At this time of year, the air above Greenwich Village would typically be filled with the lifting lyrics of Christmas carols and the joyous wonderment of Christmas cheer. This year, however, the atmosphere was much more somber. The world truly was a darker and more fearful place than before. Recent events had washed the world with nefarious power and its stench was everywhere.

{See Bloodrise #4 for the explanation}

Inside of a simple home in the Village, there were two people who had seen dark power before and recognized the necromantic energy that pervaded the world now. They were mother and son, Domini and Janus, and they were both intricately linked to darkness. Through Domini, Janus was fathered by the depraved vampire Dracula.

"It's wonderful to have you home for Christmas this year, Janus," Domini said gratefully. While she was no longer a young woman, she still possessed an undeniable beauty that was difficult to quantify. It was not her long brunette hair, it was not her slim figure, it was not her smooth facial features. Rather, it was something that came from inside of her, a beauty that radiated from her every pore and touched whose eyes fell upon her. As she sat upon the covered couch, she looked lovingly into her son's bright eyes.

"There is no other place that I would rather be," Janus replied. He was glad to be at home for Christmas this year. He had suffered the last holiday in the captivity of the First Vampire, Varnae. With Blade's assistance, he was able to escape and be re-united with his mother.

Domini nodded. "I'm glad." She took the golden-skinned lad's hand. "Though sometime I wonder if you would rather be with Him."

Janus put his hands upon hers. "Mother, I am your son. Though the love I have for Him is even more than that I have for you, my place is here."

"But your other self …"

"My other self," Janus answered, "is an angelic spirit. I am, and always will be, your son. I have been chosen to be an instrument of Heaven with the spirit, but I am your son."

"I know, I know," Domini said softly as she squeezed Janus' hand. Sometimes, it seemed incredible where her life had taken her. She had gone from a father who could not understand her but loved her unconditionally to a demonic cult that abused her. She had found her faith once again amidst the darkness and had stolen the heart of Dracula. She bore him a son, only to see the child die and rise again. Her child had become an agent of angelic possession and a weapon against Dracula. When her husband had been seemingly destroyed, she hoped for a simpler and faith-filled life with her son. That was not be, since the vampires returned and Janus was taken as a pawn in the battle between Varnae and Dracula for dominion over the undead. Now, Janus was hers once again.

Still holding his hands, Domini rose from the couch and led him to the dinner table. After Janus took his seat, Domini went back into the kitchen and brought out the various dishes. Setting them down, they prayed and then began to eat.

After dinner, they stood by the Christmas tree and looked outside. The streets were deserted. It was not just because of the holiday. Not many people dared venture outside at night, even in the supposedly "safe" neighborhoods.

"A shadow has come over the world. Do you … I mean, does the angel know if this means the end if near," Domini asked nervously.

"Neither he nor I know the hour of the end," Janus replied with a confidence that belied his young years. "All I know that I have been given a task and I cannot refuse it." Janus gazed at the night sky. "The stars, Mother. Truly one of God's most wonderful creations."

"Yes," Domini replied. "To think that two thousand years ago, a star led the way to our Savior."

Domini put her hands on Janus' shoulders and continued to gaze outside. There were a multitude of stars up in the heavens. She could not help but think how uncountable they truly were. Her eyes were drawn to one star in particular now. It was blazing with a magnitude outstripping all others in the sky. At first she thought it might be a "shooting star" but it remained stationary and burned intensely.

"Janus? What is it?" Domini asked.

Janus turned and looked at his mother. Before her very eyes, he transformed from the youth that he was into the broad-shouldered and muscular figure he became when the angelic spirit manifested. "It is a sign, Mother," Janus said with a much deeper voice now.

"A sign?"

"A sign to which I must respond. Whether it bodes ill or well, I do not know." He leaned over slightly and kissed her on the top of the head. "Merry Christmas, in case I do not return before midnight." He walked to the door.

"Must you go, on this of all nights?" Domini pleaded as Janus stood in the open doorway.

"It is because it is this night of nights that I must go." Janus' body shimmered and then took the form of a golden eagle. With powerful flaps of his wings, he took to the air and headed towards the star.

