Disasterpiece
"What are you staring at?" Dave’s face cut into my view. Instead of looking at absolute beauty, I now found azure blue eyes faded with uncertainty.
“Huh?” I murmured trying to look around Dave.
“What are you so interested in?” Dave turned around to gaze in the direction holding my interest.
“Nothing,” I forced myself out the trance I befell inside of those mysterious ruby eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be down there?”
“Well, I told the coach I walked over with you so he told me to go ahead and take you home before it got too late.” Dave turned back around to face me as he held out his hand for me.
I hesitated about getting up because at this point I was rather enjoying myself. I reluctantly allowed Dave to help me up as I glanced over again in the direction of the man who called out for my attention. To my dismay, the spot he occupied now sat empty as if he never had been there. “Home then?”
“Yep, time to walk.” He now sounded very indifferent by his choice of coming over with me. “So what did you think?”
"Well, you won, again." As we began making our descent from the bleachers I tried to scan the gymnasium as quickly as I could with the simple hope of seeing the strange man leaving as well. However, Dave and I were the only ones exiting the building though.
"Only God himself could beat me." Dave could barely contain his bragging. In fact, he started before we even made it out the doors of the school. Being a good sister, I tried as hard as I could to listen to the words, but my thoughts continued to float back to the mystifying man who stole all of my interest.
Staring into the stars above us, my thoughts gradually trailed off from those unbelievable eyes. Looking around, I paused on the sidewalk realizing the moon never rose causing the sky to be far darker than usual. As the gloom of the night wore into me, I hated the idea of having to walk home like this for the next two weeks. “Oh, I am not going to be able to make it next week. I told Cora I would switch shifts with her for a couple of weeks.”
“What?” Dave stopped me under the bright white illuminated streetlight. “I had plans for us tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I kicked at the rocks beneath my feet refusing to look up at him now. Dave threw his arm around me and insisted, "Well, we can just do it tonight.”
“Um, are you sure?” I glanced up to find a huge grin stretched across his face, “What were you planning?”
“There was this art show thing, I thought you might be interested in.” Dave kept his arm around me as he started guiding me in the direction he wanted to go.
“What makes you think I would have an interest in Art?” I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
"I didn’t know you were into Greeks, which shocked me." Dave turned me as we arrived at the corner guiding me away from the apartment. "I actually drove past it the other day, and there was a painting in the window I have to show you."
Dave kept his arm around my shoulders until we got to the art gallery. It actually shocked me to see a line of people heading in the doors. Since we moved here a year ago when Dave started college, I never really noticed anything special happening at the art gallery. Most of the time, there were a few painting sat in the large store windows, but never before did I see the lights on with people inside.
As we entered into Gallery 45, the local art gallery, Dave pulled me through the entire display allowing no room for me to look at anything. Finally, we arrived right in front of the painting he intended to show me. "You can’t tell me she doesn’t look like you.”
There before me, I found a large portrait of a woman with brown hair falling down over her shoulders, slightly longer than mine. Her green eyes, quite unlike mine, at least that was my opinion, seemed ultimately filled with love. The sun illuminated the background behind her engulfing everything else. After scanning the bottom corner for the artist’s signature it simply read, My Goddess.
In somewhat of an eerie sense, I could see the resemblance Dave noticed. Although, I didn’t feel as though I looked into a mirror, I could feel the presence in the brush strokes pulling me in towards it. Something about her, echoed deep within my soul. As we looked to one another, answers to questions I didn’t know grew deep in the pit of my stomach, but none of them came clearly.
“Well, doesn’t it look like you?” Dave exclaimed, “Hey, look here is another one. On a bad day it could look like you, I guess.”
Dave pulled me to the next painting before I was ready to leave the first one. This time I looked directly into the eyes of pure hatred. Wet hair fell down over her face with green eyes filtering through with the shadows of bruises. Utter gloom filled the space behind her leaving me to realize this portrait is the complete opposite of the first one we looked at. I found myself more intrigued with this one than the one Dave originally brought me in to look at.
“She looks pissed.” Dave finally broke into my concentration. “I wonder what happened to her.”
“Look,” I pointed towards her face. Looking closer at the pain riddling her skin, I could feel it screaming out to be seen. “The bruise coming down the side of her face, the gash there, and her lip is sliced opened too. Wow, look at the skin on her neck, it’s almost gone. It looks like she went through Hell.”
"What?" Dave questioned as he studied the painted woman. Clearly, he couldn’t see what I did inside the frame.
“Look under her hair, she is covering up her disgrace.” My eyes found their way to the same spot in the lower corner looking for the name of this painting, Welcome to Hell.
