PROLOGUE,

IRINA,

Without caring about what would happen next, I run into his open arms hug him like never before. I don't know what my feelings are at the moment, but I stick to hugging him this is so astounding. His warm presence reminds me of years ago. Henry was a prince! He didn't behave like one, he never showed any signs. He was one of the humblest persons I have ever met. He loved me, yet he went away without a warning. Every one of my friends including Desmond who is commonly known as 'the small' who was granny's most trusted person and the one who ended up inheriting her property told me about it. If only I had an idea, but what would I have done anyway?

He kept asking me to do something, but hey, don't you think it is just not good to have a lady prompting a man that they love them? Again, I kept denying it until he left, that's when I realized I was really in love with him. When I first saw the said 'alien' at the river, I thought I had seen Henry, but I didn't give it much thought. Ooh, Henry. Well, I pull away from the hug which was gradually getting more comfortable. I need to ask Henry, or should I say Linus a lot of questions.

''So, Linus, where have you been for so many years?'' I ask him making sure that I am a meter away from him.

''Can I answer that question somewhere else? He asks and I shake my head. He is a crazy being, he did that to me knowing he would be back!

''Not really, I am asking the question here, I need the query answered here,'' I say confidently.

''My lady, please. I don't want you to be mad at me, I want you to relax, I am going to tell you the story as it is.'' When he says that, my heart softens.

No wonder he was saying he has been waiting. What's up with Henry? Well, things have been off, but I think I was a bit too blind.

The other night, Henry took me back home, he knew the way and I just didn't have to be too damn to know he was acting like someone who knew the place too well.

''Do you have to do that?'' I ask with curiosity.

''Don't ask me further questions, please. Come with me. He takes my hand and I let him. I didn't know that I would be falling in love in the bush.

I never really didn't know that I would be feeling all introverted and shy all over inside the bush. The place is green and well taken care of.

He brought me here for a reason. I don't think the reason was all about showing me the kingdom. He wanted to reveal himself and he just did.

He takes me to the horse and blindfolds me. Then he gets Spirit to move at the highest speed ever. I know it is really making me fear, but I have so much faith in him.

Well, he requested when we were getting started that I don't get him to speak. I was about to say no to him, but the woman spirit showed up and reminded me that I shouldn't break his heart, but until when?

Chapter One.

My mum is an angel.

I rub my eyes when I get up from my mum's small hut. Mum is already seated outside luxuriating in the warm sun. I guess I am late today but that is not a big deal.

Mummy and I have very little, but we are the happiest family in the world. Our small village is tranquil and so serene.

My mum and I are just the two of us and we are good partners, I mean we live as partners because she cares so much about me and I care too about her.

I rub my eyes yet again, then I walk towards mum. She is busy building castles in her head, she turns when she feels my presence behind her, and we both smile at each other.

''Hey, you are up?'' I nod at her then I move closer and hold her on the shoulder. I feel her smile because I cannot see her face now, and I know she is feeling good. ''We will be making breakfast in a few minutes but just know that I love you so much. You are my life.''

I roll my eyes jokingly. I love her too and she knows that. ''Mum, you know I love you too. You are an angel, you are the best mother one can ever ask for. My friends envy me a lot for having you.''

Her signature smile, her dimples, her beauty, and everything about her is out of this world. I love her good heart and I know she does know that I adore her.

Well, if you are wondering, my name is Irina and I am my mum's only child. Mum and I have been living here, in this village for a number of years, I mean I was born and farmed here. I have literally never met my dad and hey, mum never wants me to speak about him. I swear one day, I will force her to tell me about him, and maybe about the rest of the family.

In this small village of ours, we are not many, we know each and everyone around and that's why any new face is just noticed immediately.

I take a mug lying on the verandah, it has water and I use that to brush my teeth. Then gaggle some water and spit it on the grass. I have two friends around here. They are almost my age mates and we have schooled together. We do almost everything together and their mums love me so much.

Ironically, mum does not want to familiarize herself with anyone, she seems so cautious that sometimes I don't understand her.

