We’re drove out to the old farmhouse where Tellias and Eleora live. About twice a month Teddy (my husband) and I pack the kids into the car and check up on them.
They’re ancients. Nobody really knows how old they are. They are fragile and need help. They don’t have a family. It is just the two of them.
When we drove up, just before dawn, they came to the door to greet me, thrilled to see a carload of their young Vampire friends.
Tellias was wearing an old workshirt that looked like something a guy working in a garage would wear. The name Greg was stitched on it. Eleora wore some horrible looking flowered dress with a stretched out brown sweater. She had on yellow flip flops that had seen better days.
They both looked pale and malnourished.
“Are you two eating anything at all?” I asked as Teddy took the large cooler to the kitchen.
They told me that their car wasn’t running but it was an excuse. The car was almost new but I was sure they’d forgotten to put gas in it or more likely lost the keys.
I unpacked provisions in the kitchen. They huddled around me touching my back and arms, then stroking my face.
“How long since anyone has been to see you?” I asked.
“Not since you were here. Nobody sees us anymore.” Eleora looked at me with sad round eyes.
“What happened to your clothes?” I asked, almost afraid for an answer.
“Someone stole them. We can’t get to our storage unit or the other houses.” Eleora shifting her feet, knowing I knew she was telling a lie.
“Who stole them? Did you let someone in the house?” I asked.
“We were out trying to hunt.” Tellias said putting his head down, trying to avoid my stare. I suspected they’d gone down to the river to find homeless people and transients to hunt and someone followed them home.
They were two of the oldest vampires I knew, over 2,000 years old. Treasures, but like the elderly of all kinds, they are often forgotten, especially those without children. Soon they fall apart like the past civilizations they lived in.
They both look, at first, like they are 19 or 20 years old. He has pale blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a golden eyed girl with reddish brown curls. They are slight with almost translucent skin.
They used to have a working farm with hired workers but now they leased out the farmland. The two acres around the house were kept up with a gardening service, but nobody was watching the residents. They’d been in and out of Vampire comas for years. They’d lost their confidence. I was afraid they’d lost their hunting skills.
These two were never the fierce Vampires of old tales and modern stories. They were always timid and always got by the best they could by hiding in the shadows and keeping out of sight. They were so sweet and good-hearted that it almost killed me to think of anything bad happening to them.
Teddy came into the room and gave Eleora a gentle hug. “We need to get the two of you better.”
They were slightly out of touch, unhealthy and frightened. It was obvious Tellias was depressed. They were prime targets for Vampire Hunters.
The ancients were glad the children were over. They always fussed over them and told them tales of long lost civilizations that no longer existed and were not yet discovered by historians and treasure hunters.
“We have to move them into town.” Teddy told me where the other’s couldn’t hear.
We dined on blood in beautiful crystal goblets the couple had purchased in the 1870’s when they first built the farmhouse. We talked of friends and relatives and the future.
I didn’t want to leave them. But I’d see them soon. I’m going to get them new clothes and find the keys to the car, and move them into the 21st Century where they belong.
Our elder folks are our treasures. We should all love and take care of those we have, both family and elderly friends who often have no family. You’re never too old for love, or friends or living life.
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman
First posted in 2012. This was the first post featuring Eleoria and Tellias.
