Narnia

"The Dark Stranger" © VeGirl 2014

We return to my car and he swiftly and focused steer out of the city. Anyone who has been here, north of Phoenix, knows it is a rough area with lots of mountains and Vincent drives out into the wilderness. Not far from our houses he turns into what looks like a cave.

"Didn't you say we were meeting your friends?"

"Yes, this is the place." He keeps driving in the dark tunnel and I furrow my brows in confusion.

"Do these imaginary friends live in the mountain? Cavemen perhaps?"

All I get in return is a frown and then a wicked smile. "It is not far now."

After a short while there is a light in the other end of the tunnel and we are out in the open again. I look around as the scenery is so different than what I am used to. This is not part of the desert that surround our hometown. Here big trees grow, the ground is covered in moss and grass; not the red sandstone I'm used to.

He parks the car. "Are you ready?" he asks, before he exits the car. I just look weirdly at him but get out as well.

"Where are we?"

"We're on our way home; we just got to give the folks a heads up." He takes my hand and I trot along after him, while looking around to study the changed nature.

An old wooden door, matching the age of the old granite walls that appears to being built straight into the mountain wall and we stop for a moment.

"What is this?"

He gives me a light kiss and I watch with wide eyes through the door he holds open for me. Inside there is a big room, with several paths leading from it in different directions. It reminds me of a castle. Amazed I notice that the thing lighting up our way is burning candles in wrought iron holders, mounted on the wall.

He looks like he is debating about how much to tell me before I snap. "Long before they built this town, there was a monastary here."

"A monastery, like with monks in?" I ask confused and he simply nods before he continues his story.

"The monastary was built on a sacred place where the native Americans used to sacrifice to their Gods."

I just furrow my brows. "A special place..." I deduce.

"A very special and mystical place, yes." He leads me along the corridor. "Can you remember the monastary? I used to work there when I lived."

"When you lived?" I don't understand.

"Yes, I mean when I was still human." He smile at my shocked expression as I think about the non-human part. I wonder what the heck he is. I have already figured out that he is no ordinary boy next door.

At the end of that corridor a wide space opens up, with a grand staircase, like the ones in old movies with curved handrails.

I glance at him, but he just smiles. "Come, let's meet people."

"People?"

He smiles and lead me up the stair where a girl comes walking toward us and her eyes widen when they fix on me. Her mouth falls open and she gasps. "It's you, it really is you?" she breathes and I look confused at Vincent who smiles and nod at the girl. She instantly falls on her knees in front of me, trying to grab my hands and kiss them. Startled, I pull them from her grip and snake my arm in under Vincent's.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you miss," the girl rambles.

"That's fine," I say confused, as she looks scared that she has done something wrong.

"That is fine; you can go tell the others we're here," Vincent says and the girl hurries to her feet and scurry along through a door.

"What the eff is going on?" I hiss, suddenly totally oblivious to the secret communication we had going just half an hour ago. Vincent laughs freely and I am amazed over how his features change. "What is this place?"

"This is where we used to live," he says. "Not this house, but this realm."

Realm?

I feel even more confused than ever, and I'm not even sure if it is he or I who am about to lose our mind.

People are hurrying to meet us and suddenly a crowd of people staring at me. I give them a weak smile while desperately gripping Vincent's arm.

"Oh, your Highness, you're back."

I blink surprised, raise my eyebrows and turns towards Vincent.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you that?" he said with a teasing glitter in his eyes. "Your highness."

Annoyed, I slap his arm and narrow my eyes. I draw my eyebrows so low that I'm sure I am shadowing my eyes as I look at him to evaluating the truth, but there isn't a hint of humor. Once again my eyebrows fly up to my hairline with eyes wide open. "What. Are. You. Talking. About?"

Now Vincent laughs out loud. "It's no big deal, angel." He shrugs and walks right up to my face. "You can't help what family you're born into, right?" There is a smug smile on his gorgeous face. "You're not judging me for not being pure-bred are you?"

I can't believe any of this. This whole place is unreal, and this pure-thing is the most absurd thing I have ever heard of. Except the thing that I'm married to this guy... and have been for two hundred years... Okay, there is a lot of thing that is absurd in my life right now.

"Tell me." I growl.

"I was working in the monastery the day you fell. As a monk you're not supposed to fraternize with the opposite sex," he explain with teasing glitter in his eyes.

I purse my lips and glare at him.

He chuckle and continue. "You were badly hurt and I carried you down the basement to find a secret place where I could tend to your wounds and keep you safe."

Wow!

His story seems very honest and sincere like there is no reason to doubt him, but how can this be true? "How can I believe any of this?" Tears are threatening to pool over as I keep my eyes fixed on Vincent's silver-blue ones.

"I know this is a mouthful, but there is one thing you can focus on; you are mine," he says. "You know that is true, and we'll go through this thing until your memory has fully returned."

I start to look around and everybody is looking really sincere, even the guys standing in the back. Vincent's eyes show everything I have come to see as truth and comfort. I really want it to be true, because I don't want to be betrayed by Vincent.

There is so much worry in his eyes. "Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"You are not leaving my side!" I snap and grab his arm firmer.

He exhales and I realize he has been holding his breath. "I promise." He smiles weakly.

"Your Highness..." I turn around to find another girl approach me respectfully.

"Sam," I say.

She looks confused up at me.

"My name is Sam, and that is what I'd like to be called," I state, making all the people around looking shocked at each other. "I hope that is not too much to ask for," I add in a little more humble tone.

"No, no of course not, your... I mean Sam," the first girl says.

"Good!" I take a calming breath and then I turn to face Vincent again. "So what are we doing here?"

The shy girl harrumphs. "It is nice to see you again, Sam."

I get so moved by those words that I don't know what to say. All I do is smile and nod at her. One after another approach us to greet me, some with a weak 'Hello' and others actually hug me.

It is too hard to understand that all these people knew me for a long time, and they are all strangers to me. I have never pictured myself with amnesia or have I ever met anyone who has gone through this. It is no kid's game.

"Are you ready to get out of here?" Vincent asks me and in the corner of my eye, I see everybody beaming at us.

"Where to?"

"Let's go home."

.