I met him when he was eight. He was a small boy who had the most beautifully innocent blue eyes and the prettiest dark hair you could ever see. He was crying crystalline teardrops of loneliness the first time I saw him. And I could feel everything inside of me churn and ache, causing me to fall within this aching abyss of loneliness. I knew what he was feeling, for the same despairing emotions had installed itself deeply within me, so deep that I could hardly breath, think, do anything… I knew that he was my salvation. He was my escape from pain… An aching pulsing within our hearts It beckons us with so much magic I'm lost within its mist Can you feel the intensity, the pureness? As it warps around us like a warm blanket Causing us to suffocate on its sweetness. ----------------------------------------------------------- Kiss From a Dream By Eternal Angel stargazing12@hotmail.com Chapter 1 – Art galleries and sparkling champagne ----------------------------------------------------------- She could feel eyes boring intensely into the back of her head. She whipped around to take a look at who would be staring at her with such a demanding presence. But all she saw was the swirling art crowd whispering about the painting adjacent from them. She frowned; was she hallucinating? She sighed, looking at the crowd who were all dressed in somber and predictable black and white. She looked at her own black dress with a sigh. And here she was, just like everyone else. She felt quite foolish now as her date Lucian come to her side with a glass of champagne. His blond hair was a dusty blond with dark streaks of brown highlighting it. His green eyes were like pieces of jade, lighting up in so many different ways. "Cara," he said with a smile. She could feel her heart clench at that sweet exotic word that meant beloved. "Thanks for coming with me. You're a sweetheart." She smiled sweetly at him as he handed her the glass of champagne that she wasn't accustomed of drinking, but took a sip of it anyway. She could feel the bubbling fiz slide down her throat, making her feel like giggling. But she kept her face straight as the tickling bubbles slid down her throat. She swirled the glass in her hand with pleasure. "No biggie Lucian, it's not as if I have anything better to do on a Saturday night." He smiled at her sweetly, his beautiful green eyes staring at her with a beautiful hazy mirth as he turned from her, looking around the room and at the paintings that were adorning the walls. "Is there anything you like?" The paintings on the wall were that of a new arising artist who liked to clash dim colors with brighter colors, spinning it with an aching desire that pulsed with so much pain. Many caused her to ache with a dreary pulsing, but when her eyes found one hidden in the far corner … she felt all emotions halt. She couldn't keep her eyes off of it. "Serena…?" She turned to him and directed him to the picture in the far corner. "That painting, it's so beautiful. It pulses with so many emotions but is filled with such calamity … such serenity … it's so beautiful." Calamity means chaos, etc. Serenity is calming, soothing. They kind of contradict. He stared at it, from the distance, and grinned. He smiled, her fragmented descriptions causing him to see the painting in a new light, as he tugged at her, dragging her along with him as he searched for the gallery owner. "Let me buy it for you then," he told her firmly, as she halted. "Buy it?" She asked with a squeak, "It'd cost a fortune!" He let out a laugh, "Oh cara, you are such an innocence... I wonder how I could have found someone like you. Aren't you forgetting that I have a fortune?" She had been going out with Lucian for the past two months, finding that he was such a sweet and caring person. She felt so wanted in his arms, with his smiles, his caressing words. Everything about him was refreshing and beautiful. She couldn't help but feel so doted on by him, finding it a bedazzling experience – being so sought out for. The only other person who had treated her with such a tender care must have been her old neighbor who had passed away not so long ago. Luna was a wonderful neighbor and an even more wonderful friend. She remembered the days when she would spend time at Luna's house, sipping tea and talking about work, life, and future ambition. Luna had showed her the beauty of true tender love and care, something she had never felt from her parents as she grew up. And it was no wonder that she felt so heart broken when she received the news that the elderly woman had passed away due to a fatal heart attack. But what surprised her the most was the fact that Luna had left her with two beautiful crystals with a note saying, "these are your past, these will be your destiny". She never understood what that had really meant; she was too in grief to even care about those words. She sighed, feeling the past memories re-igniting deep emotions of grief. She tried to push away the bubbling emotions as she tried to pay attention to the conversation that Lucian was engaged in with the gallery owner about the beautiful painting she had taken a liking for. She could feel the familiar tickling sensation of eyes boring into the back of her head once again. She shuddered at the deep intensity of the feeling of something boring into the back of her head; she knew she was being watched again. She whipped her head