8 - Darkness Returns

I kept looking for you. – Camille
After nearly fifteen years of service to his country, Darkness was discharged and rolling down the road to the Louisiana Cajuns clubhouse in Baton Rouge. It felt good to be back in the city that he had grown up in. It felt good to be back in Louisiana. In fact, if he was honest, it felt good to be back in America.
Even if he was not ready to be done.
After his last physical, the doctor refused to sign off on his reenlistment. He understood why. His insomnia had gotten worse, and he was now going days without sleep. Although he would prefer to continue his time with the military, as far as the Navy was concerned, he was done.
Of course, he had to admit that there were advantages to being out.
No more long floats.
No more weekend trips home from the base.
No more, oh hey, we’ve been deployed.
He was thirty-three and had served a total of fifteen years. The last several years he had been based out of New Orleans, and the last seven months on a ship in the Mediterranean. At least it was easy to avoid the woman child that still haunted him.
Often, he would find himself wondering about her. Where was she? What was she doing? How old was she now?
What the hell was her name? Darkness had simply taken to calling her *His Light* in his mind. Nessie had told him that when His Light was ready, she would come to him. Was she ready? Would she come soon?
Maybe he could go see Evie just so that he could see His Light. Nessie said that His Light would come to him. But the darkness that he lived in was growing darker. He needed His Light, his grandmother, who had taught him the ways of Iwa and the traditions of New Orleans Voodoo, had warned him that the darkness would engulf him. Only His Light would be able to save him from the darkness.
Save him from himself.
Darkness pulled into the compound, waving at Swamp Thang as he went through the gate. He was curious about what the man did to be pulling gate duty overnight. The half-assed wave and disgruntled look told Darkness that he would get no details from the man on duty.
There was a light on in the living room and he wondered who would be up. Various brothers came to mind as he mounted the steps and walked across the porch. Zydeco, his adoptive father, was an obvious choice. As was Gator, the club president. He would say Swamp Thang, but for seemingly obvious reasons, he was not an option. Maybe the young Peanut who had only recently been patched.
Automatically, as he crossed the porch, he found himself looking up to see if the ceiling needed to be repainted. It still looked good, or at least good enough. The blue was faded, peeling in a few places, but for the most part it was still solid.
Opening the door, he expected to see a brother or a club girl. He did not expect to see her. His Light.
She was here. She came to him, just like Nessie had said.
The young woman sat on one of the couches, curled up in the corner. Next to her lay a Doberman pinscher that was sleeping contentedly. Just like last time, she was reading a book.
Her dirty blonde hair was pulled up into a messy bun exposing her neck to him. She wore short sleep shorts with Sesame Street characters and a spaghetti strap shirt that coordinated. A cardigan sweater lay on the back of the couch. Her glasses were a pale blue with silver embellishments. Tiny crystals shimmered and sparkled in the lamp light.
Her legs were just as long, and he imagined them wrapped around him. The tits were a little fuller and he wondered about the nipples. Were they still light brown?
Absently, she stroked the sleeping dog along his back until she had to turn the page.
“What letter are you on?”
With a startled jump, she looked up in surprise and smiled. “World Almanac 1917, Revised.”
“Tink, Boden.” She ordered and the dog moved to the floor. She stretched out her legs and then rested her feet on the dog.
“*Boden*?” he asked closing the door behind him.
“It’s the command for him get down on the floor.”
“No more encyclopedias?” he dropped his bag on the floor and moved closer to her.
“Taking a break.”
He sat down on the couch next to her. “I never got your name.”
“Camille.” She smiled and closed the book on the bookmark. “And you’re Darkness.”
“I am.” Unable to help himself, he reached out and gently touched her cheek. “You’re just as pretty as I remember.”
She blushed under his gaze, but never looked away. Darkness leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. He kept the kiss light, afraid if he didn’t, he would go too far. And he wanted to go too far. Not stopping until he was buried deep inside her.
He had just pulled away, ending the kiss, when he heard someone coming down the hall. Slowly, his hand moved away from her cheek.
“It’s about time you brought your ass home.” Gator said entering the room. “Look, as a homecoming present, we got you a fellow insomniac. What year are you on, Cher?”
“1917.” She said shifting to look away from Darkness and towards the club president.
“Good year. I remember it fondly.” He teased. It had become a running joke that he remembered the year. Sometimes fondly, other times, not so much. She smiled back at him as he moved further into the room. “Have you talked to your dorm mates?”
“Not recently.” She admitted as he sat on the nearby chair and Tink let out a warning growl. “Tink.”
“I feel special.” Darkness said. “I didn’t get growled at.”
“Aren’t you special?” Gator chuckled.
“Sorry.” Camille whispered as she put her feet back on the dog.
“Don’t apologize, Cher. He’s doing what he’s trained to do.” He patted her knee. “Someone has to get some sleep around here. Invite your dorm mates to your party. Maybe it’ll take some of the strain off.”
He stood up and pressed a kiss to her temple. She nodded and he walked back towards the hallway. There was a flare of jealousy that burned in Darkness’ belly, and he did not like it.
“Thanks, poppa Gator.” She told the older man, and his laughter followed him down the hall.
Darkness cocked an eyebrow at her, and she gave a small laugh. “He’s stepped into the roll of my dad and has become a very protective girl dad.”
“He’s a good man. A good father.” Darkness asked gently running his finger across the back of her hand. “A party, huh?”
“Yeah. I figure it’s like back home, more of an excuse to party.” She said softly, not looking at him. “I’ve been here for a little over two months, even been home, and now they want to have a party.”
His jeans were growing tight as she shivered. His eyes were drawn to the little points of her nipples under her thin shirt. It was tempting to reach out and pull the shirt down. Expose those glorious globes and get a good look at her nipples.
“We do like reasons to party.”
His voice was thick with need. When her eyes flew up to his, he gave in and kissed her. It took very little pressure for her to open under him. His tongue invaded her mouth and she whimpered.
As their tongues danced, she shifted towards him and slid her arms around his neck. Darkness grabbed her hips and pulled her into his lap, her legs straddling his. The deep protective growl that came from the floor brought her back to reality.
Camille pulled back and then got off his lap. Tears filled her eyes as she grabbed her book and patted her leg while giving the command of “Kommen,” for her dog to follow. She disappeared down the hall and he heard a door close softly.
Confused, he snatched up her light sweater as he stood and walked over to get his bag before heading to his room. The door was still locked from the last time he was there, when they had returned from Massachusetts after Evie was shot.
The stagnant air was stifling. He turned on the ceiling fan and closed the door. It was only after he was in the safety and security of his room that he gave in and buried his face in the soft cotton.
It still smelled like her. Sweet and spicy with a hint of chlorine.