STRIGA

“STRIGA”

BY SHEB SCHEBELLA

It swept down from the west from behind me with great speed, it was difficult to follow in the night sky but as it glided a meter just above the frozen lake, snow twirled beneath her in duplicated but, apposing swirls which tailed of like smoke streams. It was a Striga I said to me as I watched it cut and jive from North to South which is the longest distance of the lake. It finally came to an abrupt halt and settled gracefully upon the ice. I myself was struck in aw as I have not seen the likes of one of these creatures sense I left Romania and even then it was only a stone statute at that time and I had been on the wine. Tonight I am sober and only consumed with the early symptoms of insomnia and a quizzical mind. As I squinted through the cold harsh air to bring my eyes into focus I could not help but notice even in her masking silhouette she was a tattered and wretched creature. From beneath her cloak she drew a staff of sorts and with one piercing smash she had sunk it right through 10 inches of solid ice all the while letting out a curdling cackle that made the temperature feel to my already goose bumped buddy another 5 degrees less. She began to stir her staff until it burned red and the ice hissed like a bed of boxed snakes. Then as one possessed from starvation she lunged her arm shoulder deep into the icy water and just as quickly retrieving a large Northern Pike. I watched the ice form almost instantly on her ratty hair as she took her staff and skewered the fish from mouth to ass. Then with both hands as she remained squatted she twirled the staff like a spit as once again it burned red. I could smell the ungutted fish cook from the inside out and actually it didn’t smell half bad. Without notice Her face was right in mine, I could see her mad golden eyes dead into mine and her foul breath freezing on to my cheeks; and then slice! I feel the whip of her hot forked tongue stab my left eye and before I could move I could feel it go from my lower chin up past my nose and into my right eye. Oh my god I thought I have been blinded by some acid slime. Her next move will be her burning staff through the center of my chest I know this to be true and have no doubt of the conclusion of such an act. I feel a claw now upon my face I larch back and with one more attempt to gain my vision back and I am successful. Tis only my hound at 2AM, the little bastard, he needs to go out and pee and now so do I.