🖋 The Midnight Ledger. 💀 The Curse of Blackthorn Manor

🖋 The Midnight Ledger

A Short Story from the World of 4EverMore, where the shadows hold more than just secrets - sometimes, they whisper back.. Location: Somewhere deep within the City of Eclipsora or The Red City depending on their mood. Immortal Storytellers: (Sonia Bloodthorn, Cordillera, Lysander, and Rook Nightwind).

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💀 The Curse of Blackthorn Manor

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, sending flickers of light dancing across the stone walls of the Immortal Quill Studio. The room was dim, the air thick with the scent of old parchment and ink, as a group of storytellers gathered around a heavy oak table.

Sonia Bloodthorn, always the queen of sarcasm and wit, leaned back in her chair with an almost smug expression. "Alright, alright, I'll tell the story. But if anyone here falls asleep, I’ll be personally offended." She tapped her quill against her parchment. "This one's a little dark, even for my taste."

Cordillera, the ghostly woman with a penchant for mischief, floated lazily near the window, her ethereal form flickering in and out of visibility. "Oh, please, Sonia. Dark is practically your middle name." She winked, her transparent smile visible only for a moment before it vanished again.

Lysander, the brooding elf with a penchant for silence, finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the banter. "If you must tell it, Sonia, get on with it. Some of us prefer our stories with less... unnecessary commentary."

Rook Nightwind, the newest addition to the studio, leaned forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I'm all ears, Bloodthorn. What's this story that has you all riled up?"

Sonia flashed him a smile, the kind that could freeze the blood of lesser mortals. "Well, if you're so eager, let's dive into the tale of the Blackthorn Curse. A tale of betrayal, power, and, of course, the ever-popular theme of immortality gone wrong." She paused dramatically, letting the tension build. "But you all better brace yourselves, because this isn’t your typical fairytale. Oh no, this one has bites."

Cordillera let out a low laugh. "Bites? Sonia, darling, everything you say is dripping with sarcasm. Get on with it."

Sonia grinned and tapped her quill against her parchment. "Fine. The Blackthorn Curse… it began with a man - a very ambitious man named Elias Blackthorn. His thirst for power was so strong, so consuming, that he was willing to sacrifice anything and everything for it - his soul, his family, his humanity. He made a pact, a dangerous pact with a dark power, one that promised him immortality in exchange for... well, let’s just say his morals were the first to go."

Lysander crossed his arms. "Sounds like every cursed soul I’ve ever encountered."

Sonia shot him a look. "You’re not wrong, elf. But Elias - he was something different. He did rise to power, but it came with a heavy price. His wife, the lovely and completely oblivious Lady Aeliana, was the last person to find out about the deal. By the time she learned the truth, it was far too late."

Rook leaned forward, intrigued. "And what happened to her?"

Sonia’s smile twisted into something darker. "She became the vessel. The curse bound to her, tied to her very soul, turning her into something... monstrous." She sighed, shaking her head. "Elias thought he could control the curse, but of course, he was wrong. When you dabble in dark magic, you’re bound to get burned."

Cordillera hummed thoughtfully. "Let me guess - Aeliana went on a rampage?"

Sonia nodded, her gaze far away, as if she could still feel the chill of that fateful night. "Oh, she tore through the kingdom. The curse twisted her mind, and the power that once bound Elias to immortality began to turn on him. By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late. He tried to save her - tried to undo the pact - but the magic had already settled deep into her bones."

Lysander raised an eyebrow. "So, let me guess - he died trying?"

Sonia gave him an exasperated look. "Yes, Lysander. He died trying. A poetic end, don’t you think?"

Rook chuckled softly. "So the great Elias Blackthorn, the man who thought he could cheat death, ended up being undone by his own ambition. Classic."

Sonia shrugged. "It’s always the same. Ambition, power, betrayal - it never ends well."

Cordillera floated closer, her translucent form shimmering in the dim light. "But you know what’s the most interesting part of the story?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It wasn’t Elias who paid the highest price. No, that honor went to Lady Aeliana. Because while Elias sought power, she sought love."

Sonia’s eyes narrowed, her voice cold. "And love doesn’t always win, does it? Sometimes, love is just another part of the curse."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sound the crackling of the fire. The storytellers sat there, each lost in thought, contemplating the heavy truth that hung in the air.

Finally, Rook spoke up. "So, what happened to Aeliana?"

Sonia smiled faintly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Ah, that’s a story for another time, my dear. But let's just say... her fate wasn’t sealed so easily."