There is a storm coming, but somehow its inside the house
The Ghost-angel ascends the stair case
as she has so many times before
In the silence of vapid Darkness, shadows race across the walls
She stops on the stair, suddenly somehow confused
The door at the top of the stair opens of its own volition
She resumes her ascension
She cries, trying to sob silently
So as not to give herself away
Inside the room at the top of the stair green fire dances in the place for fire
and violins are plying somewhere
The mote angels drift about the room, refusing to dance
They cast no shadows
But shadows still cavort across the walls
She says in a whisper
‘Is there any power that can make all these demons be gone?’
Something is wrestling with the grill work on the window
Something long and sinuous
Something strong. . .
The metal work gives way in a metallic shriek
followed by silence
A breeze explores the room
she stands silhouetted by the dancing flames
A dragon of silver and crimson hesitates at the door
The mote angels and walls shadows pull away
hiding in the corners
He finds her, wounded . . .
‘My Lady, are you Injured . . . ‘
She turns toward the fire without speaking
He kneels at the threshold
Not wishing to hurt her more
‘I have searched the Far Places, seeking . . . you.’
and he calls her name softly
Her name a beauty in this dark place
He holds out his fore-claw
An offer. . .
Her blackened wing stubs, thrashing . . .
Only dragon fire can sear the wings of an angel
She sobs and casts him back into the night
He wants to tell her that he is not the dragon that hurt her
But maybe she’s right . . .
Maybe all dragons are bad
He turns . . . to depart
She says, ‘Are you a monster?
What creature are you?’
He considers, ‘How can I answer true . . .
Can I . . . can this thing called I
Ever completely know itself?
Gentle one, I am no one, Nothing . . .
A molecule . . .
A moment . . .
A wave gathered from the energies of the Sea
Crashing even as it’s reforming.’
Pain and fear in her voice
she says, ‘What is your name?’
‘I have been called a many things
Elder . . .
The Archon of Light and Darkness
Life-Force Dragon
A Star-Fire Dancer who’s very touch rips the fabric of Space/Time
But these are merely titles
Words . . .
Black stains on paper
Vibrations in the air
That are whipped into the Abyss
Pointless exercises in vanity’
Silence
‘But if you wish it I will depart
I have no wish to trouble any creature
Not even those who have sought my blood
Not even those who sought my tears
I have no wish to trouble you or yours’
She sobs
Her frail body wracked with heaving regrets
It is more than the dragon can bear
Blood red fire tears gather
In the crinkles of his lid-less eyes
‘Gentle one
I would change this were it in my power
I would put my hand against the sky and turn the clouds back
I would commit the blasphemy of dancing the dance that bends Time/Space
I would walk the maelstrom that separates Past from Future
These violations and more would I do willingly . . .
Gentle one
I can not take your hurt away . . .’
St. Elmo’s Fire courses the cracks in his armor
The chinking between his scales
Energies fluxes across and around his towering form
His wings unfurl to the fullest extent of the ceiling and walls
Fire blood runs the veins of the membranes
Suddenly he folds into himself
His wings all but invisible
His eyes twin sapphire lasers
His eye cast down . . .
‘Oh
Gentle one
I have failed you . . .
You should have selected a guardian angel’
She is shaking her head no
She would touch him but is afraid
He places his mussel on the floor
All the other creatures have gone
There is only the Angel
the Dragon
and the green fire
She gently places her hand on his jaw and whispers
‘Stay here with me
And we will see what tomorrow brings’
