Fire

Happy Monday!

Hope you all enjoy the update!

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The warmth of his hand and the cold, biting metal of his watch held contrastively against her back.

They reached the faculty parking lot and he guided her wordlessly to a car on the first row.

It was sleek and expensive looking, the outside a rich golden color.

It nearly matched her dress.

Maybe gold was his favorite color.

Enid studied her reflection in the lustrous surface and wondered how much this car must have cost.

She knew little about cars, but what she did know made her realize it must have had quite a hefty price tag.

How much were professors paid?

Well, there was the money he made from concerts, too.

Enid brushed off the curiosity; it was none of her business.

He opened the door for her, showcasing the equally glamorous interior.

She carefully sat down, making sure the skirt of her dress would not get caught in the door.

When he pressed the button to start the engine, the car came to life with a regal purr.

"I know it's a bit over the top," Dr. Drewitt glanced out the mirror as he began to back up, "but it does get great mileage."

He gave her a cheeky smile as they exited the parking lot.

The trip into the city was exciting for Enid.

All she had seen of America was the airport and then a sleep-hazy car ride to the campus.

Today she was alert and she tried to take in all that she could from the world rushing past her window.

Dr. Drewitt's car was fast, yet quiet.

Soft orchestra music floated through the speakers, making her smile.

As they reached the outskirts of Boston, she stared in wonder at the large buildings that seemed to brush against the sky.

Evening was settling, the sky transforming into softer pinks and blues.

Dr. Drewitt pointed out famous places and landmarks to her as they drove by.

Before long, they pulled into the entrance way of a gorgeous high-rise.

"Stay right there." He told her as he climbed out of the car and passed his keys to the valet.

Dr. Drewitt opened her door for her, offering a hand to assist her in exiting the vehicle.

"This is the Boston Art Gallery." He said quietly into her ear.

They entered through the glass doors and she stared in wonder at the room before her.

The room was large and lit by many ornate chandeliers.

Paintings and sculptures lined the walls, while the center of the room had tables with chairs set up for the attendees of the fundraising event.

A balcony above hosted even more seating and she wondered if the building was a renovated theater.

Glancing around, she was overwhelmed by the number of beautiful people dressed in ornamental evening wear.

Women in glamorous gowns chatted as men in tuxes watched or joined in.

She followed Dr. Drewitt further into the room, sucking in a breath as eyes began to focus their way.

Slowly, more and more turned and soon nearly the entire room was staring at them.

His hand brushed against hers comfortingly and he stepped forward slightly as though to shield her from some of the attention.

It was quiet, murmurs and whispers wafting through the air.

Enid felt her lungs begin to burn with anxiety.

The worry faded slightly as a man sauntered toward them.

"Alexander! My friend, it has been so long." He exclaimed jovially as he clasped her professor's hand in friendly greeting.

"Indeed. How have you been, Graham?" Dr. Drewitt asked, smirking at the other man.

"Fabulous. Better now that you're back, though. I hate these stuffy events." He joked, pulling at his collar.

The man, Graham, shifted his attention to where she stood and seemed surprised to see her.

"Oh! And who is this little darling? It seems you've caught an angel." He asked, his smile friendly.

"Indeed I have. This is Enid." Dr. Drewitt's hand coming to rest on her back.

She smiled politely at the man and shook his offered hand.

"Are you performing tonight?" Graham asked, shifting his focus back to her professor.

As the two men chatted, Enid glanced around the room and was relieved to find that the majority of the staring had stopped.

A group of women near the stage still looked their way, their poisonous expressions seemingly aimed at her.

Unsure as to what she might have done, Enid simply sent them a sweet smile and a small wave.

Dr. Drewitt's hand on her back urged her forward as one of the most dizzying nights of her life thus far began.

For what felt like hours, they swept around the room, talking to the other fancily clad attendees.

Dr. Drewitt introduced her to each person or couple they came to, but each seemed far more interested in speaking to him than meeting the girl by his side.

