A/N: My first original fiction story! That means this will probably be my worst and I can only improve. That was a warning in case you don’t like the story. So, um…enjoy folks! Oh, and since I’m British, I used British spelling. You have been warned.

Prologue

/*\ Michael’s POV /*\

It was night, as always, when I opened my little shop. This world, Louhi, doesn’t have a sun, you see. There was one, according to the legends told by the Elder Folk in the town, Scylla. But the Gods took it away when several mortal men committed an unspeakable sin (though personally I think it’s just ‘unspeakable’ because they don’t know what it is) and the world was left in darkness, everlasting night. However, a minor Goddess, Ceridwen, took pity on the people of the world. She forged huge discs of the brightest, shiniest silver and used them to reflect the light from the hidden sun to this world. The last she named Ieucothea, after the White Goddess who created the stars and the sky. At least, that’s what they say. I know the truth though. But that’s a story for another time and place.

Anyway, my name is Michael. I run a little shop in the town of Scylla. It doesn’t actually have a name so the local people just call it ‘Michael’s’ when talking about it. They all come here at some point during their week. My shop sells everything they could ever want or need. It rarely closes except when I really need to sleep. If it’s a slow day…or night as the case my be, I can close up and go home for some rest. If anyone need something when I’m closed, they simply leave a message stating what they want and I send it to them when the delivery boy comes around.

But it seems to be a slow day (or night) and I’m bored. I’d even wish for one of the Raiko family to come…Oh, you don’t know who they are, do you? Well, the Raiko family are probably the worst family it Scylla, maybe even in all of Louhi. Except for Meridian, the youngest daughter, they are all mean and love to bully others.

The father, Gamesh, is cruel and miserly. His wife isn’t much better. Meridian’s brother drinks far too much and subsequently gets into lots of fights. I know one of his opponents nearly died once and another vanished without a trace after winning a fight against him. No-one said anything but it is obvious they think he organised it. The sister is greedy and vain. She isn’t really ugly but she definitely isn’t anything special to look at.

Meridian, on the other hand, is gentle and kind. Too kind for her own good though. Her family walks all over her. I think they beat her sometimes but it’s not my place to say anything. All I can do is be the friendly yet mysterious young shopkeeper that seems to be the only person to be kind to her.

So…hmm…

Yep…getting very bored. Emphasis on very.

Maybe if I do a stock check again I’ll get rid of some of the boredom…

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/*\Third Person POV/*\

Raiko Manor was a big three storey house. There was also the basement and the attic. It was the biggest building in Scylla and belonged to the most important family in Scylla. The inhabitants of the house got on fairly well with each other and weren’t actually as bad to Meridian as everyone thought. Sure, they ordered her around but they never hurt her. They just acted coldly towards her. Meridian wasn’t sure why but she thought it was something to do with something that had happened to her mother before or just after she was born.

/*\ Meridian’s POV /*\

I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling. I think it was originally white but the paint is all cracked and peeled so that it seems to be more grey than white. I looked around the rest of my bedroom. There’s a small chest of drawers and a dresser against the wall on my right. On my left there is a window hidden by a lace curtain and two dirty brown curtains. The carpet is soft but a little dirty and the bed is big and comfortable. There isn’t much colour in here but this is my room and I love it.

‘Bored bored bored! There isn’t anything interesting to do.’ I thought.

"Meridian! Get in here!" I heard my sister, Melusine, shout.

I rolled off the bed and went to find my sister. She was sitting in front of her mirror in her large bedroom on the top floor. I sleep in a little room .

"About time!" Melusine said crossly, frowning at me. " I want you to go get me some more of this nail varnish. The bottle’s almost empty." She held up a bottle of the most horrible pink I have ever seen and I made a note of the make and the name of the colour. Actually, the colour isn’t too bad. When she’s not wearing it, that is.

"Anything else, Melusine?" I asked, hoping she would say no. Luck wasn’t on my side though.

"Yeah. Get me another one of these lipsticks. You’ll have to use your own money by the way. I don’t have any to give you."

I knew she was lying. She gets much more money than me. But I did have enough for the items she asked for. I quickly went to my room to get my purse and decided to see if the rest of my family wanted anything. I don’t particularly like to follow their orders but this one I did not mind.

It meant I would see Michael.

