#21: Monster (Part 3 of Midnight Run)

              My hand caressed the smooth and deep curves of her body and my lips melted against her cool cinnamon flesh. Her brown eyes caught mine and we froze.

            “I thought you were tired,” she giggled.

            “Nope,” I replied and returned my lips to the roundness of her hip. I crawled onto her, gently distributing my weight. She laughed softly.

            “What?”

            “You’re not gonna crush me,” she said. “I am stronger than you.”

            She was right; she had the strength of at least ten football teams’ defensive lines. But her lean frame made you think otherwise; long legs, long torso and curves that drove me insane.

            “I know but I want to make you feel like a woman, not a…” I paused to caress her face, “monster.”

            A tear slid down her face and she spoke softly.

            “You always make me feel like a woman. You’ve never seen the monster in me…”

            It was time. I couldn’t look back; I knew what I wanted to do. I reached under my pillow and smiled. She looked at me, her brow ruffled gently and I smiled.

            “Kelly, I love you.”

            “I love you too, Rich.” Her voice was liquid passion to me. I exhaled slowly. It was now or never.

            “Marry me, Kelly.” I slipped the princess cut solitaire diamond ring on her finger and looked at her.

            “Rich, you can’t.” She stopped and covered her mouth. The tears came faster.

            “I can and I want to Kelly. I love you and I do not want anyone else.”

            “What about the precinct? Your job? You could get kicked off the force if you do this!”

            I knew my consequences; I recognized them the moment I laid eyes on Kelly. Yes, she was dangerous and yes she was a monster but she had a heart and she trusted me. Like me, she knew the risks and didn’t care.

            “Rich…are you sure?”

            “Yes,” I smiled. “You already have forever so I want forever with you.”

            “I will,” she beamed. “Yes.” She exclaimed.

            

#20: A Job (Part 2 of Midnight Run)

      

       It was just ten minutes after midnight when Max strolled into Lake’s Diner. He leaned over the long counter, planting a kiss on Mama Lake’s cheek; her round face flushed bright red and her southern giggle traveled through the near empty urban diner.

            “I’ll be right ova there,” she said to Max as he made his way toward me. I nodded in response to her statement and watched Max join me at the distant booth.

            “Sorry I’m late,” he said. He peeled off his black leather jacket and tucked his badge into his white polo shirt.

            Whatever he came for, it was off the radar and possible personal.

            “You’re always late,” I pointed out.

            “You got me there,” he chuckled. As promised, Mama Lake made her way to our table; she held a fresh pot of coffee and the smile on her face was a combination of comfort and innocence. She was the reason why I kept coming to diner for the last twenty years and her innocence was why I had been away for the last eight months.

            “You takin’ the regular stuff, unlike your friend here, Max?” She asked.

            “Fill me up, Mama.” He said, raising his small, white ceramic mug. Mama Lake filled his cup then looked at me.

            “More decaf, Richie?” I shook my head; I was still stomaching my current cup. “It’s good to see ya, Richie.” She added with a shirt sigh.

            “Thanks Mama.” I fiddled with my spoon and dodged all the eye contact directed at me.

            “Well,” Mama cleared her throat and smiled harder, “will you boys be havin’ the usual tonight?”

            “Yes ma’am,” we replied. Mama Lake grinned at us then swayed away.

            “She’s right, you know,” Max said. “It is good to see you.”

            “What do you need?” The pleasantries were getting to me and the longer I stayed in public, the more I ached. The more the thirst called to me.

            Max crossed his arms on the table, surveyed the area then leaned in closer to me.

            “I got a case for you…”

            “I don’t do that anymore.” I retorted.

            “You should take this case.”

            “I told you…”

            “She knew Kelly…” Max interrupted. 

#19: Silhouette

          With a heart as heavy as the rain that fell, I stepped into the bleak graveyard. The cool rain soothed my boiling flesh but within I was lost. I walked the vacant aisle, scanning the vast memorial plots.

            Here lies…

            Rest in Peace…

            In loving memory…

            Death was an inevitable feat…for some.

            I made a right down another aisle, my heart pounded. I was getting closer. Max said that I would find everything I needed if I went to the graveyard.

            “This better not be a bullshit goose chase,” I warned him the other night when he sat across from me at Lake’s Diner.

            “I’m not, Richie. Trust me. She’ll be there. She wants answers. She wants closure.”

