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Once inside, both vampires went down on one knee and made the sign of the cross. Both said something, but in different languages.

"Your respect for our customs has always been greatly appreciated," Paul said, as the pair rose.

"I mean no insult, but I have my own customs, too. What I do here is not out of respect for your ways, but out of respect for mine. The two happen to be the same."

"Regardless, you know that most of our kind consider us to be fanatics. But you have never treated us as strange. It is greatly appreciated."

"I don't find it strange that you believe in God. I find it strange that most of our kind don't believe."

With that, a loud voice came from the altar, "Sol! I sensed you were in my church. Come, we must talk."

Paul rushed Sol through the church to the altar. Before stepping up, both bent to one knee and bowed their heads. "JP," Sol announced with open arms as he stood up, "it's wonderful to see you again." The two embraced.

"Sol, I wish our meeting were less urgent so we could talk freely, but there is much of importance to discuss.

"Paul, please leave us," John Paul said to the vampire standing with them. He left quickly. "Come, Sol, let us go to my chamber."

"Have you taken your old room in the bell tower?"

"For now, but I believe the bells will be needed again very soon. While I long to hear their joyous song, I cannot say I want to live with them as they sing."

"I can see where the bells being rung might make it difficult to concentrate. But they have been idle for so long, what makes you bring them out of retirement? Is it because you are back?"

"No, it is because of you," John Paul said.

"JP, what are talking about?"

"Not here, come with me." The two climbed the stairs to the bell tower.

On the way, Sol said, "It's funny, even though you left so long ago, I always felt your presence here when I came to visit."

"And I felt your presence, too. But that is because I never left."

"What? Why hide from me?"

"I wasn't hiding, I was in the crypt. The entrance is below the altar.

"I thought of you often, Sol. But I didn't understand God’s purpose for you. I did not know why you were here with us, but not one of us. All I knew was that you were meant to be here as you were. That was all.

"That was until now. Now I see why you were special. Why I had to allow you entrance to our church and culture, and why I had to protect it from others."

"What are you talking about?" Sol asked.



[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]
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