The Stranger in The Night
Mood:  chillin'
“I awoke to a noise in the street. I looked out of my window to see a woman staring up at the sky. What the hell? It is two in the morning and there she is. My God she was beautiful. Her long silky black hair and thin see through negligee, my god, was she sexy. You could see her beautiful body underneath. The thing was sheer and I know it is cold outside. I got up and put some clothes on and walked to my front door. Opening it quietly I noticed she had turned around. The whole right side of her body was visible now. She was covered in blood. I quickly walked across the street to see if she was okay.

She hadn't even realized I was standing there. "Are you okay?" She didn't even acknowledge me. I gently touched her shoulder, "Excuse me, Miss, what are you doing out here, you are covered in blood?" She finally looked at me and stared.

"Who are you?" Her voice was like a Celtic melody. She slowly moved around to find herself in the street. You could tell that she was confused. "How did I get out here?" She looked at me confused and I gave her my hand.

When she reached for it, "I really don't know. You woke me up and I saw you standing here. I came across the street when I saw all this blood on you."

"What blood?" Looking down at herself, she noticed the blood and said, "This isn't blood, I am an artist, this is paint.'' I smiled with relief. “The last thing I remember is working on this mural in my house and….. I cannot understand how I got here.”

"Don't you think we should go inside? It is really cold out here and we are in pajamas. Which one is your house?" Taking my hand she said her house was two blocks away. "Why on earth would you walk two blocks from your house dressed like this? You could get really sick."

So, we walked to my house and I offered a cup of coffee. Sitting down in front of my fireplace, "Would you like some warm clothes? I mean I know I may be a stranger but I can take you home in the morning if you would like. It would be no trouble."

"Um, I still do not know how I got here." She became quiet and stared into the fire. I noticed she had deep blue eyes and her hair was pitch black and sleek. She looked like a sexy super model. I could not take my eyes off this beautiful woman in my house. She looked up at me and said, "I do not mean to be a bother and I am sorry that I woke you up. But thank you for your concern. No one has been this kind to me before." How can someone be cruel to this woman?

“Have you figured out how you got two blocks from your house now that you are some what warmer?” I waited patiently for her to answer. She still looked somewhat dazed. I placed my hand on her shoulder and launch out of the lounger she sat in like I was trying to rape her or something. “Shit! What the hell is wrong with you? I wasn’t trying to hurt, ma’am. Look I will stay over here and you can sit back down in front of my fireplace. I am going to find you some clothes, okay?” When she hadn’t moved I slowly got up and went to my room to find some warmer clothes.

About 20 minutes later I came back to find her staring out my window at the now visibly full moon. She took my breath away. I did not want to disturb her but she was shivering. I walked up to her, “I’m sorry but I do not know your name. Oh and here are the warm clothes.”

When she turned around she had tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what is wrong with me. I just cannot stop crying. I don’t mean to be a burden to you at all.” Sobbing, she sat down and tried to calm down. I handed her the clothes and she began to put them on. “My name is Alianna La Fay and I am sorry to awaken you so late. You did not have to assist me out of the trance I was in. I eventually go home.”

“What do you mean, eventually? This has happened before? Why do you not seek help?”

“I have and no one has been able to help me yet. I even tried a hypnotist. Nothing is working. You name it, I have done it.” She stopped and looked at me for a moment then asked, “What is your name?”

“My name is Chalcedony Mandrake and you are not a burden. I might have something for you though. And do not worry about the clothes, they belong to an ex.” I got up from my chair and went into my herb room. I opened several cupboards before I found what I was looking for. I headed back to my living room when the doorbell rang. “Who in the hell would be here this early in the damn morning?” I walked passed my living room to see that Alianna was still there. She had not even acknowledged the door bell. I opened my door to find my sister, Amy Mulane, standing outside my door. “Amy, what is the matter? Why on earth are you here so early and what the hell happened to your face?” I opened the door for her to come inside.

“Chalce, I just need a remedy for my face, please. I have an important meeting this morning and I cannot have them see me like this. It would not be proper. I will deal with how I got like this when I get home.” She looked at me with furious eyes and I knew she was not mad at me. I did as she asked and she left.

I went back into the living room to find Alianna where I left her. She looked up as I came in and I noticed she had been crying again. “Are you going to be okay? I have to get ready to go open my shop; I can give you a lift before I head to the shop.” She smiled and looked up at me.

As she stood up to leave she looked straight at me, “I won’t need a ride, I will walk from here and I appreciate your help. I promise I will be fine. Thank you.”

“Well, um, my shop is the Herbal Remedies in town. If you should need anything, I can generally be found there. Come see me sometime.” As she was heading for the door, I realized I still had the tea in my hand, “Alianna, wait. I went into my kitchen to grab this for you. You take as tea and it should help you sleep and stop the trances.” I handed her the bottle and she took it.

“How much do I use of this stuff?”

“A teaspoon per cup, no more than 3 cups a night.”

“How much do I owe you, for this?”

“Don’t worry about it, I can always make more and it is not the only bottle I have. The stuff can be addicting if you do not use moderation. Don’t drink, do drugs or take sexual enhancers while before doing it. Not a very good mix.”

“Thank you again, I need to get home. Good day, Chalcedony Mandrake.”

And with that, she was gone.

I didn’t see her again for about a week and this time she was walking into my shop. Since, I had no customers for the moment and I banged my leg pretty badly earlier, I stayed behind my counter blessing candles. I watched her walk in and move from shelf to shelf investigating my inventory. She sincerely looked curious as to what I had in my shop. “Alianna, are you looking for something in particular, or just curious?” She turned to looked at me and smiled.

Walking over to my counter she said, “I cannot believe there are people as nice as you were to me the other night. Why were so nice to me?” Smiling she leaned over the counter and waited for my answer.

At this point I finally realized she was carrying a bag, “I am nice because I can be and what is that in your hand?” Tried to look innocent but more than likely didn’t; knowing myself.

“It is something for you. I thought you might like it. You know, as gratitude for kindness. If you know what I mean?” She handed me the bag and I looked in, smiling I pulled the clothes out I gave her to wear home.

“You could have kept these. They are not mine and I cannot wear them.”

“They are not my style. I like straight lines and one color.” I smiled and knew what she meant. My ex had an interesting style in clothes. She dressed as if she were from Hawaii. This woman was more my taste. Alianna had a beautiful smile and long hair. She was petite and dressed casually, not loud, not like Kristina. Kristina was loud with her clothes and her personality. Everyone knew her and if they didn’t they were going to. “So, why did you decide to bring me the clothes back? You could have thrown them out.”

“I felt bad for waking you up that night. So, I decided I would bring back the clothes; washed, of course. I also wanted to see your shop considering your herbal remedy worked like a charm. I haven’t slept so well in months, I thank you.” She smiled and I looked her in the eyes, almost got lost in them. Those eyes are so hypnotic. “Besides, I found you rather interesting. You seem to be more my type than most of the women I am with unless, you are uninterested in that sort of thing.”

I looked at her without showing any interest in her.