13 - HIS WAITING ROOM

Songs for the Chapter: I Will Trust In YOU by JayMikee and Come THOU Fount (a hymn I love so much)

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"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Ephesians 6:10,11;

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THIRD PERSON POV

"So, what do you think of my theory?" Isabella munched on a chocolate bar as she casually lounged on Violet's bed. They had become fast friends indeed.

"He fits the bill, doesn't he?"

"Well..." Violet intoned, trying to carefully phrase her words without giving out what she had seen.

She had been fiddling around with her violin, trying to tune it. It was a hobby she had taken an interest in since she was younger. The trip had looked to be an opportunity to go back to it.

But, Isabella's words caused her to pause and set the instrument aside.

He could just be a pawn setting the stage for the real deal—though deadly, she thought, but couldn't voice that out loud.

"THE BIBLE says there will be many anti-CHRISTS. But, the main one is yet to be revealed according to 2 Thessalonians..."

"Tessa—what?" Isabella cut her off. "That's in THE BIBLE as well? Did she write one of the books too? Man, have I got a lot to read."

Violet chuckled, the mirth of Isabella's question tickling her an awful mite.

Yet, despite the Light she could see beginning to sparkle in her friend's soul, she had to admit a fear that it could only be a phase.

Maybe she just wants an interesting divergent, Violet could only pray and hope. Dare she push her further to accept CHRIST before it was too late?

Violet could feel the urgency of the time in her heart and based on certain things she had seen and begun to learn from the Holy Scriptures. She wanted to push her with all her might till Isabella finally gave in. She was so close.

Wait, the ever-so-gentle Voice impressed upon her soul. Yours is to show the Way and leave the rest to ME.

FATHER, she cried within in desperation. But she is so close and the time so near. Can't YOU do YOUR part now?

Just wait for ME, Violet. In due time.

"Speaking of Tessa, I've been dying to try some of their foods," Isabella propped herself off the silk pillow she had cushioned upon. "I heard they have opened a new restaurant here. Want to try it with me? We could get some ice cream too!"

So, that was it? No talk about her need for CHRIST as they discussed HIS imminent return? LORD, please, until when?

It seemed there would be no badgering her into the faith. Like her LORD had said, she had to wait.

But sometimes, she had to learn the hard way to be patient in GOD'S Waiting Room.

~~

Walking out of Tessa, ice cream cones loaded with cookies and cream, Violet was yet to altogether recover from her disappointment.

Yet, LORD, I will trust in YOU, she resolved. She somehow felt lighter after giving up the battle to her LORD.

Isabella was busily chirping away about how wonderful their meal had been, and Violet tried to pay close attention.

Well, that was until she found herself—and her ice cream—smash into a figure.

"Oh, no!"

"You surely have a habit of bumping into the wrong people—Blue," Prince Alessandro spat out.

Violet looked up to see she had managed to not only stain his expensive $9,000 leather biker jacket, but it had also smeared an ensign of his Royal Status he often wore around his neck—made of a variety of gems and gold.

"I'm so sorry, I did not mean to—"

"You never mean to do anything, do you?" He sneered at her.

And that was when she recognised the tone of voice—one she had heard the evil throng around Giuseppe use.

So, they have influenced him.

She saw them hovering around him, a fiery rage in their eyes. And the more he gave way to his anger, the more venom they spewed into his already shattered soul.

"Just watch out, Blue," he stepped closer and whispered into her ear. "One of these days, I will be rid of you."

Violet gulped.

