The Heart of the Scorpion
How Antares (Anteros) Came to Be: The Origin of Love
The Fall
1 And it came to pass in the First Days that Beauty and Power ruled as one upon the earth.
2 Their reign was glorious, and the world was filled with color, and all creation sang their praise.
3 Yet Beauty beheld Passion, and her heart was kindled with longing; and from their union was born Love, a child unlike any seen before.
4 When Power beheld what had been wrought without his will, wrath seized him.
5 He smote Beauty and Passion, and their light was extinguished.
6 And Power drained the color from the world, that none might remember what had been.
7 He took Love, the child of his envy, and sealed her in a glass of sorrow, and silenced her voice.
8 And Power said unto the nations, “Behold, this is my gift. Worship her, for through me alone comes beauty.”
9 And thus began the False Faith, and the world bowed in ignorance.
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The Prophecy
10 In those days was born Mara, daughter of a humble painter.
11 And as all must do, she journeyed to behold the Glass, for it was commanded by Power.
12 And lo, when Mara stood before the imprisoned Love, the eyes of Love looked upon her.
13 And in that gaze was a spark, and in that spark a dream.
14 Night after night, Mara beheld visions sent by the shadow of Passion:
15 A woman who bore her likeness standing beside Love in tenderness and light.
16 And Mara believed the vision was of herself, and that destiny had chosen her.
17 So she painted what she saw — herself and Love united — and the priests of Power called it blasphemy.
18 And they cast her out into the wilderness, saying, “Let your visions feed you, heretic.”
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The Journey
19 Mara wandered through desolate lands, her heart a flame of longing.
20 Along the way came a Scorpion, whose voice was like wind over broken glass.
21 And the Scorpion said, “Your dreams are but the cries of your loneliness. Love is not yours, nor shall it ever be.”
22 And though the Scorpion spoke truth, Mara perceived him as an enemy and hardened her heart.
23 For her longing had become her faith, and her faith her fire.
24 Thus Passion was born anew in her — not seeking glory, but meaning.
25 And she walked until her feet bled, her tears painting the dust with purpose.
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The Revelation
26 And in time she came to the palace of Power.
27 There she beheld Lyra, the servant of Love, washing her mistress’s feet with tender devotion.
28 Love looked upon Lyra, and the world stood still, for adoration flowed like light between them.
29 And Mara knew then that the vision was not of herself, but of another.
30 She understood: to love is not to possess, but to witness.
31 Her heart broke open, and from its breaking came peace.
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The Transformation
32 And when Love was beheld without desire, the ancient circle was made whole.
33 For once Beauty and Passion created Love — now Love, being seen by Passion, created Beauty anew.
34 Lyra, who was plain among women, became radiant, and her soul shone forth as Beauty Reborn.
35 Color returned to the world, singing as it came.
36 And Love and Beauty were joined as Anteros, the spirit of love returned, and they rose into the heavens as the star Antares, that burns red with remembrance.
37 But Mara remained below, the last witness and the first storyteller.
38 And she went forth, speaking unto the people: “To love is not to claim, but to behold.”
39 And her words spread like light through all nations, and the worship of Power faded.
40 Power sat upon his empty throne, and his name was spoken no more.
41 Yet his breath lingered, hidden in hearts that looked upon beauty and called it mine.
⟡ End ⟡
