A collection of short stories submitted to VO over the years.  Note that the ratings for the stories within range from K through MA.

You are tired, its physical it the age.

Go see a shrink or take a pill,

or hug your sadness like an eyeless doll,

you need to sleep.

Hmmm...what's good she asks? *sets the glass down and looks over his inventory* Ah! Here we are. *fills a goblet with red liquid...the essence, the stuff of life...vitae* This is your preferred brand is it not? *shows her the bottle* As for what's upstairs, I wouldn't worry too much about that yet. All should become clear soon enough. *smiles*

Deadend

Red lights flashing in my mind's eye
I can't see
Whispers in the dark
Creatures trying to claw at me
Here in the night
Fighting the pain
Feeling the strain
Fractured thoughts form
Splintering into glistening pieces
I'm awake
Sleep is for the weak
The nightmares fade
as my eyes adjust
Just one night...
One peaceful night...
I pray to Demeter
Christ
Dionysus
A deity who'll listen to my plight
Maybe it's not only my mind
Maybe it's the world
the Universe

Early theologians had a real problem with the status of women in regard to Genesis. Here is this supposedly weak creature twisting Man around her finger and bringing death on the entire race. A "logical" answer presented itself in splitting woman into the Madonna/whore dichotomy. There was even a Biblical basis for Lilith.