One Day in The Sun

 

A first-season Forever Knight story

by Christine Hantzopulos Hunt

erika1228@aol.com

 

Timeframe: after “Only the Lonely”

 

     Nick watched as Natalie walked slowly away. She hesitated, turning to look at him, and a reassuring smile crossed his lips. He could see her trying to smile back through her pain of the last few days, through the confusion she was feeling now, but her efforts were in vain. She nodded lightly, turned, and was gone. Nick was left alone with his own confusion--and guilt.

     Natalie had almost died. And he knew that it had been his own fault. Her feelings for him, and his lack of response, had driven her to another man. And Natalie’s anger at Nick had blinded her to a psychotic killer’s true nature, placing her life in grave danger.

     *I almost lost her*, Nick thought to himself. And the feelings that this near loss had engendered in him filled him with his own private turmoil, awakening a sorrow that had plagued him time and again since he’d begun this cursed existence.

     Natalie had become, in the last two years, the closest mortal friend he had ever known. Her constant concern, and efforts to help him reach his seemingly unattainable goal, were invaluable to him. But Nick knew it was much more than that. He loved her. The mutual caring and respect that had developed between them had flourished into something far deeper. And each moment he’d spent with her, in the midst of a case, in a weak moment of retreat towards vampirism, or in the quiet lull of an early morning spent together, he’d come to realize just how important she’d become to him.

     Yet he’d fought it. Hidden it from her, and even from himself, hoping that he was misreading the signals she’d been sending. But he could avoid the inevitable no more. And if he were about to embark on that same path that could only end once more in the pain of loss, then so be it.

 

     Nick glanced at his watch as he waited outside Natalie’s apartment, waiting for her to come to the door. Yet as she asked who was there, he had trouble finding the voice to answer, “It’s me, Nick.”

     Her  face betrayed surprise as she admitted him, self-consciously pulling closed the short robe that covered a long T-shirt. “I wasn’t expecting you,” she stammered, nervously wiping her cheek. Her eyes were red, and Nick knew at once that she’d been crying.

     He stepped towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

     “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said in a voice that was far from convincing. “Isn’t it a little late for you?”

     “I had to see you, Nat,” he replied. “I’m sorry for coming so late--and unannounced--but we really need to talk.”

     She nodded her agreement and he led her to the couch, sitting to face her. He reached to touch her cheek, reveling in the warmth of her skin. “You’ve been crying,” he said matter-of-factly, but with a concern she couldn’t help but notice.

     “It’s just been a rough few days,” she replied, looking into his eyes. “I...I must look terrible.”

     “I think you look beautiful,” he said softly. He could feel her skin warming his as she covered his hand with her own. “Natalie, I’ve been unfair to you. It’s because of me that you almost...” His voice trailed off.

     “It’s not your fault, Nick,” she assured him. “It’s mine, for wanting too much from you. We’re friends, and I value that more than anything.”

     “So do I,“ he began.

     “I really feel foolish now for even hoping you might feel something more.” She pulled away from him, suddenly uncomfortable with the closeness. With her back turned, she said, “Look, I’m sorry. And I’m more than a little embarrassed. Please don’t let this interfere with our friendship.”

     Nick cam up behind her. “Natalie, you shouldn’t be embarrassed.”

     “But I am,” she came back, turning to face him. “Nick, I was a fool to even think you might feel the same way I do! I don’t even know where my head was.”

     “In the right place,” he told her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Nat, I do feel the same way. I’ve been in love with you for a every long time.”

     Her eyes opened wide in amazement. “You...have...?”

     He smiled at her and nodded. “Yes. I suppose I just didn’t want to admit it.”

     “I guess men don’t change even if they do live for eight hundred years,” she teased as she slipped her arms around his neck.

     “I guess not,” he replied softly. And for a few moments he was that man that he had been eight hundred years ago, as he bent his head towards hers, allowing his cold flesh to melt in the warmth of her kiss. Her humanity was beckoning him, transforming him, her hungry kiss awakening a kind of passion that had been lost to him for centuries, replaced by a different kind of hunger. He wanted to lose himself in her warmth, her beauty, her desire. He was relishing the taste of her mouth, the light touch of her fingers on his bare neck running through his hair, the soft scent of her skin, her hair...her blood...

     “No...” he moaned, pulling away from her. He couldn’t fight it. And he couldn’t hurt her. “Natalie...” he groaned in a voice lower than his own. “Don’t you see why I can’t love you...no matter how much I want to?”

     He was backing away, his face filled with pain, his eyes gleaming yellow, conscious of the fact that his fangs had protruded to meet his lower lip. Natalie reached for him, fighting his instinct to pull away, taking his hands and holding them tightly.

“I’m not afraid of you, Nick. I know what you are, and I love you. I know you won’t hurt me.”

     “How can you love this beast?” he asked sadly.

     “You’re no beast, Nick Knight,” she told him, looking into his eyes, unafraid. She stepped closer, placing his arms around her waist, and pulling him near. “And I know you won’t hurt me.”

     Nick looked at her sorrowfully, incredulously, as he felt his eyes slowly lose their glow.

     “It’s okay. It’s okay. You can fight it,” she urged him.

     The bestial glare had been replaced by his clear blue eyes, but bloody tears had begun to stream his face. His monstrous strength gone, Nick felt himself weaken in her arms, and held her tightly. She had been so brave, so loving; he was unashamed now to shed the first tears he’d allowed himself in centuries.

 

     Dawn had come, and weariness attacked his body. Nick lay peacefully on Natalie’s bed, thankful for the thick curtains and tightly-closing vertical blinds. He looked at her with a smirk as she handed him a thick clear liquid. “Not another protein drink,” he joked weakly.

     “I don’t feel like dealing with your reaction to coffee,” she replied with a smile. She propped the pillow below his head, and he brought himself up to sip the tasteless beverage. The unlikely drink quickly sated his thirst, and he could feel some strength returning.

     “That stuff’s not so bad when you’re really thirsty,” he teased. “Maybe a little red food coloring and you could market it.”

     She sat down to face him. “How do you feel?”

     “Better.” His smile faded as he took her hand. “Do you see now why I never told you how I felt about you, Nat? What could come of it?”

     “I don’t know,” she told him. “But I’m willing to wait and see.”

     He squeezed her hand, the old sorrow overwhelming him. “You don’t have an eternity to wait for me, Nat.”

     “It won’t take an eternity!” she insisted. “You’ve made so much progress!”

     “But not enough,” he responded in frustration. “Natalie, don’t you see that there’s a part of me that wants to hold you, and make love to you--but the other part of me, the beast I can’t escape, would destroy you! I won’t take a chance of hurting you.”

     “I don’t believe you could hurt me, Nick,” she told him with conviction.

     Nick sighed deeply, reaching up to caress her curly, flowing hair. “I might not be able to help myself. Natalie, I know you want to believe in me. But I can sense that you’re afraid too.”

     She looked down, knowing he was reading her eyes. “Of course I’m a little afraid, Nick. I’ve never been in love with a vampire before. What do you expect?”

     He reached out to her, wrapping his arms around her, letting her rest her head against his chest. “I’ve tried to love before, Nat. And every time has ended in tragedy. For me, passion turns into a hunger I can’t control. Any mortal woman that I’ve tried to make love to...”

     “You’re different now,” she whispered, looking up at him. “And changing every day...”

     “I don’t want to hurt you. And I don’t want to---” he couldn’t finish.

     “Bring me over?” she finished for him.

     He nodded. “You’ve seen what can happen. Your brother...I could never condemn you to this existence.”

     “Then let me keep trying to bring you over to mine,” she told him. “And maybe being close to me can teach you some...control.”

     “Would you be satisfied with this kind of relationship?”

     She breathed deeply. “Would you?”

     He smiled. “Natalie, I haven’t had a relationship with a mortal woman in eight hundred years.”

     “Well, I’ve been out of circulation a couple of years myself...”

     His fingers moved to her cheek, caressing her warmth. “Just the possibility of someday being able to love you like that...maybe you’ve given me a real goal to work for.”

     Natalie smiled comfortably for the first time. “Hey, it’s mid-morning already. Maybe you’d better rest, and we can talk more tonight.”

     He nodded, yawning. “I am tired. I think I’d better sleep until nightfall.”

     “I feel badly that you didn’t make it back to your place--”

     “Why, do you mind my staying here?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

     “No, but--I thought vampires don’t feel safe until they’re locked away in their havens.”

     “You’ve been reading too many horror stories.” He reached to kiss her on the lips, pulling safely away before his passion could build. “I feel safe with you.” He kissed her again, a moment longer this time, delighted that he could do so. Then he looked at her with a strange smile. “There *is* something you could do to make me feel safer, though,” he added.

     “What?”

     “Lie here with me. Please.”

     She grinned. “I guess I am a little sleepy myself.” She lay down beside him, snuggling against him, warming him.

     “Nat, I have to admit something,” he whispered in her ear as he held her to him. “It’s not just to feel safe. I wanted to feel you next to me.”

     “I know,” she replied softly, cuddling closer.

     And Nick held her, in wonder, her life force enveloping him. He slept deeply that day, dreaming sweet dreams of Natalie and the humanity he knew would someday be theirs to share.

 

 

     It had been a slow but tedious night, and Natalie was glad to throw her lab coat over a hook, shake loose her hair, and collapse wearily into her chair. The desk clock read four twenty-seven a.m. Just a half hour before the end of her shift--and ninety minutes until sunrise. She glanced at the picture of her, Schanke, and Nick, wondering if she’d see her elusive vampire before the night was over. She sighed, opening her drawer to find the novel she’d buried herself in as of late--*Interview With The Vampire*, by Anne Rice. She was deep into her reading when the door flew open.

     She smiled to see Nick, his eyes bright with enthusiasm, his blonde hair framing a face that had almost begun to show the slight flush of life. She was so proud of the progress he’d made in the last few months, keeping away from even the cow’s blood that had held back his slow advance towards regaining his humanity. Knowing that she had played such an important part in his success had made it all the more sweet. Her pleasure at seeing him showed in her eyes.

     “You’re looking pretty good,” she observed as he came to her side.

     The balding, middle-aged man who had accompanied him, spoke up. “It’s the good food I’ve been feeding him lately. No more of those health-nut milk shakes. Tonight we had nice thick, greasy hamburgers.” Schanke shook his head. “Although I’ve gotta say, I’ve never seen anyone eat meat as raw as you do, partner.”

     Nick laughed good-heartedly as Natalie shot him an amused look. “Burned meat is bad for you, Schanke. Sometimes you have to taste a little fresh blood.”

     Schanke shrugged as he leaned against Natalie’s desk. “Yeah, Myra always says that, too.” Suddenly  his curious eye caught the book Natalie had been reading. “*Interview With The Vampire*? What’s all this spooky stuff you’ve been into? First the two of you go to see the midnight showing of Bram Stoker’s Dracula--twice, yet--then you’re into Anne Rice. I tell you, Natalie, this isn’t the kind of stuff I’d like to read working with a bunch of dead bodies all night long.”

     “To each his own, Schanke,” Natalie replied, winking at Nick. “As for me, I love vampires. Don’t you, Nick?”

     He thought a moment. “Not all, but some of them.”

     Schanke shook his head. “I dunno, you two get stranger all the time. I think I’ll just head home and let Myra make me breakfast.”

     “You just ate!” Nick called after him, and then turned to Natalie as the door closed behind his partner. “So you love vampires, do you? Anyone else I should know about?”

     “No. Just one,” she said as he took her into his arms, kissing her.

     It was much easier for him now. Holding her, kissing her like this, had afforded him the human warmth and pleasure he’d thought he’d forgotten. Even the beast in him seemed to lie dormant as he found that he could be close to her without the vampire intruding upon them. he had not, of course, been able to carry their intimacy much further than a passionate kiss. But each step towards a mortal life together gave them both hope, and the ability to go on despite the caution that they must still maintain.

     Nick released her. “So, studying up on vampires? Don’t you know that stuff’s all fiction?”

     “I don’t know,” she told him, picking up the book to thumb through it. “A lot of this sounds like you. And LeStat seems so much like LaCroix, from what you’ve told me.”

     “I don’t know. I’ve never read it.”

     “Well you should.” She pointed out a passage to him. “Louis thought they’d killed LeStat; he saw him burn. But then LeStat came back.” She looked up at him. “Nick, you saw LaCroix burn. But did you scatter his ashes?”

     Nick shook his head, dismissing it. “Natalie, that’s just not true. It’s fiction. Anne Rice isn’t one of us--at least I don’t think so.”

     “But what if it is true, Nick? You said LaCroix taught you everything he knew. Well, how do you know that he didn’t keep something back? Some secrets, some knowledge, that would keep him more powerful?” Her eyes were suddenly filled with worry.

     Nick took the book from her hands, setting it back on the desk. “You’re reading too many horror stories. LaCroix is dead. He’s no threat to me anymore.”

     He’d convinced her for now. But as he led her from the office, he could not help but feel uneasy as he tried to shake the doubt that she had planted in his mind. It was all fiction--wasn’t it?

 

 

     “If anyone ever told me I’d go grocery shopping...” Nick shook his head as he carried the bag of red meat, fish, and other foods which he’d almost grown to enjoy over the last few weeks. Natalie followed close behind as they stepped into the elevator which led to his apartment in the old movie theater whose antique marquee still advertised, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It was the sign itself, and the irony in its title, that had first attracted Nick to his home of three years. It had been his haven, his sanctuary, shielding him from the day with its thick automatic shades, yet adorned with countless paintings of the brilliant star whose rays would mean certain death. Modest furnishings gave no indication o the immense wealth accumulated over ten lifetimes, while the various works of art and musical instruments strewn about betrayed a talent cultivated over centuries.

     Nick paused at the door, stopping so that Natalie nearly ran into him. “What’s the matter?” she asked.

     “There’s someone here,” he said ominously. “Another.” A sudden shill overtook him as he sensed the presence, feeling it in his blood, as an age-old connection beckoned him. It couldn’t be...

     He stood ready as the door slid open, prepared to shield Natalie from the One he feared he would find.

     He sighed in relief at the figure that awaited him.

     “Nicolas.” Janette’s lilting voice called to him as he entered, dropping the last “s” as she called him by his French name. She seemed to glide towards him, her short black silk skirt flowing, her lips brightly tinted in the shade of blood, her blue eyes sparkling against the whiteness of her face, her smooth neck, and bare shoulders. A hand gloved in black lace reached out to take his, as she kissed him on the lips--an act natural to them for centuries, which suddenly made him feel uncomfortable as Natalie stepped through the door.

     “Oh, hello Natalie,” Janette said sweetly, her fingertips still resting possessively on Nick’s hand. She glanced at Nick, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Perhaps I should have called first.”

     “It’s okay,” Nick told her gently, feeling suddenly uneasy. He could feel Natalie’s eyes behind him, and he knew how awkward this much be for her. *It’s awkward for **me**.*

     “I just came by to invite you to a little party at the Raven this Saturday...”

     “What’s the occasion?” he asked as he separated from her to lay the groceries on the table.

     “Nicolas, I can’t believe you’ve forgotten. March 15th.”

     Nick smiled, then looked sheepishly to Natalie’s inquiring expression. “My birthday.”

     “Not just any birthday. Your eight-hundredth. You were born in 1194.”

     Nick let out a breath. “That’s right. I haven’t even thought of it in years.”

     She looked at the red meat packet he’d pulled out of the bag. “Well, I thought that since you’ve been trying so hard lately to become human, you might as well start celebrating birthdays again.” There was the slightest touch of a jest in her voice, but he knew the idea itself was genuine. “I’ve invited all our old friends,”--she looked at Natalie-- “ and of course, you can bring your mortal friends. I’ll make sure everyone is on good behavior.”

     “Thanks,” he said, squeezing her hand. “We’ll be there, right, Nat?”

     “Sure,” she replied, forcing a smile. “It’s not every day you get to go to an eight-hundredth birthday party.” Nick could see her trying not to be obvious as she looked Janette over, quietly seething as his immortal companion held protectively onto his arm. “Uh, Nick, I think I’ll wait for you upstairs. I want to freshen up a bit.”

     “Nat, wait--”

     “Nice seeing you, Janette.”

