Medusa's Smile

by MargueriteIdaHelenaAnnabel

I'm reimagining the character of Medusa. Instead of being killed by Snow and Charming, she too was transported to Storybrooke where she has been living as a hermit for the past 28 years until the curse breaks. This is, to my mind, how Medusa was supposed to be represented.

1. Prologue

"You only have to look at the Medusa straight on to see her. And she's not deadly. She's beautiful and she's laughing." – Hélène Cixous

Prologue

It was on the day that magic came to Storybrooke, the day that I regained my memories, that I also regained my eyesight. After 28 years as the blind hermit who lived in the forest at the edge of town, I could finally see where the dark curse had taken me. I was sitting outside in front of my cabin, as I usually did that time of day. I loved how the air smells when evening approaches and enjoyed the tingling feeling of twilight on my skin. I had already sensed that something was afoot. Ever since that young woman came to town, the one they call the savior, things were gradually changing. It was as if the very air was changing. The first thing I saw with my awakening eyes was the color purple. It was a cloud of purple smoke coming out of the well, drifting towards the town. I knew it instantly for what it was. Magic. And I also knew what it meant. It meant that my peaceful and quiet days were coming to an end. I wanted nothing more than to remain here, hidden in my solitude. But I knew that it wouldn't be long now before they would come for me. They always did.