Inner Fire and the Light

by Olivia Jean Ecklund
Chapter 7

"Nick," -she made him look at her- "you CAN do this. You know what you were. You can face it again. You're healing him, Nick! For the first time in your life, you can help LaCroix change his nature. You can give him the choice to live again, free from the hell he is in."

"Nick, that snarling creature was the demon. It was the man that called out your name. You've got to remember the difference. The man was there, if only for a moment, Nick. The need for love I saw in him, tore at my heart."

"He knows what you are doing, and he's grateful. Remember, he as as much a prisoner of vampirism as you were. Maybe he tried centuries ago to fight it too, but he gave up hope. He let the vampire have complete control. It became a part of him, and he forgot his humanity."

"Now, he sees freedom in your blood, Nick. He sees what you have become and what you feel. Maybe he remembers what he once was and now, could be again."

Tess stood by, invisible, listening. She nodded, and whispered, "Good, Baby..." Then she was gone.

Nick seemed to gather strength. "You're right. I need to rebuke this spirit that makes me want to run and not face the truth. I just need to love him. Oh, Nat... do you think I can find the real man LaCroix was, and guide him to the Lord for divine intervention so he can live again?"

"I would love to met the real LaCroix. I know he was a hard man... a Roman officer. Do you think he was ever a good person, Nat?"

"You told me he loved his daughter and was devastated by having to destroy her." Nat reminded him.

"You're right. He did love her... even at a time when having girls was not celebrated. It doesn't matter what kind of master he was. If we all work together, maybe his soul will be freed one day. I could find a loving man in there."

Natalie kissed him and held him tightly. "Go to him, Nick. Love him because he loves you. Show him REAL love... the forgiving love of the Lord. Let him see it shine from you like I do."

****

In the mobile home, LaCroix lay whimpering on the bed. His arms were burned from fighting so hard against Andrew.

"Nicholas," he groaned repeatedly. There was a knock on the door. Janette looked at Andrew, and he nodded. She left the bedroom and went to the front door. She was surprised to find Nick there.

"Nichola!" She glared at him. "Do you come to torture him again?"

Nick sighed. He deserved that. "No, Janette... Please forgive me. I want to see him again... I need to see him again," he stressed.

She looked at him steadily for a moment, then stepped back, renewed hope in her eyes. She motioned him through the door, and led him back to the old vampire's room.

Andrew looked up when Nick entered. He glanced at the bottle of bloodwine that sat on a table nearby. Nick went and poured a glass full, then came up close to the bed. He was shocked by the burns on LaCroix?s arms.

"Father?" he spoke softly.

LaCroix raised his head with difficulty and looked at him. The vampire's face was streaked with blood tears. The look in his eyes changed from hurt, longing, and confusion to surprise and gratefulness. He reached out a bony hand, "Nicholas... you have come... "

"Yes, father, I am here..." he said gently.

LaCroix's cold, bony hand covered Nick's hand on the stem of the glass. He drew the glass toward him, draining the thick red liquid. Nick refilled the glass, trying hard not to be repulsed by the cold thin fingers. He poured another glass, and then another, until LaCroix refused more.

Nick was relieved to see the burns starting to healing. Finally, Nick felt he could draw away, but, all of a sudden, LaCroix?s hand shot out, grabbing Nick's wrist and drawing it toward his mouth.

Terror clutched at him, and Nick tried to pull back, but LaCroix's fingers were strong. He looked frantically at Andrew, but the angel seemed unpreturbed and said gently, "It's okay."

Nick stopped resisting, and LaCroix pressed his lips to Nick's wrist in a gentle kiss. "Thank you, my son," he whispered and then drifted off to sleep.

Nick sat at his side for nearly an hour, stroking the long, silver-gray hair that hung to the man's shoulders. The role was so different from the way things had been, but Nick kind of liked it. LaCroix looked so peaceful in his sleep.

Nick's thoughts drifted back to the past. He remembered the days when he would study LaCroix's sleeping face and wonder what kind of man he had been before he had come across. Had LaCroix ever loved or had kindness in his heart? Had LaCroix ever wanted to change? Now that his father was asleep, and Nick was free of those icy blue eyes, he could imagine what kindness they might one day hold. He looked up at Andrew, a silent sentinel.

"Andrew, what kind of an angel are you? How can you stand to look at all this evil and death?" Nick asked, curiously.

Andrew smiled. "It is a difficult assignment, but I am no stranger to death. I am the angel of death."

"What?" Nick asked, his heart skipping a beat. "Are you here to take LaCroix or me when this is over?"

