by Michael Dean
“Oh, by the way, I am one hundred percent positive that Mark and Sandra will be coming by later to visit. They’ve been anxious to see you guys and hear all about your honeymoon. So you have that coming.”
“It wouldn’t be a complete day without Scruffy.” I kidded in reply.
Richard chuckled a bit, “As far as food goes you two, that one is on you. If you’re a little light, you’re always welcome to come by and eat with us. We can give you something to take with you as well if you wish.”
“Thank you, Daddy. We have some extra cash left over from the wedding, not to mention that I used vacation time while we were gone. I’ll get a check this week.” Shade clarified.
“Good deal. Leo, I know Sam has some work for you at the station he wanted me to tell you about. I’d give him a shout when you can. That should help out too. By the way, as for wood for the fireplace, that one is on you to chop as well. There’s an old axe leaning against the side of the house out there,” Richard concluded and I nodded in understanding with a grin.
Richard bid his daughter farewell and took me around the house to show me the water heater, fuse box, and other home necessities. We then walked outside so he could show me the water spigots and whatever else he thought I needed to know about. We took a moment to talk about Sam giving me a leg up into police school and becoming an officer. I told him that after I defeated War, which I of course sold to him with fake confidence, I would be enrolling into that school.
Richard seemed to like that career choice and wished me luck in it. He left and I walked back inside to where my wife was opening up our remaining wedding gifts that were stacked away in the hall closet.
“This is so cool. We got a coffee maker, blender, toaster…and all kinds of goodies. We even got a box full of clothes hangers…a hundred of them.” She held the box up with a smirk.
“Let me guess…Scruffy got us that?”
“How did you know?” She giggled.
“Hey, we need them.” I shook my head and smiled. I love my bro.
“Sandra got us an awesome set of cutting knives.”
“Sweet. See there, someone has to do the thinking for Scruff.”
“That’s for sure.” We laughed again.
“I guess I better go out and chop some wood for the fireplace. I know it’s summer, but it’s better to have it on standby than not. You got this?”
“Yeah, I like opening up gifts, then finding a place to put them. Helps me to settle in. Go do your thing babe. Besides, I’m sure it will take you like five seconds to rip apart some of those trees to make wood, demon boy.” She walked up and kissed me.
“Hey, once again, I can’t help the perks of what I am.” I shrugged.
I walked outside and found a few trees that were dead or dying in the woods around us. All I had to do was bear-hug them and pull them out of the ground. I dragged the couple of trees I found to the house. I hunted down the axe Richard told me about and went to work. With one blow I nearly shattered the first tree. I realized that I needed to tone down my strength so there would be some wood left instead of fragments.
With the speed and strength that a demon has, I chopped up and insane amount of cords of wood in about fifteen minutes. I stacked them on the side of the house next to front porch, covered them and took a few logs inside to place in the fireplace on standby. When I walked in, Shade was just starting to put up the rest of our kitchen supplies.
“Already?” She commented.
“Of course.”
She huffed with a smile and turned back around to finish her tasks at hand. We spent the rest of the day getting settled in. Sure enough, at about sunset, Scruffy and Sandra showed up in his rickety truck.
The evening entailed playing cards and chatting all night. We pried a little on when the two of them would be tying the knot officially. They planned on doing it the following summer. For the next couple of weeks, this was the common routine. An occasion or two a week our dear friends would come over and either play cards or simply sit out on the porch and talk the nights away whenever we all had the free time. I was working with Sheriff Taylor, Shade was working, as were our friends. Our families would stop by from time to time to see if we needed anything and would visit for a while. Pretty much the norm of what any family does.
I knew I was delaying my encounter with War, but I figured making the beast wait a short while longer for me wasn’t too big of a deal. Regardless, the time was approaching for me to get this over with and come to terms with the next obstacle that could result in my death.
One morning, a couple of days before I was planning on going to seek out War, Shade woke up early and seemed to be in some sort of discomfort. She awakened and tossed and turned a bit, holding onto her stomach. She had a look of distress about her and looked almost as pale as she described that I looked like all the time.
“Hun, you okay?” I said as she sat up.
“I’m not sure…I don’t feel well.”
I sat up with her and started to rub her back. She looked around for a bit then placed her hand over her mouth.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
I was beginning to fear it was because of my presence around her so much as of late. The War trip was coming at the perfect time.
“You think it’s because of me again?” I asked.
“I don’t think so…it feels different. When I got sick due to your presence last time, I was weak, feeling near lifeless. This is more nausea than anything.”
“Need me to get something for you?”
“I-I…”
Shade then jumped up off the bed in a flash and ran into our bathroom and slammed the door. I could hear her tossing the cookies in there so I got out of bed and approached the shut door.
“Babe, are you sure you don’t need me to go out and get you something? Call your mom?”
She didn’t answer so I knocked on the door, “Babe, you okay in there?”
I heard her spit a few times, “I’m fine. I-I’ll be fine,” she answered.
