For what is fear, if fear cannot kill?

Are you scared of the dark, my child? 

Do shadows twist when you walk into a room? 

Does the howl of wolves signify your doom? 

Outside of this rickety old witch’s den, it is wild. 

The night looms over dunes of forests and sapphire hues of rivers that twist and turn like a labyrinth to nowhere at all, expect up to Heaven and over the Moon. 

Stay here within my arms young one, within these bat-caped arms. I cling ever so tightly and constrict your forever trembling heart, my little boa. The only thing to fear under my cape of crushed night is the spine-twisting images which are conjured up when you stare into its abyss and realize something’s not quite right. 

The nightingale sings inside or out of its silver-plated cage. The owls chatter, and the crows plot murder. Stay here tiny one, you smell of ozone and the rot of Hallow Eve’s pumpkins. Your tiny sighs blow a storm into my forever open eyes; they can never be shut. One must be vigilant when crickets grow hush, and the autumn leaves can no longer blush.  

You are scared of the large animal prints within darkened, mucky dirt, the snap of twigs, and the gust of Banshees calling their husbands from war. If you must know, those million twinkling stars in the dark are simply angels ready to bargain a red cherry lollipop for your soul. 

The gurgle of blood within a dying man’s throat is the work of a demon not even the devil can hold. The fairies want your teeth, and the elves want your toes, the Jinn want your birthday wishes, the gorgons want your drying skin, the Graeae want your eyes, and descending from Japan, Yokai are hidden behind your demise. 

So come inside my child, all this talking and my fangs have gone dull. Walk this way my child down the twisted corridor which connects to both left and right, but never before or after, or past or present, only day and night. Open your door and enter inside. Two one eyed ravens beg for you to leave Nevermore from the door and have a very good night.  

Goodnight my child, your skin now-striped black and white by moonlight. Goodnight, my child, and forever there will be a very good night.