The Gift of Light: (Revised) (The Gifts Book 1) (5 page)

Chapter Seven

“And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”

John 1:33

New American Standard Bible

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance”

Acts 2:4

New American Standard Bible

     Marta’s return to school was not nearly as difficult as she had imagined it would be. Sure, she got an occasional stare, but most everyone was kind and just let the whole matter of her being bald drop. Business went on as usual. With Emily at her side, Marta’s infectious happiness and optimistic nature returned. Summer break was on the horizon, and so was Emily’s fourteenth birthday.

     Marta secretly worked with Aunt Gemma to throw a big poolside bash at Perry House on the Saturday next. Passing out invitations at school without Emily finding out was hard, but Marta was smart and very sneaky about it. Emily didn’t have a clue.

     On the day of the birthday party Liam took Emily with him to run errands and do some shopping for Aunt Gemma. Marta and her mother helped Gemma set up the party. They’d decided on a Hawaiian theme and all around the pool, strategically placed tiki torches flickered. On the menu, barbequed spare ribs, fresh corn on the cob, baked potatoes and platters of fresh fruit. Bright flower leis, plastic coconut drinking cups with umbrella straws and party favors covered the tables.

     They’d decorated the gorgeous cake with real

orchids in various vivid colors. Soon the guests began arriving in brightly colored beach attire and carrying colorful packages.

     Marta met Emily at the cottage with her first birthday present of the day.

     “Hey there, what are you doing here?” Emily asked as she brought in bags of groceries for her Aunt and set them on the kitchen table.

     “I have a surprise for you, Miss Emily Bell,” Marta stated as she held the carefully wrapped gift box out to her friend.

     “Oh, Marta, you shouldn’t have. My birthday is not until next week anyway.”

     “Well, I think you should open this first and then join me at the pool. I’m just dying to go for a swim, aren’t you?”

      Emily gave her friend a curious look and then shrugged. She loved being with Marta and besides, it was hot today. How could she say no? She nodded in agreement. “Let me finish putting these things away.” She indicated the grocery bags with a shrug.

     “You have ten minutes, Em. Otherwise, I’m coming after you all wet and sloppy, got it?”      “OK, OK, I’m coming; don’t get your bathing suit in a wad.” Emily took the box in her room and opened it. Just as she suspected, it was a beautiful bathing suit that fit her perfectly, and in no time, she had her bright red curls up in a messy ponytail. She headed for the pool with a beach towel in one hand and sunscreen in the other, armed against sunburn and a freckle attack.

     Cries of Surprise and Happy Birthday echoed across the yard as Emily came through the gate to the pool area. All her friends from school gathered around with Marta, her mother, Aunt Gemma, Liam, and Mr. Perry. The whole area glowed with candles, fragrant Hawaiian flowers and bright tiki torches. It was a beautiful sight and tears brimmed in Emily’s big green eyes.

     The party was a huge success and Marta stayed overnight in the cottage with Emma. Exhausted, both girls went right to sleep.

***

     The following weekend Emily went to church with her aunt. Since she’d turned fourteen, it was time to receive a water baptism and all the arrangements were made. Emily gave her life to Jesus in this same church the summer she had turned eight.

    She remembered the sinner’s prayer as she recited it on her knees in front of the congregation. Feeling the need to rededicate her life to Christ, she recited the prayer again as she donned the white robe she would wear into the baptismal pool

     “Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.

     I believe in my heart you are the Son of God, who died on the cross for my sins and that you resurrected from the dead.

     Thank you for paying the price for my sins. Forgive me and make me a new person. Cleanse me of my sins with your blood, wash me in the water of your Word, and come into my heart. I commit my life to you today, and I receive you as my Lord, as my Savior, and as my High Priest. I pray this prayer to God, the Father

Almighty, in the name of Christ Jesus.

Amen.”

