21. Eleanor

21

ELEANOR

E leanor sat by the warmth of the nearly dead fire. One she had set hours ago. Osiris did tell her that his trip to the market would take a full day, still, after being accustomed to either him or his deviant shadows following her around all day, being on her own suddenly felt much too lonely.

Eleanor sighed as she watched the fire, counting how many pops could be heard from the burning wood. Thus far, she had counted eighty-three. The wood from the tower she built when placing the kindling beneath, had since fallen over. Now it was just a pile of charred darkness, speckled with red still breathing in and out of life.

Letting her head fall back, she looked at the door to freedom that was merely a few steps away from where she sat.

Not a single being has come anywhere near his property until now, would it really be so bad if I propped the door open? I wouldn’t even be going outside.

Eleanor looked back at the fire which still smoked slightly.

Okay. I will open the door. Only until the fire has gone out. Once it is out, I will go to bed.

Standing up with resolve, she straightened out her dress with her hands as she walked towards the door.

Osiris had been gone since morning, was it really reasonable to expect her to stay inside alone all day?

Eleanor reached for the handle, turning it as she pulled the door open and…

There were eyes. Cold calculating eyes, looming over her, casting her in it’s— his shadow.

The first scream escaped her without warning as she walked back on staggering feet, her hands fumbling for her fire poker that rested on the chair a few steps behind her, as she stood face to face with him.

The vampire Osiris was speaking to before. He was huge. Possibly taller than Osiris. Broad shoulders with soft brown skin and piercing red eyes. His ears tapered off into points behind his shaggy white hair.

No. No, he is not here to take her. Osiris would not do that to her.

“Human,” came the vampires dark voice as he took a step into the room.

Eleanor screamed again.

“Osiris!” she yelled, unable to run away as she fell on the floor, grabbing the poker on the way down to brandish it in front of her. “Stay back! Osiris will be back any minute!”

Her heart thundered in her ears as a fear as cold as ice moved through her veins.

The vampire took another step into the house, his eyebrows knitted together as he looked around the room and… sniffed? He took a deep breath in through his nose as if smelling the room, and her.

“Interesting,” he cooed. When he looked down again, his lips quirked up, revealing a pair of deadly fangs before he knelt down at her feet.“Please stop screaming, human woman. I will not harm you, but I don’t think you want to call the attention of every being in the enclave.”

Eleanor thrust the poker forward towards his heart, yet the vampire did not yield. He simply lifted his hand and pushed the poker away with two fingers, his eyes now taking on a curious glint as he watched her.

“W-what do you want?” Eleanor demanded.

Every instinct in her body screamed at her to run, to fight, to do something. Yet she remained still, watching him for any chance she might have to escape. But what chances would she have? He was towering between her and the open door. And what if he caught her? Would he drink her blood? Would he keep her as a blood pet like some of the stories she had heard before?

“Ach,” the vampire said, putting one hand over his ear as he squinted his eyes at her. “I am not going to hurt you, so please, calm yourself. Your heartbeat is so loud you will take away my hearing at this rate. And no more squawking either.”

“Why,” Eleanor said, swallowing her fear as she met his gaze, “are you here?”

The vampire offered an approving nod. “That is better. Just like that, human woman,” he paused, looking around the room once more before turning his focus back to Eleanor. “I was looking for Osiris. When did you say he would be back? Where did he go? He does not leave his burrow oft, such a hermit.”

Eleanor’s mouth hung open. Somehow, speaking to him was impossibly odder than speaking with Osiris.

“Well?” the vampire asked.

“Market. He went to the market. But he will be back soon so-”

“Ugh, human! I will not hurt you. I do apologize if I startled you, but you cannot blame me for being surprised to see a woman in this hermit’s home. A human one at that. And,” he purred, “I assume that would make you the woman in his book.”

“I beg your pardon?”

The vampire shot her a conspiratorial smirk. “Never mind that, my name is Elias,” he started, holding his hand out in front of her. “I am a friend of Osiris. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please, allow me to help you.”

Eleanor’s eyes danced between Elias and his outstretched hand.

He would not hurt her. She would be okay.

Osiris had told her that the beings here feared humans, and that none of them wished to harm any. And as the shock wore off, she could see the sincerity in Elias’ eyes.

Hesitantly, Eleanor lifted her hand to clasp his. “If you try anything, I will run you through with my poker.”

Elias laughed. “I can see why he likes you. Come on then, let us get you up.”

Elias began to straighten, pulling Eleanor along with him. But, as she moved to stand on her own legs she stepped on her dress and lost her footing, sending them both crashing to the floor with a loud bang and the sound of fabric tearing.

Eleanor groaned as the full weight of Elias’ body hit her chest.

Of course this would happen. The first time she sees the Horseman, she tries to kill him. Then she meets a vampire, and she almost gets killed under the crushing pressure of his body weight.

“Apologies,” Elias started, pushing himself up so that his knees were between her legs, his arms on either side of her head to allow her the luxury of oxygen into her lungs, “I did not mean to-”

Eleanor blinked and Elias was no longer on top of her. His body went flying backwards through the air, crashing into the wall behind him.