Things From the Dark:
(1925 A.D., The Draig Estate, The Township of Resdren, Nornland, Scotland, Greater Germania)
To John's surprise, the next three months at the Draig Estate pass by without any further confrontation or contact with the dark forces of the house. To his delight, this time of relative peace has allowed the relationship between him, his young master Oskar and new friend Miss Emma to grow ever more powerful and loving. The three enjoyed each other's company immensely and had taken to spending all their breakfast times and lunchtimes together in tender, jovial splendour. Despite the peace and serenity of those times, however, John could always feel the subtle tension of darkness lurking just below the surface, waiting to strike.
******
The soft glow of firelight radiates off the polished red-marble walls of the shadowed skull-adorned dining room. The ghostly light of the flaming hearth subtly illuminates the grotesque forms of Lilith and the rest of her demonic quorum gathered once more around the central dining table that occupies the room's heart.
"Are you ready to report on the Childminder?" Lilith asks, gesturing for Murmur to proceed as Asmoday paces contemplatively behind her.
"I am. He is no normal man. He possesses unique Transmutative Abilities and a powerful spirit. He took down the Headless Horseman with ease. He is determined to protect the boy," Murmur explains, leaning forward as Lucien grabs one of Asmodeus spiders off the table and eats it teasingly.
Asmoday leans down and whispers something in Lilith's ear before resuming his pacing.
"How determined? Can we turn him to our will?" Lilith asks, her brow raised as she takes another sip from her wine glass.
"Not likely. His resolve is powerful. I have seen into his heart and read his soul. He is perhaps one of the most courageous and compassionate mortals we have dealt with in a long time. He is not perfect, however," Murmur answers, stroking his chin in thought.
"What do you mean?" Leviathan asks, wringing his hands sternly as Lucien and Asmodeus shoot nasty glares at each other. Lilith looks at Lucien and Asmodeus sternly and mouths 'stop bickering' to them.
"His heart is plagued by guilt, it weighs heavy on his soul. A guilt born of a brutal tragedy," continues Murmur.
"Can we use this guilt against him perhaps?" Asmoday chimes in, running his hand through his immaculate hair as Lilith offers him her glass of which he partakes before handing it back to her.
"Possibly, but not likely, nor would I recommend it. While guilt is a weakness, it is also a source of strength. He has learned to use this guilt to fuel his drive and his resolve. Attempting to manipulate it may have unforeseen consequences," Murmur eyes the others sternly.
"We do not have time to let this problem fester, the hour of the ceremony draws near and it cannot be delayed. The Childminder must not be allowed to interfere," Leviathan proclaims, angrily slamming his fist on the table.
"Too true, but what should we do?" Asmodeus agrees, turning her gaze to Asmoday and Lilith in hopes of an answer.
"I have a plan, daddy. A plan to deal with the Childminder," Lucien starts, climbing onto the table and crawling sensually over to his father and mother.
"I have been watching him very..." Lucien licks his lips thirstily as he runs one of his hands down from his chest to his privates, "Oh, so very close and he has one more weakness. One that me and my sister can exploit if we work together," continues the boy, voice shaky with desire while gesturing to his sister.
"And what would this weakness be?" Lilith asks, leaning back in her seat as she takes another sip of her wine.
"Lust... dear mother, lust," Lucien smiles sinisterly at his parents.
"What do you propose, you filthy little bitch-boy?" Asmodeus asks her brother as she climbs to her feet.
"We need him out of the way, and we do not have time to waste. So I suggest we do what we do best and turn his lust against him. You will infiltrate his dreams and trap him in a mental prison of seduction and erotic pleasure while I take possession of the boy's body and use him to drain the Childminder of his Vita-Vrillian Energy until he is nothing but a lifeless husk," Lucien explains.
"Very well, Lucien. Your plan is worth a try. However, the time has come to start isolating Oskar in other ways as well. Tell Rufus it is time to initiate the next phase of our plans," Asmoday turns to face the group as Lilith nods in agreement and gestures for the new orders to be carried out immediately. Murmur rises from his chair and bows low to excuse himself from the group before turning and disappearing into the shadows to inform Rufus of his new orders.
"Listen closely, Lucien and Asmodeus, for we must move quickly. Once Rufus carries out his orders I want you two ready to carry out your little feeding scheme. I am giving you three days to deal with the Childminder," Lilith presses, turning her commanding gaze to Lucien and Asmodeus as they just turn to look at each other, barely able to contain their wicked lustful eagerness.
