And As The Piano Plays

Blood was the only thing to keep him going now. Or was he even a “him”? He was a freak of nature now, renewed on the earth by the devils curse to eternally drink the water of life until the day he was permanently drained of what he perceived to be living.
It was an illness that had spread for 30 years before it reached him, with only just lasting survivors. The disease would infest the body, constantly changing the DNA inside a person, into a creature who walked the night, drinking only the blood of others capable to produce it. It sickened pure thoughts, and rotted the cleanest of hearts. There was no choice when given the virus, only an immortal wait until someone helped you along with God’s blessing. The disease would poison the inheritor’s heart, causing him to flee from the presence of God, seeking the nutrients of human blood.
He loved her so much, and now he was alone in the world, waiting for the day Jesus’ return would and take him home, so he might find love again in a better place. As most of the blood-thirty beasts would, he would flee from the presence of God until he found the one he was to fall truly in love with, and die with her together.
Unfortunately, his plans were foiled, and now he runs from death, unstopping the wait until Jesus himself came again to rid him of all despair along with the rest of his children. Being the only one left. . .his purpose given to him by God was complete, and his wait had begun, but his heart was not settled. Sacrifices were made, but his wish to die in love, had failed him miserably.

It began like any other day ... Plantaganet closed his Bible on the pulpit, ending another evening in the church. He prayed over his day, and stepped down the stage stairs to walk from the sanctuary to the outside.
The sanctuary was a beautiful place, his home. The stained glass windows with its pure colors, sharing the sun’s light into the room giving it life. The hand carved pews, with their silk-lined cushioning. The candle smoke-filled air was its breath, and the cross sitting atop the stage watched over its church’s attendants.
Plantaganet was a very young pastor for his time. Only in his 20's, he was so aged in his relationship with God. He gave God his all in everything, and walked the day to see His will be done. That day, however, things became unnatural for him...
A woman sat alone in the pews, first unnoticed by Plantaganet. She was beautiful, Her wardrobe black as the night, with hints of red in places. Her hair was as white as snow, her face as thin and delicate, her skin unaged. Her radiant grey eyes dashed along a page along with the pen in her hand as she wrote. Plantaganet couldn’t help but be curious, and sat down beside her. She paused for only a moment, keeping her eyes fixed to the page, then continued to write, ignoring the presence of the pastor. He smiled slightly, then reached out his hand to stroke the letters on the page.
“You have beautiful writing,” He began, “and a beautiful face. Strange I haven’t seen it here before.”
“I’m but a wandering writer, waiting for death.” She replied. He became silent for a moment, almost shocked at the words coming from her mouth. Everyone is awaiting death, but why would she mention such a thing to him on first impression?
“I hope the words flowing from your pen aren’t words of despair, child.” He said soothingly to her as she wrote. She put the pen down gently on the paper, and turned her veiled face towards him, their eyes connecting. The silence that followed was beautiful. Alone together in a sanctuary, where God’s people meet as they should, trusting one another and sharing everything in their lives. And then she spoke.
“My name is Adela.” She said smiling. Something in her eyes changed at that moment, and her nostrils flared as if to smell. Her chest bulged as her body was still, trying to conceal her heavy inhaling. Her eyes then closed as she finished taking in the scent in which she searched. She slowly breathed out, “My, it smells nice.”
“Might I ask what?” Plantaganet pondered behind a curious grin.
“The smell of your delicious, human blood.”
The pastor then stood up, an unsettling feeling had passed over him, and the presence of evil was near. “May God’s blessing be with you child.” He spoke, and he began to walk out of the church. Following that, he could recall only the sharp feeling of cold on his neck, as delicate lips came in contact with his flesh, and he became faint...oh so very faint. It was beautiful, like an art. He felt life being taken from him, and could not move; only sit and wait as his life with this world became distant. . .