            Closure.

            Sutured lies and triple by passed truths.

            Closure was a bitch.

            Another right and I made out her slender silhouette. She held a black umbrella that shielded her face from me but I could still make out her bright yellow eyes. I patted my hip and sighed when the cool chill of my snub nose revolver grazed my finger tips.

            “I didn’t think that you would show up,” she said. Her voice was soft as velvet and there was a heavy dose of relief in it. “Thank you,” she added.

            “It’s my job,” I answered. “Max told me that you needed my help.” She moved closer to me; she was accustomed to the darkness. She walked toward me effortlessly and her features came in clearer.

            Flawless brown skin.

            High cheekbones.

            Long legs.

            Thick thighs, wide hips.

            Golden eyes.

            And white fangs.

#18: Full Moon (Poetry)

Full moon

I surrender

I lay down before you

For you are my alarm

Waking the sinister side of me

You shine down on my skin

And my transformation begins

When a quiet man

Becomes a ravenous beast

When a modest woman

Is recreated as a lustful vixen

Full moon

I surrender

Full moon

You tempt me

You unleash the animal within

For you are my drug

Coursing through my veins

And I feel you bring me to life

My soft skin becomes rough and laced with fur

My eyes no longer see the everyday lies

I see the dangerous truths

Full moon

You tempt me

Full moon

I bow to you

I give you my present life

In return for immortality

That reconnects me to nature

I’ll defend your light

And protect your world

I’ll heed your call

And preserve my kind

Full moon

You set me free.

#17: Again

It was a race against time and everyone was against me. My feet pounded against the icy pavement and my heart was ready to reject itself from my chest. The moon followed me; I could feel the face of God looking down on me.

“Forgive me, Father.” I said aloud. “I know I have sinned…but I am a monster. I can’t stop.” Finally, I saw the massive clearing of the wood line; a part of me sighed with relief but when I saw his dark silhouette, another part of me wanted to turn and run away from him…Again.

He shouldn’t have come.

I warned him.

He was always so stubborn.

I loved him so.

I slowed down but kept my ears and body alert. I didn’t know who or what would be watching us. He smiled at me from our short distance; his hands were in the pockets of his black hoodie and his dark eyes sparkled even in darkness. He started to walk toward me.

“Stay where you are,” I warned him. He stopped, keeping his eyes on me. The sparkle in his eye faded and he stared at me blankly.

“Trace…” he called.

“Please,” I begged. “Don’t make this harder than it already is,” I said.

“Tracey, please…” he stopped and chewed on his bottom lip.

“Why are you here?”

“I needed to see you.” He answered quickly.

“Drew, it’s not safe for you…or me.”

“Then why did you come when I asked you to?” He questioned. He knew the answer.

And so did I. But I also knew what was at stake if I stayed any longer.

His life and possibly mine.

“I came to say goodbye.” I finally replied.

“Goodbye?” He repeated. “Tracey, you can’t…”

“This is for the best,” I interjected.

“The best? What?”

“Yes it is...”

“No it’s not, Tracey and you know that!” He bellowed. “I will not let you leave me…again.” I had no response for Drew’s final words but my heart did. “If you go…then I go.” He said boldly. 

#16: The Mission (Part 3 of Dangerous)

      My guard fed me another glass of blood; I devoured the metallic fluid and my body tingled. Something had come over my entire being and strength was restoring. After half way through my third glass, I studied my guard.

            His skin was flawless and almost translucent, his dark amber eyes blazed under the dim lighting, they met mine and he smiled. I needed answers and he appeared to be the right man for my questions.

            “Where am I?” I asked.

            “Safe,” he answered. “Finish your glass,” he added. He tilted the glass to my lips but I rejected the offer.

            “Where am I?” I repeated. “Please tell me that much.” He bowed his head.

            “You’re safe. You’re home,” he smiled. “I’m happy that you’re home, Blake.”That was the first time he had said my name. Something in my memory started to unscramble. “You were always my favorite as opposed to your sister Bridget.”

            Bridget. My sister. A piece of my memory started to uncover. Bridget and I were identical. She was the evil one and I…there was something about me that was different from her but I could not remember.

            “Where is Bridget?” My guard swallowed hard.

            “We don’t know but I know that she is alive. We are just so happy that we have you here and you’re safe.”

