5. Twisted Love Story

  (American Cinquain)

  Prologue

  [Spirit]

  The rites

  Must now begin.

  The Sleeper gathers round

  The instruments he must perform

  In trance.

  The knife

  Is held. The blade's

  Sharp edge is used to cut

  Each finger on both hands, so they

  Bleed through.

  The words

  Are set in blood

  Upon the paper with

  The name and date of his lost love

  On it.

  In deep

  Dark trance, he sets

  The candle on the floor,

  Then kneels, then holds the unlit match

  And strikes.

  So done,

  He holds the match.

  The candle flickers up

  Into a flame. The message starts

  To burn.

  Before

  The flame dies down,

  The Sleeper goes to bed,

  So that he can complete the rite

  In sleep.

  So now

  He drifts to sleep

  And dreams he is inside

  His bedroom, where his practiced words

  Invoke:

  [Sleeper]

  "I now

  Invoke your aid

  To find my love and shed

  My tears of mirth and grief for her

  Sweet smile.

  "Spirit,

  I greet the world

  Of terror, shock and fright

  To meet my long-departed love—

  Awake!"

  And yet,

  When I now ope *

  My eyes to see my room,

  I'm still within this dreaming state

  Of fear.

  For all

  Is mist and fog

  Inside this bedroom dim,

  Which just an hour ago was filled

  With joy.

  Just now,

  My world enfolds

  Itself to sleep and leaves

  This room to things invisible

  To sight.

  Such is

  The state in which

  I now take up my knife

  To still the beatings of my heart

  With blood.

  Beyond

  The mind, a dark

  And footless gate appears

  And opens wide its yawning mouth—

  The void.

  Vast are

  The barren plains

  That dwell there, vaster still

  The inner depths that hold the realms

  Within.

  "What realm

  Beyond the spans

  Of such huge voids exist?

  What greater span than human thought

  Is there?"

  [Spirit]

  "The dreams

  Of sleep eclipse

  The length and breadth of time,

  Which slows or stops time's grasp upon

  Our wills."

  [Sleeper]

  "What then

  Beyond the span

  Of dreams exceeds such realms?

  What greater span than human dreams

  Is there?"

  [Spirit]

  "The realm

  You always dread

  To enter in, the space

  Of nightmares where your fears

  Reside.

  "Remain

  Not long within

  The midnight's witching hour

  Of spells and vain conceits of pride

  And sin.

  "Stay not

  Therein upon

  Your peril at the hour

  When demons walk the land at three

  O'clock.

  "O'erstay **

  Not long the hour

  Of wolves at four o'clock,

  Lest just before the crack of dawn,

  You die.

  "Do not

  Forget these words,

  Sleeper. Your life may well

  Depend upon them, if you find

  You're trapped!"

  1. Hour of the Witch | 12:00 a.m.

  [Sleeper]

  Those last

  Departing words

  Send up my spine a chill

  That robs me of a restful sleep

  In bed.

  But then

  I recognize

  The hour the spirit chose

  To warn me of th' impending doom—

  At dawn!

  Damn that

  Prophetic fiend!

  In recognizing that

  I'm still inside the fatal dream,

  I dread—

  Dread all

  The chances I

  Mistook for folly at

  The ticking of the fatal clock

  Of doom—

  Dread all

  The tidings of

  My fate upon these walls,

  Now stained with blood that spell her name

  And date—

  Dread all

  The sick and dire

  Imaginings that man

  And woman share in hate and woe

  And fear!

  For just

  A moment's time,

  I dwell upon these thoughts,

  Until the rustling curtains break

  Their hold.

  Here strikes

  The midnight stroke

  Upon some unseen clock.

  The fatal strike resounds and fades

  To naught. ***

  No sound

  But his heartbeats

  Now interrupt the still

  And silent room. He then gets out

  Of bed.

  Below

  Me at my feet

  Lies my own candle snuffed

  Out, melted down to half its length

  And mass.

  Moreo'er, ****

  I see the pile

  Of ash that once contained

  My lover's name and date in blood.

  I cry.

  [Lover]

  "Cry not,

  My love, because

  I'm here upon this hour

  Of your late summons, where we stand

  And meet."

  [Sleeper]

  "My God,

  Are you for real?