     Nick turned to follow her up the stairs, as Janette molded herself against his back, wrapping her arms around his chest as she liked to do. “Doesn’t your little mortal plaything know about us, Nicolas?” she purred against his neck.

     “She’s no plaything, Janette,” he responded, watching Natalie disappear into his bedroom.

     “Poor Nicolas, you’re not in love again, are you?”

     “Yes,” he replied softly, unmoving, unconsciously holding his hand over hers.

     “Why torture yourself, Nick?” She lay her head against his neck, holding him as if to comfort him. “You know what always happens.”

 

*The Iberian Peninsula, 1492....

     His armor was the latest in late fifteenth century design, his horse one of the finest in Castille’s royal stables. He smiled at Maria Eva’s as she came towards him, her rich velvet gown touching the floor, making her seem to float as she approached. Her dark brown hair was flowing in the breeze of a cool spring night as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her hungrily, pulling away before his vampiric hunger could surface.

     “I wish you did not have to go,” she told him in Spanish.

     “I must,” he replied, in a language it had taken him seventy years to master as a native. “Just remember that I love you.”

     She blushed, then reached for something in her pocket. “I want you to wear this. So the Lord will protect you and bring you home safely to me.” She opened her hand to reveal an ornate gold crucifix, its center bejeweled with a brilliant ruby.

     Nick tried to fight the nausea that the cross had engendered in him, and was surprised when he could look at it. Maria Eva placed it around his neck, and he was thankful for the thick armor which would keep it from burning his skin.

     “I love you,” she said, closing her eyes as she hugged him tightly. “Please come back to me, Nicolas.”

     He kissed her on the neck, fighting  the evil urges that this closeness would soon bring upon him....*

 

 

     “Not this time,” he said, distracted. He turned gently around to face her, allowing her to retain her closeness to him. “Janette, I want it to work. Please, help me.”

     “How, Nicolas? What do you want me to do?”

     He took her face in his hands. “Don’t make her feel uncomfortable.”

     “I wasn’t trying to. I can’t change the bond between us. The connection we share. It’s too old, and too deep. Would you try to deny it? Nous avons le meme sang....”

     His smile betrayed his warmth. “I couldn’t deny it if I tried. But she’s not one of us. She doesn’t understand. I don’t want to hurt her.”

     “Very well. I’ll *try* to control myself,” she promised, but her playful expression gave him his doubts.

     “Thanks.” He kissed her, a lingering, sensuous kiss that in ages past had led to a most unholy consummation. He pulled away before those feelings could resurface.

     “Would what you could share with her be so much better than what we’ve had?” she challenged him with a wistful smile.

     “Just different,” he told her, not wanting for anything in the world to hurt her. “It’s what I want--and need. And it’s a life that you and I could never have together.”

     “Nicolas, you almost make me wish I were mortal again,” she said softly, then added with a wink, “Almost.” She kissed him again as she stepped away to leave. “You go play, Nicolas. Spend a lifetime with her if you wish. Just remember that in the end--a nous l’eternite.”

     *Maybe so*, he thought to himself as he watched her go. *But maybe not. Only God will decide. And time.*

 

 

     Nick found Natalie sitting on his bed, her coat still on. Her face betrayed her hurt, and he knew at once that she had witnessed some or all of what had transpired between him and Janette. He felt suddenly ashamed, for although he knew his own feelings, Natalie could not possibly understand the nature of his relationship with Janette. He knelt to eye level before her. “Hey, don’t you think you should take your coat off?”

     She shook her head. “I’m not staying.”

     He felt suddenly anxious, aware that he had caused her pain, and might very well lose her for it. “Natalie, I’m sorry. I know this is an awkward situation--”

     “Awkward?! Nick, I’m sorry, I’ve just never been involved in a love triangle before--and certainly not one where the other woman’s a vampire--”

     “You’re not involved in one now,” he assured her.

     “Oh, come off it, Nick.” She stood, walking towards the door, then turned back to face him. “There’s a passion between you. Anyone can see it a mile away.”

     “It’s a different kind of passion, Natalie. A passion for blood, not love.” He stepped closer to her, placing his hands on her arms. “What you and I share, what we hope to share, is something I’ve never had with Janette, and never could.”

     “Do you love her?’ she challenged, although unsure she wanted to hear the answer.

     He thought about it. “In a way. But not as I love you. She and I are...connected...as children of LaCroix.”

     “Oh yes. You ‘share the same blood.’”

     He looked at her in surprise.

     “I still remember my high school French,” she told him, then looked suddenly embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to listen.”

     “It’s all right,” he broke in quickly. “I don’t want to have any secrets from you.”

     She didn’t want to be angry, and the tenderness in his voice was forcing her to relent. “Nick, it’s just really difficult for me...I don’t want to share you.”

     “Nat, I’m yours alone. You know that.” His blue eyes were so intense, so sincere, making her wonder if it was the vampire in him that was mesmerizing her, or her own love for him.

     “I know,” she replied wearily, as if frustrated she couldn’t express what she was feeling. “But Janette seems to think I’m just some fling you’ll have for forty years or so...it makes me feel so...temporary...insignificant....”

     She could hear a desperation in his voice as he squeezed her arms, imploring, “Natalie, listen to me. What we have is the most *significant* thing that’s happened to me in eight hundred years. I don't know how to make you believe that--you’ll just have to trust me. I swear to you, that if I have anything to say about it, the only eternity I’ll have is the one we share together in some other life, after we’ve grown old and grey together in this one. Now would you please take off your coat?” He paused, his face filled with distress. “You’re making me very nervous.”

     She had to smile, at his sincerity, at his very human worry that something would go wrong between them. It was that pretty smile he loved, that made her large blue eyes sparkle. He joined her, relief washing over him as he realized that he had gotten through to her.

     “Okay,” she said, allowing him to help her off with her coat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing her face close to his. “Now why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?”

     “Gladly,” he whispered, and kissed her hungrily.

 

*The Iberian Peninsula, 1492....

     It was night. Most of the battle-weary soldiers had long since retired, their makeshift tents all in a row on the hill overlooking the last Muslim stronghold in Spain--Granada. King Ferdinand looked down on the sleeping city,a confident smile on his face as he patted his next-in-command on the back. “Yes, Nicolas,” he said in a voice that betrayed his optimism. “Tomorrow we will take Granada. And the Reconquista will be complete. The Queen will be elated.”

     “As will we all, Vuestra Majestad,” Nicolas de la Noche replied with the same sureness. The King bid him good night, and he was left alone in the quiet of the warm evening.

     *And perhaps God will be pleased as well,* he thought to himself. Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine, as he sensed...something. He turned to see LaCroix standing before him.

     “Ah, war, bloodshed. I can see why you came here, Nicholas. Every night a feast.”

     The peace he had felt moments before had vanished, replaced with anger. “Why are you here?”

     “I’m curious, Nicholas. Why would you fight with men who bear the cross?”

     His face was grim. “We all have our own crosses to bear, haven’t we?”

     LaCroix laughed. “The only cross I bear is my name--LaCroix. Or would it be LaCruz here? Ironic twist of fate, wouldn’t you say?”

     “It is you who are twisted, LaCroix,” he responded disdainfully. “I’ve come here to escape from the evil that you cursed me with. Perhaps,” he paused, “to find some redemption.”

     “As one of Queen Isabel’s greatest knights?” he asked in disbelief. “Reliving your days in the Crusades? Wake up, Nicholas. This isn’t the thirteenth century anymore, and you’re not a crusader. What would your precious Queen say if she knew that you couldn’t even bear to gaze upon a crucifix without feeling ill?” At Nicholas’ silence, he went on, a sly expression on his face.

     “What would Maria Eva say?”*

 

 

     Nick awoke abruptly, a cold chill running down his spine. He felt Natalie stirring, and relaxed, wrapping his arms protectively around her. The dream had been so real, his terror as palpable as it had been five hundred years ago. *But LaCroix is dead*, he told himself. *Why does he still haunt me?*

     “Nick?”

     Natalie looked sleepily up at him from the spot where she was nestled in the crook of his arm. “Is it night already?”

     “No.” He ran his fingers lovingly through her curly light brown hair. “It’s okay. Go back to sleep. I just had a bad dream.”

     Natalie lifted herself up on her elbow, suddenly concerned. “About what?”

     He sighed wearily. “My nightmares are always the same. I’m on the verge of coming over--and LaCroix is there to prevent me. This time it was in Spain. Five hundred years ago.”

     To her questioning gaze, he went on.

     “After Joan of Arc died, I left France. I was so impressed by her faith. I began to believe that she’d been right--that it wasn’t too late for me to regain my faith.”

     “She was right,” Natalie told him tenderly, caressing his cheek.

     He put his hand over hers, turning to look into her eyes. “Yes. But not then. I wasn’t strong enough. I had no patience, and I wanted everything too fast. I fought in the Reconquista, killing ‘in the name of the Church’, even wearing a cross that burned my skin if I touched it. I fell in love with a young girl, who had no idea what I was--”

     He stopped abruptly, not wanting to hurt her by going on.

     “It’s okay,” she reassured him. “Tell me about her.”

     “Her name was Maria Eva. But there’s not much to tell,” he said stonily. “LaCroix destroyed...everything. Like he always does.”

     “He can’t destroy us, Nick,” she told him, and he smiled.

     “I know. I guess I’m just on edge because things were never so good for me before.” He looked at her lovingly, feeling his concern melt away in her gaze. “Come here,” he whispered, gathering her into his arms. “Just hold me. You make me feel so warm...”

     “Probably because my body temperature is 98.6,” she said as she nibbled at his ear. “Yours is about ten degrees lower.”

     “Oh, no. I Know it’s something else,” he replied mischievously as he buried himself in the soft scent of her skin. Nick let his cares dissolve in her warmth as his lips caressed her, tasted her, explored her. For the first time in centuries he could feel the blood as it surged through his veins, his heart pumping faster with excitement, his body responding to the new desire that had begun to consume him. He found himself pulling her closer, fondling her, reaching below her nightshirt...

     ...and he forced himself to pull away reluctantly. “Natalie, I want you so badly,” he breathed. “But I’m afraid to lose control. What if--?”

     “Don’t be afraid,” she said softly, looking into his eyes. “I’m not.”

     He looked at her for a moment, smiling as she ran her fingertips along the edge of his black satin robe, lightly caressing his chest, his stomach, stopping to rest her hand on his bare waist. He pulled her down on top of him, kissing her...  

     ...and the phone rang.

     *”This is Nick Knight. I’m either in bed or incommunicado...”*

     “Or both,” Natalie cooed. “Ignore it,” she commanded him.

     Nick was inclined to agree, pulling the red satin sheets over them to shield them from the outside world. Then the message came through.

     *”Nick, this is Schanke. Stonetree’s looking all over for Natalie. A body was found outside Skydome--totally drained of blood. Sound familiar? He needs an autopsy pronto, before this leaks to the press. And I’m just taking a guess Natalie’s with you.”* His tone became teasing. *“Hope I’m not interrupting anything. Hasta la bye bye.”*

     The interruption had done more than destroy the mood. Natalie could feel Nick’s entire body tense as he sat up in bed, his eyes filled with something she had never seen there--terror. “It’s him,” he said with conviction.

     “Nick, it can’t be,” she said, rising to sit up beside him. “It could be any other vampire in Toronto--”

     “Natalie, you don’t understand. None of us would be that careless. It’s him. And it’s a warning.”

     Nick’s fear had begun to grip her. She had never seen him like this before, and it frightened her to think of him as being afraid of anything. “Look, Nick, maybe it’s not even a vampire at all. Once I’ve examined the body...”

     “Nat, please don’t go,” he begged her.

     “I have to. You heard Schanke. The Captain--”

     “--can wait,” he told her, his hands on her shoulders. “Please, wait until sunset, and I’ll go with you.”

     “I’ll be all right,” she promised, breaking away gently. She reached for her clothes, putting them on despite his protests. When she had dressed, she put her arms around his neck. “Nick, I’ll be all right. After all, if it is a vampire, nothing can happen to me in the daylight anyway.”

     He sighed, his concern somewhat allayed. “I guess you’re right. I’m just worried about you. Promise you’ll stay in your office until I get there. I’ll come in right after sundown.”

     “Okay,” she agreed, and he slipped his arms around her waist.

     “Besides, this was really rotten timing.”

     “You can say that again,” she said, kissing him.

     He held her for a long moment, trying not to think about what had almost transpired between them. He failed miserably.

     “We’ll have time,” she assured him, as if reading his mind.

     He nodded as he reluctantly released her. “Be careful. Please.”

 

     Hours later, Nick sighed with relief as he entered her office to find her sitting at her desk. She looked up, and offered him a tired smile. “I told you I’d make it through the day without you,” she teased.

     “Thanks a lot,” he said, feigning hurt, as she rose to meet him.

     “That doesn’t mean I didn’t miss you,” she confided as she kissed him.

     He held her protectively, glad that no one was around and he could show her how relieved he was to see her unharmed. His face became serious as he released her. “What did you find out?”

     She picked up her report, handing it to him, her eyes now betraying her own concern. “I think you’re right,” she told him. “Everything matches the attack on the museum security guard last year--the wounds, even down to the threads of a very old black fabric that got caught in the finger nails during a struggle.”

     He looked over her report, briefly, her words alone having convinced him already that what he had been sensing was real. He looked up at her. “How, Natalie? How could he have survived?”

     She shook her head. “Hey, this is your domain, not mind. I’m not sure I understand how a vampire lives in the first place.”

     He laid the report down on her desk. “Nat, I have to go to the Raven.” He took her hand, adding quickly. “It’s not what you think. Janette is the only other person around who can sense him as I do. She may have heard something, or have some idea how this could be possible...”

     “It’s okay, you don't have to explain anything,” she assured him.

     He nodded, her understanding giving him one less thing to worry about. But her safety was a more pressing issue than ever. “Natalie, please wait for me here. Or better yet, in the precinct building.”

     “I have to give Stonetree my report.”

     “I’ll take you there, and tell him I’m following a lead. That is what I’m doing, after all.” He looked at her. “What exactly will you tell Stonetree?”

     She shrugged in frustration. “Everything--except who we think killed him. One more murder for the unsolved cases file.”

     “Little comfort for the victim’s family,” he murmured, shuddering at the anguish that the loss and unanswered questions would bring. Natalie knew he must be thinking of the grief he himself had caused over the centuries. The guilt would weigh heavy on his soul for as long as he lived. She took his hand.

     “Come on. Let’s go,” she said quietly.

 

     Nick found Janette sitting alone at the bar, sipping from a wine glass as she watched her half-human, half-vampire clientele dancing side by side under the dim lights. She smiled as she saw him, extending her hand for his kiss.

     “What brings you here alone, Nicolas?” she asked playfully. “Where’s your...girlfriend?”

     “At the precinct,” he replied, flashing her a smile as he sat beside her. His face became serious. “Janette...we need to talk...about LaCroix.”

     Janette’s light eyes widened. “Have you been...sensing him too?”

     “Yes,” he told her, knowing that he probably had all along. “But it’s more than that. There’s been a killing. His style.”

     “That puts us all in danger,” she said pensively, drawing blood from her glass. She looked up at him. “Especially you.”

     “Then...you think he’s alive? Janette, how is it possible? I killed him--”

     “I don’t know, Nick,” she said, shaking her head. “But I’ve come to realize over the last couple of centuries that there were many things LaCroix didn’t teach us. Maybe it was his way of always keeping us under his control.” She moved closer to him, as if she were afraid someone might overhear. “You know, I always did wonder why the Enforcers never came after you killed LaCroix. It *is* against the Code to murder another of our kind, especially one’s own master.”

     He thought a moment. “I’d always assumed it was because word had gotten back to them that it was in self-defense.”

     “So had I,” she agreed. “After all, he’d broken the Code himself by committing that murder and leaving his victim in a public place. Yet still, haven’t you ever wondered why they didn’t even come to investigate?”

     Nick drew a deep breath. “Are you saying you don’t think the Enforcers came for me...because LaCroix never died?”

     She didn’t need to answer him. The fear on her face betrayed her thoughts, as the loud dance music filled their silence.

     Finally, she reached her hand up to his cheek. “Nicolas, if he is alive, we must be prepared to face him together.”

     “We will,” he promised, putting his hand over hers.

