With a surge of bravery and a decision made, Colette reached up intertwining her fingers around Theo's neck and closed her eyes tightly, ready for whatever might come next. Immediately, she felt herself rise, the chilly wind stinging her cheeks as he lifted her.
"Don't open your eyes yet," he whispered.
The comforting proximity of his body as he held her provided a sense of security that calmed her confusion. Despite her previously frozen state, her body began to boil as she became aware of his hand placement. She could tell he had one hand on her back and the other under her thighs.
"Okay…you can open your eyes now," Theo instructed.
Upon opening her eyes, she took in her surroundings. "W-we're in the sky!?" Fearfully, she squeezed her eyes shut and embraced him tightly.
"You don't have to be afraid…I've got you. Open your eyes," compassion in his voice.
Colette eased the strain on her eyes, taking another look at her situation. The sky was a masterpiece; shades of navy and purple blended seamlessly into an endless, breathtaking vision. A gasp escaped her lips as a shower of glittering stars unfolded above a breathtaking celestial tapestry. Even from a distance, the town lights cast a comforting golden hue, enhancing the happy feeling blossoming within her.
They floated through an endless expanse of fluffy clouds, so airy that she felt she could almost reach out and touch them. Colette gently relaxed her hold around Theo's neck, but she paused, uncertain whether to completely let go.
"It's okay…Trust me… I won't let anything happen to you," he reassured.
"O-okay…" Colette uttered bashfully as she slowly released her hands, letting them freely hang into the air. She passively surrendered to the caressing touch of the air, its gentle currents lifting and holding her arms in a weightless, effortless dance. With an outstretched hand, she tried to grasp the sky. As she giggled, the surrounding air filled with little clouds of white vapor, a whimsical scene like something from a fairy tale.
Her gaze drifted over to the vampire boy, who was completely captivated by her intense study of the night sky, his attention fully absorbed by her movements. She wasn't sure if it was the magical atmosphere or the moon's reflection in his eyes, but under the night sky, he was breathtakingly beautiful. The pallor of his skin was striking against the darkness, almost glowing, while his intense red eyes seemed to burn into the shadows.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Theo asked.
"W-Who is?!" Colette asked as her face burned into various shades of red.
"The sky…what'd you think I meant?" He joked with a grin.
Colette puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, "Oh…heh…yeah it is breathtaking."
"So, I'll ask again…Do you trust me?" Theo asked with warmth in his tone.
"Well…you didn't let me fall to my death…yet…" Colette giggled, while Theo made a sarcastic facial expression. Colette continued, "But, let's just say I trusted you…what's all of this for?"
"Let's land and I'll explain." Theo slowly drifted downwards and lowered Colette gently so she could feel the ground beneath her feet. "Colette, I'm not sure how to explain this, but someone placed a glamour on you…To make you forget me." Frustratedly, Theo continued, "For a second I wondered if your life would be better off without me…but the problem is I just can't seem to get you out of my head. I wouldn't be able to take any of the chances I've taken now if it weren't for you. I wouldn't even be able to fly," he mentioned with a chuckle.
"Let's say you're telling the truth here…what would we have to do to break the glamour?" Colette pressed, wanting an answer.
"I believe I can heal you by drinking your blood, but I'll need to drink a decent amount of your blood and I'm afraid to hurt y.." Before he finished what he was saying, Colette had already started unzipping her jacket and unraveling her scarf from her neck. "W-What are you even doing?!" Theo barked.
"If you were going to hurt me, you would've done so a long time ago. I believe you, so let's just get started with this," she said as she dropped her scarf to the ground.
Theo snickered, "You're seriously unbelievable." He grabbed her hand, removing her mitten.
"What are you doing?"
"You should see what a vampire bite feels like before I move to your neck…"
Gently, he shifted her hand closer to his mouth, his lips brushing against her skin before his fangs sank into her palm. Despite her grimace, he continued, his gaze locking with hers to assure her of his harmless intentions. With a light peck to her palm, he released her hand, his lips brushing the small wound he had created, a slight warmth remaining there.
A gasp caught in Colette's throat; she couldn't help but hold her breath, captivated by the scene before her. The flight and his gentle kiss, combined, created a dreamlike state, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. As he caressed her neck, his hand gently swept aside her hair, revealing the soft, exposed skin. Theo's breath hit her neck, warm and teasing, as she felt a shiver of anticipation.
