A stage crew, director, music band, extras, choreographer, etc. were busy working away in Studio Lot 47 on the legendary Sunset Blvd. The Backstreet Boys were busy filming the video fro their song The One. Dianna, Michelle, Leah and Tavlin were being used as extras. Everyone was working hard in their 48-hour work day. They had been there since Saturday morning and wouldn't be finished until well into the night.
At first I was floating around aimlessly, admiring the world in all it's beauty through eyes I realized I had never even used before. The eyes of an Immortal and I was loving every second of it. Finally, I was certain that everyone that I had even an ounce of care for were going to be all right without me. Never once did I not visit Alex in his dreams each night. And every time he was eagerly waiting for my arrival. We would spend the hours of the night talking about what had happened during the day. What he was up to and how I would end up replying "I know all about it. I was watching you all the time." and it always caught was by surprise. I would tell him of those that I had helped immensely during the day and what I had seen, stunning him beyond imagination. And each and every morning came and sunlight broke through the dark veil of the night, I'd be gone and Alex would remember nothing. He'd live through the day. knowing only my friends and the Boys and oblivious to the fact that I would kiss him lightly on the forehead as he woke up. If I cared for personal sadness, I would be sad. But now, no hate or sadness or anger ever filled my heart anymore, only love, happiness and joy.
I looked down to the massively large studio and noticed two figures emerging from the front doors. I swooped down lower to take a closer look. It was Nick and Michelle walking side by side. Nick had gotten the shortest straw when the Boys had picked straws to see who would have to leave to go buy extra donuts and coffee for everyone. Michelle eagerly agreed to accompany him.
I studied the two closely. They walked beside each other but not too close. Their arms swayed back and forth but never did their hands link. I knew Michelle had been wanting Nick to see her as a lot more than just a friend, but she was still too shy to say anything, afraid that he'd take on offense if she started flirting with him. I had been picking up Nick's emotional energy. Amazingly, he was also attracted to Michelle but, at the same time, was also afraid to admit it to her face. I laughed. What a pitiful sight! Both liked the other, both afraid to share it with the other, both walking down the street to the coffee shop nervously silent and tense. I knew very well that this was hardly my department of expertise in the overall scheme of things. I'm a Muse, not a Love Goddess or Matchmaker. But I had to do something. I just had to. I noticed a good sized rock lying on the sidewalk in Michelle's path. Michelle was nothing close to being clumsy. Normally she would easily step over the rock and not face any sort of embarrassment. I remembered back to when I was living in the physical, how I would always be the one tripping or accidentally kicking something or bumping into someone or something. Yeah, I was the graceful klutz. As I watched, the two draw closer to the rock, an idea struck me like Zeus's lightning bolt. Michelle started to step over the rock naturally. I threw my arms out in front of me and concentrated my energy to, in some way or form, counter a simple act of nature. Michelle's foot rose to go over the rock but it didn't reach high enough. She stepped on the rock, it rolled out underneath her foot and she tripped over, ready to fall smack on her face.
Success! I danced around in joy. What the heck, no one would see me. As Michelle fell over, she cried out, startled. Nick instinctively reached out and caught her.
"Whoa, easy there Mich! You ok?" He asked slightly laughing.
"Uhh, yeah, I guess. I can't believe I just did that, I'm usually not clumsy." She said, blushing in embarrassment.
"Yeah, right. Sure, Mich. Whatever you say." Nick said sarcastically. Michelle smiled at him sheepishly.
Their eyes met, and stayed that way for a beat.
Sparks flew. Both of them knowing with a wave of relief what the other was thinking. All caught in that good look in the eyes.
Nick leaned over, his eyes shutting slowly. Michelle answered his movement by bringing her face up to his, also shutting their eyes.
Their lips met. The kiss was strong, passionate, eager and long.
Mission accomplished! It worked. I realized then that my strength did not lie only in my gift for creating brilliant and creative ideas for the mortal world to use below me. I was actually also able to reach out and affect the people at any given chance. I marveled at my work.
Feeling good about myself, I looked up to the clouds. A formation of fluffy white air shifted and transformed distinctively into a beautiful face. I stared at it in shock. All the features of the face were visible. It was a woman, forever young. I couldn't believe my eyes. This wasn't your usual, picture in the clouds. Where you could make out different objects slightly in how the clouds were molded. This was a complete face, hair, eyes, nose, cheeks and mouth, all specifically created. A face only I could see.
Suddenly the face moved forward, out of the cloud, leaving the cloud in the same way it was at first. As the face drew out into the sky, it came into complete color as far as I could see. A complete body came into view to go along the face. Flowing, golden long hair, a silky white gown that rolled down past her feet with wisps of long fabric gracefully blowing out and fanning around her. Her facial features shifted into an expression of irritated anger. Finally I was able to figure out who this woman was.
