by Night, H. T.
The Deity looked at me and said, “It was the right thing to do. It was the only thing you could do. One son was dying and the other saved him. Beautiful.”
The Deity then focused back on the two boys. “When you hit the ground, both of you, what did it feel like, falling on the ground from so high up?”
“I don’t remember,” Jason said. “My dad was there, making sure we were okay. It happened really fast.”
Then Joshua spoke up. “I remember for a split second, it felt like I could fly. I remember liking that part. I just didn’t like the part where I landed on the ground. Boom!”
“When your brother healed you, what did it feel like?” the Deity asked Joshua.
“It was a long time ago,” Joshua said. “What I remember is feeling a lot of pain, then suddenly it was gone...like magic. I suspected my brother had something to do with my pain going away.”
“Why?”
“Because he was glowing,” Joshua said. “His face, his body, everything. Glowing.”
The Deity looked at me and asked. “Do you remember Jason glowing?”
“No,” I said. “I was hyperaware of everything that was happening. I would definitely remember if my son looked like an angel in the process. It was just him in his five-year-old skin. A little boy.”
“Then what Joshua experienced was only a personal experience,” the Deity said. “That is common in healings, that only the person who is healed can see the healer at a core level, for who he is. Everyone else will see what they want to see, which is an ordinary little boy.”
Lena and I exchanged stunned glances.
The Deity paused. Then after a moment, she said to my entire family, “So, what is the reason that all of you are here together?”
Lena spoke up, which surprised me. “We’re here because this family carries the burden of the Mani people and it weighs heavy on us. My boys and my husband and I need guidance, as a family unit.”
“Well said. What do you need, sweet child?” the Deity asked Lena.
“I need guidance, peace of mind, and a belief that all of this isn’t for nothing.”
“That is quite a menu, sweetheart. I’m not sure if you’re going to get all those answers today. A couple of those questions, I think in the end, only you can answer. But I assure you, we are all proud of you, raising these two boys along with Josiah. Please understand that your role as mother isn’t diminished here. It’s as important as any cog in your family dynamic. Some would even argue that the role of the mother is the most important. I tend to agree with that. You are indispensable in the family unit.”
Lena beamed. Oh, the Deity really knew what to say to her. I was undaunted about my role as a father. I already knew how important I was to the boys, as a role model and protector, but I didn’t need the Deity to tell me that. It was instinctual.
The Deity looked at the two boys. “What about you? Do you two have any questions for me?”
“I do! Are our parents really vampires?” Joshua asked.
The Deity laughed. Then said, “What your parents are, are the leaders of the Mani, and the Mani are vampires.”
“Are Mani real vampires?” Joshua asked the Deity. “I mean, do they just think they are vampires, or are they really vampires?”
“What do you mean?” the Deity asked.
Jason chimed in, “We saw this TV talk show where the people on it claimed to be vampires, and I know they believed they were, but we didn’t buy it.”
Joshua nodded in agreement. “That’s exactly what I was thinking, only Jason said it.”
“Ah, television. Josiah, would you like to explain to your sons what you are?” the Deity said to me. She must have felt that this would sound better coming from me in this safe place.
I looked at my boys and I couldn’t believe this was going to be the first time I was going to tell them who I really was. It got me very emotional, more emotional than I had expected. My throat tightened and my heart rate increased.
“Sons, your mother and I are both vampires, in fact, a rare breed of vampire. As a matter of fact, we are the only two that have the traits we have. We are both vampire and human.”
“How is that possible?” Joshua asked. “I mean, I am asking because humans have DNA that is specific to each species.”
“Oh, the scientist at work. All things are possible,” I said. “We are being led by a spiritual force, one that is far greater than anything we can imagine, and that surpasses what science knows in our day and age. This was what they chose for us, for your mother and me.”
“Who are they?” Joshua asked.
“They are the Triat,” Jason answered.
“You know about the Triat?” the Deity asked Jason.
“I have always known about them, that they existed. I just never knew they had a name until now,” Jason said. Then, very uncharacteristically, he blurted out, “What is my destiny?”
“What do you see?” the Deity asked Jason.
“I see sadness, but I also see triumph. That is why I’m confused. How can they both exist in the same person?”
“Son,” the Deity said, “You and your brother share a bond and one of you may be needed to do an act so unselfish that you will possibly lose your life.”
My heart sank. I knew it was time for them to hear it. Knowing that it was the right thing did not make it any easier to hear, but they needed to prepare for it. Jason needed to prepare for it. Joshua just needed to prepare to possibly lose his brother. Again, it would be over my dead body, if it could be prevented. Prophecy or not, if I had to, I was going down with this ship.
The Deity could see the fire in my eyes. I could tell it unsettled her a little that I was dead-set against this martyrdom for one of my sons.
To my surprise, neither boy asked a follow-up question. I think both were just stunned at the news that one of them might die. The room was uncomfortably silent as the boys absorbed the dark news of what was to come.
