"How strange it is to fall in love with a complete stranger, but how even more strange it is the moment you feel as if you've known them your entire life."

—Mason Fowler

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"Why do you keep staring at the sky?"

Viransh's gentle voice floated through the bleak night.

"Just like that," the woman replied softly after a beat. She choked on a gasp as he inched closer, uncharacteristic warmth encasing her frigid body in his presence.

"Will you be able to get back to your home? It's pretty late. I don't think you should stay here any longer," Viransh raked his hand through his hair, unsure if he should broach this topic, but he didn't want to leave her unaided in the woods this late. Mustering courage, he said finally, "I know we don't know each other, but I'm still worried about you. No one deserves to be alone."

She smiled despite herself as she turned to look at Viransh, nearly sucking her breath. The glimmer of moon streaked his dark locks, providing her with a sight of his aristocratic nose and sculpted, chiselled features into perfection. Her rich brown irises flitted and met his glowing amber ones as they stared back at her with concern and thoughtfulness.

Breaking out of blissful reverie, she offered him a faint smile. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Despite her assurance, a small part of her couldn't shake a strange feeling that settled in her gut. How weird can it be to feel serene and raucous at the same time?

She drew a deep breath as she slightly shifted, wincing at the jab in her lower abdomen. But she had gotten so used to it that the incision pain seemed almost natural to her now. Regaining her composure, she let her gaze waver at the man as he stared down at her with his eyes hooded and expression inscrutable.

"You asked me why I keep staring at the sky," her lips curled into a half smile as her stare drifted to the sky. "Tell me, is it sinful to seek solace in darkness? To thrive in the sheer quietness of the dusk? And to watch the moon and stars gathering together and illuming the shallow twilight with their vibrance?"

Viransh's mouth quirked upward. His smile was gentle, full of kindness and empathy.

"No. It should be sinful to not experience such beauty of the nightfall," he whispered, unsure if he really referred to the night.

His gaze settled on her face, and his throat instantly turned dry as the moonlight cast a pale illuminating light on it. How can a woman look so mesmerizing, yet so painfully wounded? He thought to himself.

Silence and twilight fell over them as they breathed in the same air, enjoying the peaceful night until Viransh went on his knees, lowering to be at her eye level. "What's your story?"

"You won't like it," the raven-haired bit the inside of her cheek. She knew he had struck a very critical subject. "My story is dubious, with a never-ending swan dance of misery and missing pages. Guess what, the book penned with my story is probably sitting on the corner of the shelf, unscathed and unread because readers dread to read such stories." She snorted, looking away from him. "It won't be a surprise if one-day speckles of dust will worm over it and deplete its existence completely."

"A story about a woman who never ought to be frightened in the darkest forest?" was Viransh's quick, almost-stubborn response, his gaze touching her all over like a caress, the warmth of his breath cutting through the cold air.

She could only stare.

"I am sure your story will mark a happy end with a soft epilogue." He reached out, placing his large hand on her delicate shoulder, astonishing her. "And your tale will be an inspiration to the readers."

Her hazy gaze locked onto his warm amber ones, nodding distractedly. A weird tingle thrilled the soft confines of her heart at the benignity and tenderness of the man's words.

Licking her lower lip, she asked. "What's your name?"

Viransh's orbs drifted toward her hands as they unconsciously toyed with the cap of the alcohol bottle. The wristlet kissing her slender right wrist chimed along, its euphonic melody ringing in the ambience. A duet of sapphire crystal butterflies proudly resting on the thin silver cord glistened lustrously under the moonshine.

He glanced back at her, his smile deepening as he answered. "Viransh."

"Viransh," she repeated in a raspy voice, loving the feel of his name clung to her lips so intimately. She tipped her head a little. "I may forget your name by tomorrow. I'm slightly drunk, you know."

"I know." He slowly unfolded his arms. "But I don't know if I should be happy or sad about this."

She got momentarily distracted by the moonlight glinting off his rumpled hair. After a few contemplative moments, she whispered, promptly aware of his unwavering gaze leisurely gliding down her features. "I'll tell the stars about you."

Lines of confusion etched on his forehead. "Tell what?"

