The Shadow Side of God
Synopsis
Paula was saved by the mystery lady. This changes her views on life and death. Who is she? She isn't human. I have to get her story. Paula is a reporter for a Dallas newspaper.
"She killed a vampire I think?" Paula thought to herself.
But she has the eyes and teeth like a vampire. Isn't she one?
Paula finds out many things in her search for her story.
Chapter 1
"Hey, Sam, I'm leaving now." Paula Thomas yelled at Sam through the office door as she started walking to the elevator to leave.
"Okay, see ya tomorrow, I've got to finish up this story." He mumbled, not looking up from his computer or the mound of research material on his desk. He just waved his hand quickly to say good-bye.
The Dallas Metro Newspaper Company that Paula worked for was constantly having problems with the outside network and internet was down again. Which of course meant that Flatfoots like her had to come in to get their stories in on time.
As Paula walked out of the office door, the street was quiet with just enough of a breeze blowing in the night air. You could smell the
home-style scents from the café on the corner. Paula noticed how deserted the streets were, except for the few drunks and a couple of "ladies of the evening".
The road glistened from the streetlights bouncing off the residue of a light rain. It was still warm at night late August on the streets of North Central Texas. Paula thought it was lucky to have a little breeze blowing but knew that any minute it could stop. The old saying is true in Texas; "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute it will change." In the Big DFW area of Texas, newspaper people don't typically keep normal hours. They are out chasing the story. Like tonight, for example, Paula Thomas was a news hound trying to make her mark in the business. Dark haired, puppy dog eyes that would make any man look twice and brains to boot. Paula just put her interview story with the new police commissioner to bed and was hoping to grab a quick bite at "The Corner", an all night diner not far from work.
Standing at the corner waiting for the light to change a man slowly walked up behind her as they crossed the street to the other side. At the same moment, a woman stepped out of the shadows of a doorway that faced toward the intersection of the street. She had her head slightly down and a hood draped partially over her face.
As Paula passed, the mystery lady asked "Looking for a
place to get a bite?"
Paula who had been looking at the shadow of the man following her, turned completely to glance at the stranger that the woman was
speaking too. She caught sight of his eerie glowing red eyes. In that instance the mystery lady pushed Paula to the ground out of the way and threw the stranger to the ground ---ripping at his neck like a wild animal! Paula rolled over and sat up on the ground stunned. Completely unable to move like someone in a movie that everyone is screaming at to run. Paula was not sure if she was terrified or if it was her reporters curiosity that had her frozen in place.
The mystery lady had thin arms and an hour-glass figure.
Something you'd expect a playboy bunny to have. So it was definitely
curious to see her holding down a man that was twice her size and in good shape.
How can this be? Paula thought, I workout but I would never be able to hold him down. As Paula tuned in to what was happening, she saw that there was blood running from the man onto the sidewalk and down to the gutter. Was it a lot? It didn't look like it. Strange. It was like the mystery woman had drained him of his life's blood.
The mystery lady stood up quickly, it couldn't have been more than a few seconds but seemed like minutes had passed.
When she was fully standing up she warned Paula, "No one that is human is safe at this time of night."
Paula didn't understand at first. Thinking to herself that she could be next, Paula closed her eyes hoping not to see her face as she attacked her. Her heart was beating in her throat so hard that it made her dizzy. Instead of the oncoming attack, she heard the mystery lady unzip her bag.
Paula opened her eyes to see the mystery lady grab a stake from her bag and, heartlessly it seemed, stab the man with the red eyes in the chest. That is when I saw his face clearly with his white ivory fangs. In seconds his body was dust. As quick as snapping your fingers. Like in an old vampire movie he was gone and the night breeze was blowing the ashes over the blood and down the street gutter. The water from the earlier rain washing it down the quite street to the drain of the sewer. The blood looked black as it flowed away with his ashes in the lights of the street.
To Paula's surprise she found herself asking her, "Who are You!?"
