Chapter 3

Toni shivered on the balcony in the breeze. She was still dressed in her costume and looking down at the fallen vampire boy. Well, she couldn't just leave him there… She went back inside her room, slipping out of the dress and into jeans and a green sweater. It had a wide neck, but it was wonderfully soft and fuzzy. Her hair she bound into a ponytail once more as she made her way downstairs. She went outside and found the boy, still lying where he'd fallen.

"Are you okay?" she asked in concern, kneeling at his side.

"Do I look it?" he asked, his voice muffled by the ground. Just then a vehicle drove by the side gate of the courtyard. Toni turned to see a large truck, bright spotlights swooping about menacingly. "Rookery!" the boy said, pulling himself back enough to hide in Toni's shadow. Still looking ready to collapse, Toni put a hand on one shoulder, holding his swaying body upright. "Do you…" he started, breathing heavily, and Toni turned back to him. "Do you know where I can get a cow?"

"A cow? We have milk inside-"

"No…a cow. Please hurry." He said, only now allowing his own fear and worry to enter his voice. Toni bit her lip, looking back towards the gate.

"Hold on." She said, standing. She dashed inside and grabbed her car keys where they hung from a hook on the wall by the back door before dashing back outside to the boy. "Alright, come on." She said, pulling one of the boy's arms over her shoulder and helping him to his feet. He was almost a foot taller than she was, but she managed. She helped him over to the passenger side of her car, opening the door and easing him inside. She went around to the other side and climbed into the driver's seat. "Put your seatbelt on." She ordered, doing the same for herself. The boy slowly attempted to do so, seeming to take a while to figure out how the seatbelt worked. In the end, she had to buckle it for him. He apparently hadn't been in a car before. She started up the vehicle, noticing that he didn't flinch at the light from her headlights.

"So…this light doesn't bother you, how come the ones on that truck did?" she asked him as she made her way along the twisting road.

"It's the kind of lights they are. It used to be the Vampire Hunters used fire to fight us, as it hurts us more than mortals. But then someone discovered how to make light which has the same effect as the sun. The hunters use those now."

"Oh, the UV bulbs." Toni said in understanding.

"Where are we going?" he asked, looking out the window in interest.

"There's a dairy farm not too far from here, I'm taking you there." She told him, focusing on staying on the left side of the road again. They arrived a few moments later, and Toni pulled up across from the barn next to the fence. She went around the side to help the boy from the car, taking most of his weight on her shoulder as they made their way inside. There were five cows lined up against the wall, all munching from a trough of food. The boy went forward on his own, whispering to the cow to keep her calm. He went around to her side and Toni watched. Then she heard an odd sucking sound as he bit into the cow's side. The sounds got louder, the boy was sucking and licking greedily and Toni grimaced.

"Ok, that's gross." She muttered, turning away. She left the barn, deciding to wait by the car for the boy. If he decided to come back at least. It wouldn't surprise her too much if he left for good. She hoped he didn't, she wanted to ask him about the dream. She walked across the road to her car and leaned against the side to wait, stuffing her hands in her pants pockets.

But then she noticed an odd blinking red light down the road. She watched it curiously, trying to see what it was. Suddenly a very bright light turned on, shining right in her face. She held up an arm to shield her eyes, still trying to see the source of the light. She squinted past the glare and noticed headlights. A loud engine roared to life and she stepped away from her car in alarm. The lights then started coming closer and closer, and she stepped back in fright.

She realized her error as the truck sped up. She was stuck on the road between a stone wall on one side and a very steep hill on the other. And there was no way she could outrun the monster vehicle. She backed up faster, unable to come up with an escape plan. She thought she heard a gruff voice from the truck shouting.

"Let's see you escape from me now!" the truck lurched forward, he must have slammed on the gas pedal. She gasped before screaming in fear.

"Shut your eyes!" a voice yelled to her. She followed the order before realizing it was the vampire boy who'd said it. He grabbed her around the shoulders, swinging the other arm behind her knees. He lifted her as if she was as light a feather, and the sounds of the truck faded away. Toni wondered where the boy had carried her, but obeyed his order to keep her eyes shut. A minute later, he set her down on an unstable surface. She grinned, though still kept her eyes shut.

