The maiden that lurked in the swamp.

The stench of the murky decay arose as the humming of mosquitos continued to flutter in the airwaves. The choir of frogs and toads continued their constant clicks and ribbits as vibrations began to disturb the waters. The moon light barely glimmered from the veil of dark clouds, the stars remained hidden in the heavens, as the appearance of a horrid woman emerged onto the surface in the river. A subtle cackle, a flick of the wrist, and a constant twisting and dragging of her limbs as she arose from the surface, with something wrapped in her arms covered in putrid cloth. She cackled maniacally, as her eyes gazed at the lamplights in the nearest town that glowed defiantly in the shadows of night. The time for words, had past...

The moonlight began to shine through the window revealing an infant child barely a few months old, resting peacefully in its crib. The sway of the breeze continued to speak of an unsettling whisper, as its chilling touch began to creep into the room. The murky woman peaked her head from the window, and began to creep into the bedroom. She placed the thing covered in the murky cloth next to the infant, as it began to look at the image of the child. Then, it began the process. It molded and twisted its image to become more of the likeness of the infant child. As it completed its process, the murky woman took the infant child, jumping out through the window, and disappeared into the mystery of the darkness.

The sunlight barely creeped on the horizon, while the door to the infants room began to creak open. A young maiden with blood red hair and blue eyes gazed lovingly at her child, her fluttering with tender compassion and deep affection. She took the child and held her close to her arms, and began to shed tears upon her eyes. A fire burned within her heart, a fire only a mothers love could truly portray.

My dearly beloved child, young and full of life,

I love you oh so dearly, through pain and constant strife,

Through darkness and shadows, through times together and set apart,

I love you oh so dearly, you're the one closest to my heart,

Though the days may come were we may be separate,

And times may be wrought with grief,

Where shadows come to choke you,

With no hope for relief,

Be strong, my beloved child,

Do not be discouraged, nor fear,

For though times bring uncertainty,

The path forward, will be soon made clear.

The comforting reassurance of a husbands confidence was placed upon her shoulder, as lips were lightly pressed upon her cheek. She turned with loving eyes staring into his, her heart fluttered as he gazed back into hers.

A gargle, a gurgle, a fluttering of croaking released into the air as the two loving parents were struck with fear, the touch of terror crept upon the very skin as the sound repeated a second time.

The parents tried to look down, but fear was taking a grip upon their senses. As if the very sound caused their bodies to be paralyzed as they attempted to gaze upon their child. The slithering of a tentacle began to wrap itself around her arm that wasn't there before, as the father mustered the strength to look down at what lay in his wife's arms. His eyes gazed upon a horrid monstrosity, with razor sharp teeth eager for the consumption of the flesh.

It leapt from the mothers arms onto the face of the husband and began to consume her beloved right in front of her. The screams of terror shot into the air as the wife fell backwards onto the ground, as the monster turned its gaze onto her, with orbs that burned with unyielding fire. It dragged itself off the husband, as the wife lifted her arms, while the monster began to latch itself on to the wife. She gave one final scream, before she began to choke from the monsters clutches. A loud cackle came from the monster, as it danced around in a wicked delight from the spoils of the hunt...

The morning was young, but the maiden was hungry as it lingered upon the prize it had claimed while it lingered in the base of a tree. It began to slither its way over to the young infant it had stolen, and began to lick its lips. "Today, I feast abundantly on the flesh," the Swamp Maiden cackled. A light shot from the outside of the doorway, as the maiden look and gave a loud scream as it was vaporized from the light. Eagles feathers began to fall into the tree. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name," a majestic voice said from the light as the infants eyes began to fall back into sleep.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my content. If you like my work, then please give my pieces on here and my pieces on Instagram a like, follow me here and on Instagram @cccreativewriter, then read and rate my work on Inkitt so I can potentially receive a publishing contract, and consider donating to my support my efforts! Also, if you enjoy my work and want to help grow the ministry, please show your support by leaving a donation here on vocal if you want to support my work! With every donation or piece you read, you can help grow my ministry! Keep your head held high, and smile! ;)

https://www.instagram.com/cccreativewriter/

https://vocal.media/fiction/the-warrior-dwelling-in-the-twilight

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/fantasy/610198/chapters/4

https://vocal.media/geeks/a-new-adventure-rbbdt50ec0

https://vocal.media/criminal/the-treading-of-the-winepress

https://vocal.media/poets/through-it-all-and-despite-it-all

https://vocal.media/poets/refined-and-approved

https://vocal.media/poets/regardless-of-what-i-will-still

https://vocal.media/fiction/what-was-what-is-and-what-is-yet-to-be

https://vocal.media/petlife/all-suffering-will-be-equal