Once upon a time the king of the mountain came down and took out a part of a young woman’s soul. He took it back with him to his mountain and locked it away in his lowest, darkest dungeon. When the young woman woke she looked for the missing part of her soul, but couldn’t find it. She felt lighter than she ever had, but without that part she felt hollow. Every small noise inside of her echoed. The part of her soul that was missing had been her main focus for so long that now she didn’t know what to think or feel. She decided to go to the king of the mountain and get her soul back.

The young woman set out to the mountain. It was a three day journey by foot, but she felt so light that the journey was no trouble to her. It was almost a joy to leap and run without that part of her soul weighing her down. But every time she landed it echoed where the part should have been and she remembered her loss.

The king’s mountain stood at the beginning and end of all roads. It towered over the land like a giant in a room full of children. It’s shadow spread for miles around and gave light or darkness to all it touched. When the young woman entered the mountain’s shadow she felt it shine to where her whole soul had been. The mountain’s shadow shone in the empty place and she felt weightless and empty.

At the foot of the mountain the king was waiting for her. He was tall, stately, dignified. He stood at the foot of his mountain and towered over it. The young woman approached and felt fear. Without a word he turned from her and began to walk up the mountain. She followed.

Partway up the mountain they came to a large steel door. It swung open before its king and they walked through. They were in the lowest, darkest dungeon of the mountain. The king carried no light before him; he shined with all the light they needed. The king and the young woman walked past many dungeon cells. The doors were thick and strong and each dungeon cell was locked with three locks.

The king stopped in front of a cell that looked to the young woman exactly like the others. From nowhere he pulled out a large key. It fit into each of the three locks and turned with a loud clack. The king looked at the young woman as he opened the dungeon door. His light spilled through the doorway and in light she saw a creature made from nightmares. It shivered and tried to crawl into the shadows to hide from the king of the mountain, but his light filled the dungeon and left no darkness. The young woman looked at the beast and recognized it as the missing part of her soul. It was the color of greed, the size of lust and it weighed as much as a painful secret. It hissed and spat hatred at the king of the mountain. It sang love and pleasantries to the young woman, promising joy and happiness if she would only take it back. The young woman turned away.

The king of the mountain closed the door and locked it three times. He put the key back where it had been and led the young woman out of the dungeon and into the light of the mountain. Without a word he set her feet on the road and watched her walk back to her home. She felt weightless long after she passed out of the shadow of his mountain.