Author's notes:

2022-01-21: Hey, I wanted to share with you the fragments of the rewritten chapter. I expect to finish that process by the end of the week. However, as always, no promises. Please, do bear in mind that these fragments might be adjusted before the full release.

2022-01-25: Hey, the rewritten part was updated. I'm really sorry that I can't finish it quickly.

2022-01-31: Hey, another small update.

2022-02-01: Hey, another small update.

2022-02-06: Hey, another update (this time a huge one).

2022-02-08: Hey, the process is finally finished. Sorry that it took that much of time, but I feel like the final outcome is worth the time. Please, tell me what do you think :)

Info:
As mentioned before I will try to rewrite as many of my earlier chapters to provide better wording and writing style.
As always I'm very grateful for all the support - kudos, views, comments. See you soon :)

Changelog:
[2022-01-21]: Posted a couple of rewritten fragments.
[2022-01-25]: The additional rewritten fragments were added (around 800 words).
[2022-01-31]: The additional rewritten fragments were added (around 600 words).
[2022-02-01]: The additional rewritten fragments were added (around 800 words).
[2022-02-06]: The additional rewritten fragments were added (around 3000 words).
[2022-02-08]: The additional rewritten fragments were added (around 1600 words). The final edit was released.

References:
- Arch Enemy - Under Black Flag We March

End of the author's notes section.

Rewritten fragments:

It took them more than a couple of minutes to leave the orphanage building. The overwhelming feeling of joy that resided in Akali could barely be contained. The young girl needed to try her hardest not to run ahead freely. She wanted nothing more than to reach the facility's gate. Her mind was filled with this single, modest, yet very tormenting thought. After all, it would mark the end of her story here. The end of a long, sad story, to be precise. She would have finally left these walls that she, unfortunately, grew accustomed to calling home. The 12-year-long nightmare would have been finally over. Maybe after some time, the unpleasant memories of that facility would have faded away, cast into the darkest part of her mind, forgotten.

The girl's freedom lingered only a few steps away from her. Thus, the temptation was that obviously. It would have been so pleasant and joyful to run away, run ahead toward the gates. Still, some rules needed to be maintained. Akali's legal guardian, Evelynn, was a big unknown, so carefreeness would have to be reserved for the future. At least for now, the raven-haired teen wanted, needed to play a perfect girl, obedient and sweet.

Finally, after a few minutes, the orphanage's doors slammed behind them, making the end of this chapter. The warm September's Sun greeted two women as they stepped into a small courtyard located right before the complex. Some green areas surrounded them with 3 or 4 benches scattered around.

"Evelynn?" the raven-haired teen asked shyly.

"Yes, darling? What's on your mind?" Eve responded, averting her gaze off her phone to focus on her protégé.

"I wonder… I wonder… what… did you plan something for today? I mean… for us to do?" Akali asked clumsily, stuttering a lot.

"Hmm…," the magenta-haired woman hummed regarding how to respond. "Our schedule is a little tight today, but worry not, I'll figure something out on a fly," she added, flashing a small smile. "By the way, have you had breakfast yet?" a question was uttered a moment later.

"No," the girl provided an honest response. "I thought that I had overslept, so my morning passed in a hurry. I… I… frankly have not even thought about eating anything. I have simply forgotten about it. But, nevertheless… it is… it is not a big deal. I am not hungry at all," she declared, continuing to mumble.

Evelynn stopped for a little, forcing the young girl to do the same. Then the golden-eyed goddess stared emotionlessly at the teen, causing Akali's heart to go nuts. Nearly instantly, the darkest scenario started to play before the teen's eyes. God might have been the only one knowing how many times such occurrences took place. A heavy gulp seemed to manifest magically inside the girl's throat, making her even more uneasy. After a moment or so, Akali opted to swallow it, which turned out to be challenging.

"That's not how it works, darling. I'm sure you know that," the living goddess commented. "We need to adjust, then. So, the plan is as follows. Firstly, we're going home; let's change the clothes for something more comfortable. I wouldn't want to spend the entire day running with these clothes on," she added, resuming the interrupted stroll. "Secondly, we'll grab something for breakfast at the restaurant of your choosing. Nextly, once you've eaten, we'll go to your new school. I was briefly informed that your schedule is ready, so getting it won't hurt us."

"On top of that, I think it might be beneficial for you to get to know the school's staff. My old friend is a headmistress there, so I expect the introduction to be short. Then, we'll go shopping," the magenta-haired woman continued. Evelynn's golden irises seemed to gleam for a moment. Nevertheless, the teen concluded that her legal guardian must have liked spending her time doing shopping. "You'll need some new clothes, books, and much, much more. So, I think it'll be a wise decision to go to the biggest mall nearby. After all, it gives us the best odds of getting everything you'll soon need. Oh… before I forget, we also need to make some adjustments to your new room. I want you to feel at home there, so I think it's apparent that you have a say regarding the furnishing. But, I'm not going to lie; it might take us quite a while to deal with these bullet points."

