Oskar leaned forward and sniffed the air. He was sure of it now; she had drunk blood. He could smell it on her breath, and realized there were remnants not only on her mouth, but in her hair, on her chest, and on her arms and hands. He wondered how long it had been since she had…fed, and whether or not feeding on blood would make her stronger than him. It wasn’t a pleasant thought.
And yet, still he waited. None of it mattered to him at this point. All that mattered was getting her back safely home – and to him.
Her eyes opened suddenly, golden and cat-like. She slowly raised her head and stared at him.
“Eli? Please come home. We need to talk…”
She leaped to her feet and lunged past him, but he reacted just as quickly and grabbed her by the ankle as she passed by. She stumbled, regained her footing, then twisted and turned, trying to break free, but he held on with all his might.
She was so strong – much stronger than he had expected her to be. His worst fears were confirmed. He wasn’t sure he could hang on much longer, but letting go wasn’t an option; it was unthinkable. With all his strength, he grabbed her wrist with the other hand, dug his bare heels into the uneven cave floor and pulled hard. She continued to struggle, but was unable to gain any traction.
Frustrated, she swung at him with her free hand, but he saw it coming and ducked away – unfortunately, not quickly enough. He felt the sting of the glancing blow, and realized her claws had opened up a long gash in his side. He let go of her leg and grabbed her other wrist, then immediately realized his mistake. With her legs freed, she pulled herself upright and slowly backed her way toward the narrow corridor, dragging him across the rough floor on his back. She twisted her arms against each other, trying to break his grip on her wrists, but he held on, despite the pain in his side. He snatched his legs up against his chest, rolled over, and scrambled to his feet, forcing her arms to cross over one another, which threw her off balance for just a second – long enough for him to sweep her legs out from under her with his right foot. She fell hard on the cave floor, dragging him down on top of her. He heard the whoosh of air as his head connected hard with her stomach just as she struck the ground.
She growled in pain and, with a sudden surge of strength, rose up and slung him like a rag doll against the wall. The sharp crack of his head hitting the rock echoed down the corridor. He slumped to the floor and rolled over on his back, head spinning.
He felt the pain, but it was far away; almost dream-like. The cave floor tilted crazily—first one way, then the other—but still he managed to stumble to his feet and, almost as though he were swimming through molasses, threw himself into the corridor, bracing his hands and feet against the rough stone wall, as much to keep himself upright as to keep Eli from getting past him.
Two Eli’s rushed at him, but he held firm, at least until a closed fist connected with the side of his head – not once, but twice. It was simply too much. His legs buckled and, despite all his efforts, he slid slowly to the ground, still managing at the last second to wrap both arms tightly around her legs. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the next blow. I’ll never let you go, Eli. You’ll have to kill me first! The smell of his own blood overwhelmed him, and his heart went cold as that forbidden thought leapt into his mind: failure. He just as quickly brushed it away.
She twisted and turned, but still he held on, wrapping his arms even tighter around her legs. She dragged him a short distance down the corridor, but for some reason, no longer struck out at him; she seemed focused only on trying to get away. But the repeated blows to the head had done their damage, and he felt himself approaching the limits of his endurance.
Head still spinning, he fought desperately to remain conscious, but felt his last remaining strength ebb away, even as he felt her grab his left hand firmly and pry his fingers from her leg. He couldn’t stop her. Through a blood-red haze, he watched helplessly as she took his other hand, effortlessly pulled herself free, and stood there, motionless, staring down at him with golden eyes. He reached for her again, but she easily stepped away from him. Again, he reached out for her, brushed her leg, but found he had no strength left in his hands. He sobbed quietly to himself, as reality set in. I can’t save her! I’ve failed her! But I can’t… With a herculean effort, he raised himself up, trembling, on his hands and knees, then reached blindly for her one last time.
He felt her hand brush his – softly this time – and tried to take hold of it, but it was no use. She snatched it away. In the distance, he could hear someone crying softly in the darkness.