Just outside of the city on the other side of the New Jersey border, a beaten, battered and rusted car stood on the edge of the road. The vehicle had obviously broken down and breathed its last breath of gasoline vapor. Now, its driver and his wife stood by the car, desperately seeking help in their plight. The man was slightly emaciated but there still burned a fire of life in his eyes. The aura of life was even stronger in his wife - she was with child and the time had come.

"For the love of God!" the man exclaimed. "Won't anybody give us any help? They gotta be able to see that you're pregnant!"

The woman reached out and took a hold of the man's elbow. "Take it easy, Stan. We'll be OK."

"You're remarkably calm, Lizzie," Stan laughed. "And you're the one going through the contractions. We gotta get you to a hospital."

"God will provide," Lizzie said soothingly. She wrapped her thin coat tight around her pregnant form. "It's Christmas, after all."

Stan shrugged and tried to flag down one of the few cars passing by. "Not a whole lot of Christmas spirit going on today. The whole world's going to a hell in a handbasket!"

"Don't talk like that, Stan. Things will be OK. Somebody will help us out."

"Quite right," a voice rang out from behind them. "We wouldn't want you to freeze to death."

Stan and Lizzie whirled to see two figures standing behind them in the woods along the road's shoulder. It was a man and woman. They wore outfits of leather, but certainly of even less protection against the cold than the clothes worn by Stan and Lizzie. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their pale skin made their red lips more pronounced.

"See?" Lizzie smiled at Stan.

Stand looked around quickly. There was no other car around. "Where'd you folks come from?"

The two newcomers smiled at each other knowingly. "We live just off the road, back there." The man pointed to the woods behind.

Stan eyed them suspiciously. "I don't see no houses back there."

"Stan," Lizzie pleaded. "Don't give them grief. They're here to help us."

Lizzie always was too trusting, Stan thought. He put up his palm towards Lizzie. "I'll handle this." He stared at the newcomers. "The car broke down, probably dead. Lizzie here's pregnant and gonna have our baby soon. We gotta get her to a hospital. You got a vehicle around here?"

"Our kind do not need vehicles," the woman replied sharply.

Stan was taken aback. "What the heck is your kind?"

The duo began advancing upon Stan and Lizzie and bared the fangs that lay behind their blood-red lips. "There will be no need of the maternity ward at the hospital. The morgue is where you're going, unless we decide to turn you."

The sight before him was inconceivable. Stan could not believe that the two creatures before him were vampires.

The male vampire's hands darted out and grasped Stan's tattered coat. "I see the shock on your face, human. Yes, we are vampires and we will feed upon you."

"Don't take him yet, Doug," the female vampire called out. "You promised that we could share him as an appetizer."

Doug sighed. "All right, Tessa. Then the woman, and then the child for dessert."

Lizzie was staggering backwards. Fear began to overtake her and she screamed out her terror. She tried to convince herself that the sight before her was not true. There were not two vampires threatening Stan, herself, and their unborn child. There was not a golden eagle descending from the night sky, seemingly out of the brilliant star which seemed to be hovering overhead.

The vampires noticed the arrival of the golden eagle. Doug dropped Stan from his grasp. "What the devil is that?"

The golden eagle alighted on the broken down car and resumed the shape of Janus. "I have nothing to do with the Fallen One, save to oppose all that his evil has touched." His eyes shone with righteous fury.

Doug rushed at Janus with his talon-like fingers ready. "Must be some new superhero from the Big Apple. Bet he doesn't have a clue about our kind."

Janus moved with blinding speed as he leapt down from the car's roof and barreled into Doug. "I know far more about the undead than you could ever imagine." The impact smashed Doug into the cold pavement.

"You hurt Dougie!" Tessa snarled. She shifted to bat-form and flew at Janus. She circled the Angelic Avenger, trying for bury her fangs into his golden skin. However, every time she came close, Janus slapped her away.

Doug struggled to get to his feet. He looked up with his bloodshot eyes and his stare met that of the son of Dracula. Janus' eyes blazed with golden light. Their glow enveloped Doug and set his undead body aflame. Doug rushed back into the woods. He dove into the thin layer of snow upon the ground and tried to douse the flame that burned his dead flash.

Janus' gaze now fixed itself upon Tessa. The vampiress quickly shifted to a mist, and his beams of pure light passed through her, though not harmlessly. Even in her mist form, Tessa could feel the purity and it pained her. She switched back to humanoid form and hissed at Janus.

