Paper Flowers

"In my field of paper flowers

And candy clouds of lullaby

I lie inside myself myself for hours

And watch my purple sky fly over me."

-Imaginary- Evanescence-

xXx

Chapter one- Deeper Shade Of Blue

It wasn't some ambush of the vampire kind that woke me up, but rather a foghorn blowing loudly, making me crash off my bed with a scream of total and utter shock.

"Dad-!" I screamed now in anger and frustration, pulling myself to my feet and turning to the man sat on my now devoid of covers and occupent.

"Come now Rosie." he said now, that annoying grin growing all the time. "God wouldn't want you to be late, would he?"

I'd love to stick 'God' up his ass at the present moment as I stood up, staring into the face of Preacher Steve Newlin. My father of sorts.

The truth was that I had been adopted by him and his wife Sarah about ten years ago when my own true parents mysteriously vanished. There had been an inquest into their disappearances, but nothing came up. They were presumed dead, and the Newlins,friends of the family and from our local church soon became family.

Life went on. It had to...

'Dad' left me now, telling me to hurry up for morning service.

Fun (!)

As I got dressed, my faith and beliefs rolled through my mind- and conflicted they were.

You would think, growing up with a pair of vampire haters and churchgoers that I would be of the same mind, but I wasn't. I didn't understand how people could be so very full of hate, especially towards vampires.

They were fascinating, even if they scared me a little. Imagine the look of excitement on a fifteen year old girls face two years ago when she found out the books she read were true in their own way. But now I was seventeen, and trying to be converted into a vampire hater.

But I couldn't find it inside me to hate these creatures. What did I have against them?

These were things I couldn't tell 'mom and dad.' They would be furious in their own ways, and Steve even more so as his own father was murdered by vampires.

'Mom' pressed toast and homemade strawberry jam into my hands as I walked downstairs, yawning widely and running a hand through my now straightened blonde-brown hair that had a slight curl to it. Mom liked it natural and curly, but Dad liked it straightened, and because I was running late, I figured it best to keep him on my good side by straightening it.

"Hallelujah!" Steve said now, putting down his newspaper. "I thought the vampires had abducted you with how long you were taking!"

"Funny (!)" I smiled sarcastically, but then everything was blurry as we rushed around, grabbing things and heading to the church, my 'parents' chatting in the front of the car.

"So what do you say Rosie?"

I snapped to my senses now, head jolting up as Steve looked at me in the rearview mirror, then rolled his eyes. "Were you even listening to me?"

"Sorry, I lost myself for a moment." I apologized, then Steve said with an exasperated sigh. "I was asking about college girl! You've finished High school. What do you have in mind? Harvard?"

I was taken aback by that, so much that all you could hear in the car for a moment was the soft hum of the engine and the cars flashing past.

"Oh, I haven't decided yet." I said truthfully, but a part of me wanted to tell them I didn't want to go to College. I wanted to travel, see the world and, if I wasn't being too ambitious, hope to find out some more information about my parents deaths.

You couldn't go through life not knowing the truth. It would tear you apart soon enough like a pack of ravenous wolves.

"I'm sure we could get you into any place you wanted." Steve pressed now, making my chest constrict and the space in the car to grown smaller it seemed. Claustrophobia was setting in, and his words weren't helping in the least.

He went on and on about recommendations that he could get for me, to get me into some high level College.

"I'll have a think." I finally managed to get through his words now, making him shut up for a moment, but as we arrived at the church, he looked more than excited for some reason.

Probably a new hymn (!)

The church inside was beautiful, I had to admit. Very white with the dappled patterns of the stained glass windows decipting scenes from the bible. When I was younger, I loved to sit and watch the light filter through and turn the inside of the church into a fairytale land.

Seats were more or less filled now, and as we walked through the place, they smiled, nodded and greeted us. Always the same people, same faces...

Church life wasn't for me at all, but it was the life I had to endure for another four months. My eighteenth birthday would mark the day I escaped from these crazy churchgoers for good.

It would probably break their hearts that I didn't want anything to do with their faith, the Fellowship of the Sun. The things dad said about these vampires being the children of Satan confused me- just how? They were like us. Albeit, they had fangs and drank blood.

Hey- where was Damon Salvatore when you needed him? Failing him, throw some other fictitious hottie into the mix.