"No, Nick. Only if he chooses NOT to accept the Lord's gift. You were able to convert back to humanity with a reasonable chance to live a normal life. If LaCroix returns to the body he had before he was brought across, he will die. He was aware of pain before Pompeii was destroyed, but he did not realize that he was seriously ill."

Nick asked fearfully, "What is it?"

"Liver cancer. He will only live a few weeks at best. Humanity, for LaCroix, has a price."

"Is there no hope?" Nick asked, anguish filling his heart. "Do we do this all for nothing?"

"Humanity is one thing, Nick. Your blood will give both Janette and LaCroix humanity. Only his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord could cleanse his body of disease. Humanity is our first goal, then the choice is up to him, Nick. For now, he will sleep until tomorrow night. Go... be with your wife."

Nick nodded, and went back into the living room. Janette was waiting for him. She walked to him and hugged him to her. "Thank you, Nichola."

Nick drew back, "Your cheek feels warm!"

She looked a bit bashful. The innocence in her surprised and delighted him. "It's already happening, Nichola."

I've already begun to change. After you brought me across, I left Canada and went back to France, very angry. Missing my humanity, I subsisted on animal blood and tried to maintain a human way of life. It was Myklos who found me living in a tiny apartment, and told me about LaCroix. I went to him, and he led me to you. Maybe, since I never fed on human blood or embraced the vampire life again, I'm easier turned."

Nick held her closely. "I am so glad for you, Janette, but you must settle your soul with God in order to live in peace."

Janette nodded. "I know, Nick, but I must be here for LaCroix as I am. As soon as Andrew tells me my work is finished, then I will ask God's forgiveness, and accept Him as my Lord..."

Nick understood. "I must get back to Natalie now. She will be worried that I have been gone so long." He kissed her forehead and left. Natalie was busy in the kitchen feeding Sidney when Nick came into the house. She sighed with relief as he smiled at her. She could tell that it had gone well. He almost seemed happy. He sat at the bar, and she gave him a sandwich and a big glass of milk. It was about 1:00 am, and after his snack, the two went upstairs.

Behind locked doors, they shed their clothes and got into the big tub. Nick sat behind Natalie so she could rest her back against his chest. They talked about his time with LaCroix, and he told her everything that had happened.

The revelation of Andrew's nature scared her a bit. He was such a beautiful young man. She had never thought of the Angel of Death as beautiful. When she thought about it, thought, she realized that she should have known better. Knowing how loving God was, he would have made the Angel of Death to be comforting and gentle, not a bony figure like the movies portrayed him.

Nick suddenly got an idea. "Let's go on a picnic tomorrow with Joe and Grace. Our guests will sleep during the day anyway."

Natalie relaxed and feeling pampered, purred, "I'd like that."

Nick was soaping and rubbing his hands gently over her belly when he felt a tiny flutter against his hand. They turned and looked into each other's eyes.

"Did you feel that?" Natalie asked.

The young, soon-to-be father nodded, his eyes wide. They laughed and kissed, then sat quietly for a while and felt two more tiny flutters. Finally, he assisted her out of the tub, and carefully helped her dry off.

He brushed her hair until it shone. She loved the feel of the brush in her hair and the tiny kisses Nick planted on her neck and shoulders. She turned on the dressing bench, and kissed his chest, running her hands up and down his torso. Nick sighed with delight and caressed her face and shoulders. Finally, he could stand it no more. He picked his wife up and took her to bed.

Nick woke at 9 o?clock the next morning. He came downstairs to find Joe cooking breakfast. Grace was gazing at him in unabashed adoration. Nick smiled.

Natalie was coming into the house with an armful of flowers that she'd picked near the house. She and Grace arranged them to brighten up the place.

Nick and Nat told the others their idea about a picnic and found that everyone was looking forward to it. A taste of normal life would do them all good. They packed their backpacks and headed into the cool forest.

None of them glanced at the mobile home nor saw the two angels watching from the front room window of the main cabin.

Monica asked, "Will this work, Tess?"

"What, Angel Girl?"

"Will LaCroix be saved? Will the humans be okay."

"The humans will be fine. LaCroix is another thing."

"It's all up to him," Monica admitted. "I could hardly stand to look at him when he first came, but it's getting better."

Tess slipped an arm around her shoulders. "I know, Baby. It's hard to look on evil."

Monica said, "It's not just the evil, Tess. I can see the man trapped inside... trapped for centuries... in torture. Can we save him?"

I don't know, Angel Girl, but we sure are going to try."

The humans walked slowly looking at everything around them. Letting the peace of the forest sooth their ragged nerves. Finally they found a nice flat place near the stream where they decided to lay out the blankets and pillows.

