Prologue
The scene is thousands of years ago, when the Ancient Greeks lived peaceful under the rule of their powerful gods. Zeus, the almighty lord of the Greek gods, jealously guards his secrets from the beings on earth. According to Greek legend, Zeus asked his two cousins, the Titans Prometheus and Epimetheus, to give all of the animals living on earth a gift. By the time Epimetheus got to giving man a gift, there were none left. Prometheus cleverly stole Zeus' fire and gave it to man, instructing Epimetheus not to receive any gifts from Zeus, for it would just be a trick. Zeus, getting word of the deed Prometheus had committed, was beyond furious. Prometheus was permanently chained to a giant boulder, and every day a giant eagle would come and eat out his liver (being an immortal Titan, his liver grew back daily). For man however, Zeus had a different punishment in mind; a cruel, devious, disastrous punishment.
It was said that Pandora had goddess-like beauty, with each god and goddess on Mount Olympus adding their part in her creation. However, it was specifically requested that she was taught to be deceitful, and to be curious. Once created, Pandora was given a large jar, which she was told never to open. Inside of the jar were more "gifts" that Zeus intended to bestow upon man, including illness, hardship, and other plaguing evils. Pandora was brought down to earth and Epimetheus, forgetting his brother's wise words, was immediately drawn to her and took her in. Naturally, Pandora's curiosity overtook her, and she peeked inside the jar, letting the evils out to freely roam the world. However, at the very bottom of the jar was hope, which was also released into the world. For a small bit of hope is needed, if there is any chance of overcoming the wicked things brought into the world.
Perhaps, this myth describes how the first woman on earth unleashes evil onto the world. Perhaps, it explains how such corrupt, evil things have been brought into our beautiful world. The true meaning to this myth has been debated for years. Yet, there are two things that are agreed upon. Firstly, it is the myth as to how women came to earth. Secondly, that women are indeed beautiful, and can be potentially dangerous.
Thousands of years after this myth originated, we now move to a different scene. Not a loud sound is heard. A wide open plain, with grass as far as the eye can see. Wind ruffles the sea of grass so that it sways back and forth. In a tamed field surrounded by a white fence, a stallion and two mares are seen grazing, a small black colt prancing energetically along the edge of the fence, while a small white and black sheep dog lies under the shade of the large tree. A red barn with the words "Montez" painted onto the side is seen, however the size is of no comparison to the large three story brick mansion. Complete with red brick, black roofing and roundabout driveway with two sleek black cars parked, an Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz. The golden sun's light shall soon dimmer, fading beyond the horizon line as darkness will settle over the calmness.
A sleek black stallion was beginning to appear over the horizon, powerful muscles emphasized with every stride taken, his slender rider balancing on his back. Her raven hair flowed in the wind, blending with the stallions, the pair gliding over the ocean of green. Slowing him down to a canter, the girl patted the mighty steed's long neck, a simple sign of affection and gratitude. Nearing the stables, she jumped off, beginning to lead her horse to the stables. A man in his mid-thirties appeared from behind the red wooden building, falling into step with the raven-haired beauty.
"That's the last time we let Ebony out after it's rained." The man groaned, wiping his grimy hands with a cloth. The beauty let out a melodic laugh.
"What can I say, she's inherited her father's playful nature." She said, patting the neck of the large animal.
"Speaking of fathers..."
"It came today, didn't it Aaron?" The girl said, sighing.
"He's furious." Aaron responded, taking the reins from her hand. "I'll take care of Black Magic here, and I would suggest you get into that house as quickly as possible." The girl's eyes avoided his, instead playfully scratching behind her horse's ear. Aaron quickly stepped in front her, forcing her to look up at him. "Gabs, you knew this was going to happen, you've been expecting to hear from them for a week now. It's about time you got control of your life, instead of listening to everything that your father tells you."
"I know that, but I feel terrible knowing he's going to be hurt. Daddy puts on a persona of a brave, strong man, but underneath he's a soft-hearted man."
"Do the same. Put on a brave face, and walk in there with confidence. There's no way daddy can get mad at his precious baby girl."
"I'm hardly a baby girl. At twenty-four, I am most definitely a woman."
Indeed she was. Gabriella Montez was the only daughter of Benito Montez, the rich owner and head CEO of Montez Incorporated. After Gabriella was born, he refused to have his daughter in the public eye, and so he moved his family out to the middle of North Carolina to live on a private mansion. Along with his wife Maria, Benito raised Gabriella to be an honest and delicate girl. Being homeschooled, Gabriella had absolutely no contact with the outside world. As Gabriella grew older, she longed to experience what it was like to be a regular person in society, her only knowledge being the movies she'd watched, and what she'd researched on the internet. Her curiosity gave her the strength she needed to beg her father to allow her out of the house, and after weeks of pouting, ignoring and complaining, Benito gave in and granted his daughter her wish. Gabriella, after countless interviews and exams proving her incredible intelligence level, was finally accepted into Stanford University.
It was then that Gabriella was released upon the world. With deep brown eyes, a dazzling smile, glamorous yet gentle personality, and charismatic nature, Gabriella immediately caught the eye of every person on campus. She became the girl that men sought to claim as their own, and women envied, yet wanted to be her friend to "keep the enemy close". Unfortunately, these aren't the people Gabriella would have called "friends", and so seven years later, at the age of twenty-four, when Gabriella graduated from Stanford with a major in criminology and degree in law, she still didn't feel satisfied she had learned everything she could.
This is where we find her today. After returning from university, her life fell back into the normal routine she had before Stanford. It felt like nothing had changed. Gabriella, however, had other things on her mind, and was determined to turn her life into something interesting.