He’s the only one who treats me decently. He’s also kinda cute. He has black wavy hair that’s kinda long. He ties it back in a loose ponytail to keep it out of his eyes and the shorter bits hang loose in curtains around his face. He also has bright, sapphire blue eyes that sparkle when he laughs or smiles. He’s also slightly taller than me and slender. Nobody knows much about him, except for the fact that he runs a shop on the top a hill. I can actually see it from my bedroom window and sometimes I can see him working.

I don’t think anyone has ever seen him leave the shop. Nobody knows where he lives or anything but he always seems to be in the shop. I don’t think anybody’s all that bothered though. His shop is convenient for everyone round here and he gets on well with everyone. Most girls have a crush on him. Melusine does. If she ever goes up to the shop she acts all demure but looks quite ridiculous with all the make up she slaps on. Michael asked me once in private if she used a spade to apply it. I wasn’t able to look at her with a straight face for months afterwards.

I found my purse and ran downstairs to the study where I knew my father would be. I listened for a while to see if he was busy and heard nothing. Timidly, I knocked twice on the door.

"Yes?" he sounded a little cross at being disturbed but I opened the door and stuck my head in anyway.

"Father, Melusine has asked my to go to Michael’s on an errand. Do you want me to get anything for you while I’m there?" I asked, trying to be the dutiful daughter he wanted me to be. I always tried so hard to please my family but nothing I ever did seemed good enough. But I wasn’t the type to get depressed over that sort of thing.

"No, Meridian. Now leave. I’m a very busy man."

I could see the papers on his desk and decided to leave as quick as possible. Deciding to find my mother, I set off down the hall to the one place I knew she and my brother would be-the recreational room.

Sure enough, they’re sat my mother and brother, Licos.

"Mother, Licos, I’m going to Michael’s on an errand for Melusine. Do you want me to get you anything?"

"Yeah. I heard there was a new ice cream flavour and I want to try it. Oh, and there’s the latest magazine issue out so get that as well." Licos was the first to speak up. My mother appeared to think for a while before answering.

"I can’t think of anything I need at the moment." She said, looking away from me.

"Right. So, I’ll be back soon." With that I left the room and went downstairs. I grabbed my coat from the stand and left.

It was slightly cold and I was only wearing a thin white T-shirt and jeans so I was thankful that the trip to the shop didn’t take long. I tend to walk a little faster when I go to Michael’s anyway. I think it’s because I’m going to see the one person who is really nice to me and I also happen to have a crush on him. I’ve said that, already haven’t I? Oh, well…

I entered the shop and looked around for Michael but I couldn’t see him anywhere. He must be in the back then.

Finding the lipstick and nail polish Melusine wanted wasn’t hard and I headed to the magazine rack to look for the magazine my brother likes to read. It was directly in front of me, which is lucky. Usually I have to hunt a bit before I find it. Maybe Michael noticed Licos sending me up for his magazine?

With the magazine under my arm and the make-up in one hand, I made my way towards the back of the shop where the freezers are and found Michael arranging some stuff one a shelf. He was wearing a new deep blue shirt, I noticed. It brought out his eyes.

"Hi, Michael!" I said cheerfully.

He looked up from his crouched position on the floor and smiled at me.

"Meridian! I was wondering if you’d come today. Running more errands for your family again?" he asked, noticing the magazine and the make-up. His gaze turned slightly disapproving. He doesn’t like it when I do stuff for my family but I guess he knows it’s not his place to say anything. I’ve been doing this stuff for years and he’s never once said anything.

"Yep. Melusine was running out of nail polish and I was sent to get some more as well as a few other things," I held up the nail polish bottle and Michael grimaced. I could tell he knew what it looked like on her or could guess, at least.

"So, is that all you need?" he indicated the stuff I was holding.

"No. Licos heard of a new ice cream flavour and he wants to try it. I bet he doesn’t like it either!"

"Ha! Wouldn’t be surprised! He’s really picky. But you never know," Michael stood up and led me to the back of the shop and opened the freezer. He pulled out a medium size carton and took me to the front of the shop where the cash register was. "So…How’s things?"

"Oh, y’know. The same. How about you?"

"The same."

We grinned at our awkward small talk while he added up the costs.

It wasn’t very expensive and I was soon on my way home.

A/N: Pathetic, I know but it was just an introduction to the two main characters. Tell me if I should continue or not. It will get better though. Trust me.

Oh, and just to be clear, Louhi is just like our world except without a sun. And there is a little magic, like Hollywood type stuff.