She swung at Janus, but the Golden Gladiator caught her fist. She tried to pull back, but his strength matched her undead power. He began to squeeze and Tessa cried out in pain. Her hand was slowly reduced to a pulp. Dark ichor flowed from where the remnants of the hand had been.

Janus released his grip and Tessa gripped her smashed hand with the other. His eyes blazed once again and Tessa was now aflame. She struggled away, trying to reach the snow.

Turning towards Stand and Lizzie, Janus extended his hands. "Have no fear."

Stan approached him warily. "OK. I'm … not afraid of you." He looked over to the two vampires smoldering in the snow. "Thanks."

"Thank God!" Lizzie added and then doubled over as another contraction wracked her body.

"Indeed," Janus smiled. "The time has come. Help your wife to the car."

Stan shook his head. "It don't work. That's what got us into the mess in the first place."

"Have faith," Janus replied.

Something in Janus eyes made Stan believe that there was no deception involved. He helped Lizzie into the passenger side and then circled around and got in himself. He stuck the key in the ignition and turned it a few times but the engine would not start. "See?" He rolled down the window to tell their savior when he felt the cold wind blowing in his face. As his eyes focused on what was outside of the window, he saw that it was not the cold gusts of winter blowing into the car, it was air flowing into the car since it was moving. The car was moving; in fact, it was flying.

Janus was above the car, once more in his avian form. His talons gripped the roof of the car and he lifted it off the road, flying unerringly to the nearest hospital.

…

A few hour later, Lizzie and Stan were in the recovery room. Their baby daughter was nestled lovingly in Lizzie's arms. In a hospital gown, Lizzie was lying on the bed while Stan sat beside her, a broad smile upon his face.

"It just seemed so unreal." Stan wiped some perspiration from Lizzie's forehead. " I can't believe it really happened."

"It's a miracle, honey," Lizzie declared. "An honest to God miracle."

"All miracles come from him." Janus now stood in the doorway.

"It's you," Lizzie exclaimed. "We thought you had left when you brought us here to the hospital."

"You have a lovely daughter." Janus strode forward and softly touched the baby's head. The child smiled and giggled at his touch.

"We can't ever thank you enough for saving us from those … things," Stan said gratefully. He extended his hand. "We never caught your name. I'm Stan Jacobs, and this is my wife Lizzie."

"What's your name?" Lizzie asked.

"I am Janus."

"Then we'll name our daughter you," Lizzie announced. "We'll call her Jana."

"That is very generous of you," Janus replied. A slight frown came to his face. He gently touched Jana's head again. "Here it is, Christmas and your birthday, but I have no gift for you."

"You saved her life .. and ours," Stan said. "That's the greatest gift anyone could give."

"Life is God's gift," Janus answered. "Still, there is something I can give you." He stepped towards the door and closed it.

"Though the world is a darker place, the light of hope still shines." His eyes began to shine and then his whole body. The glow seemed to weaken, though it actually became much stronger. It was just … clearer. Inside of the brilliance, Janus' true angelic form stood.

The Jacobs family watched in wide-eyed amazement. It was the most beautiful sight they had ever seen.

"I am just a small testament to His Glory," Janus voiced echoed with a power they had never heard. "His handiwork is my gift to you." The spectacle of light subsided and Janus was gone.

_______

To few the scattered pedestrians outside of its walls, the Chiaroscuro seemed to simply be another square block of abandoned buildings. However, the ramshackle building fronts were only a shell for a much more impressive complex hidden inside. The Chiaroscuro was the local headquarters and armory for the ancient order of mystic warrior-scholars called the Cathari.

The Chiaroscuro was home to only one of the Order's members, the local master named Bible John Carik. He was different from most of the Order, not just because that his body was covered with runes and mystic tattoos, but because of his theology and his philosophy. He had taken a much stronger stance against the powers of darkness than his brethren had done. As part of this stance, he had befriended the vampire-slayer Blade. He had brought Blade to the Chiaroscuro and gave him full access to its facilities and resources. He knew that in times past, Blade had shared his personal view that it was not just the creatures of the supernatural that needed to be destroyed but also those of the natural world that dabbled with the forces of darkness.

