A kiss under the Velvet Moon

A battle I only can win " Still in 3rd Tier"

As I walked by all the vendors and artist, everything became all too familiar. The smells of cooked meats, sugary treats, and warm breads made my stomach growl with a ferocity I had not felt in ages. The coins mother had slipped into my front pocket, jingled in temptation. It would be best to avoid temptation at all cost, even though everything looked and smelled wonderful, didn't mean it was wonderful.

This was still hell and I could simply be imagining everything but I wasn't about to temp fate and get stuck in this prison forever, for eating othe forbidden fruits. No f*cking way!!

A young women with bouncy red curls eyed me from under her Velvet red, parasol. It matched her clothing perfectly, she looked like royalty. Her lips were painted ruby to match.

" Hello kind Sir, can I interest you in my fine jewelry? For your mother or perhaps your lady love? " The women flashed me a lovely smile, her eyes a pale green, entrancing as she knew just how to weave me into her spell.

Trying to resist, I turned in the other direction, I even I tried to run at full force but

unfortunately failed miserably. Each time only finding myself two paces closer.

Her voice was like the finest silk, smooth and entrancing, that's right she was a damned temptressed, and I could not get her voice out of my head. " My wares call to you, come find what you seek. ". Over and over in my head, the words tumbled over one another.

My feet shuffled at the dirt and pebbles below my now worn brown leather loafers. I tried to refrain from moving, tried to ignore the magnetic pull, but for some reason my body was drawn to her, and now moving on its own accord.

A soft smile formed across her face, as I stood before her.

" I knew you could not resist my beautiful jewelry." She held out her outstretched black glove covered hand. I did the only thing, any normal gentleman would do in this situation, and time frame. I soft pressed a kiss onto the very tip of her silk gloved covers knuckles.

She was like a siren, the ones that come from within the sea, if you don't cover your ears, thier songs will take you to your water grave. Her voice was that intoxicating and made it hard to think, to even breathe.

" I tried, believe me! " I replied, shrugging my shoulders awkwardly.

She lifted her perfectly contoured eyebrow before bringing my gaze down to the table before her.

Different pieces of exquisite gems were display inside of crystal glass containers.

She fingered a pair of ruby red tear dropped shaped earring dripping in diamonds before moving over to a heart shaped necklace.

The gemstone was the size of the palm of my hand, outlined in tiny black chocolate diamonds.

The jewel itself, was devine, it's color a deep red, blood red to be exact.

The sun above made it appear to glow, and sparkle with a brilliance that was almost hypnotizing.

Her hand lingered there a top it until her gloved fingers grasped it between. her fingers and thumb letting it dangle infront of me. Swaying back and forth, I swear it looked glowed it had flames beneath it, inside the very heart of it's beauty.

Taking the white gold chain into her fingers she let the gem dangle against the light cascading off the trees above her, before grasping it inside her palm, moving it in so I could take a closer look.

I could not look away, I was literally frozen in place, my feet would not move, my head on the other hand told my body to get the hell out of there. Damn it, I wanted to smack my stupid youthful body in the effing face right now.

Fist and all!

" This one, you are drawn to, am I right? " She hummed, her voice was like crystal dancing against the ice in a cup of champagne flute.

Truly exquisite, and enchanting. She knew the moment I walked up to her table I would not be able to resist the urge to buy everything she had infront of her.

" It's gorgeous, absolutely stunning the way the sun's warm red glow makes it sparkle like a thousand Suns."

" Mr. Nikolai, chose a brilliant color, makes all my jewelry hold tight, in the depths of the flame, were they were formed, they come to life under the sun's glow." We both looked at the stone just then, flames seems to be hidden beneath, fighting to rise and engulf us both.

" It is meant for you, you know! It is drawn to you just as you are drawn the powers it hold inside it." She handed me the stone, let me feel it's weight in my hand, feel the heat it held inside it, before turning and pressing the palm of her hand over mine.

" I was birthed the name, Terry but you can call me Madame Samantha." My eyes wide and alert, I thought long and hard , fighting to remember where I ever heard that name before but pushed it aside and she fought to reach me, high of her tiptoes.

She lay one gentle kiss to my ear before whispering in my ear. " My daughter's one lucky little b*tch, I see why she likes you so much. My husband is going to kill me, keep this close."

She pressed her hand tightly on top of mine which was graping the heart ruby underneath.

Her breath was hot against my ear, as if I didn't know any better, she sniffed me, was smelling me, taking in my manly sent. I thought I felt her tongue lick the side of my face but then I was so entranced, by her meer presence, it could have been imagination, until she whispered her finally words.

" F*ck, you taste good, don't loose the f*cking necklace, it's your only way out of this place."

Then she was gone, everything around me, gone , vanished into thin air, rubble again, at my feet.

Quickly moving my hands over my body, I panicked before realizing the necklace lay hot and heavy against my skin, underneath the stupid effing t-shirt I came down here in.

" Filthy Rich asshole, indeed or whatever the hell it said. I was back in my own body, thank goodness and ready to find the hell out of this popsicle stand.

