Part X: When the Clock Strikes Midnite
Jade and Chas followed John down the plush red-carpeted steps, into the exclusive, and—as Chas had pointed out earlier—legendary bar. John didn't look at all surprised when they were greeted by Papa Midnite himself instead of by the usual bouncer with a trick-card. The imposing African shaman was smoking wispily, his fedora tilted down over his eyes in a mysterious manner.
"John," he greeted softly, in a heavily accented voice. "I thought you said she didn't have it."
John looked at him silently for a moment, then walked past Midnite and into the club. Chas started sputtering about the disrespect John was showing toward one of the most legendary warriors in exorcism history, but John held up an abrupt hand, and Chas fell silent. Midnite chuckled behind them, and intercepted their path, leading them to the back room. Jade, bringing up the very rear, was silently fascinated by the atmosphere of the club, but eyed the expensive, mystic-decorated chamber—like everything else—with passive indifference. The small troupe reached the back room, the quilted door swinging open almost immediately, and Midnite led them inside. He gestured to the plush armchairs, "Please, sit."
Chas plopped eagerly into the nearest chair, while Jade cautiously slid onto the right side of a loveseat. John remained standing, not to anyone's surprise. Midnite himself sat down behind a large wooden table and tapped his cigar casually on the edge of an ashtray.
"This is Jade," John introduced her curtly, and gestured at Chas, "and Chas. You've met him."
"Yes, yes, my pleasure, Miss Jade." Midnite took the proffered hand and kissed it gallantly. John rolled his eyes, and Midnite turned to Chas. "Angel, I see."
Chas was bouncing up and down in his seat excitedly.
Jade slouched, shooting a glance at Chas, 'Angel', she mouthed. He shrugged tersely, so she decided to let it go.
"As I was saying," Midnite continue, settling back into his seat, "Won't you sit, John?"
John looked exasperated, but seated himself rigidly on the loveseat next to Jade.
"I thought you said she didn't have the gift."
Jade had to lean back considerably, as John was now obstructing her direct connection to Chas, and mouthed silently to the boy, 'gift'? Chas shrugged again, though he looked suspiciously unconfused, considering. She narrowed her eyes, but turned back to John and Midnite, who were still talking.
"She doesn't have the gift, Midnite. The entire reason she was born was so she wouldn't have the gift."
"Things don't always work out," Midnite said, extinguishing his cigar in the ashtray, "as planned, John. You know that as well as I. Of course," he muttered softly to himself, "It would make sense…it runs in the family…"
"But—"
"I don't have any gifts," Jade interjected, "Sorry to disappoint. I'm just plain, boring, and slightly thrown by all this voodoo shit."
Midnite chuckled, "Voodoo shit? Of course." He picked up a bowl of water and set it in front of him, muttering several phrases and then dropping a couple of colorful glass beads in the bowl. They rolled around in the bottom, letting off an oily residue that floated to the top, forming soap-like patterns. Chas watched, fascinated, while John and Jade rolled their eyes simultaneously.
"Truly blood," Midnite muttered to himself. He dropped a pinch of salt in the mixture and the patterns dissipated instantaneously. Jade felt a sensational burning in her chest. Slowly, she lifted her pendant from where it was tucked beneath her shirt, and found it glowing, edges ringed in the bright purple of the interwoven circle.
She raised her eyes to his, "Neat trick."
Midnite chuckled, a low growl of a laugh, but laughter nonetheless, "Yes, I thought so. If you did not have the gift, you would not feel the power of that amulet you wear. Do you know the significance of the Trinity?" He gestured at her pendant.
Jade laughed nervously, "Um, no…I'm sorry, but you're mistaken. There is no significance; it's just a good-luck charm." She glanced at John and Chas, who were now both watching with curious fascination at the exchange.
"I'm sure it is," Midnite nodded, reaching over to lift the pendant in his fingers, "These are of great significance, when worn by those with the gift. Do you know how they are made? They are formed from adamantine, a mythical ore rarely found anymore, and blessed by the Pope. To have any power, they must be formed in threes, and when blessed, the adamantine gives way to three types of metal—one of each of the pendants becomes one of the three precious metals, platinum, gold, and silver. A sort of mythical alchemy, if you will."
Chas stared in wonder, while Jade looked skeptical.
John snorted, "Yeah, right."
Midnite glared, "No, true Trinity amulets are rare…if each wearer of the three amulets born of the same ore has the gift, there is a strong psychic connection between them. It was a way for those with the gift to communicate over long distances."
"Was?" John asked, a skeptical glare still plastered across his face.
"Well, most of the amulets were lost in the crusades," Midnite explained. "It is rare to find a true one, and worn by one with the gift, no less." He looked at Jade approvingly, but she only scowled.
"I still think this is a load of bullshit," she muttered.
Midnite shrugged, "A problem they had with the amulets was that if the wearer of the platinum amulet ever switched planes, the power of the amulet would pull the other two wearers with him or her. They found this to be an issue, but also an effective way of rooting out evil."
John was on his feet, leaning across the table and staring hard at Midnite, whose eyes were still shaded downward, "Yes, John?"
"Could the amulet pull someone who wasn't immersed in the universal conduit?" He hissed.
