I woke up this morning with the shadowy fragments of a story in my mind… and during the day they slowly crystallized into this. Not for children, mind you – it is a bit scary. But it insisted on being set down on paper…

She opened the door, and – ‘Oh, my God – how gorgeous he is!’ she exclaimed in her mind. He was standing in the doorway, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses and a beautiful box. It was the first time she saw him for real, for they had met each other only on the Internet. And she was stunned to see him like this!

She invited him in, closing the door behind him, and found a vase for the roses while she asked if he would like some coffee. He placed the box on the table. ‘With pleasure,’ he replied. She felt his eyes on her back as she walked out to the kitchen.

 

When she came back, enwrapped in the deep aromas of coffee, he was standing in the centre of the room admiring her drawings. “You are very talented,” he said with a smile. “These are… most lifelike.”

“Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed, feeling shy and excited at the same time.
He nodded, then stepped over to the table and picked up the box. “A small present for you,” he said, his eyes resting admiringly on her.

Her fingers trembled a bit as she took the box from him. The slight brush of his fingertips against her hand felt electric to her touch.

She opened the box and gasped. A large, richly decorated golden necklace with a heart-shaped pendant and sparkling stones looked back at her. “Come on, try it on,” he said, his voice soft and insistent. “I promise it will suit you.”

She went to the mirror and carefully took out the necklace. Unclasped it, and placed it around her neck. There was a small, boxlike adornment at the top of the pendant, which puzzled her a bit. “What is that?” she asked him.
“Try turning the screw on it,” he told her with a smile. His eyes shone golden-red in the flickering candlelight.

“OK,” she smiled back and carefully turned it.

She thought she heard a small, wheezing sound from the box as she did so. And suddenly the air around her was filled with the most sensual aroma of flowers!

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “It’s perfume!” And then the room spun crazily around her, and she sank to the floor.

Holding his breath, he ran to catch her as she fell. Then he quickly carried her to the sofa, before walking over to throw open the balcony door and breathe deeply of the fresh air outside.

He waited for a minute to allow the gas to dissipate. Then waved at the big, black car waiting at the curb below, and went back inside.

When he opened the door, the man waiting there nodded to him, “The way is free.”

“Good.” The man preceded him down the stairs as he carried her down…

She woke up in darkness. As she felt around with her hands for a light to turn on, she heard the harsh voice of a stranger. “I’m afraid there is no switch here, my dear,” it told her.

Shocked, she stood up, too quickly for her head to agree with her, and tried to step away. Something cold brushed by her feet with a whispered hiss. “I really would not recommend that,” the voice warned her.

With a scream of horror, she jumped back to the couch she had lain on. “Who are you? What do you want from me?” she cried.

 

“Your magic, my dear,” the dark voice replied. “Let us unfold your secrets.”

Attribution
Story: Elena Voroniouk © 2020, all rights reserved.

Photography (in order of appearance):
“Hope is Gold … Wishes Silver” by Praṇav – Let there be….. LIGHT!
“Alas…de margarita!!!” by NINES Salvador
“Passion and Love…” by Herbert Pregel