"Aphrodite." I gasped out in awe. For it was her standing before me in all her glory. Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty, daughter of the Great king Zeus. She continued to glare at me.
"My Lady. Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way." I said, bowing my head in respect.
"This is not your place to affect the mortals in such a manner. You are merely instructed to offer them your gift of inspirational ideas to help in their work. The act of bringing the girl and the boy together was not in your line of duty." She said sternly. Her voice, clear as crystal, ringing out like a bell and tinged with anger. I realized instantly where I could've gone wrong with my actions and what could possibly happen.
"Forgive me, my Lady. For I did not know this would offend you so. I do so hope that I did not altar the course of Destiny and The Fates. My Lady, please tell me. Were Nick and Michelle not meant to be together?" I asked reluctantly. At last, the Goddess smiled at me, but only in pity.
"Child, so much that you don't know. So much time for you to learn to know it. Yes, the two were meant to be together. That is why I arrived. It was I that was supposed to make the girl fall so they may realize each other's love. You performed my task for me. I do like what I am set to do. But from now on, WhiteRaven, you are to resume your task of giving inspiration. Do you understand?" She asked, eyeing me closely. I was relieved that I didn't screw everything up.
"Yes, my Lady." I said, again bowing my head.
"And do not call me by such a title. I do have a name, and you are on the same higher level as me, so do call me by name. You're one of us now, Amarantha." She said. The last part puzzled me. "Thank you, Aphrodite. But I regret to say hat I am confused. Who is this Amarantha that you speak of?" I asked.
"Why you are, child. You do understand the term Amarantha, correct?"
"Yes, Amarantha is the Greek term for Immortal." I answered.
"And that is what you are, child. In our world, we are all Amarantha. But for you it is special. It is now your new name. Chosen by my Father, Zeus. He wishes to speak to you later on."
"What about, Aphrodite?" I asked.
"My Father basically wants to reveal to you that in this state, he accepts you. He will take you under his arm as another Daughter. You must feel grateful, this rite is not performed too often." She explained.
"So that would make me, your Sister." I said smiling.
"Half Sister. Now run along now and do not forget to stop by Olympus.
"I will remember, Aphrodite." I said. She smiled at me again, this time in love for her new sister. She came closer towards me and kissed me on the cheek, then vanished from sight.
I grinned broadly to myself. More great events keep happening to me as the day progresses. I felt completely honored to be taken in by the Great Zeus. I looked down to where I had left Michelle and Nick.
"So, Mich, how big a fan are of you Japanese Anime?" Nick asked, discussing one of his many favorite topics, animation. Michelle, leaned her head against Nick' shoulder as he draped his arm around her waist and continued walking down tot he coffee shop.
I happily let myself vanish from outside and reappear inside the studio.
"Brian, I don't care how long it takes, I was paid to make sure you guys look good on camera during the dance break and I'm going to do that whether you like it or not. Now you are going to learn this and get this right, because I can easily make you stay here the entire night. It's up to you." Fatima Robinson, the Boys' dance choreographer, snapped. She flung her hair of tiny black braids over her shoulder and rested her burgundy painted nailed hands on her waist.
"Slave driver." Brian muttered under his breath.
"I heard that." Fatima retorted. Leah just laughed and ran her hands through her dyed strawberry blond hair.
"Brian. It really is not that hard. Here, let me help you with it." She said and took him aside.
I smiled from my place above them all, happily invisible to them. They didn't remember me at all and it didn't bother me one bit. I was taking all this better than I could have ever expected. Suddenly there came the bang of a door opening and I expected to see Nick and Michelle heading back in, but the appearance of the blond woman made me do a double take.
"Hi honey! How are you doing?" Leanne Wallace squeeled.
"I'm doing great, Bunny. Leah's helping me with the dance. What's with all this?" Brian said, holding his girlfriend at arm's length and eyeing her outfit.
I'm not sure how I managed to come out of my dumbfounded stupor but I did. Leanne was a sight to behold. From head to foot, she was wearing black. A tiny silver pentacle rested against her throat. This coming from a women that didn't hesitate to condemn me when I first saw her as a mortal had taken on my Gothic persona as if it were second nature. I practically burst out laughing!
"It's a new look, trying different things. I just felt I needed something and this was the way to go. You like it?" She said simply and innocently.
"You look great." It was all Brian could say, it was all he needed to say.
Everything with them was working perfectly fine. They didn't need my help at the moment, so I let them be.
"Checkmate."
I looked over to another corner of the set away from the commotion on the dance floor where Tavlin and Howie had set up a chess game using expensive marble pieces and an oak board. It was Howie's voice I was hearing. "Wow! I didn't even see that one coming! You need to start teaching me. I could benefit brushing off on your strategies." Tavlin commented, her contact green eyes wide as she stared at the board.