"After we deal with these, we'll have a rather later dinner," Evelynn spoke in a somewhat tender manner. "Then, I'll show you around. My, pardon, our home is quite vast, so we should have a good walk ahead of us. If we have some time left, we can watch something. Of course, if you feel like doing os, that's it," the lawyer finished explaining the plan. "Any questions?"

"Evelynn… it sounds wonderful… but," the raven-haired teen started, mumbling and stuttering. "I do not think that all of this is necessary," she added, blushing a little and lowering her sight. "It sounds oh-so-beautiful, but considering that I will be with you for only a couple of next months, I do not think it is worth the effort. After all, I am only a few months away from reaching the age of adulthood. So then, I will not be under your wings anymore," the girl explained. "I hope you are not mad at me for being so bold," she whispered, casting her sight even lower.

"Darling, care to tell me who's told you all this nonsense?" the magenta-haired woman immediately asked. "Who's told you that you're going to stay with me only until you reach adulthood?"

"I believe it was Miss Hindler," the young woman provided a shy response.

"So, please bear in mind that it isn't true," the lawyer uttered softly. "According to the document that I've signed, I have custody over you until you graduate. So, you can live with me for at least a couple of years more. Of course, if you want to, that's," she explained.

"But, of course, I want to," a teenager replied with her eyes wide open. A broad, beautiful smile appeared on her young face a moment later. "Then… then, it changes everything," she added excitedly. "So, maybe it would be the wisest option, for now, to stick to your plan, Eve. Still, you do not need to spend a lot of money on me," Akali stated confidently. "My best clothes are maybe of a medium-quality. I do not mind sticking to them," she added. "Look, I would love to pay you back even a tiny percentage of what you are doing for me. Please, just say a word, and I will help you with everything. I can clean, cook, wash the dishes, do the cleaning, and other housework, and, if necessary, even more," she continued.

"Akali, stop! Stop right there, darling!" the magenta-haired woman raised her voice slightly. "The life you had in the orphanage is passed you. From now on, you'll start a new one, a much easier one. You won't need to worry about such insignificant details like the clothing," the older woman added. "In these areas, you can put your trust in me. I'll provide you with clothes that you want to wear. And… I'll try my best to enable you to do what you desire. So, I'll provide you with everything you need, not to delve further. And… no, you don't need to repay me for a thing, nor will you have to work for these. Naturally, if you want to cook, I won't discourage you from it. But, please, bear in mind that you won't ever be required to," she explained in a much milder tone whilst stopping once again. In the meantime, Evelynn extended her right hand, grabbing her protégé's chin. Then, the lawyer subtly and gently lifted it up slightly for their gazes to meet each other. "Darling," the magenta-haired woman started tenderly. "Let me take care of you; I can assure you that you won't ever regret that decision," she leaned in, whispering softly into the teen's ear.

"Okay," Akali replied in a moan-like manner, entirely conflicted by Evelynn's speech.

"So, it's settled," the living goddess announced, clapping with her hands exactly once. "Then, let's go, sweetheart; we have much to do, after all."

The teen did not respond. Then, a moment later, their stroll was resumed. The raven-haired girl followed her legal guardian with little to no other options. Soon enough, they walked throughout the entirety of the courtyard and entered the parking lot. Behind them, the orphanage's main building lingered in the distance.

For Akali, the passing time was used to contemplate, deep inside her mind. The raven-haired girl wondered what kind of car her guardian owned. After all, given the first impression of the living goddess, it could not have been an ordinary vehicle. On the contrary, it would have been oh-too-simple and, frankly, out of place. Moreover, there was no possibility that the car would have been cheap; the teen was quite sure of that. With each car they passed, her curiosity only grew stronger. Or at least, up to a point, she could not have remained silent.

"Eve?" the black-haired girl asked shyly.

"We're close, Akali," a joyful answer was provided by the magenta-haired woman. "It won't take us more than a few extra moments to get to the car," she added, not even turning back to look at her protégé.

"Ehhh…," Akali sighed. "It was not exactly what I wanted to ask," she muttered.

"So, what's the question, darling?" the living goddess giggled a little.

"What car did you drive in?" the teen enthusiastically asked.

"Hmm," the lawyer hummed loudly. "Curious, aren't you?" Evelynn asked, giggling a little bit more. "I can assure you, it isn't something unusual, extraordinary," she added. Even though the girl did not reply, an unconscious heavy sigh could have been heard. "I have an idea," the older woman added hastily. "Grab my hand and close your eyes. I'll tell you when we're next to the car, then you can reopen your eyes. How does it sound?"

"If… if that's… what you want, Eve," a slightly surprised yet intrigued raven-haired girl spoke. "Then, let's do it," she added, blushing a little.

"Yhhhym," the lawyer purred sensually.