  Are you the fated love

  I lately wed in sacred bond

  And love?"

  [Lover]

  "Look on

  And know my face

  And listen to my voice

  And reach out for my hand to touch

  And know."

  [Sleeper]

  Known are

  The charms that love

  Can swell inside the heart.

  Now struggling thus to keep my feet,

  I doubt.

  Decide

  For me my fate

  Or what you will, yet when

  I listen, look and touch her hand,

  I yield:

  "You are,

  Indeed, the one

  I've yearned to hold within

  My arms once more, if only just

  In dreams!"

  [Lover]

  "Dream on

  And love me with

  The passions of your kiss,

  And may our hearts entwine fore'er *****

  In bliss!"

  [Sleeper]

  Believe

  When I recall

  The glories of her lips,

  So sweet to taste. My life is now

  Complete.

  Compare

  Such ecstasy

  In vain, if any eye

  Should witness such a paragon

  Of bliss!

  But now

  Must come the fall,

  For her soft sultry lips

  And honeyed breath decay to lips

  Of death.

  Devoured

  In death's embrace,

  I jolt to feel the cranium ******

  Imprint its rotten teeth upon

  My lips.

  Lest I

  Lose all my wits,

  I yank myself away

  From that impostor, reeling in

  Disgust.

  Down deep

  Inside my soul,

  I scream in vain, insane

  To every sacred creed or prayer

  Or oath.

  Oh God,

  Oh God, oh God!

  I fall upon the ground

  In agony and shame, debased,

  Disturbed.

  Despite

  All that, I'm sane

  Enough to see the bones

  Enfold themselves in flesh and garb—

  A witch!

  [Witch]

  "Why look

  Upon me so,

  My love, when I can give

  You several thousand kisses more,

  Tonight?"

  [Sleeper]

  "Take your

  Foul lips and jests

  With you towards that Fiend

  You call your sire! Be gone, be gone,

  You wretch!"

  With all

  My strength, I take

  My stand and glare upon

  This vile impostor in my hate

  And rage.

  [Witch]

  "Revenge

  Is not a dish

  Well served in bloody heat,

  For I prefer mine cold to touch

  And eat!

  "Enter

  My word of foul

  Delights and drink my cup

  Of sweet delusions! Feast upon

  My whims!"

  With that,

  The witch advanced,

  Stalking and leering with

  The stench and look of death's

  Disease

  Described

  Upon her face,

  Turning her nasty looks

  Into the sweet but false compare

  Of beauty.

  "Behold

  Your lover's face,

  Your destiny and fate!

  Behold in me the deep desires

  That tug

  "Those sore

  And fickle strings

  About your heart and eyes

  And loins! Behold the fruitful sweets

  Of love!"

  [Sleeper]

  Looking

  Upon such vile

  Deceit, I fled the room,

  Disgusted by her parody

  Of health.

  Here then

  Begins the vile

  Pursuit from room to room,

  Past countless doors and beds

  Defiled,

  Doomed to

  Repeat the chase,

  Until I should collapse,

  Exhausted, drained of courage, life

  And hope.

  Here now

  As I collapse,

  Defeated and distraught,

  I close my eyes and start to pray

  In haste,

  Howe'er

  Useless it seems

  To try; and in the midst

  Of sudden doom now come upon

  Myself,

  Many

  A thought of hands

  Wrapping around my neck,

  I wait and wait for such a doom

  To come

  Claim my

  Life, but instead

  Of bony hands that curl

  Around my neck, nothing at all

  Happens.

  2. Hour of the Devil | 3:00 a.m.

  [Sleeper]

  Here now,

  After I pause

  A moment longer, I

  Now ope my eyes and gaze upon

  A room

  Redone

  With racks of dark

  Red wine upon the walls

  For rites and spells of sacrifice

  And death.

  Dark is

  This room with rows

  And rows of maddening

  Books, knowledge-bearers, tomes

  Of lore

  Lost to

  The sands of time,

  Recovered only with

  The scraps of evil tidings in

  Grimoires.

  "Give me

  The strength to call

  On you to do my part

  In this unending round of chance.

  Awake!"

  And yet,

  When I proclaim

  My worth upon the air,

  Only a spell of silence greets

  My words.

