The next few moments felt like an empty hole in the teen's memory. Pieces of already fragmented scenes filled the overwhelming void, making it strangely comic and near impossible to comprehend. Though, at some point, she vividly remembered exiting Evelynn's quarters and heading down towards the underground parking lot. Unfortunately, whatever happened between these two milestones was fuzzy, seemingly a blur lingering in the depths of her mind.
Once they descended into the garage, the stream of memories regained its consistency. Her legal guardian wasted no time, hastily approaching the exact vehicle they had used earlier. In what felt like a heartbeat, Akali found herself in the luxurious car, hearing its incredible engine roaring back to life. Shortly after, a quiet sound filled the interior, announcing that the sound system was up and running. However, for the time being, Evelynn paid it no mind, pulling off the lot. Even though the dark-haired teen had only a marginal knowledge about her adoptive parent, it hardly surprised her when the older woman started speeding up, seemingly unbothered by the velocity. It felt so natural … yet, at the same time, it felt so strange.
After a few minutes, the music regained its rule when they entered the main traffic, leaving the luxurious mansion far behind. Thinking about it for a moment, Akali realised that the music was vastly different from their previous session. However, she did not mind it, trying her best to enjoy the ride. Soon enough, this hopeful wish was validated by reality and crushed. The traffic intensified, starting to pose some problems, and slowed them down significantly. As a matter of fact, the closer they got to the city centre, the more crowded and tense the drive became. Still, Akali hardly minded the slow down, completely mesmerised by the soft sounds of ballads such as "Beyond the Realm of Death" or "Miss You" filling the vehicle's interior. A quick glance to her left proved that the magenta-haired beauty enjoyed herself as well. With a half-formed smile or perhaps a smirk playing on her full lips, she occasionally tapped with her long and graceful fingers on the leather-holstered steering wheel. Sadly, she could not see the diva's eyes, which were hidden behind purple-tainted fancy glasses. At 1200 sharp, the car finally stopped as they reached one of the many malls scattered all over the city of Boston.
"What would you like to eat, darling?" the lawyer's voice pierced the silence after a short pause.
"I do not know," the dark-haired girl retorted honestly. "I have never been to any mall. So … if you have some recommendations… I will gladly follow. I think … it will be better for you to decide," she murmured, casting down her sight, visibly embarrassed by her past and apparent lack of experience.
"How about some sandwiches?" Eve questioned, taking off her glasses and focusing on her protégé.
"Sounds good," Akali said quietly, lifting her gaze slightly, expecting that she had already upset her legal guardian.
"Please, don't make such faces, darling," Evelynn commented immediately. "It pains me to see your young and beautiful face twisted with such negativity. Follow me, and I'll take good care of you," she added before exiting the vehicle in one fluid and graceful movement.
The browned-eyed teen did as she was told, hearing a noticeable click when the car was locked. Though, it mattered little, as the diva did not spare a single glance towards her disgustingly expensive 'toy', confidently pressing forward, heading towards the lot's exit. Compared to Evelynn's own, this one was aboveground and located in a separate building from the actual shopping centre. However, that detail mattered little if someone asked Akali. The distance between the mall and the lot would take them a few minutes of comfortable stroll at best.
Soon enough, the siren and her new protégé crossed one of the shopping centre's many entrances, seemingly entering a vastly different realm from the outside world they barely left. A gentle tug brought the teen back towards reality. She realised Evelynn was leading her towards a display with the mall's map on. At first, the magenta-haired goddess seemed to struggle with pinpointing their destination, but that state did not last long. With a victorious smirk imprinted on her god-sculptured face, Eve pulled her closer before resuming their stroll. Apparently, the food court was located on the third floor.
The raven-haired teen tried her best to contain her excitement, yet it was fruitless as it seemed to erupt from her in the form of a strange aura. As she had previously stated, she had never been to a mall, so all of these colourful and luxurious stores caught her attention immediately. Above everything, it was a strange yet uplifting feeling, though she hardly liked the gold's glitter coming from every imaginable direction. Nonetheless, it was enough to keep her head in constant motion, sweeping from left to right and alternatively. As funny as it might have sounded, long before they reached the designated floor, her neck muscles begged for mercy, aching and tensed. Still, it hardly discouraged Akali from continuing. Her stubbornness was simultaneously one of her greatest strengths and the biggest possible weakness.
Evelynn kept her thoughts to herself as she continued to observe her protégé with great intent. It had been a while since she had the opportunity to witness someone so unbelievably carefree. Even though she could read every feeling that rapidly passed through Akali's face, she found it oddly adorable. A few years back, she might have looked at this a bit differently, bashing the teen and naming every detail she disagreed with. Thankfully, that part of her life was concluded and safely buried in the depths of her memory well. Undoubtedly, it was a slightly shocking experience for the lawyer, but she did not mind it in the slightest. It would have been immeasurably easier to deal with people if they displayed their emotions the way her protégé did: raw and unmasked. Unwittingly, she chuckled when the raven-haired teen finally reminded herself that she had a companion walking beside her. Even though the siren could not see her own reflection for obvious reasons, she was confident a small smile crept its way in.
A moment later, Akali straightened up and offered her an apologising smile as she closed her eyes briefly, undoubtedly embarrassed. Had she continued being this adorable, the diva's heart would have inevitably melted away, replaced with something liquified. To prevent that from occurring, she quickly took the teen's hand, only now realising that she must have let go of it at some point. Then, she led her towards the restaurant's counter, beaming with confidence. However, to her apparent discontent, they needed to wait even to make an order. The magenta-haired woman tried to hide her irritation behind her usual mask, but with Akali standing patiently next to her, it proved to be impossible. She was drawn towards the dark-haired girl like a moth to the flame. It was a strange and rather new feeling for her, one that might become problematic in the future. She wanted so desperately to sigh and vent off the negative sensations, but she opted otherwise. What was so special about Akali? Evelynn did not know the answer, at least not yet.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, a young man in a yellow T-shirt appeared and approached them fast.
"I'm really sorry, ma'am," he started, but his tone did not match the words. "We had a problem in the back. I'm sorry you had to wait."
"I hope the wait was worthwhile," Eve commented stingily.
"As I said, I'm sorry," the restaurant employee repeated, trying to put more effort to sound somewhat convincing. "I'll give you a discount. But … first things first. What can I get for you?" he questioned, visibly trying his best to focus on the lawyer's godly face.
