Nightmare

Claustrophobic darkness swallows all but this moment,
Yet no walls keep me from running for my life.
My heart speaks, turn away and be cut down for good.
Destiny waits on a circular dais of onyx stone.

We advance upon each other, gleaming sabres in hand,
a duel of honour rendered in a nightmare’s planescape.
There he stands, another, stranger me. A flowing mane,
a gentleman’s attire and poise, an assassin’s precision.

A waxen domino mask sits upon his brow, wreathing
eyes of abyssal fire. A masquerade upon a ruse
within a dream. No bows of respect are made,
none are needed when your life is about to end.

I swore I’d have no fear for her, I swore to protect
and serve with loyalty forever. I swore that I would
fight, and this is a cause worth dying for. I always keep
my promises. Those who don’t fight for life should die.

A clumsy feint, a lucky riposte and it’s over, just as
it began. My blade lashes at an eye that burns with hate,
enveloping the mask with flames. Molten wax and flesh
trickle away into extinguished dead-white, blind eyes.

He falls to his knees, elation and despair follow victory.
A princess of a perfect, darkened dream kneels beside him.
He tries to see her through his empty futile sockets,
and knows the sight of her beauty nevermore.

Then their wails came, rending my soul in two.
I know his agony because it is my agony. The empathy
kills me a thousand times over as surely as his sword would.
She is my princess. Whose beauty is mine to see nevermore.