New Acquaintances

'I take it getting food went OK?'

'Yes. The chemical you gave me is very good.'

'Hmm. Wait, let me have a good look at you.'

Emma examined Eli's clothes and face carefully.

'Good, no trace of blood.'

'Oskar checked before I left home.'

'Oh.'

They arrived at a large house. Emma led Eli into the garden and around the house; they went down some stone steps at the end of the garden, next to the house, and Emma unlocked the door at the bottom.

'Well, this is where I live.'

'You need to say that I can come in.'

'You can come in. But why...?'

'It's one of the rules of my illness.'

'I didn't know that. My room is the one to the right; the one on the far left is Beata's, who's away for the weekend, and the middle one is Stina's. Why don't you take a seat?'

Eli took a chair in the dining room, and Emma knocked on Stina's door.

'Stina, it's me, there's someone I want you to meet.'

Stina opened the door, and saw Eli.

'Oh. Hi, kid. Emma, is she...?'

'Yes. Eli, meet Stina. Stina, meet Eli.'

'Hi.'

'So... how's school, Eli?'

'I, err...'

'Stina,' interrupted Emma, 'Eli didn't ask you if you pay all your taxes or anything, there's no need to bring up school.'

'Sorry, I guess. So what do you do for fun?'

'I play with a friend, or solve puzzles.'

'That's good. By the way, I've got some good chocolate in the kitchen, wanna share?'

'I can't eat chocolate.'

'Oh. Is there a medical reason?'

'Yes, I have an unusual illness.'

'Juvenile diabetes?'

'No.'

Eli turned towards Emma.

'Eli doesn't have diabetes, she has... something else. Stina, Eli isn't really my cousin's adopted kid, I'm sorry I lied to you. She's really the kid that broke into the lab and spilled base bath on herself.'

'Emma, you weirdo, what did you get yourself into? Anyway, she looks fine, you obviously overreacted that night...'

'No, it really did hurt a lot,' said Eli.

'Stina, I saw what I saw. Why don't you armwrestle with Eli?'

'Huh? She's a kid.'

'Yes, she is. And you're strong, I remember that time you punched Jens. But I bet Eli can beat you.'

'You really are weird,' said Stina, shaking her head, but sat at the dining room table, facing Eli, who had already positioned herself to armwrestle.

Eli won almost instantly.

'Maybe she took you by surprise,' said Emma. 'Why don't you try again?'

Stina did so. She was visibly pushing with all her strength, while there was no sign Eli was making any effort at all; then, slowly but without hesitation, she pushed Stina's arm down onto the table.

'Now do you believe me I didn't overreact that night?'

'I...'

Stina shook her head.

'But why did you make up that story about your cousin having a boy and a girl?'

'In case they needed to come here, so that they could have a plausible reason. There is another kid involved in all this: Eli's boyfriend.'

Stina turned to Eli.

'How old are you?'

'I'm twelve.'

'Anyway,' interrupted Emma, 'the point is Eli has a very unusual condition. And we think you can help.'

'Emma, I'm not a pediatrician.'

'I know. But this isn't some regular childhood illness, it's a very exotic condition.'

'All the more reason to see the proper specialist.'

'You don't understand. There's probably no doctor alive that really knows anything about this condition.'

'All the more reasons for her parents to take her to a hospital where they can examine her properly. Anyway, why are you involved?'

'Her illness is too special for a hospital.'

'What do you mean?'

'It's her illness that makes her so strong. There's... more. But you have to promise you'll help us if you want to know more.'

'Like I said, I'm no specialist, my advice is that you talk to...'

'Promise you will give us what help you can, that you will try to help.'

'What does that mean exactly? If she's not your relative, why are you so involved? Why doesn't she go to her doctor and...?'

'It's complicated. Look, we need your help because... there is something Eli needs that you can help us with, and...'

'No,' interrupted Eli. 'Emma, this is not how it's done. I'll do it.'

Stina was surprised by the menace and authority in this child's voice.

***

Stina spilled a few drops of water on her lap; her hand trembled as she sipped the glass of water Emma had brought her.

'Is... that thing gone?'