     “But how? My love, you are more...mortal now than one of us,” she said disdainfully.

     “Janette, I’m so close to having what I always wanted--”

     “But the time is wrong, Nicolas,” she said with an edge of desperation in her voice. “If you want to play human, even live a lifetime out as one of them, then do it. But not now...”

     “It’s not a game, Janette,” he replied, annoyed. “This is the life I want. I thought you of all people understood and respected that.”

     She sighed, moving her face within an inch of his. “I do, Nicolas. But I need you, too. Throughout the centuries, we have always been together. If you ever do become one of them....”

     She began to kiss him, hungrily, passionately, trying to awaken in him what he knew now she could not. He pulled gently away, taking her face in his hands, his voice tender. “Janette, I know you’re afraid of being alone. But if you truly love me, as we have loved each other, then you’ll let me go and live as I’ve chosen to. Even if I were to become completely human, it wouldn’t change the bond between us. I will always be here for you--”

     “Until you die,” she broke in bitterly, measuring her words. “That’s what this is, Nick. A death sentence. Is living as a human for fifty years or so worth that? Is Natalie worth that?”

     “I wanted this before Natalie. You know that,” he replied. “But yes, she is worth it. I love her, Janette. And we’ve come so far--I’ve come so far--towards a normal life.”

     “And what is normal, Nicolas?” she asked, running her fingers through his hair, lightly resting them on his neck. “A brief time to love, or an eternity? Which love is stronger, which bond runs deepest?” She put her lips to his neck, whispering, “Come back to me now, Nicolas. Drink of my blood, and be strong again. And together we’ll fight LaCroix...”

     His heart was racing, yet the blood he could sense was hers. Her tongue was teasing his neck, and he shivered at the touch of her cool lips...and he thought of Natalie’s warm lips touching him, tasting him, renewing him with life...and he pulled away. “No.” His voice was gentle but firm.

     She separated from him, but her eyes betrayed no anger--merely disappointment, and a bittersweet acceptance. “Then I have lost you.”

     He touched her cheek. “No. Not my feelings for you. But we can never consummate it like that again.”

     “Never is a dangerous word, Nicolas,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “But have it your way. If this is that important to you--if *she* is--then I will respect that.”

     “Thank you,” he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I knew I could count on you.”

     “I suppose we all do grow a little mellow over the centuries,” she commented, then sobered. “But we do still have a problem.”

     “Don’t worry,” he told her as he turned to leave. “I may not have all my powers, but I’m not exactly helpless.”

     Janette watched him leave, shaking her head. “I hope not, my love. I hope not.”

  

*The Iberian Peninsula, 1492.... 

     “Senor de la Noche!”

     Nick turned to see the young soldier who had addressed him. Miguel’s eyes were filled with the fear Nick quickly recognized in mortals, a fear of the unknown.

     “What is it, Miguel? Has something happened?”

     “On the battlefield, near la Alhambra. Five Moors were found dead--”

     “I’m sure King Ferdinand left many more than that, Miguel,” Nick said as he sheathed his own sword. “Many Moors will die before Granada is free.”

     Miguel Velazquez shook his head vigorously. ”You don't understand. Their bodies didn’t fall by our swords--they were attacked by some animal...and drained of blood!”

     Had Nick had more life in him, he would have paled. He found himself stammering something about beasts brought by the Moors from Africa, and Miguel left, more confused than reassured. Nick stood alone in the cool night air, deep in thought. It was LaCroix. It had to be. *He’ll never let me rest.*

     “They should be happy. I’ve limited my diet to their enemy--so far.”

     Nick turned in anger to see LaCroix, his eyes glowing amber, his fangs protruding.

     “Why won’t you leave me in peace?” Nick growled bitterly.

     “There’s no peace for the undead, Nicholas,” his master replied, as his eyes bore through to whatever was left of Nick’s soul. “I do believe however, that I’m in the mood for a Spanish delicacy...perhaps a young woman.”

     Fear gripped Nick suddenly as he realized what LaCroix was alluding to. “No. Leave her alone.”

     LaCroix smiled an evil smile, baring his fangs. “Nicholas, are you saying you care for this woman? Maria Eva...” He pronounced the name slowly, evenly, then added thoughtfully, “I was planning on going back to Castilla. Perhaps I’ll call on her--”

     The rage had erupted before Nick could even attempt to control it. His eyes were ablaze, his fangs extended, as he snarled, “Stay away from her, LaCroix! I’m warning you!”

     “Not as human as you thought you were, eh, Nicholas?”

     The realization of what LaCroix had just done to him filled him with sudden despair. The glow faded from his eyes, replaced with an anguish centuries old.

     “Don’t hurt her, LaCroix. Please.” His voice was weak, filled with defeat.

     LaCroix just laughed, and was gone.*

 

     Nick could hear the echo of LaCroix’s evil laughter as he came back to the present. And as his eyes roved across the crowded precinct, they focused on Natalie, off in the distance speaking to Stonetree. The old terror gripped him once more, for he knew LaCroix was near, and knew what he wanted. To destroy everything--his life here, his humanity...Natalie. The rage rose up in him at the thought. *Not this time. Never again.*

     He moved towards Natalie, coming to her side as she finished the report to Stonetree.

     The Captain was frowning. “Is it like the last time, a  year ago? Same MO.?”

     Natalie shook her head as she handed over the report. “No. completely different. The incisions are uneven, consistent with an animal bit.”

     “Couldn’t be the same perp anyway, Captain,” Nick broke in. “He’s still in jail. Schanke and I already checked it out.”

     “What happened to your lead?” Stonetree asked, turning to him.

     “It didn’t pan out,” Nick responded.

     Stonetree sighed in disgust, mumbling about what he would tell the press, then left.

     Natalie turned to Nick, anxious to hear what he had found out. “Did Janette know anything?” she asked quietly enough so that no one would hear.

     “No. But we both suspect he’s alive,” he said in a hushed whisper.

     “But how?”

     Nick shrugged, still incredulous. “I don’t know.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “But Nat, if it’s true, I can’t let you out of my sight. Not at night.”

     “Nick, I was just going to go home. I’m exhausted,” she complained. “Remember, you slept all day. I came in hours ago.”

     “Natalie, please!” His grip on her arms and the intensity in his eyes frightened her. “If he’s alive, and he’s seen us together, your life could be in danger. I won’t let him hurt you.”

     “Okay,” she relented, visibly shaken. “What do you want me to do?”

     He sighed, his grasp on her relaxing to an affectionate caress. “It’s almost two. I’ll ask the captain if I can leave early and I’ll take you home.” His voice softened as he leaned closer to her. “I’m sorry, Nat. I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’ll be all right. I swear to you that he’d have to destroy me before he could ever lay a hand on you.” He kissed her tenderly on the cheek, whispering in her ear, “I love you.”

     “I love you, too,” she said softly. “But it’s not me I’m worried about.”

     He kissed her again, this time on the lips, not caring about the interested looks they were getting from the night shift. His need to comfort her was far greater. They separated as an officer stepped up to Nick.

     “Detective, there’s been another murder with the same MO. This one by the CN Tower.”

     A chill ran down Nick’s spine, and he turned to Natalie.

     “I’m coming with you!” she told him. He nodded, taking her hand.

 

 

     Schanke shook his head in disbelief as he stared at the mutilated body. The police photographer had just finished shooting the gruesome scene of a young dark-haired woman whose neck had been nearly ripped open.

     “She looks about twenty-five,” Natalie commented, kneeling by the body. She slipped on rubber gloves, lightly touching the wound. She glanced at Nick as she pushed the woman’s blood-stained hair to the side, revealing the two tell-tale puncture wounds.

     She’s been drained, hasn’t she?” he asked quietly, disgusted by the waste of such youth and beauty.

     Natalie nodded.

     “It gets weirder,” Schanke broke in, joining them. He held out a plastic bag. “They found this laid on top of body. This guy’s gotta be some real sicko.”

     Nick stood, reaching for the package, and stopped dead as he looked at it. Natalie would have sworn he’d turned pale.

     “What is it?” she asked, rising to meet them.

     “Some kind of bird,” Schanke told her, then turned back to address one of the police officers on the scene.

     Natalie looked at Nick, not understanding. “Nick?”

     “It’s a raven,” he said emotionlessly. “A dead raven.”

 

 

     Nick and Natalie arrived at the Raven as the crowd was beginning to dissipate. At 4:00 am, sunrise was too close, and those who made this their haven had begun to head towards the lower chambers. They found Janette at the bar, unusually pensive as she sipped her customary blood-wine mixture. She stood abruptly as she saw them, giving Nick a perfunctory kiss on the cheek, then, remembering her promise to him, greeted Natalie warmly.

     “It’s gotten worse, Janette,” Nick began.

     “I’m way ahead of you,” she replied, seeming anxious. She reached behind the bar, puling out a note written in an ancient script.

     “All my children will pay for their betrayal,” Nick read aloud.

     “It was found in the lower chambers,” she said slowly, clearly shaken. “Right where we sleep during the day.”

     He breathed deeply. “Then he *is* alive. But why you? I tried to kill him. You never turned against him.”

     “Maybe because he knows you’re close,” Natalie suggested.

     Janette nodded. “That...and more.” She moved from behind the bar to face them. Nick could see at once something hidden behind her clear blue eyes, something that guilt, friendship and necessity would now bring to light. “I never told you this, Nick, but LaCroix asked me to help him trap you. He wanted to lure you back here with Alyce Hunter, so that he could--” she searced for the word to describe their diabolical master’s intentions. “--*toy* with you, to make you come back to us.” She looked into his eyes. “It was the first time I’d refused him anything. He swore I would regret it.”

     Nick squeezed her hand. “Thank you. I’m just sorry he turned against you, too.”

     “It was inevitable. He controlled us for centuries. The time had to come when we would both wish to break free of him. He couldn’t accept that.”

     “Janette, there’s something else. The reason we came here. Another body was found. But there was a dead bird laid on top of the body.” He caught her eyes. “A Raven.”

     “LaCroix always did like symbolism,” she muttered, not seeming jarred. The intrusion into her private lair had left her immune to further surprise. “Look, you’d better go. It’s almost sunrise.”

     “Will you be all right?” Nick asked with concern.

     “Everyone is on alert,” she told them. “My retainers have searched the lower chambers...There’s not much more that can be done. I’m just waiting for the sun to rise so we can have some peace.” She paused. “And the two of you? Where will you go, Nicolas? He’s seen your apartment. I wouldn’t go there. Maybe you should spend the day here.” She nodded to Natalie. “Both of you.”

     “It’s okay. I’ll go to Natalie’s place.” He took out a pen, scribbling down the number, and handed it to her. “Call me there if you need me.”

     Janette nodded, taking the number. “Nick, I’m just worried about tomorrow. Your party. Word’s been out about it for two weeks now. If he’s been in town, he’ll have heard.”

     Nick forced a smile. “How many people did you invite to this, anyway?”

     Her tension seemed to ease for a moment. “It won’t be so grand as the party Queen Isabel gave you--but it may come close,” she teased.

     Nick kissed her on the cheek. “Be careful.”

     “I still have my powers, Nicolas,” she reminded him, trepidation crossing her face once more. “It’s you who has to be careful.”

 

     Natalie had listened to their conversation without comment, still not quite comfortable in the presence of Nick’s ageless companion. Now, as they raced in his Caddy against the coming dawn, she put a hand on the back of his neck, rubbing at the anxiety which was clearly plaguing him.

     “That feels good,” he said, throwing his head back slightly to meet her caress.

     “Nick, is it true what Janette said about your powers? Are they completely gone?”

     He frowned. “I’m...not sure. But Nat, if they are, that only means I’m more human. Isn’t that what we want?”

     “Of course it is,” she assured him. “I’m just worried about the possibility of your having to fight LaCroix.”

     He smiled, though she knew he was trying to hide his own concern for her sake. “Hey, you’re beginning to sound like Janette. The two of you must think I’m some kind of weakling...”

     “Of course, I don’t, it’s just--”

     “Come here,” he said, gathering her towards him. She nestled gladly in the crook of his arm. “There, now we both feel safer.”

     For a few moments they were quiet, enjoying the contact. But there was something on Natalie’s mind, and she couldn’t relax until she asked. “Nick, Janette doesn’t *approve* of your trying to come over, does she?”

     “Janette never has,” he replied tiredly. “She’s always tried to seduce me back to the dark side--” He stopped, realizing that perhaps he hadn’t used the best choice of words.

     “Now I know where the word ‘vamp’ came from,” she commented, then looked straight at him. “Did she try to ‘seduce’ you back tonight? The first time you went to the Raven?”

     Damn her intuition! “Uh, what would make you think that?” he asked, averting her gaze.

     “You’ve got too much blood flowing through your veins. You forget, you can blush now,” she told him.

     He could hear the tinge of amusement in her voice. At least she wasn’t upset. “Okay,” he relented. “She did try. But she’s scared, Natalie. If I become human, she’ll be left alone. Going through eternity alone is a frightening prospect. Believe me.”

     Natalie was silent for a long moment, unnerving him. “Nat, what are you thinking?”

     “Oh, just wondering exactly how hard she tried...” she replied coolly.

     He’d reached her house and pulled into a spot. He shut off the ignition and turned to her, holding her now in both arms. “She tried to kiss me--tempt me with her blood. She failed. I don’t want that--couldn’t have that--anymore. All I want is to be mortal--and to be with you. I love you. I told her that, and she respects my wishes.”
     “Does she really?” Natalie asked dubiously. “From what you’ve told me, she’s always interfered--”

     “Not this time,” he promised her. “Janette and I have both...matured...a great deal. She’s gone beyond that.”

     “I hope,” Natalie responded.

     “Come on, Nat. The sun’s coming up. Let’s forget about Janette, LaCroix, everything. And just enjoy the day together.” He kissed her, silencing her concerns. “Now why don’t we take this inside?” he whispered, and she assented, smiling.

 

     As she locked the door behind them, she noticed him standing strangely, exerting force as if trying to lift up. At her questioning gaze, he smiled incredulously. “I can’t fly! I can’t even elevate myself!”

     “That’s incredible! When was the last time you tried?”

     “I haven’t.” He swooped her into his arms, hugging her tightly. “One more step forward,” he whispered.

     “Make that two,” she said, glancing down at his feet, where Sydney, her cat, was rubbing against him, purring. Nick laughed, picking up the chubby feline, petting him. “Not afraid of me anymore, are you, Sydney?” he asked. The cat meowed in response, purring as Nick tickled him under the neck. “There hasn’t been a cat that hasn’t shied away from me in seven hundred and sixty-five years,” he told Natalie, amazed that he even remembered how to play with one.

     Natalie was smiling broadly, thrilled for him, for herself...even for Sydney. Suddenly everything seemed to pale in the revelations that Nick was making tonight. She moved closer, kissing him deeply, as a promise of what was to come. “Why don’t I let Sydney entertain you while I take a shower and freshen up.”

     “Okay, but I think I’m going to have to raid your refrigerator. Suddenly, I’m starving!”

     “Humans aren’t supposed to eat too much right before they go to sleep,” she reminded him playfully.

     He kissed her again. “Who says I’m going to sleep?”

 

 

     Natalie showered quickly, relaxing under the hot stream of

water, washing away all her concerns....What was it she had been afraid of? All that mattered at this moment was Nick, and the progress he was making, *they* were making...She towel-dried her hair, letting it fall loosely about her shoulders, taking an extra moment to use the perfumed dusting powder she’d gotten for Christmas, smoothing it in all the right places. She pulled on her bathrobe, but looking at herself in the mirror, knew it wasn’t quite right. She peeked through the crack in the bathroom door. Nick had already changed into the black silk pajamas he’d left here, the ones that made him look oh-so-sexy, and was sitting on  her couch. Quickly, she slipped into her bedroom, heading for the lingerie drawer.

     There it was. When Grace and the others had given it to her for her birthday, she hadn’t imagined when she’d ever use it, but she knew the time was right. She slipped on the black lace teddy for the first time, almost shocking herself by how little it covered. Low-cut in front, g-string in back...”It’s a good thing they bought this for you, Nat, because you’d never have had the nerve to pick it out yourself,” she mumbled as she examined herself in the mirror. It might not exactly be her style, but she had to admit it looked good. She reached into her drawer for a short black silk robe, feeling a little more comfortable once it was on. *There. If he wants to see it, he’ll have to work at it.* A touch of perfume, a light lipstick,a dab of eyeliner under her lashes...she was ready. She breathed deeply, trying to control the way her heart was beating, and the arousal that was coursing through her just at the thought of him....

