Blood

~Chapter Two : Preperation~

                                                                       ~Collette's P.O.V~
    As I completed writing my last entry before departure, I could hear my Father calling me. "Collette, please hurry and finish your packing. We must leave before sundown!"

"I have just completed my last entry before our departure, Father." I called from my room.

"Sigh... You and that book of yours." Father said, clearly discouraged. "You've had it since you were 8, Colly. And how old are you now?"

"20 years old." I stated with confidence. "And I will never part with it."

"That thing is 12 years old! How is it still in tact?" Father asked, astonished.

"I, take care of my belongings, unlike you, Father." I said, giggling.

"I take care of my belongings!" Father said.

"When I was 5, Mother gave you a snow globe. Not even a month later, it was covered with dust and could not be removed! You didn't dust it once." I said.

There was no reply from Father. "Father, I'm sorry. I should know better then to bring up Mother."

"It's quite alright, Collette. We are humans, and therefore, are not perfect. Nor will we ever be."

I did not respond to Father. Instead, I checked to make sure I had all of my belonging packed and in the proper place.

5 dresses, 6 stockings, 8 panties, 3 cloaks, 2 sweaters, 6 pairs of shoes, and, most importantly, my cross necklace.

"Father, do you mind attaching my necklace?" I asked in a soft, polite tone of voice. My cross necklace was encrusted with red rubies. Mother had planned on giving it to me on my 13th birthday, but she couldn't...

"Of coarse, Collette. Anything for my beautiful daughter." Father replied. I heard shuffling from the kitchen as he made his way to my room.

I crossed my bedroom to open the door for him. I peeked out of the doorway and saw him ascending the last few steps before turning to walk to my room.

I hid behind the door, covering my mouth so that my giggling could not be heard. "Collette, I-hmm..."

We always played this game where I would hide and Father would pretend not to know where I was. We've been playing it since I was a little girl.

"Wherever could my little Colly have gotten to?" I saw Father pacing the room 'looking' for me until he stopped, his back turned to where I was, behind the door.

"I have no idea where she is. Well, looks like I'll have to leave without her..." I jumped from my hiding spot and onto his back.

"Here I am!" I yelled, clinging onto his back. We both laughed until I decided to drop off of his back.

I handed him the necklace and turned around so that it was easier for him to clasp the necklace. Once he clasped it, he removed my brunette hair from underneath the chain and gently set it down over the chain.

"There you go, Collette." I turned around to look at Father. His warm smile, brown eyes and brunette hair like mine was tidy on top of his head.

"You need a shave, Father." I said, indicating the stubble in his chin.

"That, I do. Please get dressed, we have a long way ahead of us." Father said, turning to leave.

"Wait, Father!" I called after him. He turned in the doorway. "Yes?"

"I love you, Father." I said, smiling at him.

He smiled back. "I love you too, Collette."

                                                                                    End of -Preperation-