Chapter 6: Welcome

As I stood next to Abel outside of what I could only presume was the door leading into the office of our superior, I began to notice the butterflies as they flitted their wings restlessly from within my stomach. The reality of everything was beginning to sink in and take hold. The fact that I really had left my home. The fact that vampires actually existed. The fact that, until an unknown date, I would be living in Rome. Then finally...the fact that through it all, Father Nightroad would be my mentor and guide. It still seemed unreal to me, yet I knew that it was honestly happening. With a deep breath, I asked. "You promise to stay by my side?" I didn't look at Abel, since I figured he would know that the question was meant for him.

"Through thick and thin." His was was warm and gentle. Just like a blanket that one would wrap themselves up in on a cold winter night.

I could feel his eyes on me and so I asked another question. "What if I fall?"

Abel chuckled quietly before telling me his answer. "Well I guess I'd just have to catch you then, wouldn't I?"

Finally I looked up at him. Never before in my life had I ever felt so grateful because of someone that I knew, as I did in that moment in time. So with a smile, I nod my head and Abel took that as a sign that I was ready and he knocked on the solid mahogany wooden door.

We stood and waited for what seemed to have been an eternity, but just before I was going to say something, I heard a woman's voice coming from the other side of the closed door. "You may enter." Hearing the feminine voice that also sounded so strong, I took a sharp intake of air into my lungs.

Slowly releasing the breath, I smiled and whispered. "I'm ready." Abel, with his hand on the door knob turned it and I heard the lock click open. Father Nightroad crossed over the threshold first, and suddenly feeling as though I were a small child, followed after him. Hiding behind his tall, slender frame.

"Ah, Abel. I'm so glad you made it back with minimal complication. After all, that was the impression I got when I spoke with Gunslinger earlier." The woman spoke with a level of elegance that I had never heard before, and I couldn't help myself when I started peeking out from behind Father Abel. Seeing the movement, the woman's eyes turned towards me. "Oh, is this her?"

She was seated at a sturdy desk, yet I could tell that she was taller than I was, which only made me feel even more like a child than I had before. Light that made its way through a window that ran all of the way to the ceiling of the room, fell across the top of the desk. The natural light made it easy for me to see the face of my new superior.

Beautiful didn't even begin to describe her features. Her voluminous blonde hair fell behind her back and over her shoulders in perfectly formed locks. Her skin was as white as porcelain, giving her the appearance of a doll. The eyes that looked at me, were cool grey in color. A monocle was set in front of her right eye. Her crimson vestments only further insinuated her beauty.

Now as I stood next to Father Nightroad, I could briefly feel his eyes on me, then he began to speak. His voice remaining calm and casual, as if he were talking to an old friend rather than to his boss. "It is! Jonah Turner, allow me to introduce you to the Duchess of Milan; our superior, Cardinal Caterina Sforza. She also happens to be the Chief Minister of Holy Affairs!"

As I stood there, with all eyes in the room on me, I tried to gather as much grace as I could. Curtsying and trying to keep a steady voice, I finally spoke. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

Cardinal Sforza's soft voice greeted my ears once more, "And I would like to extend the same kind of pleasantries to you as well, Sister Jonah! It is with open arms that I say welcome!" Her lips, which were almost rose in color, turned upwards into a sincere smile and I couldn't help but to notice that the dignified woman before me, wasn't that much older than I was. "Father Tres has informed me that during the events of last evening, you managed to keep a level head about you. Even when you were face to face with one of the Vatican's most skilled marksmen, you barely batted an eye. Such bravery is strongly encouraged in our line of work." The Cardinal's eyes shut, revealing the fact that the had long eyelashes, but the moment that I noticed it, her steely eyes flew open. "However, I feel that it is only necessary that I tell you this: Be strong in your endeavors for the sake of the world."