"That's not a problem. We can discuss this, how about tonight? At dinner. Just you and me." Howie said, reaching over the board to place his hand over hers.
"Are you asking me out?" Tavlin asked. I chuckled, far be it for Tavlin to begin stating the obvious.
"Yes." Howie answered with a smile. "What do you say?" I promised myself that I wouldn't interfere, it wasn't my place, but I felt the need to float a chess piece and hit her with it if she didn't say yes.
"I'd be honored. It's a date." Tavlin smiled the same time I did. No need for my help here either.
I noticed a change in emotions with the mortals in the building. Somewhere near by, I felt a strange tugging sensation that told me I was needed. I went with it, easily floating through ceilings and walls and ended up in my beloved Alex's dressing room. I surveyed the place. Crumpled up pieces of paper littered the floor. I noticed the black trash bin behind him and saw it empty. I sighed, the next time I would see him in his dreams, I definitely would have to tell him that he needed to start tidying things up in his life. Starting with his dressing room at the studio, then his house. I looked over to see Alex hunched over a writing desk, illuminated by a single desk lamp, the sunlight streamed in through a curtainless window. With an exasperated cry, he scribbled over what he wrote with his expensive black pen, crumpled up the paper and tossed it aside along with his other rejected ideas. There was a knock at his door.
"AJ, honey. It's me. Can I come in?" Called a female voice.
"Amanda. Yeah, sure, get in here." He said, breathing out a sigh as he stretched out his fingers. Amanda walked in, a sight in stretchy black pants and a blue halter top. She smoothed her dark hair behind her back and embraced Alex. I warded off a pang of jealousy and forced myself to smile. This wasn't my place to interfere at all. I reminded myself that he wouldn't remember me when he was awake. It was in the confines of his dream world that I still existed to him and nowhere else.
"What's wrong, honey?" She asked, genuinely concerned.
"Ach! Nothing really. Just trying to create a new song. Nothing's coming to me. Nothing works! I've never been so frustrated in writing than I am now." He said throwing up his hands, he turned his head to take a kiss from Amanda.
Now this is where I came in. I floated over to his side and whispered right into his ear. I knew the right song to give him. My work as a Muse. If I wouldn't be alive to have my song recorded, best be I give it to him.
You're my star that fell from heaven
And into my life
When you walked through the door
You turned my life around
Now you're walking out
And I'm falling
Back into a world
I thought I'd left behind
The world of darkness and despair
"Oh my God!" He exclaimed when I had finished with my song. I sang it to him, se he immediately got not just the words, but the music for it as well.
"Honey, what? What is it? What happened?" Amanda asked, her brow furrowed in concern.
"I got it. It...it just blasted right into my head. How perfect! It's exactly what I was looking for. This is incredible!" He exclaimed and quickly went to a fresh page in his noteboook and began furiously scribbling it down.
"Got what? AJ, what is going on?" Amanda demanded.
"The song. It just suddenly came at me and it's perfect." Alex said without even looking up.
"Oh...ok." Amanda's face was etched with concern. "Mandi, relax. Ok, it's cool." Alex said when he looked at her face. He patted her hand and reached up for a kiss which she provided.
Ok, so I might have been too haste with the song. I was still getting used to being a Muse and this was the first time I had planted the seed of idea and inspiration in anybody. I knew I had to keep it discreet and not be too forward with it. Even though it didn't really seem to pose much of a problem now, but I knew I had to start from the beginning and edge my way further. Suddenly, there was another knock at the door. Amanda went to open it, letting Alex continue with his writing. It was Kevin with Dianna.
"Hi Amanda. AJ, Jonas wants to talk to you about the final chorus of the video. He wants all of us. Yeah, Brian's still working on his choreography, but Fatima gave him a little leeway for this. Let's go." Said Kevin. Dianna slipped past him with her hand on his shoulder.
"What are you working on?" She asked him.
"New material. It just came to me. I have to let you all hear it later on. Yeah, I'm on my way." AJ said, stretching out his fingers as he got up.
"Yeah, and don't forget to clean this place up. You have a trash bin in here for a reason, you know." Kevin said as his clear green eyes surveyed the room.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Alex grumbled. Alex, Amanda, Kevin and Dianna filed out of the room, Dianna closed the door behind her letting it lock.
I lingered there for a while, pondering all that I had seen. Everything here seemed to be fine, everyone was getting along just fine without me. The fabric of time had been changed but the change had blended in with the cosmic screen of the universe perfectly. The people here didn't need my help at the moment. They were doing great.
With a self-satisfied grin, I let myself rise up further and further until I had risen out of the roof of the studio and headed for the skies, the sensation of freedom now stronger than ever. It all just felt right and I finally let myself relax.
