The Horseman

A dullahan, the headless horseman, the story of a new fae.

He stares into the gruesome black eyes of the hideous creature before him. This thing that calls itself a god of Death. This thing that demands his soul, and his head, for his sins against life. The creature extends a rattling bone hand to him and he steps back reflexively. His eyes widen, nearly bugging out of his head in his fear. His breath is ragged and his heart beat rushes in his ears. His eyes dart fearfully and through the chaotic terror in his mind a clear thought pierces through to calm him.

You can live forever.

His throat is raw and his head is splitting but he steps forward shakily. The ice fingers of the creature in front of his rip into his brain through his forehead. He screams. Abruptly the sound cuts off. Those fingers sink into his throat, tense, and his head rips up off of his shoulders in a single movement.

His head is silent, despite the rot that is beginning to set into it from the creature’s fingers, making the skin glow with decay. The skin smoothes and melts, white fat melting off with the blood dripping to the ground. The mouth of his head stretches and morphs into a hideous smile.

“Hear us now, new creature of the night,” the creature booms. Its voice rumbles through the earth and rattles his decaying bones. “You will herald the death of men. You shall be barred by no gate.” Its voice echoes through the silence of Death.

He tries to speak but his head says nothing. The creature extends a hand again. It passes its hand over his shoulders and the blood ceases to fountain forth. The creature offers his head to him. His hand trembles, his shoulders shake. He takes it.

Author's Note

Done for school. We were supposed to tell the story of 'how the headless horseman [from Sleepy Hollow] lost its head'. But, it's literally just a dullahan.

I wrote it in less than half an hour, so if there are some things that would be bettered simply by spending some time on it, that's fine.