Odile
Chapter 1 - A Man and a Woman
Setting: 1999, Small House on a Small, Hidden Lake near Hillsboro, Oregon.
The house had been there for years. As had he. No one had known about it. But it had been there for decades. He rarely ventured into town and when he did, he spoke to only the man or woman from whom he bought supplies.
He had no need for food. He had no need for company. He had no need for anything human. He had moved past such things. Until her.
She changed him. She lifted some of the magic that surrounded his heart and snuck in. Von Rothbart was a different man. He came into town. He talked to someone else. And finally, he asked a very important question.
"Will you join me for a boat ride on the lake?"
"What lake?" She asked.
"The Swan Lake. It's right by my house. It's magical. When the moon shines on it you can see your true self." He said.
She laughed, "I think maybe we should start with coffee."
Coffee was successful, as was a movie, a dinner, a kiss, and finally she said, "I'd like to see myself in that lake of yours."
Soon she saw herself married, then pregnant, then with a daughter, and it happened as she saw. Then she left the lake and she saw no more.
Von Rothbart let the magic surround his heart once more. He raised his daughter only if he had to. Keeping her at arm's length. He named her Odile.