I was headed to Volterra for a trip. I thought of it more as a vacation. A badly needed vacation. College was exhausting…

The scenery was breathtaking. I had been living in Italy for the past year so I could attend school, but I could never get over the beauty of it. Volterra, however, was gorgeous.

When I got to my hotel, I realized I was starving, so I decided on going out. I hadn't been to any of the restaurants here, so I chose one I had heard positive accounts on.

I never minded dining alone, and the food was great, leading up to a relaxed, wandering mood. This mood was the reason I decided to take a walk around Volterra. I had a pretty dreamy vibe about this beautiful town.

I strolled casually with a lightness in my step, enjoying everything I saw. The buildings were exceptional from my car, but up close they were exceptional. Intricate designs decorated almost everything I laid eyes on. I was entranced by Volterra.

As the last rays of the sun heated my skin, my dreamy mood grew stronger. Then I was snapped out of it.

The castle-like building was jaw-dropping. It was so… huge, everything about it left me completely awestruck. I wanted to get a better look at it, so I walked around to the side gates, which were closed at the time.

I walked slightly past the side entrance to I could look at the tallest point of the building. It had so many little details…

I reluctantly left the building, knowing I was definitely going to get a look at the inside tomorrow when it was open. I kept my head turned towards the castle, still taking it in as I moved back towards the road that would lead me back to my car.

I ran straight into something cold and hard. I would have thought it was a stone, except it talked. I snapped my head around and saw it was in fact a person in a black cloak. "Sorry! I'm so sorry! I should have watched where I was going…" I rambled. "It is alright, my dear." The man in the black cloak said in a sing-song voice, obviously amused at my repeated apologies. His voice was beautiful, full of sound yet quiet…

Then he was walking into the gates of the castle with several other black cloaked figures. I watched as they entered the castle I had admired earlier. They were intriguing. Now I really wanted to check it out further… There was something different about them that drew me in like a magnet.