The Woman Turned Gorgon

This is a story as old as time, this is; a love story.

A boy sits on a rock while looking up at the sky.

This boy does not have many friends, which he is okay with, for he enjoys the company of his thoughts and imagination.

The sun was now setting and the boy had promised his mother that he would come home before dark, so he got up and started to walk back to Beled-el-Djinn, that was when he felt it, a burning sensation at his heel. The boy looked down, he now saw two holes on his heel, he then saw a snake running away.

The boy felt sick, his mind was heavy and his breathing was shallow, he fell to the ground with a big thud.

The last thing he saw was the beautiful red light coming from the setting sun, the boy now closed his eyes.

When the boy opened his eyes again, he saw a girl standing over him.

" Are you okay? " asked the girl with a smile.

The boy felt refreshed, his mind was clear and his breathing was normal.

The boy now noticed the bandages on his heel.

" You saved me… " uttered the boy in awe and gratitude.

The girl just kept on smiling; her beautiful smile.

Years went by, and the boy and the girl became very close and good friends.

The boy found out that the girl's name was; Madiha.

The boy, now a man, loved Madiha very much, he would do anything for her, which he would prove with the rest of his life.

One day, as the man had gathered up all his courage, and had the most beautiful ring in his pocket, he saw something which shattered his very being, he saw Madiha kiss another man.

While growing up, Madiha was always fond of the boy she helped, she saw him like a little brother and they would do everything together; they would play, laugh and cry together. But, when it came to love; Madiha would only love him as a brother; not as a lover.

Deep down, the man knew all this, but it still hurt… a lot… and one day… The pain was too much to bear, but, instead of taking his own life; the man would repay Madiha in kind; an eye for an eye; pain for pain.

The man had studied the art of Māmitu; curses.

Madiha heard that the man would be leaving, he did not say why, but he did want to say goodbye.

As the two old friends were shaking hands, Madiha felt a burning sensation on her heel, she looked down at her heel where she now saw two holes and a snake running away.

Madiha felt sick, her mind was heavy and her breathing was shallow, she fell to the ground with a big thud, and when she looked to her friend for help; her old friend merely walked away with a neutral expression on his face.

The burning sensation was getting worse by the passing seconds.

Madiha now felt horrified, as scales appeared on her legs, she screamed in terror as her hair turned into living white king cobras and her heart shattered as she had just turned an innocent horse into glass with just her gaze.

Worst of all, when Madiha tried to speak; fire came out in the place of words.

Madiha was now; a Shahmaran.

Dione, the Jinn Empress and the wife of Huara, she is the Djinn of the sky and lightning.

The Empress took pity on Madiha; which is why she gave her the task of guarding the entrance to Mount Petra.