I heard the sink get turned on and I walked away from the door and sat on the end of the bed waiting for her. After a few minutes, she came out.
“You gonna be okay?” I asked again.
“Yeah, I should be all right. Not sure what that was all about. Might have been something I ate yesterday.” She continued to hold her stomach.
“Babe, you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?”
“No-no, I’m fine. Just need to walk around a bit. Maybe go outside and get some air.”
We did just that and hung out on the porch for the morning. Later that night, she got nauseous again when she was cooking dinner and went running down the hallway to go be sick again. I followed her.
I knocked on the bathroom door. “Shade, I think that you should go see the doctor tomorrow. If it is just a simple stomach virus or something, that will be make me feel a lot better. I’d like to make sure that this doesn’t have something to do with me. It would sure make me feel secure knowing that you’ll be okay when I leave to find War. My mind wouldn’t be in the fight worrying about you. That isn’t good for either of us.”
I heard her spitting again before she replied, “I will. I’ll call mom and have her take me tomorrow if she can.”
For the rest of the night I worried about her, especially since she didn’t touch a single bite of the food that I finished making. I watched her closely all through the night.
The next morning Anne came to pick up her up and I went to work with Sam. When I returned home, Shade was back and sitting at our kitchen table with a look of serenity about her. She didn’t appear troubled but I had to find out for sure of course.
“Baby…what’s up? Everything go all right at the doc’s today?” I walked over to her and bent down to kiss her in the forehead as I rubbed her back.
Shade just stood up and placed her arms around my neck and hugged me tight before giving me a big kiss; that actually made me begin to worry.
&
nbsp; “What’s going on? Is there a problem?” I asked with concern.
Shade just looked at me with an innocent smile.
“I’ve got something to tell you.”
I stared at her perplexed.
“You’re going to be a father…I’m pregnant.”
CHAPTER 8
EXPECTING
I was blown away.
“I didn’t even think that was possible…a demon, a human…wha…” I staggered for a sensible thought.
“Well…are you happy?” She glared at me awaiting a more exuberant reaction.
“Are you kidding? Of course I’m happy. This is the best news I’ve gotten since you said I do.” I picked her up and hugged her with a kiss.
“I am so thrilled that we are going to have a baby, too. I can’t believe we are going to be a mom and dad. Wait until Mark and Sandra hear about this.” She couldn’t stop smiling after I placed her back down. She just paced back and forth in excitement in front of me.
“Since your mom took you this morning, does she know about this too?”
“Are you kidding? Of course she knows. When the doctor came in and told us she about had to be restrained. She screamed and about suffocated me and the doctor both with her hugs of joy.”
I laughed with her and then a moment of concern came to mind.
“Do you think that because I’m a demon, and you’re a human, that something might be…irregular with our child? I hate to even mention something like that, but I must ask because I don’t think that has ever happened in human history before. At least not that I’ve heard of.”
Her joy was replaced, momentarily with a look of concern. I could tell that she hadn’t thought about a potential side effect of a couple like us having a child.
“Thanks a lot, Leo. Not that having a baby isn’t bothersome enough with the constant worry about having a healthy child being brought into the world, now I have to stress about this too.”
“I’m sorry…I shouldn’t fret. If a problem arises, we will figure out a way. We always have.” I pulled her into me and hugged her again.
“You’re right. The baby will be fine…we’ll be fine.”
We embraced for a few moments more before we called the rest of our friends and family about the good news. Benjamin and Amanda were over the moon about it while Scruffy teased me about the fact that he thought I was sterile. I wanted to smack him…in a brotherly way.
For the remainder of the next few days, our home was abuzz with activity. Family members were coming over all the time to share in the excitement of the oncoming new member of the family. Although my mind was jubilant about it too, worry about facing War, and soon to be Christian, was weighing heavier on me than ever before. Now I have to accept the fact that not only may I not return to my beautiful wife and family, a child may live a life of never knowing his or her father. This was a heart-crushing dilemma stewing within me. This journey keeps getting harder and harder. Although I was in constant inner turmoil over this, I had to push on and put on my game face for my loved ones. They believed in me, so I needed to hold steadfast and keep my focus.
The night before I set out for War, literally, all families got together at our home for a dinner. Everyone was there and brought some sort of dish, even Sheriff Taylor. As we were gathered sporadically around the outside of the home eating our meals, I turned to Anne for some advice.
“Anne…I was curious if you’ve had any insight as of late. My vision has been absent.” I inquired and everyone went quiet.
“I’ve seen nothing either, but I want to let you know, Leo, that just because our gifts to see have been nonexistent, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’ve found out that when my sixth sense goes quiet, things are usually going as they should. When I get them, it sometimes means something may have gone askew and there must be an event of change needing to unfold to redirection a set of circumstances.” She smiled.
“I guess that may be true. I’ve never thought about it that way…great way to look at it.”