Joe took his shoes off and lowered his feet over the bank of the stream into the meandering water. "Ah," he sighed.

Grace, Natalie and Nick sat on the blankets and set out the food and drinks. They ate and talked, and then Grace took her shoes off, grabbed some food and a soda, and joined Joe.

Nick rested his back against a tree. He placed a pillow on his legs and eased Natalie down until she lay upon pillows against his chest. They rested and listened to the noises of the forest.

Grace and Joe talked at the edge of the stream, their conversation animated with laughter and whispered secrets.

Natalie slept for a while, and Nick caressed her hair, feeling it's silky strands run through his fingers. Flecks of sun came through the trees and danced across the stream. Nick thought of LaCroix and prayed that one day he would be able to sit with his father in the sunlight.

He glanced over at Joe and Grace. They'd become quiet. Nick smiled when he saw that they were kissing. It warmed his heart, and he bent to kiss Natalie. Waking her, he pointed to their friends.

Natalie smiled, slipped her hands up behind his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. "Nick, I'm so happy today. This was a wonderful idea. It's so beautiful and peaceful out here. It helps renew my strength."

"I know what you mean," he agreed. "I feel the same way, and I hate to put a damper on this, but we have to be getting back. Tonight may not be much better than last night." He stood and helped Nat to her feet.

"When LaCroix kissed my wrist last night, it was one of the very few times he's ever been gentle with me. Nat, I love him. I've hated, feared, and yet loved him for hundreds of years. I still fear the vampire, but I love the man so much. I can't imagine my life without him. I want him to see my life here and to be happy for me. God help me, I want to see him bounce our babies on his knee."

Natalie turned him to face her. She took his face in her hands and kissed his cheeks, tasting salt tears. "I can't say that last image doesn't scare me, but I understand it. If LaCroix changes and accepts the Lord, I will welcome him into our family, but he must walk away from his former life. I must have guarantees that he will never harm my babies."

Nick held her close. "Thank you, Nat. Thank you. I understand and feel the same way, of course." With a sigh, they started after Joe. It was time to face another night with LaCroix.

Chapter 8

It was dusk before they re-entered their backyard. They could already hear the screams of pain and anger. Nick gently pushed Natalie toward Grace and Joe . "Take care of her," he said hurriedly. "I must go to him."

"Nicholas!" La Croix roared in his madness. Nick entered the mobil home. Janette was standing in the living room, drenched in blood. Blood tears ran down her cheeks. "He won't take the blood from me. He only wants you. It's even worse tonight," she cried.

Nick held her close. "Go over to the house and take a shower. Nat will find you some clothes. Andrew and I will take care of him."

Nick took a deep breath and entered the bedroom. He found that Andrew was holding LaCroix tightly in a vise grip. The rampaging vampire?s flesh was smoking, blistering, burning and his eyes were red with savage hunger. This time, instead of running away to hide behind the pounding music, Nick got the blood and held it for the tortured creature as he drank. The cold hands that gripped his weren't as emaciated as they had been when he?d first arrived.

It only took one bottle before the old vampire was able to calm down enough to slump onto the bed. His cold blue eyes seemed less harsh as they gazed at Nick.

Suddenly, sickness overwhelmed LaCroix. Andrew held a bowl, and Nick sat beneath him holding his head while the blood came back up. He nearly wretched himself, but he felt Andrew's courage and the steadfast love of the Lord protecting him as he bathed the sick vampire's face.

When LaCroix had quieted, Nick tried to leave to help clean up, but the old, sick creature grabbed him and clutched the young man to his chest. His father refused to let NIck go, so he sat, holding him against his chest until LaCroix had finally fallen asleep.

Andrew helped him clean LaCroix up and change his soiled clothing. When Nick tucked him into bed, he leaned down and kissed the old man's forehead. He was rewarded by a faint smile on his father's lips.

For the next week, the days were short and the nights long. At the end of the week, LaCroix had a particularly bad night, and Andrew had sent Nick away. Nick had returned to the piano, but this time he played calm, beautiful music. Soon Janette came running. "Nick, can you play louder? He can hear it through his window, and it's calming him. You know how much he used to love to listen to you."

The next day, Nick had a baby grand delivered to LaCroix's home. He spent a few hours each night playing for LaCroix. Natalie spent most of her evenings with Monica and Tess. Their presence helped her to stay calm while the war raged so close. She was surprised that the angels enjoyed playing games and watching old movies.

Grace would join them for several hours every evening. She always managed to make them all laugh with her crazy stories of life at the morgue. Often, when they weren't praying for their friends, she and Joe would sit on the porch and talk.

