Gambit Fanfiction -- Shadow Walkers, Separate Trails, Knight Moves (Shifting Sands)

DISCLAIMER: As you all know, Remy LeBeau (AKA Gambit) belongs to Marvel Comics. What you might not know is that Gabriel Knight, St. George's Bookstore, and Grace belong to Sierra games. Yes, this story features characters from a computer game. But no, you do not have to understand or even know of the game to read the story.

For those out there who are Gabriel Knight fans, I have only played the first game, so I have based this story on information I gained from Sins of the Fathers. I do not know if I even want to see The Beast Within. I cannot imagine playing the game without hearing Tim Curry doing the voice of Gabriel Knight. Mmmmm..... Confession? If they could have got him to do the voice of Gambit on the cartoon, I might have wanted to watch it more.

I did take it easy with Gabriel's accent, mostly so his dialogue and Remy's would not be confused.

Separate Trails

Knight Moves

(Part of the Shadow Walker series)

By JF Jackson

Who are you? What are you? You are not one of us. You do not belong. You should not be here. You are different. You are not complete. You are not whole. You are not fully of the blood.

Remy brought his hands up to his head, gripping it, unable to stop himself. People walking by looked at him, but no one stopped to see what was wrong, they just stared at him. He did not even notice. He felt as if his head was going to split open and he wondered how Rhiannon coped with this. Leave me alone. I know what I am. I did not ask for dis; I didn' want dis. I don' care who you are, just leave me alone!

You cannot survive like this. You cannot be one and the other; you can only be one. This is wrong; this is an abomination. You are not kin nor cattle, you are breed, super ghoul!

"Leave me alone!"

He opened his eyes. People were starting to stop and stare at him now. He realized he must have screamed aloud as well as in his mind. Feeling like a trapped animal, he turned and ran down the street. Dis is brilliant, you t'ink you can outrun dem? How do you outrun someone's mind?

He should have known better than to come here to do his thinking. The world was a big place. There were hundreds of places he could have gone, but he was drawn here. Because it's home. The problem being, that New Orleans seemed to be the home to a lot of vampires. Vampires that could sense him, and did not like what they sensed at all.

During the day he had some relief, as full-blooded vampires slept. But at night, the voices started. He tried to shut them out, but it was not as easy as it was to shut off the bond between himself and Rhiannon. There were so many voices; voices that sounded fuzzy to him, as if someone was screaming through a mouthful of lard. He would try to shut one off, and more would take their place.

The first few days he was here, he stayed holed up in his house from sundown to sunrise, trying to find ways to shut off the voices. Then he realized they were getting closer. They were tracking him down. He still had his mutant ability, becoming a half vampire had not changed that, but being able to handle one or two vampires was one thing; a mob of them were another. Rhiannon had warned him that young vampires might be vulnerable to his explosions but older vampires were less likely to be.

He had no choice but to keep moving. Wander the streets at night, never staying in one place for too long, hoping they would not get a fix on him. It was stupid, but he felt it was his only choice. He saw them occasionally, looking at him, their pale faces, their eyes flashing quickly to red when they saw him. So far though, he was able to get away from them. He did not know if he really could lose them, or if they were just playing with him now, waiting for the right time to get him. He