Aria was a lovely young girl with a pretty face, blue eyes, and golden-brown hair. She had a charming demeanour that would make anyone fall in love with her. Her family included her parents, grandmother, and two siblings. She was an artist, and her works were well-known across Turkey. She was turning twenty-five in two days. She felt both thrilled and scared at the same time. She was delighted because there was going to be a party on her birthday, but she was also frightened since she had an uncommon disease that remained unidentified. On her every birthday she would be sleeping for 23 hours and have just an hour to give to her family and friends. She wouldn’t wake up no matter who tried throughout those 23 hours. Her parents had taken her to several doctors, but none could figure out why it happened just on one day of the year. She had been suffering from this since she was a toddler. When she wakes up, she will have no recollection of those 23 hours. She was praying for a miracle this time that would prevent her from falling asleep on her birthday.

The next day, she went shopping and purchased a stunning blue gown that would make her feel like a princess on her birthday. She felt both delighted and worried. It was 11:30 p.m. on the clock. There was just a half-hour till the clock struck twelve. Aria was becoming concerned. Before anybody could wish Aria a “Happy Birthday,” the clock struck twelve and she fell asleep.

She woke in a beautiful land, with a sparkling stream and magnificent flowers and greenery all around her. Suddenly she heard the galloping of a horse and in the blink of an eye, someone had picked her. She found herself seated on the horse, which was being ridden by a young guy.  He appeared to be a Prince straight out of fairytales. She could feel the power of his arms around her. From his body, she could smell roses and iron. The warmth of his skin on her was palpable. She was both enthralled and terrified. He stopped at a place and got down from the horse along with Aria. The surrounding land appeared to be arid, dusty, and hilly. The sky was suddenly darkened, and the sun was hidden behind the darkness. In the sky, a ring of fire emerged. She was shocked as she hasn’t witnessed anything like this before. The young man got down on his knees and presented Aria with a ring. Aria couldn’t stop herself from agreeing to his proposal. Aria could feel butterflies in her stomach. The moment the guy put the ring on Aria’s finger, she could feel a burning sensation. The burning sensation grew more and more. Aria found her finger had burnt. She hastily removed the ring and tossed it on the ground.

The young lad looked into Aria’s eyes and muttered, “I am Sorry Aria”.

His words carried a chord of sorrow with them. Aria spoke back, “Who are you?”

“The one who had waited for you from the day you were born. The one who had abducted you on your every birthday”, enunciated the lad

“I have never seen you, neither I know you”, whispered Aria

“I never made myself visible to you. I am not human” muttered the lad and transformed into a hot air which revolved around Aria whispering in her ears.

He reappeared in front of Aria in the human form again and said, “I am the demon who was sent to kill you at your birth by the emperor’s enemy but I couldn’t do so”.

“Emperor? What are you talking about? I live in the 21st Century”

“Yes you do but my love has its roots back in the 1500s when you were the daughter of an Emperor. I was a demon, I am a demon and I will be a demon. We are like the two shores of the sea that could never meet yet I couldn’t stop loving you. You have taken birth 7 times and on your every birthday I had made you feel special. I cannot die, I cannot live either but my love for you is true. I have been cursed for not killing emperor’s daughter and can die only if you pierce the sword through my heart but you refused every time I asked you to do so.” muttered the lad

Aria shockingly responded, “Then why would you abduct me on my every birthday?”

The lad clapped and the place lit with lights, soft music, scrumptious meals and drinks. There was also a sword wrapped in red cloth kept. Aria was surprised by all this and couldn’t understand anything. He took Aria’s hand on his and danced with joy. Aria silently followed his every move. As they finish their meal and dance, the lad picked the sword wrapped in the red cloth and presented it to Aria, asking her to pierce it through his heart. She was taken aback and refused to agree.

He begged in front of her to free him from the curse. He gave her a blue stone that glittered like a diamond and said the stone would lead him out of this world. She took the sword from him and closed his eyes, planted a kiss on his cheeks and pierced the sword through his heart. The black colour blood gushed out of his heart and soon his body disappeared in the air. Aria couldn’t control her tears.

“You have loved me for ages, but like the poles apart, we couldn’t become one. Tonight I give up my life along with you and hope to become yours in the next life”, she said as she pierced her heart with the sword.