The mystery lady had just killed a?a what? A vampire? Paula thought to herself, I should be running. And then her reporter instincts kicked in. This woman has just saved my life! I could have been killed! More importantly there is a story here. People in the news industry do crazy things for the story and Paula was a hardcore reporter. The mystery lady turned, Young and beautiful golden reddish-brown long hair, around 34 years old with an air of power and knowledge.
As she turned to help Paula to her feet, the mystery lady said; "My name isn't important, stop at the diner and eat something? You look pale and it is open 24-7. Don't leave until sunrise." She said firmly with a Mother's concern in her voice.
Then she added, "Ask for Andie she'll take care of you." Paula bent down to pick up her brief case and when she looked up to see if she could continue the conversation, the mystery lady was gone. Just like the ashes
it was as though she had blown away with the light breeze.
It was like a dream or nightmare. The stake the mystery lady had used was on the pavement, so it had to be real. On the side of it was the name of a realty company, Totzaon Realty, 100 Morning Drive, Dallas, Texas,
555-3507. Paula put it in her bag and hurried to the diner that was just a
couple of building from the corner. Just as she had said there was a waitress named Andie. Paula didn't normally reveal information that could possibly become a story in this diner. There were usually too many news hounds that came in.
Paula thought about it, and figured sometimes you have to risk a little
information to get a little. So Paula proceeded to tell her waitress, Andie,
bits and pieces of the story, explaining about the woman telling her to stop in this diner, and that Andie would take care of her. Telling Andie that she was just attacked by a vampire with fangs and saved by a mystery lady, well it just would sound crazy. Since the shock was beginning to wear off, Paula was thinking about the late hour and the NoDoz she had taken. As Andie went to get the coffee, Paula looked around the diner.
It had that old 60's charm. There were very few people in the diner and she could hear a couple of guys whispering behind her. An old lady was sitting in the back booth reading a book and enjoying a slice of pie.
The counter was long and the style was old, like you would see in Chicago but Paula liked it. It reminded her of the old movies she'd seen with her Grandmother as a teen. It didn't have a sofa bar like the old movies, it was more modern than that but it had the charm of the old diners.
Andie poured Paula some coffee and said, "She is always saving someone, it is just who she is."
Paula asked, "Do you know her?"
Andie stopped, giving Paula one of those can I trust her
looks and said quietly, "Well, she is in and out and people talk."
Paula got the feeling she knew more than she was saying. At this point Paula felt maybe it was not the NODoz but that it happened, so Paula asked in jest, "She always saving ladies from
vampires at night?"
Andie laughed as if it was something she did often when
discussing vampire men.
"Aren't all men devils on the streets at
this time of night." she stated with a grin.
Paula smiled nervously and ordered a Danish to go with
her coffee.
Sitting quietly her mind still full of questions, Paula finished her danish. Outside it was not quit sunrise. Feeling silly about her thoughts of vampires, Paula put the money on the counter to pay the bill and thanked Andie for the services.
"Hold on", Andie stated turning back to the counter and grabbing Paula's hand, "You can't leave. It's not time yet." There it was again that feeling that it was real. Paula's heart started beating in her throat again from Andie's statement.
So, to lessen her nervous thoughts Paula joked, "So, it
was a vampire after all."
Andie glanced at the table over her shoulder, where the
guys had been whispering earlier but only said, "You promised to try our new pie, remember."
Paula sat back down too damn nervous to look and still
having confusing feeling about this whole thing.
Andie walked over to the
refrigerator and opened the glass door to get the pie. Paula couldn't see anyone sitting at the table behind her in the reflective glass of the cabinet door, but could see the old ladies reflection in the glass down the way from her. Thinking Andie was joking with her, not afraid that anyone was there Paula turned to see that there were indeed two guys sitting in the booth. To be sure, Paula turned back around to look at the glass refrigerator door. For just a second she let her jaw go slack as she confirmed that the two men did NOT have a reflection.
