MATCH MADE FROM HELL

CHAPTER TWO

The next day, Sophia decided to leave her home. She had been in there for weeks and was beginning to feel like furniture. She walked down the streets of Moonstone City while admiring nature, when she bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry," she uttered. "It's fine," a thick masculine voice echoed.

She looked up to see who she had bumped into. He was tall and had blue eyes and black hair. Just as her maid described. Could this be him? Luca?

Before she could say another word, he left at speed. Sophia tried to follow him, but she lost track of him. She took a few turns again but still couldn't find him. She stood there, thinking. After many weeks, I finally saw him. She thought to herself. Sophia was determined to talk to him, at least to thank him for saving her life.

Sophia went back. Her maid, gentle and wise eyed, noticed something unusual. Her mood was very different and bright. "Did anything exciting happen out there"? Are you…talking to me? Sophia asked. "I'm sorry, ma'am," her maid uttered. "I saw him. I finally saw him."

Her maid’s brows furrowed. “Saw who?” The maid asked. " Luca" she whispered like a secret, then paused. Why was Luca in her dreams? She asked herself. Now that she thinks of it, it's strange and she couldn't get over the part of the dream where she was bitten on her neck. Anyways, it's just a dream. She shrugged it off.

The next day, Sophia woke up with fires in her veins. She was feeling excited, hoping to see him. She hurried through her routine, her mind fixed on her place, the corner where fate had touched her. Hopefully, she will see him again. She rushed out of the house. "Your breakfast is ready, ma'am!" her maid said. "You can have it," Sophia’s voice floated back like wind through the curtains.

Sophia reached the same spot where she had met him. Sat down on a bench by the corner and waited patiently. Time flew, hours passed. She was getting exhausted and hungry. She decided to go get something to eat, but was afraid that Luca might pass and she would not get the chance to meet him.

After much thought, she went to get something to eat, and she'll be back just in time. When she got back, she sat for a few more hours, then got exhausted again. She gave up and decided to go home when she spotted a man in all black. She approached him and in a few seconds, he vanished from her eyes. It was Luca. She didn't understand why he always fled when he saw her.

She was confused. Am I unattractive? Or do I smell? She asked herself. She went back home, planning to go back there the next day. At least she knows one thing for sure. He's always around that same spot.

*****

"How was your day, ma'am?" Her maid asked.

"Are you asking if my day was okay or if I met Luca?"

"Both," her maid replied.

Well, I did see him, but he disappeared as usual. It's frustrating. "I think you should use a different approach," her maid said. "What do you mean?" Sophia asked, "Catch him off guard. He'll be expecting you to be back there by tomorrow, and he will flare, but if you catch him off guard, I think you'll have a better shot at talking to him," her maid said.Sophia gave it a little thought and realized her maid was right. She had also noticed that Luca, whenever he saw her, took a particular right turn. She was going to be in that alley waiting patiently for him. That way, he has no escape.

Sophia requested coffee and went into her room. She sat on a small stool facing a mirror, looking at herself and wondering. In the past few years, she has been wasting her time with someone. She did not want to think too much about it.

She was happy that she at least had something to distract herself with, as she couldn't get over the breakup between her and Thomas.It was night time. Sophia took her bath, did her night routine,drank her coffee and read some articles waiting to fall asleep feeling excited about tomorrow.

The next day, Sophia did her routine extra, put on her most beautiful dress, looking all radiant. She stepped out of her house with confidence.

" I wish you luck!" Her maid said.

"I am lucky already," Sophia said.

Sophia went out into the streets of Moonstone City, but instead of sitting and waiting for Luca, she decided to have some fun since she had never really felt good since the incident between her and Thomas.

A few hours later, she went to the particular alley Lucas always entered and vanished. Within a few minutes, she saw him and they both locked eyes. He was about to leave, then she said

"I just wanted to say thank you,"

"for what?" He asked, backing her.

"You saved my life. I just wanted to return the favor."

He finally turned around and walked towards her, leaving a whisper in the distance. He then leaned forward, looked into her eyes and whispered, "And what do you think you can offer to me?" Sophia was short of words. She had never seen such eyes before. They were as blue as the ocean and the way he talked sent chills down her spine.

"Noth...nothing really," she spoke, feeling nervous. Luca smirked and turned, leaving her behind. "Can I at least know your name?" She shouted in the distance. He stopped. "Yes, I would like to know your name if you don't mind." He smiled and turned around. "You know my name already." She became quiet for a few seconds before she said again,

"Why have you been running away from me?" "I've not been running away from you. I just have things to do." He said with arrogance. "You always have things to do when you see me?" She asked inquisitively. "Yes," he replied. "I'm not buying that," Sophia said.

"Really?" He said while smirking.

"Yes!" Sophia replied.

"Okay I don't just like hanging around you,"

he said just to see if she would at least feel hurt and leave him alone, but it was quite the opposite. Instead, she asked again, "Then why did you help me? Why did you save me that day? You can't tell me it was some kind of coincidence?.” Sophia asked.

"I just happened to be the only one who could help you at that moment. You're welcome anyways," Luca replied."I'm Sophia, nice meeting you Luca " she said stretching her hands for a handshake. Instead he held her hand, gently lifting it up and kissed her knuckles . "My pleasure," he said, smiling mischievously.

Sophia wanted to have a conversation with him but she didn't know what to say next. "Are you new here?" she asked. Luca was silent for few minutes before he finally spoke. " yes I'm knew here." Sophia wondered. How did he know moonstone city so well if he was new here? Maybe he had someone as a guide or something. She thought to herself.

Sophia and Luca started walking around. They were getting along and Sophia was happy with it. He made her seem happy, and at that moment, she had forgotten about all her problems. She asked him where he resides in Moonstone City. He didn't tell her where he lived. "Why don't you want to tell me where you live?" She asked. "I don't like visitors. Especially female ones ." He said abruptly. "Get over yourself. I don't have plans on visiting you." She replied. "Says the woman that has been stalking me" He said with a sly grin on his face. Sophia just looked at him and strangely did not deny it.

After conversing for a while, the sun dipped low. She told Luca that she would love to see him here. Same place, same time. Sophia looked over her shoulder one last time and something unspoken passed between them. She wasn’t sure what this was or what it could become. But she knew one thing with certainty; her life wasn’t the same.

Moonstone city had awakened something ancient and wild inside her… And Luca was the key to it all.