Her eyes glistened with the sparkle of mischief and tease. "It's a secret between the stars and me."

Viransh's lips twitched upward into a sly smirk, strange emotions dashing in his eyes. "And you're not allowed to disclose to anyone?"

She remained motionless, finding his face mere inches away from hers. Her heart constricted against her chest, beating at a frantic pace. "I am. But in consideration of the secret, you'll have to narrate me a story."

He laughed. "What type of story do you want to hear?"

"Perhaps you can come up with one with the mysterious but enchanting moon and mighty but radiant sun?" She glanced at the moon one last time before turning her attention to him, gazing at his face, her hazy eyes gleaming with fondness, "and conceivably with their story marking a happy end."

"Oh dear, I don't remember such stories." Viransh feigned disappointment and let out a sad chuckle.

A crooked grin emerged on her face. "It's alright. I'll grant you some time to come up with a good story," she mumbled. "Perhaps by then, I'll be ready to share the secret with you."

He hummed a response, still staring at her.

"And—" she started, only to pause when he leaned into her before she continued, "And then we can dance together in the dark." The words stumbled past her lips in a low whisper.

A Duchenne smile curved his mouth as he rose to his feet and offered her a hand to stand up. "I'll wait for that moment."

She grabbed his hand, hauling herself before thrusting her chin out. "Deal?"

"Deal."

She grinned, unable to help herself from smiling when a tender weight settled on her chest. The gentle breeze caressed the man's hair, and her hands twitched, yearning to brush them away. Her face contorted in a pensive expression, and she finally gave in to the temptation, reaching out, brushing a dark lock from his forehead. His face turned slightly toward her hand, his lips pressing lightly on her palm. She gazed up at him, nearly giddy with disbelief.

"Viransh!"

Viransh winced at the frustrated voice of his friend, Abhinav, as he yelled, asking him to be quick. He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, they pierced into the rich brown ones, noticing something gleaming underneath them. Magic. Dark but beautiful magic. Just like the realm of million stars and a moon above them.

His gaze never wavered from her face as he inched his finger, gently touching her forehead, trailing down, only pausing on the tiny bump on her nose, a chuckle fleeing past his mouth. He grazed his long finger to her lips, lingering there for a while, feeling their softness underneath his rough skin, finally gliding to her chin.

She shuddered at his touch as he traced all her facial features, a tender ache slowly injecting into her body, nourishing her with calmness.

"I have to go." He smiled and patted her cheek. "I will find you the moment I come up with this story."

The air crackled, trapping the incense of promises made—of sharing secrets, stories and dance.

"As you should," she breathed, curling her fingers into a fist before she could clamp them around his wrist, pleading for him to stay a little longer as she watched him turn and walk away.

A loud shriek rumbled amongst the gloom of the night soon after. Viransh turned back instantly when the frightened voice of the woman dwindled to his eardrums amid the low grunts of the groves. His back tensed up as everything unfolded forth his eyes, his five senses picking it all in a split of seconds as he rushed toward her.

His eyes caught sight of the woman's head rolling back, her body losing balance, slumping backwards, her dainty hands soaring in the air to grasp something—to save herself. The smell of the petrichor and mist fodder fused in the air intruded his nostrils as he pushed himself past his threshold, sprinting to the foot of the cliff. He winced, tasting the metallic tang of his blood rushing at the back of his parched throat. Pelting his skin with numbness, the icy wind fluttered, engulfing him with the eeriness of the plight. A thud of the body hitting the ground overpowered the sound of sodden turf crushing underneath his feet.

He swallowed vehemently.

He gulped, his eyes casting downward, his own body hunching forward to locate her in the abyss. When he couldn't find her in the darkness, a jolt of panic surged through his spine, and his body lost all strength, finally dropping to his knees and yelling. "No!"

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Author's Note:

I hope you guys liked this prologue. Let me know your thoughts about it.

A Warning: This prologue was written just a few weeks ago.

The next fifteen chapters were written many months ago when I was still a novice writer. So please bear with the initial chapters and some lame dialogues. I promise the story gets exceptionally better from chapter 16.

Lastly, thanks for giving this book a try. I would really appreciate your reviews and comments.

Happy Reading :)