The reaction was immediate; a heavy gulp formed in the teen's throat. Akali swallowed it with some problems, yet she opted to follow her guardian's request. So, with more than a bit of hesitation, she closed her eyes and slightly extended her left hand. The bag she was still carrying was put into her right hand. Then, maybe a moment or two later, a pleasant shudder spread across her frame. Then, as her slightly rough hand met the perfectly smooth skin of the goddess, an unintentional shiver ran down her spine. Akali's young face reddened even more so if it was possible.

"Do you even realise how adorable you look when you're blushing like that?" a rhetorical question was whispered right into the teen's ear. It was immediately followed by a rich, guttural chuckle that caused the girl's goosebumps.

The older woman gently took the girl's hand a moment later, leading her forward slowly. The teenager froze nearly instantly; it was so unreal to give up total control over her body so easily. And… yet, here she was, allowing Evelynn to take the lead. Akali could not have measured the distance they had passed, at least not precisely. The clicking sound of her guardian's stiletto seemed to have a hypnotising effect on her. On top of that, the pleasant warmth emitting from the lawyer was more than distracting.

Still, the clicking sound faded away after some time, and they both stopped. Though it took a little more time for the 17-year-old to notice that minor detail. After all, she was all too absorbed with the unique sensation that had been evoked in her. Precisely speaking, the delicate yet firm hold of the older woman. Nevertheless, to say that Akali's mind had drifted away and had been flooded with such thoughts would have been an understatement. She would not have been able to say where they currently were or what time was it. Instead, the girl was consumed as a whole by her mind that was running wild.

Suddenly, the raven-haired teen felt Evelynn approaching her. The scent of her defined, sweet, expensive perfume hit her nostrils, overthrowing her nearly instantly. The familiar source of heat had returned, conflicting the girl furtherly. Then, a warm breath was felt upon Akali's lips. However, it was retraced a moment later, focusing on her neck and finally her right ear.

"You may open your eyes, darling," a soft whisper sounded, causing the goosebumps to appear.

The girl slowly opened her eyes as instructed. Initially, she was blinded by the immense, bright Sun's rays, forcing the teen to narrow her eyelids instantly. Then, a couple of next moments were used for her eyes to adjust to the lucidity level of her surrounding. Finally, the very first thing she saw was her guardian's beautiful face when it happened. Her curiosity was captured by the lawyer's irises, not for the first time. The colour of the molten gold was so intriguing, intoxicating to Akali. Nextly, she noticed that Evelynn had her lower lip slightly bitten. The surprising discovery caused another pleasant shiver to run down all over her frame.

A moment later, the living goddess slowly removed herself from Akali's field of vision as if with some hesitation. Though once the teen's sight was cleared, she saw something incredible. The raven-haired girl instantly recognised the vehicle's brand. Her eyes opened as widely as possible, banging at the car. Her mouth opened slightly, emphasising the feeling of surprise and admiration. The vehicle parked a few steps away from her was undoubtedly a part of Mercedes's S class line. However, Akali was not sure what exact model was it. The car was painted in the shade of the purest silver. On its body, the teen could have easily seen her precise reflection. However, she could still see the elegant and undoubtedly expensive interior through the slightly tinted windows. It seemed that the upholstery was made of natural leather. The black-haired girl managed to avert her gaze off of the vehicle with some problems. She refocused on her guardian, yet still not believing what she had just witnessed.

"Is… is… is that your car?" Akali mumbled her question, squeaking a little.

"As a matter of facts, yes, sweetie," the magenta-haired woman replied nonchalantly, flashing a confusing smile. "To be perfectly honest, it's my cheapest vehicle. However, it was the most suitable one for today's ride," she added after a slight pause, broadening the smile.

"What model is it, exactly?" a curious girl asked.

"AMG S 63," Evelynn replied instantaneously.

"Sorry for asking," the teen squawked.

"What are you apologising about, sweetheart?" the lawyer asked, getting closer once again. "I don't, and I won't ever require you to know all the models of the luxurious cars all around the world. So you may not know even one, and it wouldn't make a difference for me. So it isn't a problem that you didn't know the model," she added in an amused tone. "But, now, come on, I'm sure you can't wait to take a little ride with this bad boy here. I'm confident that you'll end up liking the revving of its engine."

"I can not say that you are wrong," the teenager spoke, flashing a broad, sheepish smile.

"So, what are we waiting for then?" the living goddess asked rhetorically. "Just put your bag in the car's boot, then come inside," the still-amused woman's voice sounded.

With nothing more to add, the older woman approached the car. A quiet yet still hearable click sounded when the locking mechanism was released. Then, the lawyer situated herself in the driver's seat, pulling her phone in the meantime to check some notifications. The only actual possession of Akali was dealt with relatively quickly. Once the car's boot had been gently closed, she nearly ran toward the passenger's door, opening them a moment later. Still, it must have been admitted; the teen almost melted away on a delicate seat. When a quiet sight suddenly escaped her slightly parted lips, she was brought back to reality. As a result, she reddened heavily, casting her gaze down.

