Chapter 5

Odette’s point of view: Healing wounds and parting ways.

When I stood next to him again, he lifted his head and glanced at my hair with confusion flashing in his eyes...

But suddenly, he mentally restrained himself from staring further at my locks of hair, before meeting my glance and smiling at me, with a now normal expression on his face!

I’m just relieved that he didn’t say anything about my transformation... Now I can properly concentrate on his wound without any unnecessary distractions!

I remembered the basket filled with fruit, still dangling from my hands. Then I lifted it up and placed it next to Alex.

Odette: “I picked some fruit for you to eat for dinner.”

Alexander: “That wasn't necessary, but I appreciate it, thank you, Odette.”

Odette: “No need to thank me, you need to eat in order to build up your strength.”

With a satisfied grin on my face, I prepared the herbs in a small wooden bowl and when it was ready, I carefully cleaned the bite mark with fresh drinking water, I brought back from the lake. Afterwards, I gently applied the antibiotics and dressed the wound with clean, torn pieces of cloth.

While I was still busy, I could study him more carefully. From the scriptures I have studied over the years, I have learned that vampires have blue coloured blood, werewolves have thick, dark-brown coloured blood and us fairies have dark red coloured blood.

Alex has light red blood and he’s also warm to the touch, which means he must be of fairy origin… His complexion wasn’t completely tanned, but it also wasn’t too pale, instead his skin has a golden undertone, which makes him even more baffling and mysterious.

I really can’t figure out from where he’s from and he made it abundantly clear to me when we met, not to ask him any personal questions.

The whole time I was busy, Alex didn't say a word or even flinched ones. He just pulled the basket closer and started to eat the fruit, as if nothing was happening and it was the most normal thing to do at that moment.

Finally, when I was done and satisfied with my handy work, I washed my hands in a bucket of clean water that was standing next to me.

Odette: “I am all done! Now you just have to rest for a while, before you can move around again.”

Alexander: “Thank you, Odette, I deeply appreciate everything you are doing for me. How can I ever repay your kindness?”

Odette: “You're welcome Alex.”

Odette: “You don't owe me anything, I am just grateful that I found you in time and was able to help heal you.”

Alex just nodded his head and smiled at me with gratitude written in his eyes.

Odette: “Unfortunately, I have to go home now, but I hope you will consider resting here for the rest of the night? No one from the village will disturb you until after dawn tomorrow.”

Alex thought it through for a while and then made up his mind.

Alexander: “In that case, I will gladly accept your hospitality for a few more hours.”

A smile slowly spread across my face.

Odette: “Wonderful!”

For a moment longer, we stared into each other's eyes, before I finally stood up.

Odette: “Good night Alex, I hope in time, you will fully recover and regain all of your strength.”

Alexander: “I will, thanks to you. Good night and sleep well Odette.”

After one last glance in his direction, I turned around and went home with a sad and longing feeling in my heart…

When I got home, my dad was already waiting for me at the entrance door with a very worried expression on his face. I gave Alex my word that I wouldn't tell anyone about him, so for the first time in my life, I had to make up a story about what happened in the forest that afternoon.

Charlie: “Odette, finally you are home! We were so worried about you. When the group of girls came back, they immediately ran up to us and told us you went back down to the lakefront.

Apparently, you just told them to rush back home and then disappeared without any further explanation.”

Odette: “I apologize for making you and mama worry about me. I didn't mean for it to happen that way, papa.”

Odette: “I heard some strange noises coming from the trees near the lake and decided to go and investigate it. It turned out to be a group of lost deer that strayed from the rest of the herd.”

Odette: “One of the deer in the group was badly injured and his antlers got stuck in low-hanging branches and started to cry out in frustration.”

Odette: “I helped the deer free his antlers and healed his wound, before I showed them the way back to their herd...”