WHEN DARKNESS FALLS
WHEN DARKNESS FALLS
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HER FIRST LOVE WAS TO THE ARTS
FROM THIS PLACE
FEATURED THE ARCHWAYS,
ARCHITECTURE STONE,
AND MARBLE
THE BUILDING WAS NORMALLY
SEEN AS A RESIDENCE
YET TODAY IT WOULD BE
THE CENTER OF THE
DANCE
THERE WERE HUGE
BEAUTIFUL WROUGHT IRON GATES
THAT ALLOWED ENTRY
FROM THE CANALS
WHERE COSTUMED FOOTMEN
CAME TO HELP THE
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
FROM THEIR CONVEYANCES
WITHIN THE GRAND FOYER
WITH ITS SWEEPING WHITE MARBLE
STAIRCASE
THEY ALL WERE GREETED
BY THEIR HOSTESS
SHE WAS STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL
DRESSED ALL IN WHITE
HUGE WHITE FEATHERS
SWEEPING THE HEM
OF HER GOWN
AN ELABORATE AND VERY REGAL COLLAR
MADE OF THE SAME
AND A MASK FORMED
OF EVEN LONGER FEATHERS
SWEEPING THE HEM
LIKE HER GOWN
SHE WIELDED HER MASK
WITH EXPERIENCE, COMFORT,
AND COMPOSURE
NODDING TO THE GUESTS
AT HER SIDE
SMILING, TURNING TO GREET
THE NEW ARRIVALS
SHE DRIFTED ACROSS
THE FLOOR
TO GREET THEM WITH
KISSES ON BOTH CHEEKS
THEN SHE TOOK BOTH OF
HER HANDS STRETCHING AWAY
TO SURVEY HER
OOH THANKS FOR COMING
TO MY LITTLE SOIREE
AH, I DO HOPE THE DANCE
TO BE MERRY
SHE GRINNED HER
EXPRESSIVE DARK EYES
SLIDING OVER HER
SHE FELT A SLIGHT UNEASINESS
IN A STRANGE AWKWARD MOMENT
WONDERING IF HER HOSTESS
WEREN'T MORE FAMILIAR
WITH HER COUSIN THAN WITH HER
HOWEVER SHE QUICKLY DISMISSED
THE THOUGHT
KNOWING HER COUSIN WAS
VERY MUCH IN LOVE
THE PERFECT COUPLE
THAT NOTHING COULD EVER SEPARATE
THESE LOVE BIRDS
OR SO SHE THOUGHT
CONTESSA SAID THE BUFFET
IS UPSTAIRS
THE CHAMPAGNE IS HERE
REACHING OUT
TAKING TWO GLASSES
SHE HANDED HER ONE
OH JUST LOOK OUT THERE
DANCING, THE DANCING
IS EVERYWHERE
I WONT LEAVE YOU ALONE
ALL NIGHT I PROMISE
HE SAID I HAVE A FEW
ASSOCIATES TO CHAT
WITH AS WE TROTTED OFF
SHE SAID YOU KNOW PEOPLE
HERE?
NO NOT REALLY
YET IT DOESN'T MATTER
I CAME FOR YOU ANYHOW
MY DEAR
DOES HE KNOW
SHE SAID NO I DON'T THINK HE
HAS EVEN A CLUE
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
OH YES
HE IS SO INTO HIMSELF
AND WHAT HE WANTS
TO EVEN NOTICE
SHE WAS WALKING AROUND
THE BUFFET TABLE
LOOKING AROUND AT ALL THE
COSTUMES
HERE THEY WERE EVEN
MORE BRILLIANT
THAN THOSE OFF THE STREET
IN THIS TIME
YOU CAN SEE SO MANY
SPARKLES AND COLORS
THOUGH THE MAIN ONES
ARE PURPLE, GOLD AND GREEN
THESE ARE ELEGANT AND
EXTRAVAGANT
COSTING THOUSANDS TO
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS
SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF
OH I FEEL SO UNDERDRESSED
IN MY SEQUINS, FAUX JEWELS,
AND VELVET
OH TOO MANY WOMEN WERE
IN REAL GEMS
ON ONE MEDIEVAL DRESS
SHE COULD SEE THE SPARKLES
OF DOZENS OF REAL EMERALDS
SHE SAID COUSIN GO
DO YOUR HOB NOBBIN'
REALIZE IF I FIND ANYONE
HERE I'LL MAKE SURE
THEY ARE ALL RICH ENOUGH
TO BE THAT PATRON
YOU SO ARE SEARCHING
FOR TO SUPPORT OUR WORK
YOU TWO ARE SO SWEET
TOGETHER
NOW GO I WILL BE FINE
CONTESSA SAID ITS STILL YOUNG
TONIGHT YOU NEVER KNOW
MY DEAR
JUST WHO YOU MAY FIND
HOWEVER WATCH OUT
FOR THE RATS AND THE WOLVES
THEY ARE ALL HERE
YOU CAN SMELL THE GREED FLOWING
ITS CLIMBING HIGH
"I'LL KEEP THAT IN MIND."