            “If I’m safe…why the restraints?” I asked, motioning to the silken robes binding my hands.

            “Those are for my safety,” he answered quickly. “You were always more dangerous than Bridget,” he grinned. “That could explain the animosity between you two,”

            Another piece came together. Bridget and I were intelligent but Bridget was ready to rule the world and I was ready to work with humans.

            “Why should we care about the humans, Blake?” She asked me once. “They don’t care for us, so why should we care for them?” Bridget was the ruthless but I was merciful.

            “How dangerous?” I inquired and went to work on the silk ropes.

            “You killed your first family when you were seven,” he smirked.

            “And Bridget?” I asked.

            “She was late bloomer. Bridget slaughtered her first family at ten and she was messy about it.” He chuckled. “Your father insisted that I keep an eye on the both of you.”

            “So how did you lose track of us?” I asked.  My guard looked away and sighed. His shame was evident.

            “Bridget lured you away,” he said softly. “Your father knew how much Bridget despised you and he feared that she killed you.”

            I remembered everything.

            “She always thought that your father favored you over her.”

            “Why?”

            “Well your father believed that you had more patience than Bridget. She did not want to learn how important the humans were, all she wanted to do was kill.”

            “Can I get another glass of blood?” I asked. My guard smiled and rose to his feet.

            “Of course,” he smiled. He walked to the bar and I went back to work on the ropes.  “Oh Blake, I am so glad that we found you. Your father will be so pleased to see you. If only we could have tracked down Bridget. I’m sure she’s on a killing spree right now.”

            I droned out his voice as my brain scanned the pieces of the memory that had returned.

            “He never loved you…humans will never accept you. Your sister’s death will ignite the war…Bridget, please don’t do this…Kill her.”

            The ropes snapped and I stood up. My guard turned, holding a full glass of blood and dropped it.

            “B-Blake…” I shook my head slowly.

            “Guess again, Luke.”

#15: Spiritual Warfare (Poetry)

On a mission

With no map.

I’ll use the guidance from above

My purpose

My destiny

I shall seek with no questions asked

There was a time

When I wanted answers

And I believed that it was just luck

The lucky…

Business man

Graduate

Family

Nope. Not anymore

Pull back the shield

Strip away the false lights

And bring forth the truth

We are put here for reasons

Unknown and deserved

And we argue…

We argue death

When we should celebrate loved ones return home

We argue debt

When we should value the little things

We argue bad relationships of the past

When we should appreciate the love we have

We let negativity spread

Like a virus

And it dwells

When we should fight it

We cannot become immune

We need to fight the disease

The negativity

The stress

I revoke you with the power of three

The might Trinity

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

I walk with you and fight with you

In this war. 

#14: The Guardian- Character Development of Malina

     

      What should have been the end of my life was actually the beginning. As I laid in a poll of my own blood, I was cold and started to count down the seconds until death washed over me. The night sky never looked to peaceful, like the heavens were opening up to welcome me. I swear I saw the hands of God reach for me.

            He called to me.

            “You have a destiny, Malina…” His voice boomed.

            “But I…I do not want it,” I protested. “I am destined for anything. I do not want to live anymore…for anything.”

            “But you must,” he explained. “You are the key you restoring peace to Earth…”

            “I…” Spellbound and stunned, I could not find the words to respond.

            “Take the opportunity that is given to you, Malina. Choose to live and choose to fight…”

            The peace of the night sky faded and the sky returned to black; my body was still weakened and I could hear my heartbeat slowing. His words sang in my ears.

            “Choose to live and choose to fight…Take the opportunity…”

            What opportunity?

            Suddenly I could hear footsteps. Unsure of the direction they were coming from, I spoke quickly.

            “Who’s there?” My voice trembled and my hands searched for a weapon. “I said…” A smooth, baritone voice interrupted me.

            “I’m here to help.” He said. His footsteps moved closer until I could see his shadow to the left of me.

            I struggled to get a complete view of his face and almost as if he read my mind, he leaned over me. His eyes were luminous emeralds against his caramel skin and his mouth was wide with thin lips.

            “Who are you?’ I asked.

            “A friend…A guardian…Here to help you prepare.”

            “Prepare? Prepare for what?” I questioned. His smile grew larger on his square face and I noticed a set of perfect elongated fangs.

            “The war.”