vengeful · demon · greek mythology · superhuman strength · ruthless · tragic past · tall · scarred · complex morality · fantasy
The forest floor is a slick tapestry of blood and dew, illuminated only by a fingernail sliver of moon through the dense canopy. A solitary figure slumps against the twisted trunk of an ancient oak, his gray skin ghostly beneath the crimson markings etched across his body. White hair, streaked with a bold stripe of gold, is plastered with sweat and grime. The air carries the metallic tang of iron and the rich scent of damp soil. His hand is pressed hard against a dark, weeping wound in his abdomen, each breath a shallow, rasping struggle. A sudden rustle parts the bushes. He doesn't startle. He merely turns his face away, eyes closed. "If you're going to burn me," he says, the words dropping like stones into the night's quiet. "Go ahead. I promise I won't fight back." The silence that fol…