"Darling? What do you want?" the diva asked, turning towards Akali and shifting her attention completely.
"Can I have this one?" the brown-eyed girl responded with a question of her own, pointing at one of the graphics above the counter.
"Of course," Eve said, flashing a small smile. "What about the drink?"
"Hot chocolate?" the teen quietly and shyly mumbled.
"Of course," the diva repeated. "So … we'll have two sandwiches with chicken breast and spicy sauce, a sandwich with chicken and mayonnaise, large white coffee, and hot chocolate," she listed, referring to the restaurant employee.
"All right … it'll be 22.5," he retorted.
"I'd like to pay with my card," the magenta-haired woman said, extending her phone forward.
"Sure, ma'am," the young man commented, grabbed the terminal, entered the transaction, and handed it to the woman. "I'll bring you the order once it's done. Please take a seat," he added when the payment was accepted.
"That's appreciated," the living goddess remarked. "However, I'd be grateful if the next time I'm dining here, you don't stare at my cleavage. It's inappropriate and, quite frankly, rude for a young man like you to stare," she added, teasing him.
When the man's face became as red as a ripe tomato, she chuckled, ready to turn around.
"I'm sorry," the employee mumbled, embarrassed. "It wasn't intended."
"If you say so," the lawyer commented, shrugging nonchalantly. "That being said, I won't be this polite if I catch you staring at me or my girl ever again. Do I make myself clear?" she switched her tone drastically, lowering it as she threatened him.
"Absolutely," the cashier replied in a whisper-like manner.
"Your cooperation's appreciated," Eve replied. "Darling, why don't you pick a table for us to wait for our food and drinks?" a slightly muffled whisper came out of her.
"Sounds good," the girl said after a short pause. She needed it to collect her fragmented mind after this 'interesting' exchange between her legal guardian and the man. Before turning around, she flashed a quick and apologetic smile at the still-intimidated cashier.
Afterwards, she momentarily headed out, finding a suitable place for them. It was a table located within a small alcove, walled from three sides. Inside these relatively fragile constructs, many holes varying in size could be spotted and filled with potted plants. The small area was brimming with soft and sweet scents. Akali found this smell comforting and relaxing. Hence, she did not hesitate, taking the lawyer's delicate hand into hers and leading her straight towards the alcove. Her rather surprising action was rewarded with a rich chuckle from the goddess.
"Such a romantic place, darling," Evelynn teased her immediately after situating herself comfortably. "Perhaps I'm the one off the loop here. Maybe I should've waited till dusk, hmm? Think about it for a moment. Imagine this alcove soaked in soft candlelight. Wouldn't you call it an improvement?" she continued teasingly.
"I … I … honestly have not thought about it," the girl stammered, casting down her sight as her cheeks began flushing. "I … merely thought this would be a good place for us as it is kind of separated from the rest of the restaurant," she explained quietly.
"Oh … so you're selfish," the siren chuckled. "You wanted me solely for yourself. Wasn't it the plan, darling?" she continued. The redder the teen became, the louder and richer Evelynn's chuckles became. "You should've asked. I would've gladly joined you in this little mischief," she whispered seductively, leaning in.
"I … I will try to remember," Akali murmured, taken aback and flushed.
"Darling?" Eve called after a few moments of relative silence.
"Yes?"
"You don't have a mobile, I presume?" the goddess spoke, putting down her fancy glasses and fixating her sight on her protégé.
"Well … is it not obvious?" the dark-haired girl replied, scratching her nape, embarrassed.
"It is," the diva commented. "Then … we should get you one. I know a few places we can acquire something suitable for you."
"Eve," the teen started hesitantly. "I have been fine without one. There is no need for you to purchase one for me. After all … it is a bit expensive," she stuttered.
"You're right with one thing: I don't have to buy you one. That being said, I want to," the older woman remarked, flashing a small smile. "I'd like to have a way to communicate with you, for example, when you're in school," she added softly.
"Well … I see," Akali agreed hesitantly. "You lead the way; I will follow," she added, trying to smile reassuringly.
Then, they allowed the silence to overtake the reign, both seemingly seeking refuge in the depths of their overly complicated and perhaps conflicted minds. Akali did not know how she should feel about all of this. She slowly closed her rich, chocolate eyes in a vain attempt to gather her wits and make any sense of everything that had already happened. Considering that her life took a rather drastic turn this morning, there were a lot of things and feelings to unpack. Occasionally, her facial features would soften, only to harden unexpectedly in the very next moment. The magenta-haired woman paid more attention towards her protégé than she would be willing to admit aloud, but with the teen's eyelids shut closed, this shameless, intent, and penetrating stare could last even if only for a heartbeat longer. As much as the lawyer tried to focus on her phone, she could not. She quickly went through all the notifications she had received since the morning, though the meaning behind these popups was forever gone as she paid it hardly any mind. In fact, all she did was merely scroll from top to bottom absentmindedly. That being said, the moment the chore was done, new notifications started to pop, irritating the magenta-haired woman. She grimaced, discontent with the current situation, then turned off the internet connection and put down her phone. However, to her immeasurable dismay, she did so a fraction of a second too late, for she spotted a message from Chris. With a heavy sigh, she refocused on the girl in front of her, trying her best to enjoy the moment. Honestly, it seemed so trivial with Akali around. All she needed to do was to look at her, and a mere moment later, a smile was creeping in. It seemed that whatever bothered the dark-haired girl previously was no more. The uneasiness was replaced with innate peace.
Soon enough, the teen's eyelids parted, once more revealing these rich, chocolate-coloured soul mirrors. She patiently waited for their late breakfast to be delivered. Speaking of which, the golden-eyed beauty huffed quietly, expressing her discontent with the fact that it had not been brought yet. However, as strangely as it might have sounded, the moment she wanted to stand up and head towards the counter, the same young man who previously had shamelessly starred into her cleavage approached them, carrying a plastic tray filled with their order. Apparently, someone or something above had heeded her irritation and decided to act before the storm manifested. The lawyer needed all of her willpower not to roll her eyes, remaining still and patiently waiting for the restaurant's employee to reach their table. Once the tray was put down, Akali flashed a reassuring smile towards the stressed man.
"What took you so long?" Evelynn asked venomously, incapable of preventing the question.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he retorted. "We're still dealing with problems I mentioned earlier," he added, sighing heavily.
