The Snake and The Rabbit

Black Dog

He was standing in the sitting room gazing out the window, his left hand upon his forehead. I started to speak but before I could utter a sound he stopped me extending outward the same hand he had held over his forehead. Then he placed his forearm over his eyes. “Something is awry with the world Watson. I feel it in my bones. Bleakness is all around.” He abruptly sat down at the table. I casually sat next to him. He was the most ashen shade of pale imaginable with black circles beneath two hollowed out eyes. He let out a long sigh. “I am being haunted Watson.” He fluttered a smile. “Laugh,” Holmes waved his hand in the air as if trying to erase the remark.

“Why should I? You know how I feel upon the subject.”

“Why indeed?” He got up and started to pace. “We are given brains to think. To work out the gray matter of life; reason and logic, when you take away those elements you might as well run a-mess in chaos . Why are we tormented by things we have no control over? The brain is an orderly devise for storing important facts, data that matters to the problems at hand. Why should it be overridden with garble?” The longer he talked the faster he paced. I was sure the carpet should catch fire from the friction of his shoes upon it.

After a moment of silence and constant pacing, I took a leap of faith that this conversation might keep moving and I could ascertain the cause of my friends’ agitation. “How are you being haunted?”

Holmes refused to cease his feverish pacing not even for a moment. “You tell me. You know my methods.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Alright, sleep eludes you. Your head has not touched a pillow within a fortnight. Though your chair has produced a few much needed moments of rest. You will not accept medication from me; however, you have yet to medicate yourself, unless you have done it elsewhere. Which, I refuse to believe. Your mood is downright cruel. I have never known you to be as odious as I have witnessed in the past few days. From the lack of sleep, no less. And if I might add from a medical point of view, you look haggard and worn out. How can you be of service to your clients? Sleep is as important to the brain as work.” It is not my nature to be strong willed where Holmes is concerned. Though, I do stand upon my points.

He stopped in his tracks as if a wall had been placed in his way. I had no way of knowing if the weight of my words meant something to him or if he was too exhausted to continue the feverish pace. “Sleep!” He shouted. “That is where it all goes wrong. How much time do we waste sleeping? How much energy do we spend in that darken state where all manner of things are allowed to proceed without care or caution?”

“Are you dreaming?” I asked with caution.

His manner and tone changed, “one dream. Repeatedly.” He collapsed in his arm chair.

“Can I assist?”

He just shook his weary head. “It haunts my waking thoughts, this madness.” He snorted, “so much so that I went round to visit Mycroft.” Holmes jumped back up from his arm chair; “waisted time on that venture!” He shook his finger at me, “if I would have needed words filled with the softer emotions of life, I would have talked to you.”

“Then talk to me now,” I pleaded. Nothing.

I looked at the parcel upon the table. I thought it might be best to engage his great mind. “A book?” I asked holding the mass of brown paper in my hand.

The Snake and The Rabbit

Once there was Darkness

Birthday Part 1

Kol was sitting on a cloud. The world around him was peaceful and calm.

“How does it feel to be married again?”

He smiled, “it feels right.”

“What about us?”

He wasn’t going to look at her. His focus would remain on the cloud. “I wasn’t able to get any feel about us. We returned from a victorious battle. I was on an emotional high. Was slammed violently back to the ground finding my father dead. Had our wedding not already been planned, we should have waited. Regardless, you became with child. That should have been joyous for both of us but you instantly hated me. The birth of our son should have been the happiest day of our lives. You took that from me. Then you died. Was there ever an us?”

“I think you’re right.” She laughed. “Was there anything about me you loved?”

“Looking back on it, I think I used you. I’m truly sorry. You were so very different.”

“From Kessa?” He took a deep breath. “Your mother fed that you know?”

“How?”

“She made sure you saw Kessa and Max in situations that would feed jealousy. That’s exactly what she did to me. She used Kessa to make me hate you. And by the end, I truly hated you. I had planned to force you into ending the marriage.”

“I thought you said you could only give me clues?”

“We are just talking.”

“I did have an affair but Frego is your son. Don’t let anyone try to say he’s not.” Kol couldn’t speak. He had suspicions but had never said anything. “Do you know what day it is when you wake?”

“Meaning?”

“You don’t know.” She giggled. “It’s Kessa’s birthday” He turned to face Sarah.

“Honestly?!”

“This is my final gift to you.” She smiled. “Her favorite color is purple. She loves tulips. They only grow on the mountain in the spring. That little flowering vine is a honeysuckle.”

“She smells like them.” He thought about Kessa’s birthday. “What can I possibly do to make this day special?” Sarah didn’t answer. He looked around for her but she was gone.

He woke with that thought on his mind. ‘What could he possibly do to make this day special?’

She had left a note on her pillow; Barracks. Love you. K

He stuck his head out the door and locked eyes with his porter. Shook his head before disappearing back inside.

