When I met her

I knew everything had changed

I was alone

Nursing a shot

The bartender close

Hands shaking

As he poured another

The door was open

I don’t remember it opening

But the night poured in

Cold and windy

Dark and stormy

Framed by streetlight

She wore a dress

Black as sin

Lips layered charcoal

Eyes smokey but sharp

“I’ve come to collect

A few of my things.”

Her voice was low

Sultry

Enticing

I swiveled around

Teeth flashing wolf bright

“A drink or two?”

She smiled back

Oh that smile

A dangerous thing…

“No just a few folks

Who are going my way.”

She clicked her tongue

But seemed to consider

“Maybe just one…”

I looked to the bartender

Whose eyes were wide

And staring at me

“Well? Pour her a drink!”

He stumbled away and left

Through a back door

“Rude…”

I grabbed a glass

Poured one out for her

And she sat down

With some gravitas

I held up my shot

And she, hers

“Sláinte!”

I tipped back

“Sláinte agad-sa…”

Her cool response

Her shot was empty

“So what brings you here?”

I bubbled cheerily

“Like I said

To pick up a few friends

Who are going my way.

I mean in the end

You’re all going my way…”

I paused in pouring

I looked back at the crimson

Splashed over the booths

The tangled limbs

The faces of horror

And gripped the pistol

Which sat before me

“And me?”

She laughed

A laugh like broken glass

A rock through an old house

“Soon

But not yet…”

She drifted from me

All grace

And power

Gently she caressed their faces

Lifting away

Something thin

And whispy

To each one she did this

And I waited

“Well do enjoy your whiskey

And have one for me

Before you call it an evening.”

With that

She left back through the door

Closed already

And the heat suffocating

That was when I met her

Call her what you want

Death

Hades

Valkyrie

I simply call her

The Night