"Bless me Father, for I have sinned” I was sitting inside the confession box inside an empty church. It was a place I often went to think or to ask for forgiveness. A place I came for redemption from what I was and the acts I committed. I should have a frequent flyers card, I’m here that often.
“And what is it child, that you have done?” the priest on the other side asked gently.
“I have taken a life.” Even though James had betrayed the covenant and turned evil, I had still been the one to kill him. And no matter how often I was required to, or the reasons behind them, I still wasn’t completely comfortable with the deaths I was so often responsible for. I still felt a sadness for each life I took, I was never a violent person before becoming a vampire and I still think it showed.
“I see.... and do you feel you need God’s forgiveness?”
“Yes Father, I do” I intertwined my fingers “I am here to ask God’s forgiveness. And yours.”
“Oh, Roxi” the panel that separated the boxes we each sat in slid open. “You never need to seek my forgiveness, child. You have done me no wrong.” The panel slid shut again and I heard the door to the booth open next to me.
Sighing, I stood up and opened mine.
“Father Riley, how is it that you can say that and please don’t say it’s because I ask so often.” I smiled.
“It is because in your line of work, although it pains me to say, death is required to keep people safe. You have no choice, for you can not sit back and watch. Besides, the vampires you vanquish are soulless. They have already been judged by God.”
I rolled my eyes and sat down on one of the pews at the front of the church. I watched the white candles, sitting on a table at the front of the church, flicker and waited for Father Riley to take a seat beside me. He did.

Instead of talking as we were, we sat in silence. For a few minutes no one spoke. I looked around the church in wonder. It never ceased to amaze me how something as simple as a church, in my eyes, could be so beautiful.
The Catholic Church was high ceilinged with mahogany panels running along the walls. It had tall glass windows on every side that stretched up to the tip of the roof. Yellow and white glass, some were plain, while the others were decorated with circles and swirls wrapping around the window. There were three however, that depicted scenes from the bible. Colourful and bright, these brought the church to life. The church was filled with candles, in holders along the walls and on various tables in the room. Both the confession box and the pews were also made of mahogany wood. The church was a peaceful place, full of balance. It was also old. How old, I had no clue. I did recall Alana telling me once that she came here for mass when she was a little girl. I could hardly imagine Alana human, let alone being a little girl, so the church must have been around for a while.
Finally Father Riley, who had closed his eyes, broke the silence. “Roxi, the life you live is one filled with danger and uncertainty. You make your choices and as far as I know, you always make the right ones. It is simply unfair on yourself to feel the way you do every time you make a hard decision.” The priests’ voice was calm and quiet. He was telling me the same thing he often did.
“But Father”
“Hush” he held up his hands, his eyes still closed
As I waited for him to continue, I took a moment to really look at the priest. In his early sixties, Father Riley had spent the majority of his life devoted to God. With grey hair and wide rimmed glasses that sat on the bridge of his nose, his face was wrinkled from years of helping others deal with their problems. And I was no different. He was a kind person, who went out of his way to help people in need. That was why I turned to him when I was in need of guidance and understanding. That and he was also one of the few people, outside the covenant, who knew I was a vampire.
Okay, he was the only person who knew I was a vampire.
“You must accept what you are and accept it completely.” He opened his eyes and looked at me with a gentle, stern expression.
“I do Father. I do. I understand that I have no choice. I understand why it is that I must do what I do. I understand and accept it. But not everyone does, not everyone can. The people in my life. They’d never be able to accept me if they knew what it is I am.” I let out an exasperated sigh and slumped deeper into the pew.

“I know what you are,” he said slowly “but I also know who you are. Those that know you would never take what you are. A vampire. Over the person you have been your whole life. Your family...”
“It’s not just my family” I said, cutting him off. “There’s more, things that I’m not even sure I’m ready to face.
I launched into an explanation. Telling him everything about the hunters and the deal they offered, to James and what he had done. But I skimmed over Micah; I didn’t see a reason to make him more worried than he had to be.
“You will deal with this. Like you always do. You’re strong and you can handle this. God would never have allowed you to have this gift, if he didn’t think you could handle the problems it caused.” He paused and smiled, looking at me. “Just like I know he would never have sent you to me in my moment of need if you weren’t his Angel.”
Not this again. I’d heard it a hundred times. And no matter how many times I told him, Father Riley refused to dismiss the thoughts he had of me. No matter how many times I told him it couldn’t be possible and that it was just good timing.
“Father,” I said carefully. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings “I’m no angel.”
“Oh, but you are child. You were sent by God to save my life.”
I tensed. Some memories were always in your mind. Others, like this one, popped back into your head when to talked or thought about them. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. “Is that what you really think?”
“Yes, whatever plan God has for you, it isn’t finished. It is yet to be shown. But, just like the prophecy, it is still there. You are an angel from God.
“I think you’re wrong. I’m sorry Father, but like I’ve told you a thousand times. That night was luck. Pure luck and nothing more.” I gritted my teeth.
I didn’t want to have this discussion again. It was like talking to a wall. It got you nowhere. An angel. A Vampire Angel.
I wanted to laugh, but instead tried to talk sense into him. “How can you know? How can you be sure Father?”
“Because I have faith.”