"Water?" Midnite glanced up, "Why don't you ever just call it water, John. You're extremely histrionic, you know."
"Thank you. Answer?" John was not in the mood for games.
"No. Of course not. The only beings that can cross the planes without lubrication are those of divine nature, you know this."
John sat back down, obviously frustrated.
"Maybe it was just a dream," he muttered.
"Excuse me?" Jade interjected yet again, "I still don't know what the hell you two are talking about, but I don't have any fucking gift, so just stop it, alright?"
Midnite gave her an appraising look, which she returned defiantly, "You've never had any…dreams, of any sorts?"
"Everyone dreams," she said flatly, "That's nothing special."
"No," he agreed, "But what about your nightmares? Ever too real?"
Jade's eyes widened suddenly, as a flood of memories came rushing back.
"Mommy?" Jade whimpered, tugging at the comforter of her parent's bed, "Mommy I had a bad dream."
"Huh…" Her mother opened sleepy eyes. "Jade, what's wrong?"
"Mommy." Jade was crying, silent tears streaming down her face. "I had a dream…I dreamed that I was in…a bad place, Mommy, a bad place called Hell."
Her mother was up immediately, sitting, glaring at the small girl.
"No, Jade, you didn't. You didn't dream that. Go back to your room."
"Mommy, Mommy, I'm scared though, Mommy, please—" Jade was crying as her mother pushed her back into her room, shutting the door and turning off the light.
"Everyone has nightmares," she muttered, and Midnite nodded again.
"Did you ever see anything? Anything people told you was just in your imagination? Anything that was so horrifying that you couldn't believe your imagination could possibly be making it up?" Midnite prodded gently, and Jade gasped, her eyes widening once more.
Jade was six years old, and her mother had called to her to get the door. She opened it slowly, sensing something evil on the other side. She peeked around the door to find a tall, imposing man looking down at her. He was impeccably dressed, and he gave her a saccharine smile. She watched, in horror, as the flesh of his right cheek slowly melted away, revealing a mess of rotting, maggot-torn decay…
She began to cry, as her mother pushed the door open further, from behind her, "Mr. Canes," her mother whispered softly, "We don't have the money yet, I'm sorry." The man nodded, understanding. Jade felt a wave of revulsion wash over her, but stood, clinging to her mother's leg. The man looked down at her and gave her another sickeningly sweet smile, "Of course, Mrs. Constantine. I understand." With that, he left, walking down the wind-beaten path, and Jade watched in horror and fascination as the perfect suit melted from his body.
"Mommy," she whispered to her mother, tugging on her pant-leg, "That man was bad, Mommy!"
Her mother sighed, gazing down at her six year old, "No, Jade, he was the landlord. And this is the first time in months that he's been understanding about the rent." She wiped her hands on a towel, and turned to go back into the living room, when Jade tugged on her pants again.
"Mommy, he was a…he was from Hell." Jade whispered the word in awe, wondering where in her tiny subconscious such a word had come from. Her mother froze, and looked down dangerously.
"No, Jade. He was not."
"Yes, Mommy, I could see! I could see him! He was a…a demon, Mommy, he was a demon and I'm scared!"
Her mother knelt beside her, placing both hands on her shoulders, "No, Jade, he was not a demon! You did not see a demon! Good little girls do not lie!"
"Yes, I did, Mommy!" Her mother looked so dangerous and angry that Jade had started crying, "Yes, I did! I wouldn't lie! I wouldn't!"
"NO!" Her mother screamed at her, and Jade shook frightfully, "THERE IS NO SUCH THING! Do you UNDERSTAND ME!"
"Mommy, I'm not lying, I promise, Mommy, I…" Jade was screaming too, scared to death of this person that was not her usual mother.
"Yes, you are! You are, you little piece of shit, and you did not see a demon! They don't exist! Do you understand me? Do you fucking understand!"
"Mommy…"
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND!"
"…Yes. Yes, Mommy, I do." Jade whimpered softly, saying anything to make her mother stop yelling.
"Good! What did you see, then?"
"Just a man, Mommy. Not a demon. Demons don't exist."
Her mother visibly relaxed, and Jade could see tired circles around her eyes, "Right, kiddo. I'm sorry I screamed at you, I'm sorry baby." She tried to gather her daughter in a hug, but Jade squirmed out of her mother's grasp, running up the stairs to her room, "I didn't see anything," she whispered to herself, as she ran into her room, slamming the door, "I didn't see anything."
Jade was gasping for air as she drowned in the memories. John reached over and awkwardly patted her back, and she recoiled violently at his touch. Midnite was giving her an empathic look, and Chas looked scared.
Her head rose, her eyes wild and she pushed the dry tears from her cheeks swiftly, "I'm sorry, Midnite, no. I don't see anything, and I never did." Her tone was flat, dead and empty. Midnite nodded, a mixture of intrigue and sympathy in his eyes, and did not press the matter.
The four sat in silence for a moment, until John raised his gaze to Midnite's, "There's another thing, Midnite. What can you tell me about rakshasa?"
Midnite glanced up in surprise, dark fire in his eyes, "Tell me, John, that you have not encountered rakshasa."
They shared a long glance, and Midnite sighed, "Perhaps," he muttered, absently moving several rune stones across a worn checkerboard in front of him, "She has more than the gift."