Eli keep your eyes on the road smh
Fanart for the wonderful fanfic by @pollsandwonders (read here)
I think it's worth observing that Eli as a character had an established backstory and principles even before Victor while Victor's whole character and narrative predominantly revolves around Eli and going against him. Even during Lockland, he found a way to make himself the main focus of Eli's project, twist his thesis into their thesis. He forced himself onto Eli's narrative, made himself the main focus. While Eli's 'kill all EOs because they are an affront to God' was because of what he experienced with Victor and their falling out, he was still more independent a character in terms of purpose. And then there's Victor on the other hand whose whole purpose in the first book was to kill Eli. It's so fascinating and is also incredibly funny considering Victor is the main character.
“I’ll be right back.”
Stell caught his shoulder. “Where are you going?”
“To get you a gun.” Eli nodded at Marcella’s security, all dressed in trim black suits. “Haven’t you noticed? The guests may not be allowed to carry, but her men certainly are.”
Stell didn’t let go.
“At some point,” said Eli calmly, “you have to let out my leash.”
The director stared at him for a long, hard moment, and then his hand finally fell away. Eli turned and slipped through the crowd, trailing one of the security guards as they split off down a hall toward the bathroom. Eli followed him in, watched the guard vanish into a stall waited for another man at the sink to finish washing up and leave. Eli slid the bolt in the man’s wake, and approached the stall door.
It swung open, and Eli slammed his shoe into the guard’s chest, sent him reeling back into the wall. Eli caught him by the tie before he could fall, drew the guard’s holstered gun, and pressed it tight to his chest to muffle the shots.
Eli eased the body back onto the seat.
It had been a long time since he killed a human. But forgiveness would have to wait.
(Vengeful 471)