I lost it all when we parted.
"Zoë! How are you?"
Since you left, I could never breath the same.
"Nodnu? You're up earlier than usual."
The world was so cold.
"Yes, I tend to sleep in most of the time, don't I?"
I never wanted to let you go.
"Ah. . ." Zoë looked away nervously.
I never wanted. . .
Nodnu came closer.
I- Simon! I-
He placed a hand on her chin and forced her to look in his eyes.
Please, Simon! I-
"Nodnu, please. . . Just tell me what you want. . ."
Simon! I love-
The vampire laughed.
I love you!
Nodnu withdrew from the girl and turned toward the dinning table. He leaned against an oak chair. It was the first time Zoë had ever seen him so gloomy. He looked more pale than usual.
"You can leave if you really want to, leave with him." Nodnu's face was hidden.
"What? I don't understand, you'll let me go?"
"Yes. Yes. I let you go."
Zoë stood in the dinning room silent. She studied Nodnu's back turned to her. He wore black tonight, like he always does. Time stretched on and no one in the room moved.
"Go now!" The vampire said quietly but with strong force.
Zoë turned to the door and just stared at it. Then she turned back to Nodnu.
"He's awake now. Go meet him and leave Salem."
An instant later, Zoë heard footsteps above her; Simon walking around.
"I want to thank you," She said to Nodnu, "For what you did for me. Tell Lady also for this. There's nothing I could ever do enough to repay you."
"Yes. . ." Oh no, my dear, there is something you can do. . . "Goodbye, love."
Zoë smiled as Simon came from the stairs. She whispered to him in her soft velvety voice and before the night had truly even begun, they went out the door and disappeared.
My dear sweet Zoë, this isn't goodbye just yet. With his thoughts, he covered his eyes with his hand in sorrow and anger but a mocking smile soon entered his lips. The Witch, watching, laughed wickedly behind him.
"How do you feel?" Zoë turned to Simon, as they got to the edge of the forest.
They stopped and he said, "I feel fine, I guess More memories are returning to me. It's like I never even left my body. Although this new body feels tight, it's not natural. Perhaps I'll get used to it. . ."
The girl studied the vampire in the moonlight. He had on Nodnu's black clothes and a cracked leather jacket that looked like a hand-me-down. His skin and hair glowed.
"Where are we going?" Zoë asked, "What will we do?"
"What will we do? I'll be with you, that's all that matters, isn't it? And where ever you want to go, I'll follow."
"Take me," Zoë stepped forward and landed in the vampire's arms, "Take me home."
"Home? The place where I first met you?"
"Yes, take me away from here. I want to be where I first seen you."
Simon held the girl tight. "Hold on," he whispered in her ear. He swooped her whole body into his arms and he galloped faster than any moving object before him. Trees and buildings passed in a blur.
Zoë opened her eyes.
She looked up to feel Simon's breath on her face and his pale face flushed with energy. He smiled. He let her down on her feet and Zoë gasped.
The playground.
"This is the park where I first seen you! Oh, how long ago it seems! Simon I-" Then Simon disappeared right before her eyes.
The vampire came up behind her. He gently wrapped his arms around her waist, his chest against her back. "I know. I love you more than anything." She could feel his chin on her shoulder.
"Oh, Simon. . . I-"
"Hush now." Simon moved one hand from her waist and began caressing her neck with the tips of his fingers. "I want you to live forever with me. I never want to see you grow old and die. . ."
Zoë collapsed entirely against him. Her eyes began to close. His touch so soothing.
"I must know, would you live for all eternity with me? Would you give up your mortality-"
Zoë stiffened.
"Would you become a creature of the night with me?"
"I-" She put a hand upon Simon's hand still upon her neck, "I-"
"I never want you to-"
Zoë released herself from Simon's embraced and looked up at him. She stared for awhile, looking at that beautiful face.
"I understand if-"
"No." Zoë reached out her arms to the vampire and moved his lips to her own neck, "I want to live eternally with you."
Simon took her offer and pierced the skin. Zoë fell onto the grass of the park and the vampire followed. The girl held tight to Simon, attached to her neck. Her world began to spin and she finally faded to black.
"Simon-"
"Shhh. . . Sleep now. The night has grown old. Sleep."