Chapter 1

Oh well, hell, this was a stupid way to die. I really thought that I would grow old and gray with a dozen cats. Oh, but no. Not me. I have always had to be different. Go backwards with every move I have ever made. I guess you are wondering why I am talking this way. I am not just being narcissistic, just truthful. Let me go back and really let you know why I am this way.

It all started on a dark and stormy night….. Just kidding, but all good stories start with a dark and ominous warning. But really, it wasn't all bad. I was a good kid. Weird, yes, but good. I always marched to my own drummer, but my tune I marched to was the soundtrack to a Halloween haunted house. I loved the dark and sinister, but some things are better left alone. Well, I know that now. Did I realize that I would end up the way I did? No. But I guess I should explain.

I was a very smart kid, smarter adult. I just didn't realize that, well, I was dead. Literally. I never liked the sunshine. I always liked the rain. I loved the night. I never knew why. I asked why, begged for answers, but I never got any. I never had any idea.

I was a young new high school graduate. I was eighteen and the world was all mine. I then found I was in a lot of trouble. I had a job at the local pizza place. I worked with the kids and their parties. I worked with several great people. There is Ashley, the reformed cheerleader who was just shy of being a pole dancer with an intelligence deficit. Ashley is a five foot seven redhead with a huge set of boobs and small waist. There is Kyle, who thought he was much smarter than he was. He is only five foot three and one hundred ten pounds soaking wet. Brian is the boss and he is the looker of the bunch. He is a six foot three brunette with beautiful green eyes and more muscles than most pro wrestlers. In case you haven't noticed, I really like Brian. I like him a lot. My best friend is Sidney. She is smart, beautiful, and fun to be around. Five foot five, blonde hair, crystal blue eyes and a natural tan from being in the garden all day with her beautiful flowers. I love being around her because she is so opposite from me. I love the night and she adores the day. I enjoy the rain and thunder while she loves the sunshine. But, that's what we do and who we are. Stacy is the evil bitch that every workplace is obligated to have. Five foot three and mad at the world. I truly believe she is the love child of Lucifer and Medusa. You would understand the Medusa part if you had ever seen her hair.

The world quit making sense one Friday afternoon when I was working with everyone, even the evil bitch. It was a busy day and there were several kiddie parties and even more loud children than usual. I was starting to feel like I was coming down with the flu. I felt like I needed a bowl of chicken noodle soup and some aspirin. Brian sent me home because I looked like I might be contagious. I went home to crawl into my bed and sleep it off. Hopefully. My house is perfect for me. It is a simple two story old house with hard wood floors and a wrap-around porch. I even have a porch swing and a rocker. I went straight in and got into bed.

It seemed like only a few minutes when Sidney came in. she began to tell me I looked awful and needed to shower and brush my teeth. What a pal, coming by to tell me that I stink from head to toe. After I showered, I went into the kitchen and low and behold I found she had brought in soup, aspirin, and cookies. "What are you doing here, aren't you afraid you will get sick, too?" She laughed out loud and said, "Oh, no. I am very healthy. That's because I spend so much time in the sun." Then, she stopped and had a thought, "Could that be what's wrong? You are so pale, that could help if you could go out and at least act like you are alive!" I was too sick to even answer. I went back into my bedroom and tried to sleep. Then, I had a thought. Every time I do go into the sun, I get very sick. Like today. "What is my problem, it's just sunlight." I walked out and felt like I was dying. "Oh, God! Help me, I am dying."

I woke up in the living room on my couch. I was so very weak and my body was hurting so bad. I looked around to see how I had gotten here. Then I saw a dark shadow. It was getting closer and I was getting more and more scared. That's when I felt his hands on me. I looked and saw his wonderful face and his weird-feeling hands. I didn't know who or even what he was but I did not thing he was all there or even alive.

"Who the hell are you and why are you touching me"? I asked very angrily at the gall of this idiot who was a stranger in my house and well, he was touching me. Hey, I didn't know if he had even washed his hands. Seriously, I was already sick and now….damn! "Sweet girl, do you not recognize me, from your earlier life"? all I could respond with was, "Huh"? "We met when you were a child. I held you as you slept, I cried with you every time you fell and skinned your knee. I told you bedtime stories as you lay in bed and was afraid of a monster under your bed or in your closet. I have held you in my heart and in my life since your soul was put on this earth. You are my daughter in every way that matters and I love you as such".

"What are you talking about? My dad was killed in the Persian Gulf War when I was a little girl. How are you my father and what gives you the right to take my daddy away from me"? I was so very furious and confused. I was an only child to a Marine who died defending his country and his wife who after her husband's death, sheltered her daughter to a point that she was naive and had no idea of the world or all of the evils that live there. "I remember my dad and my mom died when I was sixteen and never once before then did she ever tell me I wasn't hers or my dads'. Why would you want to even try to take what I love most away from me".

He looked very apologetic about what he had said and why. He took a deep breath and started again, "That's not exactly what I meant. You are what I believe you call a Goddaughter to me. Your father was and always will be best friend and I miss him dearly. I was sworn to protect you and keep you from harm when your mother died. I loved you from the day you were born. I held you as you took your first breaths and watched as your parents named you after your grandmother, Sara. You are my charge to keep and hold".

Again all I could say was, "Huh?"

"I never met you so how did you know all those things and keep up with my life all those years? How have we never met face-to-face? And seriously, where did you come from"?

"Ah, child" he laughed, "I am an angel. I am your fathers' guardian that shadowed him all his life. I was there when he took his first breath, I held his hand as he took his last. His dying wish was that I come to you and become your guardian and be to you what he was no longer able to."