The others of the Cathari deemed it heresy to inflict harm on their fellow man, but Bible John persisted in his own ways. With the new evil that permeated the world, Bible John was even more certain than ever that his was the correct way. "Better to cut off a hand than have the whole body thrown into Gehenna" was to his way of thinking.

Bible John looked up from the ancient tome he was reading and checked his watch. It was late afternoon and the sun would be setting soon. He closed the book and headed towards Blade's quarters.

Inside of Blade's room, the vampire hunter was slipping on his boots. He already had on his long leather coat, and a bandolier of teak daggers was strapped around his chest underneath the coat. He took a look in the mirror and adjusted his green goggles. He took a quick look at the two photos on the dresser. They were of the women he loved most - his mother, the woman he never knew, and Safron Caulder, who loved him despite what he was.

He started to head out of the room, but he stopped suddenly when he saw Bible John standing in the doorway.

"It's Christmas Eve, Blade," Bible John said. "Why don't you stay in for the night."

"Vamps don't take no freaking holiday," Blade grunted. "Things are bad out there, John. I told you it's even worse than before and I gotta blame Strange for part of it." Recent events grated on Blade's nerves - no cure for Hannibal, the daywalking Bloodstorm, the evil unleashed by the destruction of the Book of Erebus. "Every time he tries to deal with vamps, it just gets worse. So somebody's gotta do it, and I elect me."

"Want some company?" Bible John offered. "Just let me get my witch compass and …"

"Forget it," Blade interrupted. "You just keep the chestnuts roasting on an open fire and sing Christmas carols here and give God a 'Hallelujah!'. And say a prayer for me while you're at it. Me, I'm gonna slay vamps."

A few hours later, Blade was trudging through a snow-covered street. It was in a poorer section of town, and apparently the Department of Public Works decided that this are could wait a while before its streets were plowed. With his outfit, Blade did not seem all that out of place. It looked like he was wearing a bulky winter coat and ski goggles.

The night had not proven successful for Blade. He had found a few vampires and scared them off, but he had not even drawn a teak dagger yet. It was getting colder and Blade was getting bitter.

"Oh what fun to laugh and sing a slaying song tonight!" Blade muttered.

Suddenly. Blade's occult sense kicked in. There was something going on, and it was nearby. He unbuttoned his jacket, got out a teak dagger and slipped it beneath his glove. He looked around. He did not see or hear anything. He kept on walking until he came upon a vacant lot. There were three crouching figures huddled over something.

"Bingo!" Blade hissed. "Vamps at twelve o'clock." With a flick of his wrist, the teak dagger was out of his glove and into his hand.

"Hey, whatcha got there?" he called out.

The three figures rose and turned to face Blade. Their facial features were hidden by their upturned collars.

"Leave us alone," one shouted. "This does not concern you."

"Wrong-o!" Blade retorted. "My little cold Rudoph-red nose tells me you reek of the occult, and probably in the worst way - vampires!"

The trio stared at Blade and they now recognized him from the whisperings of all the undead. Every vampire in knew of Blade. If they didn't know about him, they usually learned about him the hard way - with a dagger in the heart.

"It's Blade!" one shouted

"Kill him!" cried another.

"The three Wise Men you ain't," Blade laughed. "Taking on the baddest vampire-slayer around only three to one. Way I see it, I got ya outnumbered." With a dagger in each hand, he leapt into their midst. The vampires slashed as he tumbled past them, but they only sliced through the air.

His back momentarily turned, Blade swung back with both arms. Each dagger cut into a vampire's undead flesh. "First blood to the slayer!"

The wounds only enraged the vampires and they regrouped to attack once again. One took the form of a wolf, another transformed into a bat, and the third dissolved into mist.

Blade sized up the situation quickly. The one in mist would have to wait, the bat and the wolf had to go first. He tried to keep an eye on the misted vampire, but his concentration had to be focused on the two in feral form. The bat flew for his head while the wolf went for his legs. Blade blunted their attack by ducking under the bat and smashing his boot into the wolf's snout.

Blade drove both daggers into the back of the wolf. The lupine howled in pain and the slumped to the ground. Quickly digging for more daggers, Blade was ready as the bat doubled back. The vampire-slayer let the first dagger fly, deliberately a bit off the mark. The bat swerved, and Blade hurled the second, hilt first. The dagger cracked against the bat's skull and caused it to flutter to the ground.