One night, Joe asked Grace to walk with him. They went down the road, walking along the long drive. When they were out of view of the house, Joe drew Grace into his arms and kissed her until they were both breathless. "I love you, Grace," he said, holding her tightly to him.

Grace's heart soared. "And I love you, Joe. I have for years."

He drew back, looking into her beautiful face. "Years?"

She drew his face down to hers, and as she kissed him she murmured, "Years... "

The second unit of blood was drawn the next week and the processing occurred the same as before.

LaCroix was able to retain more. He put on weight and grew stronger. He could walk with assistance. Nick often sat with him and played chess. They didn't talk much about the past, as this would bring the demon out, and Andrew would have to restrain the vampire.

The next unit of blood had to be drawn after only two weeks. Nick was starting to lose weight. His face was gaunt, and dark circles were etched under his eyes. Natalie watched him breathe while he slept, fearing for his health. At night, after LaCroix would fall asleep, Tess and Monica would sit with Nick, holding him and helping to renew some of his strength.

During the following week, LaCroix had two very bad attacks. The blood started coming up again, and Nick had to give a second unit in one week. His strength was gone, and he couldn't stand, let alone calm his nerves by playing the piano.

He grew despondent and Tess came to minister to him. As they sat on the couch before the fire, Tess cradled his head in her lap, and stroked his hair.

"Tess," he asked, with tears in his eyes, a wave of dizziness assaulting him, "Why isn't he getting better? How long can I do this?"

Tess soothed his brow with a damp cloth. "That demon has had control of him for two millennia. LaCroix never tried to weaken its hold as you did with your constant fight against the vampire nature. It does not want to let go. This one was of the elite. It was fighting at Satan's side when he was banished from heaven."

Nick shivered in fear. "Is there nothing more we can do?"

Tess smiled as she stroked his blond curls. She'd been waiting for this question. "Hands on prayer will help, but you would all have to participate. Will Grace help?"

Nick sat up and turned to her. "I don't know." Grace had made it a point to stay as far from LaCroix as possible. "I will ask her. We must end this. Natalie is getting too tired and doesn't eat much either. I need to be able to take care of my wife and our babies need her strong."

Nick asked his friends to gather together that evening in his room as he lay resting on his bed. He'd spent a particularly rough night at LaCroix's. They pulled up chairs around Nick and Natalie's bed. Nick was terribly pale and weak.

He asked Tess to explain what she had told him about helping LaCroix. "There is a chance," she explained, "if you all bond together in prayer and bind the demon in Jesus? name that this would free LaCroix enough for him to make the choice to turn his life over to the Lord."

Natalie asked, "Will there be any danger to our babies, Tess?"

"You are seven months along. It's a difficult time. There is always danger," she explained patiently. "But remember, the Father gave his word that no harm will come to you."

Natalie's eyes teared up. "Of course... forgive me. I have asked that too many times."

Tess nodded. "I understand. You are human, and you need assurances. Know that if you, any or all of you, choose to do this, there must be no doubt in anyone's mind... none. We all have to believe that this can help... that it can change the tide of where we are and what we are trying to accomplish. It can work if everyone has pure faith."

Natalie saw the genuine concern in Tess' eyes. The angel sometimes seemed so harsh and outspoken, but Natalie could see the love of God shining in Tess' eyes.

"We all need to talk about this as well as pray for guidance," she told the angel.

Tess nodded, "I'll go join Monica and Janette. That young woman is very close to accepting the Lord into her life forever."

When everyone had settled close to the bed, they prayed holding hands in a circle. They continued through the night to talk and pray, trying to lay Natalie's and Grace's fears to rest, and to truly hear from God about the timing. Finally, as the sun rose on a new day, they all had agreed that they would spend the day in fasting and prayer and then gather around LaCroix the next night and ask God to intervene, take the chains off the tormented man, and free him.

Grace and Joe retired to their own rooms to rest, and Nick turned to his wife and held Natalie close. They feel asleep, holding each other.

Natalie was surprised when she woke seven hours later totally rested. Her sleep was never that good. Usually, she had to move several times during the night to get comfortable now that she was getting so big. She praised God, thanking Him for this special gift. Nick woke a few minutes later, also feeling much stronger. They spent the rest of the daylight hours praying, both together and apart for the ordeal they would face with the coming of darkness.

As the darkness settled on the compound, Andrew set out a chair and brought LaCroix out. Once the old vampire was seated in his chair, the angel took a position behind him, and laid his hands lightly on his shoulders. As the friends and family came to take their places around the tormented creature and grasped hands, he started to get apprehensive.

