A Tiny Bit Mortal (22 page)

Vidar stepped closer and stood next to me, wearing his pack.  I dropped my hand from my pack strap and he grabbed it, squeezing it.  “Let’s go.” he said.

I inhaled deeply and then exhaled.  I leaned forward, like a racer at a starting line.  Vidar leaned in with me, and then we burst out from safety and into the tree-line, without looking back.

The cover of night shielded us from being seen, but only the faint light of the stars and a waning sliver moon lit our way.  Branches tore at the sleeves of my jacket as we increased our pace, weaving through the trees and vaulting over fallen logs.  I received several scratches across my face from sweeping branches and felt the cool trickling of blood running down my temple.

We avoided all the cities, occasionally stopping to cross a highway.  I didn’t let my mind take those moments where we paused, crouching in the ditches, as a moment of rest.  I kept my heart racing and my breath quick.

“Emily?” asked Vidar, as we crouched in another ditch. 

I looked over at him, conscious of my chest heaving. 

“We are almost there.” he said.  “I can carry you the rest of the way.”

I tilted my head back and laughed, tasting the dew in the air.  After giving him a wink, I darted across the road in a flash.  Vidar raced to catch up to me.

We stopped beside a creek and I looked around, listening to the bubbling sound and brushing my fingers over the top of the icy water.  I peered up the creek, and then down.  “Why are we stopping here?” I asked.

Vidar threw off his jacket and took off his shirt.  He flung his shirt into the water and back out again, wringing it out over his head.  I noticed the wounds on his face and arms closing up, and then he wiped away the blood.

“Less than five miles now.” he said.  “You look like hell, Emily.  We need to make our way through some residential areas.  Best not go looking like the living dead.”

I opened my pack and grabbed a fresh dress.  Turning my back to Vidar, I stripped off the shirt I was wearing.  I looked left and right at my arms that looked like they’d been beaten with a whip.

Looking at the shredded shirt in my hands I then felt the breeze on my thighs through my ripped up pants.

“Grrr.” I said, untying my laces and stripping off my shoes and pants.  I dove into the icy water, feeling like I crashed into a burning wall.  My belly passed over some smooth, slimy rocks as I prompted my wounds to heal.

When I came up to the surface I gasped for air.  Jumping up out of the water, I shed as much of the wetness as I could.  I then ran up the creek, hopping from rock to rock, letting the force of air blow the water from my skin. 

After sprinting back down the side of the creek bed, I quickly put on the dress I set out.  I traded in my Amish man’s outfit for my Amish women’s outfit.  When I added a black jacket over the top, I didn’t think I’d look too out of place in Ashland. 

I took in a deep breath and smoothed out the blue floral print down my legs. After I finished lacing my boots, I looked up to see Vidar sitting on a stump, watching me.

“Vidar.” I said, in a scolding tone.

“I wasn’t watching you when you were naked.” he said, defensively. 

I crossed my arms.

“I was just noticing something as you were tying up your boots.” he said.  “Something has changed about you.”

Not knowing what to say, I uncrossed my arms and slung my pack over my shoulders.

“Why don’t you lead the way now.” he said.  “This is your territory.”

Not having the slightest idea where we were, I took a minute to orient myself.  After listening to the nearby sounds I recognized our location immediately.  Looking down at the creek I scrunched up my nose.  I recognized it as Bear Creek, which wasn’t the cleanest creek in the world.  I shivered and then shook it off.  “Let’s go.” I said.

We slowed down to human speed, but kept up a brisk walking pace.  I recognized the humming sounds of crickets from a nearby pond and we diverted east across an open field.  We crossed railroad tracks and then hopped down into another ditch next to a highway.

After looking left and right I motioned for Vidar to cross with me.  We crossed up and over a hill and then wound our way around the west side of town where many of the properties had lots of land to cross through.

We hopped fence after fence, and then had to make our way back east, until we met up with Ashland Creek, and then followed it down into the park.  We stopped and crossed a quiet street and stepped into the Sycamore grove.

I brushed my fingers across the tree trunks, remembering the last time I’d been there.  It was right before I met Peter.  As I watched my fingers pass over a tree trunk, I realized that color was returning to the world.  There was light emerging on the horizon.

