I shoot from the bed like a bullet from a gun, naked and drenched in sweat. I'm panting and breathing heavily as I've just awoken from a nightmare. I look around the room.
I'm back in 'The Holy Grail.'
The door to my room opens, and a woman walks in. She's naked except for the blood that runs from her mouth and drips down her breasts. It's like she ripped apart a small animal with her bare hands; they're coated with crimson liquid.
Blood drips onto the wooden floor with a soft splash.
"My dear Ezra. Did you sleep well?" she asks.
She begins to lick the blood off her fingers like it's a late-night snack.
"Who are you?" I ask.
The words came from my mouth so softly, though I was trying to scream.
"Ezra, I'm appalled that you don't remember me. Not but an hour ago, you were moaning my name," she says with seductive flair as she starts to inch closer to me.
Her skin is pale as moonlight in stark contrast to hair that cascades down her back, darker than the night sky. She has eyes that are two rubies embedded in white marble. Even with the blood that's spread across her face, her lips are full. She looks soft in all the right places.
Moonlight descends into the room from a window adjacent to the door through which she just came in. The moonlight showers her, bouncing off her skin, giving rise to something inside me. I feel a burning in my neck and loins.
"You really don't remember?" she asks.
"What a shame that our moments together mean nothing to you. I am Sabrina," she sighs, continuing before I can respond.
She's halfway across the room, and I feel her presence now. It's inviting but cold, sending a breeze through me that makes my body stiff. Each step is ghostly, graceful, like the floor would not dare to creak beneath her. Time stops as I get lost in her eyes.
I blink and come back to reality.
"What happened?" I ask.
"Oh, Ezra. Such a sweet boy you are. Such a sweet, naive boy," she takes a long pause.
"I made you mine," she declares, licking her lips and giving me a wink.
I stiffen straighter like a ridged wooden board trying to weather a storm. My body shudders as I begin to think about the implications of this. If this woman had her way with me, what would my wife think? Did I succumb to some primal desire? What of my vows to Lenora?
Tears begin to fall onto the sheet that I lie atop. I think of Lenora, back home, taking care of our child. Our bedridden Evelyn, coughing her life away, is unable to get better.
I'm a monster.
"Ezra, dear, do not weep or mourn. I was more than satisfied with you. You filled me so deeply," she groans, wetting her lips once again.
Blood now smeared over her face.
"I have been most satisfied with you."
"I'm not yours and... and... that will not happen again." I cut her off.
I look up at her now. I take in her beauty as she stands before me, yet my gaze avoids her nakedness. I'm locked to those gems that rest in her eye sockets. I feel stern; I know she will get the message. She will have to understand that I am committed to my wife. I took a vow to her. If I've already broken that, I will not have it broken again or any further.
She grabs my face, squeezing my cheeks, and pursing my lips. Her face aligns with mine, our eyes connected by invisible threads.
She locks our lips, and I taste iron as her tongue invades my mouth. I'm shocked, trying to pull away, but she's strong. Her grip around my face is gentle but firm; I cannot escape this. Part of me revels in what is happening, my body now shuddering with pleasure. I tell myself that I don't want this. I think of my wife. But her lips are here connected to mine. The iron and saliva mix in our mouths, and the fluid swishes between us.
The ecstasy is inescapable.
She has pulled in with the force of gravity. I want more; I yearn for it. My bones ache as my mouth waters. My body heats with the intensity of a volcano about to erupt. Our lips fight for dominance as she tightens her grip around my face. I find myself needing something to quench this insatiable thirst.
No, this hunger.
I try to pull away from her, using my hands to push against her cold body. A shock is sent down my fingers as I touch her skin. With each push, I feel like I'm pulled closer to her, like I am meant to orbit her for the rest of my days. I give one last push against her and feel myself break free, our lips detaching. She lingers on the edge of bliss like she's waiting for us to collide back together in a fit of euphoria.
In that moment, I see her for what she is, my face held in the palm of her hands. She's beauty incarnate, yet under that is a darkness that yearns to be let loose. I see it in her face as she pulls me closer. Those ruby eyes of hers are almost sanguineous, begging to be ravaged, begging to maim. She lured me back effortlessly, like I'm the tide being reclaimed by the shore. She devours my breath as our lips entangle, two flies caught in a spider's web. I can feel and taste her desire. It's etched with iron.
I no longer fight; I give in, whether by choice, pleasure, or some spell that she has put me under. She releases my face but quickly grabs my throat with her other hand, squeezing as she bites my lip. I feel blood begin to trickle down my face. With her tongue, she cleans the blood from me. I have no doubt that it's still smeared all over my face, just like hers.
Lenora and Evelyn break their way into my mind. I see them both. I watch Lenora cry as she sees me defile our vows, as I consecrate love with another woman. Her screams turn to bellows as they embed themselves in my mind. Her tears flood me like a tsunami, punishing me with constant waves. Evelyn grasps my hand, trying to pull me away from these awful feelings, but I push her. She falls to the ground and begins to sob.
She abruptly stops. Unpeeling our lips and releasing me from her grasp. She takes a step back, and I take in her full image. I no longer meet her gaze but stare at the pale skin, worn like a coat of armor. She is frost-covered, glistening in the moonlight. Her touch was like ice against me. It was a burning cold, the kind that made you run the other way.
I wanted more.
"We must go. Hurry and get dressed," she sternly states before leaving the room.
I watched her walk away, mesmerized.
Once dressed, I arm myself with everything that was given to me by the Pope. The hunt is on, and I must be ready. I strap the gas-powered pistol to my side; it's loaded with eight bullets that the Pope assured me would stop most things in their tracks. He gave me three boxes full of the little silver demons, and I packed them away in my backpack. Two daggers were also sheathed at my sides. Both were double-sided blades, able to cut from an angle. They shone with detail and glory like they had never been used, but were known for battles. The Pope said the blades would grow with me, though I still didn't know what he meant by that. I packed all the bandages and potions I had into my backpack. Then I left the room to look for Sabrina.
I found her at the bar, no longer naked but covered by a long black coat tangled with buckles and straps. If that coat were any longer, she would trip when walking. A pointed leather hat decorated with a greasy black feather sits atop her silky black hair. Combat boots bring her outfit together, like she was a dominatrix ready to hunt down things to play with.
"I must go to the south, deep in the forest, where a creature that I must hunt." She points at me.
"Venture to the north, past the church, is an old university. There's something that's lurking there. Bring me its heart, and I'll reward you." A soft smile appears on her face.
"Sabrina..." I start to speak before I'm cut off.
"I will explain more after this task is complete. Once you have the heart, come back to me here. I will give you two hours. After the time is up, I will come find you. Then I will punish you," she says, walking toward the door.
"Make haste, my dear. Life may depend on it."
Then she leaves through the door of the tavern in a puff of smoke. I'm alone, left only with confusion and an insatiable hunger.