     She found him sprawled on the couch, Sydney sleeping at his side, flicking through television stations with the remote control. His eyes opened wide as he saw he, and he stood, dropping the remote to the floor. “Uh, Nat, you look...radiant...”

     She smiled as he took her into his arms, kissing her hungrily. He held her in a long embrace, saying, “Do you know that when I hold you the rest of the world seems to disappear?”

     She knew the feeling well. “Let me close the blinds, and then you can hold me for the rest of the day,” she told him, breaking away.

     He watched her, no, admired her, as she went to the window, shutting out the rays of sunlight that had begun to peek over the horizon.

     “Did you have something to eat?” she asked as she drew the curtains over the venetian blinds for added protection.

     “Yeah, I hope you don’t mind, I finished your leftover pizza.”

     “No, I don’t--wait, Nick, you ate the pizza?” She turned to him in sudden shock, concern clouding her eyes. “That pizza was loaded with garlic! Are you all right?”

     He shrugged. “Yeah. I don’t feel anything strange.” A thought struck him suddenly, and he came to her, his hand so warm now, resting on hers as she held the draw-string to the drapes. “Nat, let’s try something. Open the blinds.”

     “Nick, no. You don’t know if you’re ready for that--’

     “I’ll never know until I try.”

     “I won’t let you take the chance.”

     “Nat, it’ll be all right. Just let the sunlight in, and if it even begins to burn, I’ll run into the shade, and you can shut the blinds.”

     Natalie shook her head. “No, Nick. It’s too dangerous--”

     “Hey, the worst that can happen is that I’ll set off your smoke alarm,” he said with a grin.

     “Nick, this isn’t funny--”

     His face sobered. “Please, Nat. So many things have happened; I have to know. It’s the only way I’ll feel truly free.”

     She knew she couldn’t stop him. Better to let him try when she was there to help him, than take a chance that he’d attempt it on his own. She nodded, and slowly pulled the shades back.

     The east had already turned shades of red and orange as the slightest edge of the fiery globe had begun to make its way over the horizon. It was that dangerous period between night and day when vampires raced to safety. Nick stood before the window defiantly, waiting, hoping, as Natalie grasped his hand to support him, protect him if the need arose. Slowly the sky became lighter, until Jupiter, the bright diamond in the western sky, had disappeared into a sea of blue. The refracted red light dissipated just as the cursed red blood from his veins. The sun rose in all its splendor, a yellow-white symbol of light and life. Day had broken.

     Nick stood still for a moment, gripping Natalie’s hand more tightly as the warm rays touched his face, his body. Tears, real salt water tears, began to wash slowly down his face as he lived his first sunrise in seven hundred and sixty-five years.

     He pulled Natalie to him, hugging her, swinging her around in pure ecstasy. “Natalie...I’m human,” he said simply, his voice choked with emotion.

     “Yes you are,” she whispered, her tears of joy joining his. She held him tightly as he watched the sun rise higher into the eastern sky, amazed, delighted, grateful.

     “You brought me to this, Natalie,” he told her, still clutching at her as if afraid to let go. “It’s only fitting you share my first sunrise with me...”

     “Not just the first,” she whispered, kissing him.

     “No,” he replied tenderly. “Every one, for the rest of our lives.” He pulled slowly away from her, holding her at arms’ distance. “Nat, you’re even more beautiful in the sunlight. Look at how it shines in your eyes, on your hair. If you knew how much I love you--”

     “Show me,” she told him simply.

     And he kissed her, more hungrily than before, more passionately, for now he knew he was truly free to love her. His lips moved slowly down the hollow of her neck, as his hands moved up the smoothness of her legs, under her robe. Natalie smiled to herself as he seemed to hesitate as he reached the bare skin beneath, probably wondering is she was wearing anything at all underneath. His hands rested on her buttocks, pulling her gently against him, and Natalie gasped as she felt him hardening against her, knowing that through her teddy and his pajamas he must still feel the moist heat emanating from her. Suddenly, he was lifting her up, carrying her to the bed, laying her gently down.

     She looked up at him, smiling as she reached to help him off with the pajama top that had already slipped open to reveal the perfect, muscular chest. Her fingers danced along the patch of blond hair, down to his stomach, then playfully touching him over his pajama bottoms.

     Nick was not so modest. His desire and curiosity had gotten the better of him, and as he lay next to her, he reached at once for the belt of her robe, pulling it loose to expose the black teddy below. “Oh, Nat,” he moaned, in appreciation of what he saw, and what she was doing to him. He ran his fingers along the line of the teddy, pushing it aside gently to cup her breast in his hand, caressing her, playing with her, arousing her. Natalie sighed in pleasure as his hands moved back to her buttocks, squeezing, fondling, until his fingers traced the line back to front, his touch making her tremble as he approached, reaching underneath the thin lace to undo the single snap that kept him from her. Natalie moaned as he touched her gingerly, then more anxiously, watching him smile as he realized just how much she wanted him. His lips found hers again as he kissed her, feeling her quiver with excitement beneath him. Natalie remained passive for a few moments, reveling in his caress, experiencing pleasure as she never had before. This man, who had lived for centuries, had learned to appreciate a woman, to take his time with her, to pleasure her before himself...and she knew that all he had hoped for, longed for, in his hundreds of years of solitude, would be hers to enjoy. And as the burning within her became almost too intense to bear, she reached with both hands for his pajama bottoms, pulling them down, setting him free.

     And as she held him, fondled him, she drew in a breath as she realized...the extent of his ardor. Nick began to kiss her again, his whole body shaking with anticipation as the warm touch of her hands drove him insane. He wrapped his arms around her as she guided him into her, welcoming him, warming him...

     And nearly eight centuries of detachment, of isolation, melted away in the heat of their passion, as their bodies moved together in a desperate fulfillment of two years of frustrated longing. With skilled, yet careful hands, he pulled her closer to him in swift, sharp movements, allowing himself to reach as deeply as possible into the heat of her very soul. Nick struggled to contain the explosion he felt was imminent, listening to her breathing, her heartbeat, waiting for that moment when they could share in their moment of ecstasy. And as she began to cry out, he allowed himself to erupt inside her, releasing all the desire for her that he’d repressed for so long. And as their bodies relaxed, molding together, they continued to hold each other tightly, she, relishing in the completeness of having him inside her, he in the warmth of her still-quavering body.

 

     Natalie awoke from her most peaceful sleep in ages, reaching for the warm body that had held her in his arms for hours...to find him missing. Her heart stopped a beat as her eyes fluttered open...then she relaxed back on her pillow, smiling. She watched him as he stood before the window, transfixed by the the daylight and all its wonder, letting the warm rays of sunlight bathe his naked body. And she could feel her desire burning once more just at the sight of his body: soft blond hair, pale skin, muscular arms, tight buttocks, athletic form...perfect. She rose quietly, still wearing the teddy he’d merely pushed aside, slipping her arms around his waist, kissing him on the back of the neck. For a moment he stood with her arms around him, covering her hands lovingly with his own. Then he turned around to face her, smiling, taking her into his arms. “Good morning, my love,” he whispered as he gave her a tender kiss.

     “I’d say it’s a wonderful morning,” she replied, lacing her fingers around his neck, then continuing the kiss. It felt so good to be in his embrace, to feel the bare skin of his chest against hers. He pulled her closer and she realized that he too was aroused, his hardness against her exciting her even more.

     “I got up to look at the day,” he said softly. “There are so many things I want to do with you outside in the sunlight...but I couldn’t stop thinking about this morning...”

     She smiled. He didn’t have to tell her what he’d been thinking of. “Well, you have two choices then. We can get dressed now, go out for breakfast, and spend the day outside...”

     “What’s the second choice?” he breathed, tasting her neck.

     “We can do that all in a couple of hours.”

     “I like that idea...” he replied as his mouth moved downward.

    

 

     Nick and Natalie lay contentedly in each other’s arms for a long while, bathing in the afterglow of a lovemaking session that head been no less intense than their first. “I love you,” he whispered, running his fingers through her hair as she snuggled closer to him.

]    “I love you, too,” she replied, reaching up to kiss him.

     He looked into her eyes. “Natalie, this is all...incredible.”

     “For me, too. Nick, you were so gentle and caring...”

]    “Were you expecting some kind of wild beast?” he teased.

     She laughed. “No, just a typical selfish male.”

     He hugged her more tightly. “Well, maybe once upon a time I was like that--more of a taker. Maybe I’m still afraid of that beast coming out...of losing control.”

     She sensed his body tense, and reached up to touch his face, caressing it. “Hey, if your beast didn’t come out in the last few hours, it never will again.”

     He smiled, loosening up, accepting her kiss. “I’ll tell you one thing, Nat. You absolutely wore me out. I could sleep all day.”

     “Hmmmm, too tired for the Official Natalie Lambert Tour of Toronto by Day?”

     His eyes brightened at the prospect, as she knew they would. “I think I’ll stay awake today. I’ve slept through too many days.”

 

 

     The images flashed rapidly through his mind...hundreds of thousands of sunrises, heated escapes, near misses...the sizzle of burning skin, the acrid smell of smoking flesh, pain...fear of death...imminent death...the cool retreat into darkness...despair...condemnation to a nocturnal existence....

     ...and freedom. Nick grasped Natalie’s hand, took a deep breath, and stepped through the front door, letting the crisp air invigorate him as the sun shone benevolently above them...

     “Let’s ride with the top down,” he suggested.

     “In March?”

     But she could not deny the innocent plea from his blue eyes.

     “You’re lucky it’s a warm day,” she told him as she snuggled next to him for warmth.

 

     Their first stop had been the CN Tower, and Nick waited impatiently as the elevator slowly brought them to the top. “This is so slow,” he whispered to her.

     “Just compared to flying,” she answered in his ear.

     The elevator stopped and Nick anxiously followed the crowd towards the window where he could observe what he never had before--Toronto by day. “It looks so different, “ he marveled, seeing the sun shine on a view he’d only seen by moonlight. Suddenly, he stepped back, seemingly dizzy.

     “What’s the matter?” Natalie asked with concern as he grabbed her arms for support.

     His head cleared and he smiled sheepishly. “I’d almost forgotten--before I was brought over, I had a terrible fear of heights! I guess that now that I can’t fly, it’s back!”

 

 

     They’d taken a tour of Skydome and its many facilities, stopping at the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. Nick sat back contentedly after downing his rare cheeseburger and fries, listening to the music as his gaze  rested appreciatively on Natalie. The loud music in the background had flowed into a more sedate number, Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World”. Nick listened to the words a moment, then took Natalie’s hand. “Have I found my way to the ordinary world, Nat?”

     She smiled. “I always knew you would.”

     The check came, and Natalie snatched it from him.

     “Uh, Nat, isn’t this a date?” he asked, trying to pull it from her.

     “It’s your birthday,” she reminded him. “I’ve been with you every free minute over the past week, so I haven’t had time to get you a present yet.”

     “This day has been my present,” he told her as they stood to leave. “Thank you, my love,” he said, hugging her to him. She was the best gift of all.

 

     The park was filled with children taking advantage of the warm March day. For a moment, Natalie shuddered as she realized that the last time she had been here had been with Roger Jameson. Nick noticed her expression at once. “Are you all right?”

     She smiled, feeling his arm around her shoulder, seeing his concerned gaze, remembering that the last time it had been Nick she’d been thinking of. And now, here he was. “I’m fine,” she said, lacing her arms more tightly around his waist.

     “Hey, look, Nat!” He pointed to a tourist, taking Polaroid pictures against the backdrop of scenery. Before Natalie knew his plan, he’d pulled her towards the woman. “Excuse me,” he asked, his mortality not affecting his charisma. “Would you mind taking a picture of us? It’s a special day, and we don’t have a camera.”

     The middle-aged woman was too good-natured and impressed by Nick’s handsome charm to refuse. Moments later, Nick had thanked her, and stood with Natalie watching their image come to life. The photo showed them arm in arm, both smiling broadly, having captured exquisitely the love and excitement flowing between them. “Our souvenir of our first day in the sun,” he said, pocketing it. He kissed her. “There’s something I have to do now, Nat. it’s almost four, and want to get back to you before sundown.” To her curious expression, he responded with, “It’s a secret. A surprise.”

     Despite her desire to stay with him, she relented, letting him take her home. After all, she was dead tired, and if she was going to look beautiful for his party tonight, she’d need some time alone to get ready.

     *He’s the one in for a surprise when he gets back*, she thought to herself as she watched him drive away.

 

 

     She’d originally bought the dress for the Annual Metro Police Ball, wanting more than anything for Nick to see her in it. But when he’d decided not to go, as usual, it hadn’t seemed worth the effort. She’d put it carefully away for another occasion. It would come in handy tonight. She hated herself for falling prey to her own jealousy, but considering they were going to the Raven, she couldn’t escape it.

     She had to make sure she looked better than Janette.

     She slipped on the royal blue satin, the sweetheart top fitting nicely over her breasts, wishing suddenly there were spaghetti straps to keep it from falling down. The skirt was a wrap-around, falling just above the knees, opening ever-so-slightly as she walked. She stepped into the four-inch pumps, then stood in front of the mirror, grateful for the high-school friend that had been a hairdresser and taught her how to pin up her long thick curls just the way a strapless dress demanded. Diamond earrings, enough makeup for the evening light....

     ...and the bell rang. She took a deep breath, quickly remembered the perfume, spraying it on her wrists, her neck, her cleavage...and went to greet him.

     Nick shuffled nervously as he waited for her to come to the door, took a deep breath as she opened it...and simply stared at her. “Natalie...”

     She reached out to him, finding him incredibly sexy in the black suit and powder blue shirt he’d changed into, his hair curling just the way she liked it. She kissed him eagerly, wishing they didn’t have to leave for the Raven so soon....

     “You look beautiful,” he said, as his lips moved down to her neck. He kissed her there, drinking in the scent of her perfume, her skin. He lifted his head up to face her. “I love your hair like this. You’ve got such a beautiful neck,” he said, running his finger along its hollow.

     “I guess that’s a real compliment from *you*,” she teased him, and he smiled.

     He released her, standing silent for a moment, his smile taking on a suddenly nervous aspect.

     “What is it?” she asked. “I didn’t mean--”

     “No, no, Nat. It’s not that,” he reassured her. “It’s just--I have something I have to talk to you about.”

     Concern clouded her eyes. “Did something happen?”

     “Why don’t we sit down,” he suggested,  motioning to the couch.

     “Nick, please, whatever it is, just tell me.” Suddenly the magic of the day had been obscured as she began to think once more of the danger that the coming sunset would bring them. Something had happened, she was sure.

     Well, maybe not so sure. Nick had taken a deep breath, and was holding her hand in his, and at once she realized that it wasn’t fear intruding upon them once more, but something she couldn’t identify. Whatever it was, he seemed a nervous wreck.

     “Nat, I know you might think things are going a little fast between us,” he began, “but we *have* known each other for a long time--and loved each other, even though we didn’t admit it.”

     Natalie’s lips parted in a slight gasp. This couldn’t be happening.

     “Nat, I’ve waited so long for this. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want to spend the rest of my life with you...”

     “Nor in mine,” she told him softly.

     He smiled, more at ease. “I don’t want us to waste another moment. I want us to begin our new life together.” He reached into his pocket for a small black velvet box. “Officially.”

     Natalie was speechless, her hands trembling as she opened the small case, then gasped at its contents. The pear-shaped diamond was the biggest she had ever seen, easily three karats. As Nick gingerly took it out for her, she saw the ruby-lined setting, blood-red stones that led to the pure white jewel in the center.

     “Natalie...will you marry me?”

     She knew she was crying. He had to know her answer, but she said it anyway. “Yes, yes, yes...” she whispered, and he gathered her into his arms, kissing her hungrily.

     “Oh, Nat,” he said, relief washing over him. “You don’t know how happy this makes me...”

     She rested against him, holding out her left hand as he placed the ring on her finger. “It’s beautiful, Nick,” she told him, her voice filled with emotion.

