The Dark Issue 40: The Dark, #40

By Eliza Victoria, David Martin, Tobi Ogundiran and Laura Mauro

Each month The Dark brings you the best in dark fantasy and horror! Selected by award-winning editors Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Sean Wallace and published by Prime Books, this issue includes two all-new stories and two reprints:

"A Prayer to the Many-Eyed Mother" by Eliza Victoria
"Things Behind the Sun" by David Martin (reprint)
"Maria's Children" by Tobi Ogundiran
"Sun Dogs" by Laura Mauro (reprint)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prime Books
• Release date: Aug 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386694786

Book preview

THE DARK

Issue 40 • September 2018

A Prayer to the Many-Eyed Mother by Eliza Victoria

Things Behind The Sun by David Martin

Maria’s Children by Tobi Ogundiran

Sun Dogs by Laura Mauro

Cover Art: Charles Dexter Ward by Abigail Larson

ISSN 2332-4392.

Edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Sean Wallace.

Cover design by Garry Nurrish.

Copyright © 2018 by Prime Books.

www.thedarkmagazine.com

A Prayer to the Many-Eyed Mother

by Eliza Victoria

The plan was this: resign from work, fly to Vegas on her tourist visa, stay with family, and wait for an H1B sponsor to hire her.

And how’s that working out for you? Alejandra asked.

Well, I’m here, aren’t I? Ruby said. So not good. She sighed. I’ve been applying to jobs online for months while working in Manila. I got some interviews, but none of them panned out. My aunt said it might be easier if I were already in the US when the other employers called. I’ve visited her before. She encouraged me to fly here again and just wait here. She even paid for my plane ticket. I figured, might as well do it. I’m twenty-four, I don’t have kids, I don’t have a husband, my aunt’s offering a room in her house, I have enough saved up to tide me over for a few months. And, you know, maybe I’ll get the phone call I’ve been waiting for while I’m here on vacation. Turns out— Loud sigh. Turns out my aunt and I were just being incredibly optimistic and naïve.

Alejandra and Ava stared at her while they sipped their raspberry iced tea. Alejandra had won twenty dollars from one of the slot machines earlier and used it to buy fries for the table. No one was eating them, and they now sat limp and greasy in the wire-mesh basket.

So, Ava said, you’re here to ask for a green card?

One of the craps tables erupted. Someone had won. Ruby sipped her coffee and said nothing.

I didn’t mean to offend, she said. It just seems like such a high price to pay for a—

We did say Grand Café, right? Ruby said, craning her neck. It was midnight, and there were only a handful of patrons inside the restaurant.

Are you really related to her? Alejandra asked.

She’s a distant cousin, Ruby said. I knew her when I was a little girl. I remember visiting her at home in the province every summer until my mother decided we’re not to talk to her anymore.

And she found you on Instagram? Ava asked.

I didn’t even know she was in Vegas until she commented on one of my photos.

What does her house look like? Do you remember? Alejandra asked.

No. Ruby turned to her. Why exactly are you here, Alex?

Alejandra, Alejandra said.

Okay, Ruby said.

Luciana arrived at that point, sliding into their booth with a drink in hand, talking a mile a minute: —so there I was with three vouchers worth eleven dollars each, and I put them all in this machine with Cleopatra’s face on it and I get the major bonus of one hundred dollars and I kept betting and this lightning sound came and I got eight bonus spins and I see Cleopatra’s eyes filling up the screen and—

"You’re the witch?" Alejandra said.

Luciana lost her smile and stopped talking.

I’m sorry, I was just—

Were you expecting someone who smelled like dead rat? Luciana, who was wearing a black cocktail dress and large earrings that sparkled in the restaurant’s dim light, took a clumsy swig of her whisky and coke, sloshing some of the drink onto her hand. She did not smell like dead rat. She smelled like Pink Apple mixed with Black Velvet Whisky.

Luciana turned to Ruby and smiled. Honey! she said.

Hi, Ate Lucy, Ruby said. You’re not drunk, are you?

Luciana took one of the fries from the basket. She held it in her fist for a second, and opened her hand to reveal a small yellow snake. Alejandra and Ava shrieked, making some of the patrons turn their heads.

I’m drunk, Luciana said, letting the snake wrap its body around her wrist like a bracelet, but you don’t need me anyway. At least not after I give you the instructions. You’ll be doing most of the work. She waved a hand over the snake, and it fell to the table, a limp fry again. "How did Ruby find you two?

Reddit, Ruby said.

No, Luciana said, and slammed a hand on the table, laughing so hard she started gagging. I’m okay, she said when Ruby reared back in reflex. I’m okay.

Alejandra had the look of someone beginning to regret their decision.

Luciana downed another swig of her cocktail. Okay, she said. You all have Filipino blood, correct?

I was born here, Ava said, but both of my parents are Filipino.

My mother is Bulakeña and my father is from Cavite, Alejandra said. They migrated here before I was born.

Thank you for the family history lesson, Ruby muttered.

What? Alejandra said.

Is Filipino blood necessary for this to work? Ava asked.

Luciana began to giggle and waved a hand in front of her mouth. Sorry, darling. No, no. I was just curious.

Oh.

If you don’t mind me asking, Alejandra said, how did you end up in Vegas?

I married an American, dear, Luciana said. He was twenty years my senior. Then he got very, very sick, then he died, and now I spend my nights getting plastered in front of slot machines. She stared off into the distance, finishing her drink. After a silent beat, she turned to Ruby. Marriage. That’s something to consider, you know. Instead of this.

If the Many-Eyed Mother can grant any wish, Alejandra said, why didn’t you wish for your husband to be cured?

Luciana sighed. You may be too young to understand, but some people, after much pain and suffering, they just decide they’re done with life. They’ve seen enough, they’ve done enough. They’d rather rest.

But oblivion is not rest.

Ava shifted in her seat. Maybe you should stop asking all this personal—

You loved him, didn’t you? Alejandra said, with the treacly eagerness of a noontime variety show host.

Luciana and Ava stared at Alejandra with a look of confused revulsion. Ruby rolled her eyes.

We don’t need to talk about why we’re doing this, right? Ava said. I mean, because I don’t want to talk about it.

Oh, definitely, Luciana said. I don’t care. That’s between you and the Many-Eyed Mother.

Alejandra swallowed audibly.

She sees all, Luciana said. Do you really want to go through with this?

They looked at each other. Luciana reached a hand into the wire-mesh basket, picked up a handful of fries, and began to eat them.

Last chance to back out, she said. I won’t even be mad.

I’m not backing out, Ava said.

Yeah, Alejandra said. We’re going through with this.

Luciana nodded, looking impressed. And you?

I’m in, Ate.

Okay. Luciana wiped her fingers on the table napkin and took out a folded piece of paper from her purse. Ruby reached out for it, but Luciana snatched it back at the last minute.

At least one of you needs to go through with this, she said, or endless harm will come to you. She held their gaze. And that endless harm will come from me. You have no idea what I’m capable of.

Okay, Ruby said.

I’m not kidding, Ruby. I can turn a fry into a snake, but I can do the same to your intestines.

Ruby felt a jolt of terror. I said okay.

Okay. Luciana handed her the paper, and snapped her fingers to call a server. Hello? Can somebody give me a menu, please? I’m dying over here.

They unfolded the paper in the parking lot while standing next to Ava’s car.

HELLO! DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THIS?

DO YOU REALLY REALLY WANT TO DO THIS?

ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT TO DO THIS?

For fuck’s sake, Ava mumbled under her breath.

We are sure, right? Alejandra asked.