If they hadn’t already seen so much, I would have never allowed them to know of this destiny so soon. Once again, I went with my instincts.
“Thank you, your Holiness, for explaining,” I said, politely moving toward ending our visit with her.
“Before you all leave, I need to speak to Josiah privately, one more time,” the Deity said.
I nodded my head and said to Lena, “I’ll meet you at the car in a few minutes.”
“I promise not to keep him that long,” the Deity said, smiling at my family. I was pretty sure that she couldn’t see any of them, but she did her best to smile in the direction that our voices were coming from.
Lena left the room silently, to take the boys back to the car. She left without saying goodbye, without one word at all. The boys didn’t speak either. The destiny news cast a dark sadness over us all.
I continued to sit right next to the Deity. I looked at her expectantly, knowing that she knew I was still there with her.
“Josiah, new challenges are coming. You need to quit your extracurricular activity and focus on your family. Some incredible events are on the horizon and you need to be ready when they all start to unfold.”
“So, it’s time for me to retire from being the Vampire Superhero?”
“It’s that or your family,” the Deity said.
“I choose my family,” I said.
“I knew you would. Love them, Josiah. Love them the only the only way you can.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Goodbye, Josiah. Till we meet again.”
I stood up. I hugged the Deity and kissed her on the top of her head.
When I got back to car, I knew I had good news for Lena, though I wasn’t sure the news sat as well with me. Anything to lighten up the family after this heavy meeting.
I opened the door and smiled at my wife. “Guess what, Lena?”
“What?” Lena said.
“She wants me to hang up my vampire superhero tights.”
“Retire?”
“Ye
p.”
“Ha! I knew I liked her.”
“Very funny.”
Chapter Thirteen
I nearly dozed off in the recliner in the den, which would have been nice, considering I hadn’t slept a wink. The sun had made its way up. My boys would be getting up and they usually ate a huge breakfast. My sleep pattern was all over the map, my vampire hours fighting with my boys’ human sleep schedule. Some days, I slept through the night so I could spend time indoors with my sons. Then other days, I was up all night doing nonsense with Sion, usually playing video games.
I decided to go to the kitchen and start their breakfast. I’d make them pancakes, eggs, bacon, and my special home-style potatoes. Delicious.
As I started mixing the pancake mix, I thought about what the Deity had said to me before I left that night at her bunker: “Focus on your family.” She wasn’t kidding.
I remember, it was about 11:00 p.m. I was watching ESPN, a Lakers game that I had DVR-ed earlier through a satellite signal. We were deep in the playoffs and I was checking the score and zooming through commercials to the highlights of the game. The boys were asleep and were down for the weekend from prep school. They were tuckered out from playing sports and studying. Lena was taking a bath with all of the fluffy, good-smelling bubbles and steam that women like when they have mondo cramps. She had a vampire romance novel in the tub with her, which I found quite amusing.
Just as the Lakers stole the ball, I heard the chimes bong at the front door of my castle. Our castle chimes sounded like Big Ben. They had to be loud for the sound to be able to be heard throughout the castle.
I didn’t get up right away to answer it. The Lakers were more important. Even though I had the game recorded on DVR, I was just riveted. Playoffs, baby!
After a long minute, during which I almost forgot someone had rung the door chimes, I heard three knocks at the door. Actually, it was more like Boom! Boom! Boom! as if some giant grim reaper was coming to call and was about to break down the door. The door to our castle was so thick that it hurt my hand to knock on it, so when I heard that pounding, now I was on the alert.
Whoever it was, it was a powerful knocking, full of foreboding and weighty news, if a knock could be analyzed.
Only one person I knew would even be capable of a knock like that, the only person who was capable of bringing down a huge door with his fists if I delayed answering it any longer.
I almost flew down the stairs, and before I had opened the door, I said, “Atticai!”
I opened the door and sure enough, Atticai’s tall, gangly body was right outside the door.
“May I come in, Josiah?” he asked.
“Of course. Welcome, old friend,” I said. I was shocked to see him. That was the first time that he had unexpectedly just showed up. After his face did not change to show any shred of happiness, I said, “Come on up to my man cave. I have the Lakers in the playoffs, and brewskies in the fridge.”
He shook his head and his eyes were sad, his face carrying an expression of dark intensity. I knew something secret was about to be said to me. I had been anticipating it all day. I had no idea it was going to be the news that I heard.
Atticai stepped into my castle and dropped to his knees in tears.
Holy shit! What the hell is going on?
“Atticai, what is wrong?” I asked, trying not to panic. The guy had never done any such thing that I could remember.
“Donya passed away two hours ago.” His voice choked out the news and I was shocked.
“What?” The news hit me like a load of bricks around my face.
“Passed away. She died?” I asked. It was almost unbelievable after all Atticai had been through to get her back.
“Yes. She’s dead.”
“What happened?”
“You know she had been sick for a long time. We never talked about it, but she had leukemia. We had a live-in doctor for the last couple of months.”
