Between Angels and Vampires

THE DIARY

five days ago...

After sealing the final box, Helena stretched, easing some of the nagging pain in her lower back. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and surveyed her old room. It was nothing more than an ocean of light brown boxes and suitcases.

Checking her things one last time, she closed her eyes. The sound of her heart beating enveloped her as happy memories merged with the familiar scent of rose scented candles in her window. From downstairs, muffled voices from her mother and Richard floated up. This is where she grew up - a home she would miss.

Her fingers itched with anticipation and a smile played on her lips. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she reached under the pillow, pulling out a diary. She rested the two-inch-thick volume on her lap. That had been on her mind ever since she'd rummaged through the dusty attic the night before. As soon as she laid eyes on the leather cover with carved fern leaves, she wanted to know the secrets kept inside. However, priorities like packaging were paramount. If she didn't make it in time, she would be forced to listen to Laura's complaints until her ears bled.

She opened the jacket, revealing the first aged yellow page. A list of names presented itself to her. They appeared handwritten by different people, possibly various newspaper owners. A name caught his attention. She flipped through the strange diagrams and drawings of plants, recognizing some from her grandmother's garden when she was little. Faded, archaic language filled the worn pages. She didn't even try to pretend to understand.

Beautiful curved letters elicited recognition and her hand froze. Your grandmother was the last owner of this diary. Helena smiled at the bittersweet memory of them spending time together. The old woman read her stories of witches fighting the dark forces of the world - stories she would never forget.

His grip tightened. The calm, happy memories faded as the tragic episodes played out in her mind once more. Her mother's version was simply the story of a loving grandmother who turned into a crazed woman by ending her life by setting her house on fire. Yet those fragments of her childhood remained a knot she couldn't unravel, try as she might.

Michael's words popped into her mind, making her jump. “Sasha is finishing up the preparations. You should change.

“I'm busy,” she replied.

“This is your last night here. This cannot be more important than spending time with your parents.

She slammed the diary shut. "Fine!"

Rising to her feet, she cast a fleeting glance at her hiding place under her pillow and walked to her wardrobe. A set of clothes she had prepared for tonight's dinner was waiting for her on the top shelf. She took off her sweat-stained tracksuit and put on a baggy T-shirt with a pair of jeans.

As she opened the door, a delicious aroma greeted her. Her growling stomach took her downstairs, where she found an excessive amount of food spread out on the round oak table. Her mother went overboard with her usual preparations. However, Helena refrained from pointing and gave the roast chicken an appreciative sniff.

Her stepdad's gray hair swayed as he struggled with a wine bottle. His two large brows furrowed together, creating the impression of a dark unibrow.

“Don't just stand there.” Her mother's underlying Russian accent never failed to come out when she was anxious. With a huff, she piled plates and cutlery into Helena's hands and hurried back to the kitchen.

Helena set the table muttering, “Well, hello to you too, Mom.”

When Richard set the bottle down on the polished surface, his shoulders slumped. The small cork stuck in the middle of the bottle's neck, unwilling to move in any direction.

“We haven't had champagne in a while,” said Helena.

"You are right. I think Sasha bought one for the occasion.

When he left the room, his mother reappeared, and two brown eyes focused on Helena. Her fingers threaded through his short platinum hair as she began the emotional bombardment. “Are you sure about moving? You can stay with us until you finish studying or…”

Helena crossed her arms. “Mom, we had this discussion last week.”

“Yes we did.”

She wanted to kick herself - upsetting her mother was not something she liked. It would be easier for her to get to and from college if she moved in with her friends. She glanced at the kitchen door. Richard was taking longer than he should have. So she stomped her foot to try and break the silence that was growing between them.

Her mother's transient act of sadness faded and she squared her shoulders, disapproval lingering in the frown lines of her face.

“I know you're worried, Mom, but I'll be with Laura and Andrew.”

Sasha relaxed her posture and hugged her daughter. “You are my only child. I can't stop worrying.

Helena patted her on the back, not knowing what to say or do next. Fortunately, the heavens responded with a loud pop from the kitchen and a faint clinking of glasses.

Richard walked into the room with a smile, revealing his pearly teeth as he held an open bottle of champagne and three flutes of champagne. “I take it you two are okay?”

“We are fine,” replied the mother. She moved away from Helena, draped her apron over the back of the chair and sat down.

Following Sasha's lead, Helena sat down next to her mother.

Richard poured them each a drink and joined them at the table. The instant he took a sip from his glass, he flinched.

Helena looked down at her thighs to hide her huff. She loved her stepfather. Although he was busy as head of the Science Department, he remained a family man. He never complained and cared for her and her mother after her real father disappeared from their lives without so much as an explanation.

