Authors Note: Sorry for going on hiatus, I believed I wasn't going to finish this story at first, until a few nights ago when I recieved a review to this piece. I was rather shocked anyone remembered this, and I'm rather pleased I got the review from Ink and Parchment. Thank you for reviewing you and the other few who did aswell. Unfortunately due to lack of response to the previous chapter, the sexual scenes won't appear in this chapter because I'm also unsure of anyone truly wanting it in here. Regardless, I apologize once again for the long wait, and please enjoy this next addition to the story!
Chapter 12
Claudia lay on her back with a small smile stretched across her face. She had never been so happy in all her life. Vincent lay on top of her still. He was breathing hard. They both were sweating but happy. "The fog is clearing up." Claudia said.
"Yeah." He replied not moving.
"You should move so we don't get caught." She smiled as he groaned defiantly.
He rolled off her and lay on his back. She began putting her shirt back on. He stared up at the foggy sky. Nothing had ever felt so amazing in all his life. Claudia put her skirt back on and kissed his face all over. "I love you Vincent." She smiled.
"I love you more." He picked up his clothes and quickly put them on. "Its getting somewhat dark, should I take you home?" He asked.
"Yeah, I suppose so." She nodded.
He kept his arm around her waist as they walked. He wanted the whole world to know this was his girlfriend. He wanted the entire would to know how much he loved her. He kissed her cheek. She smiled. "I hope my dad is asleep, I don't want to see him." She said to him.
"I'm sure he won't bother you, not after what you told me you did yesterday." Vincent assured.
"You don't know my father that well." Claudia replied feeling nauseated.
They both walked up to her door. Claudia turned the handle. No one was in the living room. She walked in with Vincent. "Hey, could I use your washroom?" He asked.
"Yeah, it's in the room over there." Claudia pointed to the door in the corner of the room.
Claudia sat on her couch. Suddenly she heard footsteps coming from the upstairs. She closed her eyes. She began to pray he wouldn't hurt her. "Claudia." He voice snarled as he stood on the last stair.
"Father." She said calmly.
"How dare you act like that yesterday? So defiant! You gave me a heart attack, but yet you didn't try to help me. Show some respect for your elders!" He yelled coming closer to her.
"Father, don't…" She tried calmly.
"No Claudia, this is a very special day for both of us. This is the day of birth, and soon… death." He said holding a cutlery knife in his left hand.
"No!" She screamed.
"Don't worry; you'll be with your mother soon! You can tell her about what you have in common, the same death." Leonard yelled with rage in his eyes.
Claudia was already on her feet, but she felt like collapsing. "You killed…. You killed mother?!" She yelled.
"She wanted to leave me. She hated how I treated you. She was going to take you away from me. I tried to kill you back then the same way. She tried to fight me. I took from her what she promised me when we were married, her heart." He smiled deviously.
Claudia couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Now come to me and I'll kill you fast, if you try to run, I'll kill you in the most painful way possible." He promised.
Claudia tried to run into the kitchen to get through the back door but her father grabbed her hair. She didn't know what happened next, because she heard a bang, then someone falling to the ground. She turned. Vincent was holding the remains of a chair. Claudia back away from her father. He was passed out from the blow to the head.
"Vincent!" Claudia cried out in relief.
"Call the hospital, we'll tell them everything." Vincent said.
Claudia dialed 911 and watched for the ambulance. Claudia was in shock and couldn't cry, but she knew once the shock wore off she would cry hard. They took her father out on a stretcher and they listened to her recreation of what happened. The police believed her because on numerous accounts they've suspected Leonard Wolf to be that cause of some problems. Claudia arranged to stay over at Vincent's until Dahlia would be able to take her on the weekend. "Thank you for saving me, and letting me stay with you." She said to him as they carried some of the things over to his house.
"Not a problem. My mom is out on a business meeting for the night but I called her and she said as long as we slept in different rooms it was fine. Fortunately, she gets back at three in the afternoon tomorrow." He smiled at her.
