Taking out his set of lock picks, he thought about the old days when churches were never locked. They were always open for the public whenever someone needed to be close to God.
Upon entering, he felt a presence; not God, but something else.
Danielle.
She had always had a habit of following him when she was invisible. Although he knew she was there, he rarely let on. He couldn’t think of any reason why she would want to keep herself secret from him, since she knew he would tell her anything she wanted to know. Besides, she could read minds.
Although the bricks muffled the sound of the rain, its presence was evident. It drizzled down the outside of the multicolored stained glass windows.
It’s like they are melting, Alex thought as he stared at them.
An aisle separated two sets of pews, and at the far end of the church, behind the podium and the large choir section, was the baptismal area.
Following his usual ritual, Alex knelt in front of the podium at a short wooden table that, without fail, held a fresh flower arrangement. It also held a large leather-bound Bible, always opened to the same verse: John 3:16.
Alex lowered his head and spoke aloud to the empty church, his voice echoing in the darkness. “Lord, forgive me. I have sinned. I live a life of sin. Yet, you let me live. Again and again, I ask how that can be. How is it that you could let something as evil and corrupt as I live on this earth and walk with the humans you created?"
He dropped his head lower.
“I still don’t understand a lot of things you have shown me, Lord. I'm depressed. I've never asked for anything from except guidance and strength, but it's time I humbly ask, just this once, for you to bless me with something to give me the will to go on.”
A clap of thunder shook the walls of the church.
“This depression has become too great. I can barely rise from sleep when the sun sets. None of the hobbies that previously occupied me so well interest me anymore.”
Alex paused and took in a deep, shuddering breath.
“I would never try to bargain with or demand anything from you. I would never be so bold as to assume I'm owed anything. All I ask is for some kind of meaning to this life, or after-life; whatever you wish to call it.
“I need a reason to persevere. After all, I no longer have a family. The only thing I have, besides a few friends, is the everlasting torment of being one of the most unholy creatures to walk this earth.
“Please hear me and consider the needs of one of your servants. Thank you. Thank you so much for everything you have given me. I would do anything for you. I am yours in all ways, and I am yours in everything.
“In Jesus’s precious name, Amen.”
When Alex rose from his knees, contentment flowed through his veins and filled him up. He felt the same every time he prayed.
A moment later, he rushed out the door, stopping only to relock it like he always respectfully did.
***
“Do you think he’s ready?” Damion asked.
“He’s past ready,” Danielle murmured while she slipped off her perch on the railing that separated the choir area from the rest of the church. “Damion, his depression has to end.”
She felt Damion follow her to the front pew, on the right side of the aisle. She wanted to sit so she could see the altar.
He sat next to her. “I know Alex was chosen for this, but how do we know it will cure his depression? It could end this present situation, but begin another lengthy and dangerous one. How do we know this will not be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?”
Danielle smiled. “I have known Alex for almost four hundred years. Even though he thinks he is dammed, he keeps his faith in God, and that, my dear friend, is the strongest kind of faith there is.”
“So he’ll do it?”
“He has yet to decide.”
“I hope it goes the way we've planned.”
“So do I, Damion, so do I.”
“Why do you always come here to watch him pray? Don’t you think that’s like invasion of privacy or something?”
“I am his guardian.”
“You were, when he was a human. He hasn’t been mortal for a long time. I know enough to know you aren’t required to be with him at all times.”
“That’s true, but his prayers are a most important time for me to be with him.”
“Why?”
“He’s convinced God doesn’t hear his prayers. That’s why he comes here almost every night. He could go on living a sinful life, believing he is dammed anyway, but he doesn’t. It's vital he has some reinforcement of his faith in God. I know he feels me here.”
Damion shook his head. “We'd better get to the meeting. I'll see you there."
Damion left. Danielle didn't want to leave the church. She looked up at the large cross on the wall above the baptismal. “Come on, Big Guy. His time to shine is finally here, so let’s show him how much you really have in store for him.”
She reluctantly stood, walked back down the aisle, and moved transparently through the tightly locked doors.
Other Books by Jennifer Malone Wright
Keeper vs. Reaper (Graveyard Guardians #1)(Always free)
Keeper of the Peace (Graveyard Guardians #2)
BearyTales
Savior (A Higher Collective Novel)
Once Upon a Zombie Apocalypse – Jade (Always free)
Once Upon a Zombie Apocalypse: Episode 2
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter Part 1 (Always free)
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter: Part 2
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter Part 3
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter: Part 4
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter: Part 5
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter: Part 6
The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter: The Complete Collection
(All six parts a total of 72,000 words)
The Arcadia Falls Chronicles is The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter story continued
Love & War (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles 1)
Taking Talon (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles 2)
Vampire Apocalypse (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles 3)
Blood Warrior (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles 4)
Winds of Fire (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles 5)
About the Author
Jennifer Malone Wright resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children where she practices preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Just kidding!
But seriously, between the craziness of taking care of her children, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on her beloved fiction or chatting with her equally crazy friends.
Jennifer also loves coffee, has a passionate affair with red bull, wishes the sushi were better where she lives and dances while she cleans.
Please visit Jennifer’s website at
www.jenniferwrightauthor.com
Follow Jennifer on Twitter
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Winds of Fire (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles #5) Page 11
