Little Lost Leon: Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

Vernon was absolutely exhausted.  For he could not remember a time when he did not feel restless and completely unable to relax.

No, Vernon was not suffering from a very bad case of wanderlust.  He just did not feel like he was where he belonged, and it certainly did not help settle his incessant longing a bit that he had no idea what he was looking for—let alone where he could find it.

Vernon sure wanted to meet whoever said something or another about the value to life being more in the journey than the destination.  For he had a thing or two to tell him about what lurks in the shadows along the way.

Speaking of such, Vernon felt like he had been enveloped in a thick fogbank.  Considering the fact that he thought he had wandered up into the mountains, it might have been a low-hanging cloud.

Vernon could not see for certain.  In fact, it was too dark for him to even see his hand in front of his face, and he had been literally stumbling around in the dark for what seemed like hours.

Vernon’s next step was a real doozy, as they say.  For when he went to put his foot back down on the ground, there was no ground to be found, and Vernon started falling.

Vernon had no idea just how far he fell, but he landed with a resounding thud.  The thought occurred to him that it would be in his best interest to just lay still until he could actually see where he was, and Vernon could not think of a good reason why he should engage in another argument with himself.  So, with nothing better to do, he started reflecting on how he came to be wherever he was.

Vernon was the youngest of Stephen and Samarah’s eight children.  Included in the brood were five sons and three daughters.

Stephen was a junior evangelist under the tutelage of Rev. Ben.  Yeah, THAT Rev. Ben, who was also known as Amelia’s father.

Stephen felt seduced by the dark side, and he could not honestly say that he did not like it.  For it held a much stronger appeal to him than walking in the Light of the Lord ever did, but he could see where remaining in the Christian ministry could prove most rewarding—not to mention profitable.

What Stephen had in mind was holding special services for demonstrations of demonic possession and exorcism.  For this would surely attract huge crowds and have the coffers overflowing.  “After all,” Stephen would reason to himself, “What good Christian would not want to dig deep and tithe more to keep real Christian soldiers well supplied as they waged war against the forces of darkness—especially if those good Christians had wives and daughters to protect?”

Stephen had it all worked out by the time he went to present his proposal to Rev. Ben, but he would not disclose any of the details to the old preacher.  The plan was for Samarah to sit quietly in the front row while hymns were being sung before starting to moan about needing a real man to quench the fire in her loins.  This would become louder and louder as Stephen commanded the demon to let go of the mother of his children.  She would collapse in a heap when the demon left her and was set scurrying back to Hell with its tail between its legs.  Then Stephen would preach about the devil and his demons being constantly on the prowl for souls to devour.

Samarah was very enthusiastic about the plan.  For she had grown very weary of always having to barely get by on the next to nothing Stephen received as a junior evangelist, and she had a great deal of genuine gypsy blood coursing through her veins.  As far as she could see, the traveling tent revival was no different than the theater productions her people had been acting in for centuries all over Europe and what Stephen was proposing would make for a much better show.

The trouble was Rev, Ben being quite dogmatic in his belief that the Spiritual gifts bestowed on early disciples had been rescinded when the canon of Scripture was complete.  Therefore, a Christian no longer had the power to cast out demons and send them back to Hell, and he dismissed Stephen’s proposal with great fervor.

Stephen was not one to be easily deterred when he set his mind to something, however.  When Rev. Ben overheard him talking to an obviously very wealthy man about holding one of his special services in the man’s home some night after a regular tent revival service, Rev. Ben started to literally rend his garments.  He pulled Stephen not so gently off to the side, where he gave him the option of repenting or face a public rebuke during the next night’s service.  Stephen opted for starting his own ministry, instead.

Since Rev. Ben was not using anything even close to being a hushed tone when he confronted Stephen, the wealthy man Stephen had been talking to before could not help but hear what was being said between Rev. Ben and Stephen.  After Rev. Ben stomped off, the wealthy man offered to fund Stephen’s new ministry in exchange for a cut of the proceeds.  He even had a place for Stephen and his family to very comfortably stay, as well as a very good place to hold the services.  It was an offer that Stephen did not want to refuse, and he thanked Mark profusely.

Needless to say, we are talking about a very small world here.  For Mark demanded being referred to as Master Mark when he was more in his own element.