HER COUSIN AND HER BEAU
WALKED AWAY
HER FRIEND THE CONTESSA
WENT BACK TO GREETING
SAYING IF YOU FIND ONE
CERTAIN WOLF WE BOTH KNOW
TELL HIM TO KEEL OFF IMMEDIATELY
AND LEAVE YOU WITH ONE OF
HIS FILTHY RICH FELLOWS
SHE SMILED A SMIRK
OF YEAH RIGHT OK WHATEVER
CONTESSA SAID
REALIZE I CONSIDER YOU
RICHER IN YOUR OWN RIGHT
BEYOND THREE QUARTERS OF ALL
IN THIS BLOODY BUILDING
TONIGHT
JUST BEWARE
SHE THEN IDLY STOOD BY
THE BUFFET TABLE
NOTICING SHE SEEMED JUST
AS LOST STANDING THERE
SHE LOOKED HER OVER
HMMM
A SHORT STOUT WOMAN
WITH WAVING HAIR
LAYING IN CURLS OVER
HER SHOULDERS
YET A BRAID DRAWN BACK
FROM HER FOREHEAD
IN CONCESSION WITH HER
RENAISSANCE PANACHE OF A RICH
CRIMSON GOWN WITH A
BROCADE OF FLOWERED BLACK
UNDERNEATH
OTHERS HERE MIGHT BE
MORE RICHLY DECKED
HOWEVER NONE WORE A
COSTUME WITH SUCH
A NATURAL ELEGANCE
SHE CARRIED A SIMPLE MASK
A SILVER AND GOLD
CREATION ON A WAND
SHE WATCHED HER PULL IT AWAY
FROM HER EYES
TO SIPP HER CHAMPAGNE
AND TRY TO WORK OUT HOW
TO HOLD HER MASK
DRINK A SIPP
AND TASTE A PIECE OF CHEESE
SHE WAS THINKING OF ALL HERE
ONLY ONE WOULD SHE EVEN
TAKE INTO THE NIGHT
WITH HER IF ONLY SHE
HAD THE GUTS TO MAKE THAT MOVE
SHE KNEW FROM THE WOMAN'S
COUSIN THAT THIS MORSEL
WENT IN THE SAME DIRECTION
AND EVEN WITHOUT THAT
KNOWLEDGE THE AURA
OF RADIATING RADAR JUST POURED
FROM HER AS IF TO SAY
SCREAMING COME TAKE ME
RIGHT HERE
SO AS SHE IN THE WHITE STARRED
HE WALKED BACK IN
TO JOIN HER AT THE TABLE
ADDRESSING HER IN THEIR
FAMILIAR LANGUAGE FROM HOME
HER EYES HIT HIS WITH AN INSTANT
PANG OF CERTAIN CONFUSION
HE SWITCHED TO ENGLISH
ITS BEEN A GOOD EVENING
EXCUSE ME FOR BEING SO
IMPERTINENT
HE PAUSED LOWERING HIS HEAD
AND HIS VOICE.
HE SAID LET ME RESCUE
YOU FROM THE APPARENT BOREDOM
FOR YOU ARE JUST
STANDING HERE
SHE LOOKED BACK HER EYES
GLEAMING IN THE BRILLIANT
HUE
WHICH WOULD RIVAL ANY GEM
PRESENT
INSTANTLY SPARKLING
AS A SLOW RUEFUL SMILE
THAT HAD BEEN CURLING ON HER LIPS
FADED
I AM SORRY I CAN'T ACCEPT
YOUR ASSISTANCE
I AM WATCHING OUT FOR MY
FRIEND
SO NO RATS OR WOLVES
SEEK HER OUT THIS DAY
SO GO MINGLE
MORE GO AMUSE THYSELF
AS YOU USUALLY DO
AH, HE SAID SO I SEE
YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON ANOTHER
TO MARK YOUR NOTCH
SHE SNAPPED BACK
NO!