Nevertheless, she realised that she had not yet fastened her seat belts, so she did so quietly. Still, the silence did not last even a fraction of a second. The giggles of the woman sitting next to her reached her ears. As the raven-haired girl turned her head, her face was still flushed, red. The magenta-haired goddess looked at her from her slightly lowered, tinted glasses, smirking openly.

"Hmmm," the lawyer hummed somewhat loudly. "Enjoying the plaything, aren't you?" she asked playfully.

"Ehh," the teen mumbled, a little embarrassed. "I am not sure whether I have sat on anything even remotely so comfortable throughout my life," an honest answer was provided. "I am sorry. My reaction was inappropriate, I guess," she added a moment later.

"Darling, what are you trying to apologise for?" the diva asked rhetorically once again, smirking openly. "There's nothing to apologise for here. Now, let me show you what this little toy can muster. Let's see the potential of this car," she added in a purr-like manner.

"Okay," the girl responded, not entirely sure what else she could have said.

It seemed that Evelynn did not expect any answer as the engine began revving a moment later. Still, the lawyer was satisfied with the provided response, to some extent. Then, the pleasant whirring of the motor filled the vehicle's interior. Enjoying the moment, Akali leaned against the door, looking at the world through the window. Even though Evelynn was evidently driving much faster than the regulation allowed, she did not mind that. The raven-haired teen seemed content with the situation, not worried at the slightest. Quite the opposite happened; frankly, the pleasant sensation caused by the speeding up vehicle had brought a broad smile to that young face. The girl had not even noticed when the siren had begun playing with the car's console while lost in her own thoughts. It should have been pointed out that the magenta-haired woman continued to speed up whilst doing so.

After a few moments, Akali suddenly jumped once the sounds of the rhythmic guitars came out of the speakers scattered all over the vehicle. It took the teen at least a moment more to regain her composure. Once done, she pulled away from the window, curiously turning her head toward Evelynn.

"Does the music suit you, dear?" the woman uttered the question without averting her gaze off the road. "If it doesn't, I can play something else."

"No, it is absolutely perfect," the black-haired girl stated. "However, if you have something a little bit heavier, I would not have complained," she added after a brief pause.

"Hmm… something heavier, you say," the magenta-haired lawyer hummed. "What do you have on your mind, dear? What's heavy in your opinion?" she asked immediately after.

"What about Arch Enemy?" the teen provided swift response.

"Uuu," a gasp-like sound was allowed to escape Evelynn's throat. "Well, then, I got you covered," she added, handing Akali her phone, unlocking it beforehand. "Feel free to choose whatever's on your mind, darling. Just utter the command to the Google Assistant. The phone's connected to the sound system, after all," she explained briefly.

Akali accepted the device with a bit of hesitation. However, a moment later, she located the button with the microphone icon. She pressed it, waiting for the application to confirm that it was recording her voice. As soon as it happened, she spoke up.

"Play Arch Enemy, Under Black Flag We March," she uttered, focusing on the device.

"Sure, I'm going to ask Spotify to play, Under Black Flag We March by Arch Enemy," a synthetic voice responded a moment later.

After the announcement, a brief break lasted roughly a couple of seconds. Then, the music that Akali was oh so familiar with began to pour down from the sound system. Soon enough, the vocalist finally started singing. However, it was the exact moment when the teen got surprised. The vocalist was accompanied by an intense, wild, and even inhuman voice that came from her left. Akali's legal guardian sang alongside throughout the song's entirety, casually.

"Wow," Akali allowed herself to utter in awe. "It was awesome. I did not know you had such a voice," the raven-haired girl added with admiration.

"Sweetheart," the magenta-haired woman spoke in a whisper-like manner. "You know me for less than a day. So I can guarantee that there're many things about me that you might not know. At least, not yet," the addition was followed by a chuckle.

"Then… I can not wait to get to know you better," the teen exclaimed confidently. "I would want to know you completely," Akali responded without thinking. Then, she flashed a sincere smile toward her legal guardian whilst closing her eyes briefly.

Once she reopened them, she spotted something strange. At first glance, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. However, after a brief moment, the realisation struck her that Evelynn was simply blushing. To clarify, it was not a fully blown blush that would cover the woman's face entirely. Oh, no, it was a subtle shade of red that could be described as pink as well. Still, unfortunately, it only lasted briefly. As soon as the lawyer recognised her current state, she calmed down, making the pink disappeared. Frankly, it happened so fast, just a blink of an eye, and it was gone. Once Eve's composure was regained, she immediately smiled back lightly. Then, she turned her head slightly to the side and started to giggle.

"You're so eager, aren't you?" another rhetorical question sounded.

"But, of course," the girl responded with the same level of enthusiasm. "You seem to be a wonderful woman. Is it strange that I can not wait to get to know you better?" she asked, puzzled a little.