  [Whisperer]

  "Wishful

  Invocations

  Cannot increase the stock

  Of your unfruitful venture, yet

  I'll make

  "My one

  Exception for

  A suitable price made,

  Depending on what you can give

  To me."

  [Sleeper]

  "My wife,

  I want my wife

  Back in my arms again—

  The real one, not the blasted witch

  Ere now."

  [Whisperer]

  "Noble

  Is the humble

  Heart that wants a humble

  Dream, a wife to love and cherish.

  That it?"

  [Sleeper]

  "It's that,

  No more, no less,

  Just resurrect my wife,

  And I shall be content, happy

  And gay."

  [Whisperer]

  "Give then

  Your soul to me,

  And worship me from now

  Until the hour upon your last

  Breath. Deal?"

  [Sleeper]

  "Deal." So

  I take up the

  Terms, knowing I will have

  To pay it back with all my soul

  In death,

  Doomed to

  Enter the realm

  Of outer darkness where

  The blinding light of Satan hides

  No sin.

  So now

  I wait and wait,

  Expecting something big

  To happen, though I know not what

  It is.

  It's like

  Awaiting some

  Unnerving boon to spring

  Upon your heels like a stray dog

  Of fate.

  Fear clamps

  Its jaws around

  My beating heart and grips

  Me in suspense as one possessed

  With death.

  Deranged

  Becomes the man

  Awaiting in the dark

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  Before the tide of fear can crest

  And ebb.

  [Whisperer]

  "Enter

  The void in front

  Of you and trust in me,

  For through me shall you find surcease

  From pain.

  "Perhaps

  You might obtain

  The one you've longed to hold;

  You'll never know until you tread

  The path,

  "Passing

  Into the path

  Untrodden by the meek,

  For nothing ventured, nothing gained.

  Come here."

  [Sleeper]

  Here then

  I tread towards

  The voided path beyond

  The fading light of ignorance

  In fear.

  For there

  Beyond the edge

  Of human sight, there lies

  An open door into some realm

  Unknown,

  Unknown

  To all except

  The brave and foolhardy;

  This door I push aside and walk

  In steps

  Subdued

  Amid the dark

  And ill-lit corridor

  Of ominous design and fell

  Repute.

  Ready

  The heart and mind

  For that which is to come;

  And so I tread along towards

  The depths

  Deep in

  The gloom and gloom

  Of eerie walls and floors,

  Just visible to walk by sight

  Alone.

  And then

  Another door

  Appears within the dark,

  Looming ever larger in front

  Of me.

  My fears

  Grow larger still

  Upon the sight of that

  Strange door now slightly just ajar,

  It seems.

  So thrilled

  Upon the sight

  Of it, I turn my head

  Behind me where I view the bleak

  Abyss,

  And when

  I turn around,

  I see the door swing in

  Without the human agency

  Of sight,

  Sound or

  Touch to remain

  At ease whereon I stand

  As witness to the movements of

  A ghost.

  [Whisperer]

  "Go hence,

  And you will find

  That which you have desired

  Deep in your breast, down to your core,

  Your soul!"

  [Sleeper]

  Sweet-talk

  Like this compels

  Me on to take the chance,

  And so I push aside the door

  And see

  Something

  That takes my breath

  Away and leaves me dumb;

  For there it stands, the lidless tomb

  In which

  Words fail

  To comprehend!

  My love lies in repose

  On a glowing bed of roses

  Glowing,

  Giving

  Off fragrances

  So sweet and clear to smell

  That all my sense of terror dies

  At once.

  Onward

  I step inside

  The hallowed crypt and fall

  Upon one knee in penitence

  And love.

  "Let this,

  My love, be our

  Last parting on the eve

  Of our sweet anniversary!

  So here

  "Hidden

  Beyond the sight

  Of demons, gods and men,

  I quaff the cup of heaven's gate *******

  And bliss."

  By now,

  I rise upon

  My feet and overlook

  My lover in repose so deep

  And pure,

  Pleasing

  To look at her

  Attractive figure and

  Her handsome face without a trace

  Of ruin

  Remaining

  Upon her skin,

  So smooth and silken soft;

  I place my hand upon her cool

  Mild cheeks,

  Checking

  To see if she

  Is real and still alive;

  I bend and lean my ear above

  Her mouth,

  Measuring

  The faintest breaths

  Of life still in her lungs.

