Flash Stories
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 10: The Hidden Truth
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:19 p.m.
The princess sat still, her eyes fixed on her father. His voice had grown softer as the tales had unfolded, each one wrapping its tragic beauty around the heart of the story they were telling. But as the candlelight flickered and the evening deepened, a silence fell between them, a heaviness in the air that seemed to speak of something far more personal, far more profound.
The king leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant as though lost in the long corridors of his memories. The princess had been silent for some time, her heart heavy with the weight of the stories she had heard. But now, there was a question hanging in the air, one that had lingered in her thoughts through every chapter they had shared.
"Father," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "you’ve told me of so many Paris, of their sacrifices, of their love for …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 9: The Sorrows of Mahin
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:15 p.m.
The princess’s gaze was steady as the king began the tale, her mind already grasping the thread of sorrow woven into the words that followed. The flickering candlelight cast shadows on the walls, echoing the gravity of the king’s voice.
“This is the tale of Mahin, a Pari whose love was bound to a prince whose heart was torn by war,” the king began, his voice heavy with the weight of the story. “Mahin’s beauty was unmatched, her hair a dark cascade of night, and her eyes as bright as the first stars that appeared in the twilight sky. Yet, it was not her beauty that set her apart, but her compassion for the world’s suffering.”
The princess sat forward, her brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Father? What suffering did Mahin see?"
The king looked at her, his gaze full of sorrow. "Mahin’s life was one of peace and quiet joy, until …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 8: Shirin and the Desert Rose
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:14 p.m.
The king’s voice was softer tonight, almost as if the desert winds themselves had carried it into the chamber. The princess, eager for the next tale, sat with her hands clasped, her eyes fixed on her father.
"This is the story of Shirin," he began, "a Pari whose name means 'sweet.' But her life, though touched by sweetness, was also marked by the harshness of the desert sands she chose to call home."
The princess tilted her head. "A desert? Did she not live in the forests or near rivers, like the others?"
"No," the king replied. "Shirin was different. She loved the vastness of the desert, the endless dunes that seemed to ripple like waves under the golden sun. It was in those unforgiving sands that she first encountered Prince Bahram, the leader of a nomadic tribe who roamed the desert in search of water and life."
"How did they meet?" the princess …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 7: Parvaneh, the Moonlit Bride
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:13 p.m.
The king began the next tale with a wistful smile, his gaze lingering on the flickering flames in the hearth.
"Tonight," he said, "I will tell you the story of Parvaneh, the Pari who became known as the Moonlit Bride. Her name, like her destiny, means 'butterfly,' and her beauty was said to shine brightest under the light of a full moon."
The princess leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "A butterfly beneath the moon… what was her story?"
The king's voice softened as he began. "Parvaneh lived near a great kingdom that held a festival every year to honor the moon. People would gather in the royal gardens on the night of the full moon, wearing silver and white, their laughter and music carrying into the night. Parvaneh, drawn by the beauty of the celebration, would secretly watch from the shadows of the forest. She had always been careful to avoid being seen—until …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 6: The Song of Anahita
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:13 p.m.
The king’s voice carried a musical rhythm as he began the next tale, as if echoing the melody of the story itself. The princess, already captivated by the flicker of the firelight and the deepening night, listened intently.
“Tonight,” he said, “I will tell you of Anahita, the Pari whose voice was said to be the most enchanting sound in the world. Her song could stop rivers in their flow, calm raging storms, and even make the stars weep with joy. Yet, it was her song that bound her heart forever to a wandering prince.”
The princess leaned forward. “A Pari with such a gift—did she sing for all, or only for him?”
The king smiled faintly. “Anahita sang for the world. She was a traveler, never staying long in one place. Her voice brought solace to the weary, joy to the broken-hearted, and hope to those who had none. Yet, for all …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 5: Yasmin and the Prince of Winter
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:11 p.m.
The king’s voice carried a chill that matched the story he was about to tell. The flickering flames in the hearth seemed to dance slower as he began, their warmth struggling against the weight of the tale.