Her hand suddenly grasped his tightly and he felt himself being jerked upright, where he teetered precariously for a moment trying desperately to remain standing, but it was no use. His head, suddenly too heavy for him to support any longer, rolled back and he began to fall, but he was caught immediately by her strong arms and lifted up, this time completely off the ground. She carried him tenderly, one arm supporting his head and back and the other under his knees, and placed him gently on the cave floor against the black rock wall. She ran her fingers gently through his hair for a moment; then—she was gone again.
He tried desperately to sit up, but his body simply refused to respond. He cringed when he sensed a sudden movement nearby, defensively raised his arms in anticipation of the next assault, turned his head and … she was crouched there on her knees, solemn-faced, staring down at him.
He smiled up at her. Your eyes are so blue…
She sighed deeply, then slid silently down beside him. He felt her warm body press itself against his and the softness of his blanket as she pulled it up over them both. I’m sorry Oskar! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! He could feel the outline of Hannah’s locket as she pulled herself up against him.
“I missed you so!” he whispered.
He felt the mouth of the bottle as she pressed it against his lips. “Drink this, Oskar. Please?”
He drank as much as he could, snuggled up against her, and for only the second time in his life, kissed her bloody lips.
§
“What are they doing, Hannah? Can you see anything at all?” Sava paced back and forth impatiently.
“I’m…not looking, Sava. We’re too close. She might hear me.”
“How about their future?” Elaine asked. “Can you see anything?”
“No, Mrs. Dawson.” Another lie of omission, she thought to herself. She was too frightened to look, for fear of what she might see. If their house in the meadow were gone, it could be the end of everything for them. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it. She plopped down on a rock ledge and put her chin in her hands.
“I can’t get past the water sounds!” Sava groused. “If it weren’t for that damned river, I could probably hear them myself.” He savagely kicked at the pile of bones, sending them clattering across the cave floor. He knew what she was up to and was determined she wasn’t going to go through with it. He’d stop her no matter the consequences.
“Calm down, Sava! She’ll hear you, and that could change everything!” Richard hissed.
Sava glared at him and continued pacing. “Well, she’ll not get past me, no matter what happens. You can count on it!”
“For goodness sake, Sava! Be careful! You might hurt her!” Elaine said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Elaine, I would never…” he gave her a dark smile. “I guess I deserved that.”
“What’s wrong, Hannah? You look so serious.” Dr. Dawson sat down next to Hannah and put his arm around her.
“Oskar is going to hate me! I lied to him. I’ve never done that before.”
“This was too important, Hannah. He’ll understand.”
“No, he won’t.” her eyes filled with tears. “And Eli won’t either, Dr. Dawson. We’ve always told each other the truth, and I’ve betrayed him.”
“But Hannah…”
“No, it’s okay, Dr. Dawson. I know I did the right thing. I just wish the price hadn’t been so high.”
“Hannah, you never cease to amaze me. Sometimes I think you’re the best of us all.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I promise you, they’ll forgive you in a heartbeat.”
She wiped her eyes. “I hope you’re right, Dr. Dawson. I don’t think I could bear it if they hated me.”
“But you told us all the same, didn’t you?” he whispered softly. Again, he kissed her on the forehead.
§
“We have to go home now, Eli. Everyone is worried about you.” Oskar tightened his grip on her, half afraid she would leap up and run away again.
“Okay Oskar,” she whispered softly. She stared into his eyes for a moment, then stood up slowly, took his hand in hers and helped him up. She watched him silently as he folded the blanket, picked up the empty bottle of Ejuice, and put them both in his backpack. She moved only after he took her firmly by the hand and led her down the short corridor to the main one, where the soft light wrapped itself around her pale form like a living thing. As beautiful as she was, he found he couldn’t stop looking at the blood on her face.
They continued on in silence until they reached the stream. Eli let go of his hand, crouched down, cupped her hands, dipped them into the sparkling water and washed her face thoroughly. Then she slowly and deliberately bathed herself, over and over again until finally, Oskar took her hands gently in his and shook his head. “Enough.”
He pulled out his blanket and dried her off carefully, paying particular attention to her beautiful black hair, and wishing with all his heart that he had thought to bring her rose shampoo with him. She smiled gently at him, took the clothes he had brought for her and dressed herself; a matching blouse and shorts set that Hannah had bought for her. She deliberately left her shoes in the backpack.
