OBSIDIAN: Birth to Venus

2119

Jai’s eyes began to flutter, her deep sleep interrupted by the sound of Sean’s voice. “Jai! Jai!” he yelled, beckoning her further onto the dance floor. He turned to smile and his eyes met hers. They glowed green like absinthe, an intoxicating lure coaxing her deeper into the hoarded mass of moving bodies around them. As if by magic, her legs lurched forward. Her body throbbed in time with the heavy melodic chords. With a swipe of the arm, Sean pulled her close to him, his breath hot against her ear. A growling sub bass escaped from his mouth. He was tracing the tip of his nose, down and up the nape of her neck. It tickled her throat. She laughed, swaying along with the music. The melodious repetition increased in urgency, quickening to a crescendo before the thud, thud of the bass carried the melody back to its starting point. It looped and echoed, one crescendo atop another. Jai’s heart quickened. Each ripple was diluting, a garbled bastardization of the original. Soon, Jai’s temple began to throb in the cacophony, a dissonance of flats and sharps leaving a strange taste in her mouth.

Suddenly, the same woman, that handler, appeared, flaring her teeth, hissing at her. But, instead of one blind-folded woman in her grasp, she held the reins to a long line of women and men. Their eyes were burnt shut, with thick metal rings pierced through their temples. As she pulled the reins back, they flexed forward against the heavy chains, like a grotesque pack of rabid wolves. Jai turned to escape them, but Sean held on to her hand, anchoring her, towing her deeper into the fray. She focused her mind, willing him to let her loose. But, as soon as she willed her thoughts, the creatures began to howl, as if they’d read her mind and sensed her intention to escape. Though deprived of sight, they turned their noses upward. They could smell her desperation, and their mouths began to snarl. Forked tongues flicked in and out between their gnashed teeth. They strained harder to escape the chains attached to their heads. Blood oozed down their temples, like red tears painting all their faces. The more they railed against the chains, trying to attack her, the more Jai’s brain felt like it would implode. She tried to avert her gaze, but everywhere she looked, their monstrous bodies flailed and bled onto the floor. At once, the handler’s eyes turned black, her pupils widening until they became black holes. As the bass quickened to a fever pitch, Jai could feel her heartbeat pound faster and faster. Pain resonated in her mind. And, the handler parted her perfect red lips. Jai watched, amazed by the exquisite beauty of her smile, when, slowly, it began to lengthen. Her mouth opened, the corners ripping wider and wider until her face snapped in half. A manic grimace comprised the majority of her distorted face. And, with a free hand, Jai grabbed hold of her stomach. It was in knots. Jai planted her feet firmly on the ground. She tried to force herself backward, but she was immovable. The throng continued to bark and snap at her.

Jai felt Sean’s hand, still gripping hers. He was sinking deeper into the horde until, finally, he let her go. Her hand flew away. But, she couldn’t bear to run or look away from him. Flames had begun to lick his eyes. Horrified, Jai watched as his bright eyes began to fade, blacken, and turn up into his head. Mouth agape, he let loose an agonizing scream. The flames were engulfing him, burning his eyes to a puffy crisp. Jai trembled in terror. He snapped his head back, then fell forward. He looked up. He smiled. Then, opened and closed his mouth. Again and again. He was struggling to accommodate his teeth, which were growing freakishly long, like talons flying out, past his lips. Sean arched his back and leaned, to face the handler. Jai watched, terrified, as she turned to kiss him, twining her serpent’s tongue deep with his. Jai could feel her insides burn as he groveled to the woman’s knees. With a high-pitched yip, he turned to face Jai. The kindness in his face was gone, eviscerated, and a deep growl began to rise, slowly shaking, rattling his body. The wolves joined him, harmonizing, then shifting their pitch to match the disjointed music. Jai stared at Sean, or what was left of him, with tears running down her face. Her head was going to explode. She willed herself awake.