Gabriel

Standing in the cold night air outside an all-night diner in the tiny, out-of-the-way town of Norwich, New York, I feel the light snow starting to come down. Unsure why I am here, I let instincts and intuition guide me in the search for my only true love. Over many decades I have always discovered her, and sensing that now is the right time I set out to continue my search once again. However; I am clueless about where to find my missing piece, and a nagging worry lingers: was the last time our final meeting? Is she now truly gone from me forever? All I know is that something has pulled me here, all the way from Louisiana. I need to remain positive.

***

Rose

My grandmother's voice echoes from downstairs, urging me to hurry. I am typically punctual and hate making my grandma yell. Tonight has been oddly disorienting, like time has slipped away or slowed.

"I'm coming, Grandma," I sit on my bed, pulling on winter tights beneath my dark green velvet dress. I take too long pinning my hair back, but my grandma insists I look lovely when my hair isn't in my eyes. Although I'd rather wear jeans and a soft sweater, it being Christmas means donning this dress.

Every time I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I can't help but wish I looked as thin as the other girls at my Catholic school. It's tough carrying around 30 extra pounds, especially when it seems to settle in all the wrong places. My grandmother insists it gives me a soft, curvy silhouette, but all I see is excess weight; the fat girl.

In a rush, I grab my Bible and gloves and run downstairs. My grandmother, a typical Italian grandma with white hair and a kind smile, awaits on the sofa. Despite arthritis slowing her down a bit, especially in her hips and knees, at 75, she's still spry. My grandpa passed away before I was born, so since my parents died, it's always been just me and my grandmother, Gia Rossi."I swear, child, you're going to make us late to midnight mass; it's snowing now, and I want to drive carefully in case there is ice on the road."I know, Grandma, I'm sorry."She kisses my forehead and mumbles something in Italian."Ok, bambina, let's get a hop in our step, partiamo." With that, I put my coat on and headed to the car.

***

Gabriel

I hear church bells coming from down the street. I haven't stepped into a church since marrying Ava, and a handful of other times, she insisted. A smile crosses my face thinking about one of those times, and absentmindedly I head for the church, I wonder why the bells are ringing this late at night.

When it dawns on me that those bells are ringing for midnight mass, it must be Christmas Eve. With this realization, I then noticed the garland and lights strung over each street lamp and the storefronts, showcasing their season's finest. I have been alive for a very long time, and I've seen so much change, but some things stay the same. The Christmas seasonal tradition hasn't changed very much. Honestly, it doesn't surprise me that I was unaware of the season's festivities. Everything; especially time; fades away like a scar, a constant reminder of what once was.

I can't help but chuckle as I make my way to the church, thinking about the age-old misconception that vampires can't enter holy ground. But like most myths, that one isn't true. We can actually enter churches and graveyards, just not a church's cemetery that has been sanctified. Contrary to popular belief, we don't fly like bats and we definitely don't sparkle. Surprisingly, we can consume regular food, including garlic, though blood remains our preferred nutrient source. I must admit, I don't miss the digestion process, but I do however still eat occasionally.

Vampire myths often hold grains of truth, especially concerning their remarkable abilities. My senses are exceptionally acute; I can detect the faint buzz of a hummingbird's wings from 100 feet away, and my vision rivals that of an owl, enabling me to see in complete darkness as if it were daylight. Take, for instance, the vampire's famed weakness to sunlight. I can stroll in daylight without suffering any harm while other vampires can not. I also have the unique ability to calm others, offering comfort in times of distress. Yet, it is my sharp sense of smell that has sometimes led me into quite difficult situations.

Scent has been my greatest distracter; not all blood, but specific human blood, is intoxicating to me. The unpredictable flow of blood is one of the reasons I have chosen to be a physician several times throughout the years and have held various enlisted military positions on the front lines. Over the years, I've been able to control these urges by desensitizing myself.

As I enter the church, I pause and dip my fingers into the holy water and make the sign of the cross, and then I take a seat towards the back of the church. The acolyte is greeting everyone just arriving, and soft music begins to play to signal that mass will start soon.The priest comes to the altar and begins the Liturgy of the Eucharist. There isn't much difference between this mass and the few others I have attended. I'm not sure why I'm even there, but now wedged between several people, not wanting to cause a commotion, I decided to leave at the Eucharistic Prayer. At the same time, everyone participates in taking the body and blood.

***

Rose

Grandmother and I arrive just in time and take our seats at the front of the church; on the third row My family has sat here every Sunday and Holy Day since I was born. I supposed even before because my mother and father sat here once with her grandmother. I slip my coat off and lay it over the pew.

The church is warm now, and I will soon rise for the Cannon. As the rows rise and the first row begins the ceremony, the second and third line up to wait their turn. My grandmother rises from kneeling, and I take her spot.

***

Gabriel

Moving through the crowd to leave as the most indescribable smell enters my body. The smell is heavenly and intoxicating enough to make the Angels willing to fall from heaven. I search for the source and my eyes lock on to the smell, and I see her. This girl is on her menstrual cycle, and the blood is fresh. Have I finally found my Angel? Of course in a church of all places. I feel deliriously intoxicated, and I can't help but laugh a small laugh. I'm confident people around me think I'm mad, but far from it, I am genuinely whole again and hopeful. I quickly rejoin the line and make my way to the altar. As I finish the sacred human tradition, I stand, turn to the third row, and lock eyes with her.

***

Rose

I sit silently and watch the people pass, but suddenly, I feel a wave of emotion wash over me. I look at my grandmother, who listening to the priest with great enthusiasm. Looking up and see a young man, maybe 18 or 19. He is very tall, well-built, and well-dressed, with long black hair tied into a neat ponytail. He's like the walking definition of Prince Charming; his face is beautiful and handsome at the same time, with a well-defined jawline and flawless skin. He has one of those million-dollar smiles that borders on being a slightly devilish smirk.

I tell myself to take a breath and come back to reality. I have no clue what I could be thinking, no one who looks the way he does would want anything to do with me, but then I meet his eyes, and it is as if he's staring into my soul. Almost as if he is willing me to look at him. His gaze melts me from within; those jade-green eyes appear almost luminescent.

The way he looks at me sends tingles through my body in an intense and unfamiliar manner. I can't explain what's happening to me. My chest begins to feel light, and it's suddenly unbearably hot in here; feeling overwhelmed and on the brink of a panic attack I feel myself crumbling to the panic, but I am suddenly engulfed by an unexpected wave of calmness. Foolishly, I look at the breathtaking guy, and he winks at me as he moves back to his seat. Wait Did he just wink at me? This is all my fault for not wearing the glasses I know I'm supposed to wear because my eyes are malfunctioning. I take a deep breath and chuckle to myself, for a moment, I thought he winked at me.

***

Gabriel

Being in her presence overwhelms me with memories. I sit back in the pew, anticipating the end of the service so we can begin again. As I wait, my thoughts wander to our first encounter in 1886 when I served as a local physician in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina. Despite always being known as Gabriel, I was compelled to alter my surname repeatedly due to bigotry and racism. Back then, I adopted the name White, a choice I made for the sheer irony. It remains a source of amusement to me.

📖 "Hey there! 🌟 I'm venturing into the writing world, bursting with stories and ideas. Your tips and thoughts mean the world to me. Drop a comment – your input is greatly appreciated, and if you enjoy it, please leave a vote! Angelica" 🩷