"Do not worry about it," the teen said confidently whilst keeping her smile on. "I am sure you did your best."
"Thank you," the employee said, reddening a little. "I'll take my leave, then … Enjoy your meal," he added, visibly cheered by the girl's words before turning around and heading towards the counter.
"Taking a liking in that boy, hmm?" the magenta-haired goddess hummed a few moments later, clearly teasing her protege.
"I would not say so," Akali responded after a short pause to collect her thoughts. "I think … I did the only right thing I could. You intimidated him quite a lot, leaving me with virtually no other option but to cheer him up a little," she explained, trying to pick her words carefully.
"I don't think I was this rough," the diva commented.
"Respectfully, I have to disagree," the dark-haired girl said. "That being said … I do not think you were the first nor will you be the last who will go rough on him," she mumbled slightly.
"If you say so, darling," Eve replied, shrugging nonchalantly.
"Enjoy your meal, Eve."
"Likewise, darling. Likewise."
With nothing more to add, both of them started eating. The lawyer wordlessly welcomed this silence as her mind began to flood with unwanted thoughts, many of which connected with Chris. So, half an hour that their meal took them was utilised to organise the mess her mind became. Even though she could hardly focus on anything, she noticed a few things that shocked her about her new protégé. Considering her backstory, she found it surprising that the teen's manners were immaculate. She hardly expected her to have any, but God … was she mistaken in her speculation. Akali ate slowly and diligently, taking only small bites and using a napkin afterwards to clean every imperfection or stain the food or drink could leave. Not for the first time, Evelynn had to internally acknowledge that her protégé's behaviour did not match her age. No … she acted as if she was at very least a few years older. Even though the diva knew the girl only for a few hours, she formed her initial opinion relatively easily. If she had been to describe Akali, the words she would have used would be well-mannered, obedient, modest, and thoughtful. Of course, much more could have been told about her, yet the magenta-haired goddess would refrain from adding them till she learnt a bit more. For as much as it was clear to see the girl's eagerness to get to know her better, the same could have been said about the diva. The longer she stayed near her, the more apparent it became that she was a big mystery. Moreover, she had no illusions that as soon as she removed the first layer, she would find a few more underneath. Evelynn pictured it as a complicated construction packed into a seemingly delicate and adorable frame. That being said, she was hardly certain about this delicacy.
"Did you enjoy your meal?" the lawyer asked, finally breaking the silence.
"It was delicious, thank you," Akali responded immediately, taking a short bow.
"Eh," a sigh escaped the diva's throat. "Darling, how many times should I repeat myself that you don't have to thank me for anything I do for you?" she questioned, trying to look upset.
"Well … perhaps a few million times or more," the girl responded after a moment of consideration, flashing a broad smile. "Please, do not try to look upset. The corners of your lips are twitching, giving you away. I can say you want to smile."
"Is that so?" the older woman hummed, surprised with her unwitting reaction. "It seems my mask won't cut it with you. What a shame," she sighed.
"Well … you can certainly try," the chocolate-eyed beauty remarked. "However, I was once told I am good at removing masks," she added confidently. "We can verify whether there is even an ounce of truth behind that statement."
"Confident, aren't you?"
"Perhaps a tad too much," Akali retorted with a sheepish smile as she scratched her nape. "That being said … please do not put any mask on … you only taint your beautiful face," she mumbled, slightly embarrassed with her words. "If there is something about me that is upsetting you … please tell me about it. I will try my best to fix it. No … I will not try … I will fix it," she continued, murmuring as if she was speaking with herself.
"You're so pure, untainted even, Akali," the siren commented, taken aback by her protégé's surprising statement. "With all my heart, I don't know what world you've been meant to be born into, but it should've never been this one," she added, mixing her serious tone with the usual tease.
"Please, stop," the younger woman said, blushing heavily.
"Fine, fine," Evelynn chuckled, enjoying the girl's flustered state. "I'll treasure you, darling. That being said … shall we go?"
"Yes."
For a brief moment, the magenta-haired woman wanted to continue their little discussion but ultimately deemed it unnecessary, as sometimes it was simply better to let the silence wrestle back the reign. That, however, did not stop her from grabbing her protégé's hand, squeezing it reassuringly, and leading forward. Only after a few seconds had elapsed did Evelynn realise how rough the girl's hand was compared to her own. Though, as things stood currently, it mattered only marginally, so she allowed her mind not to be bothered with such a nuisance. Instead, she confidently strolled through the crowded shopping centre, searching for one particular store where she could purchase a mobile for the dark-haired teen. In all honesty, it did not take them all that long to reach one. Unfortunately, the exception she had made earlier hardly lasted a few minutes before it overflew her subconsciousness. Why did the girl have such rough hands? She pondered against her previous judgment. The brown-eyed beauty's palms should have been as delicate as hers, yet the reality did not match the speculations. It seemed as if she had to go through hard physical work or training hardly suited for her. Evelynn forcefully cut off that thought process, simultaneously making a mental note to discuss the matter with Akali. Then, she shook her head, trying to collect her wits before entering the store. That being said, as soon as she noticed the queue lining towards the counter, she allowed herself to sigh heavily, visibly expressing her dissatisfaction. To her utmost surprise, the girl following closely behind her giggled slightly. It certainly was not what she had expected, but she did not mind it either.
After an hour of waiting in the queue, the phone selection and payment seemed to pass within the blink of an eye. With the recently acquired piece of technology in hand, both women were spent. To make matters worse, both of them knew that their schedule was tight, making it impossible for them to slow down. Hence, within the next fifteen minutes or so, they reached the vehicle and exited the mall's parking lot without much trouble, which was wordlessly commented on by the lawyer with her eyebrows raised. Well, expectedly, their lucky streak did not last much longer. For, as soon as they got out, they were met with a heavy traffic jam. The magenta-haired woman allowed herself to huff, irritated with the unnecessary complication.
"I am sorry, Eve," Akali apologised, deeming it her responsibility to loosen the current situation. "Had I not mentioned I have not eaten yet, we would have been in the school long ago. We could have proceeded with your plan."
"What are you apologising for?" the siren questioned, taken aback. "There's nothing to be sorry about, darling. You're not the one to place the blame. The traffic in Boston is usually heavy … we could've had this problem earlier," she added softly. "You shouldn't worry about my facial expression … I can assure you that you have nothing to do with it."
"But…"
"No buts," the lawyer commented immediately. "Please, put on some music … it might not make the drive easier, but certainly more enjoyable."