"Hmmm," the diva hummed quietly. "I don't think so. We'll have all the time in this world to get to know each other. So, you don't need to worry about that detail. And… on top of that, you'll have my undivided attention," she added, winking playfully at Akali.

In no time, the girl blushed once again. The subtext of the statement was oh so sinful yet tantalising. She could not maintain eye contact with her guardian, so instead, she turned toward the window. Akali bent her head slightly, focusing on the fast passing streets. The girl did not have to wait all that long for the siren's response regarding her sudden shyness. A burst of rich laughter reached the teen's ear a moment later. It was a pleasant sound; it must have been mentioned.

"As I've said before, you're oh so adorable when you blush, darling," the lawyer spoke in a whisper-like manner.

With that being said, the discussion seemed to reach its end. So, with the raven-haired teen not saying a word, the silence was allowed to, at least partially, size control. The rest of the way to Evelynn's… no, their house passed quickly. Both women had mindlessly listened to the music pouring down from the sound system, all too busy with their own conflicted thoughts to start another conversation.

Nevertheless, they had reached the main gate soon enough. Akali had utterly lost count of how many times she kept staring at things that day. However, she could say that she had starred down at that property visible through the bars without missing a heartbeat. It had seemed so surreal to the poor raven-haired girl. Within a few moments, she went from nothing having a thing to living in such an expensive mansion. Fate was a challenging concept to grasp sometimes.

The whole mansion-like house was fenced with a wall over 2 meters high. The teen wondered how extensive was the entire thing. However, before she could form a question, the diva reached out for her mobile. Then, after a couple of clicks, the entrance started to open.

"Hmm… it must have been connected to some sort of a controller," Akali thought inside her mind. "Interesting. I wonder how many other services Evelynn has wired up."

The magenta-haired woman did not wait till the passage was fully opened. Instead, as soon as the path could have been passable without inflicting damage to the vehicle, she sped up. It was evident that the magenta-haired woman had an underground parking lot. After all, there was a decline at the left side of the mansion toward which they were currently moving. So, without anything better to do, Akali started to look around. By now, the teen was convinced that many aspects were there that she could not help herself but be shocked. To say that Evelynn's home was huge would have been a massive understatement. The property was simply enormous. It could have easily occupied more than hundreds of square meters. Still, it only took them a minute or so to reach the parking lot and park. After that, the silence was finally broken.

"You seem troubled, darling. What's that?" a sudden question came from the magenta-haired woman.

"I am fine," Akali started forming her response. "I… I just think that it is a lot to take at once, you know? Once, I had a home a family, but these are long gone," she confessed. "Frankly, I do not remember either of these. And, on top of that, I am not used to luxury, I guess. Look, you have expensive cars, a beautiful, enormously large house. Right now, I would have to lie if I said that it is not bothering me, at least a little bit. Do not get me wrong, I am really grateful for what you have already done. However, as I have said, it is just a lot to process for me," the girl tried to explain the mess of her mind the best she could.

"Hmm," a quiet hum reached Akali's ears. "I'm content with that, sweetheart. Take as much time as you deem needed. I'm here for you, and I can assure you, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to leave you with that entirely new situation all alone. You can count on that," Evelynn assured the young girl. Then, she wrapped her slender arms around the teenager's neck. The scent of her perfume was driving Akali insane.

"Thank you, my angel," the raven-haired teen whispered in a bearly hearable manner.

"Do you want to calm down for a few moments?" the legal guardian asked softly. "Or, do we proceed to our home? Do you want to proceed with the plan?"

"Eve," Akali tenderly whispered. "I can not run away forever. Some things might be new to me, but I can not run from them," she added after a brief pause. "If you can… just hold my hand. Still, regardless, I am ready to face the day ahead of us. I am ready to spend it with you. It will be the first day for us as a family," she added, hugging back the guardian.

"But, of course, darling," the lawyer uttered, winking playfully to cheer up the girl. "Your wish is my command," she added a moment later.

Akali did not respond. After all, there was no need to. So, even though there was evidently nothing more to add, they stayed in the same position for the next couple of minutes. Next, they exited the vehicle, grabbing the girl's bag before proceeding toward the elevator. Their current destination could have been seen at the end of a long hall.

As much as the raven-haired teen did not want to believe Evelynn's statement that this vehicle was the cheapest one she owned, she no longer could. As they continued their stroll toward the lift, they passed the cars that could easily make the Mercedes look like a toy. All of these were incredibly expensive, puzzling the girl even further. There were eleven of them, or at least that many Akali could have seen and counted for. These confirmed the truthfulness of the lawyer's statement once and for all.

It would not have been an understatement if Akali stated that her eyes were wide-open due to pure shock nearly all the time they had spent there. The teen had spotted at least one Ferrari in the shade of deep-purple. Next to the ridiculously expensive vehicle, a snowy-white Lamborghini was parked. Truth be told, these were only a fraction of the diva's collection. The collection Akali had never dreamed of, not to mention being so close to. As a result, the girl was left wordlessly. Though she was sure that if they had remained there longer, she would have simply fainted cause at the moment, she had forgotten how to breathe.