“Did you finish your registration?” Richard asked.

Helena lifted her head. “Yes, the second I was accepted.”

“I'm worried about your choice. Becoming a doctor or a lawyer would pay better than a…” Her mother waved her hand in the air, searching for the right word. “I don't even know what you can call your degree.”

Helena looked away. Her mother's stone eyes held enough disappointment to drown an army. The silence continued to spread and Helena grabbed the cutlery. The metal warmed in her palms. “If I get bored, I'll choose something else.”

" Bored ?" Sasha's voice rose.

The conversation over, Helena turned her attention to the food.

Richard cleared his throat. “I heard it's going to rain a lot tomorrow. Hope this doesn't get in the way of your move.

Her mother gave Helena a fleeting look as if to say that their conversation wasn't over and glared at her husband. “How bad is it going to be? I have to meet the girls.

Helena took the distraction as relief and mumbled a “thank you” to Richard, who winked back.

With dinner ready, Helena busied herself with putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” Richard's deep baritone voice made her jump.

She nodded and straightened her back.

“First of all, you're always welcome here…” His eyes roamed around the kitchen.

Helena looked around with him. When she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, she couldn't help a creeping smile. “Um, Richard?”

“Right, well, the second thing is we love you. If you need anything, we'll be there to listen.” He flinched and opened his arms, pulling her into an awkward bear hug. Her thin body radiated heat, and her heart swelled. “Call us if something happens or…”

“I think I understand,” she murmured into his shoulder.

He released her and rubbed the back of his neck. "You should take a rest. It's an early start for everyone tomorrow.

"I go."

As soon as he left, she hurried to put away the remaining plates while she studied Richard's behavior. Was he worried about her changing? He didn't seem too concerned so far. So why act like this all of a sudden? She shrugged and hit the 'on' button on the dishwasher.

When she reached the top of the stairs, faint whispers from her mother's room stopped her. She crept down the hall and pressed her back against the wall.

“…Do you tell her?” Sasha's agitated voice came first.

"I did. You shouldn't worry so much. She's doing great,” Richard replied.

Her mother's voice rose. “What if something reminds you?”

“Silence, Sasha. If she hears any of these things, she'll want to know more. All we can do is keep an eye on her. Restricting her will drive a wedge between the two of you, and I doubt that's what you want.

Helena clutched her chest when the conversation ended. She staggered into the bedroom and shuffled onto the bed. A sigh escaped her as she stared at the ceiling. “What are they hiding from me?”

Michael materialized sitting beside her. He followed her gaze to the glowing stars that had fascinated her in her childhood. “I remember the day your stepfather glued them together. He fell out of this bed twice.

Helena looked at his broad back. “What are you implying?”

“Do you remember why he did it?”

“Richard said it was because I used to have nightmares when I was younger. Nightmares I don't remember having…”

“You were a child. Think nothing of it.”

Helena sat up straight. "Are you serious? They are hiding something from me, something important. I can feel that."

Michael shifted and their eyes met. She loved looking into the blue depths of his eyes. They were like two handpicked jewels. The more you marveled at its beauty, the less you wanted to argue with the beholder. And, like true precious jewels, they kept many secrets.

He withheld a lot of information from her. Something was always missing from the full picture - a f*******n knowledge that her angelic bosses coveted. He wouldn't say anything to her about them either.

“Memory is a fragile thing, especially at a young age.”

She glared at him. “I have a good memory, Michael.”

“Don't look at me with that murderous intent. I already answered your question.

Unable to help it, she doubted her answer. Night terrors from her childhood could not be a plausible explanation for why her parents were nervous. But the real answer eluded her.

"You're going to get wrinkles if you keep thinking about it."

She fell back onto the bed and sighed. “Okay, I’ll let it go for now.”

Michael lay down beside her without inching the mattress. The lack of a physical body confuses her to this day. "Rest. You have a lot to do tomorrow.

Not bothering to put on her pajamas, she crawled under the covers and asked, "No matter what I choose, will you always have my back?"

“Good night, Helena.”

She ran a brush through her hair for the second time that morning, and their eyes met in the mirror. At the very least, Michael refrained from showing up when she was in the shower or bathroom.

His eyes narrowed. "What?"

"Is nothing."

“You've been staring at me since I woke up. Tell me what's the matter! Is it the hair?

The corner of her lips lifted. “You are nervous.”

Helen turned. “Any normal human being would be. It is a life-changing decision.”

“What ever happened to the calm, collected, analytical personality you like to portray?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Anything you want to tell me?”

