DARKNESS COMES CALLING     

            The small, slender figure stood motionless at the edge of the woods and stared silently up at the house. Yellow light streamed from the enormous windows of the chalet, sending long shadows out upon the snow covered field like long dark fingers pointing accusingly towards the woman. She stepped back away from the shadow fingers; afraid they would grab her and pull her from her hiding place, out from the shelter of darkness. She was not ready yet, she wanted to wait, and she wanted to be sure. She was barely aware of the snow that now covered her bare feet, she chose to ignore the cold and the pain. She could do that whenever she wanted, disregard any discomfort no matter how painful or agonizing as if it were not there at all, a trick she had learned in her many years of being. There would be plenty of time for pain later, she thought as a lone glistening tear ran down her cheek. There was always plenty of time. She stood in the darkness and she waited.

          The man took no notice of the figure that watched him as he stretched out in the steamy water of his hot tub and sipped a glass of Pinot Grigio in the freezing night air. Michael Dawson was oblivious to nearly everything as the powerful jets pounded against his skin and muscles, relaxing him nearly to the point of sleep. His body was still strong, muscular and toned from years of soccer even though more than a couple of years had passed since he had played the game he loved and knew so well.  He had a demanding career and an active social life but his years of training and discipline still ruled his life. He spent two hours a day at the gym and ran five miles in the early morning hours along the dark windy roads of Salem, Connecticut. Just over six feet tall and nearly 200 pounds, he barely fit inside of the small spa but did not mind when he was in there alone. He enjoyed being by himself, and he reveled in his isolation. He often enjoyed the company of beautiful women but found that he lost all interest in any relationship with them once they gave themselves to him. He thought of his latest conquest, a beautiful dark-haired girl with eyes of ebony. She had lied to him about her age and had vastly exaggerated her experience. He discovered she was a mere seventeen years old only after having sex with her when the quick flowing tears alerted him to her inexperience. His body began to yearn for sexual release as the memory of her eagerness instantly flooded his mind but a slight movement in the darkness diverted his attention from his memory of the girl and out towards the edge of the vast expanse of the lawn. He stared for a few minutes into the blackness of the gnarled trees that surrounded his property but could make out nothing more than shadows. He relaxed once more, closed his eyes and leaned back, resting his head on the corner of the spa, the cold glass of wine still sweating in his hand. His head was suddenly filled with the sound of the girl’s voice and her moans as she released for him and he instantly became aroused at the memory. His hand left the glass and found his hardness. His body jerked slightly as he began to stroke his arousal, thick and hard as stone. He felt his naked body slip further down beneath the bubbling luxury and sighed as he let the heated pleasure overtake him.

            The woman carefully watched the man as he scanned the woods through the steam filled air and nearly changed her mind. Instead she remained patient and soon he had returned once more to his private pleasures, allowing her to slip from the woods undetected. She slipped slowly and silently from the refuge of the darkness and began making her way up the hill towards the house. A small smile crossed her red lips as she drifted lightly across the surface of the bright snow, her tiny feet leaving no impression whatsoever in the unblemished blanket of white. The knife in her small hand glistened in the moonlight. She caressed the metal shaft with her long, narrow fingers, enjoying the cold, hard strength of the blade. She kept her eyes keyed on the figure in the hot tub watching for any sign of acknowledgement of her presence but saw none even as she neared close enough to touch him.

            As she stood behind him in the darkness she could plainly see his hand moving quickly beneath the foaming water as he worked to relieve himself. He would not hear her now, he was completely enthralled in his own pleasure and she quickly took the last few steps to the edge of the spa. She could see his thick dark hair was damp and soon she was close enough to see the sweat upon his forehead and lips. He moaned and stroked and her eyes glistened with passion just watching him.  She could see his heart beating rapidly as she brought the knife up from her side and began to reach around the broad expanse of his chest. At that moment the man moaned and a name escaped his lips, a name she instantly recognized and for a second she hesitated. The knife hovered for a moment but when the woman saw the satisfied smile spread over the man’s lips, she slammed the knife violently down into his chest sending a narrow stream of blood into the swirling water around him. She watched as the red liquid washed away and instantly felt a sense of loss and yearning. She leaned gently over the man’s shoulder as if to kiss his neck, but as her full lips parted she revealed long white teeth and in a lovers embrace, she ripped open the dying man’s throat and began to feed.