"Okay, I will have the pie and hang with you for a while
longer, Andie." Paula said, trying to keep her voice sounding as normal as possible.
Definitely not easy since as her heart was beating in her ears so loud that she could barely hear the voice she was trying to steady. Andie smiled and Paula could see her watching the guys behind her walk out of the diner into the night streets.
After they left Andie warned Paula, "Watch out for those men they are bad news. Remember their faces and run if you see them again."
Paula still was thinking it was a joke or bad dream and said, "Oh okay,"
Paula then sarcastically said, "Should I wear a cross too?"
Andie paused laid her hand on the counter around Paula's and then fearfully said with a quiver in her lips, "It's no joke. If you believe in God then a cross will work miracles."
Paula, Fearful that she may have offended Andie added, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound down on religion or God."
Andie smiled and stated "Well just as there are demons & devils there are angels, the holy spirit and God."
Paula asked curious now about her beliefs, "Are you Catholic?"
Proudly Andie stated, "No, but I was raised in Texas 5th generation and we are in the bible belt, so I do have strong beliefs. I believe in a lot of things. You know you can't know the good without knowing the bad in
the world. My mother says knowledge is power and if you are a Christian you have to have knowledge of the evil in the world to know which is which. It goes along with the old saying; Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Paula smiled understanding mom's words and stated "Sounds like you listen to your mother.
Andie's face turned sorrowful,"Not often enough sometimes."
Paula decided not to push on with this, which is yet again out of character for a reporter. However, Paula figured it would be better to hold off on this conversation. As Paula made that decision she looked outside and saw that the sun was up.
"Well, it's a little passed my bedtime. It's been an interesting night. Thank you for the conversation and pie." Paula stood up and stretched her arms a little before picking up her brief case and walking to the door that a gentleman coming in had opened for her.
Andie turned and waved saying, "Don't work so late tonight!" as she answered the phone that had just started ringing by the computer register.
"Hi--you were busy last night," Andie commented.
"Don't be a smart ass. Did she wait for sunrise, I couldn't hang around and see about her, there were two that had a drunk around the corner and I didn't want them coming back her way." Stated the strange savior on the other end of the phone.
"She did, but two of them hung around in here until almost sunrise. I think they will be back for her." Andie whispered nervously.
"Are there familiars in the diner?" the mystery lady on the phone ask.
"Yea," Andie stated still whispering, "They must have a safe house in the area close."
"Okay" the lady interrupted,"I'll be in tonight to look around and check out the area. You make sure you get to work before night and don't leave until sunrise."
Andie putting her hand on her hip stated with some frustration, "I will be fine they wouldn't dare hurt me."
The mystery lady in an understanding but firm motherly tone added "Andie, he maybe very powerful in this town but you can't trust the
devil."
The mystery lady paused and took a deep breath, "He is not the man you knew in your childhood. He is the undead."
Andie paused with a sorrowful but accepting look like the little girl that her mother so loved, "Okay, you are right but I will always wish he could love like he did when I was a kid", a tear fell from Andie's cheek onto the floor mat behind the customer counter.
The mystery lady added, "Just remember that he did love you before he became a vampire."
Andie wiped her cheek and in a tough voice said, "I know I was the most loved kid and his death took his loving spirit and left a shell for evil. It's okay Mom, I didn't forget, I just miss him."
Then Andie's mom in a comforting voice stated, "His spirit is always with you my dear. I'm going home to change clothes, I have an appointment today I can't miss. See you tonight."
Andie smiled as she heard Mel coming through the door smiling at Andie.
Mel with a jump in her step said, "Tag you're it, go home and get some sleep. I saw the midget and Gidget waiting for you in the Car a around the corner."
"Thank, Mel." Andy grabbed her bag and gave Mel a hug as she walked out the door and in to the sunny morning street, thinking thank God this night is over and the sunshine feels great.