Shocked, I just stood there, but with a tiny nod of my head, I gave the Cardinal my word. "I will do my very best." My gaze shifted down to the floor and looking at the exact instance where the rug, that was as crimson as Caterina's garment, collided with the marble tiles that lie beneath it. "I do admit, I did have my doubts, but I spoke with Father Nightroad about them. I told him about how I fear that I'll be a nuisance, and..." With a new confidence, I looked back into the eyes of my superior, all the while feeling Abel's presence standing next to me. "And though I may not be skilled yet, I promise to give it everything that I have. I will become strong. He told me that I have it in me." I turned to face Abel, then after a second passed, I returned my sight back to the head of the A.X. "He promised he would guide me in the right direction."

The blonde beauty considered my words for a moment, then without hesitation she began to speak. "Considering that you hail from Lutetium which resides in the Kingdom of Franc, your words do not surprise me. Since your homeland lies directly on the border of the Kingdom of Albion, the pride of the people from those lands has undoubtedly spread to Lutetium." With a single glance at my face, she added with a coy smile. "Don't take my words as if it were a bad thing. I am only merely thinking out loud about the knowledge that I have about the region."

Left speechless, I quietly whispered. "Yes, ma'am." Unsure about what to say and do, I simply resumed standing silently next to Father Abel, but when I felt his gentle hand on my shoulder, I quickly looked up at him.

The smile that he wore, instantly calmed my mind, and I couldn''t help but get the feeling that he knew about the soothing effect it had on me. Yet it was with that very smile that he quietly asked. "Jonah, you must be tired? Why don't you wait outside while I finish up in here? Don't worry, it shouldn't be too much longer." Taking his hand from my shoulder, he closed his left eye and with the right one twinkling with all of the stars in the sky, with all of the wishes I had ever made, he spoke again. "If I remember correctly there are a few chair waiting in the hall outside of this room." He opened his eye once more and patiently waited.

Before walking out of the Cardinal's office, I curtsied again, my voice coming from between my lips now sounded distant. "Your Eminence." I heard her say a few parting words, but my ears didn't fully register them. Leaving the room and shutting the door behind me, I once again found myself alone with my thoughts.

It was just as Abel had said, I immediately found the chairs that were evenly spaced from one another, their backs gently set against the wall. From what I could tell, each of them were the exact same. With the arms, seat and back rest adorn with a soft, red velvet material, and choosing the chair closest to the door, I sat down.

I could hear my heart pounding from within my chest, and placing my hand to the fabric of my dress, I pressed down. Feeling the rhythmic motions as my heart beat away. With each beat, I drew breath. Releasing the air and trying to ease my mind and body into believing that everything was okay.

As millions of thoughts rapidly whirled about inside my brain, I closed my eyes. Silently begging for them to cease for one second. Yet despite my pleas, they continued on. "You'll never find your way here. Make all of the promises that you want, in the end they'll see you for what you really are!" Faster and faster my thoughts flew at me, all the while my silent pleading continued. I only wanted to be strong. I only wanted to show everyone that I was worth the effort. I only wanted what everyone should be allowed to have in life...hope.

Fresh tears began to form in the corners of my eyes, and as I started to raise my hand to wipe them away, I felt a soft piece of cloth gently dabbing at them as they began to fall from the tips of my lashes. As I felt the cloth move away from my face, I quietly looked up and through a blurry field of residual tears, I saw a girl kneeling in front of where I sat. She was dressed the same as me, and appeared to be around the same age. Her hair that was the color of fire was bobbed, yet bangs rested along both sides of her cheeks. Azure eyes stared at me and in them, the sadness and uncertainties that I felt, were reflected back. Her skin was pure and her voice was kind as she began speaking. "Are you okay? You look lost."

Wiping away the last of my tears, I feigned a smile. "Just a little homesick, I suppose." I saw the expression on her face switch from worry to understanding, and without much thought I continued speaking. "I appreciate the concern, Sister..." My words fell away since I didn't know what her name was.

