Preface

A Chapter by April Destinee

Preface

The snow softly fell down upon the streets of South Portland, Maine. Everything stood peacefully still. The birds where gone, long away from America to the warmer south. The other animals already fast asleep showing signs of hibernation. A woman trudged through the thick snow with her baby cradled in her arms. The ice cold wind nipped at her nose and fingers; it sunk deep in her boots and clothing chilling her toes and bone. She shivered, silently wishing her husband would come and wrap his arms around her, but she continued down the dark, quite, and abandoned street.

“I see you.” A soft and velvety voice whispered. The woman looked up and held her breathe.

“I know who you are.” It continued to whisper.

“You’re his!” It laughed hoarsely in multiples.

She fastened her pace as the voice was joined with others harshly haunting her. She quickly looked behind her; the street was as soundless as I was before. The only sound came from the hum of the street lamp.

“You’re his! His b***h!” They laughed continuingly.

The woman turned back around, from the back street, and her heart leaped out her throat

A figure stood before her. He glowed underneath the street light, making it hard to see his face. He shoved his hand in his black trench coat and stood there. The frightened woman stared at him, not sure if he would hurt her if she moved. He looked up at her devilishly through his thick eyelashes. The woman took in a shaky breathe and gripped her sleeping baby closer to her chest. The man stepped forward, and she swiveled around and sprinted into a run. But before she could make it an inch away, the man stood before her again. She looked behind her where his figure had originally stood lifelessly. How did he move that quickly? She closed her eyes and knew right away this man was targeting her.

“I SEE YOU! YOU’RE HIS!” The voice yelled violently.

The dark man extended his long legs and walked over to the woman in her early twenties. Her grey eyes took in his dark black eyes, floppy jet black hair and fine detailed feature. He was handsome almost too good to be really handsome. The snow instantly melted underneath his feet. The snow vanished above his head; it was like an invisible force field was centered only on him. He flicked off her hood with a signal movement and sent alarm through her body and eyes. The man slowly ran his long fingers through her hair blond hair, a massive surge of heat scorched into her scalp. She winced and he frowned.

“It’s not good to be alone, when it’s so dark.” The velvety voice in her head said, but his lips moved sync with it.

His hand dropped to her head tugging her hair forward a bit, “How could he leave you all alone?”

He titled his head and looked at the terrified woman.

“Does he not love you?” He whispered.

“What do you want from me?” She finally spoke up.

A smile crept up on the man’s handsome but malevolent face.

“A life.” He lowered his face.

"Take mine, then.” The woman said and pulled a hand over her baby.

"I don’t want yours. You are no use to me. He will not care if you dead.” He shoed away her offer and dropped his gaze down to her hands.

“Jeremiah has left you with a child.”

“How do you know him?” She snapped defensively and pulled her baby closer to her.

“We go way back. A long way.”

“Are you one of them?” She asked.

“No, the very opposite. I would have to die before I could ever be one of them.” He spat in hatred.

The woman quickly stepped back, she didn’t want to deal with someone like him,

“Give me your daughter or Jeremiah goes down with me.” He ordered and grabbed her shoulder.

“No!” She yelled and fought to get out of his hot grip.

“There’s no use in yelling. No one can hear you. Choose her,”"He glanced down at her baby"“life or his?”

“Not my baby.” She pleaded.

“Then Jeremiah’s. I hope the Highest is forgiving enough to at least spear your life, after they kill your precious one.” A satisfied sinister smiled spread across his dangerous face.

“No!” The woman yelled.

She knew Jeremiah couldn’t afford to go down. He needed his place there. She sighed; she could never forgive herself for this sin. The man stopped from walking and perked his ear to her, waiting.

She sucked in a breath and said, “What do you want with her?” The man smirked obviously pleased that she rethink her decision and turned fully to her.

“On her 18th birthday, I will claim her as mine.”

“You want me to sell my baby?”

“Not sell. Give…for a sacrifice. After all that’s what goodness is all about, right?”

The woman looked down at her peacefully sleeping baby. Oh she didn’t know one thing that was going on, she could imagine her dreaming about sheep and lollipops; wondering what the world will give her the next day. She would never forgive her for this. A tear threated in to spill out but the cold wind froze it. Her babies’ small hand flicked, just as her eyelids fluttered. A happy smiled crept on her face.

“Fine. I’ll give her to you, but you must promise not to kill Jeremiah or her.”

“Oh you have my word.” His voice grew deeper. “She will be in the best care. I promise. No one would dear harm her beautiful face or one single auburn lock of hair on her head.” He swore and placed his hand above his chest.

“April 10, Eighteen years after, I can’t wait to see her.” Her turned away from the woman and began to walk away, but stopped.

“And Big Daddy always gets his prize. In the Godly fashion or the other way. I show no mercy for pain or death.” He laughed darkly and glared at her through his now red eyes.

“Don’t try to hide, no one hides from me. Good-bye, Celeste.” He wiggled his finger and stuck out his snake shaped tongue.

“See you in 18 years.” His voice sounded like multiple people talking. He hissed at her, his eyes glowed red and his body slowly morphed into a green and black Cobra. It snapped at the woman’s’ feet then slithered away.

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