Paula was saved by the mystery lady. This changes her views on life and death. Who is she? She isn't human. I have to get her story. Paula is a reporter for a Dallas newspaper.
"She killed a vampire I think?" Paula thought to herself.
But she has the eyes and teeth like a vampire. Isn't she one?
Paula finds out many things in her search for her story.
Chapter 1
"Hey, Sam, I'm leaving now." Paula Thomas yelled at Sam through the office door as she started walking to the elevator to leave.
"Okay, see ya tomorrow, I've got to finish up this story." He mumbled, not looking up from his computer or the mound of research material on his desk. He just waved his hand quickly to say good-bye.
The Dallas Metro Newspaper Company that Paula worked for was constantly having problems with the outside network and internet was down again. Which of course meant that Flatfoots like her had to come in to get their stories in on time.
As Paula walked out of the office door, the street was quiet with just enough of a breeze blowing in the night air. You could smell the
home-style scents from the café on the corner. Paula noticed how deserted the streets were, except for the few drunks and a couple of "ladies of the evening".
The road glistened from the streetlights bouncing off the residue of a light rain. It was still warm at night late August on the streets of North Central Texas. Paula thought it was lucky to have a little breeze blowing but knew that any minute it could stop. The old saying is true in Texas; "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute it will change." In the Big DFW area of Texas, newspaper people don't typically keep normal hours. They are out chasing the story. Like tonight, for example, Paula Thomas was a news hound trying to make her mark in the business. Dark haired, puppy dog eyes that would make any man look twice and brains to boot. Paula just put her interview story with the new police commissioner to bed and was hoping to grab a quick bite at "The Corner", an all night diner not far from work.
Standing at the corner waiting for the light to change a man slowly walked up behind her as they crossed the street to the other side. At the same moment, a woman stepped out of the shadows of a doorway that faced toward the intersection of the street. She had her head slightly down and a hood draped partially over her face.
As Paula passed, the mystery lady asked "Looking for a
place to get a bite?"
Paula who had been looking at the shadow of the man following her, turned completely to glance at the stranger that the woman was
speaking too. She caught sight of his eerie glowing red eyes. In that instance the mystery lady pushed Paula to the ground out of the way and threw the stranger to the ground ---ripping at his neck like a wild animal! Paula rolled over and sat up on the ground stunned. Completely unable to move like someone in a movie that everyone is screaming at to run. Paula was not sure if she was terrified or if it was her reporters curiosity that had her frozen in place.
The mystery lady had thin arms and an hour-glass figure.
Something you'd expect a playboy bunny to have. So it was definitely
curious to see her holding down a man that was twice her size and in good shape.
How can this be? Paula thought, I workout but I would never be able to hold him down. As Paula tuned in to what was happening, she saw that there was blood running from the man onto the sidewalk and down to the gutter. Was it a lot? It didn't look like it. Strange. It was like the mystery woman had drained him of his life's blood.
The mystery lady stood up quickly, it couldn't have been more than a few seconds but seemed like minutes had passed.
When she was fully standing up she warned Paula, "No one that is human is safe at this time of night."
Paula didn't understand at first. Thinking to herself that she could be next, Paula closed her eyes hoping not to see her face as she attacked her. Her heart was beating in her throat so hard that it made her dizzy. Instead of the oncoming attack, she heard the mystery lady unzip her bag.
Paula opened her eyes to see the mystery lady grab a stake from her bag and, heartlessly it seemed, stab the man with the red eyes in the chest. That is when I saw his face clearly with his white ivory fangs. In seconds his body was dust. As quick as snapping your fingers. Like in an old vampire movie he was gone and the night breeze was blowing the ashes over the blood and down the street gutter. The water from the earlier rain washing it down the quite street to the drain of the sewer. The blood looked black as it flowed away with his ashes in the lights of the street.
To Paula's surprise she found herself asking her, "Who are You!?"
