Minds of Magic

Roof Tops and Red Skies

It was the next day, incredibly early. The sun had not even begun to rise yet. But my body jolted me awake.

NOW!

I jumped out of bed and crammed my feet into my shoes.
"Avery?" A confused ghostly voice behind me rang out,"What's got you in a hurry?"

"No time, Danny. There's something I have to do. Don't wait up."I rushed out of the room. Not bothering to lock the door since Danny scared off most people anyway. I hurriedly moved outside the dorms and rushed back towards the door. Despite it being so early, the entrance to the school was unlocked.
I pushed open the doors and peered into the eery darkness of the empty school. Steeling myself, I found the courage to step forward. And then I was running, the sound of my feet echoes through the hallway. I only stop when I am in front of the door that I was looking for. I'd never been here before but I just know I have to be here. The sign beside the door has an arrow that points up and and below it the words spell Rooftop, I pushed open the door and legged it up the stairs two at a time.
I crashed through the door at the top of the steps out into the open air of the night sky. I had never been on the school's rooftop before. It looked like any other school rooftop with benches and an intricate railing around the ledge. I heard students sometimes come up here to eat lunch.

A boy with dark hair sat on the railing. The school was only 2 stories tall not impressive enough to jump from. But I knew this particular boy was not planning to jump, he had something far more self-lethal in mind.

He didn't look up at my noisy arrival. His head was down as he kicked his feet over the edge and hummed almost too quietly for me to hear. He looked so unreal, his balance seeming unnaturally stable. Looking so regal as his hair waved gently in the breeze.

"I wasn't expecting anybody to be here at this hour," He spoke softly," But I'm not surprised you're here. I could smell your sweet scent from a mile away. It's calming and maddening...all in the same breath."

"V-Valentine, what are you thinking? Get down from there!"

"That's not my name!" He barked whirling around and standing, perfectly balanced on the railing. His eyes shone with rage as he glared down at me from his elevated position.

Clenching his teeth, his jaw ticked as he seemed to actively calm himself,"No...Bunny,that's not my name. Please call me Paris....you promised you'd remember."

"And I did!" I corrected quickly,"Look, I'm sorry but please, please get down from there."

He sighed, turning around and collapsing back into his seat on the rails," And why should I do that? Look the suns beginning to rise. I would hate to miss it..."

I began choking up, tears beginning to cloud my vision,"Paris...no. Come on. We have to get you out here and underground."

"No, I fear I've grown tired of the night and its self imposed isolation. I think for the first time in 200 years, I would like to see proof."
I began to choke up,"P-proof of what?"

He turned his head to look back over his shoulder, an indescribable look on his face,"Proof that this long night truly has an end..."

On shaky legs I move closer to the railing, the sun begins to peak over the treeline, the first bird of the new day begins to chirp their song.

"I thought it would be a blessing, y'know? A life everlasting. But the trade-off cost me everything. My soul is dark. I have become the night's monster. The 'it' that lurks in the shadows. But I shall not remain in the shadows any longer. I will feel the warmth of the sun on my face. Even if it will be the last time..."

The sun had rose even further. Kissing the tree top, spreading over the land like a warm hand.

"Y'know, as it stands right now," he turned his face again to look over his shoulder at me but this time, his skin had began to flake heavily and burn,"I feel even more mortal than you."
The sun had reached him, soft rays touching his hair and causing the dark locks to shimmer. Black smoke began to raise above him. A quiet sizzling sound found its way to my ears, like the sound of cooked bacon.

He began to hum again.

"No! Valentine, get it together!" I screeched. Wrapping my arms around his front and hooking my hands at his shoulder I heaved him off the railing and back to floor with a strength I didn't know I had. With the adrenaline pumping through my veins I dragged him backwards toward the door. Into the shady part of the roof that the sun had yet to touch. He didn't fight me. Didn't move, didn't breathe and for a second I was worried he was already dead. I dragged his body as far as I could go before I tripped over my own feet and stumbled to the ground. I clutched him close to my chest, propping him up with my body so I could get a closer look at him.

He skin was flaking in giant portions. His shirt was open to reveal that even his chest had began to burn violently. He looked like a man fresh out of a fire. This is what a few seconds of sun had done to him?! He was smokey with jet black vapor coming off him in waves.

He was weak. His head lolled to the side on my shoulder his dark hair wet with sweat flopped onto his forehead.

"V-Valentine? You're not dead, are you? Come on, open you eyes, I can't drag you any further."
The sun shine was slowly creeping across the ground closer to them. The one time I had ever feared the daylight.

I had thought for a second,"V...you're gonna have to drink my blood."

He let out a groan, his eyes squeezing tight together. I lifted my wrist to his mouth. But when he didn't react I used my other hand to run my fingers over the knot behind one of his ears, immediately his fangs shot down from between his lips, sharp and bright white . I moved to prick myself with one but his hand shot out suddenly and gripped my arm. His eyes still shut tight but his grip strong.
"Don't..." He groaned out.
"Paris, you have to. I will not let you die on me...literally." Gesturing to how he was limply resting against me.

I pressed the inside of my wrist against his lips and with a hiss dragged my arm across his fang.
His eyes shot open immediately, but they were different now. I could see now that his eyes were now a deep blood red.

He raised his other hand and used both to lock my arm in place as he drank. It was hard to describe what it felt like but pleasant wasn't it. It felt like something was being taken from me. Like I was being eaten alive and there was nothing I could do about it. I could sort of feel my blood rushing out of my wrist and into his sucking mouth and I could definitely feel both of fangs pierced through my flesh.

I wanted to push him away but I was too mesmerized with his body. It had began healing, knitting itself closed and becoming that flawless porcelain skin all over again. The smoke was gone and the red had even faded as well. Even his face began to take on a healthier glow. He looked even better than before the sun had touched him.

He had stopped before I had gotten light headed, with a lick and a kiss to my wrist. With that, I watched as my skin knit itself together. I was regenerating just like his!