'Eli is in my room, I asked her to wait there. I'm sorry, Stina...'

'I've done nothing to deserve this. What do you want from me?'

'Eli needs to feed. So... well, I've fed her from my own blood, but it's not enough. Have you read in the news about people getting attacked and drugged, that wake up with cuts?'

'No.'

'Well, that was Eli feeding. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, and it's better to wake up with a little cut than not wake up at all. She wants to be normal, but it's impossible, and she needs blood, and maybe you can...'

'Offer her my neck?'

'No. Help us get blood.'

'I don't run a blood bank, and they don't just leave blood lying around, it's...'

'Some of it gets discarded, right? As unfit for transfusions? If you could get some of the discarded blood, then...'

'Why are you doing all this? Why are you helping it?'

'She's a child like... any other child, just that she has a horrible condition, and I want to help...'

'How do you know it's a child? It looks like one, yes, but...'

'I know. She really is a child.'

'Maybe, but also a monster.'

'No, not really. She's a child, an orphan... And... she has suffered a lot, she...'

'How did you feed her your blood?'

'She cut open a vein in my arm and sucked the blood. It hurts, but... it's not so bad.'

'Yes, dying must be worse.'

'You don't know... the boy that loves her, you haven't seen them together. He loves Eli despite knowing everything that Eli is, they love each other like angels would if they fell in love. I would die for them, Stina. They have lived through enough horrors already; I'm trying to help them live without horror, love without terror. Eli did not become what she is out of choice; you know nothing, nothing about the horror of her turning. Or the horrors that followed. Some of the things she has lived through, I experienced... something similar once, though nowhere nearly as bad. What does Eli owe the world? Her life? Her happiness? Her boyfriend has suffered too; they tried to murder him, and nobody was there for him, apart from Eli. All the adults that had a duty to protect him failed him, just as everyone had failed Eli, and he was saved by what you call a monster. You know, that night she broke into the lab, she was trying to steal chloroform so that she wouldn't have to steal lives, to do what I've been helping her do since. Do you know what a base bath burn feels like? I do, a drop of it once fell on my skin, and to splash on yourself as much as Eli did... Her reward for trying to live without hurting anyone was bitter pain. How many centuries of blood, willingly given -blood, not lives- would it take for the world to compensate for all she has gone through? Stina, you cannot refuse to help.'

'Tell it to come here.'

'Why?'

'To feed it.'

Emma went to her bedroom door and knocked.

'Eli... Stina wants to feed you.'

Eli opened the door and went up to Stina in silence.

'Do what you have to do.'

Eli nodded.

'Some people prefer to keep their eyes shut, it makes it easier to think of something else.'

'No. I want to see... everything.'

Stina's already light face grew even paler as Eli cut open a vein and drank, yet her eyes betrayed a certain fascination, and she avidly watched the entire process.

Later that evening, while Stina drank heavily sugared tea in her room, Emma sat on the couch, momentarily closing her eyes due to fatigue.

'Emma...'

'Sorry, I'll walk you home...'

'Can I... sit on your lap, just for a little while?'

'Of course.'

Eli climbed onto her lap, and Emma hugged her tightly. Eli sighed, relaxing, while Emma stroked her hair.

'I never even thanked you,' whispered Eli.

'For what?'

'For rinsing off that thing when we first met.'

'Anybody would've done the same, it's normal procedure and...'

'But you did it. The water made it hurt less, and it was thanks to you.'

Eli rested her head against Emma's shoulder, and closed her eyes.

***

'Hello?'

'It's me.'

'Hi, Oskar, good to hear from you, I was getting worried. How are things?'

'Good. We've found someone else willing to help - well, Emma found her. She let Eli feed from her.'

'Does Eli still have to...?'

'Yes, though a little less often. But she still has to feed from strangers.'

'I've been thinking about your letters to your mother. We need to figure out some way for her to reply in, she must desperately wants to. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a wanted ad in a newspaper, with her reply in a code of some sort, so that it couldn't be used to track you down. Maybe with a phone number such that each digit means a word from the text - say the first digit is a five, then the first word in the message would be the fifth one in the ad, something like that. It couldn't be a very long reply, but maybe we can figure out another way.'

