Miracle

Pt. 10

"So, what do you think?" Alex asked, a wide smile lighting his face as he expertly parked the Lamborghini in a vast, open field. They were in the middle of a sprawling meadow, wild flowers of every hue carpeting the ground as far as Lily could see "Sure, it's beautiful," Lily replied, a hint of confusion in her voice as she watched him climb out of the car, round the hood, and open her door. "But what are we going to be doing here in the middle of the night? Are we just taking a stroll?"

He took her hand, his touch warm and electric, and led her over a gentle rise. "Umm, I was thinking more so sightseeing. The stars look beautiful tonight; it would be a crime to pass up looking at them. And what's a better place to watch them than..." He slowly sidestepped to stand directly behind her, then lifted his hand, pointing up.

Lily gasped, a soft sound of surprise, her eyes following his gesture to a colossal hot air balloon that had been hidden from view by the slope of the hill. "...There," he whispered softly, his warm breath ghosting against her neck.
She shivered slightly, a delightful tremor running through her. Truthfully, she wasn't excited about getting into the balloon. She was terrified of heights, but she wasn't about to tell him that.

Alexander, seemingly oblivious to her internal panic, gently led her towards the looming basket.
As they stood at the doorway of the basket, he noticed the subtle tremble in her hands. "Hey," he said softly, and she turned her head, looking up into his deep, concerned blue eyes. He gently moved a stray strand of black hair from her face. "I've got you. I'd never let you down," he whispered, his voice a soothing balm. As she gazed into his mesmerizing eyes, she felt her entire body relax, the tension and fear she had been holding dissolving into a sudden, overwhelming sense of calm and peace.

Nodding her head, a soft smile gracing her lips, she stepped over the threshold into the basket, still holding his hand. He smiled with pride as the balloon wobbled gently, a slight sway beneath their feet. She didn't even notice her nails digging into his skin, a small comfort. He, in turn, chose not to comment; he no longer truly felt physical pain.

Closing the door behind them, he gripped a thick rope – the tether that held the heavy weights attached to the basket, keeping them grounded. He glanced over at her, his smile sweet. "Ready?" he asked, tilting his head cutely to the side. Biting her lip, a wide grin breaking out on her face, Lily nodded. Alexander untied the rope, and the heavy weights thumped onto the ground. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, they began to float upward. Lily peered over the edge of the basket hesitantly, watching as the ground beneath them receded further and further.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on top of her head. "Look up, beautiful," he murmured. "You're missing the view."
She did as he said, lifting her gaze. As they climbed higher, the city lights twinkled beneath them like scattered diamonds. She saw the distant tops of trees, the geometric patterns of buildings, and incredibly, she could even make out her own house from here. "Wow," she whispered, her voice filled with pure amazement. "This is incredible."

"Did you know there's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight?" he asked.
Lily pulled back slightly, raising an eyebrow, a confused smile playing on her lips. "Um, no, there's not," she said, tapping a hand dramatically to her chest. "Trust me on this one, I have an astronomy degree."
He chuckled at her confident expression. "Trust me on this one," he insisted, taking her hand and linking their fingers together. As he looked up at the vast, darkening sky, his eyes glowed a bright, unearthly blue for a split second.

An agonizing pain shot through his head, a sudden, blinding spike that made him groan softly. He instinctively let go of one of her hands, pressing it against the side of his temple, squinting his eyes shut. This was the first time in a very long time that he had experienced actual physical pain. It immediately made him wonder if it was a side effect of being so close to her for so long. He knew he was venturing into unknown territory with her; the Council hadn't had much information on side effects beyond the immediate loss of powers.

Lily turned, looking up at him, her concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked, gently holding one of his cheeks. He slowly opened his eyes, meeting hers. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw his blue eyes flash with an unnatural brilliance. She squinted, staring into them, dismissing it as her imagination.
"Um... I'm fine," he managed, forcing a soft laugh. "Hey, look up there! I guess you were wrong, Miss Astronomer." He pointed up at the sky behind her.
Lily quickly turned around, her eyes widening. Streaks of light, like luminous tears, began to fall across the dark canvas of the heavens. "Oh my god," she breathed, "How... how did you know there was going to be a meteor shower?"
He moved to stand beside her, looking up at the celestial display. "I'm full of mysteries, beautiful," he grinned, glancing over at her.

She looked at him, then reached for his hand, linking their fingers together again. "You really are, Alexander," she murmured, her voice soft with wonder. "You really are." he looked at her from the corner of his eye, a tender smile on his face. He didn't know what other side effects might come from being around her, or if they would be permanent or short-term. But at this moment, looking at her with the stunning meteor shower falling behind them, the wind gently blowing her black hair around her face, and her brown eyes reflecting the stars, he was willing to take any risks. As long as he would be able to see her again.