I looked over at Vidar and said, “We have to hurry.”

I ran, and Vidar matched my pace.  We moved in one great rush up the street, just a blur in the breeze.  When we stopped, we were standing just inside the pathway.

“This is it.” I said, staring up at my dad’s house. 

Though it hadn’t been my home for long, my heart felt a longing for it as I stood there.  Unless my dad had thrown them out, all of my worldly possessions were still upstairs in my room.  I remembered George hopping up into my bed there, with a
prrrbt-mrow
.

Feeling like I was floating, my blue dress brushed against my legs with each step forward.  After carefully ascending the porch stairs I balled up my fist and held it next to the door.

Pausing with my fist in the air, I looked behind me at Vidar.  Vidar smoothed out his beard with his hand and then nodded to me. 

I rapped on the door once, and then twice.  Stepping back I stood next to Vidar, listening to the footsteps approach.

Home

The front door opened
and my mom dove out to wrap her arms around me before I could even process what she was doing at my dad’s house.  “Oh Emily!” she cried.  “Oh it’s really you!!”

She looked me up and down, with wide eyes, and then fixed her gaze on Vidar.  “Who is this?” she asked, gazing upon his long flowing beard.

“Vidar.” he said.  “My name is Vidar.”

She just stood and stared at Vidar, then to me, and then past us.  “You should come in.” she said.

I followed her in, happy to see the familiar bench in the tiny entry way.  Sitting down to take off my boots, Vidar followed suite, taking up the remainder of the bench with his large body.

“Where on earth have you been?” asked my mom.

“Yes, Emily, where have you been?” asked my dad, stepping into the entry way.

“Idaho.” I said, leaning over my boots and working on a stuck lace.

“I couldn’t find you,
anywhere
.” said my dad.  “You just disappeared.  I feared the worst.”

Placing my boots under the bench I stood up, feeling a wave of exhaustion.  I lost my balance, and Vidar caught me by the hip, steadying me. 

I didn’t know what to say.  Was I sorry?  I didn’t feel bad for hiding like I did.  I had quite a bit of feelings about being left in a cell for a month while my dad sat in a hotel room.

After biting my lip I said “I’m sorry if you were worried.”

“Who is this?” asked my dad, turning his attention to Vidar.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Vidar stood up and said “I am Vidar, son of Tyr.”

My dad’s eyes grew wide, and he leaned in with a bow.  Vidar put his hand on my dad’s shoulder, pushing him up from his bow.

“I am no God.” said Vidar.  “Do not bow to me.”

“But you are older than the eldest at the Hall of Elders.” he said, reverently.

“Does age make me a God?” he asked, his hands still resting on my dad’s shoulders.

“No,” said my dad, “but it gives you a place of honor.”

Vidar leaned in close to my dad, looking him in the eyes and said “Honor does not come from living a long time.  Honor comes from bravery, sacrifice, and fighting for good on this earth.”

Vidar let go of my dad’s shoulders and put one hand on mine.  “If you seek to honor, honor your daughter.” he said.  “She freed me from the underworld, and I know I am just the beginning for her.”

Locking eyes with my dad, I could see the confusion in his expression.  I took in a deep breath and nodded.

My dad approached and wrapped his arms around me gently.  My mom joined him, wrapping her arms around the both of us.  I put my arms around their waists and lay my head on my dad’s shoulder.

I had so many questions, about my mom answering my dad’s door, but my body was beginning to realize that the run was over.  I rubbed my eyes and said “We ran all night.  From Idaho.”

My mom looked at me with a disbelieving look and asked “From Idaho?”  I nodded, and she looked over at my dad.  He nodded, put his hand on my shoulder and guided me to the stairs. 

“You should get some sleep.” he said, leaving me at the end of the stairwell.  Looking back at Vidar, he nodded to me. Stepping up the stairs, I felt like I was floating the whole way.

The door to my room was open, and I saw as I stepped in that it was exactly as I had left it.  I glanced at the cozy bed and thought “heaven.”  I stopped just before I pulled back the sheets, feeling gross from bathing in the dirty creek.

