Karya was overjoyed. Today was going to be the most wonderful day in her life. After all, it wasn't every day the most drop-dead-gorgeous angel of your acquaintance asked you to meet him. As she skipped about her home she sighed dreamily. There was no way she could ever forget a single moment of last night. Actually, it had begun the week before...

The grand gala was approaching, and Karya was moping around in a constant state f despair. Everybody who was anybody would be at the most important affair of the angel world. However, the doors to such an important occasion would only be open to those with an invitation, an invitation Karya had yet to recieve. With only a week left until the gala, she was doubtful of ever recieving a precious, coveted invitation. However, no matter how despondent she became, she could not give up. He would be there.

He was the reason for her very existence. She lived each day for the chance to see his face. His name was Aidan, and he was the golden Adonis of the angel world. Not to mention the potential he had. He could only be a century or two older than her, and he already had access to the inner court of the elders. If she could only do something to gain his attention. To have his piercing golden eyes looking at her and only her. She knew it was a hopeless dream, but she couldn't help loving him. He was like a drug, but a good drug. He made her want to becme a better angel. To do wonderful things, just like him. In her current position, she couldn't do anything, for Karya was merely a minor bump in the eschelon of things.

As Karya sat at home daydreaming of her Adonis, he was just entering the inner court through the enormous double doors. The elaborately scrolled doors slammed shut behind him, and he walked to his seat at the elongated table. Now that all the members were present, the signal was given, and the meeting of the realm's elite began. The first to speak was a woman with waist length chestnut curls. Her face remained untainted by her age, and the only sign that she was not a younger minion lay in her eyes. Crystal bright, they held a look of sorrow and aloofness. They were eyes that had seen countless tragedies and heartwrenching pain.

"I really don't know if she is ready for this," began the woman. "She has a good heart, but she's young and impetuous. We've seen it happen before. Our most promising youths given responsibilities they are not ready for. It ends in greed for power and ultimately, despair." As she stopped speaking, another spoke up. The second speaker was a man with coal black hair liberally laced with silver. His voice was surly, and everybody sighed as he began. However, he deserved their respect, and it was thei duty to hear all who wished to express their views.

"I don't belive she'll ever be ready," he said harshly. "Not only is she impetuous, but irresponsible as well. Even if she doesn't become greedy for power, she's bound to mess up. If she recieves her anointing we'll have nothing but trouble. It will be the biggest mistake we can possibly make." As he finished with those harsh words, Aidan sat a lttle straighter. He had been silently watching the proceedings, and finally decided to speak up.

"I believe that I too was in her position not long ago," he began, speaking with great care. "You have given me a chance, and I can only see it as my duty to make sure that this girl is accorded the same opportunity. If I may make a request?" He paused for a moment until he was met with nods. "Invite her to the gala in a week's time. By then the court will most likely have reached a decision, and since it is my request I shall deliver the news." As he halted, he saw the slow smiles on the faces of many in the room. It looked as though his plan met with their approval.

The next day dawned bright, and Karya woke with the first kiss of sunbeams on her face. Let today be the day, she softly thought to herself as she ran to check her mail. She tightly squeezed her eyes shut as she grasped the handle to the box. With a quick yank she opened the box, and her eyes. She let out a squeal that very likely woke anyone within ten miles of her home. There before her eyes was a glimmering envelope sealed with the official stamp. She hurriedly grabbed her precious possession and scurried back inside in her bare feet.

With a flounce, she dropped to the couch to stare at the treasure she held. She turned it every which way before sliding a slim finger beneath the flap and breaking the seal. With an indrawn breath she reverantly slid the priceless parchment from its resting place. As she slowly exhaled, she opened the paper and began to read. She could barely contain her joy. She, Karya, had just been invited to the grand gala! She gasped. There was so much to do, and so little time left. But oh, it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her.

As the gala drew closer and closer, Karya became more and more excited. The only mode of transportation she seemed to have was a bouncing skip. She smiled at anything and everything, and her bubbling laugh could always be headr. Her joy was so infectious that no angel near her could make it through a day without smiling at her antics. Finally, the day of the gala arrived, and poor Karya was hard pressed to act serious, although she tried desperately.

Author's Note

Yay! My most current project is finally getting posted. This story belongs to a anthology type thing that I am cowriting with a friend of mine. I am probably putting the most work I have ever put into any story into this project. I currently have it all written into a notebook and it is the farthest I have ever gotten on an individual project, so I really think I'm going to make it to the very end of this without fizzling out. Reviews keep me going so they are very welcome. I tend to have a review back policy so if you drop by you'll probably be hearing from me as well...Anyway, this story is in the working and I happen to be having friends privately review and edit it as well as having it posted here. That unfortunately means you will be getting a rather rough version. I hope you still enjoy reading it...but I am probably going to be doing a lot of rewriting editing and that type of thing after what you see...maybe someday after I finish writing and fixing the whole thing you'll get to see a better version, but for now I hope you like this one.