Sympathy For the Devil [Keith Richards]

I'm a Man of Wealth And Taste

It was a quiet night, when Brian saw her for the first time. Though he had only caught a faint glimpse of her, his stomach turned. The girl had something about her, something peculiar. Simply something that told you to stay away or to get away as fast as you could. Brian couldn't really put his finger on what exactly it was, but it unnerved him for a moment. Before the guitarist had however the chance to take a closer look at her, she was gone. Vanished in a blink of an eye just like his interest for her. Another drink, another pill and another memory erased. In the end she was only another face in the crowd, like they all were. So many girls had come and gone without him wasting a second thought, why should he start now?

The second time Brian saw her was at a bar. She was leaning on the counter, ignoring the buzz around her and observing him. The girl looked good. She wasn't beautiful, she simply looked good, even if her skin seemed too white and pure, like it never had seen the sun. It nearly seemed invisible in comparison to her long black dress and her deep red hair, which was rather short and styled in a way that strangely reminded him off the roaring twenties.

On a closer look, the girl did resemble a flapper girl, her short hairstyle, her makeup, her jewellery, her long glittery dress, her t-strap shoes... She had copied that fashion so perfectly, that it made her look like a remembrance of the recent past or a relic of a happier, more optimistic time. A time were everything seemed possible and in reach. The girl's face however spoke of the other side of the coin. Crushed dreams. Desperation. Hopelessness. Brian knew those feelings too well, to not recognise them. It were those that forced you to hide away and hope they would simply pass you by without completely destroying you in the process.

He had no idea why, but he walked over. She certainly wasn't the most attractive woman in here, but something about her still attracted him like a moth to the flame. Her eyes widened at his approach and Brian smiled. It wasn't perhaps the reaction, he had hoped for, but he could see that he had caught her interest as well and why shouldn't he? He was a man of wealth and taste, founder and guitarist of one of the most successful groups in history and he surely knew how to please a girl.

Luck wasn't on his side this time, before he had even reached her and could offer her a drink or perhaps more, she had disappeared. Not that it bothered Brian for too long, soon she was replaced by a different girl and it didn't even take a day for Brian to completely put her out of his mind again.

Of their third meeting he had recollection at all, it could have been in Morocco, India or even on the moon. As far as Brian was concerned, there never had been one. Though his memories were lacking, there certainly had been a third visit, because that was the polite thing to do, before a soul could be claimed and put to eternal rest or condemnation.

Brian was outside by the pool, overlooking his property and the renovations. His last years hadn't been the best, but here at Cotchford Farm he felt at ease. It was a magical place and it had given him hope for the future. Losing the Stones had lowered his spirits and still it was strangely freeing being rid of them. He could start anew, get a new band and play the music he wanted too. Brian smiled. He was sure for once in his life, he was heading in the right direction and the next years to come would be good ones.

Time would be on his side for once.

"It's over."

Brian frowned at the voice and turned around, only to come face to face with a flapper girl, he could vaguely remember seeing in a bar once or maybe he had imagined it. He wasn't very sure about it.

"What?"

She sighed and again her grim face seemed to clash with the image of her dress. "I'm really sorry... You didn't earn this surely, but we all have to die one day."

Brian laughed, because there was nothing else he could have done in this situation. Dying? What was she talking about? She surely was just some high fan that had invaded his property and that was it. "I am not in the mood for jokes. Get lost."

"Sorry, but it's true and I'm here to collect your soul...".

He snorted, crossing his arms. He had already met barmy birds, but she seemed to top them all. "And what if I'm not coming with you? You're just a little girl."

"Eh... then I have to drag you with me and that's really nothing you would want." She mumbled, making her threat very unbelievable.

Brian smiled. "Try me."

The girl stood there very awkwardly and Brian could already feel his victory. Soon she would give up and return to the loony bin she had obviously escaped from and he could carry on with his day like nothing had happened.

"She might just be a little girl, but how about me? You won't turn me down surely."

Brian frowned at the new voice. Usually he had no problem with girls just appearing out of thin air, surely not, even if they were a tad crazy, but this just screamed wrong. His common sense however had no chance, the woman was beautiful, very much. Unearthly even. Her skin was like the other girl's so pale and the floating white dress, that hugged her body so well, underlined this all the more. She however looked so pure, that Brian would have believed her, if she had told him that she was angel or an ancient goddess and his wariness of the other girl turned into curiosity for her.

"Where did you come from?"

She chuckled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

He raised his eyebrows. "I'm rather open minded, if you give me a chance."

She smile slyly. "Well I could show you if you want."

He knew it was wrong. She looked too good to be true and still he felt strangely enchanted by her. She could take him to Hell and he wouldn't have cared too much. "Show me the way, my lady." He said offering her his arm, which she gladly took and they were gone.

Gone for good. 

Only 27 years old, damned to be forever remembered by the most for only that...

Excuse the obligatory Brian Jones chapter. (YES it is obligatory and NO I don't have an obsession or anything. *cough*)

But I do have too many gifs. #moveslikejones

Oh just a reminder, this story has nothing to do with my other Rolling Stones story. I might have killed Brian off here, but this doesn't necessarily mean he'll die in my other story as well. 

Thank you for reading, voting and the lovely comments. (lovely 200 of them...)