Fog
Fog blankets the ground in the dim of the last of the night. A lake lays hidden by the thick fog making land and water appear unison. The fog curls around age darkened tree trunks and chokes out the small plant life at foot. Silence as thick as the fog masking the land lingers in the last of the night air. Churning the fog lifts revealing the dark waters of the lake. Light escapes from the sky as the first of dawn arrives. The fog takes flight into the air, light overtaking it leaving it a mere mist. A light breeze intrudes on the silence and sends ghostly mist figures dancing casually across the smooth lake top. The water mirrors the graceful figures as the float to the rose-grey sky. Dawn captures the last of night sending golden rays of light to freely play at the water’s surface. So clear is the air that shimmers of light floating on a breeze can almost be seen. Day is near as mischievous wisps of wind spin sun’s first light into the once dark waters.
Fed to the beast
Her bare feet hit a steady beat as she ran down the forest path. Her charcoal hair flew out behind her like a grand opera cloak. Shouts echoed behind her. Searching the shadows, fear of not finding him in time choked her heart.
“Father! Father! Please!” They were advancing on her. The torch light of the mob felt hot on her skin. Tears began waterfall over her eyelashes cascading down her cheeks, leaving dark splotches on the green of her gown. “Father!” She screamed as a strong arm wrapped around her waist jerking into the soft of her abdominal causing all air to escape her body.
“I’ve got her!” Pain churned as she gasped again for air. Lights spun in her vision and her eyes begun to focus on the faces of town folk she had been in the care of as her father worked long weeks cutting wood. The warmth of poisoning finger tips caressed the milk-white skin of her cheek. “A woman as you will bring much warmth to the beast’s bed, If he decides not to devour you.” The harsh laugh hurt more than the ropes that burnt into her skin as they bound her. Her teeth lashed for his fingers. “ Now, Now little flower! No need for hatred.” She twisted to spit in his face.
“You viper! When my father comes for me you will all pay.” She swung to face the others, anger raged in her eyes. Hands of many reached for her. She hissed in pain as some ones sharp nails dug into the tender of her inner-elbow. Sharp agony hit above her left ear. She fell, and then all went black.
She sat under the shade of a tree with wonderful smelling flowers she did not know the name of. The petals floated from the branches to whisk away on the breeze towards a tower blocking out the suns beams. She softly smiled and stood as she always did without a known reason and began to run towards the tower, Joy embracing every inch of her. She knew what would happen, he would be there, that presence, felt, but never seen. The same as every night she dragged her hand across vines and touched the low hanging branches with the tips of her fingers as she ran. It was the same as she had seen every night, but tonight there was something new. She could not quite figure it out. There was a feeling of almost urgency as she ran. A cold raindrop collided with her cheek. She came to a stop and looked up at the azure sky in confusion. There was not even a wisp of cloud to in sight. Of course this was not the real world, but a dream.
Her eyes flew open, blind night was upon her. She struggled to adjust her eyes all she could make out were shadows. She was bound to a tree in the middle of a small clearing. Cold rain caused her gown to cling to her body. There was something there, watching her. Fear surged thru her as she pulled franticly at the ropes. Sharp shards of bark cut into her arms. She sobbed. Her tears mingling in icy drops of rain, pure fear curled in her stomach making her ill.
His eyes could not leave her face. He had seen when they dragged her there. She was so pale and limp she looked dead. The scent of blood from a gash above her left ear and the fresh cuts on her arms and wrists caused a deep hunger. A hunger only a beast could hold. When she woke her tears called to him more than the blood. He wished to take her in his arms, protect her. It had been so long since he had seen any human so close. He had fed only on the blood of life stock that generations of villagers had given him to plead for their own lives. He had known that this year life stock had been sparse, but he did not think they would offer up a woman. He did not know what to do with her. Use her to feel his hunger, or his loneliness? He feared if he did take her as a relief from solitude, could he withstand the hunger? So long had he read of romances, but never had he felt it. Something about her drew him to her be it a magic only found in books or his inhuman desire for her blood.
She could feel him there, it was as if she was in her dream again, but this time there was fear not joy. There was movement to the right of her. She jerked slamming her head against the tree. The beast was nearing her; she could see the darkened figure near. Her heart pound filling her ears with the sound of rushing blood. The shadowed form appeared within arm’s reach of her. She fought to keep her eyes on him but her body wilted into a faint.
Storm
Standing on the cliff edge Samantha stared down to the crashing waves below. Blue skies above told of a nice day that could come, but she knew all too well that a storm would again embrace this land before night fall. The wind churned around her sending yards of cloth floating out behind her. She closed her eyes and could almost imagine she was a part of the silk gown in the grasp of the soaring wind.
Samantha felt him there before he made a sound. She turned letting her midnight hair dance across her cheek and before her eyes. He stood 20 feet behind her his eyes wide at the sight. No doubt he wanted to pull her from the danger he imagined her in and drag her back to the sitting room to stick her fingers with needle work. Like he would ever get the nerve to take another step towards her let alone close enough to grab her.
“If you were worried about me Jeffery, you could have just sent the butler after me.” She turned back to the sea. Jeffery Colm was a man of fine upbringing who lived under the thumb of his great aunt. Samantha’s family had always been great friends to his aunt pass the day they had died and Samantha was almost sent away to a girl’s factory. Jeffery’s Aunt had taken her in and forced her to become a lady. Samantha knew she owed this family everything, but she felt trapped by the adoring eyes of sniffling Jeffery and the stern hand of her guardian.
“Aunt wants a word with you Samantha dear.” He mumbled softly looking at his feet. A small pout formed on her lips. Facing him she hoped he would let her get away with not obeying. She smiled as his face curled into a grimace. He had to be caving. “Come.” He held his hand out the way she had seen others show him how to take control. He was not a man but a cowardly boy. Heat rushed to her face as clouds formed behind her and the layers of silk bellowed towards him. How stupid he must be to think she would obey him like all other women did when a man barked an order. She glared across the soil between them.
“If you wish to command me, come claim me.” Again he would not dare take another step, not in fear of her but the fear of the entire world around her. Dark clouds charged across the waters towards the cliff. Jeffery went the color of sea mist, his eyes wide. He still had one hand outstretched, as he slid one foot across the ground towards her. She stared in pure amazement as he took one more step.
“come.” It came as more of a plea this time. Another step was taken she could see it was taking all his will to make him walk forward.
Samantha stepped back; He was really going to come get her. She could feel the edge of the cliff below her now. She looked at her feet below the water crashed turning dark.
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