She suddenly awoke, enclosed in dread,
And peered cautiously around her bed.
Mainly to herself, she said,
"Be you friend or foe?"
When nothing moved beneath her eyes,
Her air gave in to relieved sighs.
Feeling danger was no longer nigh,
She lowered her heavy head.

Behind the curtains of silken jade,
In the darkness of the shade,
Tightly clenching his wicked blade,
The Hunter regarded his mark.
A copperhead with skin so fair,
She was of a beauty that he found rare;
A shame, his prey was not aware
Of the evil that lurked in the dark.

Silently he stood there, waiting,
His hunger no closer to abating.
He glared at her peaceful form, hating
The smile she should have worn.
When he was sure she was in deepest sleep,
From the shadows of the deep
The Hunter emerged, ready to leap
When her eyes flared open with scorn.

Of course, she knew why he was here.
She nervously watched her assassin draw near.
As her anger rapidly dissolved into fear,
She stuttered, her unease making her sick.
"Before you end my life so soon,
And grace my heart with a mortal wound,
I beg of thee one small boon -
Please, make this quick."

For a moment the Hunter froze, shocked
That his prey neither screamed nor fought,
As if she accepted that she was caught,
And resigned herself to Death.
"Why don't you try to halt my advance,
And scream and fight since you have the chance,
Instead of dancing this deadly dance?
Maligned, I would've left."

"Even if you were to leave,
I will never be safe as you still breathe.
From you, I'll never have a reprieve;
You'll pursue me until I'm deceased.
So, now more for your, than mine, own sake,
You have better prove that blade's not fake.
Hunter, you have a choice to make:
Break your contract or let me have peace."

He let his blade make his decision
And answered her with a precise incision.
He sneered at her will with derision,
"What an unfortunate choice.
Foolish girl, you should have run.
At least we would've had more fun,
But now you're dead and I have won.
Well, you had a pretty voice."