back once again, only to see no one. "How strange…" she thought, as she tried to concentrate on Lucian's conversation, jolting back to full reality when she caught a "10,000" being thrown about. She cringed at the hefty sum for just a painting … "I'll pay 1,000 more for that same painting," a new sleek voice edged into the conversation. She tilted her head to look at the man who now entered the scene, finding herself captivated with his beauty. He had the breath taking beauty of a man that the Greeks would carve, saying that 'this was the ideal man'. And he was, with his awe striking beauty and those arousing sapphire eyes, she felt herself falling captive within his gaze. His eyes… there was something familiar about that intense gaze … almost like… Lucian had a different reaction to the dominating male that had just graced the scene. He frowned with much vexation at the other man's presence and his interruption of his purchase. "I'll pay 13,000." The gallery owner, a petite man who wore a dark suit, was gleeful at this new development which would hopefully bring him more profits. He turned to the tall, dark and mysterious man, hoping that he'd bid some more. Contrary to his words, he did. "15." "20." "30." "40," Lucian retorted, his eyes glaring at tall, dark and mysterious man as Serena frowned. She finally drifted back from her trancelike admiration only to be annoyed at her behavior. She was with Lucian … she shouldn't be checking out another man! Especially one she didn't know… Lucian was perfect for her anyways … just perfect… "50." Lucian opened his mouth to say more as she nudged him with a scold, irritated that these men could play such a game without any true inkling about how this money could be used for better things than just a painting. "Don't you dare bid anymore. I didn't like that painting much anyways. If you really want, you can buy me that cute stuffed rabbit I saw on our way here... My collection beckons for it!" Her eyes sparkled as he sighed, her words getting through to him. "Alright cara, if you say so..." Lucian stared at the dark haired man for a second. "I never knew you were into art." The dark haired man shrugged, "I'm not." Lucian's frowned deepened. "I hope you like your painting anyways." His words were hot and stuffy as she could feel the all so familiar gaze fall down onto her. "Ohh, I will." Those eyes... She couldn't help but fall straight into their trap. She brought the champagne to her lips and took a much needed sip, as he chuckled and walked away. She looked at Lucian from the corner of her eyes as she wondered if he noticed her shameful doting for the other man. But to her relief he didn't. "Who was that?" She asked Lucian as he just growled, his eyes staring at the retreating man who had the gallery own in his toll I don't quite understand this statement. He then turned to face her, his champagne almost spilling at his fast movements. "Darien Callahan." "You mean the person that owns Shields Corporation? Isn't he your main rival...?" She asked as he nodded, with a frown, as he turned back to watch the dark haired man in the crowd who smirked back at him. "Yeah..." he sighed and then grinned, "Let's go get that stuffed rabbit of yours cara." She grinned, "Let's." He was talking to his best friend when he saw her come in through the double doors of the gallery. He could feel himself become lost within the sight of her, a beautiful golden angel that descended down from heaven to walk upon the murky depths of the world. He could feel himself become lost in the sight of such beauty within the modest sleek black dress that fitted her with such elegance. But what she wore that was the most captivating was the smile that brightened up the dimly lit room. She truly was heaven sent. A beautiful golden angel… His golden angel… The blond who stood next to him, nudged him, handing him a glass of sparkling champagne. "Darien, are you paying attention to me?" "Not at all," Darien replied honestly, his eyes continuing to fall within the trance of the beauty that stood before him. He couldn't help but find something so familiar about her, as if she was something he had lost so long ago… something he wished he could regain back. Andrew frowned and then followed his eyes, letting out a low whistle at the sight of the girl whom he was dolefully admiring, to his surprise. Darien wasn't one who would become so transfixed over women, but… when he looked at the woman, he understood why Darien would become so intrigued over her. "Now that's a sight." The dark haired man ignored his friend's comments and continued to stare at her, feeling the deep attraction for her deep within himself. That was before he noticed whom she was clinging too. He could feel a bitter jerk away from his admiration at the sight of his golden angel clinging onto Lucian Thurston, his main competitor. The sight ignited an explosive frustration deep within him. 