Mystique

Prologue

Prologue

On that night, when all was silent and tranquil, the moon bestowed its graceful beam down the deep and huge well. The stagnant water began to flow, whirling gradually in speed until it was noticeable. Coins that had sunk down the bottom inexplicably submerged visible. Alluring radiance from the moon attracted the pieces of molded copper like a magnet. These crept up along the walls of the vertical tunnel, and circled around on its gaping mouth. The wind played a noiseless tune of joy and upbeat life. Later on, footsteps replaced the sound of rolling coins. Her majestic beauty blinded against the moon’s rays. She was sought to be immortal, guarding the well forever.

But they wouldn’t let her.

The gods became furious of her beauty and existence. Their envy was immeasurable. Rage completely blocked the moonlight as clouds began to shroud and threaten the powerful well with flashes of lightning. However, the well was immoderately filled with mysterious supremacy that even the strongest forces of nature could be bent. It had dominance over fate and chance, time and space and even life and death when it wanted to. The stubborn entity did not wish to go on granting humans’ greatest desires unprotected for it was aware of how selfish the said race could be. Wind whistled a melody of brave defiance. The gods were made to cease their retaliation yet the innocent maiden vanished into the cold dark breeze of thin air.

The dawn broke sorrowfully among the canopy of pine trees shading the well. The sun loomed the first ray of broad day light. Voices of the forest chirped, thudded and barked, but one surprisingly astounded everything else around it. On one of the large haunting blocks of the well was a new-born. She had comeback, yet way younger. Her delightful wail was cherished by the ears that the forest possessed. When it finally seemed that hope had been revived, hours later, the voice died out in a void of utter silence.

Distress settled upon the well once more.

Not until a few years had passed. The infant was, again, found on a block of stone, now peaceful and existent. Unfortunately, her strange case of appearing and disappearing wasn’t over.

It was only the beginning.

The intervals of her short appearances were gauged by years, sometimes millenniums. The well understood perfectly as it witnessed the growth of the beautiful girl. The well’s guardian was immortal no more, yet she wasn’t designed to live amongst mortals either. Her tendency to fade away into non-existence every now and then locked her in an unbreakable link with the well where her sole purpose is to protect it as long as she lives, nothing more.

Even until now.