Darkly Rising

by J. D. Matheny

  “Wait, hold on Sophie. What do you mean ‘just fine’?”

  “I mean that I went out while Kai was sleeping to clean up any glass and dump it in the box, and the fucking lantern is just fine! It looks every bit as fine and healthy as Kai. I mean, it’s in perfect condition!”

  “My god.”

  30

  Kai strolled out through the dense wild of the back property, weaving between tall Ponderosa pines and the shorter, green leafed Box Elders. As he moved, he maintained a sense of purpose while listening to the sounds of the forest. The trees whispered to him a calming song carried on the breeze. Small black beetles burrowed between his feet and grey, bushy tailed squirrels chattered at him and he passed by. It seemed everything around him bustled with life and for a moment, he felt a pity for regular humans who were oblivious to such rich beauty.

  As he neared the building site he could also hear the heaving breathing of men hard at work and the clacking of rock and slathering of mortar as they toiled. His excitement and sense of purpose grew stronger.

  He broke through the last line of trees before the clearing where his temple was being erected and stopped dead in his tracks.

  Glorious!

  His followers had been hard at work. Stone walls rose up to roughly six feet in height, pieced together with jagged rock of random shapes but all approximately a foot in diameter. It was not a far cry from the beautiful structure he had visited in his dreams. That special place of his father’s birth and his own conception.

  “Kai!” Lee caught his attention and waved him over. There were six other strapping young men, covered with dirt and smears of concrete, all of them flushed and sweating. All of them looking pleased with themselves and excited to see him present.

  Kai walked up with a smile large enough to show his obvious pleasure and handed the three large boxes off to one of the guys . . . Eric, was it? He watched for a moment as they all gathered around and started yanking pieces out, still steaming and glued together with long strings of oozing cheese. One of them offered a piece to Kai first, but he refused.

  “Lee, all of you, what an amazing job! I’m so proud of you all.” He stared around at each stretch of wall, soaking it all in. In no time at all there would be a roof, a floor, and an altar.

  “It’s been going on like gangbusters,” said Lee, his smile large, dopey, and incredibly infectious. “We’ve got enough rock left for three feet more of wall, I reckon. That’ll leave us a foot left of posts to tie cross members to, which will work just fine. The roof should go on even quicker. Heck, we could easily have this thing finished by the end of the weekend!”

  “Then we’ll christen the place and have a party,” one of the guys said through a mouthful of crust and cheese. This was greeted by five other enthusiastic heads bobbing in unison.

  “A celebration,” Kai said in agreement. “You’ve all earned at least that much. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am to all of you for your hard work. This will be an important and welcoming place for each of you.”

  He clapped Lee on the shoulder. “Grab some food, Lee. Take a break. I wish I could stay, but I can’t. I’ve got other matters to attend to and I’m eager to see to them.”

  When Kai walked through the last of the fragrant pines and into his backyard his mood could not have been much better. The recent revelations of his dreams, the suffusion of power and intent he’d felt after, the rapid and near completion of his temple, everything was coming together in a way he never could have hoped for.

  Then, as he stood brushing small bits of leaf and needle from his arms and shoulders, he looked through the sliding glass doors and into the dining area at the back of the house. Sitting at the table with his mother were two figures that he never would have imagined seeing. Not together, anyway. Not in his home.

  Looking relaxed and chatting next to his mother was the commanding figure of Pastor Sikes. Sitting in the chair next to him, opposite his mother, was Jenny, looking quiet and withdrawn. Seeing her was a relief, but contemplating what they both might be doing there left him only with options that rankled him. Doubtful it was anything that he would find satisfying.

  He walked across the lawn and patio, catching Jenny and Mr. Sikes attention as he slid open the door.

  “What a pleasant surprise,” he said, doing his best to greet them with a warm and welcoming smile. “This is unexpected.”