Nevertheless, they reached the elevator soon enough and went straight to the house above. It took them maybe a minute or so to get to the surface. Once there, they took off their shoes. Eve nearly immediately offered the teen a pair of fluffy slippers as a replacement. These were wordlessly accepted by Akali, who still tried to fight off her shock from earlier. As a result, she found herself unable to show off her gratitude. Once the slippers got put on, the raven-haired girl followed her guardian. Evelynn was in such a hurry that Akali could not have explored the spacious area they passed by.

"Ehh… it does not matter. I will have enough time to explore later," Akali told herself, deep inside her mind. "I do not mind waiting for a little. After all, Eve promised to show me the whole property once we deal with the plan."

Still, the teen had managed to pick up some details with her curious eyes. Some of these were white marble floors or ebony stairways. Soon enough, they climbed up the stairs, finding themselves on the second level of the building. The very first thing that took the black-haired girl by surprise was the amount of fluffy Persian-like carpets. These covered nearly all the available space of the corridor. Even though Akali tried her hardest not to look dumb-struck, she failed miserably. Once again, she found herself starring with her eyes wide open and lips slightly parted. A moment later, she averted her gaze off of the floor to look at the host. By now, she should have expected to spot a wide smirk playing on the siren's plump lips.

"Enjoying yourself, aren't you?" the lawyer asked, muffling a chuckle. "You certainly look that way," the living goddess added after a brief pause.

"You probably have no idea how much," the teen replied softly. "Oh… sorry, it was too forward of me. I meant that I enjoy what I see," she explained a moment later, embarrassed.

"You didn't need to explain that or rephrase what you've said," Eve commented. "Nevertheless, try me, darling. I'm pretty sure I have a couple of aces in the sleeve to surprise you, at least a couple of times more," the magenta-haired woman threw a gauntlet openly. Then, she started to giggle.

"Yeah, by now, I should believe you a little bit more, I guess," the black-haired girl spoke, picking up her words carefully. "I bet you could do this," she added with a sigh, lowering her head to hide a heat gathering up there.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Oh, we've reached our first destination," the lawyer announced softly. "The door on the left leads to my chambers. Though, feel free to come by if you need anything. The one at the end of the corridor to the right leads to yours. As I've said before, your room isn't entirely furnished as of now. However, the bathroom is completely finished, so you can use it to refresh yourself, darling, if you want."

"How much time do you need to refresh and change the clothing yourself?" Akali asked.

"I don't think it'll take me more than 15 minutes, to be honest," the siren responded whilst humming. "But, in case something goes sideways, let's say half an hour. It's better to be safe than sorry, after all. Sounds good?" a warm, slightly hoarse whisper ranged in the teen's ear.

"Sure… sure thing," Akali nearly cried out, taking a few steps backwards before bumping into the wall.

"You're such an adorable sight to behold," another whisper came from the lawyer. "I'm not sure I'll get tired of seeing you like that ever. I enjoy teasing you all too much already," she added, then started giggling lightly.

"Excuse me, I must change," the raven-haired teen mumbled, then ran away as far as she could. Finally, she headed toward the direction of her new room.

"Take as much of your sweet time as needed, darling," Eve spoke teasingly just a second before the teen closed the door.

"This woman will be a death of me. I am certain of that," the teen admitted to herself.

It took Akali at least 2 minutes to calm herself down. Still, once she regained her composure, she opted to take a look around. As she had been informed earlier, the room was yet to be finished. Nevertheless, a king-size bed with a baldachin could have been spotted near the back of the room. In addition, a 2 metres high full-body mirror was located some distance away from it. These were the only pieces of furnishing in the room aside from an immense Persian carpet in deep-green colour. After a few moments, Akali's gaze averted from the floor to the walls. These were painted in a shade of chestnut. Hige windows already ha day-night blinds installed. The finding was wordlessly welcomed by the girl. After all, the room was currently soaked with bright rays of the late morning.

There were two doors in there. One led to the main corridor whilst the second must have been leading to the bathroom. Still, these two were of the same design, made of ash-grey wood with many smudges covering them. After a few moments or so, she decided to explore the bathroom as well. So, the girl put down her bag at the foot of the bed then proceeded to the restroom. With a soft click, the door opened and once again, Akali was left utterly speechless. If someone had asked her how many times it had happened that day, she would have no clue what to say.

After the shock faded away, she took a couple of deep breaths before looking around again. It would have not been an understatement if she confessed that it was the most beautiful restroom she had ever been in. Nearly everything there was made of pure crystal-like materials apart from the floor and the walls. However, there were incredible in their own rights. For example, the floor consisted of thin marble plates painted black whilst the walls were of snow colour. Then, Akali's gaze fell onto a large bathtub that most likely could fit two or more people in. A few metres away, a shower stall could have been spotted. Its frame was made of crystals that imitated the shards of ice. These pieces of furnishing were left to her disposal.