As I dutifully took my seat and fixed that smile upon my face, Steve started his preaching and it disgusted me in a way. Each day adding more and more disgust to the last ones.

It seemed to go on forever, and I found myself daydreaming once more, wishing I could escape already, but I had nowhere to go.

When it was over and the people left, Steve came up to me, that dopey grin on his face as he said. "I have a surprise to show you!"

"What is it?" I pressed, but he scoffed. "Then it wouldn't be a surprise!" he took my hand and led me down to the depths of the church, Sarah following with that kind of glazed grin on her face that didn't suit her one bit.

"Close your eyes." he told me excitedly, but when I frowned, walking down to the bottom of the stone steps, he put his hands in front of my eyes and walked me forwards, then said.

"Look what we have-"

Then he removed them, and when the slightly lit room came into focus through the gloom, I wondered what he meant for a start, but then a flash of white on the floor attracted my attention, and I saw a boy of about my own age sat there in the middle, eyes closed, legs crosses and face looking serene. He looked so peaceful that I blinked in surprise, but then Steve walked forwards and stood before the chain cage in which this boy, a vampire I soon realized as I saw the silver chains around his wrists, the skin red raw from where they were burning into him. He must have been in pain, but he didn't show it the entire time.

"Why is he here?" I said now in surprise, and Steve grinned. "You remember that ceremony I told you about?"

"Uh, Lockdown?"

"That's the one." he grinned, then turned back to the vampire and squinted. "Is it asleep?"

Sarah spoke now. "It's daytime sweetie. I think it should be."

Steve looked almost disappointed, as if he wanted the vampire to fly at him, fangs bared.

This vampire was the first one I had ever met, and he... seemed so innocent-? It was strange, like his presence exuded a calm air that exuded over, affecting me and making me look at him in wonder.

"How... did you catch him-?" I asked Steve now, feeling unsure of what to say. He turned from the vampire now, then said in a laugh. "Catch? He more or less gave himself up." he glanced to the vampire and said in a snort. "So he should, the demon."

Sarah took my hand now and smiled like her moronic husband. How could they do this-? Sure, they hated vampires... but this was going over the top big time.

There was a call from upstairs now, and Steve looked away, calling back what was the problem. He sighed, then walked back up, saying to me as he went. "Don't get too close- it bites."

Sarah laughed at that as she followed, leaving a sickly feeling in my throat. The door upstairs closed now, leaving me and the vampire alone together. He hadn't moved an inch the whole time. Was he asleep? Or was he simply resting his eyes?

"Umm... hello?" I called quietly now, feeling foolish. He didn't move that serene face of his, or open those thick black lash lined eyes. I sighed in defeat now, then turned away.

"Hello."

I stopped as a low and surprisingly soft voice spoke up, barely more than a whisper. When I turned, the boys eyes were still closed, but I knew I hadn't imagined it- he spoke.

"Uh-?" I started, trying to think of something to say, but he said, lips moving fluidly. "You seem different." and his eyes finally opened to reveal themselves as blue-grey ones that captivated me instantly.

"Different how?" I asked, not thinking my words through first. He looked at me in silence, then asked. "What is your name Child?"

Child-? He looked the same age as me!

"Roxanne Luckett." I replied, and he stayed silent, but then he closed his eyes without saying another word, so I asked hesitantly. "What... um... is your name?"

"Godric." he simply said in his voice like wind chimes, and I found myself smiling. "It's a nice name."

"Likewise." he replied, eyes open once more for a split second, but then they were closed once more. "Have a good day Roxanne."

He seemed so... normal? It was unnerving. Steve had called them every name he could think of, but this Godric was so... human. There, I said it.

"Have a relaxing sleep." I said back, feeling saddened when I looked at the chains on his wrists. It had to be hurting him. As I left the room and closed the door behind me, I had to wonder-

He could get out this place no problem, so why was he still here-?

A vampire of many mysteries this Godric was.

And a new story it is! And Godric this time, because he's awesome- I'm betting I wasn't the only one to shed a tear or two over him dying. Anyway, hope people like this newest little idea that came from music that inspired me. Starting a little slow, but you can't rush these things- good things come to those who wait. Reviews are very much loved and appreciated. x