Enid understood, he was a world-renowned musician.

She knew that must attract a lot of attention.

She would nod politely along with the conversation and laugh at the appropriate times.

However, her attention would often slip, and she would find herself staring at the man who had brought her.

Although he was being traded around the room like a shiny object, he was nothing but polite and kind.

His tuxedo hugged his strong chest and his brown eyes looked golden near his bow-tie.

It was as though he had his own gravitational force, the entire room seeming to bend in to hear what he had to say.

By the time dinner was served, Enid's cheeks ached from maintain a constant smile.

Dr. Drewitt guided her to a table right in front of the stage and pulled out her chair for her.

She found that Graham was also at their table and he sent her a wink when she looked over at him.

His aura was one of friendliness and an almost older-brother manner surrounded everything that he did.

Enid felt comfortable with him.

Dinner was an elaborate three course meal of things she knew she could not pronounce.

She devoured the savory quiche and ate a respectful amount of that which she didn't like.

Conversation around the table was light and mostly surrounded the cause they were there to support or her professor's last concert tour.

Once dessert, a delectable chocolate tart, was served, Dr. Drewitt leaned over to her.

His left arm had been securely planted on the back of her chair throughout the meal and with him leaning toward her, it almost felt like a hug.

"I'm going to head backstage to get ready. Stay with Graham, okay? If anything happens, call me." He whispered into her ear before pulling back and giving her a private smile.

His first real one since the event had begun.

"Okay. Good luck." She whispered back and blushed at the fact she had just wished such a prolific man luck.

"Thank you, angel. Having you here with me will do more for me than luck ever could." He responded as he rose from his seat.

A voice cut through as she watched him slip behind the curtain to backstage.

"So, are you Dante and Easton's too?" It was Graham, now leaning toward her with a conspiratorial smile.

She turned toward him in confusion before understanding what he meant.

"Oh, yes, they are my professors as well." Enid's confusion renewing as the man chuckled in response.

"Professors, huh? My oh my, they are really in for it." His response bringing no clarity.

A loud clattering noise drew her attention to the table in the corner.

It was the group of women she had noticed earlier, and she was astonished to find they were still glaring at her intensely.

Enid's heart drummed in her rib cage.

What had she done to upset these women so strongly?

"Oh, don't worry about Alex's groupies. They've just got their overpriced panties in a twist because the prodigal golden boy finally returned, but he brought a date with him." Graham told her as he twiddled his fork between his fingers.

Enid blushed at the thought of being his date.

"Well, I'm just his student. Not his date. Should I go tell them so they can adjust their... undergarments?" Enid asked innocently, blushing at the end.

Something in her twisted at the notion of only being his student.

Graham chuckled beside her.

"I can see why they chose you." He said and Enid wondered if the strange man would ever say anything she'd understand.

She opened her mouth to ask what he meant but was cut off by the dimming of the lights.

Turning to see the stage, her heart pounded as the curtains opened, the stage light painting him in pale light.

Up on the stage with his violin and bow raised precisely, he was every bit the immortal he was described as.

His strong jaw line clenched tightly, and his honey eyes hidden behind his eyelids.

With a quick strike, he began a quick but drawn out pace.

Enid's lungs lost track of air as he stole all oxygen from the room with the vicious and elegant notes flying from his violin.

It felt like watching a car crash or a baby being born.

An experience so otherworldly that no number of words could ever do it justice.

For an hour, Enid was entranced as he flowed from one piece to another, never stopping to let them catch their breath.

For an hour, he plucked and bowed the strings of the universe.

When he finished, the packed hall was silent for a moment before exploding into applause.

She felt herself clapping but found she could not look away from the god on stage.

He opened his eyes and they immediately connected with hers.

Like fire, they burned with power and possession.

Fire.

It raced through her veins.

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Comments fill my heart with joy.

All my love, Sapphox ➳