It took a while for Ava and Alessandro to retrieve Ava’s luggage from the airport services. Thankfully, they didn’t have to spend too much time securing an extra ticket for Ava on the flight to Cappadocia. It would be a two-legged, connected flight: Rome to Istanbul, then Istanbul to Cappadocia. The flight marathon stirred a sense of adventure in Ava, pulling a silk sheet of excitement over the pile of worries that had been weighing on her.

  First, they had to rush to catch their flight to Istanbul. Then, they raced to catch the second leg, a domestic flight within Turkey. The second leg was a relentless sprint through the airport, navigating the vast distance between the international and domestic terminals. Completely unfamiliar with the sprawling layout of the Istanbul airport, they quickly found themselves lost. After their second failed attempt at finding their way, they finally decided to ask for help.

  Fortunately, the airport staff was well-prepared for lost travelers. Ava and Alessandro were escorted to the back seat of a speeding golf cart, which honked occasionally as it zipped between crowds of passengers. Holding on for dear life, they couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The golf cart driver earned a generous tip for getting them to the domestic flight gate just in time.

  It was late when they finally emerged from the airport in Cappadocia. A driver in sleek black suits was waiting for them. He spoke only briefly to Alessandro in a quiet, respectful tone before he slid behind the wheel. The back seat of the black luxury van was plush and reclining, offering a welcome comfort after the whirlwind of travel. Ava and Alessandro, who had met only thirty-six hours earlier, both drifted off to sleep in the quiet of the van while quiet streets of Cappadocia passed by. Ava's head rested against Alessandro's shoulder, and Alessandro, without thinking, leaned his head gently against hers.

  The driver woke them up with a polite but firm voice: “Sir, we are here at your hotel.” As the door of the van opened, a chill of fresh, crisp air filled the interior, offering them a gentle invitation to step outside.

  Ava gasped as she stepped out, her eyes widening at the sight before her. The hotel was a stunning sight to behold, carved directly into the volcanic rock formation that defined the region. Its six small terraces were layered one atop the other, like the steps of a grand stone pyramid, each room tucked away with a small balcony that jutted out over the cliffside. From the elevated position, every window offered a panoramic view of the valley below.

  The world around the hotel was mostly dark, with only the moonlight casting its silvery glow over the rugged landscape. Ava could make out the silhouette of trees surrounding the hill, their branches gently swaying in the night breeze. Below them, the lights of the town were dotted across the valley like a constellation, softly illuminating the yellowish limestone buildings. The whole scene looked almost surreal, a breathtaking mix of natural beauty and local architecture.

  A receptionist women welcomed the guests to the hotel and directly showed them the suit room at the top terrace. The room was huge with large glass patio doors opening to the terrace. The terrace had a big sofa to enjoy the view. Wine and fresh fruit on the terrace table was welcoming the guests. Alessandro didn’t lose time to fill up the glasses and raise a toast.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  “A toast to my beautiful travel companion! I can’t believe we made it.”

  Ava joined the toast. “Cheers to our adventure!”

  The wine tasted divine. Ava was not expecting such delicacy from a room service. They enjoyed their fruits and wine in the privacy of their terrace. Alessandro could see the last of Ava’s worries going away with the wine. She was radiating green shaded fumes of trust, comfort, and sleep on top of her usual white fumes. Alessandro took every opportunity to touch her while he tried to taste and understand the feeling of her white fumes with no success. What was she feeling?

  They fell asleep in their cave room bed in the calm and serene of the night, too tired to replicate their previous night of absolute passion looting during fire. In her dream, Ava found herself standing in a vast marble palace, its towering columns stretching towards the sky. The space was bathed in soft, golden light filtering through enormous windows, framed by delicate tulle curtains that danced in the breeze. The air was fragrant, cool yet warm in the way only a dream could make it. She was wearing a flowing silk dress, its fabric shifting like water as she moved. In her hand, she held a torch, its flame burning in iridescent rainbow colors, casting strange and mesmerizing shadows on the walls around her.

  Behind her, a presence lingered, tall, slender, and cloaked in an aura of mystery. Though she could feel the weight of their gaze, she couldn't bring herself to look back. Every step she took, they mirrored, as if tethered to her in some unseen way. There was something deeply familiar about the figure, but its identity eluded her, like a distant memory just beyond reach.

  She wanted to turn and face them, to understand who was following her so closely, but before she could, the torch slipped from her hand, its delicate handle falling to the marble floor with a soft clink. As it hit the ground, the flame shot up in a burst of blue fire, sending a surge of panic through her. The fire spread quickly, its blue flames licking at the curtains, which erupted into a violent blaze, the tulle fabric shimmering as it was consumed by the flames. The palace around her began to distort, the walls warping, and the marble floors cracking as if the dream itself was falling apart.

  Ava tried to move, to run, but her legs felt heavy, as if the very air had thickened. She was rooted to the spot, watching helplessly as the fire crept closer, the palace growing hotter and more suffocating by the second. The figure behind her was still there, but now they seemed to fade into the smoke, indistinguishable from the flames.

  Ava woke with a start, her dream still clinging to her like a fog. The room was dim, the first hints of dawn just beginning to light the sky. She was alone. Quietly, she rose from the bed and walked to the glass doors, glancing out toward the town below. The lights from the village twinkled in the distance, but the entrance of the hotel was blocked by the terrace.

  Then she heard it, the sound of horses. She startled, not sure at first if she heard right but she knew what a horse neigh was, there was no doubt she heard horses. She stepped out onto the terrace, shivering in the cool night air. She saw two horses stood by the side of the hotel, their forms barely visible in the moonlight. One rider was unmistakably Alessandro. The other, a woman in a cap, rode beside him.

  The two riders steadily moved toward the woods, disappearing into the darkness. Ava stood frozen for a moment, her heart racing. So cold and so startled, she could swear a snowflake had just fallen on her shoulder.