     “I hope the ring’s okay, Nat. I didn’t really have a lot of time to shop around....”

     She looked up at him. “You’re kidding, right?”

     But she could see from his face that he wasn’t. “I guess I’m just used to the jewelry they wore in the Courts over the last few centuries. It seemed a lot fancier. If there’s something you’d like more...Nat, anything and everything you want...just tell me. It’s yours.”

     She caressed his cheek. “Nick, the ring’s perfect. And I’ve got everything I want right here.”

     He kissed her, and she knew he was in wonder at his ability to do so...no beast, no vampire...just a healthy mortal passion....

     They made a conscious decision to ignore the ringing phone, until Schanke’s voice spoke into the answering machine. “Hey, Nat, if Knight’s there, tell him he’s gonna be late to his own birthday bash. I’m still waiting for you guys to pick me up at the precinct...”

     They separated, laughing. “I think we’d better both change our numbers, Nat...”

     “...and not give it to Schanke,” she finished for him.

     They stood up, and he kissed her one last time. “We’ll continue this later...with your phone off the hook.”

 

     He’d put the top up, partly for the cold night air, in part because Natalie warned the wind would destroy her hair. As he pulled up in front of the police station, she turned to him with sudden curiosity. “I never got to ask you last night. What was that about Queen Isabel?”

     “She was a very lovely woman,” Nick remembered fondly. “She and King Ferdinand were both very decent people. I fought at his side in Granada, and after the Reconquest of Spain, I spent a good deal of time in their Court.”

     “You knew the Catholic Kings?” she asked in disbelief.

     “Oh, yeah,” he said matter-of-factly. “The whole family was very nice. I could never forgive Henry VIII for what he did to the King’s daughter, Catherine.”

     Natalie was still not used to the fact that Nick had probably known a good deal of the historical figures about whom she’d only read. No wonder he thought her ring wasn’t fancy enough...She made a mental note to ask him if he’d known all six of Henry VIII’s wives.

     “Anyway,” he continued, “In 1492, we were in the midst of celebrating the unification...and someone told the Queen that it was my birthday...so she threw me a party.”

     “Must have been some party,” she commented.

     “It was,” he said thoughtfully.

 

 

     *Maria Eva was at his side as they made their way across the crowd to the King and Queen. Both dressed now in their finest garments, the King slapped him affectionately on the back, while the Queen extended a bejeweled hand for his kiss. The attention embarrassed Nick, for he knew that others envied his close relationship with the monarchs. But he had fought valiantly at the King’s side, and they had told him more than once that they owed Granada to him. He kissed the Queen’s hand, bowing deeply, as Maria Eva curtsied.

     “Are you enjoying your celebration, Nicolas?” the Queen asked, her warm blue eyes smiling at him.

     “Very much so, Vuestra Majestad. Thank you again.”

     “Perhaps the next celebration will be your wedding?” Queen Isabel asked, glancing at Maria Eva, who was blushing profusely.

     Nick smiled down at his love. It was a distinct possibility...*

 

 

     Nick forced himself back to the present. He was too happy at this moment to let the past intrude upon him. He was hoping for a happy ending this time, and he didn’t want to dwell on the past....

     Even with the black leather coat covering her most revealing dress, Nick knew that all eyes were on Natalie as they entered the precinct. He put his arm around her possessively, brimming with his own excitement to let the world know that she was his. Schanke’s eyes opened wide as he saw her, and as Stonetree came up behind him he said, “Well, Nat, you’re gonna be the classiest looking dame in that weirdo club tonight.”

     “Thanks, Schank,” she said, realizing that for him that was a real compliment.

     “Sorry we’re late, guys; I had to give Nat a little present.”

     “Wait a minute, here. It’s your birthday. What did she give you?”

     Nick reached out for her left hand, caressing it tenderly as he brought it up to show them. “Her present to me was that she said yes.”

     “Well, I’ll be damned,” Stonetree said with a big smile. “What a surprise! Congratulations, you two!”

     “No surprise to me,” Schanke commented as he shook Nick’s hand. “I practically got the two of them together, didn’t I partner?”

     “You did push a little,” Nick admitted. “Although I’ll never forgive you for trying to set her up with Lionel.”

     “It was all a ploy to get you jealous, right Nat?” he said, winking at her as he gave her a congratulatory kiss. He turned to Stonetree. “That’s it, Captain. Now you’re gonna have to take time off to come to the Raven--it’s a double celebration.”

     “Okay, Okay,” Stonetree relented. “Let me grab my coat. The least I can do is buy my favorite detective and ME a bottle of champagne to celebrate.”

     “Hey, I thought *I* was your favorite detective,” Schanke called after Stonetree. Nick just laughed, putting his arm around Natalie as the officers nearby crowded around to congratulate them.

 

     The Raven was more crowded than usual, and Nick knew at first glance that most of the patrons were vampires. He helped Natalie off with her coat, checking it along with his own, as Janette came to greet them.

     “Nicolas! Happy birthday!” She kissed him on the lips, giving him strange smile as she separated from him. “You’re so warm,” she said so that none of the other men could hear. She turned to Natalie. “Natalie, you’re looking very nice. That’s a lovely dress; Eaton’s isn’t it? I shop there myself sometimes when I can’t get a hold of my designer.”

     Natalie forced a smile, seething inside. Damn her for being so catty! And Nick was trying to tell her that Janette wasn’t after him?

     Nick shot Janette a glance, but was more amused than annoyed. “Uh, Janette, you know Schanke, and this is Captain Stonetree. Captain, Janette is the owner of the Raven. She’s an old friend.”

     “Very old,” Natalie muttered under her breath. 

     Janette greeted them with her usual charm, pointing out the table she had set aside for Nick and his friends, and inviting them to have drinks on her. Schanke and Stonetree headed towards the table, and Janette turned back to Nick.

     “People will start thinking this is a regular cop bar,” she joked, then looked at him incredulously. “Nick, I can actually sense the blood pulsing through your veins...this is incredible.”

     “A lot of incredible things have been happening lately, Janette,” he said with a wide smile. He caught Natalie’s gaze for a moment, an electricity running through them which Janette couldn’t fail to notice. He looked back at his immortal companion. “Janette, Natalie and I are engaged.”

     Janette’s eyes opened wide. “Engaged?”

     “Yes. Show her, Nat,” he said excitedly. Natalie complied, holding out the ring for Janette to examine.

     Janette took her hand lightly, looking over the diamond. “Very nice. You always did have good taste, Nicolas,” she said with a smile, the pun intentional. She looked up at Natalie. “Congratulations, my dear,” she said, giving her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek.

     “Thank you, Janette,” she replied.

     “This is some accomplishment,” she told her. “Nicolas has tried before to live a mortal life. He’s never gotten this close. That is a great credit to you, I’m sure.”

     Natalie ignored the use of the word close, but Nick did not.

     “I’m not close, Janette. I’m there. Fully human.”

     “It does seem that way,” she replied, regarding him carefully. “Do I take that to mean you’ve worked out all the ...problems?”

     It took Natalie a moment to catch what Janette was getting at, but at Nick’s response it was clear.

     He smiled an almost wicked smile, as he said, “All of them.”

     Janette’s face took on an almost amused expression. She understood exactly. “Congratulations, Nicolas,” she said, giving him a kiss, then couldn’t help but add, “I’m *very* impressed.”

 

     Natalie breathed a sigh of relief as Janette excused herself to go to her other guests. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was amused,” Natalie commented.

     “She is,” Nick replied, without ill feeling. ”If anything, she left with that ‘poor Nicolas, I hope you know what you’re doing’ look,” he said, imitating her accent perfectly.

     Natalie laughed as he drew her close and added, “And I know exactly what I’m doing. Now come on. Let’s get a drink, and dance...we’ve got  a lot to celebrate.”

 

     The bottle of champagne almost gone, Nick turned to the skimpily-dressed waitress to order another. Any apprehension about this night had dissipated in the optimistic air of celebration, the hypnotic beat of the music, and the free flow of alcohol. Most of the Raven’s regulars, as well as friends Nick hadn’t seen for decades, had stopped by the table to wish Nick a happy birthday, most surprised, if not shocked, as Nick would introduce, “my fiancee, Natalie.” Soon word had spread throughout the club that Nick had attained his long-desired humanity, and traffic to the table became congested as his age-old former companions came to observe, some with comments of disdain, some with congratulations, and most merely with an incredulous curiosity. Schanke, of course, was oblivious, Stonetree observant but strangely sedate, Natalie too tipsy now to be anything but carefree, and Nick too elated to let anything bother him.

     Janette had made her way back to the table, taking an empty seat beside Nick. Schanke offered her champagne, but she indicated that she had a drink already. “So, Nicolas, are you and your friends enjoying your party?” she asked pleasantly.

     “Yes, thank you,” he said, putting his hand over hers affectionately.

     “You’ve got a very nice place here, Janette,” Stonetree broke in.

     “Why, thank you, Captain. You must come more often,” she replied, eliciting a slightly worried looked from Nick and Natalie.

     “Yeah, it’s a great place all right, Captain,” Schanke added, “but being a happily married man, I’d know better than to come here alone--”

     Schanke turned pale as Alma came to the table, swearing that he could hear her snarl at him. She turned to Nick. “Just wanted to wish you good luck, Nick,” she said, then glanced towards Natalie. “Hope you have a nice life,” she said, with the coldness that implied she doubted it would be his last.

     Janette glared a warning at her as Nick put a reassuring hand on Natalie’s thigh. Natalie just forced a smile as Alma walked away.

     Janette turned to Natalie. “Natalie, would you mind if I borrowed your fiancé for a dance?”

     Nick turned to her as if asking permission. “Nat?”

     “Sure, go ahead,” she said. “Come on, Schank, why don’t you and I hit the dance floor? At least you know you’ll be safe with me.”

     Schanke gave her a sideways glance, wondering if she knew about Alma. “Knight, you didn’t...”

     “Come on, Janette,” he said with a grin, purposely not allowing Schanke to finish. Of course he’d told Natalie. “Let’s dance. I don’t think we have in at least a hundred years or so.” He bent to give Natalie a parting kiss. “Be easy on him, Nat. His heart can’t take the excitement.”

 

     Janette moved dangerously close to him, bringing her lips to his ear. “So, Nicolas, how does it feel to be human?”

     He thought a moment, holding her body next to his as they moved to the music. “Warm, alive, exciting...”

     “And you were able to...?”

     From anyone else, he would have considered it an invasion of privacy. But it was Janette. He could see the amazement in her eyes, and he had been too close to her to hide the truth.

     “Yes. And I’d almost forgotten how wonderful it could be.”

     He could tell from her expression that she had not, not completely at least. “And you didn’t have the urge to drink her blood?” she asked, totally intrigued.

     He shook his head, looking into her eyes. “It’s gone, Janette. It really is.”

     “Then so is our bond,” she told him, her eyes full of regret.

     “No,” he told her, with the great affection he still felt for her evident in his eyes. “That will never go away. I promise.”

     She smiled sadly. “Still sweet, after eight hundred years. Well, for your sake, Nick, I hope this is real, and that it is gone for good.” She paused. “I always knew you wanted this, but I suppose I never thought it was possible. But you do look happy, Nicholas, for the first time in hundreds of years. It’s good to see you at peace.”

     He smiled at her, appreciating the sentiment, and kissing her on the cheek. He kept his face close to hers. “What about you, Janette? Are you all right? Has there been any more trouble?”

     “We almost forgot about him, didn’t we? No, there’s been nothing else. But we can’t avoid it, can we?” She pulled away to look at him. “Try to enjoy your party, Nicholas. Remember, he has eternity before him. He’s in no hurry.” She gave him another kiss, this time on the lips, then tried to smile. “Happy birthday.”

     Nick watched her go, then looked around the dance floor until he spotted Natalie, dancing with Schanke. He tried to contain his laughter as he made his way over to rescue her. “Hey, Don, mind if I cut in? I haven’t danced with my lady all night.”

     “No, that’s okay,” Schanke said, out of breath. “Sorry, Nat, hate to leave you with a less experienced dancer--”

     “He should only know how many more years of dancing experience I have over him,” Nick told her as he pulled her closer. “You know, come to think of it, this is the first time we’ve ever danced together...”

     “I know,” she said as she laced her hands around his neck, glad that the tempo had slowed a bit. “How was your dance with Janette?” she asked, trying in vain to sound nonchalant.

     “I think she’s really happy for us,” he told her, as his hands made a sensuous movement along her waist. He looked into her eyes. “Nat, I’m sorry if tonight has been difficult. Some of them...aren’t quite sure how to deal with humans...they can’t understand what’s going on between us.”

     “It’s all right,’ she broke in, meaning it. “They’re your friends. I don’t expect you to give up that aspect of your life for me.” Her eyes twinkled as she added, “Besides, you’ve got to have someone from your side at the wedding.”

     He smiled, then his brow wrinkled. “Nat, there’s a problem with them coming to the wedding....”

     She looked at him with a questioning gaze for a moment, and then, as it hit her, they both said in unison, “The church.”

     “Okay, well, they can come to the reception,” he said with a grin. He kissed her, almost stopping the dance, then continued, just holding her against him as they rocked to the music.

     “Nick,” she said in his ear, in a voice that told him it was a subject she was reluctant to bring up. “I know we haven’t discussed this, but you do want to marry in a church, don’t you? I know I’m not the most religious person, but my brother and I were raised Catholic, and--”

     “So was I,” he told her, ironic as it sounded. “Of course I do. Although producing a baptismal certificate for me might be a little problematic. I’ll speak to Father Roquefort about it.”

     She nodded, more at ease. “I didn’t know how you felt about it.”

     “Nat, God has taken me back in,” he said, with renewed faith she hadn’t realized yet was there. “Not to mention, given me you. I think I owe it to him to do things his way from now on.” He kissed her, his mind filled with all the plans they would soon be making...

     Stonetree’s hand on his arm brought him back to the present. He turned to  the Captain I sudden alarm, knowing something was wrong.

     “I’m sorry to have to put a damper on your party, Nick, but the station just called. They just found another body, same MO.”

     “Where?” he and Natalie almost asked at once.

     Stonetree drew in a breath. “A block from here.”

 

     Nick tried to accustom himself to the feel of his own heart beating wildly as he led Natalie back to their table. Stonetree had already told Schanke, and Janette, sensing the smell of human fear, had been alerted at once.

     “He may still be in the area,” Nick said, reaching for his gun, and pulling it from its holster. “I want to go alone.”

     “Are you crazy?” Schanke asked him, grabbing his jacket.

     “Captain?”

     Stonetree gave him a nod, putting a hand on Schanke’s arm. “Let him go.”

     “Nick!” Natalie’s eyes were filled with anguish. She knew whom he expected to find.

     He gave her a quick kiss. “It’ll be all right, Nat. Just stay here, in the crowd. Whatever you do, don’t leave.” He looked up at Janette, a silent plea in his eyes. “Janette...”

     She nodded her acknowledgment of his request, moving beside Natalie, a cool hand protectively on her shoulder. “Be careful, Nicolas.”

     He turned to Schanke, who was still too dumbfounded to speak. “Look after the ladies for me, okay Schank?”

     And he was gone, as fast as was *humanly* possible.

 

     And as he ran to the scene of the latest grisly crime, the fear that he had pointedly, if not naively, pushed aside for the last few hours, came rushing back to him, in an overpowering assault of memories....

     *As he danced with Maria Eva, she caught his eye, and his heart stopped. He excused himself from his innocent young love, making his way to the ageless beauty whose seductive power had led him to the life he had been trying so hard to escape. Yet she still held power over him....

     “Happy birthday, Nicolas!” she said, attaching herself to him.

     “What are you doing here, Janette?” he asked, though her cool cheek against his was tempering his annoyance.

     “Nicolas, how could I miss your birthday?” she said into his ear, kissing him. He could feel his eyes beginning to burn, and he pulled away from her before he could be transformed. Damn her power over him!

     “Janette, please. Not here, not now that I’m so close--”

     “To what? Oh, your little plaything? Nicolas, truly you can’t believe that that can lead to anything. If you wish to feed on her, go ahead, but please don’t torture yourself with vain dreams of loving her....”

     “Are you here alone?” he asked sharply, pulling away from her.

