Chapter one

Simon Letrange walked up to his window and glanced outside. A lazy and heavy air was looming around. Of course Mauritius was a tropical island and the sun was really heavy at this time of the day. Especially when he been asleep till late in the afternoon. It was practically the time for lunch. He might as well be ready for he promised Amy to support her in her struggle for saving the marine life. She was giving an audience at her uncle's diving center, at the Hibiscus Resort.  The apartment he had was a very small one but quite comfortable and private. And he liked it. He stood at the mirror admiring himself for hours, the rose he had on his heart reminded him of the painful memories he always wanted to escape.

Simon couldn't forget his past life. Although he had been trying for so long. It's been five years and still he seemed to have stuck in the past. He changed his hair color and almost every habit he had. He was adapted to the habit in the normal human life, but still he couldn't cure his homesick. He really missed his home, Bewix. The place where he was born and he grew up. A place where magical creatures found a home.  All these years he spent hours figuring a reverse spell for that Rose on his heart but every time, it just burns like a sharp blaze cutting through his skin. With it on his chess, he would never be able to bring himself to forget her. And he really needed to forget her to move ahead.  The fine line that formed the flower was still fresh with a burning wound and almost dried blood. "Irmando." He ran his fingers on it and watched as it healed. But his healing spell doesn't last long and it will disappear, maybe in two or three hours.  This magic was the most powerful magic in his world and the day he did that he knew there would be no return.

 A buzzing noise startled him. It was his phone. "Hello! Amy , yes I know I am late but I'm just coming I promise. You know I'll never break a promise made to you." But the latter seemed really disturbed he knew. She was always nervous before a speech but never that nervous. Something was wrong. Her voice seemed quite changed as well, as if she had been crying for hours. "Amy, what is it?"

"Just come at the Diving center I'll tell you everything. Please Simon I need you." She pleaded at the other end of the phone.

"I'm coming." He ran to the bathroom knowing that his best friend needed him more than ever.

The sea seemed quite calmed and happy. As if it knew that someone was ready to fight for it. The diving center was busy with some divers and clients that freely dedicated to listen to the speech. The beautiful view of the front garden merged with the sweet breeze blowing from the sea. The palm trees and coconut trees were spreading their shadow on the fine sands and allowing everyone to have a peaceful and safe abode form the burning sun. When one look from far, it would seemed that the sea and the sky was one. The pale blue mixed with the white waves.

Amy tied her black hair with navy blue strands as a pony tail. She was helping her uncle arranging the diving equipment away from the sun. And also making sure that she forgot the only thing that really ruined her excited big day. Her small fingers were still trembling at the worst experience of her life. "Uncle Steve, can you give the Advance Diving Book today, I would like to revise some notes."

"Don't you think I already know why you want the book?" He knew that his niece, liked to spend her time reading whenever she was disturbed. It was her idea of lonely time, and she wouldn't want to have diner as well. And only Simon would know how to console her. He nervously ran his fingers on his beard and smiled. "Fine you can have it, but provided you promises me that you won't just spend your night through it. You will sleep as well. You need to rest." He added.

"Sure. I will try." She shrugged at her empty stomach. "I'm really hungry."

"Well there are some sandwiches in my bag."

"No, I'm waiting for Simon." She dug the mask into the clean basin. "I'm sure he has not eaten as well."

"Really, I should say that there is some connection between you two."

"Uncle we are not in love. I don't know why people keep thinking that. We might be best friend, we understand each other but that shouldn't mean that we are in love." She protested, almost screamed.  And her friendship with Simon was so pure that she couldn't bring herself to destroy it by giving it the love title. She would prefer having him in her life as a friend. And she was certain that the latter felt that way as well.

"Of course Mi Amor." He tapped her shoulder and shrugged. "I'm just saying that maybe you might find the right answers if you just decide to peek into your heart."

"Thank you Uncle Steve." Amy knew she couldn't argue with him, as he had always looked after her since her parents died. Although she never knew them, but the way her grandfather described them, she knew that they were really good natured and generous. And her aunt, Jasmine, was always there when she needed a mother shoulder to lean on. She couldn't have forgotten the good moments she spent with her grandfather as it is. All the magical story he told her, story about prince and princess. Hopes and love. It all did made a very important impact on her life.  Story about magic. About hell and heaven. Yet she had to admit that her grandfather was a really good story teller. Whenever she wanted to change her mind, he would be here to tell her stories filled with excited words and suspense.

 On second thoughts, maybe that's what attracted Simon to her the first time? After all, he belonged to a magical land himself. If he didn't escape from his land, he swore that he would have brought her with him at Bewix and gave her the magic experience she always wished. And that's why she knows that her relationship with Simon was worth praising.  And yet somewhere inside her she does feel a little guilty, thinking if Simon thinks she likes him only because of that! She hoped not, because that wasn't true. Simon was always there, and from the moment she met him, she already felt a connection between them. As if no matter what, he will always be there for her. As her shield. As the only one who would see her the way she is.