HI readers! This story is kind of odd, but I felt like writing something different so I give you this short story. There is a lot of symbolism in it so I hope you enjoy :D

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   Velvet's violet eyes peered through the stained-glass windows to St. William's church. There stood the calm, candlelit alter and on the center, a golden stand with what looked to be rays of light radiating from the center. In the center, rested the one Being whom she could never confront, not matter how much she yearned to. Every night, the man wearing varying colored garments would reverently place a small Wafer into that stand, and every night she tried to enter the church. Some sort of invisible carrier always kept her out.

She wanted to understand, she wanted to know what or who it was that people would pray to on that alter. She wanted to know why people crowded into this building to praise that very Being. Surely It was more than a little circle of bread. The only problem was that she was a monster, and no species of monsters could enter Catholic churches. After all, vampires were already not excepted into society.

Sighing, Velvet adjusted the hood of her black hoodie, pulling it further over her head. Several strands of her board-strait, black hair fell in front of her face. A sudden breeze whipped the strands against her face and carried a humid smell with it. Velvet figured it was rain and shoving her hands into her pockets, she turned to leave.

"Are you waiting for somebody?" a young woman asked.

Velvet looked up, her violet eyes meeting bright hazel ones. The woman's fire-struck hair hung in a braid that fell to her shoulder and she wore a simple grey sweater with a soft-pink blouse and jeans. Her skin was pal, but still a good few shades pinker than Velvet's white skin. The woman's eyes scanned her with concern and curiosity.

"No, I'm fine," Velvet replied, trying not to smile too brightly otherwise her fangs would show.

"Are you sure? I see you standing here every time I come for adoration," she persisted.

"Yes," Velvet told her. She realized that her gaze had slowly found its way back to the window.

"Want to come in?"

"No-I mean-not today," Velvet stammered, trying to avoid any explanations.

"Your actions speak otherwise but it is your choice," the woman smiled. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Pauline," she held out her hand.

"Velvet," she slowly reached out to shake it, wincing at the sight of her white skin.

"Pauline did not seem to notice when her warm hand met Velvet's ice cold hands, "Nice to meet you."

Velvet nodded.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in? It's peaceful and quiet and relaxing. And who knows, maybe you will have a change of heart."

Tears began welling up in Velvet's eyes. The woman did not understand how badly she wanted to go.

"I'm-I'm sorry, did I say something too personal? Did I upset you or annoy you?" the woman asked quickly, holding her hands in somewhat of a surrender.

Velvet wanted to laugh at how quickly this warm, welcoming woman suddenly became awkward. She also noticed that this young woman was probably no older than twenty. "No, it's alright," Velvet reassured her, wiping her eyes. "The problem is that I can't go."

Pauline's eyes filled with sympathy, "Ah, I see. It's your parents isn't it?"

Velvet shrugged, "You can say that."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize every time you say something," Velvet smirked.

"Sorry, I have a problem with always worrying about hurting someone else's feelings."

Velvet shifted her weight to her left leg, "I'm not easily offended so don't worry about it."

Pauline studied her, "Parents and friends are always teens' issue when they want to join the Catholic faith. They discourage young adults and force them to follow their religions. It's how our society is today. If you are not a part of the crowd, you're an outcast."

Velvet's gaze shifted toward the ground. Her parents would be furious, her friends would support her, but that was not her problem.

"Is there any other reason why?"

Velvet wanted to explain to her why, but the fear of scaring Pauline off prevented her from saying anything.

"I don't mean to pry, sorry," Pauline shifted awkwardly. "I'll leave you to your decision. I'll be inside if you need me."

Pauline turned around and walked toward the entrance of the church. Velvet's brain could not have worked any slower to come to the decision of following her.

"Wait!" Velvet called after her. Pauline had already entered, but she waited where she stood. Velvet ran full force into the invisible barrier and fell backwards from the impact. Her hood fell and her long black hair tumbled down to her waist. She hissed when her hands were skinned against the cement.

She heard Pauline gasp and was surprised that she ran toward her, not away from her. Velvet buried her face in her hands, full of shame. She could not stop the tears and they threatened to never stop. A warm hand squeezed her shoulder and she was surprised to see Pauline, who showed no signs of fright, kneeling next to her. Velvet tried to force the tears to halt but they continued flowing.

"What's going on here?" a deep, gentle voice asked.

"Father James, Velvet here would love to spend some time in front of our Lord, but there is a slight problem. Could you give her a blessing?"

"I see," the priest scanned the vampire girl. "Velvet, would you accept this blessing from God?"

Velvet looked up and saw the very same man who wore the garments. He now wore plain black clothes with a white collar. She nodded and grimaced from the aching in her body. His kind grey eyes gazed down at her and out of habit, she looked away and as she stood, shifting her feet awkwardly. "I know I'm a monster, and I'm not able to enter a Catholic church, but could you teach me about what you do in you church and why?"

Father James smiled and placed a hand on her head, "Child, no matter who you are, there is hope for everybody to be a child of God."

As he said the blessing, Velvet closed her eyes and hoped - no - prayed for a chance to be forgiven for being a vampire and for chance to follow whoever this Being is. The blessing ended with the word "Amen." Pauline explained to Velvet that it was how Christians ended prayers and that it meant "so be it" or "I believe."

"Father James, could you extend adoration time?" Pauline asked.

"Of course."

They watched as Father James talked to one of the altar boys and they walked toward a little room.

"Are you ready to try it again?" Pauline asked.

"What if it doesn't work?" Velvet mumbled.

Pauline smiled, "Do not doubt God. I know He will let you through, now all you need to do is believe in Him too."

Velvet inhaled deeply, "Okay. I'm ready."

Together, they walked through the doors. Velvet passed right through. She smiled brightly, her pointed canines gleaming. Pauline lead her to a large room with rows of pews extending from all sides. There stood the candlelit altar, more beautiful than she could ever imagine. On top of it was the stand, which Pauline said was called the "monstrance." Pauline genuflected reverently in the direction of the altar and Velvet did her best to mirror the movement.

Pauline handed Velvet a sheet with a song written in Latin. As Father James brought out Jesus from the tabernacle, he covered it with a golden cloth and carried Him over to the stand. When Jesus had been placed in the stand, a sudden warmth swept the room and love overwhelmed her emotions. It was not the kind of love that teenagers threw around at school, this was real, everlasting love. She felt as if nothing in the world cared for her as much as this Being the Catholics call God.

Tears formed again in her eyes, except these were happy tears. She had never experienced these. It felt like they were washing away all the weigh of life's problems so that all she could focus was on the Presence. There was only one thing she could think of, Thank you.