The mystery lady had just killed a?a what? A vampire? Paula thought to herself, I should be running. And then her reporter instincts kicked in. This woman has just saved my life! I could have been killed! More importantly there is a story here. People in the news industry do crazy things for the story and Paula was a hardcore reporter. The mystery lady turned, Young and beautiful golden reddish-brown long hair, around 34 years old with an air of power and knowledge.
As she turned to help Paula to her feet, the mystery lady said; "My name isn't important, stop at the diner and eat something? You look pale and it is open 24-7. Don't leave until sunrise." She said firmly with a Mother's concern in her voice.
Then she added, "Ask for Andie she'll take care of you." Paula bent down to pick up her brief case and when she looked up to see if she could continue the conversation, the mystery lady was gone. Just like the ashes
it was as though she had blown away with the light breeze.
It was like a dream or nightmare. The stake the mystery lady had used was on the pavement, so it had to be real. On the side of it was the name of a realty company, Totzaon Realty, 100 Morning Drive, Dallas, Texas,
555-3507. Paula put it in her bag and hurried to the diner that was just a
couple of building from the corner. Just as she had said there was a waitress named Andie. Paula didn't normally reveal information that could possibly become a story in this diner. There were usually too many news hounds that came in.
Paula thought about it, and figured sometimes you have to risk a little
information to get a little. So Paula proceeded to tell her waitress, Andie,
bits and pieces of the story, explaining about the woman telling her to stop in this diner, and that Andie would take care of her. Telling Andie that she was just attacked by a vampire with fangs and saved by a mystery lady, well it just would sound crazy. Since the shock was beginning to wear off, Paula was thinking about the late hour and the NoDoz she had taken. As Andie went to get the coffee, Paula looked around the diner.
It had that old 60's charm. There were very few people in the diner and she could hear a couple of guys whispering behind her. An old lady was sitting in the back booth reading a book and enjoying a slice of pie.
The counter was long and the style was old, like you would see in Chicago but Paula liked it. It reminded her of the old movies she'd seen with her Grandmother as a teen. It didn't have a sofa bar like the old movies, it was more modern than that but it had the charm of the old diners.
Andie poured Paula some coffee and said, "She is always saving someone, it is just who she is."
Paula asked, "Do you know her?"
Andie stopped, giving Paula one of those can I trust her
looks and said quietly, "Well, she is in and out and people talk."
Paula got the feeling she knew more than she was saying. At this point Paula felt maybe it was not the NODoz but that it happened, so Paula asked in jest, "She always saving ladies from
vampires at night?"
Andie laughed as if it was something she did often when
discussing vampire men.
"Aren't all men devils on the streets at
this time of night." she stated with a grin.
Paula smiled nervously and ordered a Danish to go with
her coffee.
Sitting quietly her mind still full of questions, Paula finished her danish. Outside it was not quit sunrise. Feeling silly about her thoughts of vampires, Paula put the money on the counter to pay the bill and thanked Andie for the services.
"Hold on", Andie stated turning back to the counter and grabbing Paula's hand, "You can't leave. It's not time yet." There it was again that feeling that it was real. Paula's heart started beating in her throat again from Andie's statement.
So, to lessen her nervous thoughts Paula joked, "So, it
was a vampire after all."
Andie glanced at the table over her shoulder, where the
guys had been whispering earlier but only said, "You promised to try our new pie, remember."
Paula sat back down too damn nervous to look and still
having confusing feeling about this whole thing.
Andie walked over to the
refrigerator and opened the glass door to get the pie. Paula couldn't see anyone sitting at the table behind her in the reflective glass of the cabinet door, but could see the old ladies reflection in the glass down the way from her. Thinking Andie was joking with her, not afraid that anyone was there Paula turned to see that there were indeed two guys sitting in the booth. To be sure, Paula turned back around to look at the glass refrigerator door. For just a second she let her jaw go slack as she confirmed that the two men did NOT have a reflection.