'She supposed to be with me,' he thought with a riveting anger pulsing from deep within him. He paused, wondering why he was feeling so disdainful. It wasn't as if he held any feelings for this woman… A woman whom he thought was his own personal angel. "Ah, so she's Thurston's current paramour," Andrew said regretfully. "Isn't that just a shame?" Thurston's paramour… Another shot of anger, another frustrated self- argument, and then her eyes, turning back to stare right past him… or at him? He felt himself sink within her beauty of true innocence that danced around her. She couldn't be Thurston's lover, not with eyes like those. "If she's Thurston's, that'd only mean she'd be more fun to have," he then stated with a thoughtful look as Andrew could already hear the knavish thinking within his mind. He looked across the room at the blonde, feeling sorry for her. He too could feel the innocence the roamed through her like apparel upon her back. "Do you think it's wise?" "No," Darien said with a laugh, "but that's what makes it all so much fun." The art crowd shuffled around a bit as he wove through the crowd, hoping to find his way to the angel and, well, Lucian. As he neared, he overheard his angel's description of one of the paintings she had favored. 'Calamity and serenity …' she had said it was, finding that it was the same painting that he had admired earlier on in the evening. Her sweet descriptive words were enough to make him want to go out and buy the painting himself, but he couldn't help but almost be beaten by Thurston's eagerness to please. Darien frowned. He wasn't going to let Thurston win him out on anything now. Especially now since Thurston already had something that he wanted. His angel. She couldn't sleep that night. She laid awake finding herself become haunted by those beautiful blue eyes that bored into the back of her head. Eyes that belonged to the playboy Callahan, or so many have dubbed him as so. Frowning, she found herself lost within the whole intensity of them, and the feeling of the faint familiarity beckoning her as they focused on her. It was as if she had seen them before… But never that. She would have known if she had seen those eyes before. They were an unforgettable shade of blue that seemingly pulsed with no emotion – but with every emotion. She buried her head into her new stuffed bunny. Lucian and Darien seemed to be such complete opposites. While Lucian held school-boyish good looks with his sun blonde hair and his bright green eyes, Darien held dark rugged looks with his midnight dark hair and his eyes that swirled within the dark mist. She couldn't help but feel as if she was betraying Lucian, the man that she was with. A man who doted on her … but there was something about the relationship with him from the very start that wasn't as complete as she would have wished it would be. He gave her security, happiness … but … passion? Never any passion. She also felt as if both of them were holding back on each other, making their relationship seem so … Lacking. She couldn't explain it; all she knew was that everything inside her spun in confusion. Why couldn't things be easier to understand? He woke up with the nagging of his dream still lazing in his mind. A hazy mess that he lost all faith in, that he shouldn't and wouldn't care about. But the haziness seemed to captivate him like heavy fog, as he lied awake trying to think of other things. His eyes then glanced at his newly purchased painting that cost him quite a bundle. He couldn't help but revel with the fact that he was able to outbid Thurston who wanted to buy the painting for his golden angel. His golden angel. The possessiveness he never knew he was capable of seemed to become a spinning wave of desire as he wondered why he felt himself totally and utterly attracted to her. Everything about her made him grow more and more alert to her movement. The way her eyes sparkled, the way she sipped her champagne … there was a beautiful sensuousness of her being off in her own little world, amusing him with her innocence. He could feel his want for her dance like a silver flame bursting throughout his body. He could feel himself fall within this attraction that wrapped him around its arms. No one ever made him feel this way before, made him feel so lost with just a single look, a single meeting. Why was it that she was so different from everyone else? He stared at the picture, searching for an answer but never finding a true sustainable reply as he pondered where he was going to go from here. But where was here? He frowned and contemplated his ponderings. The sight that greeted her as she entered her little work area was a bouquet of beautiful, luscious, red, long stem roses, which sat in a crystalline vase on her desk. She rubbed her eyes to make sure that they weren't a mirage. Nope, they were still there, staring back at her elegantly. She stared at them in awe as she turned to Molly, a wonderful girl that was a little older than her with fair brown hair and a wonderful smile. When she first went to work as Lucian's personal assistant with Molly, they had both hit it off quite easily, becoming quick friends. "Who is this from?" She asked, as Molly shrugged with a large smile on her face. "I don't know Serena. I mean, shouldn't you know? The flowers are for you and not for me… why don't you check the card," Molly had suggested as she then noticed the envelope that stood within the mass of flowers and greenery that accompanied it. She opened the ivory colored envelope, her eyes gazing at the lazy yet neat handwriting printed on the card. "For my golden angel, beauty knows no true limit when it comes to you." She could feel everything burst inside of her as she melted completely at those simple words and fell in a deep state. She closed her eyes and sighed. Who could this be from? Deep blue eyes filled her mind but she shook her head, knowing that it couldn't have been him. But… Why couldn't she help but wish…? Another lazy sigh as Molly took the card out of her hand and read it out loud as she let out one of her own sighs in the sweet romanticism of the short note. Molly felt overjoyed for her younger friend. Having some romance in her life would always be wonderful! Especially when she knew that Lucian… Serena grabbed the note from her friend's hand, as she stared at the black ink some more, another heavy sigh escaping her lips. 