A3. The Town

Marina cleaned herself the best that she can as the pain was still hurting her. But she will not be giving into it or she might lose her mind. She has seen what was outside the cottage that she was staying.

It was a nice cottage with antique decorations that she did not know her grandfather was fond of. Maybe it was her grandmother that might help decorate the cottage when she was alive. Was she even staying here with grandpa when she was alive and breathing?

Marina shook her head before she was putting on a loose shirt and a skirt. She was not happy with the skirt for it was hard to move as she was accustomed to wearing pants all the time. But of course, she has to make do with the clothing that she found in her wardrobe.

It was nice when she even had a wardrobe in this unknown cottage that she was apparently laying low here. Then, she was making her way downstairs where she can smell the bacon and eggs were cooking over the stove.

Marina was looking at the portraits that were hanging on the side of the stairs as she was coming down. There were faces that she never knew but something was resembling in them. The old portraits can be dated back to her ancestors who wore the Renaissance garments before she was looking at her father and mother.

Then, she was looking at her grandpa who was coming out of the kitchen to see her. She smiled before she was taking in the view of her grandpa wore an apron and he was holding a spatula. She wanted to laugh but if she spoiled her grandfather’s mood, she would not be given breakfast for the morning.

“I see that you have found your mother’s clothes upstairs,” he said before Marina was taking a seat on the stool that was sitting in front of an island. She took a berry and put it into her mouth before she shrugged.

“Well, it was in the wardrobe. How come my mother’s clothes were here? I thought she never came here,” Marina asked her grandfather before the old man turned to look at her. His blue orbs were smiling at her before Marina was popping another berry into her mouth.

“This is their cottage when they were younger. Your father would always bring her here to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It was a good spot for peace and quiet,” he said before he put out the stove and took the bacon into the plates. Then, her grandfather put the plate in front of her as she was looking at the food with her mouth watered.

“Eat, you need your strength,” her grandfather said before he took a plate and went to eat with her as well. She took some bacon and some eggs before her grandfather told her something that she will not be expecting.

“I will be going into town later. Wanna come?” he asked before Marina was looking at him. Was he trying to take her out of the cottage to get some fresh air? Maybe. Marina smiled at him before she took his hand into hers.

“I would love to come and accompany you. Thank you for asking,” she said before her grandfather grunted.

“I just don’t trust you to be alone in the woods, that’s all,” he said under his breath but Marina heard him loud and clear before she was eating the breakfast happily as she will be going to explore the town of Paphos in which she never goes before.

*****

She was looking at the sight of the buildings that were standing from the ground. They’re old and antique which suited the purpose of Paphos being a small town in Cyprus that was the third largest island in the Aegean Sea.

“Come now, we don’t have time to sightseeing,” her grandfather said before Marina was picking up her skirts and went after him. They were walking down the square of the town before they went into a hardware store. Apparently, her grandpa wanted to buy a lightbulb.

He was talking with someone behind the counter in Greek and Marina could understand it. She has been living with her parents who both used Greek as her native tongue before she was under her grandparents’ care when they died.

Marina was sad to know that she never used Greek again when she was going out into the world but right now, she wanted to listen to the vocals of the language all over again. She turned around before she was looking at the shops that were opening across the town. 

She saw a carpenter shop that was displaying a good amount of wooden furniture before she was looking at a popular café that was serving to their customers. She had her breakfast but suddenly she wanted a hot chocolate right now.

“Grandpa, I will be going to get some drinks. Do you want one?” she asked in Greek, feeling a little rusty as she was unused to the language for 6 years that she was abroad.

“Sure, whatever. Just get here quick,” her grandpa said before Marina was smiling from ear to ear. She went out of the hardware store before she was looking at the streets. It was not busy but it was never hurt to look at both sides before crossing. Then, she went across the streets as she was making her way to the café that served the best hot chocolate in town.

She opened the door and walked inside, instantly being surrounded by the smell of chocolate and milk. It was the best feeling in the world before she was lining up to get some hot chocolate for herself and her grandpa.

The crowd was thin but it was pack enough to feel the heat inside the shop. After the previous customer was done with his order, Marina was up at the counter as she was smiling at the server that was smiling at her.

She was beautiful, Marina concluded with brunette hair and a slim figure. What she cannot get over were her eyes. It was like looking into the fire before she blinked and it was brown. Was I dreaming that her eyes were red for a second? Maybe it was the lighting, Marina mused before she was smiling at the server which her name Sam on her name tag.

“Hi, welcome to Sokolata café. May I have your order?” the server said as Marina was scanning the menu. It was written in Greek and it will take some time for her to know what the words meant.

“Ah, sorry. I am new in town and my Greek was a little bit rusty. But I heard that you have the special hot chocolate that was famous all over the internet?” she said as Sam was smiling at her.

“Yes, that would be correct. Would you like whipped cream on that?” Sam asked.

“Yes, please. And make it two large cups,” Marina said before she was smiling at Sam as she was typing onto the cash register. She nodded.

“Okay, that would be 10 euros,” she said as Marina was presenting her credit card. She did not have any money on her for she was a foreigner that was brought onto this island while she was unconscious but she did have a trust fund set up for her by her parents and that card was linked to that.

That was a lifesaver.

“Here you go. Two hot chocolate with whipped cream,” Sam said before she was giving the hot chocolate to her. Marina smiled.

“Thank you so much,” she said as she took the cups.

“Enjoy your drinks,” Sam said before she was making her way out of the café that was packed now. Why does she have to get through the crowd after she got the hot chocolate? She was reaching the door and she opened the door before she was getting the fresh air.

Marina sighed before she was looking back at the café. It was crowded now but when she took another step, she tripped over the stupid rock on the ground before she was stumbling forward. She staggered before powerful hands were holding her upper arms. She thought she was saved until the hot chocolates were spilling onto her savior’s coat.

“I am so sorry,” she said before she was turning to look into the yellow eyes that were staring into her eyes before she heard something like a growl.

“Mine,” it said before Marina blinked and it was actually coming from her savior that was standing very closely into her personal space.

*****

Caleb did not know what was going on. One time he was walking down the path in his usual self and the next he was splashed with hot chocolate, whipped cream, and all. He was drenched before he helped to keep the woman that was staggering in front of him.

He caught her upper arms and instantly, he felt the heat that was coming from their contact. It was an instant need that was coursing through his veins. Caleb can hardly breathe before he was turning to look into her eyes.

Sweet mother of Night!

Her eyes were the bluest orbs that he saw, like the deep ocean and instantly, the future was playing inside his eyes.

The way that she would laugh with him.

The way that she sent her flirtations his way.

The way that she would pant and moan under him.

It was intense. Too intense.

Caleb sucked on a breath before he can control what was escaping his mouth for the first time in his 25 years of existence.

Caleb thought the Moon Goddess was being unkind to him. But she had sent him a gift today and that gift was the fact that he stumbled upon this woman to be his true mate was something to hold on to forever.