28. Eleanor

28

ELEANOR

E leanor stood behind Osiris, shielded by his shadows as they stepped into the enclave. Her heart thundered as she forced herself to remain still, listening to the whispers of the other beings.

Osiris’ shoulders were stiff. She pressed her forehead against his back, focusing on his smell as she eased her worried mind, his shadows wrapping around her ankles as they so often did. A gesture that had become a great comfort to her.

What would the beings think? Would they flee? Or would they force them both to leave?

Osiris doesn’t deserve to be kicked out of his own home…

“Why have you summoned us?” a man started, his voice deep and rugged. “We were worried by the noise, and then we hear that we are to meet you here, at the edge… and why are your shadows out? What are you hiding?”

“I have found my partner. My bride,” Osiris answered, shifting his stance, “she is someone I must introduce to you all, but, she is not one of us.”

“She is from beyond the enclave?” the same man asked, seeming to speak for the other beings. “We welcome all manners of beings, you know this.”

Osiris tensed slightly, his shadows tightening their grip on her. “She… what I mean to say is…” he released a breath. “I have always done what was best for our people. So I ask, that you trust my judgement, and know that there is a better way to live. A way to live unhidden.”

Eleanor felt the shadows reluctance as they pulled away, the forest coming into view as they disappeared. She lifted her head to look at a sea of beings. Werewolves, vampires, orcs and even what looked to be a demon with large ram like horns.

“What is the meaning of this?” the same voice boomed.

Eleanor’s eyes landed on a massive orc who leaned back and, despite his size and ability to snap her like a branch if he wished, looked almost nervous.

Whispers and gasps echoed through the crowd as they all appeared to shrink back.

Elias took a step closer, reminding her of his presence as his eyes started to glow viciously. He was protecting her.

“Listen to what he has to say,” Elias commanded. “The lot of you owe him that much.”

“I know,” Osiris started, “that I ask a lot. But I do it for us. For our people. For our children. We have all spent eternity hidden away. Worried about what will come next. We have grown comfortable in only seeking freedom one night of the year. But we are wrong. I was wrong,” Osiris grabbed Eleanor’s hand and guided her to stand next to him. “Together, by working with one another, I see a future where we hide ourselves away no longer! Eleanor means to forge peace between our people. To give our future generations a chance at a life where they never know the fear of being hunted.”

“She is a human!” the orc raged, taking a step forward. “She knows nothing but destruction!”

“Careful how close you come, mate,” Elias said from behind her. “She is not your enemy.”

“How can we trust a human to uphold the best interests of our beings?”

Osiris’ shadows flicked. “And if we don’t trust them, do we spend eternity here? Hidden? Never knowing what it is like to walk a path without looking over our shoulder?”

Slow steps sounded from the side. They all looked in the direction of the sound to see a smaller werewolf-like woman, only a few heads taller than Eleanor, approach.

“That dress,” she started, her eyes dancing apprehensively between Eleanor and Osiris, “I made that. I must say, it suits you.”

The lady took a step closer, reaching her hand out for Eleanor, but Osiris’ shadows were quick. They wrapped around the woman’s hand, holding it above her head and away from Eleanor.

“Do not touch my bride, Thelma,” Osiris warned.

Her eyes softened as the corners of her mouth quirked up. “I won’t hurt her, Osiris.”

His shadows twitched as he observed the werewolf, but he did not let go.

Eleanor took a step forward, ignoring the tightening of his shadow on her ankle as she reached for Thelma’s hand, removing the shadow. “I believe you,” she whispered, holding the werewolf’s hand in her own. “I’m Eleanor. Thank you for making such a beautiful dress. If these were sold back in Autumntun, you would sell out by the end of the day.”

Thelma laughed. “Well, the model is what makes the dress,” she replied, shaking her hand.

Turning, Thelma looked at the rest of the beings who seemed to be leaning in closer, watching their encounter with hesitant curiosity. “Osiris is right,” Thelma said, “there is a whole big world out there! And I want to see it. I think even if we fail, it’s worth a try. I trust Osiris. He has always done what was best for us and has not once asked for so much as a thank you in return. So, if Osiris says she can be trusted, I trust Eleanor.”

“She’s already got my trust,” Elias added, “but I’ll add my own blood to the pit for good measure. You will need all the help you can get.”

The orc’s eyes narrowed on Eleanor as the beings around him began to take steps closer to her, one by one agreeing to help.

Looking up at Osiris, his fire burning with determination, as not just her, but they were being accepted.

It felt like a weight was lifted from her chest as they took the first steps into an uncertain future, together.

Step number four.

Mrs. Pencrook’s voice echoed in her mind.

Always strive for perfection. You will never achieve it, but strive for it nonetheless.

Taking strides towards a united future placed them on the right path. They would never be perfect, but they would try everyday.

If there is one thing she had learned from her time with her being, it was that life is a lot more fun if you embrace the messy, and sometimes different things.