     Emily finished her prayer and stepped into the pool with the preacher, Reverend Chorley. He was a kindly man in his early forties. Emily had known him and his wife since the day they came to the church the summer she gave her life to Jesus. Reverend Chorley placed his hand over Emily’s mouth and nose as he lowered her into the water. He prayed. “I now baptize thee, Emily Amanda Bell, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

     Surrounded as she was by a blinding white light, time stopped for Emily as the Reverend pulled her up from the water.

     Emily heard someone speaking in a language she could not understand. As she looked upward, the light began to pull away and she saw a white dove fly away from her into the center of the light. Then the light faded and Emily realized she was standing in the water with her hands and arms raised above her head. The strange language she heard came from her own mouth.

     The entire congregation was silent. Emily turned to the Reverend, about to ask him what happened when he shouted, “Praise the Lord, our Emily has just received the baptism of the Holy Spirit!”

     The rest of the congregation followed suit with shouts of “Praise the Lord!” echoing all around the sanctuary. Emily looked over at her Aunt Gemma to see tears streaming down her face. Confused as she was, Emily knew that something amazing had just happened. She thought about the bright light and the dove, and a peace came over her like none she had ever known before.

***

     Bradley dreaded summer vacation. He did not want to return to Hook Pond. He’d done well with his academics and drills and tried to stay out of trouble. The last thing he wanted was expulsion from another school. He’d formed a tentative friendship with his roommate, Wally, and made the decision that he could be happy here.

     Something told him that if he went back to Hook Pond, his father would not allow him to return to the academy. There had to be a way he could spend the summer away from his father. Bradley pondered on this as he finished packing his bags. He reached under his bed to retrieve any lost items, and his hand latched onto the letter he had kicked there weeks ago. The letter from his crazy Aunt Amelia; he’d forgotten all about it. He tore the envelope open, pulled out the letter and read it.

My Dearest Nephew Bradley,

You may not know this, but I am your Aunt Amelia. Your mother, Camille, was my sister. You are my last living relative. All that I have will be yours someday, and I hold a large trust in your name until you turn twenty-one.

I hope one day that we will meet face to face, but until that time comes, I want you to know that if you ever need me for anything I am here for you. You are not alone, Bradley. You have me and we are family. No matter what your father says, he can’t change that.

In this letter, you will find a card with my address and phone numbers. You may call on me anytime. I will answer.

Aunt Amelia

     Bradley sat on the side of his bed, dumbfounded. All he ever heard about his Aunt Amelia was that she had lost her mind after his mother died. His father forbade him to have anything to do with her, supposedly for safety’s sake because she was insane and there was no telling what she might try to do to him.

     She didn’t sound crazy in her note plus she’d been smart enough to send a private messenger with this letter. He pulled his aunt’s card out of the envelope. She had a New York address. Surely that meant she wasn’t locked up in some loony bin somewhere.

     Bradley wondered what it would hurt to call her. Maybe she would let him stay with her instead of going back to Hook Pond. Oh, but wouldn’t that just make his father even more angry? Bitter, he laughed to himself. No matter what, his father was always angry at him for something.

     Suddenly the thought of returning to Hook Pond made him physically ill. He knew it was not just his father he didn’t want to deal with. It was Marta. The thought of facing her again scared him to death. What if he ran into her by accident? What would he say? Sorry would never be good enough. What he had done was unforgivable.

     He dug his cell phone out of one of his bags and punched in his aunt’s phone number. She answered on the first ring. “Hello, this is Amelia.”

     “Aunt Amelia, this is your nephew, Bradley. I need your help.”

     Amelia fell to her knees. “Oh, praise God. Bradley, I have waited so long to hear your voice. What can I do for you?”

     Bradley spent the next several minutes explaining the nature of his problem to his aunt. He did not leave out any details and even told her what he had done to Marta.

     “Bradley, you leave all this to me. You stay put. I’m sending someone for you right away. You can stay with me for the summer, and do not worry about your father. I will deal with him directly.” His aunt hung up the phone and made some more calls. A few hours later Bradley was on a flight headed to

New York.