Walking up the pathway to the main house, butterflies began to fill her stomach. Heels' clicking against the slate, her vital organ was pounding against her ribcage. Small beads of sweat trickled down her olive skin, her long hair blowing around her face. Worry clouded her deep chocolate brown eyes as they locked in on the front door, all previous thoughts of confidence and strength leaving her.
Her hand grasped the golden handle of the wooden door, gently pushing the door open and stepping into the cool air-conditioned household. Her eyes darted around the main entranceway, her legs mechanically moving themselves forward, step by step, towards the dreaded room. Oxygen filled her lungs as she took in a deep breath, exhaling for a long time before finally stepping through the wooden archway. Immediately, two pairs of eyes burned into her skin, Gabriella's eyes locking first with the warm brown eyes she had luckily inherited, to the dark eyes in the leather chair, black with anger.
"Sit."
Sighing, Gabriella fell back against the black leather of the couch. A warm hand gently grasped hers, soothingly rubbing it's thumb against her palm. Turning her head, the elderly version of Gabriella smiled warmly at her daughter, squeezing her hand. Confidence rushed through her body from that simple gesture; Gabriella could do this.
"Would you care to explain to me, why exactly I got a letter today from Elmer & Doyle Law Firm in Los Angeles?" the cold voice asked. Her father wasn't usually this angry, though she understood that it wasn't actually his anger that was causing this emotion, but fear masked with the brave face he was attempting to put on.
"I applied there just after I left Stanford." Gabriella answered, staring directly into her father's eyes. In a way she felt sorry for her mother, being just a middle man, or woman in her case, in the battle between father and daughter.
"Why?"
"Daddy, I can't be stuck here all my life. I have to go out and life a little. I want be able to support myself on my own, not have to depend on you for everything I want or need in my life. I want to go meet people, make friends, and fall in love." Her father's eyes widened at the last four words, though that was understandable. She was his only daughter, and he was to be the only man in his life. As soon as the word's left her pink lips, Gabriella regretted them, knowing they would not help the argument any more. "I want to live."
"What's wrong with your life here?" he was breaking down, his mask breaking as his eyes moistened, hand clenching against the pen he was holding so strongly Gabriella feared it would break. "You have friends, what about Aaron? You can live comfortably here, and I can ever give you a job in my company. Why fly all the way across the country?"
"Daddy you don't understand. I need to separate myself. I need to go somewhere where I will not have to worry about people befriending me or using me because I am Benito Montez's daughter. Somewhere I can be free."
"Sweetie, could you not have found somewhere closer?" Maria chimed in, concern on her face. "LA's very far and it's not exactly the most innocent place in the world. It's dangerous."
"Ma, Elmer & Doyle is one of the top law firms in the whole country. I graduated with honours from Stanford; I want to be able to work at the best law firm I can." Benito sighed, his eyes drifting down to look at his oak desk.
"Is this what you really want?" Tears began filling Gabriella's eyes as she looked at the pained expression on her father's face.
"Daddy, you won't be losing me forever. I promise you, we'll still keep in touch."
"I love you, mi hermosa hija." Benito said gently, as a single tear glided down his cheek. Rushing from her spot on the couch, Gabriella ran around the desk and threw herself against her father's chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
"Te quiero." Gabriella whispered into his ear.
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was bustling with people running to catch their flights, parents calming down anxious children, and annoyed workers. Gabriella stood at the entranceway to USA boarding with her luggage handle in one hand, black coat lying on top of it, and her other wrapped around her mother.
"Promise you'll call the second you land?" her worried mother said frantically. "Call us as well when you arrive at your apartment, so you can let us know that everything is good. If you need anything, don't worry you can just ask. You've already got a bank account set up there that your father had put a good amount of money into just in case. Oh and don't forget to eat! Don't overwork! I want you to call your father and me every night to tell us how things are going. Oh baby I'm going to miss you so much. Are you sure that you have-" Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"Mama I'll be fine, don't worry. This is all written down in my journal." Maria continued to squeeze her daughter tightly.
"Oh hija I'm going to miss you so much."
"I'm going to miss you to mama." Gabriella whispered, her eyes wetting with tears. After finally being released from her mother's iron tight grip, she turned to look at her unusually silent father. "Papa?"
Grasping his daughter tightly in a hug, Benito said "Take care of yourself hija. You're no longer going to have Aaron to run to if something's up. Make some new friends and mostly, have a good time."
"I will." Gabriella said, the reality finally hitting her. A new life was beginning for her; she would have to start all on her own. No father, mother, or stable hand to fall back on.
"I've sent your car already. It's being driven there as we speak, and should be arriving in Los Angeles in a couple of days."
"Thanks papa. I love you both." With that, Gabriella took one final glance at her parents, her support system for the past twenty-four years. As she walked through the gate, she was walking into a new life. Confidence built up inside her as she checked her baggage and headed to her gate. She seemed to be floating in between two worlds, her old sheltered world, and her new world.
Once seated on the plane, Gabriella stared out the window as the airport grew smaller and smaller into the distance. Little did she know that she was opening herself up to an entire new world. A world, where she would encounter new evils and vices. A world where she would experience new things.
A world, where unknown to Gabriella, she would provide hope for one man in the midst of all the evil.
AN: So, that's the prologue to my newest story. I have been working on phrasing it and figuring things out for this story for a long time now. I really love where I want to take this story and what it will lead into, but I need to know if you guys love this story and the idea of it, or at least what you think it could be. Please let me know in a review.
Thank you to dancer4ever113 for your review. It really touched me. I corrected those mistakes that you pointed out.
Now, I'm just warning, because I want to make this story absolutely perfect, it will take me longer to write the chapters. So could you also please review and tell me if you'd be willing to put up with that.
Xoxo,
Lar