Chapter 4
Conner Smith sat in his living room listening to Bach's Piano Concerto #9. He sat in silence as he listened to the music. His eyes were on the paper in front of him and the pencil in his hand. It was warm inside the house so he took off his jacket and tie and made himself more comfortable. A few moments later a much older gentleman with a beard and hair as white as snow walked in.
"Hello Grandfather." Conner said not turning around.
He knew he was there, ever since he was a child, he could always sense the old man's presence.
"Hello son."
The old man stepped closer, looking at what he was drawing. It was a woman in a long flowing gown.
"So is this your latest work?" The old man asked.
"Yes actually." Connor answered.
"She's beautiful."
Conner turned and smiled at the old man.
"Beauty is such a human attribute Grandfather." He turned back to his drawing. "Besides, I like to think of this more as strength."
"Strength how?"
"I can not explain it. The woman I met who is sitting for me, she is feminine, but yet she is very ... pretty ... for a human." Connor answered with a smile.
"So you must like her then?"
"I just met her, I can not say if I like her or not. I do know that I did enjoy my time with her."
The old man just stood there and watched him for a few more moments and then he excused himself.
"Well son, I will leave you to your creating."
The old man walked silently out of the room. As he left Connor alone, he thought back to when he was a child and how he lost his father at such a young age. The old man remembered how traumatic it was for him to see his father die at the hand of The One. The poor child cried for weeks and there were many nights when the old man would wake to hear young Connor screaming as he awoke from the nightmares that played over and over in his head since that fateful night. He thought back to the first time Connor had come to live with him. At first The Architect had no idea as to what to do with a child especially since Connor was only seven years old at the time.
"Daddy!" The little boy yelled.
The old man rushed to his side and held the crying child close to him.
"It's alright Conner. I'm here. Shhhh..." The old man just held him.
"The bad man in the long black coat was hurting daddy." The little boy sobbed.
"I know son, it was only a dream. Grandpa's here ..."
"It was raining and the man was killing daddy. Daddy's not coming back is he?"
Tears rolled down the old man's cheeks as he held the little boy close.
"No I'm afraid he's not son."
"Is daddy in heaven grampa?"
He nodded and smiled at the boy.
"Yes he is. Now go to sleep." He kissed the child on the forehead and tucked him in. He waited until little Connor fell asleep.
Over time The Architect learned what it really was to love someone other than himself. Finally he took it upon himself to raise young Connor as his own and as he grew up, every day he looked more and more like his father, especially in the eyes. But the strange thing was, he didn't act like his father. After what had happened all those many years ago, one would think he would hate humans, but instead he was fascinated by them. He finally came to the realization, that not all humans were bad. The only bad human was the one who killed his father. But then why did this man come to him sometimes when he drew or painted? Maybe he was a demon that Connor Smith still had to wrestle with.
Lexi was lying awake in her bed, she couldn't sleep. It was about ten at night as she sat there watching Star Wars. The phone rang and she wondered who in the hell could be calling this late at night. She picked up the reciever.
"Hello?"
"Hey girl! What's up?" It was her best friend Selina.
"Oh hey Selina. Where you at?"
"I'm here at the radio station, PK called in sick and I'm covering his shift." She said.
"Wow! You're on the air during grave yard?"
"Hey it's more exposure for me."
"Well work it out girl."
"Hey Lexi, can you hang on second? We're going to commercial break."
"Sure."
Lexi sat there as Selina went to commercial break. A few moments later she was back on the line.
"So anyway, how's the muse thing working out?" Selina asked.
"Well I had my first sitting today and I think it went pretty well. I got paid for just sitting there and I didn't even take my clothes off."
"What?"
"Yeah, he paid me a thousand bucks."
"No shit? Just for sitting and drawing you?"
"Yeah no shit."
There was a long pause.
"So is he cute?" Selina asked.
"Selina!"
"Come on inquiring minds wanna know!"
There was another pause.
"Well yeah. He is cute. I'll be honest, but it's strictly professional. He lives in a big place out in the west hills."
"Hmmm, cute, loaded and eccentric. So what's his name?" Selina asked.
"Uh, Conner Smith." Lexi answered.
"You mean Connor Smith the artist?" There was an excited tone in her voice.
"I didn't know he was famous."
"You're posing for a genius girlfriend."
"A genius?"
"I can tell you he's very well known in the major art circles around the world. His work has sold millions and he's not even dead yet! You're so lucky to be working with him, I'm so envious of you right now! I would kill to pose for him!"
"Wow. I learn something new everyday." Lexi said to herself.
"What's he like to work with?" Selina asked.
"He's very quiet, he plays the piano quite well and he seems very nice." Lexi said with a grin.
"Wow! A man of many talents." Selina mused.
"Well it's getting late and I have to get to bed sweety. Good night!"
"Night Lexi!"
And then Selina hung up. Lexi laid on her bed and turned off the TV and turned on the stereo. She drifted off to sleep listening to Bach's Piano Concerto #9. Not too far off Connor couldn't sleep and so he went to the study and picked up the drawing of Lexi and started to paint in watercolor. As long as he drew her the man in the long black coat would not creep into his head.