"Anything?"
"Anything, darling," was all the diva said.
"Then … please, enable the Google Assistant."
"Consider it done," Evelynn retorted, and then the familiar assistant's beep sounded.
"Please, play 'The Deeper the Love' by Whitesnake," the dark-haired teen said confidently.
"Ok … playing 'The Deeper the Love' by Whitesnake on Spotify," the assistant responded after a few moments, queueing the song.
Soon enough, the song began with the increasingly intensified drumming followed by a somewhat heavy guitar riff. In less than a heartbeat, the track from the '80s fall filled the vehicle's interior, encouraging the dark-haired teen to move her head rhythmically. Unwittingly, Evelynn smirked, enjoying the scenes from the corner of her right eye. However, what she had hardly anticipated was for the girl to engage with the song more and start singing alongside the vocalist. After a few moments, the initial surprise, or perhaps shock, faded away, allowing the siren to assess the situation. It came as no surprise that Akali's voice was good and pleasant, but it was her enthusiasm that kept the older woman on the edge of her seat. The chocolate-eyed beauty kept singing, effortlessly matching the original track and getting increasingly confident as time passed by. As if the melody fuelled her, her movement became slower and more sensual, she realised after a while.
"She's absolutely stunning this way," was the lone thought currently occupying the magenta-haired woman's mind.
Time seemed to freeze, allowing both of them to cherish this moment for much, much longer. As if both of them did not want to relinquish it, someone above heeded the wordless plea and deemed it worth its intervention. Deeming it improbable to be surprised this much, the living goddess averted her gaze back towards the road, not wanting to cause an accident. That being said, she eagerly awaited the song's culmination point. For that particular moment, right before the guitar solo, the vocalist's voice would raise up and become a tad hoarse, filled with raw emotions. Like many other women, she dreamt about a love confession like this, though she kept the thought to herself, pushing it towards the most treasured pieces of her mind. However, it was hardly the right moment for such dreamy thoughts, so she shook her head, wrestling back control over her wits.
In all honesty, Evelynn did not have to wait all that long. Yet, when the moment was finally upon them, something she would have never expected happened. Once again, Akali matched the track's momentum, virtually taking the older woman's breath away. No … she did not match it; she surpassed the vocalist in every category she could think of. Or … at the very least, that was what the siren's subconsciousness urged her to believe. The dark-haired girl closed her eyes, inching slightly forward from her seat; she turned towards her legal guardian and sang. Her voice was more than slightly hoarse, filled with raw passion.
I don't mind, what you're doing to me, I don't mind, 'cause you're all I can see I don't mind, baby, you mean the world to me When the sun goes down An' those nights are growing colder, I will be there Looking over your shoulder, baby, baby, baby
At first, the magenta-haired goddess had no clue what had hit her that hard, but it thankfully lasted only a heartbeat. Had she not been this good of a driver, she would have crashed into another vehicle. As a matter of fact, she only narrowly omitted the disaster – one could have described it as a miracle. Nonetheless, as soon as she stabilised the situation, her attention immediately snapped back towards her protégé. Like a moth drawn to the flames, she was being drawn to this pretty girl she had just adopted. The golden-eyed beauty could not control her reaction, something that rarely occurred to her. With her cheeks flushed, eyes wide open, and mouth ajar, she stared absentmindedly at the teen who had already turned her life upside down.
"It must be love," she silently confessed. "I adore everything about her … her beauty, her voice, her attitude," she continued. "If I anticipated her to be a simple, one-dimensional girl … then I couldn't have been more mistaken. No … she would've been one of the biggest fools she had ever seen. She's more than that … so much more."
With her mind occupied solely by the brown-eyed girl sitting beside her, she did not even notice that said teen kept occasionally peeking at her. Though, the lawyer could hardly allow herself to get even more distracted, opting to focus on driving. Her self-control was quickly getting out of control. Akali did not want to bother her legal guardian, so she kept choosing different songs and singing alongside various vocalists to make the drive as comfortable as possible.
After a long while, they finally arrived at their next destination. Considering how conflicted, confused, and stiff Evelynn was, it was a rather surprising turn of events that parking took them but a moment. As soon as the engine died out, she began questioning every move and decision she had made in regard to her young protégé since she had met her. Even though it had only been a few hours, the pressure started to get overwhelming. To make matters worse, the magenta-haired woman could hardly explicitly name her feelings towards the dark-haired teen. In turn, it only infuriated her further.
Evelynn stilled for a few moments, allowing a heavy sigh to pass through her slightly parted lips. "Control yourself, Evelynn!" she hissed deep within her mind. "There's still a lot to do. If … I continue to act this way, there's no way we'll deal with everything before Akali's school starts," she continued. It took her a little over a minute to finally calm down, but it was the time well spent. To her partial surprise, she realised the teenager remained quiet, allowing her to wrestle back control. The brown-eyed girl sat patiently, waiting for her to lead the way. As much as the siren wanted to say something, she opted not to, wordlessly welcoming a kind gesture. Instead of speaking, she lightly squeezed Akali's left hand, feeling a corner of her lip turning up as she looked at her protégé with uncovered adoration.
"I didn't know you have such a nice voice, darling," she commented after a moment of silence. "Perhaps you could sing more often? Maybe … even sing for me? How does it sound, hmm? Me … you, singing alongside each other when we come back home?" she whispered into Akali's ear.
"I … I … am … not that good … at singing," the teen immediately stammered. "I should have not sung … I am sorry," she apologised, casting down her sight.
"Nonsense, my dear," the lawyer commented with a little chuckle. "It was quite a show. Part of me was heartbroken that I couldn't hear an encore. Perhaps … when we're done with our schedule? What would you say about that?" she asked seductively.
"If … you … if you want," the girl retorted, mumbling heavily.
"Then, it's settled," the magenta-haired woman stated with a slight smirk playing on her lips. "Let's hurry … we're already late for our meeting with the headmistress. Thankfully, she's my old friend, so perhaps she'll turn a blind eye to this rather unfortunate occurrence. If not … I'll find a way to deal with her," she added, chuckling openly.
"Right behind you," Akali whispered. "And … Eve, thank you for everything," the black-haired girl mumbled.
