The Fires We Burn

A Stranger

The sun peeked through the thick grey curtains across the dinky apartment with wooden floors, brown walls with a red accent wall. The kitchen in the corner with piled dishes in the sink, and cupboards ajar. In the back corner of the apartment stood a twin sized bed with a wire headboard. The man's eyes fluttered open as he rolled out of bed. He grabbed his pants off the floor and struggled to put them on. The cold air spreads goosebumps across his bare chest as he walks over to the bathroom as his bare feet make floorboards creak.
He steps into the bathroom turning on the faucet. He stares into the mirror as he cups his calloused hands beneath the cool water. The water was sharp and sputtered with the sucky pressure. His pale blue eyes shimmered under the light of a single bulb as he splashed the water on his face. The droplets rolled down his face as he took several deep breaths and stuck his head under the sink.
Water followed his hair like beads down a string, drenching every strand on its path. The man lifted his head out from under the faucet taking a towel off the hook behind him drying his hair. He brushed through the brown mop with his hands, giving his hair a spiky messy look.
He left the bathroom to go neal on the mat in the corner of the room. He places his hands in a Mudra of a lotus and bows his head. He began to chant mantras of grace, love, and strength. For a full ten minutes he whispered to the earth, once he had finished he place his hands into a diamond on his forehead and gently lowered to the floor. He began to pray to the heavens thanking the Cosmic being of the universe for all that he had been given and to be able to give to those who need it. He spoke of his simple life that was precious and full of beautiful moments. With final words, he said amen and rose from the ground. He placed a rose from the vase on the table in the kitchen on the pedestal before him and bowed.
The man went to the tiny closet by the front door and grabbed out a white button-up and a black vest with a metal name tag embossed with Niklaus W. He buttoned the shirt up most of the way and put on his vest. He buckled his belt and slipped on his leather boots. Niklaus went to the kitchen and grabbed a piece of toast with honey and butter. He grabbed his trench coat from the coat rack and walked outside.
The air was crisp as the morning sun rose over the buildings all nestled so closely together. The sky was slightly grey from the factories in the heart of the city. Niklaus took several deep breaths and turned down the alleyway. He walked for about twenty minutes till he reached a small Ma and Pop shop called Abuelita's Pan y Queso.
As he opened the door, a tiny bell chimed and this beautiful old lady walked out with mostly grey hair, beautiful bronze skin, and wrinkles mostly around her eyes and mouth. The short woman climbed up on a stool behind the counter and made eye contact with Niklaus. "¡Hola querida! Siempre es un placer verte. ¿Qué será hoy?" Hello my dear! Always lovely to see you. What will it be today? She wore a giant grin on her face as she greeted him.
He smiled as he bowed his head at her, "Hola abuela. Lo de siempre por favor. Tu sonrisa es preciosa como siempre." Hello grandma. The usual please. Your smile is lovely as always.
She giggled as she grabbed a freshly baked loaf of bread and slices of cheese. "Me adulas, Klaus. Siempre sabes cómo alegrarme el día." You flatter me, Klaus. You always know how to make my day.
Klaus smiled as he pulled a ten dollar bill out of his card, "Siempre que pueda, siempre haré que tu día sea mejor." Any time I can, I will always make your day better.
The woman nodded as she reached under the counter and grabbed a jar of jalapeno strawberry preserves, "Dios los bendiga y guíe su camino. Que tu fuerza se extienda a quienes más la necesitan." God bless you and guide your path. May your strength spread to those who need it most. She came around the counter and hugged Klaus tightly. She began to cough and let go.
Niklaus lowered to his knees and grabbed her by the hands. "¿Está empeorando?" Is it getting worse?
A tear rolled down her wrinkled face, "Aye mi amor. La enfermedad se está extendiendo" Yes my love. The sickness is spreading.
Klaus tightened his grip on her hands as he wiped away her tears, "¿Quieres que alivie el dolor?" Would you like me to ease the pain?
She nodded.
Klaus rolled her palm facing up and started tracing a symbol. He traced a circle with a six-point star with the Buddhist crown symbol Sahasrara. He pulled a smooth jade stone from his pocket and placed it in the center of the symbol.
She took a deep breath as the pain left her body.
He brushed his thumb over her cheek, "Siéntete mejor abuelita. Te veo mañana." Feel better grandma. I will see you tomorrow.
She nods and hugs him. "Eres un buen joven y te pareces mucho a tu padre. Cuídate."
You are a good young man, and so much like your father. Take care.
He kissed her on the cheek and left the small shop. He continued to smile as he walked down the messy streets, bread, and cheese in hand and preserves in his coat pocket. He passed the alleys full of people that have been forgotten by their family, their friends, their community.