I opened my mouth to tell him he was crazy, but stopped.
Faith.
I had faith. Newly acquired in the last couple of years it was, but it was still there. Rooted deep inside me, and as much a part of me as my arms or legs. It was as real as my dislike of Thai food or my love of cooking.
How could I tell him not to have faith?
Faith was the one thing that had kept me sane when I had first become a vampire. Well, that and Claudia. I’d be a hypocrite to tell him otherwise. Especially when, deep down, I truly believe that everything does happen for a reason. I wasn’t convinced that I was an angel sent from God, as he thought, but if that’s what he wanted to believe, there would be no changing it. And it wouldn’t be fair on him to try.
So I let it go...for now.
“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat.
I looked up and saw; Logan. Vampire hunter, Logan.
Jumping up from the pew, I saw that he was not alone. Another hunter and Ben and Claudia were walking down the aisle. He must me faster. I flicked back to that night at the school and how fast he’d been to grab me.
I knew he was faster.
“How did you find me?” I stared at him. He radiated power. And even though I hated to admit it, something about this guy made my stomach tremble.
But he ignored me. “Father” he nodded to Father Riley, who had risen from his seat.
“Hello there son.” He looked at Logan and extended his hand. “I’m Father Reilly, and it’s always a pleasure to meet a fellow believer”
Huh? I stared at Father Riley, confused, and he nodded at Logan.
“His cross.”
I looked at Logan’s neck and noticed for the first time the cross that hung around it. Simple silver and plain, it hung on a small chain.
Noticing my eyes and clearly being uncomfortable, he tucked it under his grey t-shirt then let his arms sink to his sides, before finally shaking Father Riley outstretched hand.

“I’m Logan Miller, Father.” He introduced himself respectively.
“Oh, I see. You one of those hunters that will be working with Roxi’s covenant.” he said giddily.
What was with him? I didn’t know.
Logan automatically tensed at the Father’s mention of hunters and covenant. Then he shot me an angry look.
Great. This guy wants to vanquish me already. Perfect. Then again, he probably already did, I thought, thinking of our first meeting.
Father Riley rattled on about how wonderful it was that all Gods sons and daughters would be working together, while Logan’s blue eyes continued to bore into me. If he was pissed that I had told Father Riley, then he was wasting his time. It wasn’t something I would ever apologize for. I trusted the Father. More than I trusted him that’s for sure. He was more of a friend than a priest to me.
When the door to the church banged loudly, I jumped. I saw Logan’s mouth twitch at the corners, but ignored him. He better not make fun of me.
He was still staring, but his was face more calculating than angry, although I was sure we would have to have words later. Desperate to break away from his gaze, I turned to see that a few people were now piling into the church.
It was a Wednesday night for crying out loud. Who came here now? Oh, right. Me, for guidance. It figures that other people may be in the need of guidance from a good priest from time to time too.
Realising at the same time as I did, Father Riley turned to his patrons. “Ahh, it seems as though I am required by someone else, child. You understand?” he walked towards me a few steps and turned his back on Logan even though I could still him over the Father’s shoulder. I closed my eyes slightly. “Remember what we talked about and trust God to guide you.” He embraced me in a small hug, before kissing the top of my head. “Be safe, My Angel.” Then he turned and slowly made his way to the other patrons.
I sighed and opened my eyes to find Logan staring at me, eyes wide and mouth hard. He saw me looking and his face changed to a puzzled look that still radiated coldness.
What was with this guy?

It was at this point that Claudia and Ben chose to stand up from where they had been sitting and whispering, and walk over.
“Come on it’s late, we can talk about what happened tomorrow.” Claudia linked her arm threw mine and started to lead me away. I let her. “Are you going home tonight or back to the Manor with us?”
We left Logan standing, red faced in the aisle. “Home,” I slowed so Ben could catch up to us “but I’ll come back to the Manor first and get cleaned up. My parents are gonna eat me alive and seeing me like this,” I looked down at my torn shirt, covered in blood. My gash had healed, and you couldn’t even tell I’d been hurt, “will just make them freak out”
“Man, parents” she narrowed her eyes.
“Yes parents” I agreed. They were really the last of my worries, but I didn’t tell her that.