Evelynn waited till these soft words filled with uncertainty faded away, yet still pleasantly playing inside her ears before mustering enough strength to carry on. With a broad smile that unwittingly replaced her famous smirk, they exited the vehicle, locking it a moment later, and then started a relatively slow stroll towards the school's main building. Their path led through a courtyard designed on a chessboard plan with numerous pathways serving as the field boundaries. Akali's head seemed in constant motion, looking around and virtually devouring everything new to her. At first, she disregarded numerous wooden benches scattered all over the courtyard due to their relatively small size. However, after a few brief moments, she noticed them mostly because of some students seated on them, perhaps skipping classes or having a break. That being said, their rather unexpected appearance on the school's ground brought them more than a handful of unwanted spectators. Well … as much as she was infatuated with everything around her, she did not enjoy these people observing their every move with great intent. Of course, it was expected, given she was walking side by side with her legal guardian, who could easily be described as a living goddess. All of these unwanted spectators were far out of her league, but they did not seem all that affected by this fact. Unfortunately, the closer they got to the building, the more attention they caught. It went so far that some male students casually and openly checked out the lawyer, some even whistling. That, however, was far from the worst that was about to happen. Yet another group had enough courage to approach them. As soon as the magenta-haired woman noticed three young men strolling their way, she rolled her eyes theatrically. Her annoyance was hardly hidden behind these soul's mirrors of molten gold. Compared to the lawyer, the dark-haired girl tensed, preparing her body for a rapidly approaching problem.
"Enable the voice recording, please," Akali whispered. "I have a nasty feeling … it is going to get out of hand pretty fast," she mumbled.
"They do look like a problem," the siren agreed with a slight nod. "Done," she added momentarily.
"Eh," the brown-eyed teen sighed heavily. "I was so foolish to expect the rest of the day to go smoothly," she added as if speaking with herself.
The group that approached them consisted of two white boys and one black. At first glance, all she could say about them was that possibly all of them were pretty fit but nothing extraordinary. After all, she had seen her fair share of muscular bodies throughout her time in the orphanage. Each wore a grey hoodie, dark blue jeans, and some brand sneakers. Even though their physical appearance was hardly intimidating, all it took for Akali to look at their eyes to reveal their intentions. These orbs were sparkling, filled with lust and unresolved sexual tension. And … by the look of things, they were pretty confident that they would get what they wanted.
"Uhh," the tallest one whistled. "You're such a cutie. Are you a transfer student or something? I've never seen you here before."
"Damm … your body is fire," the black one said, licking his lips shamelessly.
"Pay him no mind," the third one quickly interrupted. "Would you like to walk with us instead of …" he stopped, completely surprised when he noticed Akali. "Oh, hello," he giggled. "You're nice too."
"Boys … let me put it bluntly so you can process it," Evelynn finally spoke up, her voice tainted with annoyance, her face twisted with a nasty grimace.
"Don't worry, we already know … you want a quickie, don't you?" all of them asked, laughing.
"It's really saddening that this world's wasting its limited resources on such primitive creatures like you three," the dive commented venomously. "So … if you don't want any legal problems, I'd urge you to be good boys and leave me and my dear companion alone. Oh, sorry, I should've translated it so you could understand. So … get the fuck out of my face," she mocked them, allowing her voice to be tainted with a hint of anger. "If you didn't realise it yet, we're both out of your league and, as such, not interested in whatever you could potentially offer us," she added sweetly.
"Uh," the dark-skinned boy whistled. "I see you like it rough … consider me interested."
"Well … let me explain that to you, gorgeous," the tallest one started, smirking openly. "We aren't asking for your permission," his voice grew colder. "So … play nice, girls, and walk with us for a bit," he demanded, reaching out towards Evelynn's hand.
The next few scenes flashed before the lawyer's eyes too quickly to process. In one moment, she saw this obnoxious boy trying to grab her hand; in the next, she heard him screaming like a little baby. It took her a moment to locate him lying on the ground with his right hand twisted comically in a few places, wriggling and screaming loudly. As if this seeming cacophony was not enough to prove he was in pain, his rather handsome face was uglified with a scowl, salvia spilling from his wide open mouth, tears rolling freely across his cheeks. The tallest of the group looked miserably, yet the magenta-haired woman did not pity him. He deserved all of this and even more for the words and deeds he was about to commit. Akali could be found right beside her; her frame tensed and ready to react. Just by doing so, she drew some distance between them and the boys. The raven-haired girl's face was constant as if it were a sculpture engraved in solid stone. Even though this emotionless state persisted, tongues of fire could be spotted in her brown eyes filled with hatred, anger, and perhaps sadness. If the siren could ponder over the moment for a few moments longer, she was certain that behind these soul's mirrors, an incredibly rich and complicated story lay.
"It seems you are deaf," Akali quietly commented, allowing her voice to be deprived of any distinguishable emotions. "One more step, and I will make sure that you join your friend on the ground, screaming and trashing in pain," she hissed slowly.
"Come on, bitch!" the black-skinned boy shouted. "Denis only wanted to have some fun, and you fucking broke his hand. Are you out of your fucking mind, whore?" he continued spatting slurs.
"Feeling brave enough to avenge him?" the dark-haired girl openly taunted. "If so … go ahead. But … I have one final warning for you. If you choose to attack me, I will mess you badly," she added coldly. "It sickens me what you might have done in the past. So … if you dare attack me, I will aim for your genitalia. And … believe me, when I am finished with it, no doctor will be able to fix it. Perhaps you will finally learn the meaning of the word consequences," she threatened, balling her palms into fists, ready to strike.
"Come here, bitch!" the black boy yelled, furious. "When I finish with you, you'll be begging me for more. I'll take my sweet fucking time destroying you!" he tried to make threats.
"Words are cheap," Akali commented, completely unbothered. "I dare you to try."
To her utmost dismay, Evelynn found herself frozen again. All she could do was stare as the tall, dark-skinned boy, possibly twice as heavy as Akali, charged furiously at her. If she were to compare them, her protégé should, in theory, stand no chance at winning. However, something within her urged her to believe and not to worry, for the dark-haired girl would be fine. It hardly calmed her mind, yet considering the current situation, having faith was a far better alternative than staring absentmindedly and expecting the worst-case scenario.
