day 25 of horror mythology: akarisi
al karisi is a demon in turkish folkore whose name means “the scarlet woman,” or “the red wo man.” al karisi stalks women who have recently given birth to a child. many al demons will kidnap or otherwise harm infants, but al karisi is primarily interested in the new mothers. she watches and waits for the mother to fall asleep before entering the room and cutting out the woman’s liver. she has hypnotic powers which render her targets paralyzed when they meet her gaze. it is said that they can be fully conscious and aware of what’s happening but unable to move or to call out while the demon tears into them and takes their organs. when she strikes her victims, it doesn’t leave a bloody murder scene. there are no gashes, cuts, or even bruises upon her prey. it appears to the world that the woman suffered a sudden and mysterious death in her sleep.
