Daylight

The day of light is here....

III. Daylight

Claiborne was supposed to meet him at nine-thirty and here it was nearly midnight. Arcturo squinted in the sunlight, not used to so much brightness all at once. What was not readily apparent about the Day of Light was that it lasted all day. Where the rest of the year it was dark twenty-four hours a day, on the Day of Light it was all sunlight for twenty-four hours. Most of the population rejoiced in the day, but Arcturo greatly disliked the feeling of sun on his skin; he disliked the brightness of it all.

He shrank closer to the trees, hoping their foliage world shield him from the light. Unfortunately for him, the park was crowded, even at this time; couples out on walks, nature-lovers, and partying teenagers. Arcturo tried his hardest not to stand out, but being a six foot tall pale white man in a black coat, it didn’t always work as planned. Tonight, however, he had so far gone unnoticed.

He glanced around with a pretense of nervousness, though in reality he was far from it. He knew where he stood. He owned this place.

At that moment, Claiborne rushed up to him, sweating in the sun, his blue-haired accomplice missing. Arcturo raised an eyebrow. “Well?” he inquired.

Claiborne slicked his sparse brown hair back over his head. “She is on her way as we speak.” he informed Arcturo with a self-important air.

“And how do you know this?”

“Sini,” Claiborne said, holding up a mobile phone, “just called to inform me.”

Arcturo nodded slowly. “What did you tell her?”

Claiborne laughed his whiny laugh that made Arcturo want to cover his ears. He forced himself to stand his ground. “Just that she’s being sent to kill a high-profile criminal.” he said, shaking his head like he thought Iolanthe stupid.

Arcturo knew that she was anything but stupid - that’s why he’d had Claiborne take care of this. He was stupid, and much too trusting. Arcturo knew how to use those traits to his advantage.

He discloses none of this to Claiborne, of course. To have the simpleton know this world be an invitation for death. For while Claiborne was stupid, he was angry. Furious, in fact, at the world for things that had nothing at all to do with him. Arcturo was of the opinion that it was his natural state, to be angry.

Arcturo closed his eyes, as if in thought. “Good,” he said, his naturally low voice almost purring in his perverse pleasure. “By the time this day is over, she will be dead.”

“Most certainly,” added Claiborne, and Arcturo frowned in displeasure. The intrusion was unwelcome, and he was very certain that Claiborne did not understand that fact. He sighed, and opened his eyes reluctantly. “You are no longer needed, Claiborne.” he informed the other man, “I am done with you.”

As Arcturo strides away, he can hear Claiborne gagging behind him, and he smiles to himself. Rid of two nuisances in one day.

Author's Note

That's it! Please tell what you think, if I can improve on anything, etc.