"Now that everything has been sorted. This meeting is hereby adjourned," Lilith declares bringing the demonic proceedings to a close before snapping her fingers, vanishing everyone except Asmoday from the room.
******
Oskar once again finds himself tossing and turning restlessly in his bed. Having John beside him every night has done wonders for his sleep schedule, making him feel the safest he has ever felt in all his life. However, over the past few nights, the subtle dagger of fear had once again begun churning in his heart.
Oskar looks over at the beautiful sleeping man beside him and for a moment, the peaceful sound of the man's gentle breathing brings a smile to his lips. Without Rufus's constant homophobic scolding and bullying, Oskar has gradually become more and more comfortable with his own homosexual nature, a nature he has known of for some time but never had the strength or the courage to accept. Oskar would always be grateful to John for enabling him to finally accept this fact about himself by simply making him feel safe.
He was certain that without all the love and warmth John had shown him over the past three months, he would have never gained the strength to accept his own queerness. Of course, he has not yet come out to John or even discussed his own queerness beyond the topic of Rufus's homophobic treatment of him, but he was sure John knew. He would come out to John officially when the time was right, but as far as he is concerned that moment has not yet come.
John had informed Oskar of his confrontation in the mist with one of the dark entities occupying the estate and the brief conversation that took place concerning the young boy's overall fate. Oskar was grateful for John respecting him enough to tell him of the confrontation and the boy was even more grateful for the courage John had shown on his behalf during the altercation. The golden-haired lad felt lucky to have John in his life and felt blessed to have both his friendship and even more importantly, his protection.
Oskar leaned forward, resting his head on John's softly breathing chest, letting the soothing sound of John's heartbeat calm his soul, but alas, the moment of tranquillity was broken by the abrupt need for a quick nighttime visit to the bathroom.
It's dark, but the bathroom isn't too far. What if they are there waiting for me? What if they are watching me right now? What if it's not safe? Oskar turns his attention to the deep black darkness of the room. Should I wake him? He already does so much for me. I should be fine as long as I hurry, right? ponders the young boy as he turns his attention back to his sleeping protector.
Determined not to bother the slumbering John needlessly, Oskar decides it best to simply go use the bathroom and get back as quickly as possible. He breathes deep for a moment and then climbs down from his bed. The lad quickly and carefully makes his way over to his bedroom door. His hand hovering over the doorknob, he takes a moment to summon up what courage he can muster and then without taking time to reconsider; he exits the room and hurries swiftly as he can down the hall to the bathroom.
You can do this. You're okay. So far, so good, thinks Oskar, as he closes in on the black and white door of the bathroom. His hand trembles as he reaches out and opens the bathroom door and flips on the light. The boy swiftly but silently makes his way over to the toilet, freeing his member in preparation. His eyes close and the lad exhales in sweet release as nature starts to take its course. For a moment, Oskar lets himself get lost in the euphoria of the moment, apparently needing this pee-break far more than he thought he did. Goosebumps creep up his arms as the sudden, melodic song of a piano pierces the nocturnal silence of the sleeping estate.
No, please, not now. John, I need to get back to John, thinks Oskar, as panic floods his mind. The lad puts away his member and rushes for the door, throwing it open as a wave of searing heat and pulverised micro-debris storms around him from the other side of the door. NO GOD PLEASE NO! The churning inferno incinerates Oskar's clothing and sizzles against his exposed flesh as the song of the piano grows louder, rising into a hellish cacophony of soul-crushing noise.
Oskar slams the door as the world spins in fast-forward and he is thrown to the searing volcanic ground where there had once been a tile floor as scorched gale vortexes around him.
"JOHN HELP! JOHN!" Oskar pleads as he struggles to his feet. Shielding his eyes from raging ash and heat, the boy peers towards the source of the abyssal melody, assaulting his senses to find a burning, smouldering tall slender man wrapped in flame playing a grand but distorted-looking piano unlike any the boy has ever seen. The man on fire continues to play feverishly, as if unaware of Oskar's presence, his song growing more and more chaotic, bringing the storming inferno around them to ever-higher levels of intensity.