     Unbeknownst to Bradley, two silent and invisible beings accompanied him. Angels that Liam had assigned to the boy, travelled on the plane beside him. The demons, Hate and Rebellion, remained behind, their influence on the boy severed by the prayers that had gone up for him.

Chapter Eight

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 40:11

King James Version

     The guru, Bathomet, was very well ensconced in the senator’s mansion. He and the senator had an excellent arrangement. The senator made large cash deposits into a private offshore account on a regular basis.

     In return, the guru taught him how to chant and how to pray to the many gods of luck and good fortune to bless him and grant his desires. The senator learned how to worship them, how to channel their spirits so they would bless him beyond his wildest dreams.

     Bathomet belonged to an elite group of gurus who practiced the art of using spirit guides to lead them to the gods of Luck and Fortune. They believed that the spirit guides answered to them as they became human incarnates of the gods. In this way, they could perform great acts of magic, and bring good fortune and luck as they wished by having the spirits do their bidding. Only through strict worship of the gods through daily chanting could they achieve this plateau.

     They belonged to a very powerful cult and had close ties to influential people. As with most cults, they were reclusive, a well-kept secret of the rich and powerful.

     In less than a month, the senator nearly doubled his fortune with good luck and sound business investments and his influence grew along with his power.

     Doors opened to him amongst the cream of the political and financial elite. Although still not as wealthy and powerful as he wanted to be, Brad Steel was on the path to the White House, paved by his guru. The senator reveled in his newfound abilities and thrilled with his guru, who taught him and his entire staff the true meaning of achieving success in meditation, chanting and channeling spirit guides.

***

     The Demon Prince, Azelius, also grew in might, and his horde expanded in great numbers as the senator and his guru chanted daily for hours, drawing the evil ones in.

     The day the senator’s son was due to return home for summer break, two weak and diminished demons appeared amongst the growing horde surrounding the mansion. Hate and Rebellion returned bearing bad tidings.

     As they appeared before Azelius, the senator took the phone call he’d been dreading for over a decade. Both unavoidable and of no surprise, he knew one day Amelia Stanford would call in some

old debts.

     “Amelia, good to hear from you.” The senator knew his day had come.

     “Cut the crap, Brad. You and I both know I’m the last person you want to talk to.”

     “Alright, Amelia, let’s have it. What do you want from me now?”

     “I have some news. Bradley is here with me in Manhattan. We will be spending the summer together.”

     “What did you say? You can’t have my son. I won’t allow it.”

     “Oh, yes. You’ll allow it, Brad. I can destroy you with one phone call to the press and you know it.”

     He sputtered in response. “You wouldn’t dare!”

     “Of course I would, Brad. Why not? At this point, what do I have to lose?”

     The senator raved, having so much to lose on his own, but nothing audible came forth. Amelia replied through gritted teeth. “These are my demands, Brad and they’re nonnegotiable. You will meet them. I hope you hear my tone because I’m not kidding.” She paused to allow him to regain his composure.

     “You will meet me here at the penthouse in two days. We will discuss my terms with my parents’ estate attorney present. You will do this, Brad. My days of being your secret-keeper are over. Be cooperative and I will as well. Otherwise, I will talk at the top of my lungs to anyone who will listen. Oh, and lest you forget, you owe my parents’ estate millions of dollars. I will see you in two days. I expect you here at two o’clock on the dot. Ta-ta, dear.” With that, the phone went dead.

     Brad threw the offensive instrument across the room. It smashed into a hundred pieces against a glass wall. How dare that woman interfere in his life? This was a complication he would have to deal with immediately. He called his assistant.

     Azelius listened in on the phone conversation as Hate and Rebellion stood trembling before him. He drew his sword, prepared to strike them both down, but stayed his hand. He might still have use for them. It might not be too late to win the boy back.

     “Be gone from my sight, you loathsome beings. Do not appear before me again until I summon you.” The demons disappeared in a flash of grey smoke at the very second the Prince finished speaking.

