Hex by psto1464

Hex

by psto1464

through winding streets

forged from pounding hooves

and a thousand steps of human workers

laid home scattered sparsely

in this old mining town

in the darkness only the solitary

flickering of old wax candles

let you know life was still breathing

on the cold dark night

this didn't stop the few children

that the homes held dear

tonight was the night

all hallows eve

it was the time

for candy and costumes

normal fears were forgotten

as each boy become a monster

each girl become a ghoul

parents let out their children out

into the dark

beckoning off evil with

an unwanted kiss to the forehead

Hex watched this all unfold

with a detached eye

demons rarely hold

such a nurturing bonds

if they did

surly they would not be a fool

to send them out alone on such a night

Hex reached out to the sky

with black feathered wings

the size of a man

but with the flesh of a raven

if those children kicking up dirt with their heels

had look up from their thoughts of candy

chills of horror would have tingled down their spine

Hex bared the head of the raven

but with not a lick of feathers

what held his glowing eye was the skull of the bird

gleaming white and foreshadowing

the events to come

from the still night

Hex silently watched

the children as they scampered

from house to house

it was a small group of five

Hex noticed as he soared

four older, one younger

the smallest was forced along

and ignored

dressed as a raven

at least that is was what Hex

had suspected

the small child had black feathers

attached to his arms

and crudely made

unlike the others

whose costumes look

new

store bought and paid for

Hex assumed

yes, though a demon

Hex knew much about the human world

more because of it

if the truth would be told

he watched on

as his kind were prone to do

every year he came here

at this time to observe

a thousand years back

he thought it was adults he would

come to loath and ignore

but it was the children

whose wrath was stunning

to watch and impossible to let go

Hex flew silently

he circled

he watched

on all hollows eve

it was not just candy and costumes

it was cruelty and laughter

on the twisted dirt streets between the houses of

Mrs. Worthwork and Mr. Feeth

was a large gap

filled with old trees

on any other night

it would have been ignore

tonight was different

tonight the trees bark was

twisted and disfigured

each tree held the face of old witches

each branch was a hand

bony and old reaching out

to grab your foot, your jacket

or as you could hear the older kids sneer

your very soul

they pulled and dragged

the poor would be raven boy

taking his candy and tying his arms

to low riding branches

the child howled and cried

as they starting to pluck his feathers

saying how they were going to leave him there

for the night

Hex was not one to interfere

in humans tainted hearts

but something struck a cord with him

was it a calling of a boy

who loved black birds

or the petty act of the older boys

that something called

let's show them true fear

a dark shadow in a dark night

on speeds beyond human sight

swooped in Hex

a predator in flight

with each foot held one child

his claws piercing their shoulders

as they shuddered

and screamed

higher and higher

he climbed in the sky

before falling, falling to the ground

tossing them recklessly

they hit the earth below

their screams now silent

as they passed out in excretions

the other two boys ran away

easily leaving behind

those they had been so friendly with before

not surprise or deterred

Hex gave chase

catching easily

but letting them go

but not without a souvenir

he dug and he scrapped

a matching pair of bird claws

down each boys back

Leaving them in their blood and pain

Hex went back to the little bird

tied to the tree

the boy did not holler

he did not fear

the boy

looked up with gleaming eyes

filled with wonder and awe

Hex bent down

with his sharp beck

broke the ties

that bond the boy to the tree

not expecting much

Hex had done was for himself

he turned to leave

the boy reached out

stopping him

with a touch to his wing

the boy held out a large candy

he must have pulled from his dropped bag

“thank you” said the bird boy

taking the candy

with more gentleness then you'd think

a demon could muster

he nodded

and shut upwards to continue his flight

thinking

maybe, just maybe

he would come back here

next year