Everlight by ZoriStory

“AHHHH!”

Alex bolted upright from her bed in a cold sweat, eyes wide open, blinded briefly by the bright sunlight pouring in from the nearby window. Her hands gripped the sheets resting on top of her, squeezing it so hard her knuckles were turning white, as she was able to move.

It was morning, and she was alone in her room, as she whipped her head around; freedom of movement regained as she stayed where she was. Nothing was there, save for the things she had seen before she slept. The two large dolls of the goddesses right where they were, with the presents on the table as well.

After figuring out she was safe and sound, she started to calm down; gripping her arms to help ease herself. She was trembling without even noticing it, but was quickly getting it back under control.

“Dream. . .fuckin’ just a dream. . .urgh. . .” Alex said out loud, glad to hear her own voice as she tried to get over whatever nightmare had awoken her. She could recall it, but with each passing second, it became harder and harder to recall–

It had moved closer that night.

Alex felt as if a spike was pressed against her head, seconds from piercing through her skull as she tried to recall the nightmare. She let out another gasp, looking around in a wild manner about her room. She felt safe, yet, it felt as if it could go away at any moment. She felt as if something washed over her, but the details were hard to make out, as the feeling went away. . .all of it.

She was safe. There was no need to worry. She had been summoned by the two most powerful beings to ever walk this planet, and they had made it clear they were fond of her.

The tomboy told herself this, trying to push away the fear of the nightmare she had with logic. She saw half the gifts still wrapped. Those two giant ‘dolls’ of the goddesses she was now a guest of. Inside of a room that was no doubt safe and very high from the ground. . .ok, maybe only safe if she stayed away from the window–

A knocking sound on the door roused her from her thoughts, as she looked over at it without knowing what to do. Save for her natural reaction when one’s door was knocked on.

“Uhh, gimme a sec!” She called out, moving to get out of bed and throw on some fresh clothing that had been laid out nearby. It took only a few seconds, as she slipped on a pair of somewhat loose jeans and one of the baseball shirts she had gotten from her gifts, and headed over to the door.

There were a few locks in place, but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It was, however, odd when each time she did away with one of the locks, an odd sound was heard. Almost like the sound effects made on some kid’s show when magic was done. She stared at the lock she had undone, relocking it and hearing the sound again. . .then did it in reverse; hearing it once more.

Recalling someone outside, she winced and went to quickly undo the rest, a series of sparkling like sounds heard in their wake, before she threw open the door - only to find herself looking upward at a man that had her beat in height by roughly a head and a half.

Dark brown eyes met her own lighter shade of brown, looking down at her with an amused smile on his lips. He was rather good looking, with a touch of age about him that gave her the impression he had her beat by almost a decade or so, roughly in his early forties she assumed - with his dark brown hair combed neatly to the side and slightly back. It wasn’t his looks that quite caught her attention, but what he was wearing that did.

It was a simple, yet sharp and well tailored button suit; white in coloring. A walnut colored vest peeked out from just above the breast line where the man had ceased buttoning it up. An almost plain black tie was seen under it. His white pants were just as fancy as his upper half, with a pair of proper black dress shoes on. His figure was that of someone in great shape, unless the suit just hid anything that was unsightly that damn well.

While his hands were mostly bare, there was a ring of notable size upon his left ring finger. It almost looked like a family ring of sorts.

A part of Alex figured this man was just into very outdated fashion from almost a hundred years ago, yet, it didn’t feel like that. The way he held himself and wore the suit spoke of a different story. . .

It bothered her.

“Alexandra Fae, with an L in the middle, that is correct?” Even the way he spoke was extremely well mannered and reminded her of her grandfather faintly. He didn’t look over fifty, yet, she’d wonder if maybe that was due to some sort of magic. That or some damn good makeup.

“Hey–hello there! You can just call me Alex!” Despite her feelings, she put on a best smile and made sure to remember her manners.

A light snapping sound was heard with a click, as Alex caught sight of a pocket watch briefly within his grasp, being slipped away within the inner folds of his jacket. A hand was presented to her, but the back of his hand was facing upward - with the young woman catching on to what he was doing; meeting him half way as she offered her hand within his. She watched as he brought her hand up to his lips while dipping his head; a brief, but polite kiss given to the top of her knuckles.

“Ahh, well met then, Miss Alex! Pardon the sudden meeting without announcing myself ahead of time.” Her hand was released, as he gave her a proper dip of his head; a hand hovered over where his heart was. “I am Jonathan T Hardy, although, if we are to address each other in more simple terms already? Jon will suffice for the time being. Without the H.” He said, as if expecting that to be her next question, despite it not.