''You should not be so lost when you are with mummy. Please come back here, I need you to be here with me.'' She says jokingly and when I look at her, she has my food at hand, and I smile before sitting down to have the food.

I guess she was joking when she said we will be making breakfast soon. Mum is such an angel. She has made breakfast for us.

''Okay, mum. You know what, you are spoiling me. You should let me cook my own breakfast, you shouldn't be cooking for me because my …'' she cuts me off.

''Table manners, baby girl. Do not talk with food in your mouth.'' She says and I nod at that. Mum has instilled discipline in me. She has made sure that I respect everyone and that I stay within my lines.

I continue digging into my breakfast, sweet potatoes, and hot porridge. A very sour porridge and I love the delicacy. I lift up my head, eyes boring at mum and she hasn't stopped looking at me.

Her sweet, rare smile appears on her lips. ''You look so beautiful, Irina. You are one person I know that her beauty is out of this world.'' She says heedfully.

''Thanks, mum. I know where I got my looks. No debate about that.'' I say getting up on my feet. I feel so fresh and satisfied, my traditional stool is broken so, I just sit on the ground, but mum said she will call someone to repair it.

''I am listening,'' she says calmly.

I get to her back after I wipe my dirty hands with some fresh leaves, I massage her shoulders slightly then smile, ''from the most beautiful, adorable, and the most understanding mum in the world. The only woman who knows what it means to take care of her daughter.'' I say scrupulously.

''Wow, you think all that about me?'' she asks calmly.

''Of course, I do not think that mum. I know that and many more.'' I tell her enthusiastically.

''Thank you, anything for the person I cherish most in my life.'' She says and if I am not wrong, I sense a little, very little shaky voice. Well, I will cheer her up a little bit.

''Mum,'' I call her calmly, and she turns slightly to look at me. ''You won't believe what happened when I was in the bush looking for firewood yesterday,'' I say excitedly to my mum from nowhere.

She is beautiful, she looks like one of those angels that God took his precious time to make. I bet mum was made in the morning, at dawn to be precise. She stands up and curiously looks at me.

''Irina, baby, try me. I will believe anything that you tell me. What did you see, my angel?'' she says jokingly, and I laugh heartily. I swear this woman, apart from being my mum, is my sister and a friend. She is one of the sweetest people in existence.

''Mum, I saw …''

''Hold on, baby, first of all, have I ever told you what your name means? Have I?'' I shake my head. Mum is always talking about my name.

''Yes, and you are always telling me about it. I know exactly what it means. You have always said that …'' she cuts me off.

''Hold on there. I want you to read this from my lips, your name means peace and you are a true presenter of peace. It is a name whose roots can be traced all the way back to Ancient Greece. It is a variation of Eirene, the name of a Greek goddess meaning 'peace'. I love you, my darling angel.''

''Thanks, mummy, I do love you right back. You know that right?'' she nods a sweet familiar smile etching her lips. I do not know why but I look away from her boring eyes.

''Hey, come here darling. I do not mind hearing you saying that you love me. I love you right back and I know that the love we both have for each other will always keep us going.'' She says calmly. ''Now, can you please tell me what you saw earlier in the bush?''

''A young man, a man I literally think is not human. He looked like an alien, he was handsome, I mean I have never met a man with half his looks in my entire twenty-two years that I have existed.'' I say calmly and mum smiles.

''Um, I guess that is just your imaginations. I mean aliens do not exist, besides who said that aliens are handsome?'' she says leading the way back to the house and shutting the door behind me when I walk in.

''I do not know, mum, I remember being taught something about them in history. I was just doing my guesswork, plus I …''

''Wait, Irina, where … Darling, I … Where were you fetching firewood? Did you go all alone or with your friends and what happened?'' she is worried when she asks that. I do not have to be a genius to tell that mum is utterly uneasy with what I just said. She smells anger and fear at the same time. I hope she is okay.