Ruby never attended one of Stephen’s special services, which had grown into great productions with a cast numbering in the dozens by the time she was first brought to Master Mark’s compound.  Although, she was selected to comfort one of Stephen’s sons, who was quite worried about how physically attractive he was to women and needed reassuring that he would have no trouble with being able to marry a very lovely lass when the time came.

What Ruby was told was all news to Vernon.  For he had just hoped to receive a good gift for his sixteenth birthday.  Are you starting to connect the proverbial dots yet?

Master Mark did more for Stephen than just facilitate the production of his staged battles.  He also introduced him to the real powers that be in the darkness, and Stephen was soon conducting weekly black masses in the cave the underground cabal held their quarterly gatherings in.  Yes, it was the same cabal Ruby’s father, Manfred, had been a member of. 

Master Mark was also a member of the cabal, and he knew Manfred very well.  Although, he had no idea who Ruby was.

Master Mark would have claimed Ruby for his personal harem if he had of discovered that Manfred was her father.  For such bold actions were highly respected by the membership, and Manfred would have been expected to retaliate or face expulsion in one way or another.  More than likely, the expulsion would have been by execution.

Ironically, it was through the cabal that Stephen was able to seemingly actually cast out a demon operating in the flesh.  For he made a deal with the other members to take control of Master Mark’s kingdom before Master Mark could get rid of them, and Master Mark was sacrificed on an altar dedicated to Satan during a very wild night of debauchery led by Sister Evangeline, who had been given control of her own coven of witches.

Vernon thoroughly enjoyed participating in the frequent orgies, and he did not care if he landed on one of his actual sisters or one of the other sisters.  He even had a go with his mother one night.

Nonetheless, Vernon felt empty inside.  Having been convinced that there was nothing to Christianity as generally presented, he took off in search of true enlightenment.  Vernon drifted between Gnosticism, Jewish mysticism, Hinduism, Buddhism and just about every other kind of ism there was out there.  Unfulfilled, he remained empty and longing.

Throughout it all, there was one memory that both tormented and seduced Vernon.  For in spite of their meeting being under very impure circumstances, the love Vernon had for Rosie was pure.  Vernon dreamed of spending the rest of his life very happily with her, and this inspired him to head back to where they had first met in the hope of finding her again.

Vernon was in Spain at the time studying the Kabbalah in a school run by a rabbi far removed from Orthodox Judaism.  Vernon had enough money left to book passage on a ship bound for America, and Vernon boarded the ship feeling more optimistic about his future than he could remember when.  For Vernon had it in his head that his parents wanted him to be happy more than anything else and would even marshal the resources of the cabal to find Rosie for him.

Vernon was sadly mistaken.  For as soon as he entered the front gate of what used to be Master Mark’s compound, he was escorted in front of his father, who ordered his youngest son held in the new dungeon that had been constructed underneath the main hall until time for the next gathering of the cabal.  It would be at that time when Vernon would be sacrificed on Satan’s altar to further cement his father’s position as the Most High Priest over of the cabal.

Vernon later learned that his leaving had caused his father some serious difficulties in the cabal.  For as far as the other members were concerned, Vernon knew too much about them to be off wandering around trying to find himself.  For he might stumble on a conscience and start revealing their secrets to the authorities.

No, that was not something the membership of the cabal wanted to risk, and they had threatened to sacrifice Stephen if he failed to bring his son back home before the next quarterly gathering.  Stephen had managed to have the deadline extended several times, but his grace period would not be extended again.

Vernon’s mother never made an effort to visit Vernon while he awaited his fate in the dungeon, but a semblance of goodness still remained in Sister Evangeline.  She had always been quite fond of Vernon, and when he told her about his desire to find Rosie, the permafrost covering her heart thawed just enough to move her to arrange for his escape.  For she had a soft spot for Rosie, as well.

Vernon had no idea in what direction to run.  He just ran until he could run no more.

After literally stumbling around in the dark for what seemed hours, Vernon found himself lost somewhere down the steep side of a mountain.  To be perfectly honest with himself about it, he did not know where he found himself—other than still alive after falling an unknown distance.  Sleep overtook him as he reflected on how he came to be wherever he was.

Vernon saw a man standing in the middle of a field covered with a lush blanket of very green grass.  Vernon approached him and asked, “Where am I?”

