Sorry this took so long. Schools being a pain and having to get up at 5 every morning to run is starting to take its' toll on me in the evening. THANK YOU for the reviews! They're my inspiration!
Anyway leggo!
An arm latched around my wrist nearly yanking me off my feet.
"What do you think you're doing?" Gabriel asked halting me from my descent back into the caves.
I tried to tug out of his grasp but he held fast, "Going after Michael!" I hissed.
He tried to hide the sadness in his voice. He tried to cover it with the tone of a leader that could make all problems go away, but he failed. I could see right past it, "He's gone Heather".
"You don't know that!" I screamed still trying to pull away. Juno watched with the rest of the Priests, her throat constricting as tears began forming in her eyes. "You don't know he's gone!"
Gabriel pulled me closer to where I was inches from his face, "Vampires don't take prisoners. You know this Priestess!"
With newfound strength despite everything I pulled away, "He's your friend!" I looked at the group of Priest huddled around one another, " He's your brother!" I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. I haven't been able to cry in years.
"How could you just him go?" I whispered bringing a snarl to my lips.
Gabe placed a hand on my shoulder, giving my strained tendons a squeeze, "I did all I could Heather, he was-"
"Don't say it!" I pulled away again jumping back, "You knew it was a risk to go down there. Don't tell me you did all you could when YOU could have prevented this. Now look!" I gestured to the remaining. "Five of us are dead!"
He set his jaw,"We had our orders. The Monsieur's-"
"When will you realize the Monsieur's don't care about us?" I whispered glancing back into the hole. I clutched the beaded cross necklace around my throat, "Michael was right this is all a mistake".
"Heather" he said in warning, "Consider what you're saying. Don't let your emotions get in the way of your duty as a Priestess".
In one motion I yanked the holy trinket off my neck. The beads slid off hitting the dirt until all that was left on the chain was the silver cross held securely in my palms. I glared at the surprised expression on his face. There was no turning back now.
"I will no longer be their puppet", I dropped the cross into the dirt and turned on my heel to walk down the hive. Knowing that Michael was gone from my life and that everything I had ever done was a lie I felt a strange sense of relief and a large measure of pain inside me as well. I wanted to walk into the desert until I collapsed from exhaustion; until I found purpose in my life again.
Gabriel calling my name was soon just a whisper in the wind.
.
.
.
.
The hours blended in to each other as I rode through the wasteland. Structures, mountains and abandoned buildings flew past me in a haze along with flashes of my memories with Michael. I had the handles gripped so hard the humming of the bike vibrated through my bones and rattled my skull. I was so lost in fury and grief that I almost didn't realize the medium sized town that split up from the horizon. The orange sunset sinking into the West bathed it in a fiery pool.
Jericho. It looked so foreign despite the fact that I grew up there. The only part I could remember was that my old house was only right down the street from the church. It was the only place I knew where to go. My heart fluttered in my chest. Would they recognize me? Were they alright? Would they turn me away after seeing what I was and that I've turned my back on the church. The small holo map on my bike bleeped when I was ten kilometers from the city.
I parked behind an old building on the outskirts of town and set the alarms to notify me if anyone tried to tamper with the bike. If anyone tried to even touch it they'd get a nice little shock as a warning. I kept my hood low on my head to cover the cross tatoo. The last thing I needed was any friars catching a glimpse of me and warning the Monsieur's . The town was bustling with afternoon life as people prepared to turn in for the evening. I tried not to appear out of place but I found it difficult in spite of the fact I stood out like a sore thumb. I needed to find some regular clothes, but I couldn't wait much longer.
People stared at me as I walked by, whispering and pointing. Kids asked their parents who I was, but their parents just pulled them a long out of my path. I strayed as far away as I could from the church, and skirted around the town until I finally stopped in front of the wilting structure.
Everything came back as I stood in front of my old house. It was almost as if time hadn't touched it. The makeshift fence surrounding the small property still looked as brittle as it did twelve years ago. The small tree in the front yard still couldn't bloom due to the radiation in the soil, and just sat there like boney hands reaching for the sky. A rope attached to one of the lower branches where a swing used to be.
A lump formed in the back of my throat as I pushed open the creaky fence and walked up the overgrown pathway. An image of me skipping along the stepping stones and singing 'Jesus Loves Me' along with my mom played like a slideshow through my eyes. Shaking myself back into reality I took a deep breath, stepped up on the porch and knocked on the door.