“Yeah, it’s nice to meet you as well! Just moved in, new girl on the block.” She said, at once wishing she had said something a little more clever than that.

“Yes, indeed you are.” It was only for a second, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. Then, a twinkle was seen within, as he’d smiled slightly more than before. “It just so happens I’ve come to escort you, but, ahhh. . .it would appear you are not properly dressed.” His tone held a hint of disapproval, causing Alex to look down at herself, her bare feet in front of his well dressed shoes.

“Just got out of bed, do I have time for a shower ooor. . .?” She let the question linger in the air, a gesture given to the inside of her room as if to try and get her point across that she wanted to.

“I’m afraid not, but there is a measure of time we can spare for you to put a little more on than what you have now.” Head tilted to the side, a polite smile given to her.

A part of Alex was tempted to follow him with no shoes on just to cause problems on purpose, but it was just a thought. A smile given in return, along with a well practiced work laugh directed towards him. “I’ll get dressed then, hope you don’t mind?” She made a motion to close the door, as he glanced towards the inside of the room, quickly scanning it. While his smile remained, his nose crinkled just a tad, before he’d nod. “Of course.” He didn’t look back at her, but the room within.

With a quick ‘Thanks!’ mouthed, she closed the door and hustled towards the bed in order to find some shoes and socks.

She tied her hair into a lazy ponytail, as she had no time to take a shower. With that out of the way, she headed back out where he was waiting, the pocket watch once more in hand. She’d close the door behind herself, hearing those faint sparkling clicks again, before the man offered her his arm.

Not wanting to be rude, she accepted it as they began walking down the same path her and Max had traveled. Max. . .where was he? She had assumed he would come bother her and see how she was doing–

“I hope your arrival here was a pleasant one?”

The youthful woman stared up at the older man who was staring ahead, the same smile on his face. She turned to look towards where they were going as well, not wanting to be odd and caught staring at him while he wasn’t looking back. “Yeah, yeah! Was good! Umm, a little crazy, and still feeling like it’s a dream.” She expressed, causing a low chuckle to emit from him.

“This is no dream, rest assured of that. You have been chosen by the Gods themselves, where only a select few have been blessed with in the world. Violence and misery is often a common trait one finds in the world of the gods, but for those that rise above the others? Well, I dare say you’ve become a light for them, and to remind them of the joy one should feel by being in this world!” He said, seeming rather excited while talking - speaking honest and true.

“You mean because they picked me, iiiit could happen to anyone then?” A small ‘tsk, tsk’, emitted from him, while an amused chuckle was heard once more. “Come now, Miss Alex. It isn’t like a lottery. Quite the opposite in fact. The gods have been watching you, for your entire life, there is no doubt about it. Every path you have taken has been a test, like many other people of course, but yours? It’s special.” Jon noted to her, his other arm reaching over to fondly pat her on the arm.

Already the man reminded her of some priest one might find in one of the many churches inside the city. Sprouting the good word of the twin goddesses, noting fate, and everything else that came with the package deal they called life. It all traced back to the duo themselves.

This time around, it felt different. Unlike the others, the man was speaking directly to her as if this was pure fact, with no other way around it.

“Well, I certainly feel special here! Sort of crazy, trying to wrap my head around it. Had a crazy dream last night–”

That sense of something pressed against her head. Not a dream. Something else. The promise of something painful on the horizon. It was brief, but it caused her to stiffen up and halt where she was. Alex brought her hand up to rub at the back of her head, as Jon peered down at her - arm still looped within her own.

“A dream can be a wonderful thing, but it is just that, a dream. You are in reality, and what life has in store for you is something far grander than anything you could have thought of. Do not sour such an occasion with that, but focus on what you are able to learn from the past.” The man in white stated to her in a low, but calm tone, causing Alex to look up at him with a slightly puzzled expression.

“The past?” She’d question, with the taller man giving a nod as they started to walk once again. “Yes, the past. Within it are all the answers one ever needs. Within these hallowed walls is the truth of the world itself, with everything you seek being here. The great goddesses Sophia and Fortia have chosen you as a light, and it will no doubt shine brilliantly.”

With the feeling of looming pain on the horizon drifting away from her head, Alex merely nodded as they pressed on, heading for the same lift she had taken the day before. Pressing the button, the two of them waited - no words exchanged for a time. Their arms still linked together, as the tomboy felt like pressing him with a few questions as they waited.

