The blade was much longer than Eleanor's arm and intricately engraved with runes. The hilt seemed to have been made with the same silver, unblemished metal and also had glyphs and runes embedded all over the pommel and chape. The pommel included a single round stone in its center, which almost appeared to be a crystal. It was a magnificent piece of weaponry and Eleanor could appreciate the artistry. It also looked deadly. Lying across the breadth of her kitchen table, the blade looked sharp enough to split hairs.
“Apart from your physical appearance, I can also see what your essence is like. All creatures with a soul have a faint aura around their bodies. Every person's essence is different, but some of the essential colors will always be prevalent. A light aura, indicates someone with a good heart and a kindly disposition, a dark essence, the opposite.” Jöanth looked at Eleanor and smiled. “Your essence even tells me the emotions you are going through at any given moment. Right now, you are slightly confused, but interested. Eager to learn. There is an excitement mixed in with the slight confusion.”
“Wow,” was all that Eleanor could manage.
“Your doctor has no life essence. I snuck outside to get a look at him before he left. No aura.”
“How is that possible?”
“I cannot say. I have never encountered this before. Every living creature with a semblance of intelligence have an aura that álvur can read. This man,” Jöanth paused, “is an anomaly. That brings into question whether he even is a man.”
“What?” Eleanor could feel her mouth hanging agape again.
“There are many creatures in all of creation. Some are able to change shape. Some are able to change other's perceptions and deceive them, projecting, if you like, how others should perceive them. There are those like álvur, who can glamour those around them, making them appear invisible. I have encountered many different kinds of creatures before, in different shapes and sizes, and although muted, I was still able to see a semblance of their life essence.” Jöanth looked down at his sword. “With this Doctor Black, I could not see anything. It is a first for me. I cannot remember ever hearing about such a creature either. This is something unique and perplexing.”
“Could it have been the creature you are hunting?” Eleanor asked, worried, looking at the darkness beyond her windows.
“I do not think so.” Jöanth answered. “Whatever the Void creature is, I have been able to sense it thus far. I didn't sense anything with the doctor. It was as if the doctor wasn't there. As if he was just a shell with no essence. No soul.”
“Are there creatures with no soul?” Eleanor found herself asking.
She hadn't thought of the possibility of a soul in a long time. She had her doubts whether there even was such a thing.
“You have doubts,” Jöanth mentioned. “That is understandable. Much of what I will say tonight will seem fantastical and unbelievable. I will not be able to offer any proof to convince you,” he warned. “In the end, it will come down to a matter of faith. You will either believe me or not.” He paused. “But to answer your question, I do not know. Before Doctor Black, I would have emphatically answered in the negative. Now that I have encountered him firsthand, I am not so sure anymore.”
Eleanor nodded, deep in thought. This had been a wild day so far, and she had an idea that the night was about to get even weirder. Jöanth would no doubt have a lot of controversial, unbelievable, and fantastical things to say.
“About your monster,” she asked. “What do you know about it? How come you're after it?”
“A few days ago, I was summoned to a scene of unimaginable cruelty and sacrilege. An álvur Scout and Steed had been slaughtered, and their bodies had been arranged in death, to simulate an unspeakable act between rider and horse.” He didn't elaborate further and after the day's horrors, Eleanor was grateful to have been spared the gory details. “It was evident that I was not looking for a mindless beast. Whatever had killed them had been intelligent, brutal, exceptionally strong, and it has a burning hatred for the álvur.”
“So you're not sure what it is?” Eleanor asked.
Jöanth shook his large shoulders. “I do not always know at the start. But eventually, there is enough information available to know what I am dealing with. This case, however seems to be the exception. I know very little about my opponent, and because he is very intelligent, I am loathe to call him a beast or a monster, despite the terrible things he has done. I should not let that cloud my assessment of this creature. He is very dangerous, but equally cunning and intelligent. I was hoping you could tell me about it,” he said looking intently at Eleanor.
Jöanth hoped that she wouldn't be too traumatized or tired. He could tell that she needed sleep, but she was a fighter and seemed eager to speak.
“I can do better than that,” she said. “Come with me,” she beckoned and walked out of the kitchen, not waiting for him to follow.
Jöanth grabbed his sword and followed Eleanor through a separate dining room, through one of two doorways, which led to a small hallway, and into a large study that also served as a library.
Eleanor pointed out one of two comfortable leather chairs in the library section of the room, walked to the desk at the other end of the room and produced a folder from one of the drawers.
Jöanth undid the scabbard from his back, slid the sword into it and placed it next to the chair. He then nodded his approval as he sat down in the chair, moving his body this way and that.
“This is a comfortable chair,” he said. “I can sleep here tonight, if you like.”
Eleanor was taken a little aback. Although the idea had some appeal, she didn't like the idea of sleeping alone after the day she had. There was also the possibility of being knocked out by the prescribed drugs, leaving her vulnerable to who or whatever decided to break in. The fact that they had been given by the strange Doctor Black also gave her doubts.
Should I even consider taking them? she thought. If I don't, I know I'm going to spend the night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. And Jöanth is still very much a stranger.
