Chapter Text
Elisa kicked the garbage bag out of the way. With all the windows open, she was hoping to get rid of the smell of blood and bleach that was suffocating her as she was cleaning up the mess in the living room. She collected all the empty bottles in a plastic bag and placed it next to the door. First thing in the morning she will take everything down and threw the bags in the nearest dumpster. But until then, she'll just have to ignore it.
And ignore it she will. It was not the creature's fault.
Elisa took two boiled eggs from the stove and went to the bathroom, opening the door as slowly and quietly as she could. He was lying in the bathtub, head underwater, eyes closed. His body coloured the water in the most beautiful shades she has ever seen. The creature sensed her presence, and opened his eyes.
"Hello," Elisa signed to him shyly. He didn't respond, just turned his head away from her.
Elisa sat down next to the bathtub. She placed the eggs on his stomach in a playful manner; as her fingers touched the shiny scales, she shivered. The creature didn't move an inch, and it broke her heart. It was not his fault. He needed to know that.
She needed to let him know that.
Elisa took a deep breath, and moved her hand all the way up to his face. She gently touched his cheek, and encouraged him to look at her. As their eyes met, it felt like the world had stopped turning.
Not letting go of his face, Elisa raised her other hand, and signed the words not your fault. The creature looked at her as if he was puzzled by that, so Elisa pointed at his stomach to indicate that she was talking about the incident with the cat. Because that's what it was, an unfortunate incident and nothing more.
He seemed to understand her now, because with a strained look on his face he suddenly flipped to his side, turning his back to her, and pulled his legs and arms close to his body in a fetus-like position. The eggs sank down behind his back. As she watched the water sadly rock the eggs at the bottom of the tub, Elisa could almost hear her own heart break into a million pieces. The poor thing didn't know he was doing a bad thing, how could he have known? He was just hungry, and he did what any other hungry creature would have done: he fed. How could she make him understand that he didn't do anything wrong? That it was just a natural instinct taking over him?
He looks so small and vulnerable, Elisa thought. He was so innocent and beautiful, she couldn't understand how anyone would want to hurt him or use him for evil purposes. How could he even do anything evil, when he is so pure? The very last of his kind. A unique treasure she had to protect, no matter the cost.
She moved closer to the bathtub, reaching across and into the water. Her hand searched for his, and when she found it, she grabbed it and intertwined their fingers, not giving him a chance to pull away. The creature turned his head, and looked her in the eyes again. She smiled at him, the warmest smile ever. She pointed at him again, and shook her head; then with her free hand she reached for his face again, her fingers brushing his lips. Not. Your. Fault. She signed again, this time with enough determination in her eyes that the creature couldn't help but believe her. He slowly turned his body back, now facing Elisa. Both his hands holding on to her right, while her left went back to caressing his face.
As the creature closed his eyes, Elisa could tell that this time it was not out of shame. She could swear that for a brief moment he even smiled. Elisa moved her left hand to his chest, feeling the precious heartbeat under her palm.
The water was lukewarm, and for now, everything was all right.