Taking another pair of daggers, Blade drove both through the heart of the wolf-vampire, who had now reverted to humanoid form. He scanned the scene for the mist-vampire, but he did not see a sign of it. The bat-form had lost its concentration and returned to its humanoid shape. It also experienced the agony of a dagger through its heart.

Suddenly, Blade felt cold, clammy arms wrap themselves around him. The mist-vampire had rematerialized behind him and held him fast. Blade struggled to arm himself again, but his arms were pinned to his side by the creature's inhuman strength. He could feel the fetid breath of the vampire on his neck.

"Now you die, Blade!" the vampire exulted.

"Man, it can't end like this," Blade thought. "Some gutter vamp taking me out!" He kicked back and tried to trip the vampire, but to no avail.

Suddenly, the entire darkened landscape was illuminated from above. Blade and the vampire both looked up to see a single star blazing with unnatural magnitude.

The vampire's grip began to go slack and it winced in pain. "It burns like the sun!" it cried.

Blade took advantage of the situation drove his elbow into the vampire's groin. While the strike did not actually hurt the vampire, the memory of what it would have felt like caused the revenant to release his hold.

"Guess that's my lucky star!" Blade shouted. He had a teak dagger in hand, and a lightning-fast slice separated the vampire's head from its body.

Blade doubled over and caught his breath. "That was close, too close," he muttered. Once he was recovered, he kicked the bodies together (after 'inserting' a dagger into the mist-vampire's heart). Once they were piled up, he decapitated the other two and ignited them with his lighter.

Though he knew it was unnatural, he basked in the warmth of the funeral pile. The flames danced on his goggles as the vampires burned. The light of the flame displayed that a section of earth had recently been turned.

"Hmm," Blade thought. "Must be what they were hanging out here for." He used his daggers as makeshift hand-shovels to uncover what was buried there. After digging down a few inches, he found what he expected - a cold human body. It was a man, dressed in a poor suit. Blade turned the body's head to see the vampire bite marks on the neck.

"A victim or a vamp still snoozing?" Blade thought. He raised a dagger above this head. "No sense taking chances!"

Just then, the man's eyes opened. His mouth opened wide in shock at the sight of the dagger. The reaction bared the man's vampiric canines. "Wait! I'm one of … them now, aren't I?" He raised his hands as if to stop Blade.

"Them? Yeah, you're a stinking bloodsucker, and I'm gonna make this your permanent grave." Blade was ready to plunge with the dagger.

"Lord have mercy on me. Lord have mercy," the vampire cried.

Blade was taken aback. He had never heard a vampire sound so religious before. "Lord? You appealing to Dracula or Varnae, scum?"

"No, the Lord God," the man sobbed. "I'm an abomination in his eyes."

"You got that right," Blade agreed. "If you hate being a vamp so much, why you still stalking?"

"I've never stalked," the man sighed. "I was killed three nights ago by …" He looked and saw the burning bodies of the other vampires. "By them, and now three nights later I have risen undead."

"Well, it looks like your career as a bloodsucker is gonna end before it even starts." Blade gripped the dagger tightly.

"Wait! Please! I beg you! Don't kill me!" the man pleaded. "If it's been three days, then it's Christmas Eve, right?"

"Yeah," Blade answered. "But I don't give out free passes as gifts."

"Then the Lord answered my prayer."

"Whatcha talking about? A few seconds ago, you say you're an abomination and now you say you're grateful for being turned."

"Let me explain," the man said. "My name's Stephan Rodescu and I was dying of cancer. I wasn't going to make it until Christmas, and I wanted to spend one last Christmas with my wife and children. I could feel myself getting weaker and I did not want to have my children see their father die. Three nights ago, I left home, looking for answers. I came here and got down on my knees and waited for the end. I asked God if there was any way I could see one last Christmas. That's when the vampires came. I know of them from the old country, from the tales my grandfather told. When they came, they laughed about how I would see my family again, and that I could bring them across as my Christmas present to them. They turned me and buried me here."

"Man," Blade sighed. He was surprised by his own reaction. He could tell that this man was telling the truth, he could just tell, and he felt deep sympathy for him.

"I know I must die, Mister …?" Stephan admitted.

