Beyond Good and Evil

Preface

"I have all my angels, and I am not alone," the soft, sultry voice of Robert Stjärnström filled the hall. "Wake me if I turn to stone."

Alicia gazed up at her idol, awestruck. She had been a Machinae Supremacy fan ever since she could remember, and yet here she was, directly in front of the stage where they were rocking out.

Lights flashed across the stage as Robert walked across, catching and illuminating his blonde-brown hair, hanging limply over his forehead. He wore his infamous black shirt, the top button undone, and leaf village fingerless gloves from Naruto. Tomi Luoma, one of the guitarists, walked up to Robert as he played his part of the solo, smirking up at his friend.

The crowd was wild, headbanging and thrashing along to the music pouring from the speakers. Alicia felt hot, surrounded by the warm atmosphere and sweat of strangers standing too close to her. She brushed her dyed aqua hair from her eyes, thankful that she had styled it short.

Robert's eyes caught her own, and in a moment of paralysis, he reached over and took her hand, singing the lyrics to her favourite song.

"You know me, I can't be redeemed," his eyes never left hers the entire time. "What do you want from me? You took me out of play and now you choose to free me again. I have no cause, I don't believe, I kill that's all I know. I am the villain of this story, what else could I ever be?"

Releasing her hand, he walked across the stage towards Andreas Gerdin. Andreas was a young, attractive man, quite like Robert. His mop of black hair fell untidy into his face as he headbanged, almost back-to-back with Tomi.

The show finished half an hour later. Alicia walked toward the doors. She yearned for fresh air, after being cooped up amongst the others like sardines in a can. The men in front of her threw open the heavy doors, the crisp, cool night air blowing in around the hall's interior.

Drawing her phone from her pocket, she sent a brief text to her mother, informing her that she was okay, and that the concert had kicked-ass. Jody would have been at work in the local diner, serving people coffees and food. Frank was away on holiday in Finland, touring with Children of Bodom. Oh how Alicia envied her father, being up close and personal with one of her all-time favourite metal bands.

"Alicia!" A lean figure bound towards her out of nowhere, flinging her arms around Alicia's neck. "How amazing were they?! They're doing CD signings! Come!"

Before Alicia could protest, Elsa was dragging her along the pathway and back through the stage doors. Dangling around her best friend's neck was a backstage pass, declaring 'all access'. Elsa stopped abruptly, the loud chatter of excited fans like bleating sheep to Alicia's ears.

The large space was packed full. Some gruff-looking men wore their t-shirts with pride, brandishing the band's logo around their wrists or on their shoulders. Women as young as twenty chatted animately about the boys, about how Tomi had done a more-than-good job filling in for the empty part of the band.

Elsa tucked her white blonde hair behind her ear, grinning from ear-to-ear at Andreas, who was sitting behind the signing table, leaning towards a very happy fan for a snap. Alicia had known that Elsa had admired Andreas for quite some time, way before Tomi had ever come on the scene. She had talked Alicia's ear off day after day, night after night, about Andreas; telling Alicia about his hair, his skin, his playing skills, and whatever else happened to pop up in her mind.

The line seemed to progress slowly. An hour had elapsed when finally, Alicia and Elsa were at the front of the que, barely containing their excited grins.

And right there, was Robert. He dropped his arm from the shoulders of a red head fan, his eyes meeting Alicia's as he turned. Alicia's mouth went dry. She had never, in her wildest dreams, conceived that she would ever meet Robert in person.

"Hello beautiful," he smiled, recognition registering in his dark eyes. "Want me to sign your CD?"

Elsa swiped Phantom Shadow from Alicia's hands before she had time, standing as still as a statue. Robert was talking to her, and called her beautiful. Her heart was racing a million miles inside her chest, adrenalin flowing through her veins. She felt she might fling herself at Robert any second, but clenched her hands into tight fists, resisting.

He took out a white marker, and, pulling the thin booklet from its case, scribbled his signature on the front. Alicia watched him the entire time, swallowing against her dry throat. How could she bring herself to talk to this gorgeous man?

"Thank you," Alicia sqeaked, taking back from him the CD. "I really appreciate it."

"It's my pleasure," Robert murmured, cocking his head at Alicia, observing her. "I hope you enjoy the CD."

Alicia felt her muscles stretch up into a smile, splitting her face. "I'm sure I will. You guys are amazing."

Without another backwards glance, she turned and walked the way she and Elsa had come. The room was slowly emptying - only ten fans left in line, anxiously clutching their copy of the CD.

"He likes you," Elsa murmured as soon as they had set foot outside. "It really shows."

Alicia scoffed, rolling her eyes at her best friend. "He's a singer, Els. I'm a nobody. Don't be ridiculous."

Elsa fell silent. They both walked side-by-side, in unison, towards Alicia's house. She had invited Elsa to the concert with her, and then dinner afterwards. Her stomach was in knots, thinking back to Robert's impeccable looks and his dark brown eyes.