"You hold your breath when you're nervous," he whispered with a chuckle.
His lips, frigid against her skin, were followed by the sharp, almost painful prick of his fangs breaking into her skin. She strained, rising onto her tiptoes, her fingers fumbling with his hoodie as a fresh wave of agony washed over her. But then, as quickly as it began, the pain vanished, replaced by a comforting warmth that spread throughout her.
As he continued to draw her blood, Colette could hear the loud, deep gulps he made. The blood, warm and thick, oozed down her neck, a sticky, metallic stream pooling faster than Theo could drink it away. He paused, gasping for air, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth as he meticulously cleaned the wound, leaving no trace.
As he continued to drink, Colette felt her legs weaken, a tremor running through them as her strength ebbed away. She wasn't sure if the dizziness was from the exertion of passion, or the throbbing ache of blood loss, but either way, the world began to spin.
Without hesitation, Theo grasped her by the waist and effortlessly hoisted her up, sparing her from exerting any more effort. "Just a little more," he mentioned as he propped her back against the tree and continued drinking; only this time she could sense the haste when he drank.
Suddenly, a sharp crack mimicking shattering glass sliced through the darkness, and she felt her subconscious mind breaking free. Her pupils glistened with a newfound light, and her memories slowly surfaced, as if gently waking from a deep sleep. Her mind was returning, but a strange haziness clouded her thoughts, and her body felt weak, as if she were about to faint.
"T-Theo?"
"Colette?! D-Do you remember?"
She wondered how the vampire boy, whose face was blood stained crimson, could look so genuinely caring and concerned. Her vision blurred, fading to black, yet the urgency to share one last truth propelled her forward. Running her fingers past his bloodstained lips, she whispered, "I never got to tell you this before, but my favorite color is red," exerting the last bit of her energy before passing out in his arms.
*****
Colette woke up to a faint, rhythmic beeping from the heart monitor next to her hospital bed, a sound that vibrated through the room. Golden sunlight filtered into her eyes, still heavy with sleep. She slowly adjusted to the brightness, the warmth of the light felt like a gentle caress on her skin. Disjointed images of Theo's fangs sinking into her neck, and the adrenaline-fueled flight replayed relentlessly in her mind. It wasn't a dream—it really happened, she thought.
Glancing over, she noticed her mother nestled comfortably, fast asleep in a spare chair that was present in the room. "Mom?" Colette questioned as she attempted to sit up.
"Colette! Thank goodness you finally woke up!" Natalie exclaimed as she grabbed Colette's hand. "You've been asleep for the past two days!"
"Two days?…What else happened?" She questioned, concerned.
"Well, apparently your blood levels were so low that you needed fluids and a blood transfusion to take you out of those low levels. Somehow, you slept through everything."
"Did the doctors say why my blood levels were so low?"
"They are calling it anemia. Your doctors said you'll probably need to continue taking iron pills after you leave the hospital until your blood iron levels are stable."
So, they were unaware of my blood being drained then? Interesting…Colette thought as her eyes shifted to the doorway. Coffee in hand, Theo and Henry entered the room. The sight of Colette awake surprised them, but relief immediately followed. Theo passed the coffee to Natalie, who graciously accepted.
"Thank you so much, Theo…I really don't know how we're going to repay you." Natalie turned her attention to Colette and continued, "Not only did Theo bring you to the hospital…he spent the last two nights with us making sure you were alright."
Colette blushed, mortified at the thought of how terrible she must have looked asleep in front of him. "Mom…Dad…Is it okay if I have a few minutes alone with Theo before he heads to school?"
Natalie and Henry shot soft smiles at each other and nodded. "Sure honey…We'll let the nurse know you finally woke up. We'll be back soon."
"So, how are you really doing?" Theo asked, drawing a chair closer to Colette's bed.
"I've never felt better!" Colette exclaimed, flexing her biceps. The monitor beeped loudly as she raised her arm, making her quickly lower it in embarrassment, the sharp sound echoing in the quiet room.
Theo chuckled and settled back comfortably in his chair. "I'm glad."
A worried frown creased Colette's face as she nervously twisted a strand of her hair, her fingers tracing its length. "I had something I wanted to tell you though, Theo…I remember everything."