Walking over to my dresser I pulled open a drawer.  I stood there and stared at my pretty pajamas, pinks and baby blues.  I hadn’t seen pajamas in ages.

After grabbing some pajamas I headed across the hall.  Closing the bathroom door behind me, I saw my toothbrush was still sitting where I’d left it.  Peter’s was gone.

I looked away from the empty space where Peter’s toothbrush had been.  Stepping into the tub I pulled the shower curtain around me.  I shampooed my hair and scrubbed myself vigorously with soap and a washcloth.

After drying off, I pulled my pajama shirt over my head, and then stepped into my pajama pants.  Wiping the steam away from the mirror with my sleeve I looked at myself.  It was the first time I’d seen myself in a mirror since I’d left Muriel’s mansion. 

I remembered back to the days when I couldn’t see my own reflection, except for bits and pieces.  I didn’t even have to try anymore.  Now I saw myself so clearly, with green eyes peering through my towel dried hair that hung over my face.  Swiping my hair behind my ears, I smiled at myself.

Walking back across the hall, I closed my bedroom door behind me and then melted into my blankets.  As I drifted off to sleep, I became aware of a rustling sound from under the bed. 

I bolted upright in the bed, listening.  Suddenly George was flying through the air and landed on the bed with a “
prrbt-mrow?”
  I extended a finger for him to sniff, and after a skeptical moment of sniffing he climbed into my lap and began purring.

After scratching under his ears I petted his furry orange back while he kneaded with his paws.  “I missed you George, so much.” I said.

My body ached and my eyelids became more difficult to keep open.  I got up and opened my bedroom door a crack, so George could get out if he needed to and then curled up in the bed next to him. 

For a moment I realized that it was my first night away from Vidar in many long months.  The feeling of missing him overwhelmed me, but I knew it would be improper to invite him to my bed. 

Before I could think another thought, sleep took me, with George’s purring lulling me.

When I woke up at dusk, I saw the orange of the sun setting, glowing through the ivory fabric of the curtains.  I flipped over to my side, feeling disoriented.  I stared at the door and realized where I was.

Walking over to the dresser, I touched the tops of each of the nesting dolls that sat there.  As my finger landed on the largest nesting doll, I opened it and looked inside.  The business card that Tim had given me was still there. 

A knot gripped me in my stomach.  Touching the card with my fingers, I wondered where on earth Tim was, and if he still loved me the way I still loved him.

After putting the lid back on the nesting doll, I opened the second drawer down.  Pulling out a cotton black dress and grey sweater tights I spread them over the bed.  I looked under my bed and found a pair of my black Mary Jane shoes.  It felt like Christmas, opening all the familiar presents from my past life.

Throwing the dress up in the air, I held up my arms to catch it so that my arms slipped into the sleeves and the dress fell over my body.  I smoothed out the skirt of the dress with my hands and then did a little twirl. 

After I pulled on my tights I slipped into my shoes.  Staring down at my feet, I felt like I was home with my Mary Jane shoes on.  I decided that wasn’t going to run away without my clothes ever again.

Walking across the hall into the bathroom, I opened the door that contained my makeup and my combs.  I combed out my hair and applied some mascara and lip gloss.  Rubbing my lips together, I smiled at myself in the mirror.

I took off my shoes and carried one in each hand.  Padding gently across the hall, I began stepping down the stairwell.  I froze halfway, listening to the voices I heard down in the living room.

“What do you plan to do?” said my dad’s voice.

“We will head to this Hall of Elders next.” said Vidar’s voice.

“We?” said my dad.  “You don’t mean Emily.”

There was a silence.

“You can’t.” said my dad.  “She stays.  I need to keep her safe.”

“I understand your desire to keep her safe.” said Vidar.  “You have to know that if you keep her prisoner she will only run away from you.”

“It’s not like that.” said my dad.  “She isn’t a prisoner.”

“Emily is strong.” said Vidar.  “She is capable of protecting herself.  She will also have me at her side.  Always.”

“Do you love her?” asked my Dad.  “She is only a child.”

Vidar laughed, deeply.

