Do not zoom in. You will lose yourself.
We all looked up in unison, her awareness speaking to us before she even appeared from the shadows. Insyria stood at the top of the landing, looking down at us over the narrow staircase. It was covered in plush, velvet carpeting and widened toward the bottom, giving all of us a perfect view of her elegance.
Sun rays filtered in through the stained glass window behind her, basking her in a crimson glow that was somehow too dark to be sunlight. She fitted perfectly into a long, red dress, which tightly hugged her petite, yet curvy frame. No longer mere adornment, it was a part of her. It flowed around her, clinging to her skin like a forlorn lover.
Her eyes were unblinking. They saw everything, observed every part of us. The air grew heavy, her mere presence stifling my senses. I couldn’t speak. I gasped to prove that I still could. She looked upon us, slowly, giving each of us direct eye contact. When her gaze fell upon me, my consciousness collapsed into a void I have yet to return from. I was no longer in my body, traveling through space-time at the speed of light. Through all of this, I could still feel her eyes peering into me.
When she looked away, I experienced the worst feeling of despair imaginable, like I no longer existed. Tears fell from my eyes. A part of me left with her when she broke eye contact. She only looked at me for two seconds, but I felt a lifetime of emotions, as if I had known her forever.
She raised an arm out in front of her, beckoning us. Her slender fingers were adorned with exquisite gems that shimmered in the crimson sunlight.
“Welcome, my guests. I’m happy you all could be here.”
Her lips were exquisite. As they parted, I caught a glimpse of her fangs, sharp and waiting.
“Welcome to the beginning of your lives.”
Jay Owens 