Dark Reflection

...and the Demon spoke, its voice deep and mellow like smooth satiny chocolate, "There is more, much more than good and evil," the words thunderously whispered. The verdant emerald green of the forest quivering at the sound, drawing in upon itself, hiding, fearful. Cowing multi hued flowers peeked cautiously through tangled undergrowth in the dappled moonlight filtering through the leafy canopy. No sound could be heard, no cricket chirping, no toad croaking, no Nightingale singing its mellifluous songs of sorrow in the night sky. The beast stepped deeper into the crescent of the secret hollow. Turning its head in a fluid, yet, some how awkward and disjointed manor it slid on to a large stone, gently caressing it, as if it were an old and trusted friend. As it lowed its massive frame onto the center of the boulder, lines of concentration furrowed its ancient brow. "What of justice?" the creature spoke. "The death of one man for killing another?" its words slow and deliberate, scaly calloused hand gently stroking the gray green rock. "A woman stoned for speaking truth to a man? What of the man?" It looked up and gazed into the forest, eyes of ebony, like black holes sucking in the light, swallowing the essence of all it gazed upon. The forest withdrew from its lifeless gaze. "Good or Evil," unasked, its whisper menacing. It sat thinking in troubled concentration. Statuesque, it remained motionless atop its massive granite pedestal. Reflections from chips of mica in the stone cast silvery highlights along the edges of the crimson scales on the demons thigh, and small patches of green and purple moss bunched along the outer part of its calves. "What of passion?" the words slowly hissed from its lipless mouth. "The joining of a man and a woman in sweet, gentle desire?" Long spike like toenails scratched the surface of the stone and it seemed to move beneath it. The corners of its mouth stretched into a grotesque and hideous smile, sharp uneven teeth shining dully. The stillness of the air weighed down upon the giant, wrapping it in a breathless embrace. "A woman for a woman, a man for a man?" Long outstretched fingers mingled as its hands clasp in a knotted entanglement of skin and bone. Its smile now gone, its frown hung heavy on its face. "Good or Evil," again, no question in its tone. Sliding from the rock the Demon stood, long legs stretched beneath it casting shadows on the stone, gnarled hand tenderly caressing it. Its thoughts interrupted, it cast its gaze to the sky in the east set aglow with flames of the impending arrival of the life giving orb. Sensing the strengthening will of the forest it knew the time was short. "And what of love?" it asked. Looking around, it glanced at the stone as if waiting for an answer. Long moments passed, no reply. The Demon sighed heavily. Leaves on the awakening morning glory, whose brilliant purple petals with deep bleeding red hearts, stretching in the dew of early dawn, withered and died in its breath. Again it felt the stillness, the stillness that followed it, nothingness, alone. "The love of friends? The love of child and mother?" "The love of two?" he softly questioned. "Love lost?" Head hung low no tear wet his demon eye. He could not cry. With one final sad glance at the stone he straightened his strong muscular body and slowly disappeared into the forest, the trees and shrubs opening a path before him. The only sign of his passing, the echoing whisper, "Good or Evil." 08/19/15