The next evening, Plantaganet’s eyes opened new, and burned of the worldly air. He sat up quickly, in shock, and relief at the very same time. Everything seemed new to him, but all was old as well. He began to stand up, and escape the darkness that surrounded him, but was stopped midway by a hard piece of wood. He pushed on it hard, and it burst open before him. He was standing now, looking down at where he was. It was an open and empty place underneath the floor of the church; the baptismal pool. It was moss green, with rust in the corners and on the edges. He switched his gaze to the world around him now, at first lost, and then shocked out of his mind.
It was his home, his sanctuary, broken and rusted. The roof was half gone, caved in. The walls were tattered and the wallpaper torn. The only thing that remained unbroken was the cross above the stage.
Plantaganet stepped up from the pool, and slowly walked the floor of his destroyed home. As he walked, he felt light, and he could feel the blood rushing through his veins. All things red around him were bright, and glowing, while everything else was grey and black and white, with hints of color. As he passed a mirror hanging in the hallway of the sanctuary, he took a close look at his changed physical appearance, running a hand over everything different about him, his mind in shock.
His once bleach blond hair was now as dark as the night, along with the area around his eyes. The eyes themselves had become a soothing grey from once radiant blue. The clothes he wore were tattered and old, rotting and moth bitten.
He looked down at his hands, and noticed the dry blood. His mind began to race, and he took another look into the mirror. His mouth now agape from shock, he saw for the first time the two sharp teeth which had formed. It was a nightmare, and he had to wake out of it.
His feet quickened as he stormed out of what was left of the sanctuary doors. He grabbed his hair with his hands and pulled from the pain in his mind.
“What is this God!?” He bellowed into the air. “What have I become!?” Then, a light poured out from the sanctuary, and beckoned Plantaganet to come forth. Without hesitating, he ran inside and up to the pulpit, placing himself in front of the cross. “Is this a cruel joke, Lord? Why have I been reduced to this monster? I’m fulfilling your destiny for my life! I’m leading people to you, Christ, I’m doing everything you’ve asked.”
“And now,” God began, pouring his light from the cross that held the church together,”I have something else to ask of you.” A peace suddenly fell upon Plantaganet, and his troubles of becoming a creature of the night vanished, and he was open to accept whatever it was he had to do. “I have sent this lady creature to you, to send you to become the child of the darkness, so that you might rid them of the world with my blessing.” His voice was strong and soothing, like that of a caring father to his child.
”The ones before you have been defeated for lack of faith, and no one is strong enough now to defeat those who are left to drink the blood of my children. I leave this with you, the desire to drink of the water of life and to walk only the night. . .but fear not, all is well, and I will make it well for you.
I will not allow Satan to dwell within your body to cause you or others harm. He has no place in my will for you. I am giving you this as a gift, rather than a disease, so that you might carry out my will and defeat those who are alike. Drink only their blood to become stronger, and know that I am with you.
I name you now, Plantaganet, the Angel of Blood. Go out now and see to it that every last of Satan’s creatures are demolished from this earth.”
Plantaganet stood before his Lord in awe, and with acceptance, but with only one question in mind.”Lord God,” He began, “How am I to sleep then after, if I am one of those who must be destroyed? I am as immortal as they.”
“Worry not, my child. The day will come where I will come again, to rid the planet of its evil for good. Until that day, you must wait.
My piano has a tune to play for you, and it will end its tunes when the time has come for me to return to the earth as I have promised John and my people before you. And as the piano plays, you will carry out My will for your life. There are only 2 of the kind in which must be destroyed left. They are becoming stronger and increasing their army. I am leaving this task for you to complete, so that the world might again find peace.”

With that, the light pouring from the cross vanished, and Plantaganet was left alone. He was left cleansed and with proper attired, rather than the rags he had been lying in for who knows how long. He was given a clean, black, Victorian suit with a red tie. His hands were gloved in white and his shoes were polished and black.
“It’s nice to see you again, Pastor.” A voice came from behind. “20 years is a very long time.” Without turning around, he knew who it was, her voice was the same, silky smooth.
“It’s really been that long huh?” He replied, fixing the position of his gloves nervously. “And I haven’t aged a bit.”
“That will never happen.” She said. “You’re a child of the darkness now, and you will always be.”
He bowed his head and turned to face her. “God has sent you to me to place this burden of ridding the world of your kind.” She smiled, and walked closer to him.
“That’s correct. You and I will rule this world as the only creatures of the night when its all said and done.” She said, placing her hands around his neck, feeling the marks she left 20 years ago.
“You’ve got the wrong idea.” He began. “God has given this to me as a gift so that I might fulfil his will for my life, not take advantage of it and take rule over those weaker than me. This is my burden now, I must complete it and place my life in His hands.”
“Then I will accompany you.” She said, smiling, gazing into his eyes, the greyness of the two pairs connecting. “For all eternity, I will be with you to fulfil this plan.”
“I wouldn’t like it any other way.” He added, and the two suddenly felt the urge to connect their lips, and share each others prolonged love for each other. And they did.

