You, who Come From the Land of Nowhere

Hallucinations accompanied by enhanced sound effects—that was a clear sign of something seriously wrong.

Elena sighed, a ragged breath escaping her lips. Despite the dread pooling in her stomach, she turned around, facing the man behind her.

He towered over her, forcing her to tilt her head to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked in a silent, intense exchange.

"Good day, Elena Silas," he greeted her, his voice a deep, resonant rumble, accompanied by that familiar charming smile.

Clad in a simple white shirt, his muscular physique was subtly defined beneath the fabric. Tall and imposing, he exuded an air of quiet confidence.

"Theo...," she whispered, the name barely audible. The man before her seemed too real to be a figment of her imagination.

Reaching out, she unclenched her fists and brushed her fingers against his cheek in a hesitant touch.

His hand enveloped hers, warm and reassuring, as he smiled down at her. "My apologies, Elena," he said, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "It's been a while since I've been among the mortals. I’m still getting used to it again."

He was warm. He was solid. He was real.

Yet, a sliver of doubt persisted. Elena demanded concrete explanations, logical answers.

"This isn't a dream, is it?" she blurted, her voice shaky.

"No, Elena," he replied, stepping closer, closing the distance between them. He wanted to reassure her, to ground her in the reality of his presence. "I'm here."

Her heart pounded in her chest, a chaotic rhythm that threatened to overwhelm her. She was undeniably drawn to him.

"Elena!" A familiar voice interrupted their moment.

Startled, Elena spun around, hastily putting distance between herself and Theo.

Ms. Enya approached them at a steady pace, her designer handbag clutched tightly in her arms. "Elena, I'm sorry for interrupting," she began, her gaze flitting between Elena and Theo, a flicker of curiosity clouding her features. "But there's something rather urgent." Her focus remained on Theo. "I'm afraid it can't wait."

Theo's sudden appearance was bound to raise eyebrows. Ms. Enya was well aware of Elena's history with Tony, a man whose charismatic personality made him unforgettable. Given Tony's tendency to be the centre of attention, Ms. Enya would undoubtedly be curious about this unexpected visitor.

"No, it’s fine, Ms. Enya," Elena quickly replied.

"I just want to remind you to prepare a copy of your passport for the Xuhetti embassy tomorrow," Ms. Enya explained, her attention still divided. "And this guy is…" she asked, indicating Theo.

"Oh, you saw him too?" Elena replied, pointing at Theo.

A brief moment of awkward silence followed as they both studied Elena, their expressions a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Then, laughter erupted.

"Oh Elena, I didn't know that you had a funny bone," Ms. Enya chuckled, patting Elena’s shoulder.

"My apologies for not properly introducing myself," Theo said smoothly, extending a palm, gesturing greetings. "I'm Theo, from Elena's hometown. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by a sense of normalcy.

This was undeniably real. Theo was not a figment of her imagination.

"Enya Douglas," she replied, a playful glint in her eyes. "Your name is as unique as you. And you, sir, are quite the addition to Elena's life."

Elena blushed at the compliment, while Theo simply smiled. She knew that Ms. Enya was simply curious about Tony, who hasn't been around for some time and the sudden presence of a new man.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid I'm exaggerating," Theo responded modestly. "Let's not keep Elena any longer."

"Agreed," she leaned closer to Elena, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He seems perfect, a definite upgrade from Tony."

"Ms. Enya,..." Elena stammered, a protest dying in her throat.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Elena." Ms. Enya said, turning to leave.

As soon as Ms. Enya was out of earshot, Theo turned to Elena. "Where are we heading to, Elena?"

Elena hesitated, her mind racing. "Home, I suppose." she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"Let's go then," Theo said simply, reaching for her bag. His directness was both surprising and oddly comforting. "I could use a place to stay."

"Where to?" Elena echoed, eyebrows raised in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say I'm currently homeless and penniless," Theo shrugged, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Came here empty-handed, Elena."

A wave of disbelief washed over Elena. The absurdity of the situation was almost comical if it weren't so baffling. His demeanour, his appearance – nothing about him screamed extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for himself.

"But, why?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"I'm homeless and penniless. I came here empty-handed, Elena." he repeated, his expression unchanged.

Elena blinked, the absurdity of the situation finally hitting her. Everything about Theo screamed illogical, starting with his very existence. "Penniless and homeless? So you're an illegal immigrant?" she scoffed, unable to suppress her scepticism."You must be kidding me, Theo."

No part of him resembles anything he said about himself. The man's clothes, though simple, were meticulously cared for. Fine fabric whispered against her fingers. Not to mention the handmade ebony boots – supple leather and skin that spoke of quality.

"I'm being serious, Elena," he insisted, his voice firm. "Are you going to leave me on the street?"

A flicker of compassion crossed her face. "Of course not," she sighed. "But it's a two-building walk. Are you up for that?"

"Being with you is all that matters right now, let's go," he said, reaching for her bag.

Elena hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Maybe a little insanity wouldn't hurt. Why not trust a stranger who made her heart flutter.

It had been a long day for Theo, the aftermath of his ordeal had left him weakened, his ability to teleport compromised. But, the moment he saw Elena, the world narrowed to just her. An overwhelming urge to protect her, to hold her close, consumed him. Yet, the fear of frightening her held him back.

Recuperating from an internal injury had been an endless nightmare, and in his fragile state, the fear of not being able to protect her gnawed at him. As he slung her bag over his shoulder, the weight of it provided a grounding sense of purpose. Walking beside her, he stole fleeting glances at her profile, memorising every detail.

Every stolen moment was a treasure he might not have tomorrow.

Love, for an immortal being, was an unexpected and unwelcome emotion.

Yet, here he was, a celestial being ensnared by a mortal woman.

His heart now pounded solely for Elena Silas.

And yet, to his world, this love was forbidden…