I extracted myself away from the two portraits crying out for my attention to explore the rest of the gallery. Several more portrayals of her hung on the walls, but I found myself back in front of the second one I originally saw. It pulled me back like gravity holding me against the floor. None of them held as much anguish as this one in front of me. Some of them were like the first one, but most of them held inside bits of torment filling her. When I found myself looking back into her brutalized eyes, I noticed the tears filling them. One quick peek back at the portrait, My Goddess, I contemplated the drastic change between the two.
Reaching forward to touch the pain radiating through her, I hoped to gain a sense of what she declared, when a woman’s sharp voice stopped me. “Please do not touch the artwork!”
My hand retreated quickly and I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “How much is it?”
“The artist does not wish to sell any of his paintings, only display them for the world to see.” She replied as though she memorized the words.
"I want to meet him," I demanded hoping I could find a way to get the girl in the portrait home.
“He is not here at this time.” Even though I never took my eyes from the painting I could feel her glare intensified. “Please refrain from touching the artwork.”
Dave came back from his trip around the gallery breaking into the confrontation, “Bree, you should look at this section over here.”
“Can I help you, Sir?” The lady turned her full attention to Dave.
“Um, yeah, who did all these?”
“Lucifer Apollyon.” After catching the artist’s name, I finally turned to face the woman who I had been speaking to. She reminded me of someone who came from the city. A skilled expert in all things artistically driven. Quite sure she came here with the array of paintings with the amount of confidence she used in her stance. With her impeccable make-up and tightly wound blonde hair I knew she was more professional than anyone in this college town. Turning her attention to the rest of the room she questioned quite cruelly, “Is there anything else I could help you two with?”
“Could you tell me when he painted these?” Dave looked at the similarities between me and the painting once more.
“They were all painted over twenty years ago.” As she looked between myself and the portraits of the woman on the wall, I noticed a tinge of the red inside her eyes. They were nowhere near the same crimson as the man at the wrestling match, but something hidden deep within the brown reminded me of the color. Never losing her vindictive attitude she turned her attention to the front of the gallery, “Now if you two would please excuse me I must attend to something?”
Dave looked at me dumbfounded as she turned to walk away. She was no more than two steps away when she turned back around sharply warning me, “Do not touch anything.”
Dave’s eyes grew wide as he looked down at me, “What was that about?”
“She wouldn’t let me buy it.” I frowned at the thought.
“Okay, I think it is time to go.” Dave grabbed my wrist and began pulling me towards the entrance. “I am beginning to think this was a bad idea.”
“But I want the painting.” I found it hard leaving the sight of the woman as I fought against Dave’s urging. “Dave stop.”
Dave pulled against my will to stay, "Nope, sorry. It isn’t going anywhere in the apartment. It freaks me out."
"But just look at the pain in her soul." I protested still being yanked through the gallery.
"What is your deal lately, Bree?"
"Nothing." I nearly gave up hope, fighting against the gargantuan of a man when I saw those crimson eyes again. They appeared as if from a dream causing me to completely halt Dave in his attempt to leave. He jerked my arm with quite a force, but surprisingly against his strength, I refused to budge. At this point, nothing could make me leave now when I found myself this close to him.
I stood there completely frozen, ignoring Dave’s beckoning, as the man who caught my full attention shifted his eyes from mine to the lady who had scolded me. He spoke with her briefly until she pointed in my direction. My heart began racing as it did when I first saw him at the gym not so long ago. I clenched my fists causing my fingernails to cut into my palms as he dismissed the woman and began coming my way.
"You were asking for me, Miss?" A silky smooth voice rose into the air as he lifted his eyes from the directly into mine. A light golden brown caught me by surprise taking my breath away. He extended his hand as I tried to remember how to speak. "I’m Lucifer."
There I stood undeniably awe-struck by him and his complete perfection. Impeccable marble skin wrapped over a marvelous structure. Such a strong formation of muscle and bone gave me the notion, nothing ever touch him. His stature and glory must have come straight from the heavens. Quite sure as I gawked him, he beheld nothing less than godliness.
Unease drove through me when Dave hesitantly released my wrist so I could greet this new man. As I lifted my hand to touch his, I couldn’t decide what frightened me more, whether this man had been created from my mind or if he truly was real. A dreamlike feeling engulfed my being as he took my hand lifting it up and gently placing it against his lips caressing it so softly.
“I’m Bree Turner.” I choked out.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. You were inquiring about one of my paintings?” His voice came like music to my ears.
Dave cut into the conversation stepping directly in-between us as if to protect me. Just as he did, Lucifer’s hand fell away and his eyes broke from mine. “Yeah, the most bizarre one you have here.”
Lucifer waved his hand welcoming us back into the gallery towards the painting I desired to have as my own, “May I ask, why are you so interested in it?”
