Madrid, Spain

          The fading sun left a breezy overcast. Candice Zakeih inhaled the cool air, and felt her head levering as if she was drunk, except there was no taste of alcohol in her mouth. “Beautiful!” she uttered excitedly. She then turned bright eyes to her companion, Kesson Davone.

     “Magnificent!” he responded. He glanced at her face briefly and then turned to the Cibeles Fountain. “She reminds me of you.”

     “Me!” Candice looked astounded.

     “They call her the goddess of fertility. The courier of life, bounded by the strength of lions,” he added swiftly and then turned her to face him. “That describes you.”

     “You can’t be serious.” She grimaced.

     “You’re a very intelligent and beautiful individual.  And I stress the individual.”

     “I’m flattered.”

     “It’s no flattery,” he countered. “I’m often amazed at your zeal for adventure and your hunger for new experiences and knowledge. I guess that’s what makes you the unique individual that you are.”

     She chuckled lightly before saying, “And you flew from New York to Madrid to tell me this.” 

     “No!” he exclaimed, and then emitted a mischievous laugh.  “I have friends here,” he added defensively.

     “Really?” The question was more out of disbelief than affirmation.

     “Yes. I lived here during my college days in a study-abroad program.”           He noticed her lingering puzzled look. “I also came here to tell you you’re an amazing woman. You have a penchant for making others happy.”

     “That’s a lot of compliments. Thanks.”

     She didn’t say it, but he knew she wasn’t completely satisfied with his answers.  He couldn’t tell her that he stumbled over words when she walked into a room or that he badly wanted to touch her or that he booked the flight on impulse just to be near her when he found out she was flying to Spain. Her squinting eyes gazed at him quizzically. Without thinking he blurted out, “I find you very attractive.”

     Candice pleasurably digested that piece of revelation and a faint smile played around her mouth. Not sure of how to respond, she fixed her eyes on the Cibeles.

     “You’re not completely surprised,” he voiced.

     She smiled bashfully, and then said, “You’re my boss.”

     He didn’t respond immediately. “My position has made me many things to a lot of people.” He faced Candice. “I need a break from all the demands on me. I want to be just Kesson for a change, and I figured it’d be great to be with one of the few people I like and respect.”

     A little taken aback, she muttered, “I don’t know what to say.”

     With his eyes searching hers, he added, “I’m lodged at the Meliá Madrid Princesa and I’d like to spend the night with you. Would you let me?” He felt slightly embarrassed the minute he made the request, and felt a desperate urge to leave before he made a fool of himself. He quickly added, “I’ll let you think about it. The taxi is at your disposal. I’ll be disappointed if you don’t show up, but I’ll understand.”

     She was en-route to a distant land to bear a calling that was bestowed on her since birth. From the moment she got the call about her grandmother’s death she knew her world was about to undergo a stunning clash. Gripping fear assailed her, shaking her to her bones as it did when she got the call. She shook it off, concentrating on the present instead. She wished she could easily shake off Kesson’s request. A quiet voice told her that her grandmother was in no hurry to be buried, and her people could wait. She tuned out the voice, looking forlornly at the direction that Kesson had disappeared.