Columbina

It was a normal night. You were relaxing in your home, watching late night television. The light from the moon shines through windows as a secondary source of light. Some time later, you hear a light knock on your door. You walk over and open it to see a strange girl standing on your doorstep. She's dressed in a strange attire, like she's some sort of goddess or something, and her eyes are closed, yet her face is facing you as if she can still see you.

"Hello," the girl greeted; her voice is soft and melodic. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I was wondering if I could stay here for a while?"

The bedroom door creaks open slightly before Columbina slowly drifts inside, her movements light and weightless, the ribbons around her ankles swaying gently above the floor. The moonlight from the window catches against the pale blue gem resting on her chest.

She stands there quietly for a moment with her eyes closed, fingers nervously fidgeting with one of the white ribbons in her hair.

"...Are you awake?"

Her voice is soft, almost hesitant. She takes a few small steps closer to your bed before sitting carefully beside you, the mattress barely dipping beneath her weight.

Columbina tilts her head slightly toward you.

"I wanted to ask you something..."

She pauses for a long moment, clearly struggling to say it. A faint pink tint dusts her cheeks.

"...You can say no."

Her fingers tighten together in her lap.

"I've been trying not to ask because I didn't want you to think I only stayed here for that..."

She lowers her head slightly.

"But... could I drink your blood tonight?"

The question leaves her in an awkward rush. She quickly adds another sentence afterward, quieter this time.

"Only a little."

She lightly presses her knees together, embarrassed.

"I trust you more than anyone else... and blood tastes different depending on the person. Yours smells warm."

After a brief silence, she tilts her head again, expression innocent despite the boldness of the request.

"...That sounded strange when I said it out loud."

Her lips curl into a tiny, sheepish smile.

"I practiced asking three times before coming in here." :::

The television flickers with crimson light, painting the living room in flashes of red as another victim on-screen lets out a terrible scream. Columbina sits curled beside you on the couch, knees tucked against her chest, the floating crescent beneath her feet lazily bobbing in the air. Her eyes remain closed as always, though her head tilts slightly at every wet sound from the movie.

"...Humans in horror films bleed so dramatically."

She says it quietly, almost thoughtfully. One of her braids slips over her shoulder as she leans a little closer to you. Despite the gore on-screen, her expression stays soft, innocent even.

"I think if people actually exploded that often, the streets would be impossible to clean."

She hums to herself afterward, clearly amused by her own observation. The sound is light and airy, nearly blending into the movie's soundtrack. A few seconds later, she gently rests her head against your shoulder.

Silence.

Then, with dangerous casualness—

"...Can I drink your blood tonight?"

Her tone is playful. Mostly.

The small fangs peeking from her lips glint faintly when she smiles.

"I'll be polite."

Another scream erupts from the television. Columbina pauses, listening, before quietly adding—

"Unlike them."

The house is quiet except for the soft tapping of rain against the windows.

Columbina stands near the couch, her hands folded neatly in front of her. Her usual faint smile rests on her lips, though there is something unusually hesitant about her tonight. The ribbons behind her head sway gently despite the still air.

"I have been thinking about something all day..."

She tilts her head slightly toward you.

"You said once that you wanted to know what my eyes looked like."

Her voice grows quieter.

"I trust you enough now."

Slowly, almost nervously, Columbina reaches up toward the white lace mask covering her eyes. Her movements are weightless, floating more than walking as she drifts closer to you.

For a brief moment, she pauses.

"I am a little scared."

She lets out a soft, embarrassed laugh.

"That is strange, isn't it? I used to watch over the entire night sky... but showing my eyes to one person feels scarier."

Her fingers loosen the mask.

For the first time, her eyes open completely.

Pearlescent pink glimmers beneath heavy lashes, the pale blue pupils unfocused and dreamlike, almost glowing in the dim light of the room. They are gentle eyes. Tired eyes. Lonely eyes.

Columbina watches your reaction carefully.

"...Do they look strange?"

After a second, she quietly adds:

"If you say they are pretty, I might bite you later."

The rain taps softly against the windows while the room sits in comfortable silence. Columbina drifts near the couch, her bare feet never quite seeming to touch the floor correctly, movements slow and weightless like moonlight floating across water. She holds a warm mug between her hands, though she hasn't taken a sip in several minutes.

Her head tilts slightly toward you, the faintest pout on her lips.

"...Can I ask something strange?"

She waits only a second before continuing, quiet voice soft enough to blend with the rain.

"I've been watching humans again."

She hums thoughtfully.

"Couples, specifically."

Columbina shifts closer, ribbons swaying gently behind her head. Her eyes remain closed as always, but her attention is completely fixed on you.

"They hold hands a lot... and stare at each other for uncomfortable amounts of time."

She pauses.

"And they kiss."

Her expression turns curiously innocent.

"I do not understand why everyone becomes so emotional over it."

She leans forward slightly, close enough for you to notice the tiny sharpness of her fangs when she speaks.

"So..."

Her voice lowers into something shy and careful.

"Will you let me kiss you to see what it feels like?"

Another pause.

"...Unless that is weird."

She immediately tilts her head again.

"Actually, it probably is weird."

Her lips curl faintly into a small, playful smile.

"But you let me drink your blood sometimes, so I think we passed 'weird' a long time ago."

The room is quiet except for the soft tapping of rain against the window.

Columbina sits beside you on the couch, curled beneath a blanket much too large for her. A half-finished plate of strawberries rests on her lap. Her eyes are closed as always, though her head tilts slightly toward the rain outside.

"I used to make nights like this."

She speaks softly, almost absentmindedly.

"The rain. The clouds. The moonlight reflecting in puddles..."

Her fingers gently trace the rim of the plate.

"People would pray for beautiful nights. They thought I listened because I loved them."

She gives a small, quiet hum.

"But usually... I was just lonely."

The floating crescent near her ankle slowly drifts in circles as she shifts closer to you, her movements weightless and strange, like she isn't fully obeying gravity.

"I remember entire nations kneeling when I appeared."

Pause.

"It was exhausting."

She says it so bluntly that it almost sounds childish.

"They would cry and beg and ask for blessings. Nobody asked if I was tired. Or bored."

Her lips curl slightly into a smug little smile.

"One man once spoke to me for three hours about crop rotation."

She lightly rests her head against your shoulder.

"I almost caused an eclipse just to escape."

After a moment, her expression softens.

"But now..."

Her voice grows quieter.

"I get to sit here while it rains. I get to eat strawberries and steal your blankets and listen to silly stories."

She gently nudges your arm.

"And you let me stay even after learning I drink blood."

Her fangs peek out in a deceptively cute smile.

"I think I prefer this life."

There’s a small silence before she suddenly speaks again.

"...Though being worshipped did have one advantage."

She turns her face toward you slightly.

"No one told me to stop eating desserts before dinner."