"Okay, I will have the pie and hang with you for a while
longer, Andie." Paula said, trying to keep her voice sounding as normal as possible.
Definitely not easy since as her heart was beating in her ears so loud that she could barely hear the voice she was trying to steady. Andie smiled and Paula could see her watching the guys behind her walk out of the diner into the night streets.
After they left Andie warned Paula, "Watch out for those men they are bad news. Remember their faces and run if you see them again."
Paula still was thinking it was a joke or bad dream and said, "Oh okay,"
Paula then sarcastically said, "Should I wear a cross too?"
Andie paused laid her hand on the counter around Paula's and then fearfully said with a quiver in her lips, "It's no joke. If you believe in God then a cross will work miracles."
Paula, Fearful that she may have offended Andie added, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound down on religion or God."
Andie smiled and stated "Well just as there are demons & devils there are angels, the holy spirit and God."
Paula asked curious now about her beliefs, "Are you Catholic?"
Proudly Andie stated, "No, but I was raised in Texas 5th generation and we are in the bible belt, so I do have strong beliefs. I believe in a lot of things. You know you can't know the good without knowing the bad in
the world. My mother says knowledge is power and if you are a Christian you have to have knowledge of the evil in the world to know which is which. It goes along with the old saying; Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Paula smiled understanding mom's words and stated "Sounds like you listen to your mother.
Andie's face turned sorrowful,"Not often enough sometimes."
Paula decided not to push on with this, which is yet again out of character for a reporter. However, Paula figured it would be better to hold off on this conversation. As Paula made that decision she looked outside and saw that the sun was up.
"Well, it's a little passed my bedtime. It's been an interesting night. Thank you for the conversation and pie." Paula stood up and stretched her arms a little before picking up her brief case and walking to the door that a gentleman coming in had opened for her.
Andie turned and waved saying, "Don't work so late tonight!" as she answered the phone that had just started ringing by the computer register.
"Hi--you were busy last night," Andie commented.
"Don't be a smart ass. Did she wait for sunrise, I couldn't hang around and see about her, there were two that had a drunk around the corner and I didn't want them coming back her way." Stated the strange savior on the other end of the phone.
"She did, but two of them hung around in here until almost sunrise. I think they will be back for her." Andie whispered nervously.
"Are there familiars in the diner?" the mystery lady on the phone ask.
"Yea," Andie stated still whispering, "They must have a safe house in the area close."
"Okay" the lady interrupted,"I'll be in tonight to look around and check out the area. You make sure you get to work before night and don't leave until sunrise."
Andie putting her hand on her hip stated with some frustration, "I will be fine they wouldn't dare hurt me."
The mystery lady in an understanding but firm motherly tone added "Andie, he maybe very powerful in this town but you can't trust the
devil."
The mystery lady paused and took a deep breath, "He is not the man you knew in your childhood. He is the undead."
Andie paused with a sorrowful but accepting look like the little girl that her mother so loved, "Okay, you are right but I will always wish he could love like he did when I was a kid", a tear fell from Andie's cheek onto the floor mat behind the customer counter.
The mystery lady added, "Just remember that he did love you before he became a vampire."
Andie wiped her cheek and in a tough voice said, "I know I was the most loved kid and his death took his loving spirit and left a shell for evil. It's okay Mom, I didn't forget, I just miss him."
Then Andie's mom in a comforting voice stated, "His spirit is always with you my dear. I'm going home to change clothes, I have an appointment today I can't miss. See you tonight."
Andie smiled as she heard Mel coming through the door smiling at Andie.
Mel with a jump in her step said, "Tag you're it, go home and get some sleep. I saw the midget and Gidget waiting for you in the Car a around the corner."
"Thank, Mel." Andy grabbed her bag and gave Mel a hug as she walked out the door and in to the sunny morning street, thinking thank God this night is over and the sunshine feels great.