“I can tell you this much, though. I would look more to the southern arctic areas than I would to the northern. That is where I feel War is lying in wait. I hope that will be of some use for you.” She continued.
“I will honor your advice and that is where I’ll go first. The faster I take him out after I leave, the faster I can return home to you all.”
Everyone held up their glasses or beers, well lemonade in Shade’s case for obvious reasons, and cheered my comment. While we continued to eat and make idle chatter, I overlooked the families, admiring what I have truly gained. I was, and still am, one of the most despicable creatures to ever roam the world, physical or spiritual. Here I am sitting among the very beings that are taught to loathe something like me, but instead embrace not only what I am, but who. These people love me, and I…love them. I thought I had something worth fighting for in the past and I did, but now, I know I do. No matter the risk involved being associated with me, they remain at my side…all of them. This fight is no longer about me anymore, no longer about my personal freedom. This has become about securing their future, all of theirs. This is about their freedom and a right to live in a world that isn’t being dictated to them by some mischievous outside forces. Not only do the heavens and the underworld require balance, so do the humans and elements within their lives. I would be setting out now to provide that for them, it is the least I can offer in repayment toward the so much they have given to me selflessly.
The get-together was wrapping up and everyone wished me a heartfelt farewell, letting me know that all of them would keep watch over Shade and the oncoming health of the gift-to-be in our lives, as well as our cat, which I thought was extraordinary and funny. Shade and I stood on the porch with Scruffy and Sandra, who were staying behind to help us clean up and watched our parents and Sheriff Taylor leave. After they left, the girls went inside while Scruff and I hung out on the porch.
“Here buddy.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of cigars.
“What’s this all about, bro?”
“Well my man, neither of us know if you will return for the birth…do we? I’m not trying to be a Debbie-Downer here, but those are the facts. Are they not?” He clipped the ends of the cigars off and pulled out a lighter, handing me one of them.
“Well…yeah.”
“So,” he placed the cigar in his mouth, lighting it as he puffed away in order to cherry it, “just in case you don’t return for the birth, which I hope isn’t the case, I figured we could celebrate the birth of your child right now with the traditional smoking of cigars to honor such a miraculous event.” He drew the cigar away from his mouth and blew out a plume of smoke.
“Thanks a lot man. That means the world to me.” I placed the cigar up to my lips and Scruff leaned over and lit fire to it.
“Look brother, I know, every time you go out, there is a likely chance you will not return. The fact that you may never meet your own child pains me pretty bad. I couldn’t imagine having to face such a dilemma as that. So, at this time, right now, let’s pretend the baby is already here and we are in celebration of this new life. If…when…you return, we can always do it again. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Nothing wrong with that at all brother, that’s a deal.” I leaned over to him and gave him a hug.
“I want you to know, Leo. If for some reason you are unable to come back, I think we both know what I mean by that, I will honor you, Shade, and your child, by smoking two cigars in memory. Afterwards, my promise to you…hell with that, I swear to you, Sandra and I will always be there to watch over Shade and your child. I know we couldn’t ever replace you, but I sure as hell can respect you. For the rest of my days, my friend, my brother, I will remember you and what you have done for us all. Thank you…I love you…I’ll never forget you.” He hugged me even harder while he patted me on the back.
When we pulled out of our embrace, I saw Scruffy tuck his face away from me for a second and apparently
wipe his eyes. I reached over and squeezed his shoulder.
“I love you too, my brother. Hearing that from you fills my soul with warmth and will serve me well as I journey on. It will help me to know, in the event of my death, in those last moments, that you are seeing over my family. I know they’ll be in the best of hands. Take solace in this,” he turned his gaze back upon me, “you are every bit as responsible for all of the good that has happened to me since I’ve been here…every bit of it. Without you in the picture, Mark, without your constant friendship, plucking me from obscurity and honoring me with your loyalty, I know…I know…that I would have never become what I am today, nor would I have even been in such a wonderful situation as I am now. With all the hell breaking lose around me, given what I am, it is you, one of the biggest reasons that peace has come into a demon's life. Think about that for a minute. An intolerant beast as I am, you have broken through that and have made a brother out of it. That, my friend, is a testament to your personality and to who you are. So, thank you, Mark…thank you. It is you…all of you who have saved me.”
Scruffy just smiled and grabbed me by my neck, pulling me in for another hug. Then, as only Scruffy can do…and get away with, he switched gears.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re awfully longwinded, man?” He started laughing.
I joined in, “Guess that’s better than being hot-winded.”
We both roared out in laughter.
We shared jokes until the end of our cigars were stamped out. Scruffy got up to see if Sandra was ready to go.
“C’mon hun, we better leave these two with some time to themselves tonight.” He called through the front door to her.
Sandra obliged, hugging Shade hard before sharing another embrace with me. Shade and I, arm in arm, waved goodbye to our dearest friends for what could be the last time we saw them together. After their car disappeared down our lengthy driveway, we stood in silence next to one another, just staring out into the dense trees, waiting for their car lights to disappear into the night.