Expectedly, the boy rushed forward, hoping to overwhelm his much smaller opponent with his size and strength alone. It might have worked if the chocolate-eyed teenager had allowed him to lead the fight, but that was clearly not the case. She dragged him away from the lawyer, effortlessly dodging his clumsy attacks. Satisfied with the encounter's current state, she observed the boy, analysing him. Undoubtedly, he was physically strong, yet his agility and overall speed were lacking, leaving gaps in his defence. After a few moments, Akali shattered the impasse by grabbing her opponent's left hand and pulling it behind his back. Then, the dark-haired teen landed a few devastating hits on his side before kicking behind his kneecap. He might have been heavier than her, but currently, it was an apparent disadvantage as he fell onto the ground with a loud thump. Before he could muster enough strength to stand up, a shrieking cry filled the air. Without remorse or even an ounce of hesitation, Akali kicked him a few times in the crotch. After a few heartbeats, the boy stopped moving and crying. Instead, he lay silently on the ground, defeated and unconscious.
When she turned around to face the last member of the group, she spotted him running away as if his life depended on it. He might have been a coward, but he still was far smarter than these two who had decided to defy her and her legal guardian. That being said, as if nothing happened, Akali approached the magenta-haired woman hastily, enveloping her in a bear hug.
"I am sorry," the dark-haired girl whispered softly. "I am sorry that it happened to you. And … perhaps even more so … I am sorry that you had to witness all of this," she stammered quietly.
"I hope you realise that you can get into serious trouble for what you did?" Eve whispered back, her voice twisted with worry.
"I know the potential consequences," Akali retorted emotionlessly. "Though … if you enabled the voice recording, all I did was self-defence. Nonetheless … I could not let them touch you … force you to do anything against your will," she confessed.
"Darling, nothing would've happened," the siren replied. "As soon as he grabbed my hand, I would've protected myself. I hope you trust me enough to know that I can take care of myself … and you," she continued; however, her tone did not match her words.
"Then … I overstepped," the dark-haired teen remarked. "Still … I think we should be fine. With this 'conversation' recorded and the whole incident caught by the school's cameras … I think the truth is on our side."
"Yes … I agree," Evelynn said softly, nodding and hugging back her protégé. "Honey, look … I know my words could be interpreted as harsh and ungrateful … but it couldn't be further from the truth," she added, mumbling slightly as she picked the right words. "Darling … you protected me from three men. Each of them was taller than you, heavier than you, possibly older than you. Yet … you didn't hesitate for a moment to stand before me and drive them back. For this … and many other things, you'll forever have my gratitude," she finished, allowing the teen to hear raw emotions in her voice.
"But …" the girl started, unexpectedly hesitant.
"No buts, honey," the diva commented with a slight smile playing on her full lips. "No matter what happens, we're going to face it together. You already protected me once; it's high time for me to do the same for you," she added, squeezing the teen's right hand gently.
"Thank you."
"Though … there's a question bothering me right now," the diva started teasingly. "How should I call my saviour, my hero?"
"Eh," the dark-haired girl sighed heavily, hardly prepared to deal with this side of her legal guardian. "I had a few nicknames in the orphanage. You can call me Rogue. But … Akali is fine," she added after a short pause quietly.
"Fair enough," the magenta-haired beauty retorted, smirking. "Come then, Rogue, we have a few matters to handle. Let's start with fixing this unfortunate situation. In the worst-case scenario, I'll find you a different school to attend," she added, shrugging nonchalantly. "However, I'd love to see these degenerate face consequences. I'll have them expelled and turned over to the police."
"And … I thought I was the cruel one between us, or perhaps I missed something?" the brown-eyed teen commented, surprised.
"Darling, there's nothing surprising about it," the lawyer chuckled openly. "In this world, there are a few rules that one should obey. One of them is: keep your friend close, but your enemies closer."
"Why am I not all that shocked you said something like this?" the girl allowed herself to ironies. "That being said, my first bet was: kill or be killed. But … I can see the meaning."
With nothing of any value to add, they concluded their discussion for now, then hastily resumed their rudely interrupted stroll. As a result, the silence fell between the two of them, allowing each woman to focus on things they had trapped inside their mind. For Akali, it was a fight inevitably doomed to fail. She felt as if her head was about to explode, with contradicting thoughts coming in and out in an instant.
"I should not have done that," she admitted in the depths of her subconsciousness. "I should have thought through the situation before acting … it was reckless, not to mention stupid. Perhaps I could have defended myself and never gone into offence. Even though I hurt them, I do not feel regret for what I have done. No matter what, I will face the consequences with my head high," she continued her internal monologue.
Even though she put on her brave mask so as not to startle her guardian, she had no certainty the events would unfold the way she would have wanted them to. To say that she was terrified would be similar to saying nothing. It had only been a few hours since she had left the only place she associated with home, but strangely enough, it felt more akin to moments or minutes. However, she had already made a massive mistake, committing to an act that could be described or named a crime. If things were to go sideways, she might very well be arrested for beating up these pathetic boys. As much as the teenager tried to keep her feelings from manifesting on her young face, she could hardly contain them inside. She realised she had failed miserably when a rustic aftertaste filled her mouth. Akali sighed heavily, knowing fully well she must have bit her lower lips, piercing through the soft tissue and drawing some blood. If it was not bad enough, she unwittingly clenched her fist with enough strength for her knuckles to whiten in an instant. Even though she could not see her reflection, it was a safe bet to assume her frame was tensed, as if she was preparing herself for a run or worse … another fight.
This, however, did not go unnoticed. Akali's state was momentarily noticed by the lawyer, who tried her best not to act recklessly. It had her worried more than their previous unexpected and hardly pleasant encounter with the group of boys. Once she gathered her wits, she reached out towards her protégé, grabbed her right hand and started gently stroking it. Even though she said nothing, her action caught the girl's attention. The dark-haired girl offered a small smile of appreciation and gratitude, taking the matter into her own hands and linking their fingers.
Wordlessly, they pushed forward, entering the school's main building and heading towards the headmistress's office. As a matter of fact, the stroll they took did not last more than a few minutes before the diva abruptly halted, facing a dark, solid wooden door leading to her friend's office.
"Akali?" she called softly. "No matter what happens when we cross this door, I want you to know I'm here with you and for you," she whispered.
"It sounds like goodbye," the teenager commented. Her voice was snuffed and low.
"My dearest Rogue, I can assure you that this isn't a farewell," she retorted reassuringly. "This can only end one way … with us leaving this room on top, victorious. Do you trust me?"
"Perhaps … it might sound inappropriate or even cheesy, but I trust you with all my heart," the girl's response came a few moments later.
