Chapter Seven: A Night Out

These characters are not mine but the bad writing and poor storytelling are.

Eli found herself wrapped snugly in Oskar's arms when she awoke in the cellar. She eased out of his embrace and sat up next him. Oskar was resting soundly. She looked down on what had taken her over two centuries to find and almost one night to lose, almost. A long sigh of relief exited her mouth as a tiny fog into the damp cellar air and dissipated slowly over Oskar. The blood he took from the vampire was enough for his body to recover from the punishment it had sustained but his features still bore the marks of hunger. She stood up and quietly made her way up the cellar stairs to the door.

Eli opened the door cautiously and just enough to peer into the house. When her patient and careful surveillance assured her that all was safe she ventured out into the house, closing the cellar door softly behind her. A steady breeze invaded the house through the shattered window and circulated within the large room of Oskar's torment. The ashes of his tormentor were scattered abroad by the breeze and the dry, wooden floor had lapped up the drops of his blood that splashed down upon it. Dark stains and a large, singed spot on the floor would be the wicked vampire's only memorial.

Eli looked at the scorched area of the floor with contempt. Her composure went from cautious to angry. She tightened her hands into fists and released a muffled growl into the night wind that whirled within the room.

A pile of ash was blown about by the breeze revealing a small glimmering object that caught Eli's eye, replacing her anger with curiousity. She walked over and knelt beside it. There on the floor was a small silver key. She picked it up and held it before her eyes and realized it must have been in the vampire's suit that had disintegrated in the flames. Eli had seen similar keys many, many scores ago. It was the key to Oskar's shackle.

Eli rose and made her way back to the cellar door and opened it as softly as she had closed it. She went down the stairs in a quite haste and eagerly knelt down next to Oskar's shackled ankle. She cupped one hand under his ankle to catch the shackle while she used the key to unlock it. It fell into her hand evoking only a slight clink from the chain links connected to it, not enough to disturb Oskar's rest. Eli took the crude restraint, twisted around and laid it quitely away from Oskar. She turned back to inspect the ankle, only tiny remnants of rust from the weathered iron scattered on Oskar's skin gave hints to the shackle's taut clasp. His flesh was no longer bruised or cut. She took her hand and rubbed his ankle caringly to brush away the particles of rust. Oskar sprang up with a start, snarling through exposed fangs.

"Oskar, it's only me!" Eli said quickly.

Oskar snapped his head toward the sound of Eli's voice and when he saw her his aggression faded. He looked down at his ankle and then back at Eli. She held up the silver key.

"I found this in the room under a pile of ash. I knew what it was and I couldn't stand the thought of that shackle on you any longer."she explained.

"I'm sorry I woke y...,"

Before she could finish Oskar reached out, snagged her and pulled her into a squeezing hug.

"I thought I would never see you again Eli. So many times last night I thought about you. When I saw him bring the trunk in I just...I thought...,"Oskar's speech became frantic.

Eli found herself clutching Oskar tighter the more he spoke.

"Eli, I...I didn't care what happened to me...as long as you were alright."

"It's alright now Oskar, we're together. That's all that matters. It's alright."

Eli's words along with the sound of her voice comforted Oskar and his binding embrace loosened. When Eli felt the pressure against her body release she did the same and eased back to face him. He pulled her in once again and gave her a tender kiss that she happily returned. When the moment ended they sat back from one another and endured a calm silence with affectionate stares. A few moments later Oskar broke the silence.

"How did you know? How did you get away?"

"You were gone so long and I felt better because of the blood you gave me so I decided to leave the cave and meet you here, at the house."

Oskar listened closely.

"When I got in the forest I heard...him...coming in my direction. He was walking fast and mumbling to himself, so I climbed a tree and hid."

"He passed near me and went into the cave. A few minutes later I saw him come out with the trunk and head in the direction of the house."

"Oskar, I was so scared. I didn't know what had happened to you. I followed him back here and when I heard him talking to you I...I...," Eli put her face in her hands and began to cry.