"Blade."

"I know I must die, Blade, but I would rather die by the light of the sun. I want to see my family one last time, for one last Christmas."

"I don't know," Blade shrugged.

"I will not feed on them, I will not feed on anyone. As God as my witness, I will stand before the sun on Christmas Day," Stephan declared adamantly. "He has given me this gift, please do not take it away."

"Well," Blade gulped. "Since it's from the Big Guy, I guess I can let it go, but I'll be watching you."

"Of course you will. I insist that you come with me. Share in my family's Christmas celebration," Stephan urged.

"OK." Blade waited the flames to completely consume that vampires. Then he scattered their ashes with disgust.

Blade and Stephan walked the few blocks to Stephan's small home in silence. They walked through the creaking front door into the living room. Their entrance garnered the attention of the family. Stephan's wife and three sons were decorating the small artificial tree that stood before the cold fireplace.

"Stephan?" the wife called out in surprised joy.

"Anna," Stephan replied softly. He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

Anna nestled her head in Stephan's chest. "Oh, Stephan. We thought that you …" She looked up into his eyes and she could tell that he was different.

"Daddy!" the three boys shouted as they joined in the family hug.

Blade stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do. Stephan turned towards him and smiled. "Anna, George, William, Conrad. This is Mister Blade. He saved my life."

"Uh, hi," Blade shrugged.

"Then you must stay for Christmas dinner with us," Anna declared. "There is no question."

The children rushed over to Blade and dragged him by the coat to the dinner table. He sat himself down and joined them in the celebration meal. Anna read from the second chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew before she served the food. The meal was not lavish by any means. Blade could not recognize any of the ethnic dishes, but he had to admit that it had extraordinary taste.

Once the meal was over, Blade smiled and thanked Anna. "That was a wonderful meal, Mrs. Rodescu."

"You are very kind, Mr. Blade," Anna blushed. She looked at the children. "Take your dishes to the kitchen and take Mr. Blade's with you. Then you can sit with him in the living room."

The children rushed to bus their dishes and then they dragged Blade once again into the living room. They say Blade down in a old rocking chair and plopped themselves down in front of him, their faces beaming.

"Did you bring any presents for us?" Conrad, the youngest asked.

"Um, er." He searches his pockets for anything – bubble gum, candy, or even a subway token - but there's nothing there. All that he had was his carving knife, the one Orgi Jones gave to him and taught him how to carve. "No, I don't. But if you got some wood, I can do something for you."

"OK, I'll get some," responded George, the oldest son. "Be right back."

William, the middle son at about five years of age, pointed to Blade's face. "You have funny glasses."

"Yeah," Blade shrugged. "Had some trouble at birth."

George returned with some logs of wood. He gave some of it to Blade and placed the rest in the fireplace. Stephan came over and added some kindling to get the fire started.

Blade started whittling away. His hands moved quickly, even quicker than he expected. He had never carved anything but daggers, but somehow he just knew what to do. In the matter of a few minutes, he had carved three little knights in armor. He gave one to each of the boys. "Here ya go."

The boys accepted the gifts gratefully and immediately started playing with them together.

"Thank you again," Stephan said.

Blade nodded. "Sure." He started to get up. "Well, I'd better be going."

"Nonsense," Anna called from the kitchen. "It's late and its cold. You'll stay right here."

Blade thought about arguing with her, but he could tell from her tone that she would not take "no" for an answer.

"Please stay," Stephan implored. "I'll need you in the morning."

Blade sat back down in the rocking chair and listened while Stephan told the Christmas tales that had been told in his family for generations. The fire slowly began to warm the room, but Blade was not even feeling the receding cold. He could tell that this family may have been poor in the treasures of the world but they were rich in the treasures of the heart.

…

Awakened by a touch on his shoulder, Blade's head shot up with a start. He had fallen asleep on the rocking chair and was covered by a few blankets. He looked up to see Stephan hovering over him.

"I have told Anna what is to become of me. We cried but we were happy that I was able to have the Christmas dinner." A tear came to his eyes. "I tucked in my boys and I held them for the last time. I love them so much."

Taking off the multiple blankets, Blade said. "Yeah."

"It is almost dawn," Stephan added. "Let us go outside."