“Tonight,” he said, “we speak of Yasmin, the Pari who gave her heart to a prince cursed by winter—a man whose life was bound to frost and snow, who could never feel the warmth of spring.”
The princess tilted her head. “A curse? Was it magic?”
The king nodded. “It was. The prince, Darian, had once been beloved by the gods of the seasons, but his pride earned him their wrath. He dared to say he needed no one—not even the gods themselves. For his arrogance, he was cursed to live in perpetual winter. Snow followed him wherever he went, and ice bloomed under his touch. No fire could warm him, and no sun could thaw …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 4: The Melancholy of Elnaz
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:10 p.m.
The king sat in silence for a moment, gazing at the flickering candlelight as if seeing another time, another place. The princess waited, sensing the weight of the tale he was about to share.
“Tonight,” he began softly, “I will tell you of Elnaz, the Pari who fell in love with a poet. Her story is one of beauty and sorrow, of words that wove their way into her immortal heart.”
The princess’s brow furrowed. “A poet? Did he write of her?”
The king smiled faintly. “Not at first. Elnaz lived in a secluded valley, far from human eyes. Her days were spent wandering among fields of wildflowers, her heart untouched by the fleeting lives of mortals. But one day, she heard something that stopped her in her tracks—a voice, soft and rich, reciting verses that seemed to carry the weight of the stars. She followed the sound and found him.”
The princess leaned …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 3: Soraya, the Dancer of Flames
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:09 p.m.
The fire in the hearth flickered brightly, casting long, dancing shadows across the room. The princess watched the flames with quiet fascination, as though searching for the story her father was about to share. The king sat across from her, his gaze heavy with remembrance.
“Tonight,” he began, his voice steady yet tinged with melancholy, “I will tell you of Soraya, the Pari who danced with fire and set a prince’s heart ablaze.”
The princess turned her full attention to him. “She danced with fire?”
The king nodded. “Soraya was unlike any Pari before her. While many of her kind reveled in nature’s serenity—waterfalls, moonlight, and the whisper of the wind—Soraya found joy in the untamed beauty of fire. She was drawn to its warmth, its unpredictability, and the way it could illuminate even the darkest night. Her every movement was a reflection of its wild nature, and her dances were said to …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 2: Lila of the Forgotten Grove
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:08 p.m.
The fire burned low in the great hall, its golden glow casting soft light over the princess and her father. Tonight, the king seemed more somber than usual, as though the story he carried weighed heavier on his heart.
“Do you know of the Forgotten Grove, my child?” he asked, his voice calm but tinged with sadness.
The princess shook her head, setting her tea aside. “No, Father. What is it?”
“It is a place that no longer exists,” he said, his eyes fixed on the fire. “But long ago, it was a sanctuary, a haven hidden deep within the heart of an enchanted forest. Only the lost could find their way there, and only those with sorrow in their hearts could truly see it.”
The princess’s curiosity was piqued. “And what happened there?”
The king leaned forward, clasping his hands together. “That is where Lila lived. She was a Pari of the forest, her …
The Curse of Love and Immortality - Chapter 1: The Tale of Aylin, the Star-Kissed
dehongi
Jan. 16, 2025, 12:06 p.m.
The fire crackled softly in the great hall, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. The princess, seated on a velvet cushion beside her father, cradled a warm cup of tea in her hands. It was their nightly ritual—a quiet hour after dinner when the king would share a story, each one revealing another layer of the world’s mysteries.
“Tonight,” the king began, his voice as steady as the waves of the distant sea, “I shall tell you the tale of Aylin, the Star-Kissed.”
The princess tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. “Star-Kissed?”
The king nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Aylin was a Pari of unmatched beauty. Her eyes shimmered like the first light of dawn, and her voice was as soothing as the lull of twilight. But what set her apart was her fascination with the stars. While other Paris reveled in the earthly pleasures of forests, rivers, and winds, Aylin …