I rose from my position kicking the chair away to
my left, where it smashed into the far wall coming to rest
in several pieces on the floor - a most unique jigsaw
puzzle. Wiping the filth on the charcoal cloth of my pants,
I tied back my long black hair to keep it out of my way,
and continued down the room to the west end doors.
“Damascus! I’m not in the mood for your games,”
I growled, as I silently walked the floor.
“What if I do not wish to come out?” his voice
sneered, seeming to come at me from everywhere at once.
“To see the likes of you? I’d rather not. I don’t much care
for your mood this evening. You seem a little…” he
paused a moment, the smile in his silence evident, “riled,
shall we say.”
I chose to ignore his remark; I could not allow him
to get under my skin. He was merely spewing words, trying
to provoke me. But his childish prattle was not a means to
defeat me, and I wanted to make sure he knew it. This
sadistic son-of-a-bitch liked to toy with his prey and I sure
as hell was not willing to play along.
I inhaled deeply, feeling the pastel salmon shirt I
wore tighten around my chest and ribs, and focused my
mental abilities yet again, trying to bring my mind to its
heightened state of awareness. It was an attempt to locate
his aura; but he was shielding his essence in some way,
making it difficult.
So instead, I continued along the floor, coming to
a set of beast-etched antique double doors that led farther
into his domain, and stopped. Their writhing, fornicating
and blood-letting antics a warning for those who sought to
enter their master’s province. I had no desire to wander
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