  He walked forward as Mr. Sikes was standing and they both reached out at the same moment to clasp hands. The smile on the big man’s face seemed to match his tooth for tooth and he suspected that it was no more genuine than his own. He bent to kiss his mother on the cheek, then took a seat beside her, opposite the preacher. He favored Jenny with a curious look then, but she was staring into her lap.

  Sophie spoke first. “Pastor Sikes and Jenny here stopped by only a few minutes ago requesting to have a quick word with us both. We’ve just been chatting about school and your big project while we waited.”

  Not chatting about what they had come here to talk about, is what Kai gathered from that statement.

  “Please do forgive us for intruding upon your home unexpectedly, Ms. Hansen. I truly wish this visit were of a different nature, as I have no doubt that intention of our visit will be somewhat upsetting to young Kai, but I felt it was necessary.”

  Kai bristled and felt the heat rising to his face. This was what he had reasoned out in his mind. The man was making a power play, asserting himself over a situation he felt might be growing out of his control. He focused hard on those that were mocking him and those wet, pink lips that suddenly looked like plump worms on the man’s face and focused on keeping himself contained.

  “As you are probably aware,” he was addressing Sophie now, “our two children have entered into some sort of relationship. An innocent one, I am sure, but these things so often can grow out of control if not yanked out before taking root.”

  “I see,” said Sophie in a voice that sounded as if she didn’t see too clearly at all.

  Pastor Sikes continued. “As you are aware, we are a family of strong faith. You are also aware, to be sure, that my daughter is only sixteen years of age.” At some point he had taken Jenny’s hand and now brought it up on the table, covering it with both of his own. “These days, many parents allow their teenage children to date and rendezvous together outside the caring and watchful eyes of their parents. They also find their children sending obscene images by phone and getting pregnant before they’re even legal adults. I might be old-fashioned, but I care for my Jenny a great deal. I also love my God. Completely. The Lord said, ‘And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.’ I take that very seriously. It is my duty to bring my daughter up with proper spiritual guidance and instruct her on the teachings and desires of our Holy Father.”

  “That’s very admirable of you, Pastor. I take this to mean that you do not wish my son to see your daughter anymore?” Sophie sounded both amused and annoyed.

  Pastor Sikes smiled at Sophie in response, then turned his attention to Kai, who seethed but remained silent.

  “Kai is a unique young man, to be sure. It is not my intention to convey any negative regard for you, Kai.”

  Bullshit.

  “It is my intention to keep my daughter walking the path the Lord set down before her. To keep her honor and purity intact. To make sure she knows her place in this world, and the next, before entering into any activities that might distract her from what is truly important.”

  Kai remained outwardly silent. In his head, a dozen curses were cycling through, one after the other.

  “I understand, Pastor Sikes,” said Sophie. “I do appreciate you coming here to tell us this in person. We both know how powerful and reckless young love can be.” She smiled at the man.

  “Yes, well, I’m sure you do, Ms. Hansen. It is Miss, if I’m not mistaken?”

  Kai could see his mother’s jaw clench and unclench. �
�My father has passed on, Dennis. I believe you are aware.” His eyes burned into the man. He had yet to look at Jenny again. He didn’t want to scare her.

  Pastor Sikes didn’t seem frightened by his intensity. “Pastor Sikes works fine, my child. Please, accept my apology. I see and speak to so many who come from broken homes and poor circumstances. My memory gets a bit tangled at times. I do believe I have said everything I came to say. I hope it was well received.”

  He stood, still holding Jenny’s hand in one of his own. She stood with him, finally casting a furtive glance at first Sophie, then Kai. In Kai’s opinion, that look was both frightened and ashamed, which only served to increase his ire. He was finding it more difficult to contain.

  Kai and Sophie followed the two guests to the front door. Pastor Sikes opened the door and ushered Jenny out before turning in the doorway to face Kai.