Turning around in a complete circle, I twisted my head left and then right, nothing was here anymore, no smells, no happy faces, nothing. Father, my father, I'd got to touch him again, one last time.

At least I had that, to get me through this a new memory to burn inside my head. The last time I saw him was in a dead , this time he was alive and breathing, standing right infront of me.

I wished I would have had more time, just alittle more time.

I followed the cobblestone underneath my feet, buried memories, rubble of a town which once held so many smiling faces, so many dreams, all gone, now only a distance memory.

Taking my pocket knife in one outstretched hand, I cut through tall weeds and made my way back to the trees. Easier to walk and more coverage out of the suns red rays.

As I walked, birds in the trees above sang, a breeze in the air then made my nostrils flare, my hair stand on end, " Vanilla and wildflowers" . I whispered aloud, to the nothing surrounding me. Alexandria, I could smell my beloved.

I followed the sent, the stronger the sent the closer I became to well wherever I was headed.

At one point I thought i'd lost it, and in a panic, turned right and found the sent again. I was like a hound dog on the hunt, poised and concentrating on the end result. Nothing else mattered until I found where "she" was hiding.

I picked up my pace the stronger the sent, until I was running. Breathing in heavy the vanilla filled my lungs, she was all around me, my body hardened instantly.

Cursing under my breathe I ignored the stiffness below my waist and adjusted , " Alexia, you still turn me on after all of these years. " I muttered into the mountain air.

" And she isn't even here, stupid body, shut up! s*x is the last thing that should be on your mind right now!" If I could I would punch myself in the face, but like that would do a damned bit of good.

The sent became so strong at one point, I thought I could feel her breathe against me, taste her and then all the sudden, I was standing infront of a clearing. Tall trees spread out in line around the fields of the farmland.

In the very center hidden behind a beautiful garden was " our" home. The one Alexandria and I shared, when we were a family.

The sound of laughter came pouring out there windows the closer I got. My heart began beating inside my chest at that very moment.

My f*cking heart was beating!

It took me a minute to understand what the hell was going on before I noticed, my damned clothing. It had changed again! WTF?

I now had on brown trousers, t-shirt over a long white buttoned down sleeved shirt. My boots were no long black but muddy brown tattered working boots.

These were the boots I'd always worn while I was working in the fields.

" Papa?" A sweet soft voice, that of a small child made me jump, literally I jumped what felt like ten feet.

I turned to find, a child about four years of age, standing next to a fuzzy pup, a wolf pup.

" Shamus ?" Only a small noise came out between my lips.

" Yes father, and I am Eve." My daughter, apparently, moved towards me, I backed away as she grabbed for my dress shirt.

Confusion and concerned, Eve, stepped back as well. " What's wrong papa? Did I do something wrong Did brother hide your saddle rope, again? I promise, I told him not to!" The child's sweet face, crinkled up and she wore a sweet smile instead. Her eyes bright, the color of sapphire blue, her hair was long and golden, she looked just like her mother.

So innocent, my sweet daughter was, god, I'd forgotten her face. I'd forgotten what her little face looked like. Kneeling down on both knees, my arms flew out, taking my daughter Eve into my arms, all the while Shamus, attacked me with doggie kisses.

The years were flowing, hard and strong, if this was hell, I would never want to leave. My family was here. Everything I'd ever want wanted was in my arms and only feet down the hill, the rest of them. My whole reason for existing, was just moments away.

Pressing a warm kiss on the top of Eve's head, I let her loose from my grip. " Papa , you about, drowned me, I couldn't breathe." The child shook her head and smoothed down her blue dress with her hands.

I'll I could do at the moment was laugh, I hadn't laughed like that in ages.

" What's so funny? " Standing to my right, was my Son. It was my effing son, Samuel.

His beautiful face smiling, the freckles, clearly visible along the bridge of his crinkly nose. His warm green eyes lighting up as he spoke.

God, this couldn't be hell, it just couldn't, this , my family, they are here. I hugged both my children again, this time making sure I gave them a good breath in-between the hugs and kisses I planted all over the pretty little heads.

Willing the tears away that were now streaming down my face, I asked the children where thier mother was.

" Dad," Samuel said. " Why are you acting so weird? I didn't hide the bridle this time, I promise." Samuel held up his hands and protest. " Told ya papa," Eve added.

I laughed before saying, " Everything is Wonderful, children , I am just so happy to see you is all . Where is mama? " I asked rising to my feet.

" Mama's in her garden" Both children replied at once.

Together, we walked hand in hand down the small hill to the home I once shared with my beloved, Alexia. A Green gate made out of wood and metal, blocked off the land to the outer world. A painted pony frolicking in a grassy field ignored us as we approached, his mother's ears shot up but also payed us now mind.

Beautiful bushes of purple flowers and colorful varieties of rose bushes lined the rock stoned

walkway to the garden.

The smell of flowers with a hint of vanilla was in full bloom and there she was, my love Alexandria, slumped over a huge empty raised rectangular planting area. Her long white dress was tucked under her knees, her hands deep in dirt and earth.

I didn't even give it a second thought, I ran over, and gathered her, dirt and all into my loving arms. I had her now and I was never letting go.