"What is this, a Bouncy Castle?"

"You can open your eyes now." He said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. She opened them, blinking the spots away. Before her was a vast expanse of the Scottish highlands, with green pastures and fields as far as she could see. Her jaw fell open, they were sitting on top of a blimp!

"Wow…." She whispered, turning to look in all directions. A smile spread across her face. It was beautiful! The moon was waxing, it's pure light falling all around them and across the Scottish countryside.

"Enjoying the view?" the boy asked, and she turned to smile at him.

"Absolutely." She said; with such feeling that he chuckled. She laughed as well, enjoying the happy look on his face. "And thank you." She went on. He looked at her, not understanding. "You kind of just saved my life." She reminded him. He smirked, but looked rather embarrassed.

"I still don't understand you."

"What don't you understand?" she asked, taking a seat.

"You should be screaming in terror."

"I was a minute ago."

"I mean about me. I'm a vampire, but you're not afraid. Why?" he asked, sitting as well, their knees brushing. Toni realized how close they were sitting and blushed a bit, but she didn't feel the need to move away.

"It's this dream." She told him. "I've had it almost every night since I got here." She looked into his eyes again. "And you're in it. So…I guess kinda I feel like I know you."

"If you know me so well, then what's my name?" she realized he was teasing a moment later and smirked back at him.

"No clue." He grinned.

"My name is Rudolf."

"As in the red nosed reindeer?" she asked in surprise. She'd expected him to have more of a Halloween type name, not a Christmassy one. Jack would have been great, like from The Nightmare Before Christmas. That's what she'd been calling him in her head at least, ever since she saw him in her dream.

"I'm not sure I understand the reference." he admitted and she laughed.

"Never mind then. I'm Toni."

"Isn't that a boy's name?"

"Only if you spell it with a Y at the end." She said knowingly. "My full name is Antonia, but everyone calls me Toni."

"I've never had a nickname before." Rudolf said and she smiled, leaning back to look at the stars.

"Well, I can fix that if you give me some time. I'll come up with something that suits you."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Hey what are friends for?" she said, getting to her feet and stretching her arms towards the heavens.

"Friends?" He repeated, standing as well as he asked the question. She looked up at him with a friendly smile.

"Well, we saved each other's lives didn't we?" she stuck out a hand for him to shake.

"Yes. Yes we did." He took her hand and shook it. "Friends." Toni erupted into giggles at how serious they were both acting about the issue, and Rudolf joined her in laughter. She looked around, a mischievous smile growing on her face and turned back to him.

"I've always wanted to do this!" she exclaimed and started jumping. It was a lot like being on a trampoline in truth, but a much larger area. Rudolf watched her incredulously for a few moments, before laughing and joining in. However, it was a tiring activity, and Toni soon flopped down, lying on her back and staring at the sky.

She finally sighed, wondering how late it was. "I should probably be getting home. I need to get my car back first though or my parents will freak." She sat up then in a slight panic. "Rudolf, how do we get down from here?" she asked.

"We'll fly." She looked up at him from her seat. His hands were in the pockets of his black jeans. He had a red shirt on, with a long block coat over it. All his clothing looked like it had seen better days, but somehow suited him.

"But…I can't fly." She reminded him.

"I got you up here didn't I?" he pointed out, grinning down at her.

"Well…I suppose that's true." She acquiesced, though still somewhat reluctantly.

"Then stay calm, friend." He winked, and Toni's fears melted away somewhat. "All right, let's fly." Toni looked at the view, now only seeing the height, and back up at him uncertainly. Rudolf simply held out his hand. "As long as I'm holding onto you, you'll be fine." Toni reached up, sliding her hand into his. "Ready?" he asked, pulling her up from her seat. Before Toni could agree, or disagree, she was on her feet and suddenly…not. She was flying!

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

I admit, i'm not nearly as happy with these earlier chapters as I am with later ones. Please keep in mind that I wrote these a few years ago and that my writing has greatly improved since then!

In the meantime, i hope you stick around, and please review to tell me what you think!

Your Humble Authoress,

Whisperwings