  “I do hope you’ll keep our counseling appointment for tomorrow? I’m aware that this visit must not have pleased you, but the most important thing is your soul. You never know, if things go well and proper, you might ask me for permission to court my daughter in a couple of years.” He smiled at Kai, but only with his mouth. His eyes remained steely and unfriendly.

  “I absolutely intend to keep our appointment, Pastor. I’m looking forward to it now more than ever.”

  “Good. Seven o’clock.” With that he turned and gave Jenny a gentle nudge toward the car.

  As she was about to step in, Sophie spoke up.

  “Jenny?” She waited for the pretty girl’s startled eyes to meet hers. “Be well. I do hope to see you again.”

  Jenny smiled, then she was gone.

  “I’m growing more confident about that fact that I do not like that man.” Sophie was sitting back at the dining table, while Kai paced around the room. “Sit down, Kai. You’re making me anxious.”

  “The nerve, to come in here all High and Mighty, speaking to me like that. To me!”

  Sophie looked at him, then stood and directed him toward a chair. “Take a seat. I’ll make something for you to eat. It’ll have to be quick. Your float is in less than an hour.”

  She set about boiling up some water for steaming and cut up broccoli and zucchini into bite-sized slices. Then she fired up a pan and pulled a steak from the refrigerator. As she cooked, she talked, hoping to console her irate son. “It’s not as if you won’t be able to see her anymore. You’ll have chances to speak to her in school. I know it’s not much, but it is something.”

  Kai snorted. “The man’s controlling. I wouldn’t be surprised if he yanked her out of school and kept her at home full-time. Did you see how she was? She barely looked at us while she sat there. It’s like she was frightened of him.”

  Sophie had noticed that. “She might have just been embarrassed, dear. Try not to worry over it.” Let me do the worrying, she wanted to say. Such a sweet girl, and with a father who was more than a little overbearing.

  She finished cooking up the meal while Kai stewed at the table. He ate the food like a robot might do it, mechanically and with little indication that he was getting any pleasure from it. While he ate, Sophie text Blaine to inform him that she would be dropping Kai off in twenty minutes. His reply came back with an enthusiastic ‘Great! Can’t wait!’.

  The obvious delight in getting to spend quality time with her son warmed her heart. Having a man to be a positive influence and a guiding hand was just what Kai needed. Thomas could be that, be he just couldn’t be around all the time. Perhaps, someday, Blaine could.

  It was especially important after seeing what had happened with that lantern. She’d spent the last couple hours trying to pretend that it wasn’t anything to worry about. The lantern was unnatural, her son wasn’t. They could still dispose of the vile thing, in a manner more permanent than before.

  But she also recognized that Kai’s sickness had correlated with the damage to the lantern. She hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, but in her heart, she knew that the lantern repairing itself must have happened at the same time that Kai began to feel better.

  She tried to pretend that was nothing to worry about, either.

  Thomas sunk back in the tattered old chair trying to ignore the drone of trash that was issuing out of the dinosaur of a television in James’s depressing little apartment. He tried hard to ignore the hazy cloud of cigarette smoke that hung in the air as well, but that was proving more of a challenge.

  “Maybe you should try one. Big strapping fella like you converts and a pathetic old man like me feels a little better about himself. They’re good for calming what ails you.” James tilted his head back and let loose another stream of poison into the air.

  “I’ll pass for now. What I would take you up on is one of those pissy beers you’re drinking. Those are also good for calming ails.”

  “Don’t knock the Pabst, sonny boy. They get the job done and for half the price of those fancy craft beers everybody yammers on about.” He got up with a small groan, his hand braced on his lower back, and took a few steps to the single-door refrigerator. When he opened it, no light popped on, but Thomas could make out several tall cans of beer, a couple of sandwich wrappers, a near empty jug of orange juice, and not much else.

  When the beer was offered, he popped the top and took a long swig. “Whew. Can’t say that’s going to leave me much better off.”

