A VAMPIRE'S CONFESSION
The rays of the crescent moon danced across the rippling water of the peaceful ocean that appeared to be deep and blue. It seemed as if one's soul could be lost forever in its fathomless darkness.
A strange fog slowly engulfed the slumbering valley, like death creeping up on an unsuspecting victim.
The only light that survived in the poisoned town was a beacon shinning forth from a small lighthouse that had long since been converted into a church. The steady beam of light, a ray of hope, calling home the wayward spirits of God's lost children.
Standing at the bottom of the church's cracked steps was a beautiful young woman dressed entirely in black. Her long, straight blond hair blew in the icy wind causing her to pull her black crocheted shawl tighter against her cold body to in a vain attempt to keep out the chill of the damp ocean breeze.
Carefully, she pushed away a golden lock away from her cool blue eyes that were staring solemnly at the exquisitely carved front doors of the house of worship.
Terrible was the urge to run away into the dark, cold night, but her desire for forgiveness and salvation gave her the courage and strength to climb the steps until she was standing with fear-filled eyes before the white marble doors.
Guilt was what brought her here, and if she should perish in an attempt to wash it away, then so be it.
Hoping for the best but anticipating the worst, she opened the door and stepped across the threshold into the house of God.
Her heart pounded inside her chest, she closed her eyes and held her breath, half-expecting to be struck by lightning.
Oddly enough, nothing happened, and for that she breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Opening her eyes, she found herself standing in the cramped church. Looking about, the chapel's interior was dark and brooding. A soft red glow emanated from the votive candles and filled the church with dim light. Still, she could make out the dark wooden pews, the ornate altar, the stained glass visions, and the stations of the cross that lined the inner walls.
In the corner she spotted what she was looking for, a beautifully carved, white porcelain basin. The container that held holy water. Supposedly it had been blessed, it would burn a demon's flesh.
She had to know the truth, she raised a finger and dipped it in. Nothing. Instead of burning, the water felt cool.
Now for the final test, touching her forehead first, then her chest, left shoulder, then right, she made the sign of the cross, leaving behind beads of holy water at each place.
Surely she thought that the heavens would erupt with the sounds of thunder, and that she would be struck dead, but again there was nothing.
A smile of hope overcame her face as she turned around and caught herself gazing into the warm brown eyes of a handsome, young priest who was looking at her with curiosity.
"And what are you doing here at this time of night?" The priest concern asked. "Do you know how dangerous it is for a pretty, young lady like yourself to be all alone in this town with out the company of an escort?"
Not knowing what to say, she gave an embarrassed smile and said nothing. An uneasy silenced fell, she decided that she must tell him everything, the salvation of her soul depended on this moment.
"I have a confession father, would you like to hear it?" The young priest made the sign of the cross while she slowly knelt before him.
"Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It has been a lifetime since my last confession..." She paused, not sure whether to continue, or to flee and never look back.
"I just moved to Santa Carla with my family last month. I thought it would be so great to spent my summer in California before I go off to college in September. But things change, I changed. I thought Santa Carla would be fun, you know, the Boardwalk, I could learn how to surf, and meet some new friends.
Well, I met some new friends, even got a new boyfriend. His name is David, he's the reason I got into this mess in the first place."
"What did he do to you?" In her teenage mind it sounded as if he thought she was pregnant and her boyfriend had left her, or drugs perhaps. If he only knew that any of those would be a blessing compared to the trouble she was in.
"It wasn't really his fault, I should have seen the danger I was in, I mean, I knew what I was getting myself into, but I was too blinded by the sense of danger and adventure to do anything My life has always been so boring, I just wanted to have fun and not have to fear anything anymore."
"You should see him father, he is so beautiful. From the moment I first saw him it was as if I had known him before, like he knew me, that we were made for each other.
He's so sweet, and a poet too. He promised to give me forever, and in a way he has already done so." She smiled mischievously at him.
