The Hunters moon

Eternal Blue

Angel

The smell that overtakes me nearly knocks me off my feet. It’s not the bitter disgusting smell Jessie spoke of. No, it’s sweet, sweeter than that of the apple scent everything is. This scent sends sensitive prickles up the back of my neck, its fingers dancing over my neck, before sliding through my nose and mouth to flourish in my lungs. It tastes of honey and raspberries.

Gretchen places herself against the frame of the door. “Creepy isn’t it?”

Creepy? The word never even came to my mind. Casting my eyes around the room I begin to take it all in. Dark curtains keep out any light from entering, deep red walls bury themselves beneath the dark painting of trees. As if this were the forest and not a room. Close to the windows is an all black canvas, old paints clutter everywhere around it. To my far left a large bed rest with a fresh coating of dust over the olden comforter and large dresser beside it.

“It is contrasting.”

“Interesting word choice.” She nods. “Most of this is props now. The only thing that is originally the lord’s is the bedframe, comforter, dresser, and that canvas.” Just then a ringtone erupts through the room. Gretchen pulls out the phone, “Speaking.” Turning from the door she walks a couple of paces away.

It’s not until her presence is gone that the spell on my legs releases. Finally, I am able to move about. Taking a shaky step my fingers trace over the wooden frame of the bed. Cold, too cold, just as the iron outside was. As if an ice storm has frozen everything in place. A chill runs through my body.

Pulling my hand away, my eyes take in the oil paint upon the walls. The smell of the oil paint has long left this room, the only proof remaining are the rich stipples of the paint. Upon closer investigation shows the finer details of the trees, each layer is deeper and darker than the other. Within certain branches are the scribblings of another language. Once more the tip of my finger traces something within this unusual room. The same chill from before runs through my body prickling against my chest light as a lover's touch.

The last place my legs carry me is to the black canvas, how strange for someone to leave it completely black. My fingers throb with the want to touch it, as if that force is pulling me into that black abyss. Gently, my pointer finger grazes the top of the canvas slowly dragging down.

All at once it hits, like a movie playing before my eyes in scattering clips. The first to appear are silver eyes, ones that make my blood run warm and my heart to sputter. Heat floods my abdomen where his large hands graze over. Slowly they run down the length of my thighs gripping them and throwing me onto my back.

As quick as he came he is gone. I am now face flat on my back, there’s a pounding in my head, blood coating my throat. Pure fear rushes through my veins. A knife dangles before me coming straight down my throat. Before the scream leaves me the scene is gone.

From my back my body is thrown to my knees, a hand replacing the knife. The hand on my neck drags me into soft lips, desperately mine crash against his, drinking up every second of it. Smooth hands run down to my wrist and I'm instantly drowning.

Sucking in a breath, I choke on water. It’s everywhere all around me, my wrist caught on something within the water. Above me the sun shines rippling off the water, below is the black abyss where my body drags down to. My eyes dare to drift down and meet the hollow eyes of the dead.

My lungs scream in protest. Smoke is everywhere burning everyone and everything. The dead drag me back to where they are, their mouths screeching words I cannot understand. Extending my leg, I kick at them, the kicks fall through as I fall forward. My feet landing in pointy heels and a thick dress.

I’m there standing before them all, the creatures of the night howl and hiss, my arms are bound before them all. Tears threaten to spew down my cheeks. Behind me a growl settles in before a roar of anger rumbles the field.

My legs tremble, the sound coming out of my mouth sounding of pure sin, before those crimson eyes devour me whole.

Ripping my hand away from the painting the burning sensation still lingers over my entire being. My breath comes in shallow puffs, the dance of a hand flutters through my hair. Jumping around for a moment I swear he is there. Those blazing eyes that devour my body whole and leave me trembling. Even his scent fills my lungs. Stronger than when I'd entered the room.

Yet, once I blink, he is nowhere to be seen. I am still standing alone in this room with the ghost of his touch lingering on my skin. Bringing a hand up to my chest I breathe deep, settling whatever nerves have come. The house was finally starting to make its attack on me. Or it was from all the old paint in this room. One way or another it was time to go.

As I exit, Gretchen ends her call. The look on her face as if a ghost has just spoken to her. Her lips pull into a tight but polite smile. “I’m so sorry to do this, but we must end the tour here for the day.”

I don’t so much as put up a fight. “Thank you for showing me around.” Even while we walk the vacant halls, the presence still lingers. It’s pull is all around me, screaming to not leave, to go back and stay. Keeping my eyes forward my legs pump with each step.

The moment we reach the outside, the sky has finally turned the colors of a setting sun. Beautiful and vibrant. Where the weight had sat now lifts, allowing me to take a breath of fresh air. The smell from the old house slowly leaves my buzzing system.

Jessie and Bree wait for me outside the gate. Jessie's color has finally come back, all the exhaustion in Bree’s face was now gone. Bree smiles at me delicately. “How was it?”

My eyes cast back to the dark mansion. “Intense.”

“I told you we shouldn’t have gone in.” A slight pink comes to the apples of Jessie’s cheeks. “You better not bring any ghosts back.” He jokes.

I laugh hallowly, recalling the hallucination within the house. “Hopefully not.”

Finally, my eyes take in the people beside Bree. She motions to the two who I vaguely remember. “Angel, you remember Ashton and Krista.” Krista smiles sweetly waving. “They’ll be joining us for dinner. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh, not at all. Honestly, I was thinking of skipping out on it all together after that.” I motion back to the house.

Jess’s eyes grew wide. “I knew something was off the moment you came out!”

My eyes roll. “I’m just not hungry after breathing in old paint Jess.”

“Would you be alright?” Bree asks, her brows pulling into a worrying furry.

I nod. “Yeah, I’ll be good. I’m gonna head to the bookstore right up there then walk back to camp before it gets too dark.” That way I'll have time to actually think in peace. I couldn’t already be getting the creeps the first night.

“Well if you need us, give me a ring.” Jessie points in the opposite direction. “We’ll be taking the bus to the other side of town.”

“I didn’t come along so you two could worry about me like my parents. Now get going.” Gently I push them away. Jessie gives me a look before walking off with them all.

We part ways as the four go to their lavish dinner. Passing the garden I make my way to the bookstore. As the light dyes in the sky a pink and purple hue casts overhead. This is when the city fully comes to life. The street lamps flicker with warm flames, yellow,orange, and red lights stream from store to store giving the streets a darker vibe.

Breathing in the scent of roasting apples I exhale, my nerves finally settling. The clock tower passes to my left, its face a vibrant scarlet. The small square with the fountain lights up beautifully, lights within the pond sparkle against the water, string lights hang from one end to the other illuminating the entire square. It all looks much like a storybook.

My feet finally land me before the bookstore. Reaching out for the silver handle, I enter and am engulfed in the lovely smell of old pages and good coffee.