For a chilly Munich day, the air was warm, and the flowers that thrived in the Englischer Garten were in full bloom. Griffin and Colette—an odd pairing—walked side by side beneath the trees. They didn’t talk much, but they were fine with it. It was them and the world, two separate entities.
As for how they arrived at the conclusion that this day would be perfect for a stroll in a park, it was a matter of two simple things.
One. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining, but a few clouds drifted lazily across it now and then. Though Germany was notorious for being cold—like the hearts of its people, as some Violett seemed to believe—it was unseasonably warm, just the right temperature to don a light jacket and be comfortable.
Two. Everyone else laughed at Griffin for wanting to admire the flowers. Everyone but Colette.
See, everyone else was an uncultured jerk. That’s what Griffin chose to believe.
After an hour they decided to rest upon a bench in the shade, giving Colette an opportunity to lower her parasol that protected her porcelain skin.
They sat there in silence for a moment. Colette dabbed her forehead delicately with a handkerchief.
“Are you enjoying the gardens?” Griffin asked into the silence.
She nodded with a genuine smile. “Oh, yes. I adore the flowers. Munich is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Nodding his agreement, Griffin turned away. “Yes. Yes it is.”
“Something wrong?”
Startled by the sudden inquiry, Griffin whipped his head around to meet the perfectly concerned face of the vampire. “I...”
She rested a hand on his. “If something is bothering you, feel free to confide in me.”
“I appreciate the notion,” he said gruffly. “I am afraid, however, that my problems are my own.”
With a respectful half-smile, she patted his hand before removing it. “I understand. Nonetheless, if anything troubles you and you need an ear to listen, I would be more than happy to help out a friend.”
“How are you so kind all the time?” Griffin blurted.
“Pardon?”
“Regardless of the situation, you never hesitate to offer your assistance. I do not understand it.”
Blinking rapidly, Colette cocked her head ever so slightly. “Griffin, people can be nice. It isn’t a great myth. There are genuinely kind-hearted people in the world. I like to consider myself one of them.”
“But you are kind and beautiful,” Griffin continued in his rant, not pausing to realize how she blushed at his sentiment. “That is an oxymoron in today’s culture. I do not understand how you can be so genuine, so caring, and so lovely and still exist.”
With a quick kiss to his stubbly cheek—summoning a bright red color to his face—, Colette laughed. “You are kind, too, Wyvern. But you are terribly silly.” She sat back, eyes front and staring into the distance. “Griffin, there is far too much pain in this world to dwell on it. There must be those who offer their backs to carry others’ burdens. It’s what must be done if there is ever to be a reduction in suffering.”
“What if you are suffering?”
She shrugged. “I can handle whatever is tossed my way.”
Draping an arm loosely around her delicate shoulders, Griffin sighed. “Well, if ever you find yourself in need of a helping hand, regardless of the matter, you may trust me.”
“Thank you, Griffin, truly.” Her eyes sparkled as she rose. “Come along, then. There’s so much more to see.”