     Amelia and Bradley spent the next two days getting to know each other as they redecorated his room. Amelia explained that the room had been his since the day he was born. He stayed in it whenever he and his mother visited his grandparents. The problem was that the room was for a toddler, not a fourteen-year-old boy.

     One afternoon Bradley asked his aunt for the millionth time, “Are you sure my father is going to let me stay?”

      “Bradley, trust me in this. Not only is your father going to let you stay this summer, you can stay each and every summer you want from now on.” Amelia ruffled his hair as she smiled.

      Bradley still wasn’t sure. He was so afraid his father would come and take him away, and then he would never get to see his aunt again, and he wouldn’t be allowed to return to the military academy, even though his aunt reassured him he would continue at the military academy as long as he wanted to.

     Amelia held some things back from the boy out of prudence. She didn’t tell him that all of his private schooling was paid for out of a trust fund that she controlled.

     At the precisely appointed time, Brad rang the penthouse doorbell. Bradley would stay in his room until his aunt called for him.

     “Brad, you are punctual as always I see.” Amelia let him in and led him to her office, where an elderly attorney waited for them. A younger apprentice attorney was with him.

     “OK, Amelia, in your own words, let’s cut the crap. Why have you summoned me, here and why have you taken my son?”

     “Oh, let’s do. I’ve summoned you here to remind you that you owe me seven point five million dollars. This is money loaned to you by my parents over the course of your seven year marriage to my sister.”

     At this point, the elderly attorney gestured to the younger one to produce the promissory notes signed by Brad and his deceased father-in-law.

     “OK, Amelia. I assume that you want to make a deal here. What is it you want, full custody of my son? Well you can’t have it.” Brad resorted to being what he knew best, a bully.

     “No, Brad, I don’t want custody, I want visitation rights. I want the boy free to be here whenever he wants to be. In exchange, I will cancel the entire debt you owe the estate, and I will sign over both of my sister’s homes, the beachfront house in Hook Pond and the townhouse in DC to you alone.” Amelia threw down her bargaining chips, and Brad wasted no time in accepting a deal that was clearly to his advantage.

     “Fine, you can have visitation with him during the summers. I’ll have him during the holidays. In fact, I’m considering having him homeschooled by private tutors. That way I’ll be able to see him more often when I am not away in DC or on the campaign trail.”

     “Oh no, you won’t. Don’t forget, I manage the boy’s trust fund and educational monies, per my father’s will. Bradley is doing exceedingly well at the military academy, and he wants to stay there.”

     At this point, the senator’s jaw began to clench as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He wanted out from under the control of this witch badly enough to consider just giving her full custody of Bradley. His only concern was how it would appear in the eyes of the press. He could not afford the reputation of bad father.

     “Fine, we have a deal. You can have visitation rights during the summers, and he can continue to attend the military academy as long as he keeps his grades up and stays out of trouble. I want Bradley home for the holidays for photo ops and press appearances.”

     “You really are something, you know? Your only interest in being with your son is to have him make you look good.” It took everything Amelia had not to slap him.

     With all the papers and documents in order, Amelia, Brad, and the elderly attorney signed the contracts ending the debt to the estate, and Amelia signed over the deeds to the properties. Brad signed a joint custody agreement with Amelia for his son. After the attorneys took their leave, Brad and Amelia had one last private conversation.

     “How do I know I can trust you to keep your mouth shut about Camille?” Brad glared at her as he snarled the words.

     “You don’t. You have no choice but to trust me. I would not hurt my sister’s son for the world. As long as you keep your end of the bargain, I will keep mine.” At least until the boy is grown.

     “Too bad you didn’t feel the same way about hurting your sister, huh, Amelia?” Brad stated with a smirk on his face.

     “Get out!” Amelia shouted and pointed at the door. “Out!”

     Brad turned on his heel. “Tell my son I’ll see him at Thanksgiving.”

     Azelius followed the senator out the door, both free of the meddling Amelia. This may be just the thing. And the boy would be home for Thanksgiving. That would give him plenty of time to get his little human puppets back in line. This may be just the opportunity I need.