014. The Hanging Woman

La Rochelle, France.
As the night neared its end and the world lay in deep slumber, a woman of extraordinary beauty emerged from the shadows between the park's towering trees. Her white dress, ethereal and pristine, seemed to shimmer against the backdrop of gnarled, dark trunks. The trees, with their twisted branches and rough bark, only served to heighten the delicate allure of her presence. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the faintest traces of moonlight, while her pale, flawless skin contrasted sharply with the surrounding gloom. It was as if she were a radiant vision amid the park’s haunting, shadowed embrace—a living embodiment of light and darkness entwined.
The woman was none other than Miss X. She stood eerily still, her gaze fixed on the scenery before her as if lost in contemplation. Beyond the trees, a vast field of grass stretched out, leading to an expansive parking lot. The cover of shadows ended where the trees thinned; there was no more darkness to conceal her, no place left to hide. The stark openness of the field contrasted sharply with the cloaked mystery she embodied, leaving her exposed yet unperturbed, as if she were weighing her next move in the quiet tension of the dawn.
"Are you lost, sweetie?" A sultry female voice purred in French.
Miss X jolted at the sound of the disembodied voice, her head snapping around as her eyes darted to find the source. A soft giggle drew her gaze upward. There, hanging upside-down from a tree branch, was the source of the voice—a burgundy-haired woman. Her long, flowing hair dangled mere inches from Miss X’s face, swaying slightly in the night air.
"*Sanarésh jyälemmi nyar*?" she asked in the Eldest Tongue, her voice lilting with a twisted playfulness. An eerie smile spread across her face, revealing perfect rows of teeth. Her green eyes glinted like a cat's, their luminous quality deepening the sense of her otherworldly existence.
Despite the woman's unsettling presence, Miss X felt no threat. Staring directly into the woman's glowing eyes, she responded in Ancient Slavic, her tone steady, "*I cannot grasp the language thou dost speak*."
The burgundy-haired woman let out a soft, unsettling chuckle before, in a blur of motion too quick for Miss X to counter, her lips collided with the young woman’s. Her tongue plunged into Miss X’s mouth with a wild, ravenous curiosity, exploring every recess with an insistent, almost voracious touch. The kiss was a torrid invasion, leaving Miss X’s mouth drenched and slick with the woman’s warm, seductive saliva.
"You taste like copper," the woman purred, her voice dripping with perverse amusement. She followed it with another eerie giggle.
Although Miss X's expression remained stoic, her eyes widened with surprise. "You speak my language!" she exclaimed, her voice edged with astonishment.
"No," the mysterious woman replied, leaping down with an unsettling grace to land directly in front of Miss X. "It's you who now speak in Eldest Tongue."
Under the dim light of the dying moon, Miss X could discern the enigmatic figure standing before her with striking clarity. The woman’s face was a blend of remarkable beauty and sensual allure, framed by long, flowing red wine-colored hair that cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. Her form was encased in a sleek black dress that clung to her voluptuous curves and showcased her fair, flawless skin. The final touch to her seductive presence was her crystal-clear green eyes, which gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, adding to the hypnotic charm she exuded.
"Now you can speak all the languages I know," the stunning woman continued, her smile never faltering, and so did the amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Who are you?" Miss X asked, her voice edged with anxiety despite her unchanging expression. Compared to the woman’s ethereal beauty, Miss X appeared almost like a disheveled teenager. "Why are you helping me?"
"Just call me Litsi," the woman replied with a tinkling giggle. "As you may have guessed, I'm not human. My sense of solidarity was stirred when I saw you apologizing to the ugly man you killed."
"Y—you saw me?"
"I was right above you when it happened. And your amusing little fart broke my smartphone." She chuckled again, her laughter echoing with a hint of mischief.
"I didn’t broke wind," the young woman protested. "I can't."
"I’m just teasing you," Litsi said, lifting her right hand with a slow, deliberate grace to caress Miss X's cheek. "For a ghost trapped in an artificial body, you sure are tense. What is your name, sweetie?"
The golden-haired woman was momentarily taken aback by Litsi's words, but she quickly prioritized manners above all else. "Forgive my insolence," she said, her voice steady despite the surprise. "My name is Nadezhda Velezima." As she spoke, her lips moved again, but no sound emerged. A flicker of hesitation reflected in her eyes, revealing her reluctance to divulge more about herself.
“Next time you introduce yourself to anyone, don’t mention your full name, sweetie,” Litsi advised, her gaze unwavering as she leaned in closer. Her expression turned playful, though a shadow of menace lingered. “Some beings can control you simply by knowing your full name. Imagine what they might do with an immaculate virgin like you.”
As a mix of embarrassment and discomfort flickered across Nadezhda's eyes, Litsi burst into hearty laughter. With an air of deliberate scrutiny, she gently caressed the young woman's hair, her gaze sweeping over Nadezhda from head to toe with a blend of amusement and appraisal.
“You need to learn how to dress like a human girl,” Litsi remarked with a playful smile. “Come with me, and I’ll show you how to blend in with this world.” She reached for Nadezhda’s hand and began to walk away.
But Nadezhda stayed rooted to the spot. “What do you mean by a ghost trapped in an artificial body?” she asked, her voice edged with curiosity and concern.
“That's you, isn’t it?” Litsi replied, barely containing her laughter. She fixed Nadezhda with a mischievous, yet inquisitive, gaze. Her expression softened moments later as she continued, “I sensed it when we kissed. We should also fix that copper scent—it doesn’t quite suit your beauty.”
“Who are you, Lady Litsi?” Nadezhda’s clear blue eyes were filled with a mix of suspicion and disbelief.
“Like I said, I’m Litsi.” The woman’s seductive laughter rang out once more as she tugged gently on Nadezhda’s hand, urging her to walk. “I promise I’ll explain everything later, sweetie. For now, the sun is rising, and your ghostly appearance might frighten people.”
Litsi led Nadezhda as they walked toward the distant parking lot. The moonlight began to fade, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch out before them. Upon reaching the lot, Litsi paused, her gaze flicking between a sleek red sports sedan and a sophisticated black sedan before finally sauntering toward the red one, running her fingers along its glossy hood. The car suddenly roared to life, causing Nadezhda to glance over in surprise.
“You own this metal carriage?” Nadezhda asked, her voice tinged with awe.
“It’s called a car, sweetie,” Litsi corrected with a playful smirk. “And no, I don’t own it. I don’t even know who does. But I’m certain the owner wouldn’t mind giving it to a beautiful creature like me.”