Tatiana's POV
I stared at him, slowly outlining his features with my eyes. I guess I could place him as handsome — maybe not in the classic way people always described, but he wasn't bad to look at. Tall, well-built, with those striking blue eyes and a sharp, defined structure that reminded me more of a vampire than anything else. I'm tired of that overused Greek god description. How come I didn't find him attractive earlier? Some blessings really do come disguised as curses.
"Derek, let's have our anniversary," I said softly, my voice carrying a mix of hope and hesitation. "The circumstances of our marriage were not very delightful… don't you think?"
"Isn't it your fault?" he replied with a teasing smile that made my heart skip. "Your defiance was what caught my attention in the first place. If that's what you want to do again… it's fine by me."
"Nut head," I laughed, shaking my head. "I mean a defiance-free wedding to signify our unity."
He stared at me for a long minute, then shook his head slowly. "We don't need to prove anything to anyone. We can have the anniversary, but note this — the defiance is what brought the colour into our story. I love you… crazy or not, defiant or not. Perfect imperfection is your maiden name."
He came closer and kissed my forehead gently, his lips lingering for a moment. In that quiet instant, I truly felt I had landed a jackpot.
Later that night, I found myself running in a field unlike any I had seen before. It looked too ancient, filled with tall grass that swayed gently in the breeze, but there was a strong sense of familiarity, like that of my secret childhood hideout. The truth lies beneath, for peace, for answers… look beyond the eyes and see beyond the ordinary.
"Sleepy head, it's time to wake up. You promised to take me on a picnic."
A curse was literally at the tip of my tongue. He always interrupted at the worst possible time. And guess who he was calling 'sleepy head'?
"Babe, I thought you promised to allow nature d— what the hell am I seeing?"
"I dyed my hair red and put on contact lenses. I sure do look handsome… don't I?"
I rose to my feet quickly, took him by the hand, and pulled him into the bathroom. I threw away those ridiculous lenses and poured dye remover into his hair, washing every bit of red out of sight. "Why the hell would you do anything like that?"
He pouted his lips dramatically and hugged me tightly. "You stopped calling me handsome. I felt insecure."
Now he was in full child mode. I literally praised him every second in my head. "You are more than handsome. The next time you belittle your looks, write a death wish because you'll definitely need one."
I indeed had to freshen up. It was important. But that strange dream soon dissipated from my memory — and that may have been one of the greatest mistakes I've ever made.
Author's POV
Smoke oozed out like a potion gone wrong — or perhaps too right. Dark figures stepped into view, carrying scary sticks and bearing a striking resemblance to the 'cloaked elders'. "We stay till we recover our leaders. If not, we must die." They walked into the distance like people on a hunt, exuding a stench that could send one straight to hell, feeling unmatched and unstoppable. The events to come would soon throw us all off balance. Secrets must be known, but the price can be unbelievable!!!!!
A thousand kilometers away, in a small hidden cottage, a man burst out in agonizing tears. Knife marks were displayed across his body like a dark ritual. "How could I lose her? She was my last chunk of humanity, the only thing that brought me a smile… yet I lost her just like I lost my comrades. That battle left a scar so big, I wonder who could feel it — until I met her. But now all that wants to find a home in history. How could this be… she must remember me… she loved me, at least a small part still does."
Theophilus' POV
The city was as busy as ever, with the mix of scents such as rosemary, cinnamon, dragon fruit and every other thing you could think of. Ever since she vanished, this place was the only thing keeping me afloat. I hope she finds her true love… that way the prophecy would be fulfilled. I hope they find her soon.
She loved this scenery here in Schotragia. She would sneak in as a commoner just to talk to the traders. I couldn't rule without her. At least she can stop this wedding from taking place. Nobody would like to marry a self-righteous bitch and be proud of it.