Book 3: The Love of Fire & Rain

Chapter 3: A dance by Vesuvius

Walking through the stone streets of Pompeii Atlanta was wearing the Spanish dress and mask from Spain. She was searching for the mystery man when suddenly she saw something out of the corner of her eye it was Phonx she followed him out of town to the river Pompeii near Mount Vesuvius. A Fire Lily was waiting for her. She held the lily in her hands when her mystery man appeared in a tornado of fire a few feet behind her. He walked over to her and spoke to her from behind.

"Beautiful isn't it how something so lovely can grow next to something that can destroy."

She spun around to see him wearing his hooded cloak and the Phoenix mask at the opposite side of the river and smiled.

"It doesn't surprise me at all; you're just full of surprises aren't you?"

He smirked, "Only when I want to be..."

She walked across the top of the water towards him. She was bare foot and walked right up to him as he handed back her comb with a flirtatious smile.

"I believe this is yours."

She smiled as she placed the comb in her hair and said.

"Care to dance?"

As she handed him the flower he smirked, placed his hand around her waist, grabbed her other hand holding it aloft, and said.
"I thought you'd never ask."

He held the flower in his teeth as they danced Atlanta's movements were graceful his were gallant as they danced a more lively and passionate version of the tango. They stared into each other's eyes she saw the same fire in his eyes as before. He paused to place the flower in her hair when she spoke.

"What is your name?"

"My name is not important right now..." He said with a mischievous smile.

"Must you always be so mysterious?"

"It's what makes my life interesting my dear."

"Why don't you take off your mask I want to see your face?"

"Sorry but the mask stays on."

"Must you be so difficult...?"

"I'll take off the mask when I'm ready my dear."

"Of course you will...how about we start where we left off, care to finish our little
dance?"

The man smiled a sly smile as he pulled her close and said huskily. "Absolutely!"

She blushed, the way he said that was romantic. As they danced they were staring into each other's eyes he was waiting for the right moment to show her who he really was, and that moment came when he lowered her and removed his mask revealing his face all she saw was his yellowish skin and his flaming eyes that filled her heart with love.

She removed her mask just as he raised her up for a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck before kissing him passionately. When she pulled away from the kiss, he smiled at her. A kind smile which never faded from his lips, as he removed his hood revealing his flaming hair.

"My name is Inferno, Lord and Guardian of Fire and---!" She placed her finger to his lips and said lovingly with a bell like laugh.

"Shhhhh...I already know who you are Inferno I figured it out by your pet phoenix and your eyes." She leaned forward and said longingly, "So just shut up kiss me."

Inferno smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist, she wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed each other lovingly as they danced throughout the light of day, and well into the night beneath the light of the fading full moon and a grinning Lunaria as she stood on the top of the Volcano before she left.