LTROI-Novel

Eli crouched low on the branch in the darkness, her claws digging into the bark. She watched, detached, as the last few people got off the bus and it pulled away from the curb. Two of them were talking and waving their arms at each other, clearly arguing about something. Their breath rose in a small cloud above them and dissipated slowly. The other one, a bit smaller, watched for a minute, then turned and walked down the darker path towards Eli. Her muscles tensed. She calculated how long it would take him to reach her, as the other two, still talking loudly, went off on the main path.

For me there is no religious solace,
there is only religious thought.
Augusto Roa Bastos, Yo, El Supremo

'Checkmate!'

Esteban and Oskar high-fived. Eli stuck out his tongue.

'We did say the loser does the dishes, you know,' said Oskar.

Eli punched him lightly on the arm.

'You cheat, it was two against one.'

'You agreed to it.'

Oskar punched back. Esteban winced a little. What, am I going to tell him one doesn't hit girls? And in any case Eli is a lot stronger, even if Oskar looks older already.

He dropped into his chair, his mind spinning, trying to process what he was seeing. “Impossible! Impossible! How can this possibly be?” He saw the sudden look of concern on the child’s face as she saw his reaction.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! But I had to do something! I had to make you believe me…” She quickly brought her arms back down to her sides.

Eli and Oskar walked slowly across the courtyard, leaving footprints in the still-falling snow. They had made their final choice this afternoon, and waited until well after dark to set out from their little apartment. The Biology Building at Karlstad University was barely visible through the snow as they turned onto the well-lit walkway towards the main entrance. Oskar could see the lights in the window on the second floor, where Professor Dawson’s office was located.

I have always thought that there must be a way to write an epilogue to this story that is grounded (as much as possible) in reality, and still gives Oskar and Eli a happy ending. I have tried, without much success, defending such a position in various threads. I don’t think I convinced anyone that the artistic, fairytale quality of the story, so beautifully crafted by JAL and TA, wouldn’t be compromised by any finagling with such boring worn-out ideas as blood banks, voluntary donors, DNA replication, etc., but I just couldn’t shake the idea.

Esteban stepped out of the bathroom. He wondered if Eli had come back while he was in the shower; if not, there was still plenty of time before sunrise. He was heading to his room when the front door opened, and Eli walked in without saying a word, closing the door behind him. Esteban saw the dark stains on Eli's shirt and on the corner of his mouth. Who did he kill tonight? Eli was looking down, away from Esteban. A mother, a father? Another child?

Eli looked up. In the electric light, his eyes were no longer slits.

Seed of a dark sire, born of sinister motives without choice.

Youth and beauty mingled with affliction and macabre.

Abomination, scourge, monster, vampire.

Death's chore forced upon you, taker of souls precious.

Forsaken by mortal comforts, forever a nocturnal exile.

Strength uncontested yet bound by day intangible.

Time as an ally and enemy, loyal as both.

A curse within not yours to bear alone for it's will brings bereavement to many.

Traps set with deceit and baited for compassion are your works.

'No! No! No! Get off me!'

Eli, lying on his back, uselessly flailed his arms. Oskar, his chest lying sideways on Eli's ankles, tickled Eli's bare feet, while Eli laughed uncontrollably.

'Stop!'

Oskar chuckled.

'Stop! Please...'

Oskar did so.

'It's your fault Eli, for having such beautiful laughter. And for going barefoot.'

He lay down next to Eli. They cuddled in silence for a few minutes.

'Oskar...'

'Hmm?'

'Don't you sometimes feel… trapped?'

'What do you mean?'

I, Oskar, declare unto all who would listen what the night brings to me.

The grace of the night blesses me with my Eli and allows me:

To know the joy of darkness full and the dread of morning light.

To know the love of one centuries old yet forever young.

To feel her breath upon me and the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat when I
awake during our daytime slumber.

To see her beauty outlined in the darkness by the gentle light of the moon.

To see the silhouette of my guardian angel against the stars as she takes flight.