The Embrace

By Michaela Reyes (Diosa Sangre)

I walk down my street as I do every night. The moon is full, Halloween is in the air. The last of the children are laughing and running home. I smile at the sight of them remembering when life was as simple for me. Behind me, I hear footsteps. I turn there is no one. My pace quickens, and I feel as if someone is following quicker even still. I drop my purse. Frustration hits and I feel my face turn red with anger and fear. I stop to pick up everything that has fallen and I hear laughter right in my ear. I can feel cold air rush through me. I turn still no one. I say to myself, “You have walked this street many times, every night in fact. Get it together, you are merely caught up in the Halloween fever.” My things are collected now and I progress forward once again. I can now see my townhouse but 40 feet from where I am. The light post, Oh thank God the Light post in front of my neighbors house, I am almost home. As I draw closer I see a shadow of a man leaning ever so casually against the post. I now have uneasy feelings again, I begin to move quicker, almost at a jog at this point. I say to myself, “Michaela, get a grip you can’t just run past this man you will look like a loon. Besides he is just standing there, he could be waiting for Carla to come out from her house. Lord knows she has tons of gentlemen callers. I should be so lucky.” As his face comes into view I am taken back he is beautiful Dark shoulder length hair, ice blue eyes lighter then any I have ever seen before. What happens next takes my breath. He says my name, “Michaela, come to me.” I am terrified but strangely I cannot resist. It as if he pulls me into him. He is holding me close now. There is no one but the two of us in the world, or so it seems. Time stands still, He leans in close to me, “he is going to kiss me?” I think to myself. Me, the book worm. I feel the sharpness of his teeth enter my skin, “Oh it hurts, but no it is so pleasurable. I want more, but I want him to stop.” My life drains I can actually feel my life drain, it is true your life flashes as you die. Everything goes dark. I am dead….Then my eyes open what has happened was  I dreaming I am alive blood now drips from my mouth and it tastes sweeter then any candy ever could. My host stands in front of me, more beautiful then ever he had been feeding me from his wrist. I feel strong, alert, new. But what am I who am I ? Why me?