Naryssa's Choice (The Fate and Destiny Chronicles Vol. 3)

Perfect Strangers

I remember the awe of the city as I entered it, it was as beautiful as Annabelle had described.

The cobblestones, a beautiful pale golden brown that practically glittered in the lantern light of the light posts lining the roads and the oak woods with the tan bricks on the buildings made it feel warm and inviting. The evening sun only amplified the beauty of this place as I took in all the sights. I had received a few curious looks from others because of my scar but no one seemed to suspect that I wasn't one of them. The brilliant pastel shades of the sky as it entered sunset with the warm evening light really made the city look majestic and wondrous. I wasn't sure where I was going as I explored the city but I soon found myself in front of a beautiful cathedral where I stood taking in the sight of the beautiful building. Its walls a rough but beautifully sculpted off white stone, windows of colorful stained glass, and the front steps leading to the door almost beckoned you forth. Suddenly I could see flashes of visions of a memory before I lost myself to it completely. I felt reality slip away completely as I was pulled into a memory so strong that it felt as if I were really there, as if I were living it.

As we entered the cathedral, I immediately heard a bright and happy voice calling out from across the entrance from the sanctuary room, "Darren! It's been too long!" A girl who looked his age said cheerfully as she came towards us from the sanctuary. Her skin was a lovely dark caramel tone which was complimented well by her long and curly golden-brown hair which framed her rounded face perfectly and her dimples were perfectly placed. Her long sky-blue priestess robes were modest and yet accentuated her voluptuous curves well, particularly her wide hips as she quickly walked towards us. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of gold that were striking and dazzling and I found it hard to look away from the gorgeous color I hadn't seen before on anyone let alone on a woman so beautiful.

"Alessandra, it's good to see you" he said as she pulled him into a big hug before finally pulling back and giving him a look of pure disapproval. "Mhm, you really should write more you know" She scolded him before finally turning to face me, "I appreciate the favor Alessandra" he said as he rolled his eyes playfully in return. Only when she turned her attention to me had I begun to feel nervous and self-conscious, as if she could see the secrets I was hiding. I could sense not much got past Alessandra. "Does it have to do anything with your girlfriend? because I honestly expected Seth or some other soldier" She had commented teasingly.

Both of us immediately responded in a rush to her commentary about my being his girlfriend. Right as he said "She's not my girlfriend", I had said "We're just friends". Both of our faces blushing with embarrassment. "She was rescued during a small raid on the king's palace" Darren said to her, "Her village was the one burned last year so she needs a place to stay for a while" He explained and not once did Alessandra's gaze flicker from me as he spoke. Finally, she looked away from me and responded to Darren, "She's welcome to stay as long as she needs, Darren. I am only teasing." She reassured him almost apologetically. "After all the cathedral is open to those who need it" she said as she looked back at me with a welcoming smile.

The man, Darren, had deep forest green eyes that were soft and kind that complimented his chocolate brown hair well. His skin was pale but warm with a bit of coloring to it which played well against his muscular build. As I escaped the vision, the memory, that consumed me I knew the face of the man I came in search of and I felt terrified because I knew that memory was not my own memory. I recall thinking in shock, How the hell do I remember a man I had never met? It should have been impossible. I experienced the vision as if I were reliving my own memory despite only knowing of this event through Annabelle's journals. Though it was helpful I supposed to have seen what he looked like twenty years ago, sure I knew he'd changed over twenty years but he couldn't look too unidentifiable now.