Blade and Stephan now stood outside in the cold and dark. Stephan gazed longingly at his small home. "I wish I could see the children open their presents. If that only could be my last sight here on Earth."

"Nothing I can do about that," Blade said sadly.

They stood stating eastwards waiting for the sun to rise above the horizon. They waited for a few minutes before they heard some noises inside. They looked through the window to see the three boys rushing around the small Christmas tree and the small packages bundled up underneath. They saw Anna, dressed in her old nightgown, come into the living room. The boys stopped their running around and sat down.

Anna gave each boy his present in turn. The boys eagerly unwrapped the packages, revealing the socks and mittens that had been inside. Their faces lit up as they put on the new items and pranced around the house. Anna smiled, but her eyes were sorrowful.

Stephan turned away from the window. Tears were streaming down his face. Blade could not meet his eyes. He looked instead to the horizon and saw that the sun had risen. In fact, it had been up for almost fifteen minutes and it filled the sky with its brilliance.

"What the freak?" Blade exclaimed.

"Scatter my ashes," Stephan said as he began to smolder. "I don't want to come back"

"I will," Blade replied somberly. Soon Stephan was engulfed in flame and was quickly reduced to ashes. Blade reached down and scooped up some of the ashes. He carried them towards the mailbox and then threw them into the air.

_______

There was something in the air, and what it was disgusted the man once known as Vlad the Impaler. When he stood on the throne of Wallachia, he had never really cared for the Christmas celebrations, whether it was the Catholic or the Orthodox faith that he had professed at the time. For Dracula, religion was just another tool in the struggle for power. He had even renounced Christianity and embraced Islam as it had furthered his aims when dealing with the Sultan of the Ottomans.

Now, the Christmas spirit that was in the air brought a bitter taste to his cold lips. As he stalked the streets, he could see the many households decorated with lights and ornaments. How he longed to smash into one of those houses and spoil their celebrations. However, without gaining invitation to the household first, it would not come to pass.

So Dracula continued his stalking through the streets. With the family gatherings there was nary on person on the streets - not that many people could be found out on the streets as of late. The evil that the Book of Erebus had spread upon its destruction had made itself felt to those in the natural and the supernatural worlds. The Book was supposed to have given the undead the power to walk in the daylight, but its destruction had quashed that hope. The entire affair was distasteful except for one facet – Bloodstorm. The X-Man that Dracula had craved had been turned during the affair. It made her all the more desirable.

"Our paths will cross again," Dracula mused. "For now, I must feed."

He cursed the cold as he sought his prey. There was nothing to be found. "Satan's horns," Dracula snarled. "Are all mortals huddled in their homes?" Then an idea struck him. "Their cursed churches. Some must be there on this night."

Shifting his form to that of bat, Dracula was airborne and in search of the unmistakable features of a Christian church. It did not take him long to sight one of the cursed crosses on a steeple-top. In a matter of moments, Dracula was standing on the south side of the church.

The simple sign near the entrance read "St. Stanislas Catholic Church." The building was old and run-down, although it still showed some signs of its original beauty. Its windows were adorned with stained glass and a small bell hung in its steeple.

Dracula could hear the songs of singing from inside. The tune was in English and was unfamiliar to him. Back when he was counted among the living, the masses had all been in Latin. It was a much more beautiful language than this guttural English. Dracula wrapped his cloak around himself and waited. When the priest's voice could be heard, Dracula was able to determine that the mass would soon be over. Soon, the lambs would come to the slaughter.

Five minutes later, the poor parishioners began filling out of the church. To the modern eye, they were hard-working lower class people; to Dracula's eyes, they were peasants. They would not provide any delicacy to him tonight. Their skin would be tough and their blood would be thick. Dracula hid in the shadows while he waited for the most appetizing target to appear.

None of them seemed worth his while. He had fed the previous night, so there was not a overwhelming hunger gnawing at him. Still, he would enjoy a meal, especially one provided by these devout fools.

The pastor was wishing the parishioners "Merry Christmas" as they departed. The line to exit was getting thinner and Dracula was becoming impatient. Would there be no one that was even the slightest bit appealing?

Finally, the last of the parishioners exited and the pastor locked the door to the church. An middle-aged couple walked carefully down the icy steps and out onto the sidewalk. There was a spark to them, Dracula could see it in their eyes. These would be the ones to sate his thirst.

