They pulled into the neighborhood. Passing by houses that were lovely, but all in a similar way. The roads were all soaked for the last mile. The rain in Old Providence was odd like that, it fell wherever it saw fit. Steam rose from the tar in a slow way.
Casey looked out the window. "Should we order out, dad?"
His father thought for a second, and he said. "I think it would only be problems. And if you weren't so powerful, we'd have paparazzi all around here."
"But I do think we've got steak at home so we'll be good." John glanced at Casey. "I think it's time I told you about myself and what I actually do. Well it isn't as much these days."
"But it's easy to see you're powerful, too." He shifted behind the seat belt. "So it's like top secret stuff?" Casey chewed the left side of his mouth. "I always wanted to ask you, but you, you're kinda intimidating, dad." Casey squinted.
His dad smiled and chuckled. "Well, anyway, you can take a bath, while I cook us something to eat."
They got home and their porch light was white. Casey sighed, that bath was needed. It would hopefully help with his tiredness; well either that or sleep would. He made slow work of the process. The smell of soap almost gave him a therapy that he didn't know he needed. And the quietness told him even deeper things.
There were bolts of pain for every other movement, but, he dealt with it in what he would consider the best, most comfortable, place. That damn monster had hit him hard. But at least he was still around.
After the bath he limped to his room. Changing almost as slowly as he had walked.
The lights were warm orange in color. The chairs were bare, and beige. Wooden floors held small patches of rugs, and the living room was a wide open space. And all of it was far enough that he smelt soap from himself, and food from the kitchen.
Casey had put on a show to watch. It was sci-fi, about a guy from Nairin who had been abducted by aliens. It was actually better than it sounded. His mind barely caught any of the details. He was ready for what was to come.
He leaned back into the sofa and felt the cloth's pattern against his skin. His dad came around the wooden pillar that separated the kitchen from the living room.
Casey bit his lips. He'd been so nervous that he hadn't noticed that he was hungry. There was sautéed carrots, and steak, along with a baked potato, and some braised cabbages. The cabbages had a gassy smell, that his dad had no doubt made up for in taste.
They sat and prayed together. It was out loud too; they had different prayers. But everything said was needed.
"I think I've been over protective of you. I'd like to trust you with some things." John spoke slow, and his hands moved carefully as he cut the steak before tasting it. His was well done. He smiled. "It's hard to explain because things are a working mess. You can ask anything you want until I can tell you what you need to know."
The smell of butter and meat filled his nose.
"How old are you?" Casey smiled. "I always wanted to ask."
John made a funny face. "Why didn't you? I'm only 400." He continued. "I could've told you that any time Case." He chewed slowly. "Why is your mouth open?"
Casey mouthed 'wow' several times, it left him staring at his father. And now he really didn't know what was next. Reds were the only humans that lived that long.
"I'm middle age by the way."
"Middle centuries. So that's why you didn't celebrate your birthday!"
They ate for a little bit and Casey thought for a bit. "Do I have siblings, dad?"
"I had a few kids, but they weren't sorcerers. You're the first, Case."
"I see." Casey shifted the topic before any uncomfortable memories came to his father.
"So where was your favorite place to live?"
"Well I wouldn't say I lived there, but I took a vacation there." He pointed to the tv. "It's a beautiful archipelago. They have these weird magic users named wizards. They can do some of the strangest things."
"Like what?"
"Enhancements, that allow them to see farther than any sorcerer. I picked up a few things, I'll teach you next week. It's hard stuff, they're really diverse in their spiritual practices." He placed down his utensils on the empty plate.
"It's my turn to talk, son. I'll probably miss something's though."
Casey looked at his dad, he wanted to say because you're old, but he held it in.
"Okay so some important things first. We may be experiencing an apocalypse. We're managing kind of fine, but we've had losses." He went on, pointing to the north. "We lost a Privy Sorcerer to that demon you fought."
"Holy… wow." Casey leaned back even further into the chair's fabric. "That's… that's a lot, dad." He rocked his knees and chewed his mouth. And eventually leaned over, holding both hands together. His dad waited on him with a smile. He looked just like him.
"What do you mean an apocalypse? You mean like in the holy book?" It was good that he kept his voice from shaking.
"Not exactly, Case. That stuff is about the past."
"Dad. Come on, it isn't time for jokes right now. People can die."
"Yeah most likely they will." He looked Casey in his eyes. They were loving but deep. "No matter what's happening, never forget to live Casey. People die. But, you got to find your reason to be."
"Okay but don't say stuff like that, it gives me the wrong feeling." It sounded like you had to deal with that. He kept that part in.
John touched his nose and bit his lips, before continuing. "That demon killed a… colleague of mine. He was from Northern Point. I think that's where Kiana's living? You know that Kiana goes to church with me right? I mean to… our church? I knew I forgot to tell you something. I don't know how that slipped my mind."
'You're old.'
John continued. "Jacob took most of it with him, and you got the rest son. I can't tell you how proud I am. And you're in one piece." He shook his head. "Good stuff, good stuff."
"It was only to keep people safe. Anyone would do it."
"You think that because it's your nature. You'd be surprised how many people would just leave them. People are not good. They really don't see anything beyond living. You're different. Peculiar, but different."
"I look too much like you by the way. If I'm peculiar it has to have something to do with you, dad."
John frowned. "Nahh… I'm not good like you. I think that's most of what you need to know. I'll tell you more later, Case." He got up and paused for a second.
"There are 10 families that control Bimini. The Privy Council. Voting isn't really a effective thing, too. They usually just pick a figure head for a family, and use him for the public. So don't place too much hope on the prime minister."