Hannah hung up the phone. Ryan had arrived safely at home, and had not only called Eli and Oskar, but had emailed them too.

“He emailed me too, Hannah. I just answered him,” Jason confirmed.

She breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she had wanted was for their Good Samaritan to pay a price for his kindness. But now he was safe at home, far away from anyone who could harm him. “Jason, I’m so glad he’s safe! I know you really like him.”

The morning was close and Oskar was already sleepy.
Eli, while reading another glossy magazine, said with slight annoyance:
- I'm too pale. I want to get a tan.
Oskar ironically raised his eyebrow. Eli continued:
- I have an idea. We need a tanning salon.
- Are you sure that you do not “tan” in 5 seconds, to black coals?
- No, I'm not sure. But I want to try. I'll start only with a single nail. If nothing happens, then I’ll continue with my fingertip, and so on.

So later, after looking at some prospects, they went to the nearest solarium. An assistant, looking at Eli, said:

Owen drove his Oldsmobile west. Abby lay buried in a sleeping bag in the back seat. She made no sound. She did not appear to be breathing. Owen had no idea if her four wounds would heal or not. He had long since cried himself out, however. He concentrated on the road. It was 1:13 AM, August 3, 1984.

What Alvirez appreciated most about Owen was that the child enjoyed ideas. Most people didn't like ideas. Owen wasn't one of them. This distinguishing trait rendered the boy's training not merely possible but propitious. It was a delight to teach him.

"All a person needs is love," Alvirez said. "Abby receives love from you. Therefore, Abby has everything she needs."

"Valid syllogism," Owen replied, fidgeting in his seat at the kitchen table. "The conclusion follows necessarily from the premises. But…unsound?"

"Why?" the agent asked.

Chapter 14

Lucas knew there was some meaning in it, had to see it again. Hopefully it was still there. Most of the stone debris had already been cleared away. He stepped once more into the jagged opening of the mausoleum, everything still as it had been except for the coffin. They'd lifted the lid back into place. But the small stone was still resting there against the far wall.

“Wake up, Hannah! Your mom’s here.” Oskar extracted himself from the tangle of arms and legs, kissed Eli, and climbed out of bed. He tucked his shirt in, slipped on his shoes, and headed across the hall. He had been awake since 4:00AM, thinking about their experience in the cave and Jonathan’s explanation as to why they couldn’t grow their wings, and had had a revelation. Now he had to figure out how to present it to Hannah’s mother. If he couldn’t convince her now, Hannah would be grounded and vulnerable for four more long years.

Owen heard a knock on the kitchen door. "You're late," he complained as he received twelve bags of blood from Alvirez. He disappeared into Abby's bathroom and emerged a few minutes later, glad that the agent had acceded to gathering samples only after nightfall. It was hard enough trying to prick Abby with a needle without having to do it during the day.

"You were supposed to be here yesterday," Owen protested, joining Alvirez at the kitchen table.

"Eight days instead of seven," the agent demurred. "Does it really matter?"

This is my first try at writing. It is set about thirty years after Oscar is turned. And what happens when they target a man living alone, who works for a research company.

The Dark Princess

1. Opening

Alvirez kept his rifle pointed at Owen's feet. The boy held his position for a long time. The agent waited. Eventually Owen advanced, shotgun aimed downward.

"Your girlfriend tends to leave you in the lurch," Alvirez observed.

"She doesn't deal well with surprises," Owen replied.

"Like an animal."

"Like an animal," Owen agreed.

Alvirez nodded, impressed. Owen didn't just know that Abby spooked easily. He knew it and accepted it.

"I liked your collection of books," Alvirez noted. "The only brothel in New York with its own library."