A/N - Thanks so much to my lovely reviewers and readers!
Tsubasa Suzane: Thank you for both reviews! It's nice to know you like my work :)
twilghtandmaximumfreak: Thank you aswell! you really grasped the point of the story, she is just a normal person, I thought most of my readers would be able to empathise with her.
Plus my reviewers can ask for cameo appearances in the story. just tell me what you want to be called and wether you want to be a vampire or a human!
Thanks again everyone!
Chapter 4 – Paranoia
I didn't listen to a word Heidi said on that tour, I was refusing to be sucked in be the human charade. I tried to remain inconspicuous; I stayed in the middle of the group and looked around me as did the others. I made the same noises of interest and awe as the others at certain points, but I didn't see the same things as them. The stone city that had once been beautiful suddenly became haunting, like a set from a horror film. The cold, empty streets full of shadows were no longer mysterious but terrifying.
My eyes darted around every time we stopped, looking for other monsters that I was convinced were going to ambush us. Some part of my brain stayed sane however, and set about trying to convince me that this was a crazy coincidence. The paranoia drowned it out pretty quickly and my mind started to wander. I conjured up scary visions of possible futures – most of them ending in some kind of painful manner.
I shuddered and realised it was not just because of my nightmarish thoughts. I was cold. I untied my black jumper from my hips and put it on. Running to catch up with the group as they continued.
We had entered the lower part of the city now; the buildings were taller and older looking. Huge black birds – Ravens, I thought – circled above our heads, squawking out warnings. Or so it seemed to me. Maybe I was just taking the whole situation a little too far.
We came to an abrupt stop at a little fountain with benches around it. I glared at the floor, blocking the wind chime voice from my head. I started to sing loudly in my head, and even shut my eyes. Anything to keep from hearing the hauntingly beautiful voice. But nothing seemed to work.
"…We do not know who built this fountain but we know what it depicts," Heidi was saying gesturing to the pretty fountain next to her. " It shows a cherub holding a cross in one hand and a bottle in the other hand. This symbolises a very important event to Volterra," I looked at the fountain closely, sure enough there was a cherub stood on the third tier of the fountain. It had its chubby arms outstretched, clasping a bottle made out of the same marble as its body. In the other hand it held a wrought iron cross, its eyes were turned skyward, its face pleading. Heidi smiled at us. The expression was shockingly lovely. " It is a rather long story. Sit, please."
I sat on the cold bench, next to Sammy, Charlie and his friend, whose name I didn't remember. We all looked expectantly up at Heidi. I had to admit she was a very good actress; her sincerity was very realistic.
" Long ago a priest called Father Marcus lived here. He devoted his whole life to God and sought out any creature that conspired against him. One night Father Marcus found a group of vampires beneath Volterra.
"They lurked underground until the sun set and they could crawl out and drain the townspeople of their blood." Heidi's face was animated with horror and disgust but her eyes looked amused, not as if she thought vampires were fictional but as if the story lacked some vital detail. I became curious and listened more intently to the story.
"Father Marcus was horrified. He searched for any weapon he could use against these sinful creatures.
"All he had was his cross and… a bottle of holy water. He threw the water at the creatures and they burst into flames." She turned back to the fountain and touched the cherub lightly.
"You will find fountains and statues like this one all over Volterra, they are built to prevent vampire attack and, since no vampires have harmed Volterra after Father Marcus was martyred in Romania, they must work. We also celebrate his victory once every year on Saint Marcus's day." She turned away and walked down another dark, winding alleyway.
We followed the cold path for another ten minutes until we came to a grand, old castle. In the distance I could see a cathedral spire, pointing to the cloudy sky. She stopped by a thick oak door, with a huge doorknocker attached to the front. I felt instantly afraid.
"We come to the end of our tour, but also to the highlight of it. The place I am about to show you is hundreds of years old, and was built by Father Marcus himself to escape the vampires. Luckily I know the owner of the Castle – his name is Aro and he is very old and a great friend of mine. Let us go inside."
She produced a large, old silver key from her pocket and unlocked the door. She pushed it open and gracefully stepped into the dark corridor. She ushered us inside the room and shut the door, plunging us into darkness.