YOU HAVE IT WRONG
JUST GO FIND A NOTCH YOURSELF
AS YOU TEND TO DO THESE DAYS
I AM NOT INTERESTED
HE SAID BUT I KNOW
AS THE NIGHT WINDS DOWN
YOU WILL BE IN MY BED
BEGGING FOR MORE
SO DON'T BE SO BITTER
WITH YOUR WORDS
SHE JUST GAVE HIM A LOOK
THAT WOULD MURDER HIM
IF IT COULD
HE RAISED HIS HANDS SMILING
AS HE WALKED AWAY
SHE TURNED BACK TO SEE HER
FRIEND
YET SHE WASN'T STANDING
THERE ANYMORE
SO SHE SEARCHED THE ROOM
CATCHING A GLIMPSE OF HER
GOWN AS SHE SEEMED
TO BE GOING OFF
INTO THE BALCONY
THEN IN A MOMENT
HE SMILED DEEPENING TAKING
HER MASK SAYING LET ME
HOLD THAT FOR YOU
SHE SWALLOWED HER CHAMPAGNE
FINISHING OFF THE CHEESE
AND NODDED
OK
HE SAID LETS LIVE RECKLESS
HERE ON THE CANALS
SHE JUST NODDED
AS SHE FOUND HERSELF
ON THE DANCE FLOOR IN THE REAR
ON A TERRACE THAT LOOKED
OVER
ANOTHER SECTION OF A CANAL
THE MOONLIGHT
CAPTURED ON THE WATER
CAST CRYSTAL CLEAR
REFLECTIONS OF THE DANCERS.
SHE FLOWED IN THE WALTZ
LIKE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO
SHE GLIDED SHE LAUGHED
THEN SHE STUMBLED AND GRIMACED
SHE SAID YOU ARE A BIT TALL
HE SAID WELL YOU ARE A BIT
SMALL LOOKING DOWN AT HER
BUT WE WILL MANAGE
SHE SAID SO WHO ARE YOU?
A RAT OR A WOLF?
HE LAUGHED I DON'T KNOW
WHICH DO YOU PREFER
THE WOLF I HOPE
SHE JUST LOOKED AT HIM
WELL YOU KNOW YOUR DEAR
SHE IS HOLDING A WONDERFUL
DANCE BALL THIS MARDI GRAS DAY
HE SMILED SHE ALWAYS DOES
HE SAID WELL ITS
JUST THE WAY WE ARE
ALL WITH THERE CLEAR MARKS
OF THIS OR THAT
YOU KNOW ME I AM HARMLESS
SHE SMILED
YEAH I GUESS
YET UNDERNEATH SHE SENSED
THERE WAS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT
HE WAS MORE TENSE THAN
NORMAL
SHE SAID ITS OK AND THEY
DANCED A FEW
SHE STOOD THERE AT THE
DOORWAY WATCHING THEM DANCE
SAYING YOU SLICK JERK
YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE HER
FROM ME
OH THAT IS SWIFT
BUT I WILL GET TO YOU
AND MAKE YOU WISH YOU DIDN'T DO
THAT THIS NIGHT
LATER OH YEAH LATER
SHE NOW HAD A SMILE
SO WIDE THAT IT COULDN'T BE
HIDDEN FROM HER RIM
OF HER GLASS JUST
BARELY TOUCHING HER LIPS
WHEN THE SONG WINDED
DOWN
AND SHE SAID THANKS FOR
THE DANCE
HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR OTHER
HALF
SHE HAS TO BE BUSY HE SAID
SHE SAID MAYBE
BUT I WANT TO TELL HER
SOMETHING THAT HAS
BEEN ON MY MIND ALL NIGHT LONG
HE SAID WELL OK
NO BIG DEAL
I SEE YOUR COUSIN AND BEAU
IS HAVING A GOOD TIME
I WILL GO CHAT WITH THEM
SHE SAID THANKS
SMILING MAYBE ANOTHER DANCE
LATER HE SAID CERTAINLY
SHE SAW HER CHATTING
WITH THE ONE IN THE EMERALD DRESS
SO SHE WALKED UP BEHIND HER
TAPPING HER ON THE SHOULDER
MAY I HAVE A WORD
SHE SAID OH ITS YOU YES
MY DEAR AND THE OTHER LADY
WALKED AWAY
SHE SAID WE WERE FINISHED
ANYHOW
WHAT IS IT? YOU ARE ENJOYING YOURSELF
I DO HOPE
WELL THAT IS JUST IT
I SHOULD BE MINGLING AND CHATTING
SO WITH OTHERS MAKING
FRIENDS BUT FOR SOME REASON
I JUST FEEL SO OUT CLASSED
