Chapter 8 VIII

Something didn't feel right, Father Michael thought. The guy before him was different from the men who were loitering outside during the day.

"What's happening?"

"Why isn't he taking the communion?"A member on the line asked.

Lucian grinned."I'm looking for someone, maybe you can help me meet her."

He gulped as he clenched to the communion bowl. He needed to do something as the congregation was in danger...

"What's up with that guy?"

"What's Father Michael doing?"The murmur increased.

"I don't know who you're looking for, but we're in the middle of mass. Please come again..."

"Don't worry. I'll leave as soon as I find who I'm looking for."Lucian interrupted.

"The person you're looking for isn't here."He said, firmly.

"Aren't you a priest? Why do you look like you're going to beat me up. I haven't even said who I'm looking for."

A man behind Lucian tapped his umbrella."Hey you, hurry up."

The smile on Lucian's face faded and he clenched his umbrella tight.

"Don't touch me. I won't warn you again." He replied,his eyes not leaving Father Michael who was already sweating.

The man slapped the umbrella out of his hand and grabbed his shoulder, turning him to face him.

"Are you ignoring what I said on purpose, asshole? Can't you see there are people waiting behind you?"

"Honey, don't." His wife protested and Lucian's eyes changed to red and the man broke into a cold sweat. He grabbed the man's hand and was about to finish him off when Father Michael grounded out. "Stop."

Everyone turned to look at Father who gritted. "I'm sorry but mass is over. Brothers and sisters, please go back home."

Everyone murmured as they turned to leave followed behind by Lucian who stopped by the door to tap his umbrella against the floor once everyone had left.

"Oh, that's right."He started as he took out a card and tossed it, landing before Father Michael's feet. The card read Red Bomb Club. "Come visit my club when you have time. I'll give you a discount."He smiled as he ran his tongue over his golden fangs. "And give Miss Zuriña Anderson my regards." With that, he slammed the door leaving Father Michael to pant.

Father went over to one of the chairs in the church and sat with a thud. They must have known she lived there for a while, but they were yet to attack her because they were waiting for her heart to mature.

He buried his face into his palms as he got lost in the past.

It happened while he was deployed in Russia. He'd got to know a certain kid whose circumstances wasn't great but he always had such a happy smile on his face.

He and the kid could communicate in short sentences and they became close in no time. The kid made him smile even though he was exhausted back then from the tough life of a soldier overseas but soon, disaster snuck up on him like a sandstorm.

They'd gotten news one day that terrorists had been discovered moving explosives and they were ordered to intercept them and take out any suspicious targets.

He hadn't seen the kid for a while, but he ended up coming across him somewhere he wished he hadn't.

According to sources, the terrorists were making bombs and transporting them nearby and it was reported that the kid had been seen wandering around that area for days.

Tears had welled up in the kids eyes when he'd been ordered to drop the bag. But he'd been too scared of the arms they were holding. He made to open the bag to show them its' contents but a gun went off before he could, killing him instantly.

It was later discovered that the kid's parents had been moving the bombs and had used him as diversion and the only thing the kid had in his bag were empty cans.

He'd stopped smiling from that day on as he felt helpless and racked with guilt.

He knew it was selfish of him, but he felt he could wash away his guilt if he served God, but he hadn't been able to change anything.

It was around the time the entire country was starting to panic due to the emergence of vampires.

One night, it had snowed harder than it did in years and he'd just been returning home when his eyes fell on an unconscious little girl covered in blood.

He'd taken her to the hospital and when he'd been asked if he was her guardian, she'd held his hand and raised her eyes to his, before she'd passed out.

She remembered nothing except her name and age and something inside of him urged him to take her home with him, despite knowing she wasn't human as he'd secretly seen her drinking blood of house rats.

Looking at her caused painful memories to bubble up in his nightmares each night and it continued until one day...

He'd woken up that morning and was about to head out when he realized the house was empty. There was a letter on the table she'd left, thanking him for taking her in and not treating her like the outcast she was and had apologized for throwing meals he'd given her. She'd told him she didn't want to be a bother to him anymore and was going to turn herself in.

Zuriña had walked up to the police station early that morning with a sigh. She was doing the right thing for her and everyone.

"What are you doing here, little girl?" A female officer had asked and she turned to her.

"I came to turn myself in."

The officer smiled as she crouched down to her level. "Turn yourself in? What did a cute little girl like you do wrong?" She asked and Zuriña looked down, hoping the officer would believe her.

She hesitated before saying."I...I'm a vampire."