"Don't cry Eli, please."

Eli lifted her head and looked at Oskar with tear soaked eyes.

"Oskar, I almost lost you, again. I had to wait for the right time...I had to make sure he was...," her tears began to flow again.

Oskar reached out and stroked Eli's cheek gently, wiping away her tears.

"You saved my life Eli, again. That's two I owe you.,"he said with a smile.

"Oskar, you are my life."

Oskar's smile grew broad, causing Eli's tears to cease. She wiped her eyes and gave Oskar a smile in return.

"I think we need to get out of here for a while tonight Eli. We both need to feed...I mean I'm hungry and you're probably still a little weak, right?"

"Yeah, not as weak as I usually am but I still need to feed again to regain my strength."

"Let's get some clean clothes and go to the city." Oskar said as he stood up.

"Ok." Eli replied.

While Eli watched, Oskar stepped past her, bent down and picked up the shackle and chain.

"What are you going to do with that?" she asked.

A mischievous grin crept across his face as he spoke,"Hmmm...I thought I would put it on you so you could be my ball and chain."

Oskar's unexpected playful words caught Eli offguard but instantly put an end to the sober feel of the night.

"Why you!"

Oskar dropped the shackle and bolted for the stairs leaving behind a trail of laughter while Eli jumped up and raced after him.

A short time later Oskar and Eli were making their way through the forest along their path to the city. They were carrying the trunk with them, walking with it between them.

"Eight days? You're sure it was only eight days?" Eli asked.

"For the hundredth time, yes. You only slept for eight days and eight very, very long nights. If you don't believe me I'll get you a newspaper when we get to the city."

"Of course I believe you. It's just that...I've always slept for much longer."

"Well like I said before, since I'm with you now maybe you won't have to sleep for so long."

Eli thought about the statement for a moment and then replied," I hope so Oskar."

They continued walking through the thick forest. Their journeys to the city had begun to hollow out their path and made lugging the trunk with them a bit easier.

"Eli are you sure this plan with the trunk is gonna work?"

"Sure I'm sure." she said while playfully causing her eyes to wander as if she doubted her own words.

"Why do I have to be the one who gets in it?" Oskar asked.

Eli came to a stop bringing Oskar and the trunk to a halt also. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Oskar from head to toe.

"Oskar when you're hungry you look terrible. When I'm hungry I still look adorable." she said smiling.

Oskar stuck his tongue out at Eli. They they both giggled for a moment and then resumed their course through the forest.

"You know Eli I've been thinking."

"Uh oh." Eli snickered.

"Hey. Watch it." Oskar replied in mock anger.

"But seriously Eli, that...man told me that all this land was his, including the house."

Eli's light mood became agitated by Oskar's words. She listened with eager anticipation.

"He also told me that no one could mess with any of it for a long time."

Oskar paused for a moment.

"Ok. Go on. I'm listening." Eli said impatiently.

"Well...I was...thinkining, maybe, well if you wanted to we could...stay here for a while."

Once again the small convoy stopped. Eli thought for a moment and was about to speak when Oskar cut her off.

"This whole place is very secluded and we have this huge city so close by. If we're careful no one will notice us for a long time." he pleaded.

Oskar looked at Eli hoping she would agree with his proposal. She took another moment to think and then responded.

"I've never really had a place where I could stay for a long time. I suppose we... could try it for a little while. It does seem safer than most of the places I've traveled to, at least now that he's gone."

Oskar's face brightened with enthusiasm.

"But at the first sign of trouble we're outta here." Eli said sternly.

Oskar straightened up and pretended to be serious.

"Yes dear." he said in a deep voice.

"Oskar, you're goofy you know."

"Yeah, it must be because of the company I keep."he replied with a grin.

They both laughed and then began to move along the path again.

"You know Eli, this means we have a house."

"I guess it does Oskar."

"I think we should call it Eriksson Manor." Oskar said proudly.