'Yes! I'll ask Eli for ideas, Eli's very good at that kind of thing.'

'Good. There's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I realize you can't go to school, but... you might want to try and learn school-related things, in case there's a chance to get the certificates later. Or you might want to learn a trade or something. That sort of thing would even help you take your mind of Eli's problems, it's not good to worry about the same thing all the time, it's not good for you or even for Eli.'

'I guess so...'

'Well, think about it, and don't hesitate to ask me for help, I can help you get books and stuff like that.'

'Uh-huh. Vincent...'

'Go on.'

'Would it be possible for us to visit you two? I know Eli really wants to see Anna again, and...'

'I... don't know. I know Eli means well, but there's the problem of food. I can feed her from me, but...'

'Just for a weekend. If Eli feeds right before, and if one of out friends here can take us...'

'Let me think about. Put yourself in my shoes, I can't put Anna at risk and I don't want to put you at risk, either. There's always the danger someone will recognize you if you're seen while going back and forth. But I promise I will try to come up with a way, that I can promise.'

'Thanks.'

'There's something else. Anna hasn't asked me about it, probably because she knows I wouldn't tell her, but I think she's very curious about your past - she knows you're hiding but not from who or why. I think the less she knows, the better, don't you?'

'I guess you're right...'

'Anyway, if you come over, she might ask about it, so you might want to think about your answers in advance. It's not a matter of making stuff up, just thinking how you're going to answer.'

'Sure.'

'Would you like to say hi to Anna? And if Eli is around, maybe she...'

'Sure.'

'I'll go get her. Take care'

'Bye.'

A few moments later, Oskar heard someone pick up the receiver.

'Hello?'

'Hi, Anna.'

'Hi, Oskar. What are you up to?'

'Not much right now. Wait, here's Eli.'

Anna heard the receiver change hands.

'Hi, Anna, how are you?'

'Hi, Eli! I'm fine. I've been doing lots of things, and I went to a birthday party last week.'

'Was it fun?'

'It was OK. The girl invited everyone, she's not really a friend of mine. Eli, when's your birthday?'

'I don't know. I don't remember it.'

'Of course not, silly, you were a baby. But you must know when it is...'

'No. Nobody knows.'

'But when do you celebrate it?'

'I don't know. I haven't celebrated it in a long time. Maybe I should just decide on a day and...'

'When you decide, you have to tell me, so I can get you something.'

'Thanks, I... Anna, I want to ask your dad something.'

'Sure, I'll fetch him. See you.'

'Take care.'

A few moments later, Vincent picked up the receiver.

'Hi, Eli, it's me.'

'Hi. Did Oskar tell you about...?'

'Visiting? It might be possible, but there are problems...'

'Vincent, you know I wouldn't hurt Anna. You have to know that.'

'Yes, I do. And given how you've protected Oskar, I'm sure she's a lot safer with you than she'd be with lots of other kids. But there are other practical matters to consider, like food obviously, and Anna might ask about it and...'

'We could say I have lots of allergies.'

'Also... well, Anna has been very curious about... well, the fact that you dress like a girl. She doesn't know what was done to you, obviously, and I want to keep it that way. She also asked, well, what Oskar thinks about it. It was a very awkward conversation for me, and I imagine it could be very uncomfortable for you two.'

'I... don't know what to tell her. I'm nothing.'

'Is that how you see yourself? But you're not nothing, you're Eli. Anyway, you can dress as you like, as long as you don't tell her what was done to you. There's also the issue of Oskar's identity, Anna knows he's hiding, but has no idea what happened, and I think it should stay that way.'

'Yes.'

'Anyway, I'll think it over in the next few days.'

'OK. We'll call you back later this week.'

'Sure. Bye, Eli.'

'Bye.'

***

'Hello?'

'Is this Vincent Johansson?'

'Yes, speaking. Who is this?'

'I'm Emma Lindeman.'

'Oh.'

'I'm a friend of Eli and her boyfriend, I believe they've mentioned me.'

'Yes. Go on.'

'It's about the sleepover. I'm calling to sort it out.'