‘Was this a trick?’ Sarah hadn’t tricked him before. He paced for a moment before stepping back outside to a stunned porter. He shook his head and stepped back into their chambers.

‘What can I do?’ Should he try to plan something? Should he wait? He paced. “Rajaf!”

The Science Fiction Equation

Think of the irony of this picture. I’m currently reading ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’. What took me so long? Who knows? I guess I didn’t fully realize just what it was. Better late than never.

I’m a big fan of science fiction. It fuels my imagination and makes me think.

Some devout Christians dismiss science fiction. There are no aliens (little green men from Mars). No flying saucers. Life is here on Earth. Going out into the stars to look for or extend the boundaries of humanity is – well useless.

It dawned on me while enjoying my latest diversion; so much energy has been poured out in literature. All genres, not just science fiction, to disprove God. If God doesn’t exist, why does humanity spend so much energy trying to prove it.

The Bible says a lot of stuff that we don’t want to hear. Especially the Old Testament.

“I will protect you.” God

Reading the Old Testament is (for me) like remembering all those things my parents told me not to do when I was little: “don’t stick your finger in a light socket. Don’t put your hand on the stove. Don’t eat that, you dropped it in the floor. WASH YOUR HANDS!”

And how many times did you do it anyway?

Children rebel. We push against our parents or their teachings. Usually as antiquated, out of touch, not keeping up with a changing world. After all, they don’t know what it feels like to be me. In this world. In this time.

‘I will keep you safe, if you let me,’ God.

What seems like a whole bunch of mundane rules is the ground work for keeping God’s children safe. In a world full of stuff just lurking around the next corner. Waiting to devour you – body and soul. God wants us to be safe. Safe from sin, disease, death, and despair.

He does exist.

Did you catch the irony in my picture? The closest thing I had at hand to use as a bookmarker was a Bible track. This isn’t my book so I’m not going to dog ear the pages. Do you think the book with spontaneously combust by being in direct contact with the word of God? 🤔

The Enemy Inside

How do you fight an enemy you can’t see?

How do you let IT be?

~

Why do I have to be on guard 24/7?

Sometimes I think I’m ready to go to heaven.

~

The enemy inside is strong.

Sometimes, the fight goes all wrong.

~

Cookies, cakes and pies –

oh my.

~

Don’t stand a chance.

It’s our love dance.

~

The enemy inside never hides.

But it always chooses sides.

~

Which ever side is the worst.

Which ever side makes me thirst.

~

The enemy inside gives me direction.

Shows me a section.

~

Never the good stuff. Always the bad.

Whatever it can do to make me sad.

~

Question myself or bring down the house.

Hopes and dreams it loves to douse.

~

Does this enemy have a name?

Should I let it stake a claim?

The Snake and The Rabbit

The Lady at the door

The day this amazing adventure begins is like any other. Holmes went out before me though we returned to 221 B Bakers Street at the same time. He on some business I could only deduce. Not all affairs were confide in me. I was concerned about my friend for he had not been sleeping, which was not unusual for short periods of time. This had gone on for a fortnight. A catnap here or there. Nothing with real substance of rest. He would allow no medicine from me. And much to my delight, he had not medicated himself.

“Ah Watson,” my friend raised his cane to his shoulder, seemingly never looking up from the walk.

I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was depressed, consumed by the Black Dog. This was a common state for him. Usually he was far from melancholy when engaged in a problem; he was facing three, none of which lightened his mood nor enabled him to sleep. Too often, exhaustion would force him to sleep. Something about this was different and frightfully so.

“Splendid morning,” I smiled, in the best of spirits. Praying a small prayer that it would be infectious and his mood would lighten.

He scoffed, “indeed.”

I paused just to the right of the step leading to the front entrance. He stopped centimeters away from a pair of dull black well warn boots. The slightest hint of black lace could be seen brushing the top of the shoe. It was a sharp contrast even I could not overlook against the shining polish of Holmes’ boots. The woman was clean and neatly dressed though she was not burdened with wealth.

Holmes glanced at me then back to the creature hunched over on the step. “Knock!” he roared. I jumped for the assault was harsh indeed. If the birds had been perched on top of our home, they would have flown away in panic.

Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I”, she paused fighting back tears I thought. “Dare not.”

“That has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.” He continued to roar. “The sun has not crept through the fog making this a dull damp morning indeed but you choose not to summon the constitution to knock upon a simple door.”

“Old man, you are being brutal.” I wanted this mystery woman to know not every person hated mornings. Though I am not generally an early riser, it was a pleasant enough morning.

“Knock!” Came his roaring command again.

At that moment Mrs. Hudson opened the door, “Ah, Mr. Holmes, it is you. Scare the day lights out of me will you?” She glanced over at me then back to Holmes, “do you want any breakfast?”

“No,” he growled. “Breakfast lingers on lips like Absinth on the mind.”

