Black Hollow: Slumber's Destiny

Chapter One SANDIE KNOCKED ON Sarah’s door, running a tired hand through his shaggy, gray hair as he yawned, covering his mouth with the back of his other hand. He stretched his eyes wide, hoping that would help him stay awake until he could get back to the Daydreamer Inn. He wasn’t one for wandering around town, preferring the tranquility of his inn, tucked back with his books and thick blankets. The town was too noisy, and over the past couple of years had seen more drama than an episode of Supernatural. He preferred the drama kept far away from him. The door opened, and Sarah smiled out at him. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into him lately, but he just can’t seem to get to sleep.” Sandie gave her a sheepish smile as he slipped through the doorway, waiting on the inside for Sarah to lead him to young Alex’s room. “Well, it’s a huge responsibility being a big brother,” Sandie said, his speech a slow, soothing timbre. “And little Maisy is what? A year now? Wow, time flies for sure.” He shook his head, his gray bangs swishing across his forehead. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ll have the little tyke asleep in no time.” She sighed as she shut the door behind them and then gestured for Sandie to follow her to Alex’s bedroom. “Thank you,” she said. “I truly do appreciate it.” She stopped just outside of Alex’s room, blowing out a troubled breath. “He’s waiting for you.” Sandie nodded as he reached for the doorknob. “I won’t be long,” he told her and then slipped inside the bedroom, a soft smile decorating his lips. Young Alex laid in bed, the covers pulled up to just under his arms as he leaned up on the pillows, staring at the door. He said nothing as he watched Sandie shuffle along the floor, moving closer to the right side of the bed. Sandie gave a soft wave, making a semi-circle in front of him with his hand just before he sat on the edge of the bed, facing Alex. “Your mom says you’re struggling going to sleep tonight,” he said. “Anything troubling that young mind of yours?” Alex shook his head. “No. Not really.” Sandie squinted his eyes at the boy, studying him a little harder. “Are you sure? It’s usually a busy mind that keeps us awake when we should be sleeping.” Alex scrunched up his lips as he stared at Sandie, and by the look on the boy’s face, Sandie could tell something was wrong. Reaching out, he patted Alex on the arm, smiling at him. “It’s all right. We all have bad nights here and there. Sometimes, the things of the past can come back and haunt us, no matter how hard we try to ignore them.” Sarah had been in an abusive relationship with her ex-husband, Hank, before she managed to escape, whisking Alex away with her. Sandie could only imagine the images embedded in the boy’s psyche. Sandie leaned back, pulling a small purple bag out of his pajama pocket. Leaning forward again, he opened the small pouch, smiling as he watched Alex stare at the bag. “Have you ever heard the story of the Huldra?” he asked as he scooped some of his sleeping sand out of the purple bag. Alex shook his head, staring at the sand in Sandie’s hand, his tiny little eyes wide with curiosity. “Ah, well then, let me tell you about these gorgeous creatures,” Sandie said, smiling over at the boy. “But first, do me a favor and close your eyes lightly.” He waited until Alex obeyed, and then blew the soft, crystal-like sand in his hand over the boy’s eyes, whispering, “søvnig,” as soon as he was done. “Very good. You can open them again if you like.” Alex opened his eyes, but only halfway as the sand had already started to work its magic. “Now, the Huldra have been around since the time of Adam and Eve,” Sandie said, his tone slipping even lower, almost like a soft hum that vibrated the air in the room. “Adam and Eve had many children, and one day, when Eve was giving them all a bath, God decided to come and visit them. Of course, he came unannounced as is the way of God, and Eve panicked that she hadn’t had time to clean all the children, so she hid the dirty ones in the trees and out of sight.” As he talked, he slid his finger up and down Alex’s arm in a slow, smooth motion. “Of course, God knew she had more children than he saw and asked where they were. Eve, not the brightest of ladies as it turns out, lied to God about the children’s whereabouts, which made God extremely angry.” Alex’s breathing slowed, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm, and Sandie slowed his speech to match. “In his anger, God told Eve that the children would remain hidden forever and called them the Underjordiske, which means the lost souls who live under the earth. However, Huldra, who was one of these children who had to pay for Eve’s lie, somehow managed to stay on top of the earth. She’s a young, flirtatious girl who hides in the woods and possesses the tail of a cow, which she hides behind her back when she’s among the humans.” Alex’s eyes were now completely closed, his breathing that of soft slumber. “Which reminds us that the tales we tell often have repercussions beyond ourselves,” Sandie said, slowly lifting his hand from Alex’s arm. “Others sometimes have to pay the price for our lies, so we must always strive to tell the truth, even when it scares us.” He sat there for another moment and then nodded as he eased himself off the bed, slowly shuffling toward the door in his heavy socks. Sarah and Adam waited for him outside the boy’s room, Sarah holding young Maisy on her hip. “Well?” Adam asked, concern pinching his brows. He held several papers in his hand, most scrunched up, and Sandie assumed the man had been working on an article for the paper when Alex had his nightmare. Sandie waved off the question. “He’s out like a light, and he should sleep until morning.” Adam blew out a breath of relief. “Thanks,” he said. “You don’t know how much we appreciate this. I just wish we knew what was causing these nightmares of his.” Sandie smiled as he walked toward the front door. “It truly was no problem. I can’t help my guests find sleep and not my friends, now can I?” At the door, he turned and placed a soft hand on Maisy’s chin. “And you be a good girl and get some sleep for your parents, as well. They’re busy people.” He glanced back at the others. “Just call me if he has any more problems. I’m sure he’ll be fine though.” “Thanks again,” Sarah said as Adam opened the door for Sandie. The Sandman just nodded as he slipped outside of their second-floor apartment and headed home. It felt good to help his friends, but even so, he truly wanted to be tucked away in his inn where it was cozy and quiet. He preferred cozy and quiet. Sandie opened the door to the apartment complex and stepped out into the cool evening air, his hands in his pajama pockets as he took the steps slowly. “Well, that was rather sweet of you,” a voice said from behind him. “And typical. So extremely typical of you.” Sandie closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he opened his eyes again and turned around, staring at the man leaning back against the apartment building. “I didn’t realize you were in town,” he said. “You should have sent word you were coming for a visit.” The man shrugged, his broad shoulders rising briefly underneath his dark suit. “And ruin such a grand surprise? Perish the thought.” He stood there, one knee bent as he rested a foot on the wall, his arms over his chest. His dark gray hair was perfectly groomed, cut close to his scalp, and he hid his eyes behind dark glasses as he stared at the library across the street. “Besides, this gave me the opportunity to see if everything I had heard was true. You’ve still turned your back on your heritage.” “That was always your path, not mine,” Sandie said as he turned and started to make his way to the Daydreamer Inn. “You forget which one of us surrendered to their baser desires.” He heard the shuffling of feet behind him and knew the other man followed him. “Is it true these people don’t even use your real name? What? Do they just call you Sandman? I mean, they do know there’s more than one Sandman, right? Or is that your angle? Let them believe you’re the only one so they feel safe when they fall asleep at night.” “They’re safe here, anyway,” Sandie said. “You won’t touch them.” “But, dear Ernest, that’s what we do. We touch them. We take their eyes from them with our sand. We eat them. How could you have gone so soft?” He could hear the disgust in the other man’s voice. “Where is your sense of family tradition?” Sandie remained silent, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he continued down the sidewalk. He really hated his brother.