  By God, she lives and sleeps the sleep

  Of rest!

  Right then,

  The door shuts up,

  Entrapping me inside

  The fated tomb before I can

  React!

  [Whisperer]

  "Repay

  The guide his due,

  Sleeper, and slumber here

  Forever with your loved one in

  The crypt!"

  [Sleeper]

  "Curse you,

  You blasted fiend!

  Open the door or else

  When I get out of here, I'll kill

  You there!"

  The sounds

  Of laughing spite

  Resound within the tomb,

  Almost compelling me to rage

  And rave.

  Right then,

  Barely before

  I catch my breath and calm

  Myself, a spike of terror shocks

  My heart.

  Hardly

  Do I even

  Comprehend the terror

  When round I turn to see my love

  Sit up

  Under

  Her own power,

  Looking at me with the

  Comprehension of my living

  Lover.

  [Lover]

  "Lest I

  Am dreaming, where

  Are am I and who are you?

  For I am not acquainted with

  This place."

  [Sleeper]

  "Perhaps

  You do not know

  The circumstance that brings

  Me here, but how can you not know

  This place?"

  [Lover]

  "Please, do

  Not speak in hints

  And riddles! Where am I

  And who are you to question me

  Like this?

  "This room

  Is far too dark

  For me to see beyond

  This glowing bet of roses red

  And white.

  "While you

  Are there where I

  Can't see, come closer that

  I might perceive the speaker thus:

  Come here."

  [Sleeper]

  Here now,

  I stand in doubt

  Upon the threshold of

  My lover's summons to come near

  To her.

  Here now,

  I triumph o'er

  My doubts and close the gap

  Between myself and my dear love

  And say,

  "Sweet love,

  I came for you

  To get you out of here,

  But now we're trapped, both you and I;

  We are—"

  [Lover]

  "Ah me,

  It cannot be!

  For while I live and breath

  Inside this place of wretchedness,

  You're here!

  [Sleeper]

  "How can

  We then escape

  This place, for we're entombed

  Inside and I can't budge this door

  To ope."

  [Lover]

  "One way

  I know t' escape

  This place of endless rest,

  And yet it's fraught with many risks

  And traps—"

  [Sleeper]

  "Tell me

  What it is, love!

  I'd rather risk it all

  Than spend my life inside this place

  Of doom."

  Despite

  A anxious look

  About her face, she stands

  Upon the bed of roses bright

  And says,

  [Lover]

  "Since you

  Will have it thus,

  I'll do your will; come here

  And stand upon this bed with me.

  I can

  "(Combined

  In your embrace)

  Escape this place of doom,

  Both you and I, but heed my words

  Of warning.

  "When we

  Escape this place,

  We'll be inside the woods

  Where howling wolves do prowl about

  To hunt.

  "Heed me

  And know that on

  The hour before the dawn

  Is the darkest of all the night

  To hike."

  [Sleeper]

  "How do

  You know the way

  When such foul menaces

  Exist upon the path that frees

  Ourselves?"

  [Lover]

  "On this,

  I only know

  Too well. Before you came

  To rescue me, I had escaped

  This place,

  "Perhaps

  By fate or chance—

  I know not which or why.

  And then I walked around to find

  My bearings

  "By the

  Moonlit forest,

  Yet the howling of the

  Wolves had frightened me back to this

  Dark place."

  [Sleeper]

  "Perhaps

  With me to act

  As guide protecting you,

  We may get out of here alive

  And well."

  [Lover]

  "Will you

  Then help me through

  Those horrid woods at night?

  Can you ward off those monsters with

  Your might?"

  [Sleeper]

  "My strength

  Is just enough

  To scare off those that stalk

  The woods at night; but even then,

  We must

  "Make haste

  If we're t' escape

  This curse beset upon

  Us both. We've little time to fear

  The rest."

  Restored

  To action, she

  Now beckons me to her;

  I follow her direction, stand

  Where she

  Stands now,

  Embracing her

  Close to my bosom's heart;

  The glowing bed of roses starts

  To shine

  So bright

  That I could not

  Bear such a sight for long,

  And I must squint my eyes to bear

  It better

  Before

  We 'gin to sink

  Into the cushioned folds.