'It must have been from Lucian,' she thought, as she sat on the chair. 'Probably because he wasn't able to get me that painting…' But for some reason the thought of it being from Lucian didn't cause herself to jump up in glee than the thought that it was from … but that was all foolish talk, wasn't it? Before she could read into it anymore, the door opened to reveal Lucian whom walked casually into the room, a stack of papers in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other. He looked up from his papers ever so casually and turned his gaze to her, his PA, and then at the roses. An amused look formed on his face as he raised an eyebrow, "Roses?" "I love them… thank you…" He looked at her in surprise and then replied simply, "I didn't send them." Her mouth formed an 'O' as she tilted her head. "What do you mean you didn't send them? I mean, if you didn't send them, who else would send them?" It wasn't as if she knew many men, especially anyone that would go out and buy her such a flamboyant gift. Blue eyes danced in the back of her mind. It couldn't be him … could it? "Ahh, a woman that doesn't know her own appeal …" She fell back into reality and blushed at the comment. "I guess from now on I have to stand guard and watch you more carefully just in case some fellow steals you away from me." She could feel herself turn a deeper red color as he chuckled. "I need you in ten minutes to get down this letter …" he then leaned and kissed her softly on the lips, "Just so you don't get any ideas of falling for this secret admirer of yours." Molly frowned, as he walked back into her office. She continued to look at the roses in utter curiosity. If it wasn't from Lucian… then whom could it be from? The idea of a secret admirer was ludicrous! Just ludicrous! Lucian took her out to dinner that night, telling her that he had to beat the rose-giving admirer. She couldn't help but find herself amused at the way men perceive things. Some men would be jealous, some men would be accusing, but Lucian? Well, he thought of it as a challenge, and he was one who enjoyed challenges. Yet something deep within her couldn't help but wish he was a tad more of the jealous and accusing type. It would have made her feel more wanted, more desired instead of just someone that simulates the whole adventure of a relationship. The waiter escorted them to their seat near the tall windows that overlooked the glittering streets of New York. She stared at the glittering lights, after she ordered her dish, as the empty silence filled the air. Had their dates always been this awkward? She couldn't help but wonder, as she frowned. Why was she noticing little things that she had not before? Soft piano music filtered in the background, as other couples stood up and danced. The waiter brought them their appetizer, the silence still consuming the conversation. The appetizer then was taken away, as their delicate, savory main dishes arrived at the same time, along with a delicious red wine that went perfectly with their dishes. He looked up at her then, his eyes thoughtful. "Tell me a little more about yourself Serena," he asked her, his deep voice goading her out of the daze she was in. She blinked in surprise at his words and at the broken silence. "Wh… about me?" Her voice squeaked as he laughed at that. Topics that involved her was never something she truly enjoyed talking about. "Yes, about you. Are you so appalled that I would ask such a question?" He asked her, his eyes gazing into hers, "Does it shock you that I'd want to know a little bit about you other than what was on your records, madam PA." "You looked at my records… I thought they were only for empl…" she rethought that whole sentence for a moment and then stated something more prudent, "I mean … why?" "I just want to know a little bit more about the person I'm seeing right now," he then gave her a 'come on, this is a cute look and you must adore me' type of look that the male species had tucked away for times like this, "Is that so much to ask for?" And she, being female, was unable to resist that look. She sighed instead and gave into him. "What would you like me to say?" She asked him, "I mean, I was born, I am living, and I have yet to die." He laughed, "Always the optimist aren't you?" She shrugged, "I only cite the absolute truth … well, most of the time at least." With that she looked down at her plate and begun to eat the delicious crab pasta wondering why her hesitation at telling him about herself. Although it was a topic she generally didn't like to touch, such hesitation for a man she thought she cared about was odd. They had been dating for two months and still she could feel some restriction within this relationship, just like the awkwardness that she had felt just moments ago… "Thurston," a deep vibrating voice filled the air, as she looked up, those hauntingly blue eyes staring