''Calm down, mum. I went to the other side of the hill and along the river. I was with Lena and Mabel. At some point, I went down the hill then crossed the river. I felt like some force was pulling me towards the river. I swear I lost the two girls at some point and they are now mad at me because of that.''

''Do not worry they'll come around. Can I ask you for a favour though?'' I nod at her. I think I have a hint of what she is going to ask for. ''Just promise me that you will never, and I mean never go back to the river. I have told you time without number, that you are not supposed to go there because the river is evil and full of snakes.'' She says calmly and I know there is a lie to that.

Do not get me wrong, I don't like defying my mum, but I know right now she isn't telling me the truth. I will keep looking for some truth though.

''Mum, I do not agree with you, the river is calming and magical. I mean that water is pure and there is something about it that is just cooling. I have no idea what that is.'' ''Are you contradicting your mum?'' she asks sadly.

''On this, yes, I will. Let me contradict you just on this. I have never done it before, but I will just today. Anyway, so, that was a lovely few seconds meeting with that alien.'' I smile as mum raises an eyebrow.

''Did you two talk?'' she asks on a serious note. I can bet my lashes that my mum is worried about something.

''Hey, mum, please relax. I did not speak a word to him, I mean he just disappeared when I turned to look at my friends. Something was amiss.'' My mum is surely an angel.

Mum is pacing the floor and saying nothing. I look at her another two seconds before I begin to walk out in frustration, but I change my mind after some steps. There is something about that river. I do not know what it is, but the water is unique.

Again, something has been happening to me, I need to understand how come I touched Lena when she said she was not feeling well, and she magically got healed. Mum does not know about this, though, I have no idea how to tell her this. I remember when I was in high school. I could do this, but I never really thought much about it.

Lena and Mabel keep saying that I am special or unusual in a way, but I do not think that's true. I have been here in this small village forever. I mean being raised and bred here earn me a trophy for being a village elder, I know nothing much about the world, I hear there are towns and cities but trust me I have never been to any of them.

''Mum, you are making me nervous. You know that I love you and if there is something I need to know, then you should just tell me.''

''Hey, relax. You did not make a promise for me though. I want you to avoid that river like a plague. Do not ever go back there because I …'' she pauses for a few seconds before she speaks again. ''You have something on your hair.''

She just deviated from what she was about to say. My mum surely is keeping secrets. Why would she be doing this? She knows that I love her and she should not do this.

''Are you keeping secrets from me? You know I will never forgive you for that, mum!'' I tell her honestly. She smiles and says genuinely.

''Not exactly, I cannot do that to you, baby. Just that I do not like that river at all, I guess it is just a bad omen that you met a stranger there. I do not want to lose you, darling.''

''But why would you lose me?''

''Because if you decide to go away with the stranger, ooh, what am I saying? I know you would not want to go away with the stranger, right?''

I smile. Mum is fumbling, she is saying funny things. I do not think that's her. She is not herself and I feel like she is forcing herself to speak.

Anyway, I am meeting my two friends, we will be going for a walk in the forest and I do not want to be late for that.

''Mum, I am not going away with anyone, I mean, why would you think that I would go away for anything?

No way!''

''Actually, I think I am being a little bit too paranoid. You and I know that we share a bond that no traitor can break. You are here with me, right?''

''I will always be, listen, mum. I am going to look for Mabel and Lena. We are taking a walk around the village and going to see if the old couples need water or firewood. We will get them that and then come back later in the day.''

''Come here,'' I walk towards her without a fuss. She opens her hands and I walk into them. ''Thanks so much for doing this. Those old people are blessings to you and I. keep doing the awesome job that you are doing for them.''

''Thanks, mummy. You taught me well.'' I proudly tell her.

''All the best in your charity work.'' She says calmly.

''Thanks, I gotta get going before I am late and Lena starts scolding me.''

''Sure, have a lovely day, my angel.''

''You too, angel's mum.'' I walk out leaving mum stranded on the spot. When I turn to look at our small hut, mum is standing at the door, looking at me. I do not need a prophet here to prophesy that she's worried.

She is an angel, I tell myself as I disappear towards Lena's home.