The mystery woman stood, rapidly thrusting a brown object at Holmes; then ran like a creature possessed down the street into the morning fog.

Holmes turned his attention to Mrs. Hudson, whom stood in the door as dumbfounded as I. “Women!” He roared once more brushing past her and up the stairs.

“Good morning Mrs. Hudson.” I smiled.

“Good morning doctor,” she collected my hat and stick as I removed my coat. “Breakfast doctor?”

“Maybe later.” I went up the stairs to see if my friend would enlighten me about his atrocious mood.

The Snake and The Rabbit

Once there was Darkness

Chapter 38

Kessa walked into the library. Kol was pacing back and forth like a caged animal. The floor was covered in paper. Some of it was crumpled into balls. There were books splayed open. Sheets of paper everywhere. She was almost afraid to step anywhere. So she slipped off her shoes.

Kol was so lost that he hadn’t heard the knock. Hadn’t heard her come in. Finally, he stopped pacing, sniffed before rubbing his face with his hands. When she touched his shoulder, he quickly turned to face her. “Kes,” he hugged her up.

“What’s wrong, my husband?” She asked softly.

“How do you write?” He asked releasing her from the hug. She cocked her head to the side a little. “I know how to write.” A great sigh escaped his throat as he set on the edge of the desk. “Everything I write sounds so,” he thought searching for the right words. “Dull, legal.” Those fingers that she so loved gliding over her body was being used to scratch his head. He motioned for her to join him. When she was close, he put his hands on her waist. “You’re list, compared to mine, reads like a love story. You can leave me a note telling me you are going to the market and it glows off the page. My words are heavy.”

With gentle fingers, she stroked his hair. “Prehaps it’s the reader.” She sweetly suggested as he leaned into her touch. “Walk with me.” She suggested.

He got up. She led him to the top of the wall. The sun was setting filling the sky with color. Finally, the courage to speak filled him. “You didn’t answer my question.”

She pressed her lips together. “Which one?”  

“When Abraham brought the box to the library, I asked if you thought he was telling the truth? I wanted your gut reaction.”

“That one.” She prayed a silent prayer as they walked that God would give her the right words to say. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. She didn’t trust his mother. But it wasn’t her place to bring the Queen Mother down. Right now would be the perfect time for a distraction. But none came. With great caution she finally said, “I think Abraham’s box is a treasured gift.”

“Why would you go through someone else’s garbage?”

Kessa was afraid to speak.

He stopped; sitting on the wall, eagerly anticipating her next words. ‘Guide me lord’, came another prayer. “When Frego was born, you wasn’t allowed in the room.”

Kol about fell off the wall. Shock resonated in his voice, “how do you know that?”

“I was there.” Kessa stepped a step closer to him.

“You saw Frego’s birth?”

“No, I was watching you. I’ve seen you go through a lot in your life. That moment of rejection still haunts you. Upset as you were, you waited. Waited for your moment with Frego. When you got it, you’ve never let it go. There isn’t a star in the sky that you wouldn’t try to shoot down if he wanted one.” Kol’s eyes got moist with tears. She was right. “What if this situation with Abraham is similar? He’s telling the truth. They can’t have children. Elizabeth is your mother’s sister. As long as I can remember Abraham has always been there for you and with you. Always two steps behind. If I were him, and your mother purged your chambers, you’d better believe I’d be rooting through more than garbage to save pieces of your life.”  

He put his hands around her waist pulling her closer. Night was falling. All across the wall, soldiers were lighting torches. They stayed far away from the king and queen as they went about their work.

“Why would he care about me more than my own parents?”

Kessa pressed her lips together again. He was asking hard questions. His eyes were pleading when she looked into them. “Human nature is selfish. We tend for our surroundings to be all about us. Even when children are brought into the situation, the need for ‘me’ is too strong.” He laid his head on Kessa’s stomach. “Accept Abraham’s gift as a gift of love?” She rubbed her fingers through his hair. “We don’t get to choose our parents. But God puts amazing people in our lives that have better gifts than our parents.”

“Do you ever wonder who your parents are?” His question sent ripples of disgust through her and she took a step back. Had he stepped into waters where he didn’t belong?

“No. They didn’t want me. The greatest thing they did for me was give me away. The life I have I wouldn’t trade for any other life.” She smiled a wicked grin, licked her lips, and leaned in, hissing in his ear, “I got me a king.”

He fought back the mixed bag of emotions he was feeling and started laughing. When he looked at her, her face seemed to glow with delight.

“A broken king.” He tried to smile. She caressed his face. He kissed her hand when she got to his lips. “I wish I could see myself through your eyes.”

“If you could, you would see the third greatest man that ever lived.”

A twinge of pain rippled through him, “third. How did I rank so low?”

“Jesus, my dad,”

His smile lit up the night, “that is a list I’m honored to be third on.”