Chapter 14

Jane took a seat on a dilapidated wood and cast-iron park bench tucked away under a shade tree in the corner of the lush garden. Appearing carefree, she lightly swung her legs as they dangled through the top of the grass, the result of her small frame. She admired the great care and grouping of the garden flowers. When a light breeze swept through the secluded churchyard, stirring all the plant life into chaotic swaying motions, Jane's senses awoke abruptly as she inhaled the many sweet scents.

When the smartphone buzzed in her pocket, she slid the device from her sun protective robe and read the same text, I hate you, those same words having been sent several times prior. Now those words were followed by an ever-growing list of adjectives, including profanity of varied languages—some present and some of forgotten tongues. Returning the phone to her robe, the complicit vampire returned her attention to the garden.

A couple hours later, the priest exited the church and proceeded into the garden. He wore loose fitting gardening cloths and a large brimmed hat that protected his elderly, liver spotted skin. He weaved through the garden, inspecting each section diligently as he planned the various pruning and weeding needed. Making his way towards the back of the garden, his inspection came to an abrupt halt at the sight of his small friend.

"I apologize, Father," said Jane in greeting. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

The priest smiled warmly at her. "Not a problem, Jane. Just unexpected."

"This is a most wonderful garden, Father."

The man nodded in agreement as he approached the old bench, the dilapidated wood creaking as he slowly sat down next to his guest. "Thank you. It's a nice place to collect one's thoughts, especially on Mondays after a good Sunday sermon."

Jane stared at a collection of nearby roses swaying ever so slightly in the morning breeze. "You must have loved her very much."

Accompanying the man's smile were eyes that revealed even more, a never-ending longing.

Jane surveyed the garden as a whole. "Can I assume that this garden is a recreation of hers?"

The man glanced proudly out at his living tribute and said, "Yes, but on a much smaller scale. Cornelia was a prolific gardener. I don't have the resources, or even the space, to recreate her actual garden."

"Father, this is spectacular nonetheless."

The priest tapped his ecclesiastical ring on the weathered wood that formed the seat of the bench. "This actual bench is from her garden."

Jane ran her fingers over the chipped paint that dotted the cast iron ends that held the wood planks together. "Did you steal it?"

The old priest laughed heartily. "Sort of. When a new family moved into Cornelia's home, I approached them with a story that I had known the prior family and that this old bench matched the ones in our graveyard. They were more than happy to donate it to my parish."

"Your graveyard has marble benches."

"True," said the priest with an unabashed smile.

"You naughty boy." Jane's admiration for this complex human continued to grow. "A love affair, lying, what will I next discover?"

"Not much more...thankfully. We priests are only human, and susceptible to evil like everybody else."

Jane's look turned discerning. "But you were never part of that evil that currently plagues your denomination?"

"No I wasn't. Neither did I ever help hide it. I'm glad that our dirty laundry has been exposed. It's the only way to fix it, to begin the healing."

"Is that why you chose this remote parish?"

"Partially. I was never meant for the bureaucratic side of the Vatican. I wanted to return to a small parish; moreover, when this place became available, it reminded me of Cornelia's favorite house of worship."

"She had a large impact on your life."

"Yes," replied the priest. "The biggest. Every day, I do by God, but I also try to do some good by her, as she might have asked of me."

Jane detected the slightest weight in his words, a change human ears would not detect. "She's no longer with us?"

"No. Cancer. About twenty years ago."

"Sorry."

"That's quite alright. Thank you for your condolences." The man reached for Jane's much smaller hand, withdrawing his touch when he discovered the marble like coolness of her skin. For a few seconds, he stared at her small hand before reaching for her touch once more. Squeezing gently, he said, "In the scheme of things, we are only here on this earth for a split second; that includes delightful vampires such as you."

Surprised by the man's innocent offering of friendship, Jane was no less appreciative to his reaching out. She returned his gentle squeeze and quietly returned her gaze to the garden.

As the priest looked outward over the courtyard, something quite unordinary grabbed his attention. The priest pointed to a very large man at the far side of the garden, a man standing absolutely still as he stared up at the overhang of a storage shed. "Is he with you?"

"Yes, Father. That's Felix."

"What's he doing?"

"He found a beehive under the eave. He's fascinated with bees."

"I hope he doesn't plan on distributing them," said the priest with a hint of worry. "My garden benefits much from that hive."

"He won't, Father. Felix has an unusual admiration for bees. He values them more than humans. Frankly, he's obsessed. He likes to listen to the hive. He'll stand there for hours and listen to the queen bee. Our vampire hearing can parse the thousands of sounds coming from a hive."

"I thought bees communicated through pheromones and choreography. Is he listening for anything in particular?"

"No. Felix simply says that their buzzing calms him."

The priest stared across the garden at the man. "He stands stiller than the statures about my parish. How can you tell if a man that still is upset?"

"By his sneer," replied Jane. "The bigger the lip curl, the more upset he is."

"Oh. And what does he do?"

"Do?" asked Jane in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Does he have a gift like you?"

