Liora Skyheart - sweet enchantments

Chapter 1

I walked down the street phone in hand staring at the screen as I tap notes out furiously. I can't let my first impression of the food truck festival slip away. Years of experienced food bloggers has taught me how fragile sense memories are and how much I end up relying on them. As I pass alongside the thicket of heavy brushes a delicious scent catches my nose. What is that it? smells better than anything I sampled today. I look around and see nothing the smell is definitely coming from somewhere on the other side of that thicket. I've never heard of a good cafe around here but that just means I've got a new scoop. Without thinking twice, I pushed my way through the greenery following my nose like a Bloodhound on the trail. To my astonishment and delight a cafe is unveiled to me on the other side. It must be new but even so I should have heard of it I keep up to date all with all openings and Closings. On top of that the cafe is so extraordinary, beautiful that it could be a new tourist highlight. The design is harmonious and elegant full of striking curves and natural motifs perfectly balanced between the simple and the ornate. It hovers above the water like a little island paradise I can't wait to show this place to my followers. I pull out my phone and snap another picture then try and post it... that's weird there's no signal here. Shrugging my shoulders I took my phone away and head towards the door ready to see if the food inside can live up to its stunning packaging. As I pass under the Rose garlanded arch, I see the name of the cafe spelled out in curling letters 'sweet enchantments, whoever chose its name has a good taste it's a perfect fit. The inside of the cafe is humming full of patrons sitting around eating drinking and making conversations. Some of these patrons are wearing very elaborate costumes I wonder if this is an event day. Between the strange customers and the beautiful decor, I don't know where to look first. I crane my neck up admiring the brilliant colours of the mural that rings the central chandelier. It's like something you'd expect to see in the turn of the century Paris. Lost in thought not looking where I'm going, I bump into someone and fall over my own feet. As I crashed down a cup and saucer come sailing towards my head. Oh no my favourite hoodie. I fling arm up to protect myself but to my astonishment nothing hits me my head jerks upward in confusion.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't paying attention-"

My voice cuts off as I see the woman in front of me, the cup and saucer revolving above her palm like moons in orbit around a planet. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Her warm dark skin has the lustre of precious antique mahogany, and her hair falls around her face like a stream of Starlight. she holds out her hand to me her smile so kind and compassionate it feels like a divine blessing just to see it.

"Are you hurt? do you need any help getting up?"

Her voice is low for a woman's sweet and clear. I want to answer her, but I can't find my tongue. The woman herself is so dazzling that I almost forget the cup and saucer floating in the air. How is she doing that? is this some weird trick with magnets? I shift trying to get up but as soon as I move a sharp spear of pain shoots through my ankle. I shift my weight again and the same thing happens.

"You know I think I do need your help, sorry."

As I grasp her soft warm hand, she makes a gesture that causes the cup and saucer to set themselves on a table. That's even more impossible I cannot handle all this right now.

"I think your ankle is twisted maybe even sprained you shouldn't put any weight on it."

Her eyes are full of genuine gentle concern and her other hand comes down to catch my elbow supporting all my weight as I rise to my feet.

"If you come with me, I can fix you up it won't take long" Her voice is still soothing and gentle, but it carries such a natural authority that I find myself nodding without thinking. Whoever she is this woman wears power as naturally as the mantle draped across her shoulders.