The man looked over at him and smiled.  “You are here.”

“Where is here?”

“Oh, it is west of back there and east of out there.  Not too far up north, nor too far down south.”

“What kind of a nonsensical answer is that?”

Now, there is no need to be insulting.  For those who know where they belong know where they are at.”

“How does anyone really know where they belong?”

“Ah yes, you are a seeker.  ‘Tis a truly arduous journey to embark on along a very steep and treacherous path.  Always struggling uphill when not sliding out of control downhill, with frustration lurking in the shadows around every bend.”

“You talk in riddles.  Are you incapable of speaking plainly?”

“It is no riddle for those who know where they belong, where all have always belonged.  No one has to truly seek for it.  For each have always known deep down within their soul, but no one will be forced to reside there they do not want to.  So, seekers continue to seek without any honest expectation of ever finding home.  How could they?  For if they did, they could no longer be seekers.”

“I am so very tired.”

“There is rest for the weary in the shire.”

Vernon awoke drenched with sweat and quite surprised to find himself lying in a cleft on the jagged face of a cliff instead of in that field with the man.

“Where had I gone?  Was it all just a dream?”  Vernon had no answers for himself and was feeling rather dizzy as he tried to sit up and look around.

No, it certainly did not seem like a dream to Vernon.  For it was all so vivid and clearly remained in his mind like a memory of a very recent event.

With there appearing to be no way to go downhill in any sort of controlled manner, Vernon's only option was to struggle uphill if he did not want to stay where he was at any longer.  The parallels with what the man had told Vernon about seeking and his current situation were uncanny.  Moreover, it was a perfect description of Vernon's entire life.

Vernon could see a way to climb to the top off to side of where he had landed. When Vernon finally made it all of the way on top, he was shocked to see a gentle slope leading down the other side of the mountain.  There was even a path devoid of large rocks for him to follow toward what looked like a deep valley shrouded in a blue haze not very far off in the distance.  Vernon wondered if the shire offering rest for the weary was located there.

It was.  Well, at least what looked like a large company named Shire was located in the deep valley, and surrounding the complex were acres and acres of lush, very green grass.

Vernon was standing in front of the main entrance to the Shire complex taking it all in when he heard someone say in a voice that sounded strangely familiar to him, “Good, you made it!”

Vernon whirled around and simply could not believe his eyes.  For standing there was the man from his dream.  Vernon stammered when he tried to reply to him.  “I...I...I thought you were a figment of my imagination?”

“Hmm, I cannot recall ever being greeted just exactly like that before.  Of course, I suppose it is possible for my memory to not be quite like it used to be.  My name is Graham.  Are you looking for some work?”

Vernon blinked his eyes and saw that it was an older man now talking to him, and the man in his dream was nowhere to be seen.  Vernon did not think he had ever felt so confused, but he managed to nod his head up and down in an affirmative motion and followed Graham inside the first building they came to.

It was immediately after first stepping inside that Vernon received the biggest shock of his life so far.  For he found himself staring deeply into those sapphire-blue eyes of Rosie.  Well, at least those in a life-sized portrait of her.

“Why is there a portrait of Rosie hanging in this room?”

“Rosie?  That is Alfred’s sister, Ruby.”

“Who is Alfred?”

“He inherited Shire from their father.  Ruby is missing, and Alfred has painted portraits of her every year to help people find her.  Have you actually seen her lately or is she another figment of your imagination?”

“No, she is most definitely not a figment, but she has been constantly on my mind since we first met around twelve years ago.  I have not seen her since.”

“Twelve years ago!  Alfred will certainly want to talk to you.  Please wait here while I go get him.”

Alfred was not sure if he was in trouble again or not, but he did not feel an urge to run for it.  So, he just stood there and waited for whatever would happen next.

A nice woman came up to him and asked if he wanted anything to eat or drink.  Vernon did not answer right away, and his belly took the initiative by letting lose with a loud growl.  Vernon had not realized it, but it had been a day and a half since the last time he had something to eat, which was Mater Mark’s watered-down vegetable soup his father had adopted as his own concoction for his less than honored guests and damned subjects.

