The Hunt

She's sent to go hunting so far from her home
On her arrivel she is greeted with suspicion
Crosses and garlic are hung from the doors
Regarded by her as a daft superstition

None will provide transport to aid her hunt
A carriage is summand from over the hill
The innkeeper farewells her with a choked voice
His gift of a crucifix left on the windowsill

A black carriage with a black horse
The driver's face bound up in a scarf
A broken wheel forces her to walk
And find own her way in the dark

Darting shadows between the trees
Black bats shrieking overhead
Blue fires burning out on the marsh
A lonesome old track no locals dare tread

A rest in the forest weary from travel
The fire lets off an unearthly red glow
A tent is pitched but sleep eludes
Anxious of the distance she still must go

Glowing red eyes malevolent in the dark
Mysterious shapes forming in the smoke
A wolf's lonely howl at the full moon
A tall pale figure in a ragged black cloak

Cold eyes staring from over the fire
Blue eyes sharp and hard as stone
Shivering under the stranger's cold stare
Wishing frantically she was still alone

Cold hands reach out and grip her shoulders hard
Pointed teeth sinking into her neck
A desperate scream none but he can hear
As he drains her she gasps and fights for breath

Her body hangs limp in his arms
Tears of fear brighten her eyes
She no longer has the strength to struggle
She whispers a prayer as she prepares to die

He lowers her back down onto the ground
She stares up at him with eyes dimmed with pain
He kisses her and leaves her there to die
Before melting back to the shadows to go hunting again