Melusine (French:[melyzin] 'may-loo-ZEEN') (or Melusina) is a figure of European folklore, a feminine spirit of fresh waters in sacred springs and rivers.
She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish from the waist down (much like a mermaid). She is also sometimes illustrated with wings, two tails, or both. Her legends are especially connected with the northern and western areas of France, as well as the Low Countries. She is also connected with Cyprus, where the French Lusignan royal house that ruled the island from 1192 to 1489 claimed to be descended from Melusine.
The most famous literary version of Melusine tales, that of Jean d'Arras, compiled about 1382–1394, was worked into a collection of "spinning yarns" as told by ladies at their spinning. Coudrette (Couldrette) wrote The Romans of Partenay or of Lusignen: Otherwise known as the Tale of Melusine, giving source and historical notes, dates and background of the story. He goes in to detail and depth about the relationship of Melusine and Raymondin, their initial meeting and the complete story.
Mélusine is a Belgian comic strip created by artist Clarke and writer Gilson and features short, humorous stories that centre on the life of a young witch who lives as an au pair in a castle and studies at a witches’ school. The strip first appeared in Spirou magazine in 1992. Since 1995, her adventures have been published in book form by Dupuis — the 23rd album came out in 2015. Five albums have been published in English by Cinebook.
Mélusine (2005) is a fantasy novel by Sarah Monette. It is the first book of the Doctrine of Labyrinths series, which includes The Virtu, The Mirador, and Corambis. It was well received upon its release; Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review and called it "extraordinary."
The story revolves around two characters: magician Felix Harrowgate and thief Mildmay the Fox, who live in vastly different parts of the city of Mélusine. They are tossed together by fate when Felix is accused of destroying the crystal Virtu, an orb which channels the magical energy of the magicians in Mélusine.
A wizard who, at the start of the novel, is living with the elite of the city in the Mirador. When his sordid past is revealed to his upper-class lover, he retreats to his former master and mentor Malkar Gennadion.
A thief in the Lower City. When he accepts what he believes to be a simple job of stealing jewelry from a nobleman, he gets entangled in the magic and politics of the city.
In November
Marble grey skies
Marble shadows fly
Pale beauty shimmer
The skin of elfin pride
Pale skin of elfin shines
Melusine – embraces me
Six nights
Melusine – is haunting me
Tonight
Melusine – enchanting me
Spread your wings
For I will never see
The secret of the sea
Growing silence
She can hear him breathe
Truth hidden underneath
His heart pounding
Then a piercing scream
The surface of your tears
Melusine – embraces me
Six nights
Melusine – is haunting me
Tonight
Melusine – enchanting me
Spread your wings
For I will never see
The secret of the sea
That night in a glimpse
Holy men in disguise
Melusine chased away
Melusine will die
Melusine – embraces me
Six nights
Melusine – haunting me
Tonight
Melusine – enchanting me
Spread your wings
For I will never see
The secret of the sea
Melusine – in sacred springs
Still waters run so deep
Melusine – is haunting me