After another second or so, the teenager noticed that another enormously large mirror was there. It was placed at the corner, alongside the cabinets. Once she came closer, she found out that pure-white towels were stored inside. Taking a step back, she focused on the washbasin next. The piece was designed to resemble a large bowl; its surface was made of transparent crystal-like material. The last thing that the girl had found was another door leading to the lavatory. Then, inside a much smaller room, there was a laundry container.

It was far too much for Akali. The girl could not have said with certainty how much time she had lost there. However, as soon as the realisation hit her, she exited the restroom immediately. Once it was done, she came to the only actual possession, her bag. Within seconds she quickly searched through its content, finding what she was looking for. The raven-haired teen gently took out her only pair of jeans and a black shirt. These were at most of the medium quality clothes. However, they were the best she had had so far. Without overthinking, she changed up quickly. Then, her hair was tied up into a high ponytail before she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

At first, the raven-haired girl thought that she looked okayish. However, that view had quickly changed. After all, Akali had a bad habit of comparing herself to others. So, she mindlessly opted to compare herself against Evelynn. And… it was the moment the downfall began. There was no doubt that she was nowhere near as beautiful as the woman she could call her legal guardian. The magenta-haired woman was simply breathtaking, one of a kind. She could not, nor would want to argue with that statement. Akali's slender yet athletic body was covered tightly with the clothing of her choice. Still, to her utter disappointment, it seemed that these would soon be too small for her to fit in. As of now, every single curve of her frame was highlighted by the tight material of the clothing. Unconsciously, the teen ventured with her hand toward her chest area. As a result, both guilt and sadness filled her mind immediately. These feelings were reflected on her beautiful yet slightly flushed face. Her breasts were soft, b-sized, and round. However, compared to the siren's, these seemed so small and unattractive. A heavy sigh escaped Akali's slightly parted lips. Then, she ran her fingers through her hair then exited the room.

It was just a matter of a few moments before Akali reached Evelynn's chamber. The distance between her room and the chambers of the diva was covered relatively quickly. Nevertheless, the black-haired teen could not have helped herself but starred at everything she had passed. Some of the features were worth mentioning, in her humble opinion. The craftsmanship of the paintings, the softness of the carpets, the light beige tone of the walls, just to name a few. Still, it seemed only a brief moment before she found herself in front of the goddess' door. With more than a bit of hesitation, the teen knocked three times over the solid surface gently.

"Come in, darling," Eve's voice sounded from behind the door after a second or so.

Before the raven-haired girl opened it slowly, she swallowed hard. Then, she stepped inside her guardian's private area. Nearly instantly, the magenta-haired woman was spotted. The living goddess was sitting on her king-sized bed, fixing invisible creases on her black, sleeveless turtleneck. Her irises of the molten gold were fixed upon the teen's frame. A few moments had passed before Evelynn rose up and vanished the distance between her and her protégé.

It was worth mentioning that the siren's movement was tantalising. Akali was unsure whether the said woman was aware of her defined hips swaying suggestively with every step she took. Moreover, the skin-tight, black jeans the angel put on made the scene sinful. As a result, the teen blushed again hard, lowering her gaze slightly. Still, before she was able to do, she spotted the goddess' eyes going dark. A primal urge seemed to be lurking behind these orbs as if the lawyer was about to devour her.

"Oh, darling," Evelynn whispered hoarsely into the girl's ear as soon as she came closer. "I'm pretty sure you have no idea how delightful you look right now. Should I treat you as the opponent of mine? With a body like yours, you'll most certainly give me a run for my money in no time," she added playfully.

"No, I do not think I can start in such a contest," the girl mumbled quietly. "Let's be realistic; you are too perfect for me to have even the slightest chance to compete. You are a breathtaking sight to behold," she added. "Ah… sorry, I might have upset you," the girl apologised a moment later.

"Do you really think you've upset me, darling?" a husky question sounded. "No, you haven't. If anything, I'd say that you've only confirmed one of my previous statements. Of course, I'm referring to the one uttered in the orphanage. You're definitely going to make someone really happy in the future," the lawyer finished slightly breathlessly.

"If you… if you… think… so," Akali stuttered.

"Oh, but I do," Evelynn chuckled. "You're such an adorable little creature, Akali," the goddess opted to continue with whispering. "Anyways, what's brought you here?"

"Ehhh…," the raven-haired teen gasped a little, starting to scratch her nape, embarrassed. "I do not have any perfume or deodorant. I wonder if you could lend me one of yours? Only this time, that is."

"Oh," the magenta-haired woman hummed. "But, of course, darling. It isn't a problem. Any preferences?" the goddess asked, pointing at the cabinet filled with various flacons entirely.

"Frankly? I do not know," Akali replied honestly. "Would it be okay if I let you choose?" she mumbled a question.

"But, of course, dear," Evelynn instantly responded, flashing a reassuring smile. "Wait a moment, please; I'll bring you something special."