"So you're going to share with me then?" She asked.
"Yes." He smiled deviously.
Claudia was upset that this all happened. She didn't know all this time that her father killed her mother, she couldn't believe it. She began to cry as soon as she entered Vincent's house. He crouched on the floor next to her and hugged her. "I miss my mom so bad..." she sobbed.
"I know you do. He won't get away with taking her from you. He'll pay." Vincent assured her.
"I know! But I miss her Vincent!" Claudia sobbed into his shoulder.
He held her and let her cry in his arms. He stroked her hair and began humming slow songs to calm her down. She stopped crying after a while. He kissed her lightly. "Feeling any better?" He asked her.
She nodded. "I think maybe you should lie down." He helped her climb the stairs.
She lie on the bed and looked up at him. "Did you at least have somewhat of a good birthday?" He asked.
"You were the best part." She assured him.
He put the covers over her. He climbed in beside her. "Claudia, I promise no one will hurt you like that again. I won't let them." He said to her.
"…Vincent, you won't always be here for me every second." She whispered.
"I can try." He replied.
Claudia knew in her head she was freaking out, but she had to stop. Vincent kissed her cheek and held her as she went to sleep.
She woke up warm. Vincent's arms held her close and comfortably. She snuggled in closer to him. She loved this feeling. She had a great sense of how being married to him would be like. She kissed his cheek, his eyes opened slowly. "Claudia." He whispered.
"Good morning." She smiled.
"Very good morning." He kissed her cheek.
"We should get up, I'll make breakfast." She said to him.
He lay there. "I'll be down in a bit." He said lazily.
She walked down Vincent's stairs. This was a wonderful way for her to wake up. She went to his fridge and pulled out all the necessary ingredients to make bacon and eggs. Vincent walked down the stairs behind her and put his arms around her waist. He breathed in the lovely scent of her hair. She smiled and continued making the breakfast. He kissed her ear lobs. She couldn't concentrate. "I love you." He whispered.
She smiled. "I love you too, now let me cook." She laughed.
He sat down behind her and watched as she placed their food on plates. She handed him his plate and they both began eating with big smiles on their faces. She was very excited. Her life was beginning to look up. She wasn't living with her dad anymore. She would be with Dahlia and Vincent was hers finally. Nothing could get better than this. Vincent looked down at his food and smiled in memory. She looked up. "What are you smiling about?" She wondered.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to have you stay in my bed. It's a nice feeling." He said.
Claudia blushed slightly. He could always do that to her. She remembered the previous day. She was actually very happy they had that time on the beach. She smiled at him and continued eating.
Claudia went down to the police station when she finished eating. She told the police what happened and filled out her statement. She would have to attend certain court dates but she was fine. She had faith her father was going to be in jail for a good while. She decided to get some of her things packed because Dahlia would be by tonight to pick her up. Claudia went back to Vincent's
house and packed up all the things she used recently. Vincent watched her from the doorway. "Looks like your life is getting better, doesn't it?" He smiled.
Claudia turned to look at him. His brown hair dangled over his emerald green eyes. She smiled at him and nodded. She was excited to move in with Dahlia, she would be able to finally have a normal home. She would get to learn about her church. She was proud of this too. She decided this was the best time of her life and she wasn't going to waist a second.
"Vincent, you'll have to come and visit me, I know Nathan Avenue is a bit far but I'm sure a taxi could get you there." Claudia said to him.
Vincent nodded. "I'll come visit you all the time. I promise." He smiled at her.
She hugged him. He held her in his arms for a few minutes. Dahlia came to the door as he let go of her. "Have a good time." Vincent smiled at her as she walked out with her bag.
Vincent leaned in the doorway as Dahlia left with Claudia. Something about Dahlias eyes made him uneasy. He felt like this wasn't a good thing to live with Dahlia, but how could he object? She wanted this after all. Something in his gut told him this was only the calm before the storm. But what storm would this be?