'I haven't actually agreed to it, Ms. Lindeman. I said I'd think about it.'

'But what's the problem?'

'Surely you know.'

'Eli's illness? She's not a threat to your daughter or yourself, and as for Oskar...'

'I'd gladly have Oskar visit if we take proper precautions so he won't be recognized.'

'Why not Eli? Are you saying only Oskar is allowed to visit?'

'Ms. Lindeman, do you have children of your own?'

'No, but...'

'It's difficult for me not to view Eli as a potential danger to my daughter.'

'But Eli no longer kills!'

'As long as she is what she is, she remains dangerous. She cannot help being dangerous.'

'As far as I know, the only children she has ever attacked was when she saved Oskar, and those were very particular circumstances.'

'Nevertheless the danger is there. Of attacking someone. As I told Eli, I'd welcome her with open arms if she somehow became cured, despite her past.'

'Her past was not of her own choosing. But people are dangerous, it's not just Eli... Do you really think your daughter is in greater danger from a sleepover with Eli than from lots of other things, even from some of the kids at school for that matter?'

'They haven't told you how we met, have they?'

'Only that it was by accident.'

'It doesn't matter. Look, even if for the sake of argument we say Eli is never going to be a physical threat to my daughter, and that she'll attack no one while she's here, she cannot help bring the darkness with her. I know nothing about you, Ms. Lindeman, but tell me honestly, hasn't Eli brought darkness into your life?'

'No. Not really. It was there already, she merely reminded me. And I assume you know she brought love into Oskar's life.'

'It is at least as true the other way around, the love was mutual. I realize the darkness in Eli's life is not her fault, but I still want to protect my daughter from it.'

'What do you want, exactly? All I know about you is that you have a daughter who Eli regards as a friend and that you refused to take them in.'

'All I know about you is that you help Eli feed and they regard you as a friend. But I'm actually willing to have Eli and my daughter meet again, provided certain conditions are met. Eli is not to come here, and they're to be together only if supervised by me, and my daughter must not find out what Eli is. Do you have any suggestions? I understand Eli and Oskar don't actually live with you.'

'That's right.'

'Could they meet at your place?'

'I live in a shared house, it's complicated...'

'Well, we'll try to think of something else. If Oskar wants to visit us, he's welcome to do so, though it would have to be by car, otherwise there's too much risk of him being recognized, he still looks just like in the photos.'

'Your daughter is the only child Eli even knows apart from Oskar, please...'

'My daughter has a grand total of one friend apart from them. Proper friend, not... acquaintance, that is. Anyway, I'll see what I can come up with. Good night.'

'Good night.'

***

Emma and Stina sat around the dining room table, drinking coffee.

'No, I don't think it's realistic to have them meet here. What would we tell Beata?'

'I've no idea. We could tell her what I told you originally, that they're a cousin's kids...'

'It'd be fine if it was just the two of them, but as it I think it would sound a bit far-fetched. Besides, Beata can't keep a secret so the less she knows, the better.'

'Telling Beata anything is like publishing it in the papers. So, where then? A fun fair? The movies?'

'It's too risky for Oskar to be seen in public much.'

'Just Eli, then? If they want to meet up with Oskar too they could just go to their place.'

'I'm not sure the father will allow that. He didn't sound keen on the whole thing, I think he really wants to keep contact with Eli to a minimum.'

'Well, he's got a point, right? Eli isn't exactly the sort of friend most parents would want for their kids. What's his real name, by the way?'

'Elias.'

Right. Anyway, what about the girl's mother? Are the parents divorced?'

'Nobody's ever mentioned her, so she must not be around for some reason.'

'One less person you need to convince. Anyway, I've got good news for you.'

'Spill the beans.'

'Well, I've found a way of ocasionally getting my hands on some blood set to be discarded as unfit for transfusions, so as long as Eli isn't a picky eater...'

'That's... fantastic!'

'Mind you, not every day or anythin like that. But it should help quite a bit.'

'Thank you, Stina, that's... how are you going to do it?'

'Never mind that. But this might help convince the girl's dad. But have you considered that he might distrust you?'

'No, why?'