“Of course I love her.” said Vidar, gently. 

“You aren’t…” said my dad.

Vidar laughed again, and I could hear his laugh travel towards the hallway as he walked away from my dad.  I continued down the stairs, and Vidar met me at the bottom.

“I said that last part for you.” he said, winking at me.

“What is wrong with you?” I asked, crossing my arms under my chest.

“You shouldn’t lurk in the shadows, listening to other people’s conversations.” He replied.

“I’m hungry.” I said, changing the subject.  After walking past him towards the bench in the entryway to deposit my shoes, I entered the kitchen.  I grabbed some meat and cheese from the fridge and poured glass of cold milk. 

Sitting at the kitchen island, I devoured everything.  After I wiped my mouth, I slammed my fists down on the counter.  “Civilization.” I declared, looking around at the modern kitchen.

Vidar walked into the kitchen and then walked around the kitchen island.  He opened from the fridge and startled when the light turned on.  He stuck his arm in, and then opened the freezer door and repeated, clearly amazed.

“You like this place?” he asked.

“I do.” I said, climbing down from the chair at the kitchen island.

Vidar looked me up and down.  “You look different.” he said.

“In a good way or a bad way?” I asked.

“Your dress is very short.” he said, walking over to me and brushing his fingers over where the dress ended just above my knees.

I laughed and said “This is a conservative dress.”

“The world has changed so much.” he said.

Grabbing my dishes up from the kitchen island I placed them in the sink.  I looked over to see Vidar examining the gas stove top.  I turned one of the knobs, and after making a
click, click, click
sound the flame appeared under the burner. 

He ran his hand over the flame and then looked at me with a big grin.  I smiled back, and turned the knob on the stove slowly, so the flame died down and then disappeared.

“Welcome to the modern world.” I said.

Vidar turned to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.  He looked me in the eyes and said “Do you want to stay here?  You would be safe.  I would understand.”

I had to acknowledge that a huge part of me wanted to stay.  I wanted to kick my feet up next to the fire and read books.  I wanted to curl up in my bed with George purring at my back, night after night.

There was another part of me that was waking up, slowly, that knew I could never live that life.  The night I left to trade myself in for my mom lit a fire inside me.  There was no turning back.  It wasn’t even a choice.

I put my arms on Vidar’s shoulders, the same way he had his on mine.  “When do we leave?” I whispered, leaning in to his ear.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Tonight.” he whispered.  “Let’s stay and visit into the evening, and then we go to bed.  Meet me in front of the house at midnight.”

I nodded again, and then we released each other, heading out into the hall and the living room.  Looking around, I realized that my mom’s stuff was mixed in with my dad.  One of her afghan blankets was hanging over my dad’s couch.

“This is weird.” I said, looking around and seeing my mom sitting in a chair by the fireplace.

“Emily!” she said, exuberantly.  “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, Mom.” I said, sitting down in the chair across from her.  Vidar turned around and headed towards my dad’s office, leaving us alone.

My mom looked calm, and happy.  She was her cheery, normal self with her straight blond hair and freckled nose.

“How did you end up here?” I asked.

“Well.” she said, leaning towards me in her chair.  “I thought I was being followed around by demons.  Everywhere I went I saw blurry figures, and every once an awhile one that looked like your dad.  I thought it was the devil himself, terrorizing me with the form of the only man I ever loved.”

I leaned forward in my chair.  I remembered my mom lecturing me about the first time I’d spotted my dad.  The thing was, she shouldn’t have been able to see him, or any of them if they weren’t deliberately showing themselves.  The only reason why I could see them was because of my immortal side.

“Then,” she said, gesturing with her hands, “I started throwing crosses and holy water on them whenever I spotted one.  After a few days of that, they all came into my house, held me down, and there was Nicholas standing in my living room.  He hadn’t aged a day.”

‘Then what happened?” I said, still leaning forward in my chair.

“They said that I wasn’t supposed to be seeing them.” she said.  “They did some research and think that it was because my great grandfather on my mother’s side was an immortal.”

My mind raced.  So not only was my dad an immortal, I had a great, great grandfather that was immortal.