"No, Father," replied Jane. "But his gifted human strength gave him bountiful vampire strength upon his ascension. His strength is most helpful."

"Helpful for what?"

"For tearing off the heads of misbehaving vampires."

"Oh," said the priest in a surprised tone. "We in the Vatican didn't think there was much strife between your kind, ever since you masters brought order to the various covens.

"Balance has been maintained for quite some time, and we are vigilant at making sure we remain unseen; however, small packs of undisciplined vampires appear from time to time. If they cannot be brought under control, we quickly bring the order to them."

"It appears that you have a difficult task. Humans have never been able to find that balance." The elderly man then began studying Jane's features, inspecting the flawless skin on her face, closer studying the hand held in his own. He turned the hand over, admiring its artist like perfection. He then focused on her pale-brown hair, all to Jane's bemusement.

The man continued, "When my elders passed down the knowledge of vampires to me at the Vatican, they said that your hair stops growing. Is that true?"

"No," replied Jane, pulling back her hood. "Our image is part of our hunting arsenal. It is true that our hair and nails are nearly immune to damage, but we do sometimes lose hair in combat. Balding vampires would make no sense since beauty helps to attract prey. The protein in our consumed blood aids in the regeneration of any hair or fingernail loss."

"It is also believed in the Vatican that your skin sparkles in the sunlight, like diamonds. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"How about your hair? Does that sparkle?"

"No, Father." Jane began to feel embarrassed by the man's curiosity, though her face would never betray it. She had not felt this way in centuries. Beyond Aro, no one had ever made her feel special, at least, without fear. No one outside her coven had ever been her friend. Timidly, she asked, "Would you like to see me in the sunlight?"

The man's eyes widen, his modesty causing him to withdraw. "I don't want you risk being discovered just for me."

Jane listened intently for other humans. Hearing no other people in the vicinity, she shook her head. "We're definitely alone."

Jane stood from the bench as the priest reached out to stop her, his curiosity ultimately letting her hand slip away as she stepped from shelter of the shade tree into the light. The sunlight radiated brilliantly off the exposed skin of her face and neck. She pulled up the sleeves of her robe to expose her forearms, the spectacle of light immediately grabbing Felix's attention. When the giant vampire began to approach, Jane kindly waved him off with an accompanying reassured look.

The light delivered no pain to the priest's eyes, and soon, the old man's expression of awe turned to joy. And when a tear rolled off his cheek, he said softly, "Like and angel. Just like an angel."

Jane let the light reflect off her skin for a few more seconds before stepping back into the shade. She pulled down her sleeves, asking, "Was it what you expected, Father?"

"More than I could have ever imagined. My elders could never have described what you have showed me. There are not enough words in all the languages of this world. Thank you."

Returning to her seat on the bench, Jane asked, "Why don't the elders continue to pass the knowledge of our existence amongst the Vatican?"

"Those at the top believe it best to restrict the secrets that might send the world into panic. Besides, there are more frightful things than vampires in this world. If there is to be an apocalypse, it will come from man's own doing, not from vampires."

Jane's brow arched with interest. "I would have thought we were the most feared, that the Vatican directly associated us with the devil."

"When I was at the Vatican, the topic of vampires rarely came up. They are mostly concerned about man's future. On the surface, the world might appear to be a better place, but the growing darkness in men's souls is beginning to smoother what remaining light remains in their hearts. Mankind has yet to find its way, and time is running out."

Jane gazed at Felix as he had returned to his bee watching. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at the old man. "Father, have you lost your faith?"

"Only in the leaders of mankind, not in God."

"What about mankind?"

The priest became quiet, reflective as one hand began fiddling with his crucifix necklace. "The world leaders have my love, but if they are to rise above the evil that men do, well, it depends on people like you and me. Don't you think?"

Jane's smile twisted into a smirk. "Vampires, the saviors of the human race?"

"Why not," replied the priest with a faint shrug. "Mankind appears inept to do so."

"Perhaps, Father." Jane rose from the bench, unseeingly calling to her escort when Felix turned from his bees at the very same moment. "I look forward to discussing this further when I return."

"Where are you going?"

"The new world. My friend in North America is attempting to convince a human male to join our coven. Things are not progressing as we had hoped."

Making the connection, the priest's head bowed. "You mean to make him a vampire?"

Jane secured her robe before pulling up her hood. "Yes, Father. I have the suspicion that he will possess a powerful gift as a vampire. And if you and I are both correct about the future, my coven will need to be much more powerful. More importantly, we need to convince this man to join our coven voluntarily."

The priest slowly rose to his feet. "Otherwise he and his gift could side with someone else?"

"Yes, Father."

"And the most powerful allies are the ones who are your friends."

"Exactly, Father." Jane smiled up at the old man, appreciative of his wisdom, and his friendship. "However, if I don't hurry, she might kill this man before we get a chance to see what he can do. Something unexpected has occurred."

The priest peered under Jane's hood to read her faint expression. "Ah," he said with a growing smile, "If what I am seeing is true, you need not worry."