'You're helping someone you know is rather dangerous and... abnormal. Maybe he wonders about your motives.'

'I guess so.'

'And he might be worried about getting associated with Oskar, he's a runaway after all. Are the photos in the papers a good likeness?'

'I don't know. I didn't recognize him from them.'

'Well, even if they are in time he'll change. But that will be worse.'

'You mean...'

'Eli won't get older, right?'

'No, I don't think so.'

'And I'm sorry, but realistically I can't get enough bloodm to feed two of them. Else the solution would be obvious.'

'Yes. Do you steal the blood?'

'No. I buy it.'

'Should we split the cost?'

'No. I don't buy it with money.'

***

'Let me check just to make sure there's no one else. Wait here,' whispered Emma.

Eli nodded.

Emma opened the door. There was light coming from Stina's room, and the rest of the basement was dark. She signalled Eli to enter and knocked on Stina's door.

'Come in.'

Emma did so.

'Hi. Eli is here.'

'But I told you I won't get blood until tomorrow...'

'I know. But Eli wants to properly thank you in person.'

'OK...'

Eli stepped into the room.

'Stina...'

'Hi.'

'Hi. I... wanted to say thank you.'

'That's alright.'

Eli took a step closer. Then she hugged Stina, who remained still for a moment; then she put her arms around Eli.

'Eli... I'm sorry.'

'For what?'

'For... saying what I've said about you.'

'You were scared.'

'Yes. But still... You too were scared, right? That I would refuse to help?'

'Yes.'

***

Eli and Anna were riding on a Ferris wheel.

'So your friend moved up North...'

'Yes, her dad's got a new job.'

'Do you miss her a lot?'

'Yes. But I think maybe she'll be happier there.'

'Why?'

'You know that some boys in school picked on us?'

'Yes.'

'It was worse for her than it was for me. It all started because of a boy in our class, one time we were playing Sonja started punching him...'

'Did he hit her back?'

'No, he just kind of walked away. But Sonja's not strong, with her matchstick arms...'

'So he got an older brother of his to help him get revenge?'

'No, Viktor -the boy's name is Viktor- is sweet even, but his brother isn't. Viktor never teased us, just his brother and his brother's friends. But I think they didn't like us anyway, even before, that it was like an excuse.'

***

Vincent gazed intently the Ferris wheel that Eli and Anna were riding.

'Don't worry. They'll be fine.'

'Yes, but I can't help worrying.'

'I understand. Thank you.'

'For what?'

'For bringing Anna. For letting Eli see her, even if you don't like Eli.'

'I'm not doing it for Eli's sake, but for Anna's. And I wouldn't have done it if her best friend hadn't just moved away. You see, she doesn't have many friends, no brothers or sisters, no mother...'

'I'm sorry to hear that, I didn't know...'

'Anna's mother isn't dead. When we divorced, she didn't want custody, and she seems to have forgotten she has a daughter.'

'That's sad.'

'Yes. Anyway, so your friend...'

'Stina.'

'So Stina knows... everything?'

'Yes. She's gotten some food for Eli, from a hospital. It would've been discarded.'

'Good.'

Emma became silent, thinking about Stina's curt reply when she had pressed her about how she obtained the blood: All men are the same.

***

'Eli, what's the secret?'

'What do you mean?' answered Eli quickly.

'You and Oskar have secrets. Big ones. I know Oskar is hiding from someone, you're really a boy and have bad allergies, but I think there's something more. I think Pappa knows but he won't tell me.'

'There is, but... I've told you no lies and as much of the truth as... Something was done to me a long time ago, something... that is the reason why I dress like a girl, why I'm never out in the sun and why Oskar has to hide. I can't tell you more.'

'Eli, do you want to be a girl?'

'I don't know. It would be better than... being nothing, I guess.'

'What do your parents think? Emma isn't you Mom, right?'

'No, she's... sort of fostering us. My parents are dead.'

'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, I...'

'No, it's alright. Anna, I envy you in a good way... Your dad really cares about you, even when my dad was alive he didn't spend much time with us. He's never said anything to me, but I think Oskar feels the same.'

Anna didn't answer.