The Vampire Monk, Part Iii

III. But I had a much higher purpose now, damned or not, I would serve the True God, for thirty years I served with my brothers, upon a humble path I faithfully trod. Maybe I wasn’t a miracle worker, though I saved lost pilgrims in my time, age etched lines in my brothers’ faces, but it had no effect upon mine. The abbot swore newcomers to secrecy about the truth of my vampiric fate, and I guess I believed I’d just go on serving an eternity in this way. But one day as the sun started to set, I looked out upon a terrible sight: A small girl running, screaming in fear as a wolf closed on in for a bite. I hesitated for just a moment, the sun was high enough that I would burn, but the terrified cries of a five-year old were not something from which I could turn. I sprinted out with unnatural speed, instantly my skin erupted in flames, raced past the girl, thrust my burning hand to the wolf with jaws of snapping rage. The fire seared both myself and the beast, with frantic yelps of pain he then ran off, I staggered back, my pale skin burned to black, bits of flesh had flaked off and were lost. I made it back to the small gatehouse and I collapsed in the shadows within, the abbot ran close, with my fading strength I weakly tried to say goodbye to him. But he just looked down, said,”We need blood. Run to the chapel and fetch me the wine!” A brother raced off, returned with the jug, made no sense to my greatly pained mind. He filled a chalice, look to the Heavens, said,”Lord, I know that I am no priest. But if he must die, let him drink of Your blood, let him take part at last in Your mercy.” I felt this would be a fitting way to die, burned by the holy blood of my Lord. But when I drank I did not feel the fire, in fact I didn’t feel pain anymore! I didn’t see it myself, but they say that the charred skin beat a fast retreat, and through the haze I managed to feel a deep breath and a steady heart-beat! When I sat up the sun came through a window and it fell harmlessly upon my skin, I felt true hunger, thirty years overdue, by His power I once more was human! They said In Him All Things Are Possible, and I suppose I am the living truth, strangest of all I still looked a young man, blessed with the power and passion of youth... CONCLUDES IN PART IV.