The Story

Awakening

Dante had a normal life. Normal. That was the perfect word for it. Normal. Not impressive. Not extravagant. Not... happy. Just. Normal.
He had 4 children. Whom he loved dearly. Ruby, Ember, Nala, and Neo.
He was married. Though that was a strong word for the situation. He hadn't felt married in years. They lived together. Kirsty and he. The were good parents together. Though that was all. He was comfortable in his life. Just comfortable. That was what everyone seemed to say was normal. Happiness wasn't necessary.
Dante went to work at the local inn. Did his job. Enjoyed his time with his children. Then lay awake at night and thought. This is my life. I'm fine. I'm fine...
Dante started out the next day like any other. He got up early. Sitting on the edge of his cot in the common area of his house. He hadn't slept in his own bed for months. That's where she slept. He never felt comfortable there anymore.
He rubbed his eyes and let out a big yawn. Opening his mouth too wide. "Gah!" Locking his jaw in place. He quickly reached up and jammed it back into place.
"I need to get a new cot.." he muttered to himself.
He got his clothes on and stood in the doorway to his house. The streets were already busy with horses and carriages. There was always something going on at the castle. He didn't care though. He was never too into the royal family.
He scoffed and went back inside to grab some bread for breakfast.
"Eating already?" He heard a voice slither out from the bedroom.
Kirsty was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. She rolled her eyes and went and sat on the stool in the common room.
"And come put your bloody cot away! You should just sleep on the floor. So I don't have to trip over this thing!"
Ive always hated that stool...
He walked over and folded his cot and stuck it in the corner of the room.
"Should I wake the children? I need to leave for the inn in a few minutes "
Kirsty just nodded her head and scoffed.
Dante walked over to wear the dogs were penned in the corner.
"Do you want to get the kids up?" He said in a little pet voice. "Do you? Do you?"
The dogs all yipped in excitement as Dante pulled the pin to the gate and let the dogs run to the back of the house.
"Gross. Slobber!" Came a small voice from the hallway.
Out ran all four children. All hugged Dante and ran over and hugged Kirsty. Then they all jumped to the table and began devouring the remaining bread for breakfast.
Dante laughed. His kids were the only thing in his life that brought him joy. Though it was always short lived. In a few mins he would be back to his numb self.
"I have to get going young ones" Dante said.
"Nooooo!" They all yelled in unison
Dante walked over and gave them all a kiss on the head.
He put on his shoes and walked for the door.
"Bye Kirsty" he said
"Bye"
She was a good mother. That's why he stayed. They patented well together. They really did.
Dante walked out to where is horse was tied. Jumped on and road off for the Inn and the beginning of the rest of his life.

       The Inn was rather busy for this early on a Saturday. You had your normal drunks. Though there were plenty other people.
Dante went back to his spot behind the bar.
Michael, the owner, looked at Dante and scowled.
"I'm not even fucking late, ass" dante said sticking his middle finger up at Michael.
Michael chuckled and went about his business.
The day went on and on. Patrons coming and going. Talking about the festivities at the castle. Talking about their plans and things.
Dante was nice enough. Making conversation with the drunks. Though he could have cared less.
It's was getting later in the day. It had to have been 3 o clock or so. When Dante caught a wiff of something. As the breeze blew through the entrance to the Inn.
It was a sweet smell. Exotic and beautiful. The smell of fruits, but not quite. A smell that filled his nostrils and made his mind almost. Peaceful.
He walked out to the entrance to have a look.
Nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary.
He went back behind the bar. Rag in hand and began to prepare for the rest of his shift.

It was later in the evening now. The sun was setting and the normal drinkers started to flow in. Dante looked around. Familiar faces. None of them mattered. When you've spent almost your whole life being empty. Nothing else helps.
Dante poured himself an ale and downed it in two huge gulps.
Here's to life. He thought to himself.
Then. It was there
The scent.
Wafting over the Inn like a dense fog. It filled Dante's nostrils again. Filling his head with that sweet scent.
"DANTE!" he heard Michael yell from the back.
Dante let out a grunt and made his was back to the kitchen area.
"You need to show the new one here how to clean these stables" Michael said
"Alright" replied Dante.
Michael lead him back to where the stables are.
"Wait here." Michael went around the corner.
Dante couldn't hear what was all said.
"You can't bring your sister with you. I'll let it slide this time. No more."
Michael came back around the corner. Though. It wasn't him that Dante saw.
Hair. Golden hair. Wrapped around a face that could only be described as perfection. Eyes like deep blue night skies. Complete with all the stars and galaxies that make those skies so beautiful.
Dante was frozen. He knew he was staring. Though he couldn't stop.
What are you doing. Stop staring at her. You're fucking weird Dante. Stop
It was then. They made eye contact. Dante froze. As if he just made eye contact with Aphrodite herself. He felt an electricity surge through his body.
"Dante. This is Mackenzie"
"Hello, Dante. It's nice to meet you"
She smiled
Dante couldn't talk. He couldn't move. He could just. Stare.
That smile. That smile. Dante had watched a hundred sunrises and sunsets. But he had never seen something quite this amazing. It was like the entire world just melted away. And all he could see. Was that smile.
He finally snapped back.
"Uh. H...hi. Your Dante. I MEAN IM DANTE"
She laughed.
"Nevermind Dante. I need you out front. Someone else will show her" he then led her back to the stables.
Dante just watched her walk. He felt something inside. Like a flutter. In his stomach. He watched her turn the corner. Then he went back to the bar to finish out the night.

Another two hours went by. The inn was closed and Dante and Cody were cleaning up.
   "Cody. Play something while we clean up" Dante said.
    "As you command" said Cody sarcastically as he stuck his middle finger up.
   Dante returned the gesture.
   Cody started playing a song from when they were younger. One of Dante's favorites.
   It was at this moment he realized that Mackenzie walked back into the bar. Michael had told her to help finish cleaning up.
    She looked at Dante and smiled. He could fill his face blush
  Oh no! She won't like this music. She can't be more than 18. This isn't her style.
   Dante was about to ask Cody to stop when his eyes met Mackenzie's again. She was dancing. Just a little. She smiled and turned to start cleaning a table.
   Dante just stared.
    The was she moved her body. So fluid. So natural. It was like watching a moving work of art.
    Dante's eyes floated slowly over her entire body. Down the curve of her back. Stopping to watch as she moved her hips in such a way that it was almost hypnotic.
    That's when he felt it. Something was waking up. Dante looked down for a split second. When I looked back up Mackenzie was standing there. Staring at him. With this smile. Almost like she was doing this just for him.
    The she did something. That made Dante melt into the floor. She looked into his eyes and bit her lip ever so slightly. Then turned around and continued her work.
    Dante felt something. Animalistic. Something  he hadn't felt in a long time. He had a thought. For just a second. He wanted to see what that dance would look like. All natural. No clothing restricting her curves. Her soft skin up agai....
    "DANTE! ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF? GET OUT YOUR SHIFT IS OVER" screamed Michael
   Dante snapped back to reality. He walked over to Mackenzie.
  "It was nice to meet you. Truly."
   She smiled and touched his arm.
    "You as well. Dante."
   Dante felt electricity surge through his body.
   He nodded and quickly headed toward the door. He turned around and looked at her one last time. She smiled. And flipped her hair. Then went back to work.
   She lives near the carrier pigeon coop.
   Dante stopped and wrote her a small note on a piece of parchment and sent it to the coop near her home.
   He then turned and started towards his house. Ready to spend another night on his uncomfortable cot.
   This night. Was different though. Because he was smiling. Ear to ear. Because that whole night. There was one thought in his head.
Mackenzie.