Maybe it was her conservative upbringing, but you didn't just allow strangers to stay over, especially ones that invited themselves in.
Jöanth saw the conflicting emotions and smiled. Human beings were always quick to overly-complicate and over-think everything.
“I will sleep outside,” he offered. “It is no problem.”
The thought of the poor man out in the elements immediately changed her mind. She also realized that she shouldn't think of him as a man. He was an álvur. An angelic-like monster hunter that protected the innocent. If he wanted to harm her, he would've by now.
“No, no,” Eleanor said, her mind made up. “Of course you can stay. I didn't mean for you to sleep outside.”
“It is not a problem,” Jöanth smiled. “Truly. I have slept many a night in the outdoors. To be honest, I prefer it to sleeping enclosed by walls. I only offered thinking of you. I thought you might sleep better knowing I was here.”
“That's sweet of you,” she said, wondering if she was blushing again. “Why don't you decide later. First,” she handed over her Monster Research File, “have a look at this.”
He took his time going through her notes and didn't stop to ask any questions. Jöanth didn't even look at Eleanor as he meticulously read her notes. He took the most time studying her drawings. A frown creased his brow as he looked at them. Jöanth even angled the pages to try and get different perspectives. He signaled that he was done when he looked at Eleanor again, closing the folder and holding it out to her.
“These are very good,” he said.
“Thank you,” Eleanor answered, not sure if he meant her research, or whether he was referring to her drawings. “I'm not an artist though,” she apologized. “I'm sure I got some of the details wrong,”
Jöanth shook his head and looked towards the window, which looked out onto the woods.
“They are well drawn. I can see that they took you a long time. A
lot of thought went into them. Into all of it,” he nodded. “You are very thorough Eleanor Kraye. I commend you for that. Your notes are excellent.”
He fell silent, still staring out the window, deep in thought.
“So?” Eleanor blurted after a while, shaking him out of his reverie. “What are your thoughts? Is it any of the things I have on my list of suspects?”
Jöanth looked at her and gave a kindly, but tired smile.
“I am afraid not. Although your best guess or choice would have been a demon.”
This surprised Eleanor. “A demon? Seriously? You telling me they are real?”
“Yes,” he simply said. “But they rarely manifest in the physical, and when they do, it is only for short spells. Like angels, they are mainly incorporeal beings, they occupy the spiritual realm. It is difficult for them to appear in the physical world. Not impossible, but difficult.” He looked back at her briefly. “Although your description possibly could fit one of their kind, this would not be one,” he added. “Remember that this creature came from Edínu. More specifically, from the Void. Therefore, it cannot be a demon, despite it displaying some of a demon's characteristics and traits. This is something else,” he looked towards the window again. “Would you mind turning off the exterior lights?” he asked, changing the subject.
Deep in her own muddled thoughts, Eleanor complied and switched off the outside lights. She ducked into the kitchen and did the same there, making sure there were now no lights on outside, except for on her porch by the front door. She wondered briefly how Deputy Giles was doing, before returning to the library-study. Jöanth was studying one of her drawings again. This one was a full frontal body sketch with side notes.
“I have a terrible feeling that this is a svartálvur,” Jöanth said as she walked in and sat down.
The look on his face was dire.
“But not everything adds up. This svartálvur is unique in many ways. It differs from all those before him, but it is the only suspect, as you would call it,” he smiled briefly at her, “that I have.”
“What is a svartálvur?” Eleanor asked.
“An abomination. An affront to the Creator.” Jöanth paused. “A corrupted álvur. Before I explain how this is possible, I need to tell you about my people first. You need to understand what and who we are, before you can begin to comprehend what a svartálvur is.”
Eleanor nodded and leaned forward in her chair, indicating that he had her full attention.
“Álvur were of the first intelligent creations. We were created as a buffer against the Dark. We are the first line of defense. I think the best way to describe it is to compare Edínu as an island of Light, surrounded by a sea of Darkness. The Void is like a dark ocean of evil surrounding Edínu. According to Scripture, the endless Dark was there first. Then the Creator created bastions of Light. Worlds with suns that created Life. Edínu was the first, which is why it is in the center of everything.”
“I think you mentioned earlier that it is the center of the cosmos?” Eleanor asked.
“Correct. It is in essence, the center of all creation.”
“Heaven?” Eleanor wondered aloud.
Jöanth's glow, his sense of kindness and righteousness, the talk of demons and that he came from the birthplace of creation had her wonder once again whether she was talking to an angel.
“No,” Jöanth smiled. “Heaven as you and I understand it, is in the spiritual plane, not the physical. We can only enter it in spirit form.”
“When we die,” Eleanor offered.
“Exactly. Because we are corporeal beings, we cannot enter it. We cannot see, or experience it in any way. In fact, we cannot even begin to comprehend what it is like. There is no point in conjecture.”
Eleanor nodded. It seemed to make sense to her.
“God is omnipotent? Incorporeal?” she asked.
“Of course,” Jöanth nodded.
“Do the álvur have contact with Him? Have you ever?” she asked hopefully. Her practical mind was still skeptical but she was willing to listen and give Jöanth the benefit of the doubt.
