1. Blood Moon

It all started that night. It was the first night she slept with the windows and curtains open when she was awoken hours before dawn to be greeted by a wonderful sight, a blood moon.

It seemed so close that she felt if she was just a little higher, she could have grazed it lightly with her fingertips. She could feel a whirlpool of energies around her but paid no heed, calling herself crazy in the head.

Hours passed by as she looked at the moon in a daze, not realizing that her hazel eyes had long started shining with a white, diamond like sparkle. Hell! Her whole being was shining bright white and floating in air just slightly above her bed but the young girl failed to realize anything, as if she were possessed.

It was only at dawn, with the streaks of the first light of day, did she wake from her stupor and feel as if she jumped lightly on the bed and did her eyes change back to normal.

As her body soon came back to normal, so did her consciousness. She looked around her surroundings in slight confusion but found nothing odd.

Seeing the warm light, she quickly put on her home slippers and rushed to the balcony, wanting to see the sunrise.

She stared at the red sun as it rose from the horizon as she gently spoke, "Good morning world. And good morning, Ivy."

She smiled lightly at her childishness of wishing the world and herself a good morning almost every single day. It was a habit she developed when she was aways from her family for college and ever since.

Getting ready for a jog, she wore navy blue yoga pants which accentuated all her thin, long, toned legs and tiny waist paired with an oversized pastel baby pink t-shirt with some patches of pastel light blue and some words written in gold.

Putting on her jogging shoes, she hit the road around her studio apartment.

The air was still chilly on the summer morning. The breezes calmed her wandering mind. She saw some of her neighbors in the garden and waved at them saying good morning.

Coming to her favorite spot near a Royal Poinciana Tree[1], she sat with her back resting to it as she looked around seeing red leaves scattered on the bright green grass.

Playing with them, she looked up at the sky seeing lots of flocks of birds and soon started forming various phrases suitable for poetry or which simply expressed her feelings.

She was so engrossed in her mind that she failed to realize when she got company until the man spoke, "You seem to like watching birds."

Startled by the sudden deep, magnetic voice right next to her, she looked at the man who she thought of as one of the most handsome man she has ever seen.

"Uh… um... not really."

Was all she could gather to say while analyzing his face.

Even the sun could not match the man's shine. He was devilishly handsome with enhanced features which complemented each other perfectly.

His chiseled jaw, high cheekbones along with slightly hollow cheeks and amber eyes swirling with strange emotions kept her staring at him, completely zoned out.

It wasn't until he snapped his finger before her that she came to reality and saw mirth filling his golden-amber eyes as he let out a deep chuckle.

"I know I'm handsome, little one," his deep voice rang in her ears, "but it's not good to stare."

"Uh... sorry… WHAT!? NO! I wasn't staring. No, I wasn't staring."

She murmured the last part to herself looking at her hands, trying to convince herself more, but he heard it nevertheless and let out another chuckle making her raise her head to look at him with a frown, clearly pissed off.

"I should leave," she was half way through standing when he pulled her down.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made fun of you," he said as she stared at him wide eyed.

With the strength he used to pull her, she was on his lap and her legs lying on the ground, perpendicular to his. If that wasn't enough, he wrapped his arm around her waist and was whispering those words directly into her ear.

~Amber-eyed guy's POV~

I saw her sitting under a tree with red leaves looking at various birds flying so early and went to sit next to her. I started humming beside her but she did not seem to notice me the slightest.

Where the hell is her mind?! Or am I being ignored by a little girl?! Not good at all!

This prince is being ignored by a mere human now… what more days have I left to see??

I keep exaggerating various thoughts in my head until I could no more.

Let's try again, I consoled myself.

"You seem to like watching birds."

What the hell am I saying!! That's utter bullshit. She isn't even looking at birds but just the sky and whatever comes in her line of sight.

"Uh… um... not really."

Oh, finally, I have her attention.

Aahh! She's even staring at me!! I can see the admiration in her eyes. At last.

'Yeah, I see it too, you punk' a voice in my head spoke.

'Be nice Dari or I'll throw you home and have her all to myself. She does look-'

'Shut up! Don't you dare touch her.'

I roll my eyes and shut him out.

I snapped my fingers in front of her. She looked a little shocked.

"I know I'm handsome, little one, but it's not good to stare."

Her cheeks heat up as she stutters unknowingly, "Uh... sorry. What? NO! I wasn't staring. No, I wasn't staring."

She spoke the last sentence to herself but I still heard it and smirked.

She suddenly starts getting up and says she's leaving but I pull her to me.

She ends up on my lap and I put my arm around her waist so she doesn't escape as I whisper into her ear, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made fun of you."

'Too close!,' Dari exclaims in my head again.

'Man! Can you not shut up!' I roar at him in annoyance and block him completely.

I pull little Ivy into my arms and hold her tighter putting my other arm around her shoulders and making sure her head in resting on my shoulder.

Oh! She smells so good. Its heavenly.

Her go wide and she starts squirming in my hold trying to leave, just as I had suspected.

"Let go!" she whispers, her voice shivering.

"Then don't go," I respond.

"o… okay," she hesitates a little, "Please don't touch me."

I can tell her eyes must be filled with tears just from the way she's shivering and so is her voice.

Panicked, I let go off her and she get up, standing in front me and glaring at me with moist eyes. And then she left.

MAN! I am such an asshat! I scolded myself.

I just don't know what got into me at the sight of her leaving.

[1] a big tree with red leaves.