my lover, the Witch Noelle. She seemed a slight young thing, even younger than myself, with wild hair tangled with brambles and exotic herbs. We quickly became friends and much more, raising hell and having fun; the consequences be damned. "One night, she called me to the glade where we were camped presently, and told me she wanted to give me a gift. I thought I was quite the worldly woman then, but the story she told me then amazed me quite thoroughly. This waifish wild-woman, my lover, had seen the likes of Charles Martel and Clovis rise and fall, and much more besides. She remembered the days of ancient Gaul and the Romans. It was nothing short of incredible, and this she wanted to share with me. I was astounded. "It was then that the full moon rose, and I saw the thing most dear to me turn into a red-furred beast. She leapt at me and bit into my shoulder. I threw her off of me with startling strength. I ran a full league if I ran an inch, and I was far away before I even realized that I myself was not quite right. "I experienced the curse in its fullest, seeing my innermost desires thrust upon my flesh," Anastasia said, running her clawed and gnarled hand through the long dark ringlets of her hair, "as I became this beast, this glorious beast before you. It was like...like discovering myself" Natalia snarled appreciatively, leaning forward and rubbing her furred cheek against Anastasia's, speaking softly, "Mmm...as you've helped me discover myself as well...What happened to Noelle?" "When I finally made it back to the grove, she was gone without a trace. Maybe they killed her. Maybe she's still out there somewhere. I'm not sure if I would thank her or curse her if I were to see her now." "Then what about the tomb?" "The tomb was..." Anastasia's feral features turned wistful "The tomb was a kindness on the part of my last lover in that age, an understanding peasant woman named Marie...she...she looked much like you..." Natalia sighed huskily, nuzzling Anastasia, "And, love?" "When the villagers captured me, rather than have me burned, or killed with silver, she spread stories that if truly killed, I would come back as an angry ghost to trouble their children. The very superstition that had caused me to be hunted down saved me, but barely. I was laid upon the bier and had powerful magics put upon me to keep me in slumber. A small kindness, and no doubt it broke her heart because we still had to part ways." "That's...that's so sad..." "Yes," Anastasia said, the tears coming again, "and I hate you. I hate you for using me. I hate you for wanting the curse to gain power. Most of all, though, I hate you for loving me, because then I can't hate you, not if you look so much like Marie..."
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The Traveler
2/12/2001 11:52:38 AM
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