The Darkness

I’m told it’s impossible, yet I remember it as vividly as if it had happened yesterday: how his cold, sweet, breath filled my nostrils, seeming to permeate every cell of my trembling body. Though I knew I should have been afraid – afraid for my very life – I stood transfixed by his sheer presence and forgot to breathe as he kissed my lips, earlobes, and finally, tortuously, ended on the hollow of my neck. I was unable to move, as much a reaction to his stunningly powerful eyes which always came back up to lock with mine as it was motivated by the fear I couldn’t quite totally feel.

“You shouldn’t be here, Elizabeth”, the creature said in a low, almost guttural voice that I could barely understand, “this could be very dangerous for you”. I knew he was right; I knew I should run screaming from the room in a vain attempt to save myself from certain and painful demise. My mind knew all that but my body couldn’t respond.

As I listened to the deep growl that rose from his chest and throat, I knew the time had come. Everything had been leading up to this very moment and I braced myself for the impending pain and closed my eyes.

But the pain didn’t come. I felt my dark master slowly and gently pull away and I could no longer smell his intoxicating scent. Suddenly, I knew it was over; it ended just like every other night for the last two weeks. I opened my eyes to face the darkness of my bedroom, wishing he would there but knowing that he wouldn’t. I felt a chill run through my body as I stared at the small, bright, clock at my bedside, already knowing what it would say:

4:40am