Prologue

Once upon a time, in a faraway land in an unknown time, there was a hidden forest shrouded in mystery and magic. The forest was full of mysterious flora and fauna, unlike anything any human had ever seen. In this unique forest, on this particular night, a soft breeze slowly slipped between branches and ruffled the grass. The breeze tickled a weeping willow in the heart of the forest, and its iridescent blooms danced in the cool spring air clinging to their home. The smell of honeysuckle and moss coaxed a single iridescent flower from its perch and gently cradled the flower to the lake. As the flower nestled onto the lake’s surface, a set of delicate fingers reached out towards the blossom. The fingers caressed the flower lovingly before scooping it up from the glistening water. 

“Hello, little one,” a pure and sweet voice whispered. “Don’t worry, you will not be lost to the depths of the lake. You will have love, my little pup.”

The fingers brought the flower up to a small delicate face of a young woman. Her silver eyes and porcelain skin reflected the flower’s enchanting glow. The young woman had long flowing icy white hair with braids sweeping it away from her face. A thin white cotton dress clung to her dampened skin as she stepped out of the lake onto the moss-covered rocks on the shore. The young woman hummed to herself as she brought the bloom up to her lips. She gently kissed it before the breeze whisked the flower into the night sky. The woman smiled to herself and wiggled her fingers goodbye as the flower danced its way across the waning moon into a new life.

“Good luck, little one. I wish you the best. Be strong.” She breathed as she stood up from the rocks.

“Another on its way, Selene?” A warm voice drifted from the forest. A woman wandered out of the trees with warm chestnut hair and rich earthy brown eyes. Her skin was a warm golden brown that almost glowed in the night. Her gaze followed the tiny flower as it danced out of view.

“Yes, Eos,” said Selene with a smile as the other woman came to her side. “The breeze chose this one this time.”

“When was the last time that happened?” Eos said as she cocked her eyebrow up.

“Too long ago,” Selene breathlessly said as she leaned into Eos as she beamed. “They will be special.”

“If you say so,” smiled Eos as she wrapped her arms around her sister Selene. Selene locked her hand onto her sisters as she dragged her sister to the iridescent blooms.

“Now to pick their other half….” Selene’s voice trailed off as she searched the branches pondering the potentials. “Who will complete them? Bring out the best in them and accept their flaws….”Her face lit up, signaling that she had figured it out. “Give me a boost, Eos.”  

“Really? This isn’t my job.” Eos sucked through her teeth as she interlocked her fingers for her sister to step up. Selene stepped into her sister’s hands as she gently ascended into the tree, carefully avoiding the blooms. Stretching up on the tip of her toes, she lovingly plucked a flower from the crown of the tree. Selene quickly descended down the tree so delicately it was almost as she floated down. Once both of her feet were back on the forest floor, Selene turned to her sister giddily.

“What do you think? Do you want to help me send them off?” Selene purred at her sister with excitement flashing through her eyes. Eos could not resist her sister. Eos slowly nodded, and Selene’s face was engulfed in pure joy. She stretched her hand out to Eos and pressed the flower up to her sister’s lips expectantly. Eos lightly kissed the bloom as she engulfed her sister’s hand in hers. Selene lowered her lips to the flower and squinted her eyes as she said a silent prayer for it. When her eyelashes fluttered open, her eyes shined with so much emotion, they caused a smile to creep on Eos’s lips. Selene lifted the bloom into the air, and it gently danced away from her fingertips in the sky. “Go find your mate,” Selene grinned.