“If I had to say something, it would be that Andrew is at the front door.”

She looked at her guardian angel and ran downstairs. Chirping birds filled her ears, and she groaned. The tacky doorbell was his mother's idea.

On the last step, she managed to avoid tripping over her feet by just a millimeter. Between ragged breaths, she opened the door and smiled at her future roommate. “So how do you want to do this?”

Andrew's smile faltered. He tapped his chin with his index finger. “Um, staying indoors should be my main job.” He didn't wait for her answer and walked in with a single long stride. “And now we move things.”

Helen rolled her eyes. "Very funny. I meant, is there any particular way to get my stuff to the new place?

“Don't worry, Thorn, all will be revealed in time.”

She ignored the annoying nickname her friends had given her at school and looked around at him. In her driveway, an unfamiliar chalk-white minivan broke the view of the park beyond.

"This is yours?" she asked.

“Dad lent me one of his company cars for the day. He specifically told me not to crash so I hope his stuff doesn't overload the vehicle.

Helena hid her irritation with a fake smile. She motioned for him to follow her. “Let's go ahead.”

“Let's continue, please.”

Less than amused, she glared at him.

“Spoilsport.” He went upstairs.

They stopped at the bedroom door and he said, "I bet everything in there is pink and frilly."

“The more you talk, the more rubbish comes out of that big hole you call a mouth.”

He pressed his hand over his chest in a dramatic manner. “You've hurt me deeply, Thorn.

With a nod, Helena walked past him, opening the door.

Andrew surveyed the room, his expression revealing a hint of disappointment.

She smiled. “No roses and no frills.”

“Baggy clothes, purple hair and a drab bedroom… How are you still a girl?”

“Uh-uh.”

Until now, Andrew and Laura have kept the details of their new home a secret. They wanted to surprise her, and she was. His eyes widened at the sight of the red brick building looming over them. To her, it looked like a fortress. Maybe having a castle wasn't a bad thing, especially when they could look out those huge windows at the cityscape.

"This is the place?" she asked.

Andrew watched her with a hint of amusement. "Do you like it?"

She bit back the urge to jump on the spot, so she trained her face in mild disinterest. “Until I see the inside, it's hard to judge.”

“Don't worry, Your Highness, we chose it with you in mind.”

She gave him a sharp look, and he stuck out his tongue. At that moment, she questioned her decision to move in with her two best friends.

Andrew opened the glass door for her and led her inside. It allowed her to take stock of the plain white lobby. A plump guard manning the desk near the elevator ignored them as they approached. Should something happen, she didn't expect him to be of any help.

“Earth to Thorn.” Andrew's face appeared inches from hers. The scent of his fresh aftershave filled her nostrils as his forest green eyes focused on her. “Do you want to check the place out or not?”

Her cheeks warmed. Desperate to avoid further embarrassment, she marched to the elevators where she pressed the button until the doors opened and they entered the metal enclosure.

With a light chuckle, he pressed the button on the dash and they moved.

On the fifth floor, a moss-green carpet and white-walled interior surrounded them. The morning sun spilled into the hall in shades of blue. Arriving at the apartment, Andrew swiped a key card over the handle.

Helena set foot in the hall. Her running shoes squeaked along the polished hardwood floor. With each step, her eyes widened as she walked into a spacious living room. Two leather couches greeted them with a large wall-mounted LED television. Photographs of the city's landmarks and famous streets lined the walls. She even liked the look of the little ceramic ballerina on top of the coffee table.

“How much does this place rent?” Helena asked, eyeing the grand interior. It was impossible to get a spacious apartment in Dublin without shelling out a ton of money.

“Laura's father owns the whole building, and since he loves his daughter so much… let's just say he gave us the place for an affordable price.”

Helena raised an eyebrow, doubting her answer.

With furtive steps, Laura came up behind them and clapped Helena on the shoulders. “Glad you made it. Where are your things?

As Helena soothed her pounding heart, Andrew stroked Laura's head, ruffling her strawberry-blond curls.

Laura Quinn wasn't tall at five foot four, but what she lacked in height she made up for in personality. Arguing with her was like fighting n***d and alone against a horde of savages. Helena remembered a time when they discussed who would win a local singing contest. Her loss turned into an escapade to bleach and dye her hair purple during a sleepover.

“I thought it would be best to get you into the action,” Andrew said.

Laura pouted. "My arms ache from bringing my stuff in here since you" - she poked his chest with her index finger - "didn't bother to help me."

Andrew raised his hands in defense. “Hey, I went to get Thorn. She doesn't have a car, unlike you. I bet if you wanted help, you'd make the bouncer your slave.