Even though the proposition was made, the magenta-haired woman did not move. Instead, the angel's eyes inspected every inch of the younger girl's body. To some extent, it was a sensual experience, yet Akali felt cornered, stalked. However, a few moments later, a sudden withdrawal happened. Evelynn headed toward the cabinet, still swaying her hips suggestively. Once she got there, a snowy-white crystal flacon was retrieved. The container had maybe 1/3 of its capacity left in it. For a moment, there was a visible hesitation in Eve's, as if the goddess was unsure of what she desired. Though it did not last long for the lawyer to make up her mind. As soon as Akali blinked, the goddess' confidence returned as she quickly walked up to the silent girl. Once the siren was close enough, the raven-haired teen extended her right hand to take the small flacon.

"How about letting me deal with that, darling?" a soft question was uttered.

"Ehh," a puzzled teen mumbled initially. "It is not necessary, Eve. I can do it myself," she added with a small, soft smile.

"Oh, come on, sweetheart," the lawyer started casting her charm. "It's not that I have to do that. I simply want to do it myself. I want to adjust you with my very own hands," she whispered seductively.

"Oh… okay, then," Akali provided a quiet answer.

The nearly non-existing distance between them vanished instantly. The flacon was put down on the nearby shelf in the next moment. Then, the magenta-haired woman reached out for Akali's shirt. As a result, the teen swallowed hard. As the delicate fingers of the living goddess unbuttoned the shirt, the sensation only grew stronger. Once the top three buttons were undone, Evelynn fixed the collar and picked up the perfume. The container's content was generously sprayed over the teenager's neck. Then, nearly immediately, Akali's nostrils filled up with a solid and sweet scent of vanilla. A moment later, Evelynn quietly sniffed, halting Akali's action to button up her shirt.

"This smell really suits you, darling," the diva commented softly. "And… as far as I'm concerned, the shirt should stay as it's now. There's nothing wrong with leaving a little of cleavage for me or someone else who catches your eyes," she added teasingly. "However, now, let me take a look at you fully. Of course, if that's fine with you. Let me admire the flower that will soon bloom."

"Eve," a one-word response was provided breathlessly by the teen.

"Hush, darling," the siren silenced up the girl. "I'm more than sure that you'll soon be the centre of attention; once you join your class, that's it. You're far more beautiful than you're willing to give yourself credits for," she added, whispering. "Now, please, turn around slowly. Let me see what I'm going to work with. So, in turn, I can turn you into a young goddess who will soon ascend onto this pitful world. I'll make you so divine that, in no time, you'll have worshippers kissing the ground you'll walk upon."

"If you wish so," a quiet mumble came from Akali. "Who am I to reject that from you," she added after a brief pause, intimidated by the older woman.

"Yhhhym," the diva responded in a purr-like manner.

The teen opted to follow the lawyer's request without saying anything more. So, Akali started to turn around as slowly as she could. After a second or two, the strangely familiar sensation could be felt. The same delicate hands of the goddess began drawing invisible lines all over Akali's defined frame. Even though the raven-haired girl was fully clothed, she felt immense heat fastly spreading inside her. Her beautiful face was flushed, red as a ripe tomato. The raven-haired teen felt as if she was standing fully naked in front of her legal guardian. Or, at least, it felt as if Evelynn could penetrate through her clothing, seeing her naked. Deep inside her mind, Akali knew that what was currently happening between them was far from appropriate. It would not have been an understatement if she called it a sin. However, Akali found herself unable to see the situation in such a light. Or, maybe she refused to see it that way. After a moment of reflection, this might have been closer to the truth. There was something unique about the lawyer. Something so attractive and intriguing that lured Akali toward the inevitable flame. Even though this relationship only had begun, it was evident that it would soon cross the line of madness.

Nevertheless, the show of sorts continued. The ever so soft touches of the living goddess were not helping Akali calm down her mind. Instead, her consciousness was flooded with conflicting feelings and thoughts that continued to fight one another. As time went by, the delicate hands moved from the teen's nape onto her back, then onto her derriere, then onto her abdomen. These finally rested on Akali's breasts after a time challenging to measure.

Every new little discovery made by Evelynn was welcomed with a purr-like sound escaping the siren's slightly parted lips. It was a deep, husky sound that sent a shiver down the girl's spine each time it was heeded.

The raven-haired teen found herself unable to say how much time they spent like that. The process seemed to be slow and fast simultaneously, confusing the girl furtherly. Finally, the lawyer stopped Akali after some time, enveloping her long, slender arms around the teen's waist.

"It must have lasted quite a while," the teenager commented, deep inside her mind.

Then, after an additional minute or so, the hug was broken, at least partially. Evelynn led them back toward the garage with her right hand still hooked around Akali's waist.

"It is going to be a very long day," the girl thought. "It might be an interesting one, yet I have a feeling something going to happen," she continued her train of thoughts.