Opening the door to the terrace of her suite Alicia waits for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The moon casts enough light for her to see into the small courtyard and the bordering forest. Clad in a light blue nightgown and matching robe, she tries to carry a conversation with her husband on the phone. The moonlight graces her beauty as the night air seems to flow through her. For a moment the light material hugs her voluptuous form. Standing at the threshold of her room she watches the shadows shift the summer breeze cools her flushed cheeks.
Her soul was free just moments ago now becomes trapped in a box of ugliness as the strong baritone voice steadily berates her. Nervously she tucks a stray ebony lock behind her ear. Her husband is displeased once again. Even thousands of miles away he reins her in. Slowly the faΓ§ade of the quick-minded well respected executive crumbles revealing the desperate, lonely battered woman. Her gentle brown eyes shifts worriedly as she bites down on her bottom lip. Shame fills her as she listens to him breaking her character down into mere shadows of herself.
Leaning on the door she tucks her head into the crook of her arm. Turning her head she sorrowfully looks to the moon, tears glisten against her cheeks. Her mind struggles from the edge of despair as her lips tremble.
Memories flood her mind of how they first met to the day of their marriage. His fraternity brother introduced them. From that first day she was swept off her feet. The courtship was filled with romance and the wedding was a dream. Only after the ink was dry on their marriage certificate did she find out about his true nature. The monster he kept in hidden jus below the surface.
His appetite for brutality was always followed by apologies. Then the cheating, excusing it with her inability to please him causing her humiliation. Some how she lost her strength, her sense of worth.
Replying with a polite but monotonous voice she masks her pain, "Yes Dexter, I should be home in the next couple of days; if not sooner. No, I have to stay to check out the rest of the competition. Yes, in time for your parents' dinner party. Yes, I will pick up a souvenir from London for them before I leave."
Oh, sweet gods in the heavens, please help me. I just don't want to be alone.
Her plea is heard by the silver goddess, outside a room in the west wing of the same hotel a man steps out into the night air. High among the stars draped in her silver robes her belly is full. In her ever-smiling face she calls to all her night-children. Secrets are spoken and hidden agendas are reveled. The thin barrier that hides the supernatural is lifted. Those who can accept the truth are allowed into an epsilon of the wise or disturbed. Stepping into the darkness he answers the silver goddess running deeply into the forest his body sheds its cloak to frolic in its true form.
Calling his brethren, he searches for another after some time something answers a short distance away. Shifting his form from a shadow of eight feet he changes to a looming wolf that haunts centuries of folk tales. Hours later as the moon hangs in her zenith the wolf heads back to the hotel from the east. He catches a sent, a woman his human side covets, she has a mate but that shall soon change.
Crossing the threshold she welcomes the incoming night fog. Like a drone Alicia bids goodbye. Hanging up she leans against the stone banister idly looking into the night. In the background she heard another's voice. No doubt his newest conquest. In the beginning he was discreet now he was blatant. Knowing none of his actions were her fault was the only reason for her surviving this long. Just when she thought she had the strength to leave he would pull her back with sweet words and promises. He wasn't going to change only become worse. Shaking her head in disgust of her lack of self-preservation she clings to her anger.
Caressing the stone in appreciation the stillness of the night helps quiet her thoughts. This was one of the oldest hotels in Westchester, comfortable and pleasant. One could see why the sponsors of the Information Convention picked this out of the way place. The air was crisp and the only noise was from the hotel itself. Now that the hotel was only a quarter full not much activity was taking place. No traffic sounds just peaceful quiet.
Remembering the brochure the architecture of the hotel was old, full of history and folklore. Sitting on twenty acres of land the structure hasn't been changed since the rein of Louis the fourteenth.
Whispering "The land of Shakespeare and magic."
The corners of her lips curve up as she mentally pushes her dilemma to the side. Thousands of miles away she shall enjoy her time alone without his shadow. Biding welcome to the night she whispers a prayer:
Holy is the god and parent of the Entirety
Holy is the god that wills to be known and is known by its own
Holy are you of whom all the natural order is naturally an image
Holy are you whose form the natural order has not been able to represent
Holy are you who are mightier than all power
Holy are you who are greater than all preeminence
Holy are you who are mightier than praises
O you who are beyond verbal expression, ineffable, and invoked in silence
Give me your grace.
Studying the moon Alicia feels strength enter her. This time she can there is no obstacles in her way but herself. Hugging herself the finality of her decision of divorce is made. In the morning she will contact her lawyer. The hairs on the back of her neck rise as goose bumps began to form on her skin. Some how the air has changed heavy with an animal musk. Turning towards the sanctuary of her room she stops. From the shadows a creature of imagination blocks her path to safety. The phone drops from her hand, crashing on the stone floor. She finds her vocal cords frozen. Backing into the banister, her mind tries to comprehend the very existence of the creature outside horror movies.
Covered in seemingly black fur the massive creature stands on hind legs. Its brown eyes seem to glow as it raises its head sniffing the air. Sinking to the ground she tries to breath instead collapses onto the cold stone. Quickly lifting her limp body the creature disappears behind the curtains of her room. The world stops spinning and her body is against something warm and sold opening her eyes into his she panics and yelps attempting to crawl away. Easily capturing her ankle it slides her back, pressing her back to its chest. Opening her mouth to scream a large leathery hand covered her mouth and neck. Half closing its eyes the creature bends towards her sniffing her scent. The contact of its warm wet nose stills any movement she was about to make. Nuzzling her neck it inhales her scent then drifts down pulling the robe with it. The acid stench of fear radiated off her skin. Lapping against the base of her cheek it tastes her salty tears. Tasting her misery it quickly circles her then sits next to her.
Wrapping its arms around her it draws her closer. The dam of emotions breaks as she sobs uncontrollably; shifting her it tucks her face into its neck. Slowly the fear ebbs as the need for comfort overwhelms her. Surrounded by warm soft fur she sighs, it has been so long since she has been held. Even in this false sense of security she presses closer. Tired from the constant mental battles and physical beatings her body goes limp with the finality of her life.
Death didn't seem so bad at the moment, an easy way out of the long battle she was prepared to face with her abusive husband. Now this mythical creature was going to take her life, which is seemingly giving comfort. The scent of earth and pine wraps around her almost sighing metal scratches her cheek. Curiosity makes her bold, reaching up she finds a gold chain, fingering the delicate strand the charm slides down into her palm. Peering at it she recognizes the figure, Anubis, Judge of the dead.