Claudia looked out the window of the taxi as her and Dahlia drove away from the house. Claudia was nervous but in a good way she supposed. "Are you excited about moving in with me Claudia?" Dahlia asked her.
"Oh, yes, very much so." Claudia smiled.
Dahlia smiled. Claudia looked into her eyes. She had one of her feelings again. Something was there in Dahlias eyes, something she wasn't telling Claudia. Was it about the Church? "Claudia, theirs something you will need to understand once we get to my house." Dahlia began.
"Yes Dahlia?" Claudia asked.
"The cult has its secrets, the cult even has some bits of information you are to tell to no one. Are we clear?" Dahlia asked.
Claudia nodded feeling this might have something to do with her odd feelings. "Driver, this is our stop." Dahlia said as they arrived on Nathan Avenue.
Claudia got out and Dahlia helped her carry some bags. "I think you are old enough now to understand the seriousness of becoming a priestess like me." Dahlia said as they entered the house.
"Oh, I do. I know it takes much work and much faith." Claudia said passionately.
Dahlia chuckled, "I believe you my dear are ready for one of the main teachings tonight." She spoke softly.
Claudia nodded. "I'll unpack first and I'll be ready to learn." Claudia said.
Claudia took her bags to the empty bedroom. Claudia knew if Alessa was still alive this would be her room. Claudia shut the door and began to unpack all of her things. After about an hour of organizing everything Claudia was ready to hear more of what Dahlia had to say. "Claudia, I will ask you now to sit down and listen." Dahlia ordered.
Claudia did as she was told. "If you were a priestess, you would want to understand why our Gods birth is most important to us would you not?" Dahlia asked sitting down on the couch opposite Claudia.
"Birth of God did you say?" Claudia asked.
"I know this may be a bit of a jump for you. You were raised to simply worship God as she was written in our pages. Is this true?" Dahlia asked Claudia sensing the slight confusion.
"This is true." Claudia said, hiding the fact that she's heard some rumors about Dahlia the night of her fathers small dinner get together.
Dahlia smiled. "The birth of God is something that can be accomplished, but only with the correct vessel and the proper timing." Dahlia said smiling.
Claudia was clearly unsure about the sounds of this. Dahlia straightened her words up. "Imagine this. Eternal paradise, a place with no pain, no hunger, no sickness, no old age, no greed and equality throughout the world." Dahlia said to Claudia with a wide grin.
Claudia paused to think about this. All those things Dahlia listed, they were reasons for unhappiness in the past. What if the world could truly be like this? "Claudia, do you like the sounds of that?" Dahlia questioned, feeling she may have touched Claudia's heart.
"Yes, how is it possible?" Claudia asked eagerly.
"Through Alessa." Dahlia said suddenly taking the spark from Claudia's thoughts.
"Alessa is dead; you and I both know that." Claudia said choking back more tears.
"What if I were to show you one of the cults biggest secrets? Do you think you could keep it?" Dahlia asked.
Claudia looked down at her knees. Could she keep something if she didn't know what it was? "Yes, I could." Claudia replied.
Dahlia smiled. "Follow me; I will take you right to it." Dahlia said.
Claudia followed Dahlia out the door. She had no idea where she was being taken, but soon she arrived at Alchamillia Hospital. "The secret is hidden here?" Claudia whispered to Dahlia as they entered.
"In the basement." Dahlia explained.
Claudia followed Dahlia to the darkened hall of the basement. Claudia looked up to see a young and beautiful nurse, she was looking sad. Claudia didn't understand. Dahlia opened the door to a room beside the nurse. "In here." Dahlia coaxed.
Claudia walked inside, she saw a bed, IV packs and blood packs hanging over the bed, something was curled up in the bed. Claudia felt her heart skip a beat. "A-Alessa?" Claudia felt the tears begin to emerge.
Authors Note: The more reviews I get the more inspiration I have to continue. Thanks to those who continue to review, especially my biggest fan, Kawaii1!