"Oh," the lawyer chuckled slightly. "That's undoubtedly cheesy, but because of it … I love it even more," she added, winking at her protégé. "Nonetheless, it's high time for me to show you a glimpse of my magic."
Akali expected her legal guardian to press on the door and unlock it immediately. However, her speculation appeared wrong when the magenta-haired woman turned around and hugged her tightly, reassuringly whispering into her ear. Even though it was hardly the first time the girl had felt the diva's gorgeous body pressed against her, it sparked something inside her, as if a mythical and magical bond was forged between them. Before she could return the gesture, the connection abruptly vanished, leaving the teen with a pang of sadness residing inside.
Of course, it was understandable, yet Akali could not shake off this feeling. Biting down her lower lip, she tried to get a hold of her body; after all, they had some pressing matters to attend to. With a nearly visibly manifested aura of confidence, Evelynn pushed forward, opened the door, and entered the office. The girl followed her hastily; after all, her options were rather limited. A mere moment later, she found herself inside the room, gently closing the door behind her. Once again, a pang of disappointment flared throughout her body as she looked around. She expected something more, something extraordinary, and what she found hardly matched these two requirements. Considering that the main building's outdoor design closely resembled the Victorian era, it was only natural to expect the offices to be spacious and special in some regards. However, her assumption was quickly verified, leaving her rather displeased. The whole room was hardly any bigger than the ones she had visited numerous times during her time in the orphanage. Of course, the devil lay in the details, but the first impression left her wanting. After a few short-lived moments, the dark-haired girl realised that the overall furnishing quality was much higher than what she was used to but nowhere near what she had envisioned in her mind.
Shaking her head a few times, the brown-eyed teen stirred away from her daydreaming session, quickly spotting her legal guardian. She approached a sturdy wooden desk of ash and grey mixed-colour. Behind it, two relatively young-looking women sat with their gazes fixed on the screens of their laptops. Considering quiet ticking sounds, they must have been typing something. That being said, these two seemingly ignored the magenta-haired diva, perhaps too focused on their work. Whilst it might have been true, Eve did not like not being the centre of attention. Hence, she placed her hand on the desk's face, causing a loud thud sound and forcing the school's employees to finally snap their focus from the flashing displays.
"Good morning; how can I help you?" the one with short amber hair, blue eyes and plump lips in the colour of blood asked with a bored expression, not all too thrilled about the interruption.
"I think we can safely drop pleasantries," the siren commented without an ounce of hesitation. "The headmistress is expecting me and my protégé," she added, staring at the other woman with a clear disgust gleaming in her eyes.
"And your name is?" the amber-haired secretary asked in a dull voice.
"Evelynn Smith."
"Well … it seems you had it planned for an earlier hour," the school's employee responded sweetly, too sweetly.
"So it'd seem," the lawyer retorted slowly, clearly holding back. "The traffic's pretty heavy today. Had it been any different, I would've been here sooner."
"Miss Smith, it doesn't matter," the blue-eyed woman remarked. "You've missed your appointment slot. The headmistress is currently dealing with far more pressing matters than this."
"I can assure you, my case's her top priority right now," the magenta-haired siren replied, mimicking the secretary's sweet tone. "Then … if you excuse me, I'll bring this matter to her in person."
"You're not allowed to enter the headmistress's office without permission!" the amber-haired woman thundered.
"Funnily enough, I thought you shouldn't speak to me this way," the golden-eyed beauty smiled. But behind it, there was a predator ready to prowl and pounce at the moment's notice.
Even though the secretary opened her mouth to respond, Evelynn paid her no mind anymore, instead going towards the door and knocking on its solid surface five times. At first, it seemed as if nothing happened or nobody was present in the adjacent room, but it quickly changed as the entry slowly swung, revealing a woman of Eve's age clad in an onyx-black business suit. On the very edge of her shapely nose, a pair of half-glasses rested. The headmistress stared intensely at the magenta-haired goddess, at least a few contradicting feelings appearing and disappearing in her eyes of bright blue skies. Her relatively short hair was styled into a messy bun. Even though most of these strands were of a raven-down, some stood out, scarlet red.
"You are late," the dark-haired headmistress stated stoically.
"Oh, come on," Evelynn commented, allowing a soft smile to play on her full lips. "You know I'm never late … everyone is simply too early," she joked.
"Do I get something for foreseeing this coming from you?" the head of the school retorted, rolling her eyes theatrically. "Coming back to the point … where is the girl?" she questioned, her attention still lingering on the lawyer.
"She's here, don't you worry," the diva chuckled. "Let us in, and we can proceed."
"Fine," the headmistress sighed. "Marie, Talia, please make sure no one interrupts us. Do I make myself clear?" she shot a cold question towards the pair of secretaries.
"Yes, ma'am," they responded in unity.
"Splendid," the raven-haired woman sighed, visibly irritated.
"You haven't changed a bit, Fiora Laurent," the goddess giggled, gesturing towards Akali to follow her.
"I am pretty confident that I am not the only one who has not changed," Fiora commented coldly. "Am I right, my precious diva?" she questioned, mimicking Evelynn's sweet and innocent tone.
"Count me in," the lawyer agreed, smirking openly. "Remember, once siren, always siren."
"I hoped you would not say this," Miss Laurent sighed, shrugging nonchalantly. "Back to the business, though. If we continue this topic, you will inevitably tell me how many miserable creatures have fallen for you since our last meeting. And … trust me, it does not thrill me to know that detail," she added sternly.
"Oh," the diva fake-gasped. "You're breaking my heart, dear."
"It should be of no secret that you have none," a cold response was provided. "If you had it, you would have never done a few things. And … we both know what you did."
"This leads us nowhere," Evelynn remarked, visibly uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was headed. "I trust you haven't forgotten why we're here, Miss Laurent?" she asked ironically.
"Find yourself a better target to test these tricks of yours on," the headmistress spat. "But … to answer your question, yes. Not only did you want to place your dear protégé in my school, but you demanded she skip to her senior year."
"Yes," a simple response was provided. "I could think of a few other details, but that should cover the basics," she added, smirking.
"My answer is still the same: no," Miss Laurent responded, keeping her cold eyes fixed on the girl's legal guardian. "If you want her to skip an entire year, she needs to prove that she has already covered that year's material. It is plain and simple. I will have her take an exam."