  So down and down we sink and sink

  Until

  (Unable

  To bear the sight)

  I shut my eyes as she

  And I cling to each other tight,

  Secure.

  So long

  As I have her

  With me, I'll go with her

  To Hell and back again, so come

  What may!

  3. Hour of the Wolf | 4:00 a.m.

  [Sleeper]

  Moments

  Now pass, as we

  Begin to see ourselves

  Still whole, still breathing, still

  Alive.

  A sigh

  Upon the wind

  Now rustles through trees

  Beneath the moonlight of the night;

  The trees

  Take on

  The aspect of

  Of watchful eyes hid in

  The shadows of each twisting branch

  And bark;

  Beyond

  The sounds and sights

  Of monstrous things, I stare

  Upon my lover's handsome face

  And gain

  Good heart

  And courage for

  The struggles yet to come,

  For love can lift the dregs of hope

  To strive.

  So now

  We tread our way

  Into the thick of wood

  And feel the chill upon the skin

  And face.

  "Fear not,

  My love, for we'll

  Get out of this as soon

  As possible; I'll try my best

  To seek

  "Some way

  Out of these woods

  Unharmed by any beast

  Or monster lurking in our midst

  Tonight."

  [Lover]

  "Thank you

  For your words of

  Courage in this fatal

  Venture through this hostile forest—

  What's that?"

  [Sleeper]

  Thereat,

  I hearken to

  The sound of distant howls

  Against the silence of the night

  And say,

  "Stay low

  And follow close

  Behind my treading feet;

  There's danger now afoot upon

  Our trail."

  Treading

  So light upon

  The muffled dirt, we spot

  A traveled pathway hid within

  The woods.

  We breathe

  A sigh of such

  Relief upon the sight,

  Leading towards a safer place,

  Perhaps

  People

  To take us in

  And get us on our feet;

  And so we follow on the path

  And hope—

  Hope for

  Some miracle

  That clears away our fears—

  Hope for the chance that we will find

  Our way . . .

  When to

  Our weary eyes,

  We see a cabin on

  A shallow hillock just above

  Its base.

  Before

  We breathe a sigh

  Of welcome thoughts and ease,

  The sound of howling wolves assail

  The night!

  Now we

  Sprint along the

  Trodden pathway up the

  Way towards our place of safety,

  Nearer . . .

  Nearer

  And nearer still,

  We run as we discern

  The howling wolves now multiply

  Their numbers.

  Nearer

  And nearer still,

  We hasten up towards

  The hillock where the cabin sits

  Alone,

  And now

  We hear the pack

  Of wolves growling at us,

  And when I look behind to see,

  I see

  Several

  Pairs of glowing

  Piercing eyes, like demons'

  Eyes gaining fast and faster on

  Our trail.

  The steady

  Increase of grunts

  And growls and prowling feet

  Grow stronger as we near the hill

  And cabin,

  Combining

  Our fears in one

  Mad dash against the fate

  Awaiting just behind our steps

  As food

  For wolves

  With glowing eyes

  And snarling jaws with teeth,

  Ready to clamp around our heels!

  We gain

  Good time

  In reaching hill . . .

  And pathway going up

  The hill towards the doorknob, turn

  The handle . . .

  Hasten

  Inside and shut

  The door against the wolves

  Just in the nick of beating time!

  Relief

  Resumes

  Upon ourselves,

  As we collapse upon

  The floor, exhausted with the chase

  Of fate!

  "Fear not,

  My love, for we

  Have made it out alive

  And well without an injury!

  Rejoice!

  "Rest well

  Upon that bed

  Over there where we will

  Wait out this final hour of night

  In safety!"

  [Lover]

  "Such words

  Will bring about

  Your downfall if you let

  Your guard down! Do remain alert,

  By God!"

  [Sleeper]

  "Good God,

  Girl, what on earth

  Has gotten into you?

  Can you not see that we have just

  Escaped?"

  [Lover]

  "Escaped

  The fate of death,

  Indeed we have; but now

  I must reveal the final truth

  To you."