I was pissed. Who was he to say he was my daddys' guardian and he let him die. He was not what he needed when he needed it. "No way in this world are you a protector. Where is daddy now? Will he walk me down the aisle when I marry or be there to hold my children when they are born? NO! You failed him and I want no part of you. NONE! Get out of my house you bastard. I never wanted to know you I never needed to know you." This is awful! Who does he think he is? Protector, my sweet ass!

My parents died and he was no where to be seen. I remember everyone who was there for me in my time of need. He was not there.

"The gall of you to claim that you loved my parents and then tell me all these wonderful stories of my life as I know it and try to change and tarnish all of my memories. GET OUT!"

He hung his head and spoke softly, "There is much you don't yet know. When you are ready, call apon me. I will run to your side and tell you all you need to know. Until then I am very sorry for what I have done or not done as you put it. Your father was done with his cycle. I could not stop what was coming. Neither could he. His death was not my fault and could not be prevented. Know that until you are ready to speak to me. Til then, sleep…"

Next thing I knew I was again in my bed, fever free and wondering how high it had gotten for me to dream up the things that I had thought. Where did all of that come from? Geesh, what a weird experience. But, at least I was better and ready to go to work and would not make anyone sick.

When I got to work, I saw Brian and Ashley at the ready to help the crowd and Kyle in all his geeky glory trying unsuccessfully to get a date.

"Well, well, look who is back from the dead, how are you feeling?" Brian asked sweetly. Oh, boy I could roll him in chocolate and gnaw on him all day, but that's another type of story.

Ashley wasn't as nice about it, "Gee, sleeping for two days like you did, I would've thought you would look better than you do."

Ashley is a bitch.

I tried to put on my best smile and try to look unaffected by the smartass remarks.

"Uh, no. How high DID your fever get?"

Did I mention Ashley was a bitch?

"I don't know what happened. I only remember a few hours and then I woke up this afternoon and was ready for work. Are you telling me I slept for two days?"

Brian then confirmed it by handing me my check. What is going on here? I am so confused…..

Chapter 2

As I worked the rest of my shift, I couldn't help but think of what was going on and what happened to the missing days? If that happened then did I really need to talk to the strange man who was in my house when I woke that day? Whatever day it was. I have a very weird feeling I should have at least asked his name. I had time to think on my way home. I live out in the country. I am dead center of twenty five acres and I love it. My house is on a hill and when the thunder rolls in it is so serene and still as the earth accepts the lightening and the rumble that shows the incoming storm. This was one of those nights.

I went into the house, showered, and got a coke. I went to sit on the couch and thought out loud, "I wish I had asked his number and how to contact him in case I needed to speak to him or ask a question or two." And just as I got the words out, there he was in front of my fire place with a cup of tea.

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised that you know how to break into a house since you are so creative with the lies you have told me."

As soon as I had it said I wish I hadn't. He looked so hurt but damn it I am so frustrated and confused, so I think I am justified in my attitude.

"I am sorry for that, but I am really confused and you said a lot of things that was upsetting and I did not know how to handle it. I still was taught better manners than that and I do apologize. " I felt better as soon as I said it and he looked like I was giving him a kidney or a golden goose. "Will you please tell me more about how you knew my dad and mom. Plus will you explain our connection?"

As he smiled I felt like the temperature raised ten degrees and like he was hugging me but he didn't actually ever touch me.

"I would love that, But are you sure you are ready to hear what I have to say?"

I had to think about it for a minute, but I realized I needed to hear it as much as he needed to say it.

"I watched your dad grow from a tiny baby to the larger than life man that you remember. I guided him to do what was right and helped him when he did wrong. James was a very special man who deserved the good that life offered him and he knew to appreciate it like it would or could go away any time. He was not human my sweet. He was very special. Like his daughter. "

"What do you mean", I asked, "He was a man who was born, lived, and died. Just as a human. Then what was he?"

"He came from a part of this world that you have yet to explore" he explained "He was born to angels that graced Heavens' gates and lived among the clouds where only thoughts and prayers are allowed til your day of departing this life." He gently told me." I knew him as a new cherub that was learning what existence he was being graced with."

"If he was what you say, then why did I not ever know or see that side to him?" I wondered doubtfully when the story became almost more than I could take.

"Well, he lost his wings. "

"HOW? What could an ANGEL do that is so bad that could cause him to loser his wings?"

He thought for a second and he tried as tactfully as he could to tell me the truth.

"Sara, he lost them because of you. You were the reason he was sent to live on earth as a human with limited power and ability".

"WHAT DID I DO?" I yelled. "I was a baby wasn't I?"

He took a deep breath and said, "Yes. The end of his angelic existence and immortality came when he met another immortal. A beautiful woman who was so lovely and he fell in love with her and wasn't able to leave her side. Then, when she found out she was pregnant, he never looked back. He also never regretted it either."

"So, my mother was, what?" I was so shocked at the things that he was saying to me about my family and I never could imagine the things that he was coming up with.

"She was a angel of another sort. She was a vampiric angel."

This was really stupid at this point. I never thought there was such a thing. "A what?"

"That means", he explained softly, "before she was born, she was a half vampire and a half human. Then, her human mother was such a good person and almost a saint but she was killed when she was trying to buy you a crib. The doctor pronounced her dead. The baby, your mother , was thought dead as well when your grandfather demanded the baby be delivered and she was. The birth was so miraculous that the heavens above graced her with the title of angel. The vampire in her was so strong that the angelic side could not be extinguished completely, so there she was"

This is wrong. These things don't exist. Why was this man doing this to me. Was he crazy or really stupid?

"This can not be right. This is not real. I never saw my mom drink are wrong!"

He was gentle in his expressions and words. But I could tell that he was getting frusterated.

"Let me show you, I can prove it".

Then he did.