Primeval Couple

Chapter 61: Into Another City

The following morning, Lilith woke first.

The soft gray light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. The fire had burned down to embers, and the air carried a faint chill. Gabriel lay beside her, his golden hair spread across the pillow, his face relaxed and peaceful in sleep.

Lilith watched him for a moment, her crimson eyes soft with affection. Then, with a silent smile, she slipped out of bed.

She dressed quickly in a warm sweater and leggings, her bare feet padding softly across the wooden floor. She left the suite and made her way down to the hotel kitchen, where the staff were already preparing for the day.

The head chef—a plump, rosy-cheeked woman with flour on her apron—looked up in surprise.

"Can I help you, miss?"

"I’d like to borrow your kitchen," Lilith said, her voice polite but firm. "I want to prepare breakfast for my husband."

The chef blinked, then smiled warmly thinking inwardly even demon love. "Of course, dear. Help yourself. The ingredients are in the pantry."

Lilith thanked her and set to work.

She moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, her movements fluid and efficient. She cracked eggs into a bowl, whisked them with cream and a pinch of salt. She sliced fresh bread and arranged it on a baking tray. She sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes in butter, their aroma filling the air. She prepared a pot of strong, fragrant coffee.

Within thirty minutes, a perfect breakfast was ready: fluffy scrambled eggs, golden toast, sautéed vegetables, crispy bacon, and a small bowl of fresh berries. She arranged everything on a tray, added a single rose from a vase on the counter, and carried it back to the suite.

Gabriel was still asleep when she entered. She set the tray on the bedside table and sat beside him, gently brushing his golden hair from his forehead.

"Wake up, hubby," she whispered.

His eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he looked confused—then he saw the tray, the food, her smiling face.

"Did you... cook this?" he asked, his voice still rough with sleep.

"I did," she said proudly. "Now eat."

He sat up, his expression a mixture of surprise and delight. "You didn’t have to do this."

"I wanted to," she said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. "Now eat before it gets cold."

They shared the breakfast in bed, feeding each other bites of egg and toast, sipping coffee from the same cup. The morning light grew brighter, filling the room with warmth.

After packing their belongings and checking out of their hotel, the couple made their way to the train station.

The magic train that would carry them to Vellamo was different from the one they had taken before. This one was sleeker, more elegant—its exterior a polished silver, its windows framed with gold. It was designed for luxury travel, with private cabins, plush seating, and panoramic views.

They boarded and found their cabin: a spacious compartment with velvet seats, a small table, and a window that offered an unobstructed view of the passing landscape. Lilith settled into her seat, her legs tucked beneath her, her eyes fixed on the window.

The train departed.

The landscape transformed rapidly: first the snow-covered peaks of Frosthaven, then rolling hills of green, then dense forests of towering pines, and finally, as they traveled westward, the land began to flatten and the air grew warmer. The sun climbed higher, casting golden rays across the countryside.

Gabriel and Lilith sat together, their fingers intertwined. They watched the world pass by—small villages with red-tiled roofs, rivers that sparkled like silver ribbons, fields of wildflowers that swayed in the breeze.

The train pulled into Vellamo as the sun began its descent toward the horizon.

The city was a vision of otherworldly beauty.

It rose from the water like a dream, its buildings built on a network of canals and islands connected by graceful bridges. The architecture was a blend of old and new—ancient stone palaces with ornate balconies stood beside elegant glass towers that reflected the golden light. The canals were filled with gondolas and small boats, their lanterns beginning to glow as dusk approached.

The city was surrounded by water on all sides, the sea stretching to the horizon, its surface calm and shimmering. The air carried the scent of salt and flowers, and a gentle breeze rustled through the palm trees that lined the streets.

Gabriel and Lilith stepped off the train and onto the platform, their eyes wide with wonder.

"It’s like Venice," Lilith breathed. "But more... magical."

"More beautiful," Gabriel agreed. "Let’s find our hotel."

They walked through the streets, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestones. The city was alive with activity—street musicians played soft melodies, vendors sold fresh seafood and colorful pastries, and couples strolled arm in arm along the canals. frёeωebɳovel.com

Everywhere they went, they drew stares. Their beauty, their grace, their otherworldly presence—it was impossible to ignore. But they paid the attention no mind, their focus on each other and on the city around them.

They booked a VIP room at the most expensive hotel in Vellamo—the Palazzo dell’Acqua, a breathtaking palace of white stone and blue glass that rose from the water like a pearl.

The lobby was a masterpiece of marble and crystal, with a grand staircase that spiraled upward and a chandelier that cast a soft, ethereal glow. The staff bowed as they entered, their movements graceful and respectful.

Their room was on the top floor, with a private balcony that overlooked the Grand Canal.

The suite was magnificent. A massive four-poster bed draped in silk, floor-to-ceiling windows that offered panoramic views of the city, a bathroom with a marble soaking tub that could fit four people, and a sitting area with plush velvet sofas and a small fireplace.

Lilith stepped onto the balcony and leaned against the railing, her eyes sweeping across the city. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of gold and rose. The lights of Vellamo were beginning to flicker to life, their reflections dancing on the water.

Gabriel came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Like it?" he asked.

"Love it," she replied.

They stood there for a long moment, watching the sunset, feeling the gentle breeze, listening to the distant sound of music and laughter.

After freshening up, they ventured out to explore.

Vellamo was a city of wonders, and they experienced it all.

They walked along the canals, their hands clasped, stopping to admire the intricate bridges that arched over the water. They visited the market square, where vendors sold everything from fresh fish to handcrafted jewelry. They sampled street food—fried calamari, grilled octopus, sweet pastries drizzled with honey.

The city was alive with color and sound. Musicians played on every corner, their melodies echoing across the canals. Artists painted scenes of the city, their canvases capturing the golden light and the shimmering water. Children laughed as they chased each other through the narrow alleys.

Gabriel and Lilith found a small café tucked away in a quiet corner. They sat at a table overlooking the water, sipping chilled white wine and sharing a plate of fresh oysters.

•••

As the moon rose over the city, they decided to take a gondola ride.

The gondola was sleek and elegant, its wooden body polished to a high shine, its interior lined with soft velvet cushions. The gondolier—a handsome young man with a melodious voice—sang a love song as he guided them through the canals.

Gabriel and Lilith sat side by side, her head resting on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her. The lanterns on the gondola cast soft golden reflections on the water. The buildings of Vellamo glowed with warm light, their windows illuminating the narrow canals.

The gondolier’s voice rose and fell, the melody sweet and haunting.

Lilith closed her eyes, her breath slow and even. She could hear the water lapping against the boat, the distant laughter of people dining at waterside restaurants, the soft rustle of the breeze through the palm trees.

"This is perfect," she murmured.

Gabriel pressed a kiss to her hair. "It really is."

The gondola drifted beneath a low bridge, passing through a tunnel of shadow. When they emerged on the other side, the view was breathtaking—the Grand Canal stretched before them, its surface a mirror of stars, the Palazzo dell’Acqua rising in the distance like a palace from a dream.

They floated along the canal, their gondolier’s song fading into the night. The city wrapped around them like a warm embrace, and for a moment, the world outside their gondola did not exist.

Eventually, the gondola returned to their hotel. Gabriel paid the gondolier generously, and the couple made their way back to their suite.

The balcony was waiting for them, the city still sparkling, the moon still bright. They stood together, wrapped in a blanket, their arms around each other.

"Tomorrow," Lilith said, "we explore the underwater ruins."

They shared a soft kiss, then returned inside.