How to Seduce a Girl

Watching from the shadows,
Two dark eyes gaze with predatory accuracy.
From behind a silken mask,
His lips twitch into a smile, and his brows arch.
His heavy cape falls around him like two wild wings,
And his hand unfurls, beckoning majestically to the pale maiden.
Her eyes grow wide as he emerges from the darkness,
And she draws back uncertainly,
Her long gown falling over her shoulders as she moves.
The apple that is pressed against her palm falls to the ground,
And rolls to his feet.
He lifts it from the polished wood,
And takes a bite, watching
As the maiden blinks, feels him, hears him,
Her young body growing tense,
With the sound of his teeth on the crimson flesh.
The apple is in his hand again,
And his other is once more drawing her close.
Her eyes are fixed upon the scarlet sphere,
Her porcelain cheeks flushing as she realizes
That she is nearly an arm's length from him.
He bridges the gap, offering the devil's fruit,
And waiting for her to accept his challenge.
She closes her eyes and draws away,
Her heart thundering unmercifully in her chest.
Her footsteps echo softly as she moves a few paces from him,
Her long curls spilling over her small shoulders,
And her hands tightly bound together.
She trembles, though she is not afraid.
Her feelings are muddled into a burning,
Overtaking her heart.
She seats herself at his table,
And takes from it a goblet of pure spun gold.
She leans for the water flask,
But the man's hand catches her own and lowers it.
He reaches instead for the wine.
Spilling like blood into her glass,
The drink is slowly tapered.
The man moves like a spider,
His hands poised gracefully,
As he guides the golden cup to the maiden's lips.
She looks on in awe at the dark figure,
Her soul racing and burning with a new fire.
She does not trust him, but she does not trust herself either.
Drawing her head back, she takes a sip,
And feels the first intoxicating rush of man's cheapest poison.
-Lauren Hatch