Oskar took her hands in his, leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek and they walked together toward the light.
§
“They’re coming, Sava!” Hannah exclaimed. “And they’re…”
Sava moved in a low crouch toward the narrow corridor.
“No, no! Eli’s fine. She’s with Oskar, and they’re…” she broke into a wide grin. “Mr. Dawson! He did it! Oskar did it!” she rushed past Sava into the passage and grabbed Eli in a tight bear hug.
“Hannah! What are you doing here?! How did you…” Oskar stared past her into a pair of angry golden eyes. “Sava?!”
“We’re all here, Oskar. And next time, don’t be so stupid! What the hell did you think you were going to do if Eli got away from you? Sit on the floor and cry? Wish you had been as wise as Hannah and asked for help? Frankly, I’m disappointed in you. I would have thought that, with so much at stake, you would have come up with a better plan, instead of forcing Hannah to do it for you!” he brushed past him angrily, and grabbed Eli by the shoulders. “And you! Didn’t you realize how many people you would hurt by being so selfish? If you want to die alone in your misery over misplaced guilt, you should make sure you’re really alone first. Frankly, no one but Gudmund would have given a damn if you had done this 50 years ago, and he was a big boy; he could have taken it. But now? After you’ve deliberately gathered around you a group of people who love you with all their hearts? Hearts you would have broken? Frankly, I’m speechless!”
“That’ll be the day,” Elaine snickered.
“I’m sorry, Sava! I…didn’t know what else to do! Jeff…”
“Jeff died because there are violent, selfish people in the world, not because some white-wigged sadistic pile of steaming horse manure cursed you when you were an eleven-year-old innocent. Get over it! Believe it or not, you’re not the epicenter of the dark side. It will thrive long after you’re dust! Just ask Hannah.”
“But…”
“But nothing! Now let’s get out of here. The sun will be down in a few minutes, and you’re coming with me!”
“I’ll fly myself, Sava. With Oskar.”
“Like hell you will! Frankly, I don’t trust you.”
“Mama?”
“Sorry, Butterfly. He insisted. He told us that if he had to wear that ridiculous sunsuit and ride on my back to get here in the middle of the day, he was going to take you home himself. After the sun went down. Your Papa and I agreed.”
“And what’s more, I’m going to stay outside your door all night, and in that blasted sunsuit all day until we have this nonsense straightened out once and for all. Do I make myself clear?” Sava glared at her.
“Sava, please…”
“Shut up, Oskar! I’m not done with you yet, either. Frankly, you’ve irritated me for some time now with your grossly exaggerated sense that, where Eli is concerned, you always know what’s best. You’ve been damn lucky so far, but I fathom this time it was a bit closer than you thought it would be, wasn’t it?” he glared at him. “And remember, I’ve known her a hell of a lot longer than you have! I know intimately the strength of her resolve.” He gathered up the sunsuit, stuffed it in his pack, slung it over his shoulder and bounded up the debris field into the upper corridor. Hannah scrambled up after him.
She caught up with him and grabbed his hand. “Thank you, Sava.”
He smiled at her. “If they don’t forgive you now, just let me know. There’s plenty more where that came from.”
She wrapped her arm around his and waited with him at the cave entrance.
“Eli, what on earth were you thinking? Didn’t you know how this would affect Oskar – and your papa?” Elaine took her other hand and guided the two of them up the debris field. Richard followed closely behind, carrying Oskar’s backpack.
“I…wasn’t thinking at all, Mama. It just all hurt too much and I had to get away. When Jeff died, I was certain that it was just a matter of time before I killed the rest of you. It was my karma.”
“Eli, why do you think it was so difficult for me to decide to stay with you after your papa invited me? On some level I was certain it was my fault that all those children had died at Den Andra’s hands, because I hadn’t killed him the one time I had the chance. But there was a difference: I was an adult, and had made adult choices. You were, and are a child. You aren’t responsible for the deaths you’ve caused; and Jeff isn’t one of them in any case.” Elaine could tell by the look on her face that she had lost the argument.