"Very funny, and he's not my type."

Helena rubbed her eyes. These two had a lot of energy, and it wasn't even ten in the morning. "I'll need the key card and car keys."

“Don't worry, Thorn, I'm not going to abandon you and make you carry your extremely heavy boxes by yourself,” Andrew said.

Laura crossed her arms. “It’s okay, dammit, I’ll help.”

"Bright. The more the merrier.” Helena walked towards the door and Laura got in her way.

“Forgot to ask, how's the job search going? Want help?

“I get around.”

“Fine, come to me when you're trapped. Oh, and I'll show you upstairs while Andrew goes to get his things. Laura didn't wait for an answer and sort of dragged Helena upstairs.

"Hey, who's gonna give me a hand?" Andrew yelled after them.

Laura leaned over the banister. “We will join you soon. First, I'll show you Helena's room.

“Right and this has nothing to do with you being too lazy to help. So are you letting her relax too?

"We'll be there in a few minutes," Laura called back. She dragged Helena away, pushing her into a room on the left. "What do you think?"

Helena's heart almost melted with happiness. Burgundy walls enveloped them in a brightly lit room. Pale blue sheets covered the double bed that sat between two Butternut nightstands. The furniture wasn't what she thought was the room's best feature. From the window, she glimpsed the Irish Sea and let out a light sigh.

"I knew you would like it. I had to fight my inner instinct to give you this space.

“This scenery is amazing, but why?”

Laura blinked. “You can see it as a bribe.”

Helena knew what would come next. Laura was up to something, and this was an intricate attempt to cajole her with a feigned grand gesture of selflessness. She waited until her friend took a deep breath.

“Don't take this the wrong way, Hel, but what do you think of Andrew?”

Helena arched an eyebrow. She was expecting something to do with housework or helping Laura with her college assignments. That was unexpected.

"He is a friend?"

Laura tapped her foot on the soft black rug. “I mean like a guy. Do you see him as a member of the opposite s*x at least?”

Helena's brows furrowed slightly. “What are you getting at?”

"OK." Laura rolled her shoulders as if preparing for a fight. “I was surprised when he said that. Like, who knew, right? And I, as the best friend of both of you, think that might be a good thing. At first I had some apprehensions about the matter. Do you know what I'm trying to say?”

Helena's frown deepened. “Can you speak in concise sentences and a little more slowly?”

“Jesus, Hel, you're quick when it comes to anything other than romance. Basically, Andrew asked me if you liked him.

“Oh…” She hadn't considered that option. Andrew couldn't be interested in her. Of course, he teased her a lot, and called her by the nickname she struggled to ignore every time it reached her ears. The idea of going out with him seemed as foreign to her as playing sports. Was there an advantage? She's heard enough stories about friends falling out after starting a relationship. It bothered her.

“Okay, I can see you've gone into your own little world,” said Laura.

“I don't know how to answer you. I say-"

"I never thought about it."

Helena nodded.

“Well, think about it. There is still time. As for us, we'd better go help him with his stuff or he'll complain.

Helena snorted. “I thought that's what you did.”

“I'll remember that, Thorn. Now, let's do this.”

Round eight, instead of waiting for the Chinese food to arrive, Helena went to her room. The splendid night view from her window went unnoticed when she turned on the bedside table lamp.

Finally, some peace and quiet, she thought and reached into her bag for her diary.

Helena flipped through the pages, fascinated by the details of the designs, until she found the familiar handwriting and began to read the Russian text. Absorbed in the material, she missed the loud knock on her door. When it opened, she closed the diary and threw it under her pillow.

"What is wrong?" she asked Laura.

“The food arrived. I called and knocked, but… Laura entered the room and closed the door behind her. “What were you reading?”

Helena thought of an answer, something that wouldn't make Laura think she was crazy for flipping through strange notebooks. “Just something I found in the attic the other day.”

Laura's lips formed a sly smile. "I bet your mother's romantic adventures are written on it."

Laura was a good friend, but sometimes her curiosity led her to do things that invaded others' privacy. Helena knew that Laura would not be able to read. That alone would not stop her. With the internet and online software, anything can be translated. So Helena played along. “It's embarrassing.”

"I knew!" Laura walked over with her hand outstretched for the diary.

Helena fired; his hands tightened on Laura's shoulders. “The food will get cold.”

"Okay, but you're going to tell me the dirty details later."

"Clear." She pushed her friend out of the room and called to Michael with her mind.

He answered in an instant. " Did something happen? You look upset.

“We're going to have to talk about what's inside that diary, and soon.”