Circle

Eyes of red, the daemon spoke with words reeking of sulphur and ash. Held her arms close, a fire surrounded her, tormenting her with his hell. Screaming, screaming to cut away the darkness, she shattered the dream, took in a deep breath. Night again. Unending night where the dreams took hold of her, took and tore and tortured. Faceless memories and premonitions. Unhinged, unforgiven, she stared to the sky. Moon and stars, out of her reach for eternity, velvet blue a soothing sight-for the undamned. She wiped her brow, lay down once again on the cool grass. A blanket of tears to cover her, a blanket of sorrow. The wind, crisp and fresh, teased her hair, toyed with her rags. Rising again, she stood and stared around. Perhaps moving on would ease the pain and dreams, erase the wretched ache in her bosom. Shivering, she walked to the west. An ocean passed by, suspended in a tube of hate. From the east, morning birds began their song, squeezing her chest tighter with each mournful greeting to the Master of Day. She stumbled and fell, her blood seeping into the earth. Barren. She shuddered, rose from the serpents of hungering death that quested her. A cave lay open, an offering of solace, relief, shelter. Quickly, as though a wisp of breath, she scrambled into the embracing, enfolding maw. Cool air, a river of hopelessness, ensnared her, encircled, devoured. She stiffled her fears, lay down to rest. Humming, humming to the thoughts in her head, cradling the last bit of light fading in her palms, she shut her eyes. The light faded. The birds became once more silent statues. In her mind it opened. The room unfolded before her. Rising up, he came, reaching, snarling. Eyes of red, the daemon spoke with words reeking of sulphur and ash...