Moments later I heard latched being unlocked then the door opened slowly. A small, pixie like face peered out at me. I looked down into the dark hazel eyes and forced a smile on my face. The little girl only offered a half smile back as she pulled the door all the way open. She was at least eleven or twelve, with short, brown hair and big curious eyes. My mouth opened to speak but no words fell out.
"Who's at the door Angel?" a hoarse almost sick voice called at from somewhere in the back.
The little girl took one step back and turned her head, "I think it's a Priestess uncle". Her voice was mature and strong just like mine was when I was her age.
"A Priestess? Well let her in".
The girl, Angel, opened the door and stepped aside watching me closely and curiously.
"Thank you" I said with a smile keeping my arms within my sleeves as I stepped within. The place was much smaller than I remembered. It consisted of a small fireplace, broken down furniture, and a bed over in the far corner where an old man lay. He looked to be in his late fifties with shaggy hair graying and running down his face. The house was warm and smelled of vanilla just as I had remembered.
"I haven't seen a Priest around these parts in years", the elder man replied standing then walking over to a steaming pot of tea on a stove. It was as if he was nothing more than a bundle of sticks tied together under a robe. He wasn't too old, but malnourished maybe.
"Very rarely are we allowed to leave the walls", I replied watching him as he poured two cups of hot tea. I tried to find something familiar in this man, but nothing came up.
His shaking hands froze as he set the pot down, "You are not here to take anyone are you?" His aged eyes glanced at the young girl still standing by the door.
"No", I replied quickly as I felt a strange moment of déjà vu.
The fear left his eyes but was replaced with a look of confusion, "Then why are you here Priestess?"
He offered the tea up to me and I took it with a ginger smile. It was warm and smelled of a slight mint.
"I…was taken from this home over twelve years ago by The Church. I guess I was hoping to find my parents". I shook my head staring down into the dark liquid in the cup, "I knew it was a pointless journey".
The elder man sat across from me on the broken down couch, "Angel and I have lived in this house for almost five years. We moved here from a small farming community not too far away after both her parents ,and my brother, were killed by raiders. Only a lone man lived in this house before me, at least until he passed. He might have had a wife, but I think she died of sickness a few years before him. He was a soft-spoken man with the saddest eyes".
I felt like I should have been hurting. I just found out that my father was dead, and possibly my mother too, but I couldn't feel anything at this point. Perhaps I knew it to be, or perhaps the fact that I can't even remember what they're like it's like they never even existed. Only vague pictures and sounds reminded me of them. There was no smiling face, no soft touches, no childhood memories of fishing with me and my father.
"I am sorry child" the old man said and was about to reach out to me before I shot up, chunking the ceramic cup against the floor.
"They've taken everything from me!" I shouted jumping off the sofa. My hands clasped over my face as I hunched down on the floor. No tears fell, but I wanted them too. I needed to cry. The pain and anger was building up inside me like a dormant volcano and sooner or later I would explode.
I felt along my wrist where the bracelet would normally be, but there was nothing. "What?" I whispered looking down at the empty space where my father's trinket usually is. I must have lost it in the nest. How could I have been so careless? It was the only thing I had left of them. Everything was just falling apart.
I felt the pair staring at me from behind. The anger in me subsided as I breathed in and out slowly then turned around to look them in the eyes, "I'm sorry for coming into your home". Green, big opticals stared at me from under the arm of her uncle. She reminded me so much of me when I was young. She was youthful, happy and strong. She was all the Church took away from me".
"Can I ask you a favor?" I said standing and straightening out my robes, "Do you remember his name? The man that lived here before me?"
"Thomas", the elder replied, "Thomas Black I believe". The arm around the youngling tightened.
Black. I repeated in thought. My last name was Black.
I wrapped my cloak tighter around myself, "Do yourself a favor. Get as far away from the church as possible. They'll take her away without so much as a second thought". With that sentence lingering in the air I fled the house.
I couldn't stand being in that house anymore ,so back into the small town I went until I caught sight of a saloon. It was a rickety joint with a faded, blinking sign. I noted it and walked into a general store right next to it. The place was mostly empty thank god. A woman at the back placing things on shelves turned and looked at me, "Can I help you miss?" She couldn't quit staring at my forehead.
"I need some clothes", I stated very clearly. I wasn't the most skilled at talking to new people, "Some that won't make me…stand out as much".
The fairly young woman nodded in understanding as she looked me up and down, "I see". She walked over to an outfit folded neatly on a shelf. "How about this?" she held the outfit, which turned out to be a long brown dress, out in front of her. "It looks about your size".
I grimaced. I've never worn a dress before. I always thought of them as too restricting. I liked freedom and looseness to move around.