The girl laughed and stood back up. ""How rude of me. I'm Sister Esther Blanchett" She walked over to the next chair, which was a yard away, and picking it up she carried it over to where I sat. She took a seat and said, "I understand how it feels to be homesick, since I'm not from here myself." As she spoke, her eyes shimmered like lapis lazuli. They had the same calming effect as Abel's eyes.

Before I could linger on that thought for too long, I whispered. "My name is Jon-Sister Jonah Turner. Sorry." Laughing at the small that Esther hadn't picked up on, I rushed to explain myself to her. "Sorry. To be honest, I've only been a Sister within the Vatican for..." I looked around, trying to find a clock. When I found one, I continued on with my previous thought, "...Well for about twelve or so hours now." Tearing my eyes from the device, I returned my gaze to Esther. "This is all still so new to me."

"Wow. I-I can only imagine." She laughed gently and the sound brought me a brand new dose of hope. "I remember how I felt when I first got here. I was afraid, I didn't know anyone, it was probably the only time where I questioned my faith." I nod my head in understanding. "So, Jonah, where are you from?"

"I'm..." I thought back to what Cardinal Sforza had said about Lutetium and the Kingdom of Franc and I wondered to myself if everyone felt the same about my homeland as the Cardinal did. But I quietly responded. "I'm from the Kingdom of Franc."

Esther's eyes lit up and she told me, as a smile overcame her face, "I'm from Albion! It's nice to meet someone from that region, even though I...well even though I didn't actually grow up in Albion." seeing the puzzled look on my face, she explained, "I was raised in a small city called Istavan, and well within the walls of the Saint Matthais Church. It's too long of a story to tell you all of it right now. Perhaps another time, okay?"

I could tell just from the look in her eyes, that it wasn't only a long story but that it was also a painful one. "Sure." In my head I was debating about if I should tell Esther about Lutetium, or if it was also a story that would be best saved from another day. Opening my mouth to ask a question that would help fill the silence between us, I was stopped when I heard a kind voice coming from behind the door.

"Of course, Caterina, I'll make my best effort to visit a little sooner next time." It was Abel and I could tell that he was on his way out of the Cardinal's office.

Next to me, Esther smiled. It was one of genuine happiness and her voice rang out with the sound of pure joy. "It sounds like Father Nightroad's on his way. Have you met him yet?" When I nod my head, she smiled brighter. "He really is something, isn't he?"

Before I could answer, the door to my left opened and Abel stepped out into the hall. He sighed, then looked at both Esther and myself, and exclaimed in his usual enthusiastic way, "Well I leave you alone for a few moments and you've already managed to make a new friend. How are you doing, Esther? Doing your best to make Jonah here feel at home?"

"Of course I am, Father." She looked at me with the same smile she'd been wearing a few seconds prior to Abel showing up.

"That's great! I can always count on you." Finally he turned his full attention back to me. "So are you ready for me to show you where you'll be sleeping from tonight onward?"

I carefully got to my feet, and smoothing out the back of my dress replied. "Yes, Father Nightroad. I honestly feel like I could use a nap..." My stomach quietly began to growl. "Uh...maybe some food too. We did miss breakfast after all." I sheepishly added that last sentence, since I couldn't help but to feel guilty.

Standing next to me, Abel quietly laughed. "I assure you, we'll have some spare time after a brief tour of some of the more important locations that can be found around the Vatican." With his winter blue eyes on me, he took a second before saying, "I'm ready to begin the tour whenever you are."

I looked over at Esther and extending my hand out to her, said, "Would you like to come with us?" It wasn't possible for me to feel anything but happy when I asked this question. The fact that I had already managed to make a friend, someone other than Father Nightroad, was astounding news to me and I immediately found myself silently praying in my mind that she would join us.

She didn't hesitate or need any time to think about my invite, she simply stood up, smoothed out her dress and standing to the right of me, Esther smiled and happily whispered. "Let's go."