I
Smoke rose into the air in wispy plumes, pierced only by the soft, sweet voice of the gorgeous brunette on stage, singing a solemn love song that touched the hearts of the dozens of love struck couples listening intently in the cramped bar, sipping on drinks and munching on assorted foodstuffs.
As she sings, she looks at a table to her side, where there sit four men, each listening but not wholly paying attention to her as they throw cards around on the table. Sitting directly in front of her is Michael. His hair, long and shaggy, his face obscured by a beard, he takes a long drink of the beer in front of him before tossing a handful of cards into the center of the table.
“Screw it.” He mumbles gruffly under his breath. “I fold. You doin’ any better Matthew?”
Matthew, a portly man with long, curly hair, sighs and lays his down in front of him too. “No, not really. Can’t really afford to just fold though.”
“Well then read ‘em and weep, fools!” screams the dark skinned man sitting next to Matthew. “Full house, courtesy of the almighty Phil!”
Matthew and Michael both sighed as they stare at the significantly higher cards. At the head of the table, a younger man runs his hands through his short, spiked up hair as he watches the lovely lady on stage bowing as she finishes her song and stepping off stage.
“Marie’s something else tonight, isn’t she?”
“Oh, come the hell on Robert!” Matthew groaned, leaning back in his chair. “We’re here to make sure everything goes smooth and keep her safe, not ogle the poor girl.”
“I know, I know. She just did really good tonight.”
Michael chuckled softly. “Well since you thought she did so well, you get to go check on her and make sure she’s all right.”
Robert rose from his chair, throwing down the cards in his hand. “Fair enough, just leave the money in a pile guys.”
Phil leaned over and stared at the cards he had thrown down. “Man, that just ain’t right.”, he mumbled before shaking his head and pulling out his wallet.
II
What feels like a world away, Victor stares on at the paper in front of him. He wasn’t quite sure what kind of assignment it was, being asked to describe an important event of the past 5 years, but he couldn’t help thinking back to the most important one. Of his friend, Connor, who had become the powerful hero the media dubbed Paladin, of how the woman Connor had loved secretly for years, Lea Riece, had died at the hands of a powerful demon. But as he twirled the pencil between his fingers, he knew he simply couldn’t do so. Connor probably kept his secret for a reason, and whatever that reason was, it was gone and had taken Connor with it. For 6 long months, Victor searched and waited, but it seemed his friend was now long gone.
And now, as he looks out the window, he sees the man standing there as he has for months now; a tall slender man with wisps of white hair dangling down his face. He was not sure who this man was, but knew he had been following him since Connor disappeared. The one time he had gotten him to speak, all he would say was that he was “waiting for someone important to return.” Victor assumed he meant Connor, but could get no more out of the man. Every time Victor got too close, the man would disappear, much to his dismay.
Slowly, pencil met paper as Victor sighed, wondering if he could come up with something interesting to say. But now, as his eyes focus on the line of graphite smeared against the off-white paper, he knows that there could be nothing grander than the truth.
The bell rang after what seemed like an eternity, allowing him to finally leave behind the writers block and the haunting memories of his friend, as well as the bizarre white-haired man and his haunting ways. But even as Victor left, Gabriel himself let out a soft sigh, watching as the young man left. He had been following him for some time, thinking that if Connor were to return he would surely greet his friend, but so far it seemed hopeless.
Gabriel turned and walked away, pulling his cloak tighter. Time was running out, and though he feared the Paladin would not return in time, he knew that there was still hope…
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