The Seduction

Her face appeared every time he closed his eyes. A beautiful face, though he could not make out any of her features. He knew he had studied them carefully, and yet the memory was vague. If only he could remember the shape of her face, perhaps he could drive her from his mind. He decided to take a shower.

The hot water relaxed his body and he breathed in the steam like warm breath. He suddsed up a washcloth and tried to wash, tried to get clean. He knew he had to go see Carrie tonight, he told himself he was cleaning up for her. He tried to think about her face, but it was so clear. He turned off the water and dried up. He put on a suit.

Calmly, he closed the door of his car but he failed to accelerate as slowly. He suddenly was speeding down the highway, out of the city and towards the forests just beyond the last few straggling houses. The red and golden leaves shuddered as he entered, and suddenly he began to feel her again. This was her home, she ruled here he felt deep in his being. The chills returned, across his entire body he felt as if the circulation had been cut off and was just now coming back all at once. He could hardly focus on the road.

Her face was still vague. Carrie would have been waiting about an hour now.

He pulled the car off the main road and onto a hidden but well-worn trail. The wind caressed his face and wrapped around his neck, drawing him along the path. Yet, it almost was an unnecessary caution, for his feet while unfamiliar on the path quite easily found their way. The sun had set nearly three hours before, but he easily avoided the fallen branches blocking his progress. He walked until Carrie had certainly given up waiting for him, he walked until she had most certainly cried herself to sleep. He began to wonder how far this path would take him before he got there.

Just a little farther.
I should turn back. She was waiting.
You’re almost here, it’s too late now.

He walked for much more than a few steps and saw dark walls at the top of a hill. He felt excited. He had been searching for this. His heart began to pound in his chest and he breath trembled as it came from his mouth. He slowly, carefully, gently, approached the walls without a ceiling to hold them together. They seemed so delicate, though so strong…as if a wind could knock them over, and yet they would stand strong through the torments of a hurricane.
Her face tempted clarity.

Come come. Enter my home, cherished one.
He hesitated outside the door, fearful of entering. A strange smell inside.
What do you fear? The smell was worse when you first met me.
Her hand brushed against his neck and gently moved down his shoulder to his arm, she stroked it as she had the day he first felt her. He had longed for months to discover her.
You must only open the door to know me. You were made to seek out mysteries, come and know mine.
He put his hand to the door and turned the knob, but did not open it. The smells of fragrant perfume came and overpowered his mind, all reason removed by the deep and lovely aromas. He stood, breathing them in, filling his lungs with them.
There is so much more for you, open the door, I am waiting.
Still, he did not open the door.
I will not wait forever.
She was angry with him, his hesitations had angered her, she knew his hesitation. He could not live with her angry. He quickly stepped in.

Bright lights blinded him and all around him moaning and screaming deafened his ears. Yet for being blind he saw first the girls, scarcely dressed in gold with ornaments to adorn their flaming hair. They moved with men, chained to the walls – moaning and screaming to be let out. The old men had given up screaming a long time ago and had learned to enjoy being here. The young men also moved strongly, almost unaware of the chains, seemed enraptured. The other men did all they could to avoid the girls, to try to escape. They screamed to be let alone, cried out for mercy, and yet the onslaught continued, the girls driven by a maddening fear. The men bound to never escape.

And then she entered, and roused them all and they stood before her. He tried to look at her face, he knew she had come for him but how much grander she was here than in life. Her light was radiating, and covered all the place with a blinding light so all he could see was her. He still could not fully see her face.

Stay here with me, beloved? How I have longed and desired for you to be here with me.
Who are you?
The one who loves you. Stay with me? Caress me?
He meant to think about the men in chains, he meant to turn away and run away, but the men seemed like a dream. He extended his hand slowly and touched her pale, white hand. Suddenly he felt pain in his side and looked in time to see an arrow pierce him and disappear. She grabbed his arm and shackled him and placed one of her priestesses before him.
Worship our goddess with me. Look in my eyes and love me, and our love with each other will glorify our mother. This is the first mystery.
He looked at her and loved her and the girl consumed him.
The lighted-she left the room as suddenly as she had arrived, a bit stronger now for his worship, while all around they cried.
Hail, Aphrodite.