Vernon was led down a hall and asked to sit at a long table in another room.  The lady then left the room and soon came back pushing a wheeled cart.  On the cart was a pitcher of ice tea and a pot of hot coffee, as well as plates with everything from fried bacon and eggs to thick slices of ham and roast beef, along with the fixings for a sandwich or three.  She placed an empty plate and silverware in front of Vernon and told him to have what he pleased.

Vernon was in the middle of devouring his second roast beef, ham, fried egg, bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich about four inches tall when another man around Vernon’s age and Graham entered the room.  They sat down next to Vernon without uttering a word until they were both seated.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Vernon.  My name is Alfred.  Would you mind if we share in your brunch?”

Vernon already suspected that the other man was Alfred, but it startled him that Alfred knew who he was.  For Vernon could not recall telling Graham his name.  Vernon recovered enough to be able to nod his head in agreement to them eating with him, though.

Vernon wolfed down the rest of his second sandwich and finished off the pitcher of ice tea.  A second pitcher was brought to the table before he finished his glass, and Alfred thanked the server profusely.

“Thank you so very much for treating me so graciously.  I would be grateful for an opportunity to repay you for your kindness, Alfred.  Of course, for yours as well, Graham.”

“Be assured that it is our pleasure, Vernon.  Graham tells me that you knew my sister by the name of Rosie.  Can you tell me how you met her?  I would be grateful for the when and where, too.”

Vernon realized that rushing right into the full truth without massaging the details somewhat might turn a very nice discussion into a very ugly confrontation in a hurry.  So, he worded his answer as gently as he could think of at the time.

“I met your sister around twelve years ago not all that far from here when my father arranged a date for me with her.”

Alfred was shocked by the fact that Ruby had not been too far away at all.  Well, at least she had been up to around twelve years ago.

“Ruby ran away from the home we shared with our father a little after she was ten years-old.  For our father, Manfred, was not a very nice man at all, and I am sure glad she escaped the abuse before it became too late.”  Alfred continued on with hitting some of the highlights of the very dark days of their childhood as Vernon listened intently in horror.

“I am so sorry you both had to endure such misery.  My father calls himself Satan’s Most High Priest, with all of the sadistic behavior that entails.  My mother is still alive, but I am quite sure that it is only on account of her being every bit as evil at heart as he is.  Come to think of it, I remember hearing mention of your father while being around some other members of the underground cabal my father is now the head of.”  Vernon continued on with hitting some of the highlights of his very dark days so far as Alfred listened intently in horror.

“Is the cabal still around here, Vernon?”

“Yes, Alfred, very much so.  They are a very dangerous bunch to mess with, though.  I swear that I am not exaggerating by saying that there are gallons of blood on their hands, with a great deal of it not being figuratively.  I can lead you to my father’s compound, and if you cannot get any useful information out of him or my mother, I imagine there will be someone around who can help you identify the other members of the cabal, but I need to tell you the full story to my date with your sister first.”

Vernon went on to tell Alfred and Graham about what he knew of Master Mark’s operation and the rest of the sordid tale.  Alfred did not think there was much that could truly shock him after what he and Ruby had endured under his father’s roof, but what Vernon was telling him about her was most definitely an exception.  For he could not image his innocent little sister being a willing participant in what Master Mark was having her do.

Graham could see that Alfred was having a very difficult time digesting the information.  “People often do what they have to survive, Alfred.  It would be hard enough for a grown woman trapped in those circumstances and exponentially worse on a young girl.”

“Oh, I am not blaming her, Graham, and I suppose I should not be so shocked.  For looking back on the circumstances of our childhood, I can see where it would have been a matter of a very short time before our father would have forced himself on Ruby.  It may very well be that she sensed this while I remained clueless, and that is why she pushed so hard for us to make good on our escape before I was completely confident of success.  Nonetheless, it is just so hard for me to imagine her acting like she enjoyed it so much.  Please, be assured Vernon, that I do not harbor any ill will toward you, and I would greatly appreciate any help you may be able to provide.  You are family to me now, and you are more than welcome to make a home with us for as long as you like.”

“There is rest for the weary in the shire.”  The last words the man spoke to him in his dream echoed in Vernon’s head, and he realized that it really was not a dream.  For it was surely a full-fledged vision, and Vernon was just as determined as Alfred to make sure that both of their dreams came true by bringing Ruby home.