"No?" she said huffing then turned back around to shuffle through some more general clothing until she walked up to me with an armful. "You didn't look like the type anyway. How about these instead?"
She held out a pair of brown pants, black button up shirt and jacket with a brown belt. I smiled at the thought of wearing normal clothes for once, but then it hit me. I didn't have any currency on me. Hell, I was a Priestess we didn't even get paid. All I had in my possession was a bike, weapons and the robes on my back.
"You don't like these either?" she asked confused and a little impatient.
"No, no they're perfect", I drug a hand through my hair, "I don't have any money".
The saleswoman bit her lower lip and looked me up and down skeptically, "Figures, don't worry about it. Consider it a gift for your services". I noted the hint of sarcasm dripping from her throat, and that fake smile that was supposed to cover it. It made an inaudible growl settle at the back of my throat. Many people didn't like Priest, but that's because they were fed with lies.
"Thank you", I replied taking the clothes. I changed in a back room making sure to stop by the mirror on my way out. It wasn't too tight or too loose which was perfect. I tucked my weapons away within the pockets of them. Satisfied I left leaving the snobby saleswoman with a glare despite her generosity. I would have rather been cast aside than be lied to.
The saloon next door was more packed than the store. Men and catering women dressed like prostitutes sat around round, wooden tables accompanied with flagons of beer and god knows what other kid of liquid. Some prospectors were playing cards, others were simply laughing obnoxiously and groping any nearby waitresses that walked by. I had half a mind to turn around and leave, but my growling stomach and dry throat told me otherwise.
The smell of cigars caressed my nose as I pushed through the overflowing tables and found an empty stool at the end of the bar. Men everywhere took a stare at me before they saw the cross on my head then their eyes quickly darted away. I fought the urge to groan out loud and roll my eyes. Somehow I'm going to burn this damn tattoo off.
"A Priestess in a bar huh? I guess I've seen it all", the bartender slid a tall glass down to me and instinctively I grabbed it to keep it from crashing to the ground. The large bellied, bearded man chuckled while he wiped a glass down in his hands, "On the house young lady".
I looked down into the amber liquid. It smelled foul but I took a drink anyway; thinking I might as well get used to the hardy beverages of the wasteland. My face cringed as it burned going down my esophagus. It tasted like….well I wasn't sure but it tasted awful.
I hadn't noticed the barkeep watching me still until he laughed once again, "What a rebel you are aren't you? Downing your first beer I see".
My eyes pierced his with an annoyed glare, but I softened it after a few moments. "I guess you could say that".
"Names Panzon, a friend of yours", he said with a cheerful smile, leaning against the counter.
I raised a brow and leaned back as he invaded my personal space, "I don't even know you".
He mimicked my facial expression then pulled out a black package from under the counter, "This is some food that'll get you through the night".
I stared at the package as he slid another drink down to a patron who was yelling for a drink profusely.
"What is this for?"
His dark eyes found mine, "Because little girl there are some people in this town that don't like your kind. The church will be here any minute, so I suggest you get a move on". How he could state that so casually was beyond me.
My shoulders tensed defensively and I turned my head to look backwards. Some of the men that dared made eye contact with me glared daggers into my face. How stupid was I to come into a bar full of outcast of the cities bearing a cross on my damn forehead? The Church would offer them a hefty reward for my return; whether they wanted me dead or alive remains to be seen.
"There's a back door", the barkeeper, Panzon, said snapping my attention back forward, "Don't want to be spilling any blood now do we?" He must have seen my hands gliding the outline of my daggers.
"Who are you?" I whispered.
"Just a friend helping a friend. I used to live in the big city. It's made up of nothing but lies and slavery".
I couldn't help but let my mouth drop a little. I hadn't expected this kind of help from anyone. It was kind of relieving in a way.
"Get going girl".
Grabbing the package I nodded and slowly made my way to the back door feeling the eyes of every man and woman following me. None of them would dare touch me though. They knew the consequences of trying to harm a member of the Church. As I stepped out into the cool night air it was like everything hit me at once. I had lost Michael, lost my long forgotten parents and my old way of life. Already I was made a fugitive and I would be hunted relentlessly by the Church. Anger and a painful sadness entered my chest and worked its way down my spine, and suddenly I wanted to kill something; a vampire, anything. Perhaps I should go back in there and teach a few of them outlaws a lesson. Maybe that would satisfy my sudden thirst for blood.
I only knew that from here on out I, myself, was a fugitive, and it was their fault.
I will make them pay.