There was a party at the club that night and people seemed to be having be a good time as they danced.
More bottles of blood were brought in and he laughed.
"Hey, bring me some more. There's a lot more where that came from."
"Keep it flowing."Another of his guys said.
"We're gonna go hard tonight." Lucian screamed as he carelessly gulped down a cup, splashing its contents everywhere.
However, that couldn't be said in the funeral hall where the priest's wake was conducted. Even the sky was rather dull that morning, Kaiwan noticed before he turned to look at the bereaved family in the funeral hall. Zuriña looked like she was holding up well, but not the kids,he understood that.
The kids burst into tears again at their apartment and he watched Zuriña gently squeezed Rietta's shoulder.
"It's okay." She whispered, and she looked like she was trying to fight back her tears.
The members of the church wore their hearts on their faces with dull sighs as they gave their condolences and Zuriña kept bowing slightly to each one as they came.
"I think the mixed blood vampires were behind this." His boss who was seated next to him said.
"But the fire destroyed all the evidence."
"But she seems to be coping well, at least."His assistant observed.
"True."
"You're a monster." Father Michael glared at her and her eyes flew open.
She panted as rivulets of sweat dropped down her face and she clutched tight to the crown of thorns.
She turned to the clock on her table. It was 2:35am.
She thought it was only natural for Father Michael to have said that to her. She was after all, a vampire.
She crawled out of her bed and twined her fingers over her crown.
"Father...What do I do?" She sighed.
She remained that way till day break and she hadn't realized how far time had gone until her siblings walked into her room.
"Riña?" Henry called and she turned to look at them, also surprised it was already morning.
"Hey guys...are you okay?"She asked, looking at their puffy faces.
"We're okay. We're not sad." Henry replied.
"It's true...We aren't..." Rietta's voice trailed off and she ran into her arms.
"I think we'll have to go to another orphanage. We can't stay here for long since Father Michael is no longer with us."
"Okay." Henry replied and went into her embrace.
How could she look them in the eyes when Father had died because of her?
"Henry, Rietta. You'll be able to settle in at your new orphanage and do your best at school, right?"
"Uh huh."They chorused.
"Let's go on a trip when you graduate."
"Okay."
"Let's stay strong for Father Michael so he can be at ease up in heaven."
"Father...what do I do now?"She thought to herself once more.
It was a good thing the fire hadn't spread to the rectory, she thought to herself as she walked into Father's bedroom. It was the first time she'd stepped foot in his room ever since he passed away.
Sister Veronica had suggested his things needed to be put away and when she'd protested against being the person to do it, Veronica had replied that the late priest would have wanted her to do it.
She sighed as she opened his wardrobe. His priestly clothes still smelt like him and a sad smile crossed her lips. He'd have told her not to iron his clothes if he'd been there at that moment.
"You can do this, Zuriña."She sighed as she reached forward for his clothes.
She proceeded to clear his desk, once she was done folding his clothes and she opened the first drawer. Her eyes were greeted with a card which read Red Bomb club and enveloped letters.
"What's this?"She wondered and looked at the bottom of the envelope. It was addressed to her, she frowned as she shuffled through them. So were the rest.
There was a letter from ten years ago exactly the day when I first met Father, and others.
July,August, September.... 2011, 2012, 2013...
Father had written all these letters to her.
She shuffled through and her eyes fell on the one dated that May...the latest letter and she ripped off the envelope and skimmed through.
Dear Zuriña, it read.
I said something harsh to you once again. I was worried that all your efforts to live a normal life would go to waste.
But I think I crossed the line today.
And yet...you smiled at me...as if nothing had happened.
You were always like that from the first day I met you.
Even if I was stern with you...you'd go out at the crack of dawn to get me medicine...and cooked for your siblings...and always remembered my birthday even though I never thought to celebrate it.
Before I met you, I was a lost soul racked with guilt.
But I found a new purpose in life after meeting you.
You taught me a lot of things about life and also about myself.
So, I... believe in you...and I think you'll have a positive impact on others.
When will I be able to give you these letters?
I don't have the courage to give you this letter because I'm not a good person.
Zuriña, I'm always thankful and I'm sorry.
I'll write to you again.
Tears blurred her vision and dropped on the letter. Father had given her a reason to live, after she'd met him even though she was a vampire.
Having no idea she was about to do it, she burst into tears.
Later that night when everyone had retired to bed, there was someone in front of the collapsed church. Crossing over the police line, she walked towards the entrance of the church.
The door knob was still working, so she turned it and opened the door. Her claws lengthened as she walked towards the altar, dropping to her knees when she was in front of the cross.
"Survive." Father's last words rang in her ears like a bell and she dropped her head with a sigh.
"Father Michael, I'll do my best to live a quiet life without causing any trouble. I'll take care of the kids and make sure they get into college. But before I do that..."She gave the card in her hand a squeeze and slowly raised her head to look at the cross again.
"I need to get even with the people who did this to you.
No, I'll do a lot more then get even."