"No way! Eli's Place sounds much better." Eli replied while giggling.

The sounds of laughter and merriment filled the forest as Oskar and Eli traveled to the city.

A little while later Eli was standing calmly next to a pay phone outside of an old hotel in the city. The trunk was beside her with Oskar concealed safely inside. The hour was late. The glare of headlights flashed across Eli's face as a taxi cab made the turn into the hotel parking lot. The car putted slowly over to the pay phone and came to a squeaking stop just past Eli.

The cab driver opened his door, got out quickly, walked to the rear of the car and found Eli waiting with the trunk. He was in his mid-thirties and wasn't much taller than Oskar. He was thin and from a short distance away would probably resemble someone much younger if not for his completely bald head and the shadow of stubble on his face. He wasn't exactly what Eli was hoping for but he would do.

The cab driver looked Eli over, glanced at the trunk and then back at Eli.

"You the one who called for a cab?," he asked with an unfamiliar and funny sounding accent.

"Yes." Eli replied simply.

"But you're just a kid. This is a bad part of town and it's late. Where are your parents?"

Eli reached out and took his hand so that he would look her in the eyes and focus on her. He did. Her eyes widened and she spoke calmly and softly.

"I need your help sir. Please, won't you help me?"

The cab driver blinked a few times and hesitated before replying.

"Sure, sure I'll help you." he said slowly.

"Thank you. Please load my trunk and take me where I tell you."

"Yeah. No problem. The trunk won't fit with the car's trunk lid down but I've got some straps I can use to secure it with."

"That will be fine."

Eli released the man's hand and watched carefully as he loaded the trunk. When he finished strapping it in she stepped close to inspect the straps. She tugged on them while nodding her approval. She followed the cab driver around to the side of the car, waited for a moment as he opened the rear door and then entered the cab. He closed the door and got behind the wheel.

"So where to?" he asked.

"I'm just gonna give you left and right directions until we get there." Eli said.

"Ok by me."

The cab driver put the car in gear and pulled off slowly into the night. About an hour later the cab was wandering down a narrow dirt road that twisted through some hills far from the city. When the car reached the top of one of the hills Eli told the driver to stop.

"This is where you want out?" he asked.

"Yep. This is the place."

"Ok. Whatever you say."

The driver got out and opened the door for Eli to do the same. He closed the door behind her. She went to the rear of the car. The driver followed and began to loosen the straps that held the trunk. He lifted the trunk, turned and sat it down. Before he had risen fully from setting the trunk it's lid sprang open. Oskar jumped out, claws forward, grabbed the man's shoulders and pulled him down to the ground as he screamed in terror. Oskar quickly bit into the man's throat while Eli attacked from behind, sinking her fangs into his thigh. The driver shrieked in pain but his cry was swallowed by the hills.

Moments later the driver's body was limp and drained. Oskar and Eli looked up at each other. The blood had restored the smoothness of their features. Eli looked at Oskar who even with fangs and a blood soaked face was her handsome Oskar again. Oskar stared into Eli's eyes as he took the driver's head and snapped his neck, grimacing slightly from the feel of breaking bones.

Without speaking they lifted the body and placed it back in the driver's seat of the cab. Oskar reached in, put the car in neutral and turned the wheel toward the edge of the hill while Eli leaned against the car to keep it from moving. He closed the door. Together they pushed the car off the road and over the edge of the hill. They watched as the cab rolled down the hill toward a deep ravine. It bounced and jumped as it picked up speed but stayed true on it's way to the brush covered bottom of the ravine. With a loud crash that echoed through the hills and valleys the cab came to a crumpled stop, buried in the brush. Even Oskar and Eli could barely see any hint of the vehicle.

Oskar and Eli stood side by side wearing somber expressions as they peered down into the ravine. Oskar took Eli's hand. She turned to face him. They locked gazes for a moment then shared a long kiss.

"I love you." they both said at the same time, then smiled.