NYPD Detective Artie Banks entered the apartment at 4:25AM, flashing his badge.  The police had responded to a “shots fired and woman screaming” call and Detective Banks was called in by the officers on the scene.

The young woman stood in the bedroom, in her dressing gown.  Blood was all over the bed, and the smell of gunpowder still permeated the air.  One of the responding officers showed the gun to the detective, already bagged and tagged. 

“What’s going on?” Detective Banks asked.

“Well, she killed him; one shot to the head.”

“Her name?” Banks asked.

“Says she’s Lilly Bronstein.  She lives here alone, well, except for him,” the officer said, pointing to the bloody mess on the bed.  “She lives alone now!”

Detective Banks looked at the girl.  She was crying, shivering and was covered in blood. “What’s the story?” Banks looked quizzically at the officer.

“You better ask her. This is one for the books!” said the officer.

Banks approached the woman.  He led her gently out of the bedroom, had her sit down on the sofa and after a bit she seemed to respond, but she was still shivering.  He went into the bedroom and got a blanket he found in the closet and brought it out and wrapped it around her shoulders.  “Can you tell me what happened, miss?” He still had no idea what was going on.

She sucked in air, shivered and blurted out, “He was licking me and singing “In Your Wildest Dreams” to me!”

Earlier the day before, Lilly Bronstein had decided that tonight’s full moon was the night that she would do her love spell.  She had spent more than enough time alone, and she was desperate enough to try anything.  After all, she was 28 and not getting any younger.  She had worked on it all month and now she was ready.

Lilly had been practicing her craft and magic for the past 5 years.  In her neighborhood, it had given her a sense of security.  Upper Manhattan wasn’t exactly the safest place in New York, but it wasn’t bad either.  She had used her practice to protect herself and her home.  And after that shooting around the corner five years ago, she had gotten T-Rex, a large German shepherd.  Robberies, rape, muggings; she felt the dog was a good idea.   Her apartment building permitted pets, and the dog had given her security and companionship; he made it easier to feel secure and protected when living alone. 

She had a good job downtown Manhattan, paid her bills, even allowed her to travel a bit.  But men… they were the illusive part of her perfect dream.  Oh, she had a couple of boyfriends over the past years.  But they never stayed around long.  Oh, there was Bob, from down the hall.  They had dated a few times, but he never seemed to be the one to call; it was always Lilly who did the knocking on the door, and she felt like he went out with her just because he had nothing better to do.

Arriving home that evening, the sky was clear and it was going to be a perfect evening for a spell working under the full moon.  Lilly had decided to put the whole spell together in the apartment and then go up on the roof and work the magical sending under the moon. 

She greeted T-Rex with a smile.  He was a good dog, loyal, strong, and protective.  He didn’t bark much at all, a very quiet dog, but he did greet her at the door and rub against her hand for petting.  His whole world revolved around her, unlike some men she had known.   She put down her shopping bags with all her groceries and supplies for that evenings magic, and took T-Rex for his evening walk.  She would walk him again later but her being at work all day, Rex needed to go now!  A brisk walk around the block, and she was back inside, making dinner for one.  She dreamed that this would be the last time she would cook for one.

As it got dark, she started her magic spell.  She cleared up her living room, and burned some incense to clear the space.  She had her area all laid out in the middle of the room, a small table around which she would create her circle.  The table contained a candle, more incense, a cup with water, a cup of salt, and her magical working written all nice and neat on paper she would burn once the working was complete.

Darkness fell.  Lilly sat in the middle of the living room.  T-Rex took up his place beside her, lying down and relaxing.  Lilly lit the candle and more incense.   She sat with her legs cross, and in her mind constructed a circle around her.  Blessings to the four directions, all hail to her Goddess Hekate whom she welcomed to the circle.  She also asked Sirius to join them, as the protector of T-Rex.  She always included Rex with a blessing from Sirius, the Dog Star.  After all, doesn’t her protector deserve protection and blessing?  None has been as loyal as T-Rex has!

She then read the first part of her spell.  Slowly the words were read by candle light.  “Great Dark Mother, I ask at the full of the moon, because my need is great!  Hear me, Mother Hekate, and fulfill my heart’s desire!”

She opened her circle, and with Rex faithfully at her side, they left the apartment for the roof.  The moon had risen over the city, the sky was clear and it was a perfect night.  She stood on the roof, bathed in the light from the moon, amplified by the street lights.

“Mother Hekate, bring me someone to love!  He must be warm, and loving; kind and generous, protective and strong!  Make him handsome and faithful; quiet and attentive.  He must have bright eyes and a sexy voice, like Barry White!  Bring him to me, Great Mother, for I am alone and need someone to warm my bed and my heart.  Grant me my wish, Lady Hekate!”  And she released her energy to the universe.

Returning downstairs, she took her prayer and burned it.  She felt drained but happy.   Rex had enjoyed his walk on the roof, and settled in at Lilly’s feet as she soaked up the residual energy from her magic.  She scratched his head.   Ahh, if only men were as true and loving as her Rex.

About 11PM, she cleaned up the night’s magical working, and took T-Rex for his last walk.  She put a plate of leftovers at the intersection of her street; this was the crossroad where she left her offering to Hekate for a swift reply to her spell.  They returned to the apartment, Lilly watched some television and then went to bed.

About 3 in the morning, Lilly was awakened by something soggy and wet on her face.  She pushed it away, but it continued.  Then the singing started: “never in your wildest dreams, did it ever get this easy!”  And a hand reached out to touch her face.

She jumped out of bed, yanked the drawer open on the table next to her and grabbed the 9 mm she kept hidden there.  She turned back to the bed pulled the trigger.  A shot rang out… and then a yelp!

She ran to the door to her bedroom and flicked on the light. 

Bleeding and dead in her bed was T-Rex.  She had shot him in the head.  She screamed!  And she kept screaming over and over till the police officers arrived and took the gun from her hand.

Detective Banks listened to the story through the tears and shaking.  She was obviously frightened, and with all the stalkers and recent muggings, paranoia was not uncommon.  But the dog was singing? 

In the entry hall Detective Banks asked the officers, “Do you see any drugs or alcohol here? Any sign of a break in?”

The officer shook his head, “No sir, just what you see.  No radio here either to suggest she may have heard something that would explain what she claims.”

Detective Barns shook his head.  “Have her come down to the station to file a report and get the shrink to come talk to her.   See if the Humane Society wants to check into this before we remove the dog.”

Working in New York for the twenty years he’s been on the force, they don’t come much weirder than this.  One of the female officers had Lilly put on clothes and her coat and the officer escorted her out the door.  She was still crying and still totally freaked out.  The psychiatrist may hold her overnight for observation.  He just hoped she had a friend to help her clean up. 

She may be talking to that psychiatrist for a very long time.