     He turned around as he felt a cold presence at his back.

     LaCroix’s eyes were glowing amber. “When you are jointed to others in blood, you can never be alone, Nicholas....”*

 

     Nick looked at the body in horror, a young woman drained of her life force, victim of a psychotic monster. LaCroix was on a rampage now, he knew it, pursuing him as fervently now as he had through the centuries. Stalking him, warning him, toying with him, drawing him out...

     ...of the Raven.

        

      Natalie paced nervously before the bar. “I want to go to him,” she insisted.

     Janette shook her head. “Natalie, LaCroix isn’t like Nick. He’s a predator who would rip you to shreds without a second thought.”

     “And he may have Nick right now,” she countered.

     Janette’s eyes clouded with her own concern. “Then there would be nothing either of us could do anyway,” she said quietly.

     “You’re quite right about that, Janette. I did teach you well.”

     The women looked up in horror at the being that had approached them apparently out of nowhere.

     “LaCroix,” Janette whispered.

     All the wild speculation, the fear and dread that had led to this moment, erupted in the shocking revelation that indeed, somehow, he had survived. How was no longer important. For Janette had known him too long not to recognize the anger that had transformed his blue eyes into a burning amber-red, his fangs protruding ever so slightly as his evil smile taunted them, his eyes bathing them in a malevolent light.

     “What do you want here?” Janette found the courage to demand.

     “No hello? Janette, what’s happened to your manners?”

     “I can’t have a scene here,” she told him.

     “Then let’s go into your lower chambers for a drink, and a little chat...”

     Janette moved to go, glancing at Natalie. But LaCroix would not make it so easy.

     “I think Nicholas’ pretty little mortal toy should join us.”

     “No, LaCroix, leave her here.” She tried to appeal to his vampire sense. “I don’t allow mortals in our private haven.”

     “Make an exception,” he snarled.

     Two of her vampire retainers had come up to LaCroix. One he pushed aside with little effort--the other backed away at his hiss as he realized who LaCroix was.

     “Keep the mortals away,” Janette ordered them. “Especially the police. No one is to know what’s going on.”

     They nodded, backing away from LaCroix, who had grabbed Natalie’s arm with a deathly cold hand, holding her in a painful grip. “Lead the way, Janette.”

     Janette glanced at Natalie, her expression saying she was sorry. Natalie nodded, understanding. Janette was powerless against him.

     The all were.

 

     *Maria Eva was gone. In a panic, he slipped out of the party, searching the royal palace desperately with his vampiric vision.

     A heartbeat. Fear. He rushed to the source, and found her there, terrified as LaCroix held her tightly in his grasp.

     “Nicolas!” she cried out as she saw him, then froze in terror as she watched her love transform into something hellish, something beastly....*

 

 

     Nick rushed into the Raven, finding Schanke and Stonetree waiting for him...alone.

     “Natalie? Janette?” he asked, terror gripping him.

     “I don’t know where the hell they went,” Schanke told him in disgust. “I wanted to check out the back room, but those two guys won’t let anyone through.”

     “Nick, they’ll let *you* through” Stonetree said with meaning.

     “What do you mean? If they won’t let Metro Police--” Schanke began to complain.

     “I’m going in. Just stay away!” he called over his shoulder, too frantic to even wonder at Stonetree’s strange demeanor.

 

 

     Janette stood arms distance from LaCroix, watching carefully for any sudden move, feeling helpless to act. Her mind was racing, going through the possibilities of how to escape, or at least allow Natalie to do so. Yet at the same time, she knew that there was not a thought, not an emotion, she could keep from her malevolent master. If only Nicolas would get here...and yet what could he do in his present state?

    

     LaCroix’s eyes had subdued to a lightly glowing amber, as he sated his thirst with a bottle of blood from Janette’s “wine” rack, holding the bottle in his right hand, Natalie with his left. His arm was around her waist like a vise, and she had ceased to struggle, knowing it was futile.

     *Better the bottle than me,* Natalie thought grimly as she watched him drink hungrily.

     “There’s still time,” he told her, reading her thoughts. “We must wait for Nicholas, after all. Otherwise, it spoils the fun.”

     “LaCroix, let her go,” Janette implored him. “She’s of no use to you--”

     “Ah, but she is, Janette. Our Nicholas loves her. That makes her very valuable indeed.”

     “He’s not *ours*, or yours anymore, LaCroix. Nicolas has made his decision. He’s happy. Let him be!”

     LaCroix glowered at her. “Oh, Janette, how little you understand. Nicholas has no choice. And neither do you.  I made you both, and you are mine for as long as I wish to possess you.” He took another swig of the blood, letting it drip from his lips. “Your love for him was always your downfall.”

     Nick stepped through the door, his blue eyes ablaze. “And your inability to leave us in peace was yours!”

     “Nicholas. You’ve decided to join us.” He extended the bottle. “Care for a drink?”

     “Let her go, LaCroix! It’s me you want.”

     “Oh, yes, Nicholas,” he replied, his anger rising once more. “It is you I want. Did you think you could destroy me so easily? Did you think I would allow such betrayal from my childe?”

     “Then do what you want with me, but let Natalie go!”

     LaCroix’s face softened with a smirk of satisfaction. He was getting to Nick, and he knew it. “But Nicholas, she intrigues me. After all, I hear that she’s the one who helped you regain your mortality. What power is it that she wields over you? What was it that made you betray me, and abandon the gift that I gave you?”

     Nick stood motionless, knowing he was powerless against LaCroix, hating himself for putting Natalie in danger like this. She had given him nothing but love and support, and he could only watch helplessly as LaCroix toyed with her.

     “What was it, Nicholas” he asked again, regarding Natalie for the first time, looking her over carefully. “Was it her beauty?” His left hand around her waist pulled her closer to him, while his free hand went to her face, his cold sensuous caress moving from her cheek along the line of her bare neck, resting there for a dangerous moment before descending to her breast. He fondled her as his lips brushed against her bare shoulder, hesitating at her neck as he watched for Nick’s response.

     Nick seethed, unmoving, knowing that any sudden provocation would mean Natalie’s life.

     “Was it her mind, Nicholas?” His hand touched her temple, then reached for her hair, pulling it down, running his fingers through it. Natalie began to shake, fighting to contain her fear and humiliation.

     “Or was it her oh-so-willing body? Is that what tempted you, Nicholas? Mortal love?” And as he taunted Nick, his hands moved slowly down Natalie’s body, coming to rest on her pelvis, continuing to caress. “Why Nicholas, she’s trembling. Did she tremble thus when you took her?”

     Nick couldn’t even feel Janette’s supporting hand on his arm. His eyes were transfixed, burning with rage as LaCroix carried out the defilement. He wanted to scream, rush out, tear Natalie from him and rip LaCroix apart with his bare hands...but the part of him that was still rational knew he could not. Fear of his own death didn’t impede him. But the fear of what LaCroix would do to Natalie after he was dead, kept him motionless, watching, enduring, burning with the desire to kill.

     “Tell me the truth, Nicholas. Was it really as fulfilling as you thought it would be?” His hand moved back to her neck, his fingers finding a delectable spot. “Or did you really long to consummate your passion with blood?” He extended a claw-like nail. “Come, Nicholas. Do it the right way. Drink her blood.”

     And with his nail, he slashed the surface of Natalie’s neck, a long thin line where blood began to ooze. He smiled cruelly as Natalie  cried out in pain, contemplating the blood like the delicacy it was for him....

     All reason had fled. The sight of Natalie, helpless, violated, pain and fear in her eyes, tore at him like a stake through his heart, ripping away at the thin layer of self-control he had struggled to maintain. Nick’s body began to shake as the repressed rage erupted inside him.

     Self-awareness was gone. All that mattered was Natalie. He did not know that his eyes had begun to burn blood-red, his fangs protruding, as he hissed, “Get your hands off of her, LaCroix, or I’ll kill you!”

     Suddenly he realized that Natalie’s eyes had opened wide in shock as she cried, “Oh my God, Nick!”

     LaCroix was smiling, victory painted on his face. “So, Nicholas, not as human as you thought...”

     And Nick could taste the blood on his lips where he’d bitten down with his own fangs. The despair that began to overtake him was quickly replaced with the realization that now he could act...

     LaCroix scrutinized Natalie for a reaction as he said, “Is this the man you love? This beast?”

 

     *He tightened his grip on Maria Eva... “Is this the man you love? This beast?”

     Her eyes widened in horror. “No! Madre de Dios! No!” she cried.

     LaCroix smiled in satisfaction. “There you are, Nicholas. She renounces her love for you. I don’t think she’d worthy.” His fangs shot out. “For anything more than an evening meal!”

     Nick watched in horror as LaCroix drained her of life....*

 

 

     “Is this the man you love, Natalie?” he challenged again.

     “Yes!” she cried.

     LaCroix’s face registered his surprise. “Then Nicholas was right. You are a remarkable woman.” His fangs shot out. “Perhaps you are worthy of being one of us!” His mouth moved towards her neck....

     And Nick was on him, taking him by surprise, knocking him to the floor as Natalie was thrown from his grasp.

     “Janette! take Natalie and get out of here!” he shouted as LaCroix picked himself up, lunging at Nick with his full force.

     Janette ran to Natalie, helping her up. “Get away!” she commanded.

     “No!” Natalie refused.

     Janette nodded, her own desire to stay just as steadfast. She put herself in front of Natalie to protect her as LaCroix made his lunge.

     At first, Nick leaped into the air, avoiding the fatal blow that LaCroix had swung at him. But with his regained power came the perception of his own weakness. And as LaCroix struck again with his powerful hand, Nick was thrown against the wall.

     He could see the women still there, watching, and as he struggled to lift himself up he cried, “Get out of here!” But LaCroix’s anger was to be vented on Nick alone. With one hand, LaCroix grabbed him by the shirt collar, lifting him into the air. Nick struggled to escape, suddenly aware that his right arm was broken. The searing pain surging through his arm was a reminder that his transformation was nowhere near complete.

     “Did you really think you had a chance, Nicholas?” LaCroix growled as he tossed him against the wall.

     Nick could feel the blood flowing form his forehead, into his eyes, blurring his vision. His entire body ached, and he knew that this last fall had broken ribs. But his only thoughts were of Natalie, and Janette, and how he had failed them both. Why wouldn’t they escape?

     Consciousness was beginning to slip away. He could feel LaCroix lifting him up once more, holding him as he said, “You’re weak, Nicholas. Beg me for blood, and I’ll give it to you. Beg for my forgiveness...Beg for my blood...”

     “No...” he managed.

     LaCroix’s fangs extended, his eyes flaming with anger. “Then I’ll take yours!”

     “No!” Janette’s voice rang out as she propelled herself across the room, onto LaCroix’s back, pulling his head away from Nick’s neck. But it had been a vain effort, and Janette knew it. With one hand, he tossed her aside, unperturbed.

     And as LaCroix’s fangs penetrated his neck, Nick could feel the excruciating pain course through his entire being, as slowly his life force was sucked from him. His only thought was that this was divine pay-back for all those he had similarly destroyed. But why now? Why would Natalie have to lose her life for his own evil...?

     He was barely conscious as LaCroix tossed him to the floor, his anger and thirst sated. “What’s the matter, Nicholas?” he could hear LaCroix taunt, in his almost dream-like state. “Feeling a little drained?”

     And he knew at that moment what it was LaCroix wanted. Not to kill him, no. But to bring him so close to death that he would beg to be embraced once more. *Never....*

     A warm hand took his. He could feel the blood being wiped from his eyes, and as his vision cleared, she was there. “Natalie,” he whispered. “Are you all right?”

     “I’m okay,” she assured him, holding his hand against her cheek.

     “You have to get out of here--”

     “I’m not going anywhere without you,” she told him, caressing his cheek. “We have to get you to a hospital.”

     There was anguish in his eyes as he said, “I think we both know it’s too late for that. It’s over, Nat....”

     “No,” she murmured, her eyes brimming with tears. She was a doctor, and she knew damned well he was right. But she wouldn’t accept it. “I won’t let you leave me, Nick.”

     “This is what I wanted, isn’t it?” He closed his eyes for a moment, the pain making each word an effort. “To be...mortal.”

     “No, Nick,” Natalie pleaded, her tears flowing freely now. She gripped his hand tightly as she said, “This isn’t what you wanted. Not to die without really living first.”

     His face was calm with resignation as he replied, “Maybe God thinks I’ve lived enough.”

     “It wasn’t God who did this to you,” she replied bitterly.

     “No, Nicolas,” Janette affirmed as she knelt beside him, her fingers resting lightly on his arm. She looked up to glare at LaCroix, who was watching the scene with a mixture of amusement and morbid curiosity.

     Natalie tunred to Janette, her eyes pleading as she asked, “Janette, isn’t there anything you can do to help him?”

     Janette’s eyes met hers, registering her surprise at first, then understanding. Natalie was a doctor, a human doctor. She knew that no mortal cure could save Nick at his point. But she loved him too much to watch him die  needlessly. Janette understood this all too well, and in their love for Nick, knew that they had a kinship. Natalie was asking her help, for Nick’s sake; whatever petty jealousy or rivalry had existed between them was so irrelevant right now....

     “He won’t heal by himself,” she explained to Natalie. “He’s too close to being human. I can give him my blood--but it will bring him completely over again.”

     “Do it,” Natalie said without flinching.

     “No,” Nick broke in. “Nat, Janette, no. That’s what he wants.”

     “You know me so well, Nicholas,” LaCroix said, coming to stand ominously above Nick’s prone form. “Despite your betrayal, I don’t want to kill you. Oh, no. Seeing you beg to be a part of us once more would be a much sweeter revenge.”

     “Never,” Nick told him, wincing in pain. “I’d rather die.”

     “Have it your way.” LaCroix shrugged his shoulders, stepping back to observe in silence.

     “Don’t be stubborn, Nicolas,” Janette told him. “This isn’t about LaCroix. What good will it do to let him destroy you like this?”

     “At least this time he won’t destroy my soul,” he replied.   

     Janette was shaking her head, a single blood tear making its way down her cheek. Her tone softened, her face full of more anguish than Natalie had ever imagine she could suffer. “Nicolas, please...”

     He shook his head lightly, his eyes resting on Natalie, begging for her understanding. “I can’t let him win, Nat. You know that.”

     But Natalie’s voice was filled with a desperate anger as she said, “No, Nick. If you live, LaCroix doesn’t win. *We* win. You and I. Because you’ll be alive, and we’ll be together.”

     His resolve was fading with each fleeting moment of life. After all, he did want to live, to be with her. A tear, a salt-water human tear, made its way down his cheek as he said softly, “Nat, if I drink vampire blood, everything between us will be lost. I don’t think I could bear that now...”

     She shook her head, bringing it closer to his. “No. Not our feelings. Not our love. And the rest--we’ll have again. In time.” Tears were streaming down her face. “Please, Nick. Please give us that time...”

     Nick looked into her eyes, seeing all that they had shared, all the dreams come true, and all the dreams left yet unfulfilled. And as he felt his own life slipping away, he knew that at this moment, more than anything, he wanted to stay with her. “Okay,” he said weakly, then nodded to Janette.

     Natalie closed her eyes for an instant in relief, then glanced at Janette, who seemed equally relieved. Then, as Janette extended her fangs, Nick looked to Natalie and whispered, “Nat, please, before we do this...kiss me.”

     It was a request she wouldn’t fully understand until later, but she gladly complied, covering his mouth with hers, warming the lips that had already begun to grow cold. And Nick responded with the last of his strength, relishing in her touch, her love. When she had separated from him, she realized that she’d left a slight smile on his lips. He held her hand as he turned to Janette.

     Janette’s eyes had reached a warm yellow glow, and Natalie tried not to flinch as she watched her bring her wrist up to her lips, ripping it open with her teeth....

     And with each drop of her life force that he took into his body, he could feel his strength returning, along with a desire, a hunger....

     Natalie drew in a breath as Nick opened his eyes, now glowing bright amber, his face contorting in an insatiable lust for blood. He was sitting up now, bending over Janette’s wrist, grasping it in his hand as he hungrily drank from her. Janette’s lips parted in a gasp of painful pleasure as he drew in her strength, her power, her life...and with her free hand she ran fingers through his hair, guiding him, soothing him, holding him to her, reveling in the centuries-old passion that was still as fresh and arousing as it had been almost eight hundred years ago....

