Copyright (c) 1988 Ashtoreth (William Haas)
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      I'm sitting in one of the larger vestibules of Aster Hall. I come here
when things bother me, because there's no one here. Something happened to the
place Aster Hall is, and there's nothing alive. Just dead trees, and lots
of rain. I can hear the rain pounding on the roof now. It's nice and dark in
here, except for a single candle flame. I can get away from what's hurting
me here. No, wait, that's not really true; but I can confront it on my own
terms here.
      I like the dark, and solitude. Everyone else favored the light and the
company of others, so naturally I took comfort in darkness and isolation.
People hurt me. People have always hurt me. I don't suppose they knew it at
first, but once they realized, their zeal had to be seen to be believed. It's
as if men exist to destroy, to torment. They can't even live with their own
kind. I could have forgiven them everything but that, I suppose.  I turned
away from others, preferring my own company. I think that's how it was, though
it's possible that I wanted their companionship, but knew I'd have to live
without it.
      The rain is a mouth with no mind that keeps me company with its chat-
tering. I suppose I do need some sort of company, but it wasn't that of other
men that I needed. They scared me, because they'd never taken the time to
understand me or to give me a chance to grow accustomed to them. I liked cats,
though. The people of the dark, they were. I've never been afraid of cats,
though I fear most other creatures. I think because most other creatures
serve men, while cats do not.
      Light serves man as well. Light tears great holes in the night, to
reveal those like me who just want to be let alone. I don't hate the light
itself. The sun has felt fine on my face, when I was certain I was alone; but
men crawl across the surface of the world in the light, like insects, like a
plague. I associate light with men, and so I don't feel quite at ease when
things are brightly lit. I may even get a little sick.
      All I wanted was dark, and quiet.  Was that too much to want?  What of
the price?  They'd hurt me for so long...what I did didn't hurt them. As far
as I know. They ruined the world for me, as someone would ruin your evening.
So I abandoned them, as you might have.  They cheated the world, bound it,
while I did not; so I sent them away from it. Never mind how. I'm not going to
tell you. I didn't feel they were entitled to be here.
      I cannot claim the whole world. Others belong here; they will find their
way back. Only those who are used to travelling secret or dark ways can, those
who were driven to them, and I will greet them with the smile I've never worn.
In the meantime, I am not fully alone...there are cats here.