"I'm sorry, but you have me at a disadvantage."
"I gave him everything, heart, mind, and body," she immediately avoided eye contact, "My life." she trailed off.
"But not my soul. I have a friend named Kimberly who believes that no one can control your soul, that it is always yours no matter what happens.
"Father, is the body and soul two separate things? That something bad can happen to your body but your soul still has a chance?
"Well, it's definitely a possibility." He wanted to know more about this young woman. Every time he thought he knew what she was talking about, she turned around and said something to confuse him.
"Tell me, what happened." He asked seriously.
"I was walking down the street, I didn't see him coming, he came out of nowhere. . . . He attacked me father! He had a knife!" Her voice was panicky. The priest understood her pain and knelt by her to try to ease her fear.
"Your boyfriend, David?"
"No! No!" She screamed and shock her head back and forth as tears started to flow.
"A stranger, a man, a dirty little man! I could feel the evil father, I could feel it!
"I didn't know what to do! I was so frightened that he would kill me! He tired to rape me!" She stared into his compassionate eyes.
"I didn't think, I just, reacted." She paused. There was no going back now, she had to tell him everything
"I, I killed him." she said solemnly as a final tear ran down her check.
"Are you all right? Do you need to see a doctor?"
"No, no, I'm fine. I'm okay. Really." She was calm
"Then I think it would be a good idea to call the authorities."
"NO! NO! ANYTHING BUT THE POLICE!"
"It's okay, you don't have anything to fear." He reassured her.
"I don't?"
She whispered a sentence in his ear and his eyes widened. The priest stared at her in absolute shook and wondered if he heard her correctly.
"Excuse me?"
She nodded, "It's true. I ripped his head off and, I drank his blood."
The priest stood wide eyed in horror. His mind did not want to believe what his ears were hearing. Maybe she was just psychotic, or perhaps he was dreaming. But somewhere deep inside he knew the truth was being spoken and that there was more. Slowly he backed away.
"Wait, that's not the best part! I'm a Vampire father, but I never meant to hurt anyone. I'm sorry father, so sorry, but I couldn't stop the thirst. I drank until he was dry. David warned me the first time is never easy. Please forgive me father, but it tasted so good and sweet. How can something that feels so good be bad?"
"Blasphemy!" The man of God threatened. He held out his crucifix and crossed himself.
"But it's all true and I can prove it!" This was her mistake, she should have ran away while she still had the chance. Instead, she closed her eyes. When she opened them, they had changed from the color of the sky to a yellowish-white.
The priest was now convinced that a demon was standing before him.
"Satan, leave this place at once!" The priest shouted. He continued holding his cross out. He closed his eyes shut, whispered a prayer to God, that the woman would vanish.
"Father, please!" She begged, two small, white fangs emerging beneath her burgundy lips.
"Will you help me? Will God forgive me?" But the priest did not hear her. Instead in a blind fury of terror, he backed up too quickly and tripped on the last step before the alter.
She heard the sound of bone cracking on stone. She stood up and rushed to him, determined not to let another human being die in her presence. It is was too late, he was already dying.
Blood was oozing out of the wound in his head, and she thought the smell would drive her insane.
A serene smile appealed on his deathly pale face as he looked up to a heaven only he could see.
"I'm coming." He whispered, and was gone.
Tears fell from her ghastly face. She cried like she never had before. It was as if she was trying to purify her soul through the tears.
She left him untouched, amid a pool of blood. It was better if they found him that way, undisturbed in his state of death.
She could not bring herself to drink his blood even if she was the night creature that needed it to survive. If she did, she could never forgive herself.
When she left the church, she was still weeping. It was her fault the priest was dead. If she had not have scared him, he would still be living and breathing. She should not had come at all. Another life was taken, and a few more steps for her on the highway to hell.
Overcome with grief, the young woman didn't look back because she was now damned for all eternity, and Heaven was no longer a future she could look forward too. Another door that was forever closed.
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