Sanctuary
Plot Summary- A young woman driven by guilt and desperation seeks solace and atonement in the church, while hiding from the consequences of her terrible actions. Fate leads an AX agent to her path.
A/N- A few points to be made about the direction of the story here, I fully intend to have some kind of pairing between my OC and a cannon character, who I'm not so sure about yet. And this fic is rather angsty at the beginning, but PLEASE read on, the plot moves along much faster (yes I have a plot) and things get much more interesting once cannon characters can be introduced. Anywho on with the fic…
Disclaimer first though- I do not own any of the character in Trinity Blood, okay?
Italics mean thoughts or past events.
Chapter 1
Redirected Life
"So, this is what life has come to"
The great stone walls of St. Eustace Church in Antwerp appeared stark and imposing, even on this fine summer's day, the usual ornamentation lost in the barren austerity of the architecture.
But that was the reality of things now, there was no turning back.
St. Eustace's lone occupant was seated on the firs row of pews, eyes towards the alter, glazed over and distant. The young woman dressed in a nun's clothing wore no expression; she sat motionless, thoughts of things long past filtered through her mind as she tried to bock out the heaviness of her surroundings.
Suddenly, a faint smile drifted across her face as she reminisced, the first break in her unresponsive countenance for some time.
Memories, oh! How they were a blessing. The familiarity of things she knew were comforting to the point of joy. A refuge from the merciless change that had seen fit to utterly obliterate her once blissful life.
Everything else remained unfamiliar, and she felt as though she were in a storm, the events of her life swirling around her, too fast and too dangerous to grab hold.
Although, sitting there, on that pew, thousands of miles away from the place she still, hopelessly, called home; it felt like a fool's paradise these days.
The stifling silence and growing darkness revived the young woman slightly. She became more awake to her surroundings. The hardness of the wooden pew, the starched quality of her nun's garb and most noticeably the weight of the white habit covering most of her hair; Still a somewhat alien addition to her.
It was times like this she mentally scolded herself for her weaknesses. How was she meant to ever adjust to her present life when she would constantly drift back to thoughts of the one she used to have?
She shook her head. The best way forward was to totally wash her hands of her former existence. What's done is done.
She knew she could never undo her actions, however desperately she wished it so. Desperation was a feeling that had manifested far too frequently in these past few months.
"I wouldn't be here otherwise"
She sighed in defeat. It was futile to deny one's past, after all, at least there were these precious few memories of unspoiled content and delight.
Before….before mistakes were made, people lost and a lifetime of guilt and regret to replace them. With her future so bleak, really, only the past could hold refuge.
Dusk was slowly setting in, she shivered. Nighttime really was the worst. That's when it really hit her. The realization was soul crushing. She recalled when it first came to her. The day she found herself at St. Eustace's.
Days of running aimlessly, only to escape from the consequences of her actions. It was there, outside this very building, she froze.
"All that I ever knew, loved. Gone……? No, it couldn't…..she……..and by my own hands"
She broke down right there. The sound of her hysteria attracting the attention of the inhabitant inside. The elderly priest started at the sight of the young woman, sobbing on the steps of St. Eustace's. She appeared travel worn and exhausted.
A few hours later she was fed, given simple, but clean clothes and put to bed by the gentle and empathetic priest.
All the while she had not uttered a word. Although the tears had subsided all forms of misery and despondence were gone. She instead, remained completely passive and emotionless; a dead look in her eyes.
But the kindly priest was patient his pleasant mind simply couldn't imagine what this girl had been through, but pitied her all the same.
After thinking about it the night before the compassionate priest brought the girl a humble breakfast the following morning. And a small pile of white clothes.
He came offering a place for her a St. Eustace, a nun's life and the small duties that involved. He still didn't know exactly what had gone wrong for this girl, but he had no doubt that the church, God and himself could be what she needed to pull herself together again.
She stared at him blankly for such a time that he thought she had not understood him, on the verge of repeating himself she suddenly held up her hand to stifle his words.
"I accept your offer and would be most content in devoting myself to this church"
He smiled at her collected and coherent reply, after hours of silence it felt like huge progress.
"And may I enquire Miss" The priest said, feeling more confidant after her first words,
"What is your name?"
At this she stiffened and grew quiet again. It wasn't for a few moments later when she answered,
"My name….my name is Eden, Eden Delacroix"
And things went on from there. She became responsible for the more domestic duties of the church, whereas he dealt with the parishioners. She rarely met others, Father Alfons assumed her to be a naturally fragile and introverted person, her recent misfortunes only increasing this. How wrong he was.
This suited her fine however, and almost after time an almost routine existence had emerged from the chaos.
She cherished this, it gave her time to reflect and, when that was too painful, time to observe and listen. Father Alfons Komend as it turned out was a complacent old man, having been at this church for many years. He had seen many things occur during his time there, even the murders of a noble family who had been the churches main parishioners and benefators for generations. Only one survived the vampire attack, a son, who Father Alfons had heard taken up the cloth himself and currently worked with the Vatican.
He would tell Eden stories of the churches past such as this, and each time she saw the real feeling and sadness he felt for anyone who had suffered loss. She couldn't find a trace of unkindness within the priest, but found him to be somewhat too trusting and perhaps idealistic.
He had inquired little on the subject of Eden's past, whether it was because he was afraid it may cause her pain, or he simply respected her privacy, she could see that he believed that eventually all would be well in her mind. That just being here in a house of God was doing her good by the day.
His optimistic ways warmed her slightly, but a hint of bitterness could not be suppressed. The faith and conviction put into the idea that all would work out could not be helped but be slightly envied by the troubled, pessimistic person she had become.
"And who exactly have I become?"
Memories of herself reflected an untroubled, joyful person she had one been. A girl who smiled, laughed, loved and was loved. In times where she could still stand to look at herself in a mirror, without feelings of disgust rise within her.
But they were gone and here remained her. A broken lost young woman. A mind darkened and consumed by guilt. Someone frequently haunted by the ghosts of their past.
Sister Eden Delacroix.
A/N (Again)- Now that you've read it, Please Review!!!! I really must know what you think. Important thing here- Eventually I will have a Eden/Someone pairing in any form, be it one-sided, hopelessly complicated or utterly doomed, But I really would like to know who you would like, I hinted about Hughe, with the whole telling his past and all, but maybe they'll be close friends or hate each other or anything. Please tell me what you think and if I should carry on, I've got some awesome ideas for when the cannon characters have arrived, tell me if you want to know, bye!