18

Leaving Sitka

"Do you think that is necessary." I spat in disgust as Henry held Louisa, her body tightly wrapped by his arms with her hands and feet tied together as a brown sack was placed over her head. All I could see was tangled pieces of hair that hung just below it.

"I told you I will do anything to keep you at arms length, and if this is how I have to do it, then so be it." His eyes widened as a smug smile spread across his lips. He was angry I had asked this of him.

"Come on let's just get in the plane and out of here. Now is not the time to start another argument." Will stiffly nodded as he held the small of my back, ushering me into the plane. It was smaller than I remembered. The only time we would take flight is when we would have a holiday once every three years, my father would save and save just so we could see a little of the world.

"Please Henry, I am begging you to not hurt her." Louis was saddened by the way Louisa was being treated, but he knew to keep quiet as these were Henry's conditions, and even I knew there was no changing his mind.

"You and Will go to the end of the plane. I will sit here."

"Henry she is just a scared young girl."

"No, Elle, she is a vampire who is starving because she has been locked away in the darkness. You are the only one she will have any interest in, am I making myself clear."

"We are taking off hold on tight it's been a while since I have flown this thing."

"What is Baranof like now are there any humans there anymore?" I thought about the town we would land in.

"It is a perfectly normal human living town Eleanor." Will placed his hand onto my knee and squeezed it gently as my heart thudded. It pained me to think that just beyond a seaplane journey, everyone around us was living just how they should be. "How are you feeling." He rested his chin onto the top of my head, whispering into my hair.

"Fine."

"Eleanor, come on, you have just watched your mother be taken from you. I know you are not feeling fine." His voice was raspy as he kissed my forehead, to the muffled groan coming from the other end of the plane. "Talk to me."

"It's strange, but in my heart she was already dead. I had come to terms with that two years ago already."

"I understand."

"All these past weeks have been are death and heartache. I just wish for some comfort and clarity to breathe normally, even if just for a day."

"And you will. When we get off here we will find a way of doing just that, but not only for a day, for the rest of our lives." He stroked my cheek as I instantly relaxed, imagining a life of freedom that only a few moments ago seemed so far away.

"Where are we going when we leave this plane, I mean, what is the plan?"

"I am not certain it's not something we have had time to even think about."

"You are from Nebraska, aren't you. That is hours away on a plane, right?"

"I haven't lived in Nebraska for a long time. Presently, my abode is in Arizona."

"But that is still at least eight hours away!"

"Yes I know." He sighed as did I. "I'm not leaving you behind if that is what you are worried about."

"I'm worried about countless things Will, this is all just such a mess."

"Henry, when we touch ground, what is the plan?" He, too, was confused by our next move. "I mean, aren't we going to look a little suspicious if you carry her out like that."