Sleep Not On A Lonely Park Bench

Darkness surrounds me and I can’t see anything. A cold chill creeps over my body. I awaken to the sound of a whisper in my ear. Startled and slightly disoriented, I try to sit up but find my hands bound behind my back and it dawns on me that my hands are tied and my dress completely unbuttoned and open. I'm in a room of some kind. It’s very dark and I can feel the panic rising within me.  
 
"Please, whoever you are, I’ll leave and I won’t mention anything to anyone. Just please, let me go." I plead to the figure in the darkness. I can just barely make out long, lean limbs. There’s something about this man’s presence. He exudes an aura of incredible strength and something strange that I can’t quite put my finger on… something almost unearthly.  
 
I watch him move about silently as I shiver from the chill that passes through the stone walled room. A candle is lit, then another and now a third. They're placed in a line at the foot of the bed. The room is dimly lit and as he steps into the meager light, I gasp. I’m not sure if I should close my eyes for fear of my mind disbelieving what I’m seeing standing here before me. He’s beautiful. He’s dangerously sexy and he’s definitely not human.

He speaks and the words roll from his lips like honey. "I found you sleeping on a bench in the park and I brought you here. What shall I do about you?", he taunts.  

With quivering voice I reply, "I’m very sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble. It’s been a very long day. I stopped at the park to enjoy the serene surroundings. I must have lost track of time and dozed off." 
  
He reaches out to me and traces a long, silky finger over my bare shoulder, moving the strap of my dress further down my arm, bringing my breasts into plain view. I shudder from the coolness of his touch as well as the chill in the air. "Tell me exactly what it is that you see when you look at me. I want you to know me for what I am and understand this my lovely lady, should you tempt me too much, you will be either my next victim, or my companion for eternity. Now go on, tell me please. What is it that you see?"

"What do I see? I see hair of a soft silkiness that’s as dark as night. I see pale, perfect skin. I see the brightest, most hypnotic eyes that burn with tiny flecks of gold. I see... Oh no, it couldn’t be! I see sharp pointed canine-like teeth that cannot belong to those of a mortal being. I see the most sensuous lips and a body that's lean and muscular."  
 
His hand touches me but I can't speak. It’s as if he holds me in a trance. "I’ll untie you now, but know this, you already tempt me with your flesh so just be careful that you don't tempt me with your blood." His mouth descends on mine, that fierce, wicked mouth that's so inviting. His tongue snakes out and teases mine. I copy his motions and feel the sharp point of his teeth against my tongue. I feel him lift me, then push me softly back onto the bed. The chill of the room no longer has any affect on me.  
 
His hard chest is pressed firmly against mine and the small ivory buttons of his shirt presses against my nipples. I feel powerless as I lie here unable to close my eyes, wanting to shut out the images, yet wanting to see him too, even though he frightens me.

He smiles wickedly. Bending over me, he holds my hair in his hand and begins kissing my throat. Fear ensues as I feel his sharp bite sinking into my skin, my soul, my very being and it begins to draw the life out of me. My vision blurs and I see only darkness.  
 
I awaken with a start. I’m all alone, completely dressed and back on the bench where I first fell asleep. It’s morning. I wash the dream from my head as I stand to find the shoes I had let fall from my feet when I curled up on the bench. "Wow! That dream seemed so real, so frightening," I think to myself.

I slip my shoes on and find my way out to the parking lot. Suddenly I feel sick, weak and cold. I tell myself I must have caught a cold from being out in the night air. The sun hurts my eyes more than usual. I stop to rest against a sign post. Digging through my purse, I find a tiny compact mirror. Opening it, I run my hands through my hair and try to make myself more presentable before driving back into town. I hold the mirror up to my face and oh my, it can’t be, but it is….. My reflection is fading.