Free Eternal by Pati Nagle

up.
    â€œ The campus killer has struck again at UNM…”
    I sat staring, my hand still aiming the remote at the screen, my skin crawling. The victim was another guy. The newscaster sketched the details, then a tape of an on-scene reporter came on.
    Len came in from the kitchen and joined me on the couch. She was frowning.
    â€œ …discovered early this morning on the north golf course near Bratton Hall…”
    I sat up. “Bratton Hall? That’s near the medical lab, isn’t it?”
    Len nodded. Coincidence?
    Caeran wandered in as the story was wrapping up. He watched in silence, then looked at Len.
    â€œ You should not go back to work.”
    â€œ I can’t quit,” she said.
    I muted the TV. “Maybe just take a leave of absence?”
    She turned to me. “I haven’t even worked there a month. They’d think I’m nuts.”
    Caeran came and sat beside her. “There will be other jobs. The risk is too high now.”
    Except it wasn’t just a job. I gnawed the back of my thumb. “We’re home before dark. All the killings happened at night.”
    Caeran shook his head. “The alben can hunt in daylight. She prefers not to, but it is not safe to assume she never will.”
    â€œ I can’t quit, Caeran,” Len said.
    They stared at each other, long and hard. Finally Caeran sighed and went out.
    He was even more obsessive about watching us after that. No more just walking us to and from the car—when Len and I were out of the house, one of the cousins was guarding each of us at all times.
    I started going a little stir-crazy. I taught the guys to play Texas Hold’em, and every night we weren’t watching doing homework or movies I bugged them to play poker with me. Lomen picked it up fast and seemed to really enjoy it, and the others weren’t bad. Len played too, though she wasn’t a great player. Too timid.
    I was starting to feel really claustrophobic. I had to take a stand somewhere. I was damned if I was going to let a stranger who wasn’t even human shape my life, so at breakfast one morning I screwed up my courage.
    â€œ I’d like to play in a poker tournament. There’s one Tuesday night at Sandia.”
    Caeran gave me his flat look. “It is too dangerous.”
    â€œ It’s a room full of people in the middle of a casino. You think the alben would go there?”
    â€œ It is better to stay home at night.”
    â€œ Tuesday’s my birthday. This is what I want for my present.”
    He frowned and turned his tea mug in his hands. “Lunch would be better.”
    â€œ It’s a weekday. We’re working.”
    â€œ Why don’t we go to Sunday brunch?” Len said.
    â€œ Because I want to celebrate on my birthday. It’s just one night, Caeran. Please? You can bring your whole family if you want. I know Lomen wouldn’t mind—he might even like to enter the tournament.”
    He pressed his lips together. Len put her hand on his arm. He looked at her, then sighed.
    â€œ All right.”
    â€œ Great! Thank you thank you thank you!” I was so happy I could have hugged him.
    â€œ Where is Sandia?” he asked.
    â€œ North end of town. Way north.”
    â€œ Is it near the theater?”
    â€œ Not really.”
    â€œ Going anywhere is a risk.”
    â€œ But the alben is more likely to stay near campus, right?” I said. “She’s done all her hunting there so far.”
    â€œ Almost all,” Caeran said, looking at me.
    I remembered the movie theater parking lot, and shrugged away a shiver. If I couldn’t go out for one night, with four ælven protecting me…
    That night the guys came over, and I brought up the plan. Lomen agreed to it instantly, and asked me a bunch of questions about the tournament and the casino. He wanted to play too, which mollified Caeran a little. We’d be in the same room.
    So that they