James Mint stood smoking without any awareness of the danger he was in. I watched him and pretended to be checking the street for cats. I even named my non-existent cat Arthur for authenticity’s sake. ‘Arthur, Arthur ‘I said. ‘Go home, now please. .’ As the evening turned out it would have been either the cat or James Mint and as the cat didn’t exist it had to be James Mint. I don’t know what they said at his funeral but it must have taken a lot of explaining.
As you may have gathered I didn’t go to the funeral. How could I be invited after all that as Timothy so diplomatically phrased it. For James had company that night. Whilst I pretended to search for my cat, the heat grew more intense and then I smelt my visitor. Visitors can disguise their scent but this one hadn’t bothered; maybe too arrogant, too inexperienced or just plain damned.
I let a special sound. Part whistle part hiss. ‘Go away. You are not wanted.You are out of time.’ The scent grew stronger. Part heady pleasure, part hurtling damnation
James laughed. The fool thought I was flirting with him. ‘I am always wanted. Geniality is my middle name Lamia…Cats aren’t that bad either you know. I’m a bit of a panther myself.’
‘I would go back inside- Now please. Now. Believe me this one is the interloper you don’t want to meet.’
But it was too late for James, our visitor was near. Damningly close. James turned his head away from me and started to inhale. Poor bastard was smiling as he sauntered away across the street. ‘Bye Lamia, Some one likes me. Aren’t I the lucky one? ‘He said and vanished into a darkness as silky as wet amber.
There was a momentary silence and then a soft skirmish sound mixed with a cry part ecstasy, part disbelief. Then the same rich scents as there had been in the past, as decadent as secret chocolate.
I let my mind recall the rip tide that pulls you inside, as you feel the warmth of a skin and you lose all sense. You forget you are made of separate bits- you are taken whole.
Death’s erotic lullaby and there it was beckoning to James. How could he resist? He believed he was heading towards erotic dharma with a siren. He was and he wasn’t of course. Nothing as irresistible as your own desire.
I buried his cigarette stubs under some violets and wished his soul well. The kindness of strangers and all that.
Chapter Two.
Once James went away, I had to leave. My suburban hiding place had been discovered and my visitor had issued his first warning with this sacrifice of James Mint. I needed a rapid change around. So, Let’s meet Bella. To everything there is a time!
