Turned By Him

“I,” Tom said proudly, “make people feel better.” Eliza’s expression must have indicated that she was not satisfied with his answer so he continued. “I serve several purposes her at Novum Sanguinem, not the least of which keeping this place a secret.” The dim light caused Tom’s crooked nose to cast a strange shadow which concealed most of the left side of his face. “I play the role of a priest, as I had done before I was turned. My day to day roll, along with Mirana’s standing influence with the church leaders, allows us to stay down here. I know I wasn’t the best for your first confession but I am often told that I am a good listener.”

Eliza considered his statement. He had been a priest and continued to be one. The soulful and compassionate expressions he wore were practiced every day. “How long have you been a vampire?”

“Fifteen years,” Tom said flatly.

He seemed to have nothing else to add so Eliza continued her questioning. “What killed you?”

“Not one for easy questions are you love?” He smiled. “I died at the hands of a new vampire. Much as we just were, he came to me to confess his sins and, while I forgave him, he could not forgive himself and turned violent.” Tom added nothing else to his story. He waited patiently for another question.

“How did I die?” Her question was simple and yet impossible for Tom to answer. He simply shook his head. Tom hadn’t been there when she was attacked. If he had been, Eliza was certain he would have done something to help her. The realization however, that she was just as lost, confused and dead as before brought the powerful emotions of helplessness and depression back to the forefront of her mind.

She could feel Toms touch, this time on her hand. He was kneeling at her feet. “Keep eye contact. I can do more that way.” Looking into his emerald green eyes, Eliza felt Tom in her thoughts. “You are not alone.” She met his gaze for a moment as the overwhelming feeling of despair was pushed to the back of her mind. Replacing her depression was a strange sense of hope and a flight of butterflies in her stomach.

“Don’t look away,” Tom said. Eliza knew she must look a wreck. She hadn’t seen herself in several hours and, while she knew there were no mirrors in the room to indicate her appearance, a swell of self-conscious anxiety hit her. The sea of pure green depth which looked into her brought her through new anxiety. “Focus,” Tom said sternly. “Controlling yourself will be the hardest part of all this. Good habits I can teach.” Eliza allowed herself to get lost in the earthy color of Tom’s eyes.

“I feel so strong,” Eliza confessed. She knew Tom struggled to control her pain. She could feel him quelling the fires of despair her mind.

“Stronger than you know perhaps,” Tom suggested.

“Tell me about what I am,” she requested.

“You are a vampire. You are, for lack of a better context, a creature forgotten by God.” The words hit her with a bluntness. “I am a priest,” Tom confessed to Eliza, “because there’s an empty sky without feeling above us all. No need to hide shame, no need to hide sin, the innocent and guilty, all are wet in a rain storm.”

Eliza could no longer resist. Something insider her had risen to a forefront in her mind. Just as she had felt powerless looking at George’s barely living body she felt powerless in the grip of green irises and tender words. Thoughtlessly, Eliza leaned in and planted a kiss on Tom’s soft pink lips.

“I’m sorry”, Tom said pulling back.” I-“ As he fumbled with his words, Eliza could feel the danger of fear and sadness resuming its place in her thoughts. “I haven’t,” Tom concluded.

Eliza had no interest in Tom’s explanations. She did not want to return to her pain; she did not want her pain to return. She placed her hands on Tom’s cheeks and leaned in once more. Feeling strong and vulnerable, Eliza elected a distraction was in order. This time Tom met her kiss with firm lips.

Rising from the ground, Tom unbuttoned his trousers.