How wonderful would it be to have definitive, divine proof of God and the afterlife? It would answer all the questions that have ever plagued man.
“No,” Jöanth answered. “No one has. Ever. The Creator is far beyond our understanding. So is what comes after we have passed on. No one knows.”
“That's depressing.”
Jöanth smiled at her comment. Humans, he mused. They always needed proof. The rational part of their brains did not want to reconcile with the spiritual part of their being. They always had to question. Which is good for a species, but only to a point. What's the point of progress if it is at the expense of your being?
“It does not have to be,” he offered in consolation. “You need to believe.”
Jöanth could see the internal struggle raging within Eleanor as her essence changed colors with conflicting emotions. Blacks and reds with flecks of bright orange blossomed all around her.
“I know it is difficult for humans,” he said. “Unlike us, who are surrounded by a physical evil presence, you do not have such an experience. The lines for you are blurred. Most of you go through an entire lifetime without once coming face-to-face with true evil. Trust me, this is a blessing. Sometimes, the Dark can be overwhelming in its hatred for all things living and I have seen it crush the will of those who are not strong. For us, as álvur, it is a simple choice between living for the Light or the Dark. The battle lines are drawn where we are and the choice is obvious. Choose the Light and you have a fulfilling life, filled with wonder and love. Choose the Dark and it is an existence surrounded by constant death and suffering and hatred. Humans are not faced with this choice, and that is why many of you do not even believe in the existence of a physical Evil force. As a species, you have a keen intellect and a willingness to learn and progress through free will. You have the option to pursue anything you like. We on the other hand, are born with a specific purpose. We are born with an unfailing duty towards the Light. It is not an option. There is no question of whether we want to or not. We simply accept our duty and perform it to the best of our abilities. Each of us are born with a Gift, and our duties correspond with those gifts. That is our path, and it is the only path. The alternative is misery in service to the Void. Why would you choose that?”
“But,” Eleanor began, “do you even enjoy the path that you are on? It must be difficult. I would think that hunting these monsters cannot be a pleasant experience.”
“There is a lot of hurt and suffering wherever I go, yes,” he admitted.
“Doesn't that bring you down?”
“Why would it?” he asked. “There is also much joy in my life. I meet wonderful beings, full of love, compassion and goodness, who despite the blight of an evil that has come into their lives, are still willing to focus on what matters. That is the secret to life,” he winked, startling Eleanor.
“The secret to life?” she asked, both eager to hear what he had to say, and also not interested in what he was selling.
These conflicting emotions were killing her. She imagined herself being a teenager again, hormones raging, going through puberty. Only this time with a handsome stranger in her own home, telling tales about monsters and God and your purpose in the universe. She didn't know whether to laugh with joy or cry out of frustration.
“Simply focus on the good,” he said.
An awkward silence followed.
“That's it?” she asked, disappointment crinkling her nose upwards.
“As simple as that,” he nodded sagely.
“Focus on the good.”
“Focus on the good,” he repeated.
What baloney! She thought. It’s utter and complete hocus pocus bullshit.
“I can see that you are not convinced.”
“No. I am not.” She stressed every syllable, as if speaking to a child.
“Once you truly focus on the good, or the Light as we call
it, you will see that it far outshines anything the Dark can throw at you. Remember that death is but a stepping stone. It merely opens the next pathway.”
Eleanor immediately thought of all the pain and suffering in the world.
“Sure,” she said. “If you believe in an afterlife, then I suppose you have no need to fear death. But what about the way that people die? Some die horrifically. Natural disasters, murder, torture, car accidents, death by industrial machinery tearing people limb from limb. How do you explain away violent deaths? Where's the good in that?”
“There is no good in that, Eleanor.” Jöanth simply stated, a sadness in his eyes now. “There truly is not. It might seem that there is no rhyme or reason to such deaths, and I cannot say that there is. There might not be,” he paused, “but it is not our place to question the Creator. There is no point in asking why these terrible things happen, for there are no answers. This is why you need to focus on the good. If you lose someone, yes, it is terrible and unexpected and may not seem fair, but then it is imperative that you focus on the good in your life. And there will always be good in your life. Focus on the good memories of the person who has passed, remember the good, and most importantly, focus on those around you. Focus on your loved ones. Focus on living a good, full life instead of focusing on the negative.”
“Easy for you to say,” she murmured, thinking of the small, mutilated bodies that David ICK had left in his murderous wake.
There was truly nothing Jöanth could say to ever wipe those images from memory. Eleanor had seen too many such senseless deaths. Had spent too much time with broken families. She knew of too much pain and suffering in the world to believe a fairytale solution of thinking happy thoughts.
“What about children born or sold into sex slavery at the age of eight? Explain to me what those children have to live for? What good,” she said the word with disdain, “do they have to cling to? There are no positives in their lives. There's no love to fall back on. They know nothing but misery for their entire lives. And that's just one example.” She almost spat at him, and realized that she was directing her anger at him unfairly. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It's not your fault.”
Stirring Embers: An urban fantasy action adventure (The Light and the Void Book 1) Page 23