I am the beast in a white dress.   I come to my prey in a shimmering glitter, promise him his wildest dreams.   I make him writhe and moan in ecstasy.   I entwine around him like living vines, weaving through every aspect of his life, until I am all he sees, all he wants, all he thinks about.  

I smile my charming smile that hides the ugly truth, drawing him so deep he can never break free.   Then- when he trusts in me completely, then I strike.   First I tie him down, playing sexy dominatrix, and then, when he lies there, vulnerable, I show my true self.  

My shining nails become vicious claws, my charming smile becomes razor sharp, my skin hardens into cold, black scales.   My blue eyes become red, with pupils like slits, and my tongue tastes my victim like a snake.   I lean over him, taking pleasure in the anticipation.   Then I begin.   I start by flaying him open with a Y-incision, like I am performing an autopsy, exposing the organs beneath.   I begin to eat him alive, careful not to puncture anything vital, to keep him alive, because I do enjoy the screams.   I do this for hours, savoring every bite, every last drop of sweet and sour blood.  

Then, finally, I am done, and all that is left of him is a pile of scattered bones handcuffed to the bed frame.   Completely satisfied, I resume my disguise, wiping traces of gore from my pristine white dress.   Then I get on his computer, and access his bank accounts, for which he has conveniently given me all the passwords, and proceed to drain all his money into my own account.   Then, just as calmly as I came, I leave and go on to find my next oh-so-willing victim.

The plastic saxophone covered with Sesame Street characters... Real

The small switch set on "off" while the saxophone came to life whenever it felt like... Not Real

The light fixture in my bedroom... Real

The attached ceiling fan... Real

The first night the fan didn't switch on with the light...Not Real

When the fan whirred to life with impeccable timing as the sax began playing its happy tune... Not Real

When my 3 year old son would happily babble from the bathtub to "The Lady"... Not Real

When he giggled in the kitchen at The Lady's scary face...Not Real

When he told me that she stood "behind you, Momma!" ...Not Real

The chill I got when he spoke to her... Not Real

The small vial labeled "Holy Water," $8.99 at the Christian bookstore... Not Real, probably tap water.

The online article about casting ghosts away... Not Real.  Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true.

Sadie,  a sweet friend who agreed to "drive away the ghost" with me, though she was just indulging me... Real

Holding hands, anointing the first entrypoint with holy water, while my son held uncharacteristically still on the couch... Real

My voice, beginning the 23 Psalm, "The Lord is My Shepherd..."  Real

My child's voice, deeper than usual... Real

My child's voice, interrupting the prayer, "The Lady says GRRRRRR!"...  Not Real

The fear in Sadie's eyes as she urged me to "Pray faster!"...Real

My son never mentioned the Lady again...Real