SHE SAID OH THAT IS NOT THE CASE
BELIEVE ME THAT IS NOT THE CASE
YOU FIT IN HERE JUST FINE
JUST DON'T LET THEM SMELL THE
FEAR OF HOW YOU THINK
ITS NOT THAT HARD
REALLY ITS NOT
SHE SAID WELL IF YOU SAY SO
I THINK MY SHY MOMENTS HAVE
KICKED IN
AND ALL I CAN DO IS HANG
WITH THE FEW I KNOW
SHE SAID I SEE THAT
YOU WERE DANCING WITH MY OTHER
HALF
SHE SMILED
WELL YES I GUESS WE DID
HE JUST CAME UP TO ME
AND TUGGED ME
OVER TO THE DANCE FLOOR
I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH
CHOICE
CONTESSA SAID WELL HE AND I
HAD A SPAT A FEW SECONDS
BEFORE
SO JUST IGNORE HIM
SHE SAID OH SO THAT IS WHY
HE WAS SO TENSE
IT OOZED OFF HIM
THOUGH HE TRIED SO TO BE
DEBONAIRE ABOUT IT
CONTESSA SAID SO
SHE SENSED THE UNDER CHORDS
OF SOME MAJOR DIFFERENCES
THAT SHE HAD NOT NOTICED
BEFORE
CONTESSA SAID COME WITH ME
I HAVE SOME ART I WANT
TO SHOW YOU IN THE HALL
SHE SAID SURE
CONTESSA SAID I WANT
TO KNOW YOUR OPINION
IF YOU LIKE ANY THEN
I WILL BUY THEM AT THE END
OF THE SHOW
IN A WEEK
THEY WALKED OVER
AND OPENED THE DOORS
THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE
IN THE LONG HALLWAY
IT SEEMED TO BE ABANDONED
YET FOR THE LITTLE LIGHTS
HANGING OVER THE PICTURES
ON THE WALL
SHE SAID AS SHE TURN THE LITTLE
KNOB AND THE CLICK SOUND CAME
SHE DIDN'T NOTICE IT AT ALL
"THE ONE ON THE RIGHT DOWN
FROM THESE TWO
IS THE ONE I WANT
YOU TO LOOK AT"
SHE SAID SURE
AS SHE WALKED OVER TO THE PICTURE
SHE JUST STOOD THERE
WITH HER MOUTH OPEN
UM!!! CONTESSA!!!
SHE SAID YES IT IS ONE OF YOURS
IT IS THE ONE I LIKE THE BEST
YOU DIDN'T KNOW
BUT I BOUGHT IT A MONTH AGO
OH!
THEN CONTESSA CAME UP
BEHIND HER AND GOT CLOSER
SAYING PUT YOUR DRINK DOWN
SHE DID SO
AND TURNED TO SEE HER
FACE STARING AT HER
OH!
CONTESSA'S LIPS TOUCHED
HERS AND SHE DIDN'T MOVE
BACK BUT SHE DIDN'T GIVE
ANYTHING BACK EITHER
FOR A FEW SECONDS
THEN CONTESSA BACKED AWAY
SAYING DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG
SHE SAID NO
IT JUST STARTLED ME
WHAT ABOUT HIM
SHE SAID WHAT ABOUT HIM
HE WILL FIND HIS OWN
CONQUEST AS HE PUT IT
AND I AM MAKING SURE
ITS NOT YOU
THEN THEY SAT DOWN
ON THE BENCH
UNDER THE PICTURE
WITH THE CHAMPAGNE ON THE FLOOR
AND SHE SAID
DON'T WORRY
ITS OK
SHE SAID BUT I DIDN'T I WOULDN'T
I COULDN'T
OH THEN SHE KISSED HER
AGAIN
THIS TIME IT WAS MORE
GENTLE MORE
LIKE A MOIST PECK
THAT SHE THEN HOVERED
OVER HER HOLDING HER
HAND TO HER FACE
SAYING SHHH!
THEN THEY BOTH KISSED
SHE THEN PLACED HER HAND
ON THE OTHERS CHEST
SAYING FEEL YOUR
HEART BEAT
SHE COULD FEEL HER
HEART BEATING
FEEL HER BLOOD HOT
CAUSING HER VEINS TO THROB
THEN SHE SAID RELAX
IN THAT MOMENT
IT SEEMED TO LAST FOREVER
WHEN THEN
SHE FELT THE GENTLE
LIPS TOUCH HER
THROAT
ON HER NECK
UNDER HER EAR
AND THE BREATH
WAS WARM AND SWEET
IN THE SCENT OF ROSES
THEN THE DAZE BEGAN
THE HAZE FLOWED OVER
HER EYES
SHE COULD FEEL THE FANGS
THE HEAT
THE SALIVA
HER TOUCH
