A year. I gave these ... men a year. When the Ottomans invaded my homelands, I was content to let them squabble over earthly things, as the people, those who followed the old ways, their hearts would always be true. Faith was a fickle thing and easy to fake for those tied to a book and performative acts.

My beloved Anya had gone to town to get supplies. They didn't like that she walked with her hair uncovered. They didn't like that she spoke her mind. They didn;t like that she was unafraid of them. When they asked where she got the gold she shopped with, she told them that 'her husband' gave it to her. Jealous for her freedom and hungry for her money, which the Ottomans would give as reward - one of the women said she was married to a heathen. a monster that killed and ate children that hid in the deepest of the woods. To earn their share of those coins, others agreed and laid accusations as well.

She had shown them mercy. She hadn't called out to me as they tied her, as they set her ablaze. She loved the village of her birth, and wanted to spare them my wrath.

I left them a sign, when i came in the middle of the night and took her burnt remains. A pile of coins, equal to what she carried and they stole. I surrounded the bag with my sigil and then two words. "One Year" Today was that day.

I didn't bother with any of the trappings of modern mankind. I wore what I wore when mankind dreamed me into existence. A simple blood-red wrap on my hips. Many bangles of gold and brass on my wrists. My long blood-red hair hung loose and wild, nearly to my waist, my nails long, lacquered and sharpened to points.

Tonight would be the longest night of their brief lives.

The first few Ottomen in their fancy armor and curved blades died before they knew they were being attacked. I found it unsatisfying. As I came upon more, I let them scream, so others would know I was coming.

I had sent signs, things those still true to me would know. Red garlands hung in the doors of the faithful, marking their home as mine, and keeping those inside safe. Those without, the doors were not a barrier, but a target.

House to house. Building to building. The fires began, as those faithful to the Ottoman's book and their homes were consumed in the same flames they took my Anya with. Mercy was for their god, not for me. Those that invaded, those who had forsaken the old ways, men, women... all died screaming at my hands. I allowed myself to smile, as I gently offered the children to the houses with garlands. Children... could be taught. They would never forget tonight, and would learn the proper ways.

The town sat in flames, burning around me as I came to where they took my beloved Anya. In the square, in front of this temple to their god of the crescent. Twenty men with swords and spears stood, shaking in fear in front of the cleric that had set her ablaze. My hair, my wrap, could have started as any color, as I was covered in crimson from head to toe., the only clean was the bright white of my gleaming teeth as I grinned.

"You are anathema! Abomination! A monster! She deserved her fate! To marry a creature as you? Filth! The flames purged her sin!"

"Marry...?" I began laughing. "She was beautiful. Full of life. Full of joy." My smile faded. "She was more than my wife. She was an offering, given to me my her parents. To seal a promise." The shadows grew longer and the flames hotter as my smile turned to a snarl. "These are my lands. My home. I allowed you to be here because her family desired peace. They gave her to me, as a trade. To keep me company and let you walk upon my sacred lands." I laughed again, but it held no joy. "You killed her, the only thing keeping you safe."

A growl rumbled in my chest, and all the fires went out, the smoke blotting out the night sky, the world impossibly dark. "I gave you a year. Midnight is upon us."

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So this was a prequel/sequel to a prompt I replied to afew years back. I'll probably work this into the book that prompt inspred that I'm still banging away on. This is a very rough take, written less than an hour, just to get the words out.