Night Shadows by Greg Herren (ed) & J. M. Redmann (ed)

Author:Greg Herren (ed) & J. M. Redmann (ed) [Herren, Greg & Redmann, J. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: anthology, fantasy, gay, horror
ISBN: 9781602828025
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2012-10-01T07:00:00+00:00

*

Effie and Gilda walked northward toward home slowly, enjoying the sporadic lights of lower Broadway and the people who moved around them. As they got closer to Chelsea, Gilda felt her muscles tense, anticipating the danger awaiting her. She saw that Effie, too, was listening with her body.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known such fear. Not since I escaped the plantation as a child,” Gilda said almost in a whisper.

“Yes. There is something about being hunted silently that never leaves the blood.”

“I can’t deliberately kill him. I made the choice to let go of my mortality, but not humanity.”

“I understand that, Gilda. But you need to understand Samuel has given away his humanity.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Then why did you rush home in terror?”

Gilda’s hand went automatically to her throat, but she could not answer Effie. She did still feel him clawing at her and could, if she let herself, still sense his murderous lust pouring through his hands into her as he tried to rip her life from her. Yet Gilda clung to the possibility of his goodness as desperately as he’d gripped her throat.

“He let go finally, and so must you,” Effie said, expressing no regret for listening to Gilda’s thoughts. The remaining blocks to their home were traversed in silence, neither Effie nor Gilda speaking or thinking.

The glow of their windows was a lighthouse, guiding them to a comfortable berth after turbulent emotions, many still unspoken. Once inside they shed their clothes and with it the scent of fear. They both listened to the building as always, assuring themselves that each of the tenants was safe. The apartments were wrapped in sleep except Marci’s, where the stereo still played softly over the energy of desire.

“He must be in love!” Gilda said with laughter.

“This is news.” Effie unlocked the door to the sleeping room and pulled the comforter back. The soft sheen of the black satin sheet that covered their pallets was inviting in the light of the candle Effie lit.

“He was wearing that yellow blouse that looks so beautiful on his skin when I saw him earlier this evening.” Gilda followed her. “And grinning like a Mardi Gras mask.”

“That sounds like love,” Effie said and reached out to pull Gilda down to her.

“Your affection for Eleanor, your feelings of guilt for not staying with her, have made Samuel a cause you cannot win. I don’t want to leave here worried that you’ll end your life in a foolish battle with him.”

Gilda stiffened in Effie’s arms, but Effie held on to her. The truth of the moment raced between them like an electrical current. Gilda had known even without the words. Sorel and Anthony spent most of their days and nights together. But often they separated for months and sometimes years. Bird, who’d helped bring her into this life, who’d known her even before they did, had traveled unceasingly, stopping only occasionally to look into the face of her daughter, Gilda. Each of them had told her this was their way to maintain the sense of anticipation and wonder at life.

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