     “Bois, mon amour!” she whispered in ecstasy. “Bois!”

     Only when she had begun to feel weak did she gently pull her wrist from him. He snatched back her hand, holding it possessively for a moment as he said softly, “J’ai soif...”

     “Je sais, mon amour,” she said tenderly, cradling his head in her lap. “But it’s time to rest.” Carefully, she laid him back down on the floor. His eyes had already closed as the healing process had begun. Janette reached to wipe the blood from his lips, watching him for a moment, her eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions, not the least of which was her love for him. She looked at Natalie finally, and said, “It’s done.”

     Natalie had been watching silently, wanting, but unable, to tear her eyes away, her own inner turmoil raging. Nick was alive. That was all that mattered. Yet what she had witnessed had only served to remind her of the bond between Nick and Janette that had never really gone away. No matter how Nick tried to reassure her, would it ever? But she hated herself for even thinking of that now. Nick was alive. Nick was alive! And she smiled as she looked town to see his hand, still in hers. He had kept it there throughout.

     She reached to touch his cheek, so cool now, but devoid of the scars from his fall, already healed.

     Nick was alive! That was all that mattered.

 

 

 

     Neither Janette nor Natalie had seen LaCroix silently disappear, but as Janette’s retainers ran down the stairs to see what had happened, they knew that the crisis was, at least temporarily, over. Janette instructed them to carry Nick to the couch in the upstairs room, then stood, or rather tried to stand, for the first time. Dizziness overtook her, and she grabbed onto the wall for support.

     “Are you all right?” Natalie asked, going to her side.

     Janette nodded weakly. “I just need to drink...That took...a lot out of me.” And as Natalie pulled a bottle from the rack and handed it to her, Janette grabbed it from her, drinking hungrily until the bottle was almost empty. Her thirst somewhat sated, she took a breath, wiping the blood from her lips. She nodded to Natalie. “Thank you.”

     “Thank *you*” Natalie said gratefully. “Can I take him home now?”

     “Oh, no,” Janette told her. “He needs to rest. And when he awakens, he will be thirsty. Perhaps out of control.”

     “I can handle him,” Natalie responded.

     Janette raised her eyebrows. “You may not be able to.” She took another gulp from the bottle, finishing it, then looked at Natalie, whose face was filled with a mixture of hurt, anger, concern....*It must be Nicolas’ influence, but I’m actually beginning to concern myself with their feelings...* “All right,” she relented. “Why don’t you stay here with him, and as soon as I’m sure he’s under control, you can take him back to your apartment.”

     “Thank you,” Natalie said.

     *Nicolas, how do you get me involved with these humans?*

 

 

     The figure had come dashing from the inside room, and Schanke had grabbed his gun, in hot pursuit as the blond man in black had raced from The Raven. Stonetree had reached the door in time to see Schanke watching, stupefied, as his prey lifted up into the air a hundred feet...and *flew* away.

     Now, fifteen minutes later, Schanke was still rambling on about the possibilities as Stonetree sat silently, pensively. They were officially  off duty now. But neither would leave until they knew what had happened to Knight and Natalie.

     “He flew. I saw it. Didn’t you, Captain? Come on--”

     “I don’t know,” Stonetree replied. “I’m not sure what I saw.”

     “Nick’s been in there half an hour now. I don't know why we don't just--” He stopped mid-sentence as he glanced at the curtain to the inner room. “Look, the bouncers are gone. I’m going in--”

     Stonetree called after him, but realized that Schanke was playing a hunch, just as Stonetree was playing his own. He followed him through the door to see the two men carrying Nick’s unconscious form up the staircase.

     “What the hell happened to him?” Schanke asked in alarm.

     “I told you to stay out,” one of Janette’s retainers called to Schanke as they placed Nick’s body on the couch.

     “This is one of my men here,” Stonetree said, indicating Nick. “We just came to check on him--”

     One of the men came to face them. Suddenly his face contorted, his eyes burning amber, grotesque fangs protruding. “I said to get out!” he told them in no uncertain terms.

     “Steven!”

     Janette had run up the stairs, and stood now between the two men and her retainers. Steven had stepped into line at the sound of her voice, and Schanke was looking from Janette to Steven in confusion, as if wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. “There’s something crazy going on here--first, a guy runs out of here and *flies* away--”

     “Detective Schanke, we’ve all been through a terrible ordeal. Our nerves are making us all a little jumpy...” Stonetree could see that Janette was making her best attempt to explain away whatever was going on, but she seemed unusually drained.

     “The gunman was on crack,” Natalie put in as she came up the stairs. “He was so hyped up he must have looked like he was running sixty miles an hour.”

     “I don’t know,” Schanke mumbled, beginning to doubt his own memory. After all, he had been drinking all night.

     It wasn’t until Natalie stepped into the light that the men realized the shape she was in. Her hair had been pulled down, dried blood drew attention to the gash on her forehead, and bruises were starting to turn purple on her arms.

     “Natalie, what the hell happened to you?” Stonetree asked.

     “And what happened to Nick?” Schanke added, pointing to his partner’s sleeping form.

     “The gunman was holding us hostage,” Janette explained. “Nick overpowered him, but was hurt. The gunman fled while we were tending to Nick’s injuries.”

     “Let’s get him to a hospital,” Schanke began, but Natalie came to Janette’s assistance.

     “I already checked him out, Schank. He’ll be fine. He’s just got a concussion. But he shouldn’t be moved. He needs rest.” At Schanke’s protest, she added, “I’m gonna stay with him.”

     “Come on, Schanke,” Stonetree said. He turned to the women. “As long as everyone’s all right, we might as well be heading home. Natalie, take some time off and take care of him...and yourself. Just have him call me when he feels up to making a statement, and I’ll send a uniform over.”

     Natalie agreed, and the two men were gone.

     “Schanke may be a problem,” Janette told her. “If I had had the strength, I would have made them both forget. Oh well, I suppose we can always take care of it later.” She turned to Steven. “Bring two bottles upstairs. He’ll need them when he wakes up.”

     Steven and his companion left, and she looked at Natalie.  “I need to get some rest. The sun will be coming up soon. He probably won’t awaken until nightfall. If you want, I can find you a place to sleep.”

     “I’ll stay here with him,” Natalie replied, sitting down beside Nick’s sleeping form.

     “Have it your way,” Janette shrugged, too tired to argue. “Just be careful if he awakens before I get back.” She took the bottles from Steven, and handed them to her. “You’ll need these if he does.”

 

    

     LaCroix stood before him again, an evil smile on his lips as he held Natalie in his grasp. Once more he began to touch her, fondle her, nuzzle her  neck as a lust for her blood began to burn in his eyes. Nick was paralyzed, helpless, struggling to voice his silent scream.

     ...And suddenly Janette was there, her touch setting him free, her arms embracing him, her lips seeking out his. He kissed her desperately as he tried to lose himself in his desire for her. His eyes closed, he moved his lips slowly from hers, tasting her cool skin, finding his way to her neck. And when his eyes opened, they were glowing bright yellow as his fangs extended to pierce her smooth white skin....

     And over her shoulder, he saw them. LaCroix and Natalie locked in a passionate embrace. He was holding her now more like a lover than a victim, kissing her with an almost human desire. And Natalie...seemed to be responding! Nick’s jealous fury began to rise as LaCroix slowly began to undress her...

     “Come to me, my love,” Janette whispered, trying to keep him from watching the others. “Bois, mon amour...”

     “No!” he cried, pulling away from her.

     And when he turned back to Natalie and LaCroix, it was too late. She lay on the floor, bloodied, violated...dead. He rushed to her, gathering her still form into his arms...as LaCroix stood over them, her blood fresh on his lips.

     “You were right, Nicholas. She *was* extraordinary...in every way....”

     “Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

 

 

 

     Nick’s eyes fluttered open, and he struggled to focus, confused, disoriented, not knowing where he was. Had it been a dream? How much of it had been in his mind, how much real? And Natalie...where was Natalie?!

     “Natalie...” He sighed in relief as his vision cleared, and she was there, smiling at him, wiping the sweat from his brow. He reached up to her, taking her face in his hands. “Nat, thank God you’re all right. I thought--I was afraid--”

     “It’s okay,” she told him as he brought himself up to kiss her. She looked so tired, as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders. But her eyes were shining with her relief, as she told him, “Everything’s gonna be okay.”

     And Nick smiled at her broadly, his love for her and joy at seeing her alive outweighing all else. He drew her into his arms, hugging her tightly, then finding her lips, relishing her warmth, her taste...

     “I thought I was going to lose you,” she breathed into his ear. “Nick, I don’t know what I’d do without you...”

     “Neither do I, my love,” he whispered, burying his face in her hair, the bare skin of her neck....

     And suddenly something was very wrong. The desire to make love to her had begun to change into something else, something dreaded and familiar. His eyes began to burn, and as his lips tasted her neck, he felt his own sharp fangs beginning to protrude. He moved away slightly, still entranced by the softness of her skin, drawn in...by the smell of her blood.

     “No,” he whispered in agony, pulling away from her. And by the pained expression on her face, he knew it was true.

     It had not all been a dream. And suddenly, it came back to him. Imminent death...her pleading words...Janette’s blood flowing into him, giving him life. Life?!

     “Nick, please,” she said, reaching out to him.

     “No,” he growled in despair. “Nat, get away. I don’t want...to hurt you...”

     “You won’t hurt me,” she told him. “You can control it...”

     “I did control it,” he told her bitterly. “And what did it accomplish? Nearly getting you killed? Ending up like this again?!” He closed his eyes, breathing heavily as if he were finding his own instincts too powerful to handle. “Natalie, please...go away...I’m thirsty...I need blood...I don’t want to--”

     Without flinching, she pulled the bottle from the floor where she had left it, offering it to him.  He looked at her for a moment, knowing how difficult this was for her, then grabbed the bottle from her, unable to contain his urge. He uncorked it with his teeth, then drank...and drank...

     Natalie watched him in silence. His eyes were ablaze, his thirst unassuaged, his desire overpowering, as he treated the rich red liquid as a delicacy he had long hungered for. When the bottle was finished, he closed his eyes, licking his lips, breathing deeply...then, as he studied the empty vessel, a sudden sadness overcame him, and he threw the bottle violently against the wall.

     “Nick, please!” she begged. “It’s going to take a while, I know, but in time things can be like they were...”

     “Like they were?!  Nat, don’t you see, I was never cured, never! It was just lying dormant, waiting for something to trigger it. It wasn’t real--”

     He stopped mid-sentence. He knew how cruel he was being to her. But his despair was overwhelming, and his anger at himself, for having accepted Janette’s gift of immortality, was obscuring any happiness he had felt just moments ago.

     “How dare you!” she fumed, her eyes red with tears. “How dare you say it wasn’t real, as if what happened between us means nothing to you!”

     “Nat--”

     “So what if it wasn’t completely gone? It may never be completely gone. But you had it under control, and you were *living*. *We were living*. Doesn’t that count for anything?!”

     The pain in her eyes was too much for him. How much was he going to hurt her? “Nat, I’m sorry.” He pulled her into his arms, letting her rest against his chest, hugging her to him. And as his love and concern for her took over, he could feel his features returning to normal. He looked down at her with anguished blue eyes as he whispered, “Of course it was real. The only real thing I have to hold onto...to work towards again. Nat, I love you. I’m just so angry at myself...”

     “You shouldn’t be. The will to live is a very *human* quality. You want to be mortal to *live*, Nick, not to die needlessly. It wouldn’t have been God’s decision if you had died--it would have been LaCroix’s. Besides,” she told him, trying to smile through her tears. “You made a promise to me.” She lifted up the ring to remind him. “I’m not about to let you off the hook so easily.”

     He took her hand, kissing it, then held it against his cheek, letting her warm him. “I love you,” he told her again. “No matter what’s happened, that hasn’t changed.” He kissed her on the forehead, holding her possessively. “Everything will be all right.” But it was promise he wasn’t sure it would be in his control to keep.

 

 

     When he awoke again, Janette was sitting beside him with a mixture of apprehension and concern.

     “Janette.” he sat up to face her, his smile putting her at ease. “Je te dois ma vie, autrefois.” *I owe you my live, again.*

     She reached out to him, kissing him on the lips, then accepting his embrace. “I thought you might be angry.
     “Not with you,” he told her, kissing her again before separating from her. “With myself. For being too weak. After a century of trying to become mortal--I didn’t want to die.”

     “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to live, Nicolas,” she told him. “Humans have the strongest will to live of all. When you have lived a full life as one of them, you’ll willingly die in peace.”

     His face betrayed his doubt. “Did my blood tell you that?” he asked. “Because I’m not so sure.”

     “Listen to me, mon amour. You didn’t take my blood because you wanted to be immortal. You did it for Natalie, and because you couldn’t bear to lose what you have with her.” She touched her fingers lightly to his cheek and smiled sadly. “That is what I felt when we were joined.”

     He put his hand up to caress her fingers, and she could see relief in his calm blue eyes. In his heart he knew why he had given up his mortality this time. But it was reassuring to hear her reaffirm it.

     “She is very fortunate,” she said, not without a tinge of envy.

     “No,” he replied, looking into her eyes. “I’m the one who’s fortunate. To have her...and you. A friendship like ours is rare amongst our kind.”

     “It’s not our way to trust,” she acknowledged willingly. “But I suppose you and I have just shared too much to feel otherwise.”

     There was a twinkle in his eye as he said, “Maintenant je t’appartiens.” *Now I belong to you.*

     She shook her head, her expression betraying her regret. “Non, mon amour. Tu es libre.” *You are free*.

     And suddenly Nick was overwhelmed with a warm rush of feeling for her. The woman who had led him down his cursed path had become his friend, his ally, and now, his liberator. For despite the centuries of seduction, of wanting to keep him just for herself, she had saved him precisely so that he could be with another. She had always known what he desired, but had made his desires subordinate to her own. She’d wanted to control him, but now, given the power to do so, she was setting him free to choose and pursue his own way. He brought his lips to hers in a show of affection, gratitude...

     And before he had realized what he was doing, his lips had brushed across her cheek, down the smooth line of her neck, tasting the soft cool flesh. He nuzzled against her, entranced by her scent, her touch, then lifted his head up as his fangs extended, ready to take her....

     “Nicolas, no,” she said softly, but forcefully.

     His eyes opened to look at her in confusion, glowing lightly amber as he said, “J’ai soif...J’ai besoin de sang...”

     “Not like this, Nicolas,” she said gently, controlling her own desire as she pulled away from him. She picked up the remaining bottle that lay beside the bed, handing it to him. “Tu as besoin de sang. Tu es faible.” *You do need blood. You’re weak.*

     He drank voraciously from the bottle, and when he looked at her again it was with a head that had cleared, and eyes filled with shame. “Janette, I’m sorry...”

     “So am I, Nicolas,” she said with a wistful smile. “But I don’t think your fiancee would have understood.”

     He heaved a deep breath, grateful once again that she had not taken advantage of the power that could so easily be hers in his weakened state. “Thank you,” he said, squeezing her hand as she stood.

     “I think I’d better send you home with a fairly large supply,” she said as she headed for the stairs. “The next few days could be very difficult, especially if you’re close to Natalie.“

     “Where is Natalie?” he asked, beginning to worry now that his senses had returned.

     Janette smiled mischievously. “She went out to get something to eat. Strange, but nothing I had here appealed to her...”

          When Natalie returned to the Raven, Nick was waiting for her with his coat on, and a large bag in his hand. She smiled to see him up and around, gladly accepting his kiss as he put his arm around her.

     She peeked into his package. "Six-pack to go, huh?"

     "I'll need this for a while," he explained, not sure if her joking manner was covering a real concern. "To get back my strength--"

     She silenced his apprehension with a kiss. "Don't worry. I'll eat the food in the fridge so it doesn't spoil."

     He smiled, more at ease, as Janette came up to them.

     "Make sure he's always had his fill," Janette isntructed her. "Don't let him try too soon to get off it. He'll need to regain his control."

     "I understand," Natalie told her, nodding. "Janette, thank you...for everything."

     Janette returned her nod, then accepted Nick's light kiss on the cheek.

