Chapter 22
Edsel's education in demon-kind had been an tumultuous road to travel. Coming from being raised in an small town, and raising her children in an small town—where everyone was taught that everyone is equal, that life is not an popularity contest, and not to believe in demons—to the big city, was rife with its eye-opening splendors and experiences. When Edsel believed she could reach an end of her rainbow, another appeared. At the same time there were so many fears to have motivated her but she resisted them because she knew that was what the demons wanted. Her outlook had changed completely since her childhood upbringing.
When she received her interview paper back from Dr. Apricorn—(she had not left out any detail including the vauthril)—Edsel was astonished to find her grade lower than she expected. Written in the top left hand corner was the professor's explanation.
- Edsel, this was not an assignment in creative writing. Your interview paper was supposed to reflect actual details from the interviewee's life. I've given you a final mark of F. -
Edsel went to office hours at Dr. Apricorn's office and she told the professor outright that her paper reflected what actually happened.
"For that to be true you would have to fly to Nohavœn survive being captured and then flown back."
"We went on the weekend. It's true," Edsel protested, "that is what we actually did. My son is an Christiannan pastor in Twenty City, and he can vouch for me."
"Christiannan? What is Christiannan?"
"He believes in Anna. I do too. That's where that well came from."
"I need proof then," said Professor Apricorn.
"You can contact the Faerie Council in the Fairy Kingdom. That's where we returned to from Nohavœn after we rescued all of those people."
"Rescued who?"
"That were demons. We turned them because of the well at Nohavœn. Check your email. I'm sure the Arc or the Faerie Council must have said something about it."
The next day Edsel received an email from Dr. Apricorn, apologising for her final grade. It was true that the Faerie Council did contact the Arc, which sent out an email to all of the professors.
-I've bumped it up to an A, she re-emailed.
What is going to happen to the Version in light/lieu of Nohavœn being turned? Edsel replied.
-Field trips to Nohavœn most likely, she responded, and she meant it. Precisely.
I brought an bottle of water home with me from the well at Nohavœn. The fountain of youth, Edsel explained.
-I know an elderly professor who is an demon, and he's been trying for most of his life to fix his condition. Why don't you offer the water to him?
Okay, Edsel answered, what is his office number?
L-122. Stevens.
Edsel made her way up the elevator of the education building to the offices of the senior members of faculty. At the end of the hallway on the floor she walked, an pine tree was mashing against an window in the wind and rain. The light was grey and dull from an stormy atmosphere outside. Edsel knocked on the door of the office L-122, and an indiscreet vampire answered the door.
She immediately had the sense of everything happening to them being cursed.
"Hi. Professor Stevens. I'm Edsel, Ouen's mother. Did you hear the news about Nohavœn?"
"Yes. Welcome. I did."
"I visited there and I brought back water from the well. Dr. Apricorn recommended I give this to you."
Edsel gave the bottle of water to Dr. Stevens.
"Are you serious?" he asked, "you brought that for me?"
"Yes. I did."
Dr. Stevens took the bottle and promptly drank from it. He knew exactly what it was and what it would do to him.
"The thirst for blood is passing," he said, as his fangs withdrew. He fell from his chair to his knees, with his face in his hands, sobbing.
"I've been trying," he said, "for so long. I've been trying for years but our cures are not all dependable! An more powerful vampire than they had turned me an long, long time ago. What an exhausting career. But this water, you bring, from Nohavœn?
"It is the Fountain of Youth. That is what Anna called it."
"Who is Anna?"
"Anna is," Edsel paused for effect, "the second messiah. The internal messiah. She blessed us with the well at Nohavœn."
"I need to thank her then."
"Just say thank you in your prayers. She will hear you."
"You don't know what this means do you?"
"What what means?"
"My transformation. My change. What it will mean for the Version."
"Of course, an tenured professor such as yourself will wow them by turning an new leaf."
"No, it is significant moreso than this! I am on the panel of the Arc. I was the vampire representative of all the races on the committee. It means that to continue managing this school in the tradition of which it has been run since the beginnings, another vampire must be appointed to the panel of the Arc."
"What happens to the Christianna?"
"It's the ia-na to Christianity. It becomes one of the secular religions."
"Ah, I see not-mirrors reflected in mirrors."
"That's its power. To turn demons. But it isn't enough."
"It isn't?"
"No. Not all demons want to change."
"I guess I know that," said Edsel, "I have worried it myself. What are we going to do with those who care to stay demons?"
"I am going to make an new course with the topic of Turning Demons. It will be all about persuading, coercing demons to take the cure. Anna's well. One drink and they are saved. But it needs to be secular. I can't have the Christianna having anything to do with it."
"But it is the Christianna that created the well."
"Yes and that will have to be with-held until an point at which the students are ready to accept it. Perhaps never."
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