The Bloodiest Days

Chapter 1: Church

The navy blue BMW X3 sat in the driveway, idling. The engine was so quiet it was little more than a quiet hum but it was all Lianne could hear. The Sunday morning was almost silent; no birds, no wind sounds, no passing cars.

Everything was still at the edge of the suburbs, and the morning sun brightly and happily made the gaily coloured houses shine like jewels of a model society. For this, Lianne was thankful. The suburban life was quiet, safe and joyous. Everything a girl could want growing up was here: good friends, freedom, and her loving parents.

Rose, her red-haired mother, stood next to the passenger door of the BMW, twirling absently and looking up into the western sky, perhaps trying to glimpse the moon one last time before the sun made it disappear entirely. Rose was such a petite woman with a face untouched by age that most people mistook her for Lianne's younger sister. Her daughter was always unsure about how to feel about this, but she supposed it was nice for her mother to look and be youthful. Her father on the other hand...

Benedict walked past her silently as she stood on the porch thinking about her family. He was dressed in his white and gold robes, flowing white hair down his back and his movements were as silent as the morning and as quick as the moon was disappearing. His expression stern as always, he sat in the driver's seat and did his safety checks.

Such a dad, Lianne thought as she hopped in the back and her mother in front of her. Then again, it was him being a dad that had kept her and Rose safe and protected all these years, given them this amazing life in the suburbs and all the other niceties that she enjoyed. As he adjusted the rearview mirror, his golden eyes met her identical ones and he offered a brief but charming smile and she returned it. Benedict wasn't a man of much words unless necessary so their house often sounded like it was just two ladies having a grand old time.

They rolled out of the driveway and it seemed like less than four minutes before they were in the church parking lot. Speed limits didn't mean anything to her father and combined with his knowledge of every roadway and shortcut in the city, car rides were seldom scenic. Arriving early had its perks however, such as opportune parking spots and access to all the good seats.

The church was located somewhere close to the southern end of the city and was quite a refined establishment. Dark tinted glass features and a limestone skeleton made for magnificent building that resembled a cathedral and a house all at the same time. Sunlight seemed to be almost swallowed by the dark glass and it gave the building its own sort of atmosphere. All the lots around the church were empty which made it seem all the more imposing.

As the family exited the car, a booming voice hailed them out.

"Victorian!"

Pastor Richards came walking quickly across the blacktop, arms wide open as he embraced them all. He was like a grizzly bear – certainly coloured like one of them – almost as wide as he was tall, with a deep and rumbling voice. Despite his imposing appearance, he was the jolliest individual around. "He's like a brown Santa Claus," Lianne had once told her mother. As he released them his smile was wide.

"Well if it isn't my favourite family in this city!"

"You're not supposed to play favourites Rich," Rose said wryly and stifled a laugh.

"Usually no, but when I see the man who helped me build this church coming here with his family for all events and services, there is a great joy that swells up in me."

Benedict laughed a little and waved his hand dismissively.

"Have I ever told you that Li?" He looked at the daughter as he addressed her. "Two hundred and sixty years ago your father and myself built this entire thing from —"