down at her for a second with an unknown fiery expression, then looked at the corresponding blonde haired Adonis, who frowned at the offending man. "What are you doing here?" Darien laughed, shrugging off the ugly look as he replied with a simple, "Having dinner of course." He indicated to the table off to the side, which sat a pretty brunette who looked at him with a pout, beckoning him back to her, "I saw you from over there and though I should say hello." It was now her turn to frown as she looked at the brunette from the corner of her eyes. The brunette was dressed in a very tight fitting gold dress with her hair all propped up. By god, she was beautiful, like a model! Serena couldn't help but find herself so plain compared to her… She sighed, as she focused her attention back onto the two conversing – or more like glaring at each other and seeing who can out do the other. Challenges, always the challenge… Letting out a cough, she got the attention of both men, who were surprised at her interruption to their match to see who could outdo the other. "Lucian," She said, her voice sickly sweet, "I want to dance… can we?" She then let out her 'come on sweetie, you just got to do what I say' look (he wasn't the only one with a look) as he nodded, excused himself and stood up, and took her to the dance floor. She could feel those eyes following her… She looked behind to find him gone. He watched her as she led Lucian onto the dance floor. He couldn't help but find himself bestowed with a tangling feeling that he tried not to read into. After stalking back to his table, he gave his date (who's name was either Annette or Melissa) one of his million dollar smiles that all women loved, "Want to dance?" She nodded slyly, giving him a seductive look, "Of course." He swept her to her feet and took her to the dance floor only to have her tightly grasping him. He almost gagged when he smelt the intoxicating perfume she wore, noting that it was probably some brand with a French word meaning 'Skunk'. Why was it that a product's value was so boosted when a person added a French fling to its name when the product was completely made from the good old U.S. He knew for sure that his golden angel wouldn't be spraying herself crazy with some impractically smelling perfume just because propaganda had gotten to her. No, she was different from any other female that he knew. He watched his dancing angel with the other man, whispering into his ear … a pitted jealousy entered him. Why was he so attracted to her? Was it because she was with Thurston…? The song ended much to his relief as he parted from his partner (who had seem to have placed her whole weight on him) and took deep breaths of the cleansing clean air. Surprisingly enough, he found himself standing next to his angel. He tapped his angel's shoulder to his date's utter annoyance. "May I cut in?" He asked, as his blue eyes then clashed with green ones. "You wouldn't mind if I borrow your lovely date will you?" Thurston let out a stern nod as the brunette moved onto the now dance-partnerless attractive man. He didn't care too much for that. The music started up again as he lead her into the dance. He leaned over and asked, "Why are you with Thurston?" She looked up at him then, in surprise as his beautiful dark blue eyes clashed with hers, causing her to drown within them. "I find you two totally unsuitable." "What? Who are you to say such a thing?" She retorted angrily, mad the fact that he dared to be so judging. "You don't know anything about my relationship with Lucian, so who are you to say that we are unsuitable? What makes us unsuitable in your eyes?" 'The fact that you're with another man besides me…' he wanted to answer, but instead he just let out a lazy sigh and spun her around. "I just wonder…" "Well why don't you go off and wonder somewhere else?" She tried to break free of his grasp but he wouldn't let her. Instead he held onto her even tighter, a thoughtful look on his face. "I don't know, I just thought it was strange seeing you two together … I mean, I guess everyone needs a rebound." She stopped fighting then as her eyes widened. "What..? A rebound? What are you saying?" "Well, you wouldn't be interested in this. I mean, weren't you the one who said that I am not to judge this relationship you have with… but…" he let out a shrug and a smile, "I feel as if it is my bound duty to tell you the truth about your paramour. "His fiancée broke their engagement two months ago. He was in love with her since he first met her, five years ago, and it was no surprise when they got engaged two years ago. Everyone knew he was so in love with her by how jealous he would get, but she left him a month before the wedding – he was devastated…" He then paused, and looked up at her smiling so very innocently, "when did you two get together now?" Shock filled her. Was what he was saying true…? What if it wasn't… but… if it was… She frowned. "That's none of your business. Why in the world are you telling me this?" She asked him, "It's not like you're going to benefit in any way!" He laughed at that, "You never know." The song died out then, leaving her standing in the middle of the dance floor with him as he slowly let her go, "Goodbye golden angel, and think about what I said." She balked. Golden angel…? Wasn't that what the man in the card had called her? She stared in shock at the retreating figure.