After I started walking I turned back assuming Dave followed directly behind me, but Lucifer stepped ahead following me quite closely. “Who is she?”
“Does she speak to you?” Lucifer stepped up beside me allowing us to arrive together in front of her. He stood nearly a foot taller than me once we were side by side. As his obsidian suit jacket brushed up against my arm making me want to step further away from him, but I couldn’t remove myself from his side. He seemed to pull me in like gravity, just like the woman in the portrait.
“What happened to her?”
“She lost everything except her faith, and inside this moment,” I looked over at him as he gazed into the paint as if he had been taken back in time. I could see the echoes of memories from days gone past reflected in his eyes. “She vowed to kill me.”
“But you have others, like this one.” I turned to look at the portrait Dave first brought me to see; where she was beautiful and pure. "Can you tell me her story?"
“It would be an honor to tell you the story of my love.” I lost my breath when Lucifer took my hand once more. His golden brown eyes engulf the dim light of the room as he looked down on me. “But it is lengthy, so perhaps I could tell you tomorrow over dinner around nine o’clock.”
“She has to work.” Dave rudely interrupted ripping my hand from Lucifer’s. “I think we should go, Bree.”
“Please forgive me.” Lucifer turned his attention to Dave and calmly offered his hand greeting Dave as though he never noticed him there before. “Are you her boyfriend?”
“No, he isn’t.” I glared at Dave. “But he is right. I do have to work tomorrow night.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, maybe some other time then.” Lucifer kept his eyes fastened on Dave. “You did well tonight. Am I to understand you are undefeated?”
“Yes, sir, I am.” Although I never took my eyes off Lucifer I could see Dave giving in quickly to his own pride. Puffing out his chest I could see him flex his muscles instinctively in response to the vanity. “Like I told Bree on the way here, only God could defeat me.”
“Only God?” Lucifer lifted his hand and covered his mouth and ran his fingers down his jaw as if he were deep in thought. “I like your confidence. It is very, how do I put this, very saintly.”
“Saintly, huh?” Dave turned to me still filled with angst against Lucifer, “Bree, I think we should go. It is getting late.”
“One minute.” I gave my full attention to Lucifer now, “Would you sell me her portrait?”
“Which one are you interested in? I have plenty.” I watched as he stretched out his arms consenting for me to view them all again.
I turned back to my choice, “I want that one.”
“How much are you willing to give for it?” Lucifer’s eyes became intent on mine as though he tried to read my mind. "You see, the determination she conveys is something to be valued deeply. The pain she fought through to get her to that point in her life is priceless."
“I will give you anything you want.” The words came before I could stop my voice and I shocked myself as I spoke them.
“For you,” Staring relentlessly into my eyes without wavering Lucifer paused as he came closer. “Just a kiss.”
"Alright, that’s it. We are leaving Bree." Dave quickly intervened, pulling me once more towards the exit.
"Wait." I looked back as Lucifer held up his hand stopping Dave. Surprisingly he stopped in mid-rush and turned back as Lucifer took the painting from the wall. "It is yours. Let me have it wrapped for you."
Without another word, Lucifer left with the painting in his hands. My heart sank as he departed from my sight. Knowing now he is indeed made of flesh, the thought came through me fearing I would never see him again. The way this man immersed himself in my heart terrified me to my core. An undeniable sense inside told me to flee from him, but everything about him drew me in closer. I could hear Dave’s voice, but all his words became muddled together until I heard him say Lucifer’s name causing me to finally pay attention. "Huh?"
Dave summed up his entire speech for me. "Bree, that guy is weird."
"Lucifer." I dug into my thoughts as I said his name. Finally, it came to me. "Lucifer was the angel of light before he fell."
Concern befell Dave’s face, "Yes, but he fell."
The director came around the corner Lucifer disappeared behind. She held what I assumed was the portrait wrapped in a thick brown paper. I knew right then I wouldn’t see him again. A sense of ease came over me while Dave unwilling took my gift and we headed out the door. He grumbled about it the entire way back to the apartment making me promise to keep the wretched thing hidden in my room away from his eyes.
"Give me the light he has placed in your keeping!" Hades roared causing the stone wall to shudder forcing smaller pieces to fall to the floor. "He has fallen and lost everything, including his life. Now just give it to me!"
"No!" I screamed back just as viciously, "I will never give you what he left me to protect!"
"I will find it and pull it from your body!" Hades turned into a form of darkness spreading like smoke from a fire. He flew into my body hurling it into the wall. I screamed for Apollo to save me as Hades ripped through my entire being. I cried for Apollo when the pain became unbearable, leaving me broken on the floor. He tore from everything inside my body before returning to his original form after what felt like an eternity. "Give it to me. I can see it lying there on your skin. I know it is within you somewhere."