Dracula watched as the pastor walked from the church to his simple rectory. The couple was headed directly towards where Dracula stood hidden. As they approached him, Dracula stepped quickly out of the shadows.

"Excuse me," said the man as he almost walked directly into Dracula. "I didn't see you there."

Dracula said nothing.

The man waited for Dracula to step to one side or the other, but the vampire did not move. The man grabbed his wife's elbow and attempted to go around the revenant, but Dracula blocked their way.

"Oh, sorry again," the man said. "Look, we'll go to the right, OK?" He smiled. "Merry Christmas."

Dracula's hand darted out and grasped the man by the throat. "I'll have my present now – your red, delicious blood." His mouth opened wide, revealing his sharp canines.

"No!" the woman cried. She reached under her coat and pulled out the cross that was attached to her necklace. "Let Simon go, you foul creature." She stretched the chain and brought it closer to Dracula's face.

Dracula winced in pain. The woman's faith was strong. He turned away to protect himself from the sight of it. His left hand lashed out and struck at her. His fingers caught the chain and he tore it loose from her neck.

Simon was clutching his throat. Dracula had released his grip when confronted with the cross. "Come on, Angela!" he gasped. "Back into the church!"

Dracula cradled his left hand. Contact with the cross had burned his flesh. It galled him to think how such a little thing could hurt him so. He looked up to see Simon and Angela rushing up the steps to the church doors. Simon pulled on the door handle, but the entrance was locked tight.

"Oh Lord," Angela cried. "Oh Lord."

Simon pounded on the door but to no avail. The door would not budge. Dracula smiled devilishly as he approached them.

"Call out to your God if you will," he sneered. "He will not help you."

Angela's screams pierced the night.

Dracula looked deep into their eyes. "There is no escape," he said softly. "You will submit to me."

"What in heaven's name is going on out here?!?" a voice from behind Dracula called out. The vampire whirled to see the pastor standing behind him.

"Father Georg," Simon called out. "It's a vampire!"

Father Georg was startled and took a few steps back. His grandfather had told him tales of such creatures of the night, but he had never really believed him. "This is a place of God," he said shaking. "Go back to the pit that spawned you!"

"You do not have the power to send me anywhere, priest!" Dracula replied sharply. The priest carried nothing of any religious importance on him. The back of Dracula's hand sent Father Georg sprawling towards the north side of the church.

Dracula turned his attention back towards Simon and Angela. The couple was frozen in fear on the steps. There was no escape for them. Dracula drank their fear as if it were an appetizer.

Father Georg struggled to regain his senses. Memories were swirling around in his head. What had his great-grandfather told him about regarding the Old Country? "Vampires could be scared away with religious symbols!" he recalled triumphantly. However, he had none on him. The vampire stood between him and door. If he went back to the rectory to get some icon, it would likely all be over.

"What can I do, Lord," he cried.

Just then, the star in the sky blazed with magnificent splendor. Its beams came down and illuminated the nativity scene that stood on the north side of the church. Father Georg looked on with wide-eyed amazement, and then he knew what to do.

Dracula had taken Angela in his grasp. With his other hand, he pinned Simon against the church door. Dipping her slightly, Dracula lowered himself to her exposed neck. His undead breath brought even more fear to her trembling frame.

"Release her," Father Georg called out with his most brave-sounding voice.

Dracula slowly turned his head. "You should hide, priest, or you will be next!"

"I don't think so." Father Georg held the Christ-child figure in his hands. "Behold the Savior!"

Dracula shuddered as his eyes came upon the figure. The plastic figurine seemed to almost glow as the light from the star above danced upon it. "Curse you!" he snarled and dropped Angela to the ground.

Father Georg was almost surprised at his success. Emboldened, he started walking towards Dracula. "This is the symbol of God's Son. It is His night, not yours."

Dracula struggled to withstand the agony, but the priest's faith was too strong. He roared and transformed into a bat. He was soon airborne and fleeing from the church.

"Thank you, Father," Simon said gratefully as he helped Angela to her feet.

Father Georg cradled the 'Baby Jesus' in his arms. "No, thank God."

NEXT ISSUE : "Child of Night" - A voyage of discovery begins for Blade that takes him back to his childhood home, the Soho section of London.