The forces of darkness had found a loophole.

~~~

Darkness, screeching creatures, and gloominess did not allow Violet a respite that night as she tried to drift off to sleep. She could feel them attacking her on every side. And it had not begun then only.

Having been invited to share a dinner table with the Ferraris earlier on, she could feel the power of evil trying to overwhelm her.

She was not the only guest at their table, it appeared. The family had been allowed to bring their friends along on the trip, which explained why she had also been allowed there in the first place.

Alessandro had gotten his friends to follow.

"The lanky one over there is called Aristotle," Isabella intimated as she sat close to Violet. "And those other two are his twin siblings. They are Sandro's closest friends."

What? Are they also called Plato and Socrates?

It was only when she saw Isabella's shoulders convulsing with a peal of laughter she tried to stifle that she realised she had said it out loud—but gladly, not loud enough for the others to hear.

She had often noticed them moving with Alessandro in school but had never gotten to know their names.

Ginevra also had a girl who appeared to be a close friend sit with her. And, of course, there was Giuseppe.

"My dearest Giuseppe," Queen Giulia had intoned, her Italian accent captivating. One glance could tell that she was enamoured by the young man.

If only she knew, Violet thought to herself.

"Sitting here with us shows me what a beautiful family we would make, don't you think so?" She turned to her first-born son, Vincenzo, who looked none too pleased with the whole ordeal.

"Ovviamente (of course)," Ginevra shot her brother a look. He merely glanced away.

"When do you think we should set the date for the wedding?" Queen Giulia chirped, going off with a list of things to be done for the wedding preparations.

LORD JESUS, please, spare this family from the clutches of this evil man, Violet prayed fervently within.

"In JESUS Name," she softly muttered the last part under her breath.

But her proclamation of THE NAME so dear to her had not gone unnoticed by the fiends that hovered around the man called Giuseppe. So great was their army that they lingered around the other members of the family—except Violet.

And, at the mention of the Sublime Name above all others, though gently uttered, their hosts had been turned into a rage, flying in various directions away from their targets.

However, she saw their fangs still gripping tightly into two of the family members—Ginevra and Alessandro.

Batting their wings, they fought hard to regain control over the others. But, she saw THE LIGHT of her SAVIOUR—though emitting from within a girl as frail as her—dispel and thwart their efforts.

"We have not made the engagement official yet," Vincenzo set his wine glass down. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

That set the whole table to silence. Violet thought she saw Isabella give a smile.

"Her," she saw the leader of the evil hosts sneer in her direction, dripping venom with every tone of its voice.

En masse, the rest of their troops set their sights on her, and, another being also—Giuseppe. His eyes, filled with a fiery flame, shot daggers at her. The evil throng began to advance.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, please help me.

And immediately, she saw the warrior angels draw out their blades behind her. And the fiends drew back immediately in horror, screeching in despair.

"We will get her soon," their leader sneered further as they were forced to back away. "Very soon."

And that was how she found herself battling in prayer that night; knees glued to the rug by her bedside, a BIBLE open before her.

A battle had indeed begun.

~~

Violet found herself distanced from the crowd that had gathered for the Nuits des Lampions (Night of Lanterns) at the famed Jardin de Wiltz (Garden of Wiltz) in Luxembourg.

The festivities were splendiferous and indeed a sight for sore eyes. With lanterns lighting every pathway and hanging around, she could see why it interested many.

Yet, she felt the need to distance herself from it all. She had learnt that solace in her SAVIOUR was most often found when she was alone—not that it could not be found contrariwise.

But, she found her feet guiding her steps closer to more obscure parts of the garden, away from all the noise with only a bottle of water in hand which she occasionally sipped from.

She hummed a favourite hymn, Come THOU Fount, as she walked on. When it got to her favourite part of the beloved hymn, she couldn't help but sing the words out loud, albeit softly enough.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above...

She turned her gaze to look at the dark sky and did not realise where her feet had led her till she heard the sound of someone moaning.

"Mmm..!"

She quickly spurned on her heels, trying to locate its source.

Being in the darker part of the garden, she had to strain hard to see better. And that was when she saw a broad-shouldered figure hunched over beside a tree.

The chill was not as intense as it had been before when she had first met him. But, with one glance, she could tell who it was.

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Brothers and Sisters in CHRIST, I hope we are all well and kept by HIS Mercies.

Which do you prefer, long or short chapters, please? Or any would do?

Kindly let me know your thoughts and opinions. I would love to hear them.

As always,

With The Love of CHRIST,

Phela