“So, Jon!” A small ‘Hmmm?’ emitted from him, as she noticed he was thumbing the pocket watch within his grasp again, watching it. “What do you do around here? You’re not dressed like an Enforcer. Are you like a butler or priest?” She was unable to help herself, wincing a bit as she wondered if that was maybe rude of her to assume him as either of the two.

“I am neither, for I am what came before you - a light that was once chosen as well.” He said without paying her a glance, speaking in a proper manner still.

“Oh, right–wait, before me?” It took her a few seconds, before she asked another question. “Did they pick you for something too?” Alex was trying to wrap her head around it all, but from what he said earlier, she figured it had something to do with being hand chosen.

“Indeed I am, for I too, was blessed with the goddesses choosing me among so many others. It was some time ago mind you, and although my path has been set, it has come time for you to find your own. As the divinities of this world have hand picked you; just as they’ve done with those that came before us.” Jon stated, with Alex cocking an eyebrow upward - which Jon noticed as he glanced at her. A smile seen before he continued.

“When one is chosen, they are to pledge their very mind, body, and soul towards their chosen fate. Today is that day for you, and I envy you for it. It is a feeling that so very few get to feel and understand; as they find their purpose in life.” Jon expressed with a rather fond smile, although Alex felt anything, but that.

Purpose in life? It was a question she had asked herself when she was in her teens, but had done away with as she’s gotten older. There had always been some weird sales pitch made with certain jobs or the church, saying how they were their purpose or that it was shrouded in mystery, and only they could find it for themselves - so long as they paid tribute to the duo themselves.

Now she was being told that it was really going to happen. Alex didn’t know how to feel about it. Would it be like being told where to go from here on out? Something deeper, like, what she was born to do? Maybe she was already doing it, but wasn’t even aware? It was quite a bit to think about, what with the ‘answer’ for it being right around the corner.

A soft ding announced the arrival of the elevator, with Jon taking a step forward, but halted upon noticing Alex lagging behind. “Is something troubling you?” He asked, with the woman recalling what had happened the other day. . .meeting the gods. . .

Last night–

The pain in her head doubled at once from what it was earlier, causing her to reach up and grip the side of it while the tomboy clenched her teeth. She felt a reassuring grip on her shoulder, as Jon moved to steady her as Alex found herself almost tripping forward.

“Careful, easy. . .here. . .”

Taking it nice and slow, Jon helped the woman make her way into the elevator, before pushing a button nearby as the doors soon closed shut behind them. She felt it moving, as Jon bent over slightly, a hand pressed against her forehead akin to a parent checking on their sick child.

“Mmm, a slight fever. Not uncommon.” He said in a soft whisper to her, with Alex giving him an unsure look due to his comment. Something he seemed to notice, as he kept on talking.

“You’ve been through what many would view as a life changing experience, and it’s only the beginning. I doubt you were able to sleep soundly, and the day before has taken its toll on you. No need to fret, there is a medical ward we can stop at before meeting with Goddess Fortia.” The older man expressed, with the younger tomboy looking curious when Fortia was mentioned.

“Fortia? I’m going to see her and Sophia?” She asked in an unsure, somewhat pained tone - with the man in mostly white responding shortly after.

“Goddess Sophia is attending to other matters, as there was a problem this morning that is being dealt with. It was also decided that it’d be best for them to have their time with you; one at a time.” Alex wasn’t sure if she was just in pain and not quite understanding it, but Jon’s tone for the later half of that statement seemed. . .almost resentful? She didn’t question it much, given the fact she was wishing she could simply will the headache she was suffering through away. That, along with knowing she was going to be along with Fortia soon after what happened before. . .

“Yeah, got’cha chief.” Alex declared with a somewhat strained tone, not even remembering what caused the headache now. Just that she wished it’d go away.

It wasn’t long before the elevator doors slid open once more with a soft ding emitting from them, as Jon aided Alex down another hallway and through a door. She didn’t quite pay attention to it all, nursing her head with one hand, while the other clutched at Jon’s arm. There was the faint recalling of seeing the symbol of the goddess on the door, with a medical symbol between them, but she was too busy finding the lights in the room to be a bit bright.

Squeezing her eyes shut helped slightly with shielding her gaze from the bright lights, as she heard Jon speaking to someone, before she was being placed into a seat. A wheelchair of all things.

She felt her cheeks grow hot, wanting to stand up right, but a hand gripped her shoulder firmly - with Jon once more looming over her. “Relax, you’ll be taken to the doctor at once. I’ve already alerted them of your condition.” She wanted to protest, but was halted by Jon’s next statement.

“Goddess Fortia would wish for you to be at your best when meeting her, and you do owe her nothing less than your best.”

