Strange New Worlds

Strange New Worlds

Share this post

Strange New Worlds
Strange New Worlds
Pandora Reborn: Season of the Witch
Short Stories

Pandora Reborn: Season of the Witch

An origin tale of the ancient witch who terrorized Deer Falls.

John Coon's avatar
John Coon
Oct 31, 2022
∙ Paid
9

Share this post

Strange New Worlds
Strange New Worlds
Pandora Reborn: Season of the Witch
2
2
Share

Within the pages of Pandora Reborn, I only briefly covered how my main antagonist first gained her ability to call upon dark magic to torment and kill her enemies. Now I’m offering an exclusive bonus for paid subscribers of this newsletter. I’m excited to share with you the origin story of the ancient witch of Deer Falls - presented in the style of a medieval poetic fairy tale.

Copies of Pandora Reborn are available at booksellers worldwide.


Share Strange New Worlds


A young maiden dwelt outside a quaint village 
amid a dreary land bathed in blood.
She was cheerful, helpful, and innocent.
Her tender heart was pure as fresh snow. 

One day she caught the eye of a proud knight, 
unrivaled as a boisterous and cruel warrior 
in the service of a haughty and oppressive lord. 
This knight yearned to claim the maiden.
Her fair skin and flowing chestnut locks 
conquered both his eyes and his heart.
He vowed to claim her as his greatest prize.

The knight journeyed to a hamlet on a small farm,
where her father tirelessly worked the land. 
He demanded possession of the young maiden
to bring all his darkest fantasies to life. 
Her father withstood the lustful knight's demands 
and sought to protect his daughter's honor. 
Anger consumed the fearsome warrior's breast. 
He drew his sword and slew the maiden's father.
The same blade fell on her unsuspecting mother. 

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Strange New Worlds to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 John Coon
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share