Chapter 1.
The tick tock of the clock and the crackling of the fading embers of the fire, made for perfect conversation, whispering and chortling at the darkness of the night. Mary had always been an odd sort of girl. Her eyes of golden hazel had a peculiar gleam about them as she scrutinized the world with a quizzical eye, fascinated by the inner and outer workings of its mysterious ways. Laughter often danced on the tip of her tongue, and her daredevil ways never failed to get her into trouble.
The old stone castle-like building entranced little Mary, who loved to prowl about its cavernous halls. Treading softly upon the stone floor she stepped, and stepped, and stepped, with the caution of a tight-rope walker suspended above the grand canyon. Little Mary realised that her echoing foot steps multiplied into twos, to sixes, to eights, and so forth, until the halls were ringing with applause for her leather slippers. She liked to think that she was being followed by little elves with clattering feet, and the prospect amused her so much that she grinned and began to skip while basking in her fantasy world of day dreams.
The grand hall was a vast room. The ceiling rose upwards as it arched towards the heavens. At night, it reminded Mary of a starless sky, so big yet so empty.
The hall was so full of space, and empty of things, that the sight of it would always strike Mary as yet another odd corner of the universe. However, there was one big, massive, glorious fire place at the end of the hall. This was Mary’s favorite place.
There was not another soul awake that night and Mary knew because there was not a soul in the castle who would want to be awake that night. She had always wondered at the bewildering fear that possessed all who dwelt in the castle. Such horrors they dreamt and spoke of! Mary couldn't help but laugh as she thought of such preposterous ideas. Little chuckles rang throughout the hall. Progressively Mary realized that the giggles were getting louder and louder until the crescendo peeked as vibrations shook the hall. A deep, hearty, laugh rang from the fire place. The red coals which were slowly dying, came alive and as flames licked the nonexistent stars in Mary’s gaping little world.
“Well, well, well. Mary come to play again.” Said the deep smiling voice.
The grand hall was a vast room. The ceiling rose upwards as it arched towards the heavens. At night, it reminded Mary of a starless sky, so big yet so empty.
The hall was so full of space, and empty of things, that the sight of it would always strike Mary as yet another odd corner of the universe. However, there was one big, massive, glorious fire place at the end of the hall. This was Mary’s favorite place.
There was not another soul awake that night and Mary knew because there was not a soul in the castle who would want to be awake that night. She had always wondered at the bewildering fear that possessed all who dwelt in the castle. Such horrors they dreamt and spoke of! Mary couldn't help but laugh as she thought of such preposterous ideas. Little chuckles rang throughout the hall. Progressively Mary realized that the giggles were getting louder and louder until the crescendo peeked as vibrations shook the hall. A deep, hearty, laugh rang from the fire place. The red coals which were slowly dying, came alive and as flames licked the nonexistent stars in Mary’s gaping little world.
“Well, well, well. Mary come to play again.” Said the deep smiling voice.
The night was alive, and it summoned her forth. Overcome with excitement, she reached out her arms to the welcoming flames and with warmth and light they gave her a hug. ... And there, was Mary not.
