Marcus Rises

With my attention turned to Ngozi’s safety and mentoring Richard a new challenge was taking root in my adopted homeland. His name was Marcus and in him La Safer had found a more willing participant to do his bidding. It was Marcus who sent his bloodthirsty soucouyants for Ngozi. A test of soughts. He had quietly built up his forces, and while I struggled with my abilities he gained confidence and comfort in his own.

I promised Richard I would look after his mother and would have done so even if he had not asked. I now spent my nights in the open field to the back of Ngozi’s house, hidden in the canopy of a large, old avocado tree. This would be the stage of our first encounter.

It was a few hours past dusk. A light rain had provoked the scent of lemon grass that now competed with the smell of evening stews carried on the cool breeze. I sensed a presence, his presence, before but never this close. There was no scent that I could discern from him, but the smell of clean fabric and the lack of wind to my back was enough warning.

“I see you are ready to show yourself.” I said with my back to him. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked down at the color which was that of the natives.

“It is time we were introduced brother.” He said in a deep commanding voice.

“Brother?”

“Yes.” He said removing his hand. “Even though you may hate my actions, we are the same you and I. Born of the same father.”

“Of course.” I whispered. “La Safer.”

“Ironically though I find the words of another most appropriate at this time. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” He was quoting scripture to me. John 2:9 irony indeed, brotherhood and light. I offered the next verse as my response.

“Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing to make him stumble.”

“Indeed brother. I do love you and I look forward to our next encounter.”

I turned to look at him, but he was gone and with him all illusions of a peaceful existence…

An Uneasy Alliance

Nothing had prepared him for taking life, even if those lives were not exactly human. I had to take him away and wipe the blood from his hands and get him cleaned up before his mother saw again, before he saw himself again. He was almost catatonic, whispering about their strength, fire and blood, so much blood, seeping into the earth, soaking into his clothes…covering his hands.

Even after I got him cleaned up, he felt unclean, tainted, ashamed. But after a couple hours the shock was wearing off. I did my best to remind him of those who loved him, reasons for him to be here, to be a protector. He had no real choice in the matter, for whatever their reasons they were there to take blood and end a bloodline, which also meant that as close as we were we needed to get back to his Mother. Back to Ngozi.

I taught him things that I learned from decades of practice, how to hide your emotions and function. Ngozi wept when she saw her son, not because he still had to leave and get back to his pregnant wife, or because he lied almost convincingly to her telling her he was alright and that it was all going to be okay, she wept because when she looked into his eyes she could see that he had been permanently altered and that he and I now shared an uneasy alliance…

More than an Apprentice

Richard was becoming less troubled by his abilities, but no more comfortable with me. He spoke with his wife each night and we had lengthy discussions every day. He would leave soon, I knew that. He wanted to get back to his wife, but he needed to get a handle on his new life first. He was also different from his mother and I in this way, he had a real shot at a life and now, with his own family, so much more to lose.

He learned much about me, my abilities and my relationship with his mother. He also discovered that he had an innate capacity to recognize evil in others, in beings like me. He had this sense for as long as he could remember. Ironically, beyond an understandable distaste for me, he says he senses little of this evil from me…a small comfort.

It was the night before he left. We were both at his mother’s house, discussing that some day that he would return. Both of us telling him that we expected nothing more than for him to protect his family. Fortuitous. I sensed them approaching from the brush to the back of the house.

The legend of soucouyants on this island is largely built on the females of my kind and their propensity to shed their skin and appear as a blazing ball of fire. Many had managed to control this part of their nature, but others seemed incapable of such restraint. I had not had an encounter like this for some time and it was curious that they would dare to attack anyone in my presence. “Stay with your mother.” I said, before disappearing into the night. Most are not a match for me, still when they hunt in packs it can be challenging. I counted seven moving lights. I sidestepped the leader, slashing her face before crushing her throat. I turned to face the others, and realized I had help. A figure moved swift and silent out of the shadows meeting the crazed attack of three soucouyants with methodical, bone breaking ferocity. As the final body fell by my hand, I approached the shadow, now illuminated by moonlight and covered in crimson. It was Richard and he couldn’t stop staring at his blood soaked hands…

First Encounter

Much had changed on the island before I met Richard for the first time. The world was a much different place since his birth. Evil had found a place and as much as I felt responsible for introducing a particular kind of evil to the island, more than just my kind work against these people now. Evil is seductive and clever and there are many humans now who have lost their humanity to it. I accept my part and perhaps I am beyond redemption. I have no illusions about what I have done, of what I continue to do at times. But Richard has given me hope and I selfishly feel that he can be my redemption…I wish he didn’t have to be.

Once you become aware of who, or what you are, you can decide how you are going to respond to this knowledge, but you cannot return to a state of ignorance. Richard decided that he wanted to meet with me a week after his mother revealed his history. A week ago he had not considered just how much danger those he loved were exposed to and now he was overwhelmed by the possibilities. He sent his wife and unborn child back to the US without him, despite her protests. In the end she accepted it was the best thing to do.

As I looked at this young man climbing the steps of my front porch I was struck by all that he stood to lose and wondered if he thought there was any benefit to the burden of his abilities. He took my hand and I could feel the strength and tension in his body. I indicated the seat closest to him as I sat across from him. There were two pitchers on the table between us, one with water the other with fresh squeezed orange juice as well as a platter of cheese sandwiches, but neither of us was concerned with food on this humid Caribbean day. He seemed unusually calm as he spoke.

“I have seen you before…in my nightmares.” He said, meeting my gaze.

“I have seen you as well, in dreams.” I responded, fascinated by his resistance to being glamored. Encouraged by his unusually strong will.

He poured himself a drink of water and continued.

“What more do I need to know?”

“There is a secret conflict that has been raging for hundreds of year and I’m sorry Richard, but you must decide your role…because you have always been a part of this world.”

He pressed his eyelids shut and took a deep breath before opening his eyes, it seemed for the first time…