It grew dark and the village songs echoed through the hills, sweet yet haunting, each note a reminder of how they still viewed violet, a monster.
But amidst their joy, she couldn't shake the nagging thought: who she was.
These thoughts consumed her as she caught snippets of laughter and celebration drifting from the village.
Unable to resist her curiosity, she stood up and rushed to see what was happening.
The sight she met, was dazzling. The village square was alive with vibrant colors and joyful chaos.
It was the festival held every four years to honor the royal families who had died protecting the kingdom.
Everywhere Violet looked, villagers wore costumes that told stories of glory, some as proud warriors with painted shields, others as mages with flowing robes.
A young girl twirled in a dress fit for a queen, her laughter ringing above the drumbeats.
Violet hid among the cheering crowd, watching a parade that wove its way through the square.
At the head of it all was Dominka, her pink mage costume swaying as she waved to the crowd.
She couldn't help but chuckle, Dominika had a knack for stealing the spotlight.
But something about her eyes gave Violet a pause. They were distant, almost haunted, like Dominika was carrying a secret too heavy to bear.
As the parade passed, behind Dominika, a group of maidens dressed as blue mages danced gracefully, their robes swaying in time with the drums.
A little boy struggled with a stubborn goat that refused to budge, its hooves planted firmly in the dirt.
The crowd burst into laughter as an older boy rushed to help, only to fail just as miserably.
Just at that moment, an old woman approached Violet who was busy fixated on the drama unfolding at the parade.
The old woman's face was wrinkled like a dried fig. She held a basket of buns swarming with flies.
"Do you want some poison? Kill the lover who deserves it, dear," she whispered, her cackle piercing the air like a witch's curse.
Violet immediately stepped away quickly, as the woman's laughter echoed in her ears.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble as though an earthquake had struck. The drummers stopped.
A villager screamed, "HellHounds! They are here!".
Panic spread, and everyone scrambled to clear a path.
A loud horn blared as masked men with red glowing eyes emerged. Walking side by side a golden chariot.
The crowd fell silent, bowing their heads in unison. Violet followed suit but couldn't resist looking up.
The golden chariot arrived on a spot where the parade had taken place, pulled by horses that seemed too majestic for this grim scene.
Snakes coiled along its frame, their gilded eyes glinting as though alive.
The air grew heavy with dread as the chariot moved forward, flanked by the terrors.
The doors swung open as a red-haired man wearing a crown leaned out of the chariot's door, making his way out of the chariot.
His regal presence confirmed my suspicions.
He was the king.
He was taller than Violet had imagined, his emerald robe glittering like a thousand shattered mirrors.
His presence was magnetic, but his crimson hair and sharp features gave him an almost otherworldly appearance.
He stepped closer, his gold-plated shoes gleaming with every step. He grinned at the crowd as he majestically spread his hands like a proud eagle.
"A festival held in the name of my brother". He said, grinning mischievously at the crowd.
The villagers went silent and fearfully bowed their heads.
"And yet none has been held for me. Please people, you don't need to be scared, I came to join in the fun". He said, giving a sly smile.
He nodded at his masked men. One of them came closer to the crowd and grabbed a child from the grip of his mother.
The boy screamed, kicking his legs in fright as the mother squirmed fearfully.
"No, please". The mother pleaded bitterly.
The boy was dropped to the floor as the masked man then transformed into a black hinge beast with red glowing eyes.
It pounces on the boy and snarls hungrily to eat him.
Violet then removed her hood which revealed her identity to the king. She grabbed a stone and threw it at the beast.
"Leave him alone!". She yelled, taking a stand amongst the fearful crowd.
Immediately Dominika blinked in surprise, not expecting to see Violet at the festival.
And so did the king who muttered "Selene?". In shock at the sight Violet.
The beast paused, leaving the boy. The child stumbled away into the crowd, but now all eyes were on Violet.
One of the masked men let out a hysterical laughter as he began to approach Violet. His fingers changed to claws.
She tried to move, but fear locked her body in place. Its massive claw grabbing her by the throat.
She began to strain to break free. but she felt helpless.
She punched the man with all her strength, expecting him to stagger back, but instead, her wrist cracked against its unyielding form, making her scream in agony.
The masked man was about to crush her neck when the king approached him. Raising his hands indicating a halt.
Immediately, she was dropped on the floor. The king then extended a hand.
His fingers were long and claw-like, glinting under the moon's reflection. They moved towards her left eye with unnerving precision.
Panic surged through Violet as she backed away and stood up swiftly. She pushes through the crowd, running as fast as she could.
"Don't just stand there! Get her?!" The king's voice thundered.
His men bowed and were all now transformed into black hinge beasts and began to chase after violet.
But soon she reached a dead end, a sheer cliff. The roaring waves below made it clear that a fall would be fatal.
Turning back, she saw the beasts snarling at her and closing in. There was no other choice. It was either them or the sea.
Without hesitation, she leaped off the cliff.