Angel Song
The theater was empty; the curtain drawn. The excitement that had existed only moments before had now ebbed away. The theater itself seemed to sigh in silence, the faded lights masked the chaos that had occurred such a short while ago. Damian look out upon the countless rows of seats, his legs dangled carelessly over the side of the stage, imagining that all the fans, his fans, were still there. But they were gone. The eerie silence permeating the theater.
He stood and walked carefully among the jungle of metal and cords that was the stage. The equipment was littered along the stage, each shape made jagged shadows along the curtain in the dimmed lights of the theater. After he worked his way through the monstrous equipment he finally arrived at was he had been looking for. His keyboards stood proudly before him, the white keys gleamed brightly in contrast to the black that surrounded them. His fingers lovingly caressed each white key as he thought to himself. I can’t believe it’s over. He stroked each key absently as his mind whirled in thought and amazement.
Then Damian began to play. The song came easily to him, the melody had haunted him since the tour had begun. He heard the song over and over in his head. This belonged to him alone; he shared it with no one. Just once he wanted to keep a song for himself. This melody was his alone, an extenuation of his soul which he felt could belong to no one but himself.
But.... there seemed to be something missing. Something intangible that he just could not discern about the harmony, something he longed to complete but knew he couldn’t. The last puzzle piece just would not fall into place. The piece, for all it’s beauty was lacking something.
The sweet tranquil sound of his music became water flowing around him. The notes flowed into a cascade of harmony. Each precise note complimenting the note that followed. He closed his eyes and let the sweet serenade carry him away.....
“You were good tonight,” commented a voice from the darkness.
The music ceased and Damian fell cruelly back to earth, each sweet note fading into the air. Though the echo still resonated in the room. He opened his eyes to the harsh lights and the reality of the stage. His heart ached to escape from all this, escape from his life. At times he wished he could just fly away.
He shaded his eyes with his hand, peering into the darkness to search for the owner of the mysterious voice. He gasped softly as he was stunned by the result. “The band’s at the party backstage......”
The softly accented voice carried from the far corner of the stage and interrupted. “And you are out here. How strange,” the girl said, walking forward gracefully to join him beside the synthesizers.
She had been in the front row earlier. How calmly she had sat there, observing him, just like now. Her hair fell in soft waves of honey to frame a delicately chiseled face with large, almond-shaped, blue eyes as she tilted her head inquisitively.
Damian noticed her vibrant and startling beauty was natural. Nothing about her was in any way exceptionally more noticeable then anything else, besides her outstanding beauty, she was dressed normally. Unlike the typical groupies who hid their true images behind makeup and hair-spray.
Shaking himself out fog the trance, he managed to repeat himself.
“There is a party backstage, you know.”
The girl flashed him a bright smile. “I know. I just do not wish to be there,” she replied, eyes dancing in the dim lights.
Defiantly not an ordinary groupie, he thought, forcing his voice to work again. “Why not?” he croaked.
She tilted her head slightly; her hair falling from her shoulder. Damian’s eyes could not resist watching that shimmering sea fall from her shoulders.
"Because you are out here, and I would much rather listen to you play,” she replied.
“Oh, really?” Don’t be caustic, Damian, he reprimanded himself; correcting his tone. “Why?”
Her eyes grew wide and luminous. “You play beautifully, you have a wonderful style, Damian.”
“It was only one show....”
“Oh, I’ve been watching you a while,” she interrupted. “You must not have noticed me before.”
He could not believe that for one solitary moment. One look at that face - No way I’d forget those eyes!
Her smile widened at his troubled expression. “Do not worry. You do not remember because I did not wish to be remembered.”
Damian was silent for a moment, staring at his long slender fingers that danced on black and white tile. Artists’ hands.
“Who are you?” he asked suddenly, somewhat warily.
“Who am I?” she laughed. “Who are any of us? My name is Lorien, but who I will be remains to be seen, Damian Vince.
Staring at her wonderingly. “Why have you been watching over me, Lorien?”
“That isn’t significant,” she muttered quickly, turning away from him.
It was as if night have fallen. The radiance of her beauty torn away from him. Then the sun returned with her golden hair glowing like rays of light.
“Play for me,” she whispered, her eyes pleading desperately.
How can I refuse? Damian put his fingers to the keys and began to play. Elation came with the song; the music surrounded him and lifted him up. His eyes shut out the light again.
Her voice entered the melody like sweet rain in the desert. She sang with words which were foreign, yet, joined his song to become one perfect harmony.
They floated about the world together, the world that loved him for him music and not for him. I don’t ever want to go back -
And the world, as Damian Vince knew it, disappeared.