The Strongest Fire

Once I was back inside I shut the door. I started to walk to the fire in the middle of the room for warmth, but stopped when I heard my name. “Mary.” It was a man’s voice, but it was not my father or my brother. I looked around in the dark shadows that were the corners of the room. I turned back to the fire thinking that the night wind might just be playing a trick on my ears. But as I turned to walk to the fire the figure of a very large cloaked and hooded man appeared and was blocking my way. The fire was behind him, making it even harder to make out any details in him other than his size. Even though the fire was strong I could feel his coldness, and tell he was unique. “Hello Mary, I have been watching you for a while now … you are very hard to get alone.” Said a deep voice, it was so hard to tell if it was the large man in front of me or if there was another person in the room. I looked around to see if he was alone or if there were others. “I stand before you … you are not blind and I am not hiding … this time.” “I am always alone.” I said a bit bewildered as I heard my own heart beat in my head. It was echoing in my ears. I wasn’t as scared as I should have been, but I did want away from this man. “Hah, never fully alone, there is always your father or big brother keeping an eye on you.” He said as he was pulling the cloak down from around his brow, “You are very lovely. My great-grandson picked well when he chose you for a bride.” I squinted my eyes to see if there was gray in his long, dark beard. I saw none. I had heard of men who live long enough to see there family grow into greats, but I had never met one. “My husband never spoke of any long lived family.” I said. I was wondering if the apocalyptic night had brought madness to this man. The belief and fear of the end being near was causing people to see and hear strange things. For some reason I felt that he was telling the truth … but I was hoping he was a crazy liar and soon he would be off to church with the rest of the known world. “Oh.” He started to move and shift his weight … I wanted to run … but with his intimidating size, if he caught me, well I had more chance to talk in hopes that he would just leave. “He would have had to have met me to know of me.” Now he was pacing like my brother and father do when they are feeling long winded. My thought when I saw men do this usually was a worried “This speech is going to take all night.” But this time I was happy and hopeful that this speech might just take all night. So that he would still be talking when my father and brother return. “The truth of the matter is I am dead and alive.” Now I really was beginning to think this guy belongs in church to be healed. “You are my prey. You are my victim. I have kept close trace on my children and their families, when I knew that I had lost a grandson and then his daughter I wanted to know who was left. I wanted to see you. And when I did I knew I had to have you.” “I may be kept by my brother and father, but I am not a pet. I was not picked from a tree like a fruit by your grandson. I accepted your grandson as my husband when he asked my father. I agreed that it would be a smart choice.” I was getting upset. I can hold my tongue for those I love, but strangers … no. I will speak my mind. Even if I am fearful … but what did I have to lose that was not already lost from me, “If you are as old as you say then why do I see very little signs of age? Your beard is dark, your face has no cuts or deep wrinkles and the hair on your head looks to all be there.” Even my father who, was fifty eight, was aged enough to have wrinkles, his hair was coming off his head quick and the parts staying on his head were not thick and red but fluffy and silver. This man must be mad. He had now walked to where I could see his face much better. The light was behind me now. He looked to be near thirty, near the age of my brother. This man might be a few years older, but not much. “I am flattered that you studied my looks and my face so carefully in this light, too. You must have been studying me very hard. It shows me you are interested … that you cared to notice me. I have studied every aspect of you as well.” His eyes slowly looked down from my face all the way to the floor. This made me feel even more uncomfortable. “And in very fine depth.” He said with a not so innocent smirk as his eyes went back up to look at my face again. “I do not enjoy you near me sir. Please leave.” I was hoping that might make him leave … but I had very strong doubts. “Your spirit is as lovely and as fiery as your hair.” He touched and twirled one of my red locks around his gloved fingers. I did all I could not to flinch at his closeness, “You are one of the only people I have seen in all my of my days who has eyes the color of emeralds sparkling in the sunshine, hair as red and as curly as fire … but your pale white skin doesn’t have one freckle … or blemish … you are truly lovely to look at.” I was hurt … my daughter, the child I loved so very much, had freckles and I loved them. “Do you always converse with your victims, sir? Why not just kill me instead of cutting me with your words? Just cut me with your knife and leave.” He let the lock of my hair drop back down. And looked at my eyes with disinterest for what I had said. “You are my first real victim ever. I have never wanted to have anyone last forever before. Not even my kin. But if you were my cattle ... you would have never seen me coming.” This was getting too odd… Cattle? Food? And to last forever? Was he going to kill me or imprison me? Then he started to circle me like a bird that has found its prey. “You are an emerald.” His complements made me feel unclean. Why didn’t I go with William? “Before I do this, I want you to know I do pick my fruit from the tree and I only pick the best. In my day I was a treasure hunter, I did not take it all, but I did take the most precious.” I was confused … what was going on? “You are strong. You are healthy. You can stand the cold of the night. You can be alone without madness. You can let go and still love the ones in your past. You can be full of fear and you are still rational and sturdy. You are lovely and you are now mine …” His teeth grew into fangs. I was very cold. And I was lost to the waking world forever.