Marwynn walked a ways further down the river where the white rapids galloped across the landscape. He couldn’t stop seeing Honey’s translucent face. He saw the tears sliding down her face and the pain in her eyes as she looked at him begging for mercy before she struggled for her last breaths. Marwynn flinched and tried to forget but she kept appearing before him. The memory played over and over in his mind. A small feminine voice broke his thoughts “Marwynn…” Muriel began.

  Marwynn interrupted “I came here to be alone.”

  Muriel determined sat next to him and said “I will be alone with you.”

  “What do you want Muriel?” Marwynn sighed.

  “That water spirit looked just like…her.” Muriel noted.

  “It is a coincidence, nothing else.” Marwynn answered.

  “Is it also a coincidence that she answers to Honey?” Muriel retorted.

  Marwynn had no response he just gazed at the river’s continuous rushing. Muriel unable to wait pressed on “What happened between you and Honeysuckle?”

  “It no longer matters.” Marwynn exhaled.

  “I know how you felt about her. The summer she moved to Nettlewood was the happiest I have ever seen you.” Muriel remembered out loud.

  “I was happy.” Marwynn looked to his feet.

  “Did she leave you because you joined the shadows?” Muriel asked cautiously.

  “You could say that.” Marwynn hesitated.

  “Why did you join the shadows?” Muriel inquired.

  “Do you remember the day that the Dullahan came? Marwynn questioned back.

  “How could I forget? It was awful, I remember that day so clearly. I remember you running after them when he called your parent’s names. My father stopped you and forced you into our house.” Muriel said.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Marwynn answered “I am grateful that he did. Everything changed that day.”

  Marwynn thought back to the day his parents lives ended. They were a good and wholesome couple that loved him fiercely. The Dullahan was an old tale that many of the villagers no longer believed but on All hallows eve, they would tell of his story. A woman would always sing the hauntingly beautiful tale:

  Go to sleep, rest your head

  Try not to be filled with dread

  All hallows eve is upon us now

  Hoofbeats clattering across the ground

  Warning ahead to not be around

  Blacker than the sky of the darkest night

  Holding his head in his hand you are in his sight

  Do not look upon his face if you value your eyes

  His spinal whip will claim them if you try

  Cover your ears lest you should hear

  Your name called by the Dullahan my dear

  For if your name is called out loud

  It will be time for your death shroud.

  Now go to sleep and rest your head

  Try not to be filled with dread

  The evening of the festivities had come to a close and the villagers were cleaning up and heading home. A faint sound of hoofbeats started in the woods. Some of the smaller children were spooked and ran home. Marwynn was helping them get home safely and was at the far side of the village. Marwynn’s parents believed that someone was pulling a prank and continued to douse the fire with water. The hoofbeats grew louder until a carriage blacker than the night sky rode into the center of the village.

  Marwynn saw the other villagers running home screaming and ran to find his parents. From across the village center Marwynn saw the most horrific sight. His father was standing in front of his mother facing the Dullahan. The rider held out his head towards Marwynn’s parents, in a raspy breathy voice, he spoke each one’s name in turn. Marwynn was frozen in place and could only watch as the spirits of his parents were pulled from their bodies. In that instant his feet finally remembered how to work. Marwynn ran as hard as he could towards the Dullahan. Out of nowhere a hand grabbed him forcing him inside the smithy. It was Master Raff. Shaken from his reverie, Marwynn was pulled back into the present by Muriel.

  “I remember how angry you were at my father for stopping you. A week later you ran away. I thought you were gone for good. Is that when you joined the shadows?” Muriel asked

  “Yes.” Marwynn conceded.

  Muriel leaned closer, “What became of Honeysuckle? Shortly after you left she disappeared with her parents, no one has heard from them since.”

  “The last time we spoke, she saw me at my worst. It did not go well. She swore that she would never see me again” Marwynn leaned on his knees.

  Muriel leaned closer to Marwynn and covered his hand with hers, “I am sorry Marwynn.”

  Marwynn jerked away at the touch of her hand and coldly stated “we should get back.”

  With that, he trudged back towards the camp. Muriel hurried after him trying to catch up. His stride was much longer than hers as he was a head taller than her.