Despite the fact there was a decent bit of pain in her head, Alex calmed down and knew he was right. Maybe they had some of the ‘good stuff’ she had gotten after being hurt when she was younger and needed stitches for the side of her head. All she could recall was it felt like she was floating on a cloud, and she couldn’t even recall if it was painful or not.

Alex was soon wheeled off through another set of doors, from what she assumed was the waiting room. Two doors down the hallway a turn was made, and she found herself being wheeled into an empty room. It had what most medical offices had, yet everything looked. . .rather fancy. Expensive and well taken care of. It made her feel slightly sick, as everything seemed almost -too- clean.

Closing her eyes, the young woman tried to relax and not focus on what was going on. The pain was slowly subsiding, unable to recall what event triggered it earlier. She heard Jon speaking softly to someone that came into the room, before turning to leave as a medical staff member entered and started to check her vitals, while asking her some basic questions.

It was all a blur to her, as Alex was more focused on her thoughts of Fortia. Despite the headache, there was a tingle of excitement that she could sense coursing through her entire body.

Before long, the doctor had noted she needed some bed rest, but was told to wait where she was. Leaving the room, the tomboy was alone with her thoughts. She was aware she was laying down against one of those ‘table recliner med beds’ as she called them, often seen when visiting the doctor. She’d lay back and close her eyes, as she’d let her thoughts drift about for the first time since she had been taken away by Max.

It was real. It wasn’t a dream, and she was going to spend time alone with one of the two super beings that were far older than she could even dream of. Some noted they were around since before mortals even existed, with the church often citing them as the reason life came to exist and the like. They had lived through so many different time periods. So many different people they had ‘favored’ or chosen as their ‘champion’ in the past, which over time turned to being just favorites - with many considering the time of ‘heroes’ gone once they had stopped claiming any as their chosen champion. A ‘relic title’ from a bygone era.

Yet, she couldn’t quite recall the more recent favorites. Most didn’t, considering it was a known fact they were people the gods wished to fool around with. Toys, pets, and a number of other such names were thrown their way, but it was often said with a note of envy among most people.

She felt a frown cross her lips, thinking on the biggest question of all that she still hadn’t had time to process. Why -her- though? Sure, she wasn’t bad looking, but there were far more beautiful men and women out there. She didn’t have some hidden talent or know of anyone in her family tree that was related to someone major history wise. It was something that bothered her, more so after how Jon spoke of her as if knowing something she didn’t. He couldn’t be saying that merely due to being picked, but the reason for it. . .right?

“Miss Fae?”

Alex snapped back to reality as it dawned on her that someone was trying to get her attention. Glancing over at the door, the person she presumed to be her doctor had stepped back into the room; a chart in hand as she gave her a kind smile. The older woman flipped through the chart once, before going on.

“Welcome back to the land of the living. We took a look at your vitals and based on recent events, we concluded that you need a bit more time to rest before appearing before the goddess Fortia.” Alex felt herself frowning slightly, about to protest and claim she was fine, before the doctor beat her to it. “Now, now - you're in your best state of mind and body. Unless you can recall what I told you when you first came in, I’d dare say you’re due for some bed rest.”

The door creaked open as Jon took a look into the room, a somewhat worried look on his face when seeing Alex frowning and the doctor. “I trust there’s no problems in here, is there?” He asked, with the Doctor shaking her head. “Not that I’m aware of, is there?” Both of them looked over at the tomboy, who was still frowning. . .but wasn’t saying anything in return to them.

Leaning back on the medical recliner, Alex tried to let it sink in that she was going to have to rest a bit more before she could spend some time with Fortia. Her index finger and thumb rubbed roughly against one another, a nervous habit of hers when unhappy, but accepting things going on around her. With a sigh, she closed her eyes as the tired woman noticed Jon shaking the doctor’s hand; a brief flash of orange was seen, but she’d pay it no heed. Figuring it was some hall pass or something. . .which the very idea made her snort, causing both to turn towards her.

“Rest easy, knowing you have earned everything you are about to experience henceforth.” Jon expressed with a smile, before turning to leave, closing the door behind him.

The doctor went through the normal steps. Advising Alex to take some pills before she went to sleep, drink plenty of water, and so on. Excited as she was, there was a part of her wanting to just call it a day as well. Restless from the last day or so, the events of last night had already been forgotten.

Closing her eyes, she decided instead to daydream about how the events of tomorrow could unfold - hearing Fortia’s words within her head.

‘See you soon. . .Alex~’

. . . .

. . . .

Even still, something just felt off, but she was too tired to think much more of it, as she at last gave in and fell into a slumber at long last.