The sun was mostly risen now as Klaus turned down a small corridor where two young siblings lay sleeping in a large cardboard box. He lowered to the ground and placed the bread and cheese next to them. He grabbed a blanket from the back corner and placed it over the children. He kissed each on the forehead and got back up. His heart always hurts when seeing Willa and Max. Klaus turned around and headed off to work as he has done every day...
Before him stood a small building with shuttered windows, peeling navy blue paint, and lavender shades. The walls were brick and there was a navy door with an oval window. Above the door was a sign with gold letters that read The Library of Alexandria in big fancy script. Below the name read Library and BookStore. Klaus took a bronze key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. With a slight creak, the door opened and he walked in. The room was warm and smelled of old books and leather. The lights were bright and lively while the shadowy corners had an elegant almost gothic look.
Klaus took off his coat and got situated with a book as he sat down behind the desk. He leaned back in his chair and began to read, over the next couple of hours a few people had come in and bought books, a few checked out, some teenagers had come in for aesthetic reasons. The sun began to set and Klaus felt his pocket begin to heat up. He grabbed the stone, went to the door, locked it, and flipped a sign saying Be back in 15.
He went to the back of the shop to a bookshelf labeled fiction. He moved several books out of the way and revealed a book titled What We Want By silent Morning. Klaus pressed on the book and there was a click. He placed the books back and turned the stanc by the shelf. A quarter to the left, a full rotation clockwise, and pull. The bookshelf began to rumble and open into a candle lit staircase. He rushed down the steps to the secret room and sat down in the middle.
The stone began to vibrate and glow. Klaus grasped it tight as he chanted. Pain from one, price be paid. Pain from one, Price be paid. He repeated this phrase continually. His body began to tremble, his muscles became weak, his head started to pound as if drums were playing. Klaus started to cough uncontrollably and drops of blood coming with every forceful heave. His throat was tight and dry. Tears welled in his eyes as started to see stars. His body echoed with all the pain he had taken away that day. His mind was racing and everything around him felt claustrophobic and as though it was closing in on him. With one last bloody cough Klaus collapsed.
He lay lifeless on the floor for what felt like a lifetime. He restarted with a giant gasp for air coughing out the last little bit of blood from his system. He got up off the floor and walked over to a basin that stood against the wall and took off his sweat drenched shirt. Beads rolled down his body as the pulsating pain subsided. He placed the stone in the water and cupped his hands in the pool. He splashed his face with the cool substance letting every drop flow down his body. The liquid smelled of rose and lavender with a hint of Vanilla filling his nose with the aroma. The droplets on his lips were sweet with a salty aftertaste creating a strange sensation on his tongue as he licked his lips.
Klaus stared at the being in the reflection of the pool as he pondered all the things he had done to get himself where he was at. With a deep breath, he grabbed the shirt that had fallen on the floor and threw it away. He grabbed a new shirt from the closet in the corner and walked up the secret passageway.
He walked through the doorway as the bookshelves closed behind him. He only had an hour left till closing so he flipped the sign to say open and set himself behind the counter. Another 20 minutes went by as he began to doze off.
A broad-shouldered man in a blue 3-piece suit walked up to Klaus and placed 3 pictures of him on the counter. Klaus looked at the man quizzically, "Can I help you?"
The man looked deep into his eyes and with a soft young voice, "Are you, Niklaus Evans? Also known as Nicklaus Moon, Nicklaus Foxtail, Nicklaus Silvermoon, and many other names?"
Klaus kept his face blank as hr softly spoke, "It would appear you already know the answer."
The man responded with a fair enough nod and went on to say, "My name is Eric Quilton, I have been researching you for the past two years after reading one of my great grandfathers journals of this man in his life that never aged. You were a very hard man to track down till I found a picture of the two of you."
Klaus quizically looked at Eric, "What makes you think I don't age? What makes me so interesting? Why would you waste so much time trying to find a man you don't know?"
Eric blushed a bit, "You see, my Great grand father was my hero that I never got to meet. He was the man who was never afraid to live his life. He was an adventurer, a writer, a dancer, an engineer. He was also autistic in a time they barely knew what that was, and an openly gay man in a time that was punishable by death. He was fearless. So if I have a chance to meet a piece of his story I am going to. His journal told of the amazing Klaus, the eternal man of mystery. The one that got away. So honestly I don't think it was a waste of time. I am so grateful to finally meet you."
Klaus nods and ponders for a minute, " Was your great grandfather by chance Cedric Smith?"
A grin flashed across Eric's face, "I knew it." He yelled. "You are him."
There was a long pause as he formulated his words very carefully, "The truth is very dangerous, Knowledge is heavy, and reality is painful. If the truth is what you want meet me by the lake in Central park at sunrise."
Eric Nods with viger as he yells thank you and runs out the door. Klaus follows behind after closing the shop. He had a lot to process before tomorrow.