“But there were so many, Mama. And I was determined that Jeff was going to be the last.” She was acutely aware that Oskar was still holding her hand tightly, and she was equally aware that she had hurt him deeply. All she could think about right now was how to make things right again—both with him and with Hannah.
Hannah’s fears and doubts suddenly flooded her mind. Hannah, there’s nothing to forgive! I’m so sorry I put you all through this. I’m so stupid. I thought…
We’ll talk about it tonight, Eli. When we’re all safe at home. She already knew what she was going to do. If Oskar could it, she was sure she could do it better.
I’ll carry you home, Hannah, since Sava insists on taking Eli.
Okay, Oskar! Her face lit up. She had never flown with Oskar before.
Don’t let Sava give you a hard time, Eli. Oskar handed Dad his backpack.
Eli watched as Papa and Mama leaped off the cliff together and disappeared around the western cliffs, Mama in the lead. Oskar, with Hannah clinging tightly to his back and arms wrapped around his neck, followed closely behind.
Sava waited until the others were gone, then clipped Eli firmly to his harness. “Ready?”
“Yes,” she said, icily.
He leaped off the cliff, flew low over the sea for 100 yards, then with several powerful stokes of his wings, banked right, rose abruptly, and soared back over the lighthouse, fully 500 feet in the air above it. Eli gasped in spite of herself.
“Remember this the next time you think you can just fly away on a whim and martyr yourself! You’ll never outfly me. I’ll catch you every time.”
“How did you…?”
“How did I know? It was obvious to me, even before you climbed on my back. You left because you were guilt-ridden. You came back solely because you had what you thought was a solution to your problem; one which involved only yourself, or you wouldn’t have come back like a thief in the night. When you took the locket Hannah had given you with pictures of both Oskar and Hannah in it, there was only one logical conclusion I could draw, and you verified the details mere seconds ago: You were going to take advantage of your weakness; the one that replaced death by sunlight. You were going to fly west toward the new world until you dropped into the sea from exhaustion and drowned. You knew Oskar would never know for sure what happened to you, so he wouldn’t kill himself, absolving you of the additional guilt over having caused his death. For someone so very clever, how could you be so stupid? Didn’t you know he would spend the rest of his miserable, eternal life looking for you? How could you know him and not know that?”
“I know that now,” she said, softly. She put her arms around his neck, and pressed her cheek against his.
And how could she not know that I would have spent the rest of mine looking for her too? The thought made him angrier – at himself, mostly, for being so selfish. Because, in spite of his pride in who and what he was, he understood deeply what had driven her to this.
“Sava?”
“Yes, Angel?”
“Are you sure that Gudmund was the only one who would have cared if I had done this 50 years ago?” her eyes twinkled.
She felt the warmth of his smile, and felt his anger slip silently and swiftly away. She finally realized how close they really were, bound together by the same darkness, but at the same time there was also a great gulf between them; the gulf of her childhood. And she feared the narrowing of that gulf.
He swooped down over the compound and landed softly on their back porch. The warm glow of the kitchen lights brought back memories of that special Spaghetti night, and the even more special time later that night with Oskar. As if on cue, Einstein bounded out the open door, put his paws on her shoulders and licked her face. She could see Jack, Henry, and Jonathan rise simultaneously from their chairs at the kitchen table and rush out after him, with Janice and Ryan close behind. Eli glanced behind her and saw the others just clearing the fence at the far side of the compound. Nils, Livia, and Jason were halfway across the lawn.
“You know that this changes nothing, don’t you? I’m still standing guard outside your door.” Sava unclipped her harness.
“You don’t have to, Sava. I’ll be fine.” But she knew he wouldn’t believe her – nor should he.
He smiled at her, turned and went inside, pausing briefly to allow the others to rush past him. He went into the living room, perused Dr. Dawson’s library for a while, then selected a book he had been meaning to read, but could never seem to find the time. He knew it was going to be a long night. He glanced out the back window just in time to see Eli disappear in a sea of smiling faces.