Chapter 2
Light. A pinprick of blueish light illuminates the swirling, musky darkness. Decay and shades surround him as he looks around and reaches towards the light.
Remember your place, Moon King. Remember... And return.
Grandfather shocks himself awake, almost sitting upright and panting. Who was the Moon King? A glint of light catches his eye. Drawn towards it, he reaches into the corner and picks up the most radiant marble he's ever seen; it pulsates with a pearly blue glow of its own, in sync with his own heartbeat. Where could such a wondrous trinket have come from? Kubo stirs in his mat, and Grandfather, sensing the marble has something to do with his grandson's agitation, hastily shoves it deep inside his night robe. Quietly, he leans over and strokes back Kubo's stray bangs- he's usually so peaceful when he sleeps. The eyepatch saddens him somehow- Kubo refused to tell him how he'd lost his eye. At least he was still handsome without it, which was more than a small consolation.
What was that outside the window? Best to lean out for a closer look...
Kubo started awake, and the shadows darted from him in turn. He didn't notice- he wasn't fully awake yet- but what he did see was a figure near the window. "Grandfather?" He whispered. Nothing, not so much as a ripple of acknowledgement. Cautiously, Kubo rose from his mat to stand by his elder. "Are you all right, Grandfather? What are you admiring?" For Grandfather's facial expression was of one in rapture, of one who's undergone a life-changing revelation and is recovering from it. When Kubo joined him in his reverent gaze, all he glimpsed was a brief flash of blue light, then nothing but wallowing inkiness.
"Come to bed, Grandfather. Please," he gently tugged on a shirtsleeve. Sadly, he instantly regretted it, for when the man was disturbed, he turned to Kubo with the same intimidating glare as the night before. Still clutching his sleeve like the frightened young child he'd thought he'd outgrown, Kubo instinctively backed up a step. Stunned into silence, he backed away further- anything to put some distance between himself and the figure looming near the window. So caught up was he in his grandfather's newfound malevolence, he failed to notice a tiny blue orb shining from the elder's robe pocket.
Then, as quickly as it began, the malevolence vanished, leaving behind a startled old man. "Kubo? What are you doing over there?" When the teen didn't answer, he asked in a more subdued tone, "Is it nightmares again? You've been sleeping so well these past few months!"
Hesitantly, Kubo returned to him. "If anyone was suffering a nightmare, it was you! I tried to shake you from it, but you glared at me with murder in your eyes."
Grandfather looked as confused as he was. "Did I? I don't remember a thing! Oh my, what strange happenings occur to us in our old age! Not easy to acclimate to, Kubo, I must warn you..."
Kubo squinted at him. "So you remember nothing?"
"Nothing! I don't understand..." He shuffled around, as if to ward off any remnants of sleepwalking.
"Shall we return to bed, Grandfather? You need your rest."
"What? Oh, of course, grandson, you're right. Best to get some sleep!"
Sleep came surprisingly swiftly for Kubo- his exhausted body couldn't fight off the uneasiness that had kept him awake the previous night. On the other hand, Granfather lay awake a few seconds more, just long enough to check if his grandson was asleep before sneaking a guilty peak at his lovely new glowing trinket. For some reason, he feared Kubo might not approve of his new marble.
Hello again! As always, reviews are more than welcome. :) Happy New Year!