“Atticai, why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was Donya’s wish to keep it quiet.”
“Why wouldn’t she want me to know?”
“She knew you would do something wacky to keep her alive.”
“Wacky, huh?” I was completely confused.
“Josiah, you have been out saving the world, being a vampire superhero and Donya knew if you knew she was sick, you couldn’t help her yourself.”
Jason could have healed her. I kept that thought to myself.
“So, she chose to die a natural death?” I asked.
“Yes. That was the way she wanted it.”
“Wow, I’m so sorry. I have no words, Atticai.”
Atticai stood up and looked me in the eye and said simply, “I’m done here.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means I’m leaving my island.”
My heart sank. “Where are you going to go?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course if matters. I’d like you to know you will still be the governing body of your island. You could do it remotely.”
“That would not be fair to the people I govern. I have appointed someone to come on and take it over.”
“Who?”
“Brock Houston.”
“Brock Houston? He only has been a vampire for five years.”
“You know he’s a good choice.”
“Is he?” I asked.
“He’s the smartest Mani I know. He is also a top-notch fighter, not to mention he has the financial means to take it on.”
“All I know is he is rich. Rich people make me uncomfortable.”
“Well, Hector is rich, you seemed to have worked that out fine.”
“And that weirdo makes me uncomfortable.” I switched the subject back to Brock Houston.
“You said he’s a good fighter. How do you know?”
“He’s like you. He was an MMA fighter before he turned.”
“He is only a good fighter in the gym. He has never been tested in real battle.”
“He has, Josiah. There is a side of him that runs deep and I think he would make a terrific governor.” I couldn’t argue with a guy who just wanted to get away after his poor, dear wife had died.
“Well, we’ll talk about that later. How are you holding up?”
“I’m not. I’m mad. I’m vengeful. I want someone to pay for her death, but you can’t sue cancer, you can’t kill cancer, and you can’t send cancer to Hell.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I would have done something. I’m not sure right now what that would have been, but I wouldn’t have been able to sit by and watch her die.”
“Well, I did and it wasn’t pretty. I need to go far away from here and start over.”
I looked at Atticai and said, “I understand. Too many memories, and the last one, the saddest of all. Do you want to say goodbye to Lena and the kids?”
“You tell them for me. It was hard enough coming here to talk to you face to face!”
With that, Atticai got up and left my castle. I walked him downstairs and to the big door. As soon as the door opened, he transitioned into his black raven form. It was not until many years later that I even saw him again.
Chapter Fourteen
I stacked the pancakes. A stack of a dozen usually did the trick unless Joshua decided to pound down six pancakes again. If that happened, then I’d have to make some more. So, I needed a few more. I poured the batter in the pan and continued to think about the days that followed our family visit to the Deity.
Just like Atticai had said, Brock Houston eventually rose up and, with my blessing, became the governor of Attica Island. Mainly, it happened because there were no other viable candidates for the position. I couldn’t get a read on Brock Houston, other than he seemed to be one of the nicest people I’d ever met. I had no idea what his temperament was about, and how he came to be that way. But I know vicious men. Sometimes, the cruelest had the calmest, presumably coolest blood.
Brock Houston ruled Atti
ca Island with an iron fist and the island turned itself around and became very prosperous. It was pretty impressive to see what he had done with the mess that Atticai had left. I didn’t blame Atticai for the governing mess he had left Brock Houston with, because Atticai had been preoccupied with his wife’s illness. As in my life, family and loved ones came first.
I was excited that Atticai had picked a good replacement. The first time I became suspicious of Brock was one spring day. Back in 2025, my boys had been 13 years old. And, it was then that Jason had come to me and just said four words to me about Brock Houston. That was all I needed to know. Jason had said to me, “I don’t trust him.”
I was stunned because Jason loved and cared for everyone. For him to make that type of a statement sent a shiver down my spine. What was Jason seeing that I wasn’t?
I decided to find out. If you want to know about someone, get yourself invited to dinner, so that is what I did. Under the guise of asking him to show me the improvements to his island, I wrangled a dinner invitation out of him for my entire family to meet his entire family.
Brock and I were breaking bread at his new deluxe refurnished revamped castle that looked like something out of a fairy tale. While my own castle was old-school sixteenth century, his looked like something out of a Disney animated feature, right down to the hedges trimmed in the topiary shapes of animals.
My family and his family were finally having dinner, governor to governor. Brock had one son. He had had him when he was human, right before he became a Mani. No mother was in the picture. I never quite knew what had happened to the boy’s mother, I just knew that it was Brock and his son, Pierce, hanging on to a semblance of family.
Pierce was one tough four year old. I heard he had some medical problems early on, but seemed to be doing okay.
Brock and I broke off from the rest and I could tell he wanted to have a talk with me, man to man. I didn’t know him that well and I took it as an opportunity to get to be more comfortable with my decision of allowing this man to govern my other island.