     "Thank you, Janette. I owe you."

     "No, Nicolas. After eight hundred years...I'd say maybe the score is finally even."

 

 

     Nick had been reticent on the ride home, and Natalie was at a loss as to how to animate him. There were so many things still unsaid, and neither of them knew exactly how to begin. He kissed her lightly on the cheek as she took the package from him, then plopped on the couch to stare at the night sky.

     The night. Again. And only the night.

     "Nick, are you, uh, thirsty?" she called from the kitchen area.

     He wasn't, actually, but he decided he'd follow Janette's suggestion and have his fill. He didn't want to take a chance of losing control if he got close to Natalie.

     Close to Natalie. When would he ever be able to get close to her again? Just thinking of her ignited the urges inside him. Why was he finding it so difficult to suppress the beast within?

     "I thought you'd be more comfortable in your own place," she said, mostly to make conversation as she uncorked the bottle. "But if you'd rather go to mine--"

     "No," he said quickly as she brought the glass over, handing it to him. "Nat, it would remind me too much of what happened there. I can't let myself think about that now. It hurts too much."

     She nodded her understanding as she sat beside him. It had actually played a part in her decision as well. Knowing what they had had, and could not have again for possibly a very long time...."Nick, would you feel more comfortable if I didn't stay?" she asked, hoping he wouldn't say yes.

     How to tell her that just being with her without being able to touch her was tearing him apart inside--but he'd rather deal with that than be without her. "No. Please, Nat. If you don't mind, I want you to stay with me."

     "Of course I don't mind," she said, her own tension easing. "I want to stay."

     He nodded his thanks to her, looking at her for a moment before turning his attention back to the glass. He contemplated it for what seemed like a long while before taking a sip...then finished it almost at once, drinking with a greater hunger than he'd realized was there. But suddenly guilt overwhelmed him. He laid the empty glass on the table, and without looking at her, said, "I'm sorry, Nat. I hate myself enough for having to drink it. But in front of you--"

     "It's okay," she said quickly, touching his arm lightly. "You have to. You need to recover completely and let your body adjust before you get off the blood again. Janette said so, and as your doctor, I'd have to agree."

     He looked at her, a pained expression on his face. "And as my fiancee?"

     "I want what's best for you."

     He touched her cheek tenderly. "You always have. I only wish I had been just as selfless. If I had had your best interests at heart, I never would have put you in danger by getting involved with you."

     "Nick, stop it. I'm really tired of hearing that. We can't undo what's happened between us. And I wouldn't want to--"

     "Neither would I," he assured her. But his feelings of culpability, of self-hatred, were too strong. "Nat, I'm just so sorry you had to go through all that. I should have been more careful, protected you better. I should have known he was alive, and stayed at your side every minute. I guess I was just so caught up in--"

     "In what? Being happy?" she broke in. "That's not a crime, Nick. We both wanted to forget the danger, enjoy what was happening between us."

     "But I almost lost you," he said in a hoarse whisper, the reality of it assaulting him with fear.

     "And I almost lost you," she said softly, her eyes becoming red as he pulled her into his arms, holding her against his chest.

     "Natalie...when he started...touching you," he began. The pain in his voice made it clear that he couldn't bear to remember it, much less speak of it. "I wanted to tear him apart. But I was afraid that if I made a move...he'd kill you."

     "And he would have," she told him. "There was absolutely nothing you could have done. He was doing it to get to you, and I was praying you wouldn't let him. He would have destroyed you."

     "I felt so helpless," he said, looking down into her eyes. "I should have protected you. How can you ever forgive me?"

     "Nick, when you realized you had your powers, you attacked him to save my life, knowing damn well he would try to kill you. You risked your life for mine. What more could I possibly want or expect from you?"

     He ran his hand through her hair. "Natalie, I would give my life for yours."

     "I know," she said, her large blue eyes serious. "And so would I. Let's just hope neither of us is ever faced with that decision again."

     He nodded, some of the tension leaving his face as he reached down to kiss her. He released her before his desire could build. She could read something else in his eyes.

     "What is it?" she prodded.

     He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, before he said, "Nat, you were there when Janette brought me over again. I know it's a very...intense exchange. I'm sorry if seeing that cause you pain."

     She hesitated, not sure how to answer. Of course it had hurt her, angered her, filling her with a jealousy she had never imagined herself capable of. Yet those very feelings had consumed her with guilt as well. For she had known it was the only way to save his life. "I won't say it didn't hurt, Nick. How could it not, to see you so...intimate with her?" She took his hand in hers. "But I asked you to do it. So that you could live and be with me. I'm just as responsible." She squeezed his hand, and smiled. "And I'll never regret it," she whispered.

     His relief that she understood was a weight off his shoulders. He had caused her too much pain. "You know, Nat, Janette told me that when I was drinking her blood, she could feel my emotions..." He paused, wanting to stress, "...my love for you. And she said she could feel that I wasn't afraid to die...I just didn't want to leave you."

     "I knew that," she assured him. She reached over to kiss him, wishing that she could warm the lips that had become so cold. For a few moments, he responded, almost letting down his wall of self-restraint. But then he pulled away from her.

     "Nat, when I asked you to kiss me...it was because I knew it would be the last time in a long while we could without--"

     "I know," she said, sparing him from articulating something so difficult. She could see the frustration on his face, the desire to hold her as great as hers to be with him. "It's going to be hard, Nick. It always has been. But you did it before, and you can do it again..."

     "It's just so difficult to be with you, and not--"

     "I know."

     He looked at her for a long moment as if wanting to say something but unable to. She had been through so much because of their love...did he have the right to ask any more of her? "Nat, I know after all that happened, I may not have the right to ask--" He paused awkwardly. "The things we planned may not come as quickly as we'd hoped, but...Natalie, would you still wear my ring? So we both know this is just a temporary obstacle, and that we haven't lost everything?"

     She smiled broadly. "Nick, I'm not going anywhere," she told him tenderly. "And as far as this--"     She held out her ring. "--you'd need a crowbar to take it off my finger!"

     He almost laughed, relief washing over him completely this time. It would all be all right. He hugged her to him, kissing her lightly on the lips, stretching it just one second longer.....

     She stood. "I don't know about you, but I need some sleep. I've been up for two days, and as soon as it gets light, I need to go check on Sydney."

     "I'll be up in a few minutes," he said.

     She was about to head up the stairs, then turned back to him. "Uh, Nick, I just realized I don't have a clean nightshirt here."

     Had it been twenty-four hours earlier, he would have told her with a grin that it didn't matter. "You can take one of my pajama tops," he forced himself to say instead. "They're in the top drawer." There. Temptation averted.

     But later, as he stood over the bed watching her, he realized that he'd find it hard to resist her no matter what she wore. His black silk pajama top fell loosely over the curves of her body, while her long curls spilled onto the red satin pillow, framing the pure white face that beckoned his kiss. He changed into pajamas, then carefully slipped in next to her.

     In her sleep, she instinctively molded herself against him. He put an arm boldly around her as the scent of her hair, her skin, filled his nostrils. He closed his eyes, held his breath, and waited.

     It was okay. The first step had been taken. He relaxed, enjoying the sensation of having her in his arms, as he fell into a fitfull sleep.

 

 

     The next night, Janette came by to bring him an extra supply of blood, assuring him, though not without a look of disgust, that it was cow. She sat now at the edge of the bed, looking him over for signs of improvement. “You look much better, Nicolas. How do you feel?”

     “Okay,” he said with a smile. “Just a little weak. But I’m learning to control it,.”

     “Just don’t rush it,” she warned him.

     “What about you?” he asked. “Are you recovered?”

     She nodded. “I’m even getting over the feeling that LaCroix might show up at any moment.”

     “Have you heard anything?” he asked as Natalie came to stand beside him.

     “Good news,” she said, satisfaction in her eyes. “The Elders were not very happy with his behavior. He’s broken the Code and nearly exposed us all. So, as a punishment, he has been banned from this continent for the next century.”

     Nick’s face flooded with relief, as he glanced up at Natalie, and took her hand, squeezing it. He looked back to Janette. “Then it’s over.”

     “For *you*,” she told him, the apprehension still crossing her eyes. “Some of us will still have to deal with him in a hundred years or so.”

     Nick’s expression became sober as he realized that he would not be there to help her. Janette could sense his thoughts and her face softened. “Don’t worry, Nicolas. I have a long time to prepare. I will be ready.”

     Natalie, still shaken from her experience with LaCroix, looked from Nick to Janette as she asked, “Will he really obey the Elders? He didn’t seem to be afraid of anyone.”

     “He’s not,” Janette told her with a shudder. “But even LaCroix must answer to someone. In any case, we all have a more pressing problem.” She looked at Nick. “Your partner, and the Captain. They saw LaCroix fly, among other things. I would have made them forget, but I was too weak at the time.”

     “I’ll take care of them,” Nick assured her.

     The sound of the elevator door opening downstairs drew their attention.

     “Hey, Knight?”

     “You may just get your chance,” Natalie told them, then called, “We’re up here, Schank!”

     “Natalie, quick, hide these.” He handed her the empty bottles of blood, and she threw them into the closet just as Schanke made his entrance, Stonetree behind him.

     Schanke’s face registered surprise as he quickly scanned the bedroom he’d never seen before. “Satin sheets, huh? Ooh la la.”

     “Nat picked them out,” he lied, catching her dirty look out of the corner of his eye.

     “How’re ya doin’, Partner?” Schanke asked, real concern in his voice.

     “Okay,” he replied, taking Natalie’s hand again. “I’ve got the best doctor in town looking after me.”

     Schanke raised his brow as he joked, “Just remember, her specialty is dead people.”

     “Oh, I know,” he responded knowingly.

     “You look a hell of a lot better than you did two nights ago, Nick,” Stonetree said warmly as he came up beside Schanke. “And how are you ladies?”

     “Just glad we’re all in one piece,” Natalie said, as she sat beside Nick on the bed.

     “It’s not something I’d want to go through again in this century,” Janette mumbled under her breath.

     “It was the damnedest thing, Nick,” Schanke began, shaking his head. “I swear the guy was flying. And then the bouncer--”

     “Come on, Schank,” Nick dismissed him. “How many beers did you have before you started seeing things?”

     “At least eight,” Natalie put in, “on top of the three bottles of champagne we polished off.”

     “I’m serious, guys--”

     “Detective Schanke,” Janette said, putting on her most seductive posture. “I’m very interested in hearing exactly what you say.” She walked over to him, a gloved hand going to his shoulder as her closeness began to make him perspire. He was already loosening his tie nervously as she said, “Why don’t we let Nicolas rest, and you can tell me all about it?”

     Nick wasn’t sure if Janette had placed a suggestion in his mind, or simply appealed to his greatest weakness, but a moment later she was winking at them as she led Schanke downstairs.

     Stonetree, unperturbed, had approached Nick, sitting on the very edge of the bed as if some dark secret were about to be imparted. Natalie could see Nick becoming nervous as he said, “Captain, really, Schanke was too drunk to know what he was seeing.”

     “Maybe so,” Stonetree replied. “But I wasn’t. And I saw him fly too.”

     Natalie didn’t know if it was her own panic or Nick’s that she was sensing, but she tried to appear calm as he looked into Stonetree’s eyes and said, “You saw nothing...”

     But Stonetree was undaunted, and both Nick and Natalie realized that in his still weakened state, Nick would not be able to make the Captain forget.

     “Don’t waste your strength,” Stonetree said knowingly, his voice kind. “Nick, I’m not as blind as Schanke--or as gullible.”

     “I don’t know what you mean--” Nick began, but stopped as he saw that it was pointless.

     “Nick, I’ve known--or suspected--what you are for a long time.”

     “What is it you think I am?” he asked, centuries of hiding the truth having taught him not to give himself up so easily.

     “The same thing as that guy, and your friend Janette, and probably half the people in that club of hers--a vampire.”

     It was said. Now it had to be dealt with. “What do you plan to do, Captain?” he asked dully, afraid that his life--their life--here in Toronto was through. But Stonetree’s response shocked them both.

     “Nothing.”

     “Nothing?” Nick and Natalie asked in unison.

     Stonetree’s sympathetic expression was unmistakable. “Nick, you’re the best damn detective on the force. Do you think I’m going to lose you just to open up my mouth about something that no one would believe anyway?” He shrugged. “I couldn’t even tell my wife. She’d think I was working too hard.” He sighed deeply, glad to see them both smile with relief. “Your secret’s safe.”

     “Thank you, Captain,” Nick told him gratefully. A moment earlier he had feared that all here was lost. But now he knew that the one man upon whom his existence here depended would be henceforth his ally.

     Stonetree stood to leave, his face becoming serious. “Nick, is that guy gone for good? Did he get what he wanted?”

     Nick’s own countenance grew somber. “Yeah, he got what he wanted. He won’t be back in your lifetime, Captain.”

     Stonetree nodded, no further explanation necessary. All that was his domain had been covered. “Well, you two take some time off to relax. Just let me know when you’ve decided what your story will be for what happened last night, and I’ll send a uniform over to take a statement.”

     Nick said he would, as Stonetree added, “You might want to do something to make Schanke forget, though. Otherwise, he’ll drive us all crazy!”

     After he had gone, Nick and Natalie looked at each other in utter astonishment.

     “I really thought that was going to be it, this time, Nat. I didn’t want to have to start over again.”

     She took his hand, looking into his eyes. “At least this time you wouldn’t have had to do it alone.”

     He drew her into his arms, kissing her. She was right, and despite all that had happened, there was a certain peace in knowing that he would never be alone again.

 

 

 

     April had brought in the Spring and baseball, and now that he was fully recovered, Nick was going to enjoy both. Natalie had surprised him with two tickets to a game, and they sat now in the *upper* upper deck of Skydome, watching a pitching duel between the Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins.

     “This is great,” he said enthusiastically as he slipped his arm around her. “Too bad the dome’s not open so we could get some fresh air.”

     “We can practically touch the top of it from here,” she commented, looking up. “I gather your fear of heights is gone.” At his nod, she looked down. “It’s a good thing. I never realized how steep it is up here. I feel like if I bend over too far, I’ll fall.”

     “That’s what the guard rails are for--to hold on.” He looked at her with a gleam in his eye. “Don’t worry--if you fall, I’ll fly down and catch you.”

     “Oh, yeah, and be televised all over North America doing it,” she teased.

     “You’re right,” he said in mock seriousness. “I guess I’ll just have to hold you tight and make sure you’re safe.”

     “That’s fine with me.” She put her feet up on the rail, settling back against him.

     For a long while they sat watching the game, until finally, after another scoreless inning, she looked up from the crook of his arm and said, “Nick, I’m really sorry this couldn’t be a day game. I know how much you were looking forward to that.”

     “It’s okay,” he told her, kissing her on the cheek. “The season’s young. Anyway, I’m having fun. Aren’t you?

     “Mm-hmm. The only thing that would make this night perfect would be a hot dog--” She scanned the area, and a few seconds later said, “Nick, look! There’s the hot dog guy--”

     Nick called him over, ordering her frankfurter as she reached into her bag. She pulled out a small thermos, and handed it to him.

     He twisted open the top to reveal the white protein drink she’d prepared for him. He studied it a moment, then replaced the cap. He looked up at the vendor. “Make that two, please. Extra ketchup on the second.”

     Natalie stared at him as he paid for their food, too moved to speak. He handed her her frank, then shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve got to start somewhere.”

     He took a bite, chewed it, swallowed it...like it. Then took another. Natalie simply watched him in awe, then put her arms around his neck. “I love you,” she whispered.

     “I love you too,” he said softly. And as he kissed her, he realized that the desire building inside him was not vampiric at all, but very human....

     Another step taken. It would all be theirs again.

     Soon.

 

 

 

*But I won’t cry for yesterday

There’s an ordinary world somehow I have to find

And as I try to make my way to the ordinary world

I will learn to survive....

 

Duran Duran*

 

**********************************************************

It’s not REALLY the end! In “The Issue”, Nick and Natalie must deal with the consequences of their intimacy...and Nick must struggle to save Natalie and their unborn child from the Enforcers, the Elders, and  the strange transformation taking place in her....

“The Issue” will begin posting tomorrow. I hope you’ll give it a try. It’s my personal favorite of all the stories I’ve written.