"PLEASE! PLEASE STOP! I BEG YOU!" Oskar cries out as the world suddenly goes still and quiet. The boy turns around to run, only to be greeted by the melted blackened face of the man on fire.
"I BEGGED TOO! I CRIED AND I SCREAMED. DO YOU THINK THEY WERE MERCIFUL?!" the man bellows furiously, the sheer force of his voice knocking Oskar down to his knees as sobs of terror overtake him.
"I BURNED AND THEY LAUGHED!" the burning man lifts the sobbing Oskar up by the neck and Oskar's flesh simmers in his grip.
"Please, I'm sorry… I'm sorry," Oskar pleads desperately.
"NO, YOU'RE NOT! NOT YET!" the man on fire rages as he rears back his other flaming hand and prepares to punch Oskar through the chest. Suddenly Oskar feels someone wrap a pair of warm, strong arms around his torso, pulling him back as reality distorts and shatters. Oskar once again finds himself back in the bathroom, sobbing into John's protective embrace.
"It's okay… it's okay. I'm here…" whispers John into the terrified boy's ear as he holds him tenderly. John runs his hand through the lad's golden hair to soothe him and quiet his sobs. Oskar looks slowly around the room to find Emma is there, too. She leans in and wraps her arms around him and John.
"Emma, can you please go fetch him some new nightwear?" John asks.
"Of course, monsieur," Emma replies, hurrying off to get Oskar some new clothes as Tilda, Hilda and Mrs. Draig appear in the doorway.
"What's with all the racket you little brat?" Mrs. Draig asks as she sneers down at her still distraught son with a look of absolute disgust. What a fucking uncaring bitch, John thinks as he continues to try and calm the terrified boy in his arms. Miss Emma returns to the room and hands John the replacement nightwear.
"Look, John, I really don't care why the naked little dandy is crying in the bathroom or what you were doing in here with him, but you could at least keep the little faggot from waking the rest of us!" Mrs. Draig presses coldly as John tries with all his might to not unload on her, choosing instead to focus on helping Oskar put on the new nightwear.
"I'm so... sorry Mum," Oskar whimpers, hanging his head low as he and John finish redressing him.
"I don't care if you're sorry so long as you're silent when I am trying to sleep!" Mrs. Draig barks before turning and making her way back to her room with the aid of Tilda and Hilda.
"Cruelle méchante chienne," Miss Emma mutters under her breath, her angry eyes burning imaginary holes in Mrs. Draig's back as the feeble woman continues to make her way back to her room with Tilda and Hilda beside her.
"I couldn't agree more my dear Emma, but the last thing we need is to show our anger. After all, if we get fired or sent away, Oskar will be all alone with no one to protect him," John explains as he scoops Oskar up into his arms.
"Shall I return to my nightly duties, monsieur?"
"Yes, thank you for your assistance. Goodnight, Miss Emma," John replies as he carries Oskar back to his bedroom and climbs into bed next to him. John wraps his arms around the still tearful boy as Oskar nuzzles his head into John's chest. The all-encompassing security of John's embrace eventually relaxes the boy.
"You know what I like most about you?" Oskar whispers.
"What?" John replies softly.
"You're not like Rufus at all, even in small ways. When you hold me, you never take advantage. You hold me for me and never for your own benefit," Oskar explains sleepily between gentle yawns.
"Of course, I'm not like him. I'll never hurt you, Oskar. Now get some sleep. You're perfectly safe here with me," John responds, holding Oskar even closer as the boy drifts back to sleep.
******
Mrs. Draig shutters against the cold dark of her room as the sound of approaching footsteps wakes her from her uneasy sleep.
"Who's there?'"Mrs. Draig barks, turning toward the direction of the sound.
"Do you not recognize me?" responds the source of the noise as the intruding pale light of the moon strikes the encroaching entity.
"Rufus, but I thought you left," Mrs. Draig responds weakly as her dear friend kneels down next to her bed.
"What are you doing?" Mrs. Draig mutters as Rufus pulls from his pocket a needle filled with some sort of unknown substance.
"Nothing. Don't worry your little head, my dear," Rufus responds warmly. Rufus slowly and carefully inserts the needle into her arm and injects the substance as he leans in and tenderly kisses Mrs. Draig on the forehead.
"What did you just do to me?" Mrs. Draig cries as pain surges through her body from the point of the injection.
"My duty," Rufus stands back up and starts to turn away.
