Chapter 75: Story 75: The Enchantress of the Red Chamber
In the heart of an ancient palace, hidden away from the eyes of the world, there was a chamber known only as the Red Chamber. The chamber was draped in crimson silk and adorned with intricate gold embroidery. The air was thick with the scent of exotic flowers, and the flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the walls.
The legend of the Red Chamber spoke of an enchantress, a woman of unparalleled beauty and allure. She was said to have eyes that could pierce through the soul and a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. Her name was Laila, and her beauty was both her gift and her curse.
Laila's presence in the palace was a closely guarded secret. She was summoned only for the pleasure of the Sultan, who was bewitched by her charm. Every night, as the palace fell silent, the Sultan would make his way to the Red Chamber, driven by an insatiable desire to be in her presence.
One stormy night, as the wind howled outside, the Sultan entered the Red Chamber to find Laila waiting for him. She was adorned in a red saree, her jewelry glistening in the dim light. Her eyes sparkled with a mysterious allure, drawing the Sultan closer.
"Come to me, my Sultan," Laila whispered, her voice as sweet as honey yet laced with a hint of danger.
The Sultan approached her, unable to resist the pull of her charm. As he reached out to touch her, she took his hand and led him to a plush bed covered in silk sheets. The night was filled with passion, a dance of ecstasy and enchantment.
But as the dawn approached, a chilling transformation began. The warmth of Laila's touch turned icy, and her eyes, once filled with allure, now glowed with a sinister light. The Sultan, caught in the throes of passion, didn't notice until it was too late.
Laila's grip tightened around the Sultan's throat, and her lips twisted into a malevolent smile. "You are mine now," she hissed. "For eternity."
The Sultan tried to break free, but his strength was no match for the enchantress. As the first light of dawn seeped into the chamber, the Sultan's lifeless body lay next to Laila, his face frozen in a grimace of terror.
The palace guards found the Sultan the next morning, but Laila was nowhere to be found. The Red Chamber was empty, save for the lingering scent of flowers and the echo of a sinister laugh.
Years passed, and the Red Chamber fell into ruin, its secrets buried by time. But the legend of Laila, the enchantress of the Red Chamber, lived on. It was said that on stormy nights, the ghostly figure of a beautiful woman could be seen wandering the palace, her eyes still glowing with that same sinister light, searching for her next victim.