I lifted myself up and faced Hades with the only strength left in my body. I yelled out as furiously as I could, but it came out smaller than a whisper. "It belongs to Apollo. Not you or I."
Hades’ cold dead fingers wrapped viciously around my neck. As he squeezed them tighter, I couldn’t tell if the cracking came from my own throat or from the bones in his hand. A single tear fell down my cheek, and when it fell down touching his skin, Hades instantly dropped his hand. A deep gloom entered the space around me as he vanished leaving me alone with the demons from the shadows.
The evil alarm clock beside my head began buzzing harshly. I hit it as hard as I possibly could to stop the sound from ringing in my ears. It finally gave in after several blows with the palm of my hand. Even though I slept for over twelve hours it didn’t get rid of my fatigue at all.
Between each dream, I woke up to find her staring relentlessly at me. After the first time, she became a welcome sight knowing they were just dreams. The tears in her eyes built up throughout the night making me wonder if her hell was like the one from my dreams.
I picked her up from the spot she complacently found on my floor. After placing her on my dresser the light reflected through her eyes causing the tears, painted so delicately, to glisten in the sunlight. My fingers ran through her hair brushing it away from her face leaving the bruises to come into view. Even with them, she remained much more beautiful than I was. I saw the resemblance like Dave mentioned, but deep down I knew this could never be me.
When I decided to leave her and emerge from my room I found my mother sitting patiently on the couch. A quick look around the living room gave away the notion she arrived some time ago. Everything sparkled and shined, even the curtains were open allowing sunlight to greet me. Peering around the corner, the kitchen looked as though she scoured every inch of it.
She clearly arrived ready to clean with her brown hair up in a tight pony tail on top of her head. The clothes she wore weren’t the ones she would normally wear to work, it must be her day off. She always seemed more comfortable in ripped jeans and a t-shirt than the normal dress clothes she wore to the bank. The wrinkles wearing away into her skin stretched as she turned to find me with her blue eyes matching Dave’s.
Sheepishly I acknowledged her presence, “Hi, Mom.”
"How are you, sweetie?" She smiled right away almost scaring me. Usually, by now she normally would be complaining how unkempt the apartment is, or was before she cleaned it. “Did you sleep well?”
"Um, fine, I guess." Clearly, I slept quite well, right through the vacuuming and onslaught of cleaning just a few feet from my bedroom door. "What’s up?"
“Dave called me this morning. He is worried about you.” She gave me a concerned grin, but I knew there would be a lecture waiting behind it.
I stretched still trying to wake up, “I’m fine. He is just upset because I got a painting last night. It isn’t anything to worry about.”
“It‘s the painting and a few other things.” She pulled out a large brown folder from her bag. “I think this is something you need to go over when you have some free time, and a clear mind.”
The folder looked worn and old as she sat it on the newly cleaned coffee table. “What is it?”
“What do you remember before the accident?” My mom clasped her hands together ready to tell me something horrid.
“I’ve had some dreams.” I watched her intently as I sat down next to her. “They seem like memories, but I don’t know if they are real.”
Placing her hand on the folder, “This is everything given to us during your adoption. Some pictures, drawings, medical records, and your report cards from school. I would have given it to you sooner, but you didn’t seem ready. From what Dave has been saying, I think now is the time. The doctor said at some point you might start remembering and I think now is the right time for you to go through it.”
I couldn’t help but feel slightly dumbfounded. At no point had I ever thought about my past other than the accident. Excluding my dreams, my past was my past. I wanted to tell her, thank you for the gesture, but I couldn’t stomach the words. I hated the idea I forgot everything in the accident, but she said God allowed me to start a new life with a new family. For that, I couldn’t thank her enough.
I knew my parents were wonderful loving people and it might have been a blessing when I couldn’t remember everything. It would have been more painful if I had all my memories, being reminded every day of the life we had together. Knowing I should have died with them was bad enough, let alone they were the only family I had.
“I’ll go and let you get ready for work.” My mom leaned over kissing me on the forehead. “Remember if you need to talk, I’m just a phone call away.”
I gave her a faint smile as she headed out the door. I stared at the large brown folder on the table wondering if I really wanted it at all. After debating whether to open it or not, I let it sit and got in the shower. My mind randomly went back and forth between the two newest objects in the apartment. While trying to relax I struggled to forget them both.
After tolerating them both nagging at the back of my mind I rushed to get outside. I needed the fresh air in my lungs and the sunlight on my face. Two blocks away from the apartment my mother’s voice came again. Regretting what ran through my mind, but I did it anyway. I turned around and jogged the whole way back. I hoped maybe having it with me at work would ease my mind. Plus, if I got bored I could go through it.
Quickly I threw the folder into my bag then started on my journey back to Gallery 45.