Suddenly, he fought to rise from the chair as Andrew began to glow, lighting the darkness. LaCroix eyes flared red. He started snarling and snapping at them like an animal. His fangs were extended.

He cried out, "Nicholas! Please, Nicholas, don't do this to me."

Nick pleaded with him, "Father we must do this if you are to be free of this demon that eats at your soul. Please... just let the Lord free you."

The old vampire looked about him and knew there was no escape. The demon wanted desperately to flee, while the man was filled with fear and yet... hope. Was there a way out of this hell? Could he be freed? Could God still care about him... love HIM?

The small group of them stood around him with their voices raised to the heavens. They were praying for HIM... sending HIM love. Love he craved to the depths of his soul.

As these thoughts and feelings flooded through his being, he also felt tremendous pain. The demon was trying to distract his thoughts... regain control of him again. "Nicholas! Aaargh... the PAIN!" He screamed in agony.

Nick loosened his hold on Joe and Nat's hands and started to move toward his father to offer comfort, but Tess grabbed his shoulders and held him still. "The demon would kill you, Nick. Do not let him touch you." Nick drew back, shocked, and re-linked fingers with the others.

The four Christians stretched out their arms and surrounded LaCroix, Nat and Grace linking hands around the angel and his tortured charge. They lifted their voices, asking the Lord to cleanse him.

The monster screamed in pain then howled a long, blood curdling sound from deep within. Blood ran from his lips, cut by the sharp, gnashing teeth. His fingernails were cutting deep holes in his palms. Putrid, contaminated blood, thick and dark like black ink, dripped from his hands to the floor beneath the chair.

The Christians were aware that the howl came from inside LaCroix, and was not produced by his own vocal cords. After a time, they noticed that many more howls were filling the air and realized that there was almost an electric charge in the air around them.

If they had ceased praying and looked out past their circle of light into the forest around them, they would have seen a multitude of red glowing eyes.

Dark fearsome shapes filled the edges of the forest, and began to advance on the small group. Vampire's of all shapes and sizes stood there ready to spring and tear the Christians apart, yet they found an invisible force before them that clutched at them and seemed to hold them to their places. They began to chant LaCroix's name, begging him to stay with them... to come back to them.

The demon in LaCroix roared, and gave a tremendous surge as it seemed to regain some of its strength. It reached out to claw at Andrew, tearing him with its evil.

Natalie cried out as she saw wounds appear on Andrew's face and arms... Wounds that bled pure light.

The light shot out in beautiful, pure rays. It seemed to strike at the first line of Vampires and they howled and shrunk back to the edge of the forest . Their voices grew quieter and finally stilled.

An unearthly cry came from deep within LaCroix. The demon's fear struck them like a hurricane. Hot wind buffeted them. They became aware of gloriously magnificent singing filling the air, and bright light surrounded them. The bright glowing shapes of angels formed a tight circle around them to protect them from the legion of Vampires that had come to take LaCroix from them.

Nick opened his eyes as he continued praying and in the glow of the Angel's light, he suddenly could make out the faces of individuals he knew in the community. Some of them had once been friends. There was an inky blackness that surrounded and permeated them. The air stunk of death.

The groans and cries of the undead were drowned out by the singing of the angels. The four friends turned back to LaCroix. They heard him whisper, "Jesus?" and saw inky black blood begin to pour from his eyes, nose, ears and mouth. It hissed and evaporated in the light of God that shone around the angels as if exposed to the rays of the sun. The light of the angels flowed over and around LaCroix. Fire seemed to bath him. He was caught up into the air. The fiery light swirled around and through him.

Nick cried out to him, "Now father, ask the Lord to save you."

LaCroix heard Nick's voice. It seemed to come from a thousand miles away. "Nicholas," he cried out, "help me."

"No, Father, don't look to me, look to the maker of the light. Ask the Lord to save you. Please... I need you!" he cried. Fear that he would lose his father threatened to overwhelm him. He felt Natalie's hand in his and Tess' hands on his shoulders. He allowed their love, the love of his friend, and his faith in the Lord to calm his spirit.

"Father," he said softly, "Ask the Lord to forgive you. Ask him to save you from this living hell."

LaCroix's felt peace surround him. It gave him clarity of mind and thought . He felt an overwhelming love and knew it came from the Lord. Jesus was real and wanted him. He let his voice call out clear and strong, "Jesus, save me!"

Nick knew how he felt. His transformation had been nearly the same. He cried out "Thank you, Lord," and heard the others echo his words.

End Chapter 8


By Jeannie Ecklund Gersknightlady@cs.com





Inner Fire and the Light 9-10
Home