New London Masquerade

circles—slow-danc

own—ever watchful of her wrappings to ma

sheathed from their gums. His eyes burned to black as he began to

r cheek. He brushed back a bang of her w

kily—choking up

en hers—ever sin

ost wished he we

he was greedy an

ntion—but he knew

anyway—for he lo

ad, of course, but

... Do you remember when ... When we w

decided to stick

v—I'm talking about

Dev in ages—since they were kids—before the

then--Sadie. I try

was another life,

y I block it out.

ld go back--edit th

don't torture you

. I just get sorry

s the last thing in t

stay with me just b

could you have such d

s is all. I'm a woman

ur heart hun. I don'

rotting frame—in for a burning need to touch her soul despite her husk. She had early on dispensed with all hesitation over his carnivorous cavorti

t him borrow the studio keys for the evening. His paintings hung all a

er coffin, praying to reign in her imagination—and not let it wander to what Devin was doing in the wee hours far away from her. She tried to stay attractive as possible—given the sub-human tools with which she had to wo

ion—relief washed over her--as her doubts dimmed in the shadow of his presence. She would hold on to every shred of

ity of his misadventures out in the streets of New London—for rather t

way that makes you ache with passion—where you give over to your mamm

was partaking in a purer honesty. That final spark that differentiates rock from fire was something that he had never consciously given up on fin

ever since he had been there for her, watching as she climbed the ladder of business to become a gym diva mogul—offering olympic level fitness programs to powerful customers. She had be

the glass and yanked Sadie out was superhuman. How she had scissored her legs to speed them both up out of the water

avin's hidden, malevolent direction--for what they had each picked out

anyway—or if he was just a victim to the visions as a result of his deep depression. But then later—when he knew for sure that Sadie did indeed still exist in spirit—he ha

uly needed him—while he desperately needed Barb—and if the three of th

n Barb's office

rom around her

ced him back against the wall and took

n her off and make her afraid now fed her every mounting confidence—almost to a fault, where she was engaging in ev

k—but then the shy side from his youth summoned old feelings and he f

arb, for she did not seem the type to take it cleanly. He may well be the Wulf of olden day l

e country—but came into the city during sleeping hours, to mesmerize the men—mixing up mis

common for people to cross their hearts—rathe

than just crushing lips—Devin got to thinking about the Wyldes mor

lse, isn't there?

could not talk. Hi

." he began—lips sli

I don't really care,

s—nobody can replac

cryptic reply I must

ine ... You want to k

tly—a slight smile c

is somebody else. I

believe that he had

freedom overcame him

s by the second, but

truly felt: "She is

that I don't?" Barb

that at all. I love

ew clarity—Barb wip

ear about her agai

ain until it became of such urgent import that

t Barb seemed to embrace it. Sometimes he thought she was just waiting for the right moment to take her revenge on him—

ng year—signing their license down at City Hal

die less, but still o

d less—getting tired of waiting around for him to come back, knowing he

a surprise visit—despite the looming spectre of a full moon coming on—and his tracker's vibe

then—and he heard the

ly—but he found nobody in the hall—saw nothin

e cool summer night a

ways remained a blur—like after a night of six-fisted drinking. Still, prior to going out, the onset of a distant tsunami of adrenaline racing his way was impossible to mistake—and he usually found himself drowning in the lure. He would take one step outdoors—and

ones--passing the giant statue of Sadie—mounting up to the entrance which she usually left shut but unbarred. This time, however, he found tha

burning, but he did not see her anywhere. H

ing the yards, when he came upon a

hen unfolded