"Why?" sobs Mrs. Draig, clenching Rufus's sleeve, her eyes filled with hurt and betrayal.
"Do you think you deserve better?" Rufus counters, leering down at her with a malicious smirk. "How about a ghost from your past to aid you in your self-reflection?"
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Draig whimpers.
"How should I know? It's your past, not mine," Rufus responds with a smug sadistic laugh as he gestures to the shadows looming in on her from the opposite side of the bed.
"Have fun," Rufus chuckles, yanking his arm free and disappearing into the darkness of the far side of the room. The sound of painful whimpering and wet dragging of bloody feet echoes through the room, coming from the deep dark shadows near the door.
"He… Help m… me p… p… please. Someb... body, anybody," comes the voice of a young boy, a boy Mrs. Draig has spent all her life trying to forget. A mangled and twisted-looking form moves in the darkness, falling to the ground for a moment with a loud thud.
"No, please no. Please…" Mrs. Draig pleads fearfully into the shadows of the room as the small whimpering form in the darkness climbs slowly back to its feet and continues its advance on Mrs. Draig.
*******
Mrs. Draig swiftly and silently approaches the side of Oskar's bed, staring down at her son with new-found eyes. Seeing him now as she always should have seen him. Her heart flutters as she stares down at him at last, able to feel the love for him that she wished she could have felt all along. The bitter blade of regret rips through her, savaging her insides as the remembrance of all the pain she caused him floods her mind. Tears begin to fall from her eyes as she kneels down next to her beautiful sleeping boy.
"Oskar... wake up. Please wake up," Mrs. Draig whispers, softly ghosting her hand over Oskar's svelte body.
"Wha... Who... Mom, is that you?" Oskar starts, but Mrs. Draig puts a finger to her son's lips, silencing him.
"Listen Oskar. I do not have much time. I know I failed you. I know I betrayed you in the worst ways a mother ever could. I never showed you the love I should have and I won't ask for forgiveness, because I know I don't deserve it. I deserve for you to hate me and scorn the very memory of me. I accept that. I failed to protect you when I should have. I cannot change that, but I can do something to protect you now," Mrs. Draig explains, affectionately stroking her child's golden locks.
"Mom, what do..."
"Please, just listen," Mrs. Draig interrupts, hanging her head in shame.
"They are coming, Oskar. They are coming to fulfil your destiny. A destiny I know you don't want. They are not going to give you a choice in the matter. You need to prepare yourself to resist them or there may be no time left for anyone," Mrs. Draig suddenly feels herself growing faint as if her essence is being stretched beyond its means. "I'm so sorry, Oskar. I'm afraid I have to go now. Please don't mourn me. I've already caused you enough tears," Mrs. Draig continues, her voice fading.
"I don't understand. What's coming?" the confused boy mutters, his mind still somewhat clouded by the sands of sleep.
"The Sanguine Procession. You must prepare yourself, Oskar. Time is short. I love you Oskar, and I am sorry I never said it sooner," Mrs. Draig whispers weakly into her son's ear as she pulls him into a heartfelt loving embrace. An unearthly warmth, unlike any Oskar, has ever felt passes through his body as her arms close around him. His eyes close, lost in the sensation of the moment until suddenly the feeling vanishes as if it was never there and he opens his eyes to find the room dark and empty with no one else in the room except him and John.
Unsure of what to make of his strange visit from his mom, he turns to John, gently waking him from his slumber.
"Oskar… What is it? Are you okay?" John asks, shaking the sleep from his brain as he reaches over to stroke Oskar's shoulder.
"Umm, I think we need to check on my mom... I think something happened," Oskar responds, in a tone of uneasy certainty that something bad has happened.
"Of course, let's go," John responds as he climbs to his feet before turning and helping Oskar out of the bed.
All is silent as they close in on the door to Mrs. Draig's room. Oskar raps softly against the door's surface, soliciting only deafening silence from inside the room. John reaches out for the doorknob, finding it locked.
"Break it down," Oskar demands.
"You sure?"
"You heard me," Oskar momentarily casts a stern, forceful look at John before turning his attention back to the door.
John nods as he takes a deep breath and sends the door flying clean off its hinges with one devastating kick. The door collides with a powerful booming thud against the opposite side of the room. Oskar slowly looks inside the room revealing to his eyes what he already knew in his heart. His mother is dead.