The night was young, and target one was roaming the alley ways, awaiting victims that he might partake in the drinking of their blood. He was a big man for the creature he was. His short black hair didn’t hide any of the many scars covering his face. They were deep, and long. A terrifying sight, bragging the struggle he had to keep his humanity against the thing that originally gave him his title of “child of the darkness.” He now sat silently waiting a perfect chance to strike an unsuspecting bearer of blood, for his dining. No light snacks tonight, just a pure old fashioned blood bath for him.
“I don’t suspect you were expecting to dine with company tonight.” Spoke a voice from behind.
The creature turned and bared his sharp teeth in a threatening menace. “Whoever’s there, is either going to be dead in a matter of two seconds, or is going to hand over their lives to me without a struggle so that I might continue waiting.” He growled.
“By the name of God, may your damned soul rest in peace. Amen.” The voice spoke, and Plantaganet sprung out from behind the darkness in a quick flash. “You never realize how incredible this disease makes you feel after it being given to you by one who had it planned.” He said, lunging his frail arms towards the massive beast of a blood-sucker. “Don’t let my size fool you, I’m much stronger than you’ll ever be, for your body is just another sickened soul, poisoned by the devil and will rest itself in eternal pain.” The beast became actually frightened by the small menacing pastor before him, and fled from the scene quickly.
Plantaganet released a menacing laugh, and looked toward the building above him where Adela sat waiting to strike. He gave her the right of way, and she nodded in approval. She let out a terrifying shriek and plummeted into the sky. Following close behind the fleeing monster, she jumped from building to building, making sure he didn’t do anything irrational.
Finally, she lunged towards him, and stopped his access into the streets where he would be able to fly into the night unscathed. Stricken with fear, the beast stopped dead in his tracks, and almost surrendered. Adela whistled a loud, long whistle, and within a few seconds Plantaganet appeared behind the larger of the three present.
“By the name of God, may you be silenced.” He said, a wide grin across his face, and with that, he pulled the cross hanging around his neck, and stabbed it into the beast before him. He let out a long powerful scream, and evaporated into the air. His blood was the only solid thing left. Plantaganet cupped a handful of the rich red water that spilled from the beast and set it to his lips, gaining its strength. He sighed victoriously, and stood up to face his accomplice.
“Beautifully executed my love” Adela spoke as she motioned towards the victorious pastor.
“Only one more to go, before I await the day the piano stops playing.” He replied. “Would you care to dance, Adela?” He finished, reaching out a gloved hand in invitation. She smiled and nodded, taking him as he took her in preparation to dance.
The two danced on the spot in the full moon light, middle of the street, until Adela began to talk. “You know Plantaganet...I feel as light as a feather when I’m with you.”
“It’s because we’re lifting off the ground, Adela. Just keep your eyes closed and stay close to me.” he whispered into her ear. She felt the ground underneath her become distant, and the two stepped on air together in perfect dance. That night was perfect, and beautiful.
“I know we’ll find the last one together, Plantaganet.” She said.
“I’m hoping it’s more of a challenge then our last guest.” He said. “I felt like he should of been more than what his size set him out to be. I believe it was God’s dwelling in me, that the viruses natural course caused him to run.”
“Understandable.” She whispered. “I’ve always been sort of afraid of you, I think that’s why I love you so dearly.”
And with that, he came to the hardest realization, and without speaking aloud, engaged in conversation with God.
“. . .She’s the last one, isn’t she Lord?” He thought to himself, keeping his beautiful dance with her undisturbed.
“She’s served her purpose on this earth to help you defeat the last of the threat, now you must send her home.”
“I can’t do that, Lord. I love this woman. She’s the only one like me now, and we will spend eternity together.”
“She is a threat to My earth.” The Lord began. “Unlike you, she has a chance to backslide, and cause my people pain once again, as Satan has already done with his wicked virus. You must send her soul peacefully home, so that you might wait until she may join us. I promise, as I promised John; I will be coming soon.”
A tear ran down his face, and he slowly began his decent to the ground, with her tightly wrapped in his arms. As their feet touched the ground, she opened her eyes, and stared deeply into his.
“That was magic.” She said. “I love you.”
“By the name of God,” He quivered, “May your soul rest in peace. I love you.” Tears began to stream from his eyes, as he shoved the cross from around his neck into her heart.
Blood streamed from her eyes, and she fell to her knees helplessly. “So, this is love.” She looked up into his face as she died. “I can see him, Plantaganet. He and I will be waiting for you.” Her body then blew away in a cloud of dust with the night wind, and Plantaganet was left alone with her blood.

The room was silent where he was now, with only the piano tune playing through his head for what seemed to be eternity. Alone, and waiting for the day he might rejoin his Creator, and the one he loved so dearly. The day will come, for the Lord had promised. “And as the piano plays, you will remain bound to this world. I am coming soon.”

Nathan Malec 11/07

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