  James grunted, whether in agreement or disregard, Thomas couldn’t be sure. After that, they settled into a morose silence for a time. Each of them weighed the options that came to mind regarding the Kai problem against the threat they perceived.

  On one hand, his nephew might become no more than what he was now, and what he was now wasn’t anything terrible. There was the occasional comment that he might find disturbing. Occasionally somebody who upset the boy might find themselves a little shamed or beat up. All things that weren’t terribly beyond the norm.

  On the other hand, it seemed possible that Kai might become more than he was. Maybe whatever it was that powered that lamp, that gave it the ability to resurrect itself, was a sentient force that acted as a slow poison to Kai’s soul.

  “No harm is to come to my nephew.”

  James grunted again, and again Thomas couldn’t tell whether it was a sign of agreement or not.

  “Just in case you’re thinking it.”

  “Might be that you’re the one thinking it. That why you’re bringing it up?”

  Had he thought it? It was possible. A dark thought, and one he might be hiding from himself. He couldn’t imagine doing such a thing, not under normal circumstances, but having gone through what he did on that island all those years ago might have shaded his perspective.

  “I don’t know, James. I’m not entirely sure what I think. What I know is that, seventeen years ago, I came face to face with a creature that was beyond my understanding, and I barely survived. Wouldn’t have survived, if it wasn’t for a witch woman that ended up trying to kill Kai herself. If that creature is what Kai is going to become, then . . . he just can’t be allowed to.”

  “I don’t reckon I’m too fond of the idea of doing away with the poor kid, so I don’t think you’re going to travel down that road. No, I think the best thing is to try our hand again with the lantern. Most likely that’s the source of all this strange business. Get rid of that and we get rid of the problem. Then Kai can go on with his life, get married, get riddled with debt and rugrats, and be miserable like the rest of us.”

  “So, we grab the lantern and melt it down, or drop it off in the ocean, put it in a compactor, or maybe a mix of all three. Then hope it never pops back up?”

  James grunted.

  “I think that’s the plan, then. Certainly, better than the alternative. I just hope to god that it works, because I got a bad feeling in my gut about all this. I feel like my nephew is just a ticking time bomb.”

  31

  Sophie pulled up to the small parking lot outside Dream Floats and gave Kai a smile. “Enjoy yourself. Let yourself go,
OK? Just relax in there and don’t let all that business with the stuck-up preacher keep your mind in a twist. You’ll find out that ninety minutes in the tank will work wonders.”

  “Sure thing, mother. You’re sure you don’t mind waiting up so late to pick me up after?” It was 9:00 p.m. closing time. Blaine had agreed to stay late.

  “Actually, Blaine agreed to drop you off after. You know me, I’ll be out by ten. Your mama is getting old.”

  “You’ll never get old. I plan on keeping you with me for a long, long time. Drive safe.”

  He stepped out, wishing that she was his ride home, but not too worried about it. Blaine stepped out of the front door of the low, one-story brick building and walked out with a smile and an outstretched hand.

  “Evening, Kai! I’m really glad you came, you’re gonna love this!” He pumped his hand a couple times before walking around to the driver side of the SUV. “Sophie, looking radiant as always.”

  “You’re such a charmer, and not so bad looking yourself.”

  Kai could hear the words, though they were spoken a little more quietly than normal, and he could also hear the smile in his mother’s voice. He stared intently at the exchange from the passenger side of the vehicle. When Blaine’s head dipped down and he heard the light smacking of lips exchanging pleasantries, it was all he could do not to take the interloper by the throat.

  Instead, he smiled at Blaine as the man came back around and led them through the front door. Inside the building was a warm and inviting lobby area. Comfortable looking chairs were spaced around the walls on two sides of the room, with a tall counter hosting a computer in what served for a check-in area, Kai presumed. The other side of the room held some books and magazines, some artwork, and a countertop armed with tea and fruit. A soft glow of light washed over the whole of the room. He felt like he could take a nap right then, standing on his feet.