32 Chapter 32 - Afterglow and A Prelude To The End

My heart was fluttering, dancing inside the chambers of my chest. I found it exhilarating, how one evening could change my perception about a lot of things. I came to the company office smiling more than usual.

We were in the rehearsal studio, practicing and it was Ana who noticed that I was brighter and happier than usual.

"Um, did something happen?" She asked almost warily.

And before I knew it, I was telling them about my evening with Dante Caulfield.

"SERIOUSLY?!!!" Flora was squealing and all of us had to cover our ears. "Sorry."

"I've never heard of a library date before but you made it sound wonderful." Lina commented.

"I wasn't expecting that much but he surprised me." I said.

"So are you guys going to go out again?" Emilia asked.

I thought about it. If I did let Dante into my life, the compromises and the changes would be huge. There were a lot of things to consider. My career for example isn't really low profile. I'm used to the spotlight but I don't know if a boyfriend that did not belong in the same industry would be able to adapt.

"Maybe, I don't know, he hasn't asked me." I replied.

"Of course he hasn't, it's only been a day. Don't tell me you miss him already." Emilia said disbelieving.

"Well, at least we now know what your ideal guy is." Ana interjected smiling.

"I never thought I'd live to see this day." Lina looked like she had just a major revelation. "Caroline King is actually interested in men."

"Shut up." The banter ended when Michael and Max entered.

"Should we come back another time?" Max joked.

"You girls look like you were having one of them girl talk." said Michael.

"Well, now it's over. Can we practice now?" I asked, happy to be let off from the hook.

**

After practice, I asked the girls if they wanted to sleepover at my place. It was pretty empty except for the help and the butler who took care of everything I need and I could use some company.

"Hmm, Flora and Lina have photoshoots for a magazine tomorrow." said Ana. "You'll have to make do with me and Emilia."

"That's fine with me." I said happily.

At home, dinner was already prepared. I called in advance while we were in the car that I was having company and to prepare something special for tonight. Grilled salmon, fish steaks, lobster and chicken curry were on the table and we ate to our heart's content.

"Your cook is really good." Emilia commented.

"You got that right." said Ana while placing a piece of grilled salmon in her mouth. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have noticed but there was something about the way Ana did it that made it look sexy. I whistled and she looked at me questioningly.

"Has anybody told you, you look sexy?" I teased.

Emilia giggled. "Probably every man she's met."

"Shut up." Ana stuck out her tongue at us. "It's like people don't even notice other things about me besides being sexy."

"I'm sorry." I apologized to her. I knew how frustrating it was. "I didn't mean to make you angry."

She gave me a weary smile. "It's not that I'm angry. It's just frustrating."

I took her hand which wasn't holding the fork she was using to eat and gently massaged it. "I know exactly what you mean. You just have to show them there's more to you than just being sexy and cute."

"Thank you." Ana gave my hand a squeeze.

"Now I'm jealous." Emilia pouted at us. "Where's my hand massage?"

**

Though there were a couple of spare rooms inside the mansion, we decided to sleep together in my room. It was large enough as it is and the three of us fit comfortably on the bed.

Ana saw the book on my bedside table. "Is this the book he gave you?"

"Yeah, it's a good book." I was already invested in finishing the book.

"What's this letter?" Emilia asked pointing at the opened envelope underneath the pillow,

"It kinda came with the book and the flowers." I told her, prying it from her hands before she could begin reading it.

"He's not that weird. That's good." said Emilia

"You receive countless of fan mails but I'm willing to bet that his is the only that has reached your bedroom." said Ana giving me a knowing smile.

"Shut up."

"You're so obvious." said Emilia and Ana chuckled.

I threw a pillow at the pair of them and before I knew it we were having a pillow fight like three teenagers on their very first sleepover.

Somewhere In Between The Paths

He has been asleep for eternities but now he was awakened by the sound of the world. And like a weary traveler he looks at his surroundings, the great hall in which he has slept for so long, where he has since the beginning of time laid out his plans for the universe, became illuminated by the light that shone from the stars that surrounded his domain.

In a raised platform at the center of the room is a sword sheathed in a scabbard made of shadows and obsidian. The grip and the handle were laden with runes placed by the blacksmith who made it, a man who placed his faith in Odin and the rest of the Norse gods. The blade was forged from the blessing of the Creator and the souls of the Fallen, it was a sword that was created for the single purpose of amplifying his powers. Finally, he placed his own essence upon it, the dark matter which contained the power of creation and destruction before sealing it in a scabbard made from obsidian remains taken from the void itself. And so he and the sword slept but now that he was awakened, he understood that the time for reaping has come.

Chaos walked through his domain and surveyed the world where his children were about to be born and without so much as a hesitation, he sent the sword to that world. He smiled in spite of himself, the sword had a befitting name, perfect for what was about to come.

Armageddon.