Vila

(VIL-ah)

Variations: RUSALKA, Samovily, Vily

There is a Slavic myth that when a person is cursed by God or a child dies unbaptized, he will return as a type of vampiric fay known as a vila. When it returns, it will look like a beautiful little girl with long HAIR. Living in clouds, meadows, ponds, and trees, the vila, a very capable combatant, will attack lone travelers. However, like the VELES, offerings of cakes, flowers, fruit, ribbons, and vegetables will prevent its attack. All vile, as they are collectively called, have the ability to control storms and shape-shift into a horse, swan, or wolf.

Source: Auerbach, Our Vampires, Ourselves, 20; Dixon-Kennedy, Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth, 182; Royal Anthropological Institute, Man, 189