"If I may?" Akali spoke up for the very first time, slightly hesitant. "Overall … I am fine with taking this exam. However, I have one question, if I am allowed to ask it," she added, mumbling slightly.
"Go ahead," Fiora responded immediately, averting her gaze off the diva for the first time since entering the office.
"When can I take it?" the dark-haired girl questioned. "I am pretty sure I already covered all the material till the school's end," she stated.
"Feeling confident, or is it only bravado or a mask?" the headmistress replied with a question of her own. "It matters not. If you want, you can take it even now," she added after a short pause.
"It would be preferable," Akali retorted, offering a small and frail smile.
To say that the raven-haired head of the school was shocked would have been an understatement. She found herself baffled and caught unprepared. This state persisted for a couple of minutes and was forcefully concluded when she looked at the diva once more. Seeing her wide smirk playing on her beautiful face affected her like a bucket of cold water, helping her break the impasse.
"Fine," Fiora finally whispered, not even looking at the surprisingly confident girl. "I will bring the worksheets in a moment," she added before exiting the room.
As soon as the headmistress left, Evelynn found herself unable to hold back laughter anymore. The magenta-haired woman bent slightly, starting to laugh maniacally. Though it did not last all that long, as perhaps a few seconds later, she straightened up and placed her right hand over her mouth to muffle the sound's remnants.
"I'm sorry, darling," the diva said after she regained control over her body. "You've played her well. This precious conflicted expression she wore … was too much for me to handle. As a matter of fact, it must have been years since I last seen her this way," she continued, barely holding back laughter. "It seems I'm not the only one who underestimated you and willingly stepped into your trap, darling."
"I do not know what you are talking about," the teenager responded. "I have not set any traps … at least yet," she added after a second of consideration.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe in that, darling?" the golden-eyed beauty chuckled. "You're too cute and adorable for your own good … but it plays to your advantage. You can fool pretty much anyone into believing that you're only another pretty face without as much as an ounce of brain behind all the façade."
"Well … perhaps there is a seed of truth in what you said," Akali retorted slowly. "After all, you are hardly the first person who told me this. That being said, I will treasure your confession over the others, that much I can promise you."
"You're doing it again, honey," Evelynn pointed out, giggling slightly. "One day, you're going to be the main reason behind my poor heart having an attack. The level of cuteness you're feeding me with is unparalleled," she teased with an open smirk.
It took a moment for the dark-haired teen to heed her guardian's word and uncover the true meaning behind them. However, when it finally happened, an unexpected rush of heat washed over her face, making it as red as a ripe tomato. Expectedly, she immediately lowered her sigh, fruitlessly trying to hide her own embarrassment. One could have wondered why she had not drawn any conclusions from the previous occurrences. It was plain and simple madness – expecting a different result but stubbornly repeating the past. Thankfully, it seemed that someone above wanted to lend her a helping hand and save her from the magenta-haired woman's teasing. As if someone uttered a magic phrase, the door swung open, revealing the returning headmistress who carried some paper sheets. For the next few moments, Fiora's heels clicking filled the room as she made her way towards her desk, then politely gesturing both visitors to join her.
"If you have not changed your mind, you have two hours to complete these three worksheets," Miss Laurent began, pointing out at the papers lying before her. "Any questions?" she inquired, eyeing the dark-haired teen.
"What if I finish earlier?" Akali immediately questioned. "Can I return the sheets?"
"Of course," the headmistress responded as if it was obvious.
"What score grants me the skip?"
"Eighty-five per cent," the head of the school said flatly. "Of course, that is the bottom line. You can gain more, but if you fail, I will not allow you to skip the year."
"To be honest … I would be upset if I did not score at the very least ninth-five per cent," the brown-eyed girl mumbled slightly.
"Let's see whether there is something to back this unusual confidence of yours," Fiora commented drily. "The timers start now."
Akali found herself in the school's courtyard exactly two hours later. She was casually treading alongside her legal guardian, heading towards their safely parked car. As it turned out, the girl's confidence was backed up by her rather impressive skills and overall knowledge. The headmistress could not stop shaking her head as she continued verifying the sheets the teen filled. In the end, she was forced to write the perfect score on the first page's top corner. In Akali's opinion, the exam was rather trivial, but considering her inherited paranoia, she kept rechecking all the questions, seeking fluctuations and tricky phrases. All in all, this unwanted process took the lion's share of her time.
To make matters worse, in the middle of the exam, she was startled by an abrupt pang of disappointment that flared across her body. Considering the way the headmistress presented the difficulty of this task, it was safe to assume that she might not learn a thing in this school. That being said, Miss Laurent's facial expression was a reward in itself. This pure shock written all over her beautiful yet slightly predatory face was undeniably the highlight of her day. Afterwards, the other school matters were concluded in what felt like a heartbeat. Before they left, the headmistress offered the girl her apologies, shared Akali's schedule with Evelynn, and wished them a good day.
"We have forgotten about something, darling," the magenta-haired woman chuckled once they were settled comfortably in the vehicle. "Do you know what I'm referring to?" she questioned, unable to halt her laughter.
"Hmmm … I do not know?"
"What about our little incident?"
"Oh," the girl gasped, taking a pause for a moment. "I guess … we will have to go to the headmistress's officer once again tomorrow," she added with a nonchalant shrug.
"I love this attitude of yours, my dearest Rogue," the golden-eyed goddess commented, starting the engine and pulling out from the lot.
Author's notes section:
As I have mentioned previously, the main focus for this month (that is June 2024) will be rewriting as many "My home is where my heart lies" chapters as possible. That being said, I have already started writing this chapter, so I will publish what I have currently and I will release the full piece once I have it completed.
Ok ... It took me virtually forever to deal with this chapter, but in the end, here's the result of my work. I can't exactly say I'm happy as I would have wished it to be done week ago, but it is what it is. I hope you will enjoy the enhanced version. As of the next update, I will pick some story and post a preview tomorrow.
Please note that the dialogues written in italics are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2019-12-06]: The original chapter release date.
[2024-06-26]: The rewritten chapter release date.
References:
- NESTOR - Caroline
- NESTOR - Victorious
- NESTOR - On the run
- NESTOR - Teenage Rebel
- Visions of Atlantis - Monsters
- Visions of Atlantis - Armada
- Avenged Sevenfold - Coming Home
- Bon Jovi - Thank You For Loving Me
- Judas Priest - Beyond the realms of death
- Whitesnake - The deeper the love
End of the author's notes section.