I didn't realize when I fell asleep, I woke up feeling someone touching my forehead. When I opened my eyes, there he was, the owner of my heart: Ion.

 – Your eyes are beautiful too, Irhin.

 I hugged him quickly, I felt so calm now that he was with me; he hugged me back.

 – Ion, what are you doing here?

– I felt your restlessness this morning, I came to see you, but the sunlight was shining directly on your bed and well, I couldn't stay long, I couldn't touch you, so I waited for the sun to set, and I saw you again my beloved princess.

– Did you really come to see me, isn't this a dream of my desires to be with you?

 Ion smiled and kissed my forehead and said...

 – Yes, my love, I felt restless too.

– You risked coming with the sunlight, why did you put your life in danger?

– I told you; I will do anything for you, Irhin. Even risk my own existence just to see that you are okay.

 Ion was next to me in bed, he leaned back on my pillows and then I leaned on his chest.

 – Get me out of here, please!

 Darklion put his hand on my cheek, then hugged me and we disappeared from the room. When I opened my eyes, I realized that we were in another place, it was dark but had a dim light.

 – Thank you for getting me out of there.

– I couldn't be away from you, even though I said I would come for you in three days.

– I didn't want to be alone there; without you I feel lost.

 I stayed silent, trying to observe my surroundings. I was still hugging Ion.

 – Where are we?

– It's my castle's garden

 I raised my head to get a better look. I opened my eyes in amazement, it was a huge garden full of colorful flowers. It was already night, but you could see the beautiful flowers very well, that dim light made it look even more beautiful.

 – They are nocturnal flowers; they usually stay open during the night. Their aroma is even stronger than common flowers.

 I moved away from Ion's arms but remained sitting next to him.

 – Do you want to go for a walk?

– Y-yes

 I couldn't get over my surprise, they really were incredibly beautiful flowers; and the aroma of them was so strong and delicious. Darklion stood up and extended his hand towards me. I accepted and took his hand. He brought me closer to him and placed his hand on my back.

 – They are beautiful and aromatic flowers.

 – They are.

We started walking, the garden was like a labyrinth, there were many bushes too.

 – These flowers here are called “Selenicereus Grandiflorus” and the ones there are “Mirabilis jalapa”. But my favorites are these, come with me.

 Darklion took me to the end of the garden, there was a huge wall, and on that wall, I could see the flower buds, they looked huge.

 – These are called “Lady of the Night”. And these only bloom one night a year. They have large white flowers but once they bloom, they die at dawn.

– They only live one night after blooming. Once a year, I imagine how beautiful they are, for you to have them in such a special place like this.

– They are, but they are not more beautiful than you.

 Darklion leaned down a little and kissed me. He was very calm, I could feel the calm in that very place, his tranquility and the soft tone of his hissing voice was something I longed for on the nights we weren't together; my heart began to beat rapidly.

 - Are we really in your castle?

- da. (yes).

- Is this the castle everyone is looking for? The dark castle?

- That's right. The one looking for your royal guard and your father the king.

- I can't believe it; my father and the royal guard have searched for this castle; but I thought we were…

- I wasn't going to take you back to that old house, that's why I brought you here.

- You have a very beautiful garden. My father and Lestat have traveled to many places looking for it, but they have never been able to find it.

- That's natural my love, you are the first human to arrive here. No one has ever been able to find it or dare to step on it.

 I turned to look at him, I hugged him by the neck; obviously I was on tiptoe to reach him. He bent down to help me reach him and I kissed him; this time I was the one who did it first.

 - You are wonderful everything I have been able to see, know and appreciate with you, with you I can get out of that confinement that my father has subjected me to since I was very young.

- I think I can understand your father in that sense, he does it to keep you safe, you should not judge him wrongly.

- My father has kept me locked in his castle for fear of losing me; after my mother's death my father became afraid of everything, and that has led him to not let me learn or do anything. I wish with all my being to learn to use a sword, to use and do more spells with my magic, but he does not allow me to do anything... and honestly, I do not want to live like this.

 Darklion listened to me attentively, without releasing my embrace at any time he observed me.

 - I can teach you to use a sword and fight in a real battle with it.

 I froze, had I heard right?

 - Can you really do that?

 – Yes, I can. I don't want you to feel that way, you are an amazing woman, brave and above all beautiful. I also know that your abilities are incredibly powerful, and it would be a shame if you couldn't use all your abilities.

 I always hoped to hear that... It was the first time someone talked about me like that. I hugged Darklion tighter.

 – When can we start?

– Tomorrow night, is that okay?

– Every night from now on?

– Da, iubirea mea, the perfect excuse to have you with me every night.

– It's no excuse; I want to be with you too.

 Darklion smiled and looked at me with those beautiful hazel eyes.