  [Sleeper]

  "You fright

  Me, love, indeed

  You do! What devilry

  Remains for us to overcome?

  What pain—"

  [Lover]

  "Pray, pray,

  Be quiet now

  So that I can divulge

  The final secret of my woes

  And fears."

  [Sleeper]

  For her

  I bite my tongue,

  Awaiting yet more words

  Of warning or direction from

  Her lips.

  [Lover]

  "Heed me

  When I now say

  That I'm no longer what

  I used to be, that I have changed

  To something . . .

  "Something

  I dare not say

  To you, because I am

  Afraid to tell the only man

  I love."

  [Sleeper]

  "Listen,

  My love, I will

  Not faint or turn away,

  Because you are my love, even

  In death.

  "Do not

  Ever doubt me

  When I say to you that

  I will always love you—always

  Love you!"

  [Lover]

  "You do

  Not understand!

  A curse now hangs upon

  Me with its fangs upon my heart

  And soul!"

  [Sleeper]

  She walks

  Away from me,

  But still I follow her

  Towards a shuttered window that

  Lets enter

  Enlightened

  Streaks of moonlight

  Filter through the shutter;

  Here she flings and shutter open

  And says,

  [Lover]

  "See me

  For what I have

  Become, a monster to

  All human sight! How can you still

  Adore . . ."

  [Sleeper]

  And now

  She starts to cry

  As she transforms into

  A she-wolf of such monstrous look

  And size!

  Such words

  Can little paint

  The jolt of horror in

  My heaving breast, a stern denial

  Th' insane

  Insist

  Against the cruel

  Evidence of my sight!

  I ball my fists, i shut my eyes,

  And yell,

  "You monster!

  Impostor! Fiend!

  Where have you taken here?

  By God, if you don't tell me where

  She is—"

  I stop . . .

  I now can see

  The reason why she is

  A she-wolf . . . She went out before,

  And I . . .

  I was

  Not there when she

  Got bitten by the wolves

  When she had ventured outside of

  Her tomb.

  To think

  I was not there

  To safeguard her from harm,

  And now I view the sad result:

  I failed,

  Failed to

  Protect the one

  I loved when I chased out

  The wolves with gun in hand and shot

  My love,

  Leaving

  Her bloodied and

  Dying within my arms;

  The wolves have given her new life

  In death,

  Despite

  My vow to her;

  I look upon my love

  Now curled into a giant ball,

  Cowering,

  Cornered,

  Afraid of me.

  I now collapse upon

  My knees, knowing that I have failed,

  Crying

  Cruel tears

  Of bitter pain

  As I have never cried,

  Bearing my tears as penitence

  For failure.

  "Fear not,

  My love, for I

  Will never hurt a hair

  Upon your head, nor will I fail

  You now.

  "No matter

  What will happen,

  I'll always—always—love

  You as a human or a wolf;

  So bite . . .

  "Bring an

  End upon this

  Eternal curse of pain,

  That we may live together as

  Two wolves."

  Epilogue

  [Spirit]

  What words

  Of sweet regret

  Could falsify such love;

  The she-wolf timidly uncurled

  And shed

  Such tears

  As human eyes

  Can only shed—regret,

  Remorse, commiseration in

  One act,

  An act

  Of surrender

  To the magic hand of

  One final chance to set things right

  Once more.

  Moved to

  Action, she stood

  Upon her legs and lunged

  Upon her kneeling lover, arms

  Outspread,

  Offering

  Himself to her

  Sharp canines tearing at

  His flesh; he screams in utter pain

  And dies,

  Defying

  The curse laid on

  Her cursèd head as she

  Tears him to pieces, ensuring he

  Will not

  Need to

  Share in her curse;

  So with her lover dead

  And free of sin, she breaks out of

  The window,

  Where she

  Attacks those wolves

  Who gave the curse to her,

  Killing many wolves but dying

  Upon

  Unending

  Bites to herself,

  As the wolves begin to

  Tear her limbs apart, staining her

  Fur in blood

  Before

  The final hour

  Of night begins to end,

  Bringing the dawn of a new day

  To life.

  Let us

  Assume those two,

  The Sleeper and Lover,

  Are now together in the tomb

  Of love.

  FINISH