Rebirth

Chapter 4

When Gabriel woke up, some rays of sun still peeked through the curtains, softly illuminating the room. He had never been an early riser, and considering how exhausted he was the previous day, it surprised him that he was up this early. Still, he rose and made his way over to the window across his room, careful to avoid the pockets of sunlight that colored the floor.

He missed the feeling of sunlight on his skin, an experience that filled his childhood growing up in Baton Rouge. The outdoors had raised him, but now as a vampire, he couldn't feel that same warmth of the sun. The sunlight would burn his skin, with searing, white-hot pain. Enough of it could kill him, a slow, agonizing death. Through his window, he could catch peeks of the orange sunset streaking through the sky, signaling the days end. He stood at the edge of the window, watching the orange turn to purple, dark blue, and finally black.

When the sky reached it's peak of darkness, he changed and left his room. In the kitchen sat Lucien, his blonde hair still ruffled from sleep, holding a mug of warm tea. He found it funny that Lucien still drank tea, though it provided him no nutritional value. He wondered if he other vampires did the same- eating and drinking human foods and drinks for the simple comfort of it.

Lucien turned and gave him a sleepy smile. Gabriel returned the smile and sat down next to him. In a husky, tired voice, Lucien said, "Angelo will be here in about an hour. We're going to eat and then he's taking us to the church. " Gabriel nodded, and asked, "So, what do you think of this whole church thing?" Lucien looked down into his mug, and finally said, "I think it's odd that they worship the devil. But I also want to reserve judgement until we meet them personally." He paused for Gabriel's reaction, but Gabriel was thinking the same thing. Lucien continued, "And, I should probably explain some things to you before we go there. About... how I became a vampire." Gabriel raised his brow in confusion and surprise. He had longed to know more about Lucien's status as a vampire for many years. Despite this, he remained silent and let Lucien continue. "I was 27, and my life had fallen apart. I... didn't want to live any more. One day I will tell you why. This isn't what the story is about."

"Anyway, I... was ready to die. So... I brought myself to the brink of death. To keep a long story short, I saw something appear in front of me. I thought the reaper was finally here for me, or that I was simply hallucinating. But what I saw was real- It was the devil. He gave me a... contract. In exchange for everlasting life, I would simply give him my soul for all eternity. I was desperate, you see, the second I began to die I suddenly got the will to live. So, in my foolishness, I signed it. I became what I am now. That is what Angelo means when he says that they worship "the father". The devil gave them, gave us, this... rebirth, as they put it." Gabriel had a shocked and confused expression on his face. He asked, "You... sold your soul... to become a vampire? That doesn't seem like something you'd ever do." Lucien had a sad smile on his face, and answered, "Well, grief makes you do terrible things." He looked off, his face full of an insurmountable sadness that made Gabriel sad as well. He continued, "I was such a different man then than I am now. Time had made me wiser, but the pain is still there..." His sentence trailed off, and he was left with an overwhelming urge to cry. He looked to Gabriel, who looked just as sad as he was. Gabriel said, "I know that some pain never leaves, but... you don't have to suffer alone. Not anymore." Lucien gave him a sad smile, but no response. Gabriel, quietly, not much above a whisper, asked, "Is that why you created me? Because you missed her."

Lucien knew the her that he was referring to, but refused to think about it. He gave a quick response, saying, "It is so much more complicated than that. I'll tell you one day. But right now, you should probably get ready. Angelo will be here soon." Gabriel caught on to his quick dismissal of the subject, and didn't push it further. 'He retreated to his room, closing the door behind him.