It was midday on Sunday and I was sitting in one of the many pews of the church. I’d stayed late after Father Riley’s morning service and I watched as he scurried around cleaning up, and preparing for the evening service. I was overwhelmed by the serenity I always felt when I was here. It smelled like vanilla and incense smoke, and sitting where I was, I felt at peace. I was able to forget everything in my hectic life and relax. I sat with my eyes closed, just breathing, until I was interrupted by the gentle, calm voice I knew so well.
“Roxi, child, I am required to go and meet Miss Casey” I opened my eyes and found Father Riley looking down at me kindly and apologetically. “Her mother is gravely ill and she wishes that I come over to the hospital and issue her, her last rights.” He tilted his head to the side. “Will you be alright waiting on your own?”
I wouldn’t be entirely alone, I knew. There were about a dozen nuns next door in the rectory, but it wasn’t as though I needed their supervision or company. “Yes Father,” I smiled “I’ll be fine on my own. I should be gone before you get back though.” At least I hope I will, I thought.
He nodded and quietly made his way down the aisle and out the door.
About 40 minutes ago I had attempted to head back to the Manor, only to find that my car wouldn’t start. After a few attempts I had given up. It appeared to be finished, just like Erin’s car; only unlike Erin’s, I didn’t have the money to repair it. So I had in turn called Claudia and asked if she could come and pick me up. She’d told me that she wouldn’t be long, but I knew Claudia. She had a tendency to get distracted. I honestly hoped I wouldn’t be waiting all night.
Then as if on cue, I heard the front door of the church open quietly. I looked up and saw Logan entering. I looked down quickly.

I wasn’t sure how I should act around him or what I could say. My memory flicked to the night before. I’d basically told him my whole life story. He’d more or less told me that I shouldn’t let go of the person I was, that I should stay the same. He’d looked at me as though he’d really understood. I’d thought he had. Then he’d changed, as he usually did. It was as though he was another Logan. He appeared to push aside and bury any sympathy and understanding he’d felt for me.
He had gotten cold and his face had become hard, and after a few minutes of silence, when he hadn’t spoken and I’d been too afraid too, he had politely excused himself and left. I didn’t understand. I couldn’t understand. How could he just walk away like that?
And now, what was he doing here? And where the hell was Claudia?
I decided it was best to take an offensive attitude, so when he finished walking down the aisle and stood at the end of the pew where I sat, I stared up at him accusingly. “What are you doing here?”
He looked down at me, unsure and uncomfortable. “Claudia sent me to pick you up. She said to tell you that she couldn’t come herself, but she’ll meet you there.”
“Oh” was all I muttered, slumping into the pew. Great. Just great. An entire 30 minute car ride back to the Manor with Logan. Now this was going to be a mess, not to mention uncomfortable. I crossed my arms over my chest, my hands in fists. “Why didn’t Ben or someone else come to get me? I’m sure there had to have been someone else.”
His eyes flashed. “Well, there wasn’t. Trust me; I wouldn’t be here if there was anyone else.” His face wore his usual cold expression, but when he spoke again his voice sounded lazy and tired. “If you’d rather walk back by yourself, that’s fine,” he said, turning to walk away.
He didn’t get far. “No, wait!” I called, grabbing my purse off the seat and chasing after him. He waited for me, unspeaking. “Let’s go” I told him.
He nodded and we started walking towards the door. We hadn’t even reached the end of the aisle when it happened.
About 6 vampires appeared at the front entrance of the church. I hesitated for a second, being surprised. I instantly recognized a few of the vampires from the warehouse siege the other night. And here they were. In daylight. This meant they were living vampires. Micah had living vampires working for him. I was so surprised that when they first lunged at us I hesitated. But only for a second and it wasn’t long enough for any of them to get in any blows.

Beside me, Logan acted almost immediately. He reached down at his belt, pulled out one of his knives, and plunged it into the heart of the first vampire that reached him.
One came at me and pulling out the only knife I had, I drove it into him. He shrieked and crumpled to the floor. This wouldn’t be hard, I thought, seeing Logan take out another one.
But I was wrong, and it all went down hill from there.
More vampires emerged and it was soon a life and death battle for us. And we were loosing.
Despite this, I couldn’t help but feel outraged. Micah had sent his vampire minions to my church. My church! I would never have expected that he’d be that desperate. That he’d resort to this. Maybe that was why I only had one knife on me, why I had been so unprepared. One knife that I soon lost. A vampire wrenched it free from my hold and it slid down the aisle and under a pew.
I didn’t have time to look for it as the vampire went for my throat. Luckily I was able to grip his arm and slamming him up against the wall, knock him out. I glanced at Logan and saw that he was having us much trouble as me. These guys were good. Really good. Almost as good as us. Micah had sent the best.
I had a free moment where no vampires lunged at me. I took the moment to catch my breath and watched in surprise, as I saw one backhand Logan across the jaw, sending him flying across the room. Oh, my, god, these vampires were strong.
I ran to where Logan lay and desperately helped him to his feet. “It’s no use, we have to get out of here.” As I spoke two more vampires entered the church. Damn Micah. He’d gotten vampires with souls to come after me at my church. How could he do this? How could they do this? How could they turn their backs one our entire lifestyle and work with him?
“Agreed.” Logan spoke into my ear as he got to his feet. “But where do we go? They’re blocking the door.”

I could see them edging towards us but they didn’t attack. Hell! They were well trained, and smart. That’s got to be a first for Micah, I thought. He doesn’t usually keep such great company. Only vampires who were stupid and easily manipulated. He only used them for what he wanted, and then he got rid of them.
Looking around the room I knew where we had to go. “There!” I pointed to a set of stairs near the confession box, on the other side of the room near us. We could reach it without having to go through them.
“Come on” Logan was already running towards the stairs. He paused at the base of the stairs, waiting for me, and threw a knife at the closest vampire. “Hurry!”
I ran up the stairs, with him fast on my heels. The stairs were fairly wide, wide enough for us to run side by side if we wanted. He was faster than me though and he soon over took me. I had no idea where we were running to. Hell, I had no idea where I stairs led. I’d never been up here before.
We reached a door at the top of the stairs and Logan threw it open. We both dashed through it and he slammed it shut behind me. I saw him shove some sort of box in front of it. “That won’t hold them back for long.” He said breathlessly.
We were both breathing heavily from our fight and our dash up the stairs. I gasped short breaths, trying to get control over my lungs.
I turned around and realised that we were on the roof of the church. Directly over the rectory. The sun blazed down on me and I held a hand over my eyes so I could see properly. Logan was searching around desperately for a way down and out of here. He walked over to the edge of the building and peered down.
As I approached where he stood, he looked up and met my eyes, a peculiar expression on his face. “Do you trust me?”

I stopped walking and looked at him, my eyebrows raised. “Is that a trick question?”
He shrugged, and laughed dryly. “Maybe” he paused “We have to jump” he pointed downwards, still breathing hard.
I continued walking over to him and looked where he was pointing. I saw a small alleyway. It was next to the church and I was struck wondering how I’d never noticed it before. It was very small and narrow. The only thing that would break our fall was a dumpster and a few piles of cardboard boxes. “That’s a long way down” I said, unsure.
“You’re a vampire for crying out loud!” he answered, breathlessly. “Out of the two of us, who do you think is going to suffer more for this?”
He had a point and I knew it. But I was still worried. That was a long way to fall and..... I bit my lip. “I don’t like heights” I admitted.
“Jesus” he said, rolling his eyes and looking towards the sky. He looked back and met my eyes. “There’s no other way down from here, except the way we came. And I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I heard a crash and looked behind me at the door. The vampires were very close to breaking through. It wouldn’t take them long.
“It’s either this, or wait for them” he said, indicating the door. “And I don’t know about you, but I’m out of weapons.”
I had been looking at the door, chewing my lip, but I looked back at him. “Arrrgh” I said, giving up. “Where do we jump?” I asked looking down at the alley below.
“Aim for the dumpster” he said.
I heard another crash and it sounded like they were breaking through. I glanced at him, panicked.
“Ready?” he asked, smirking.
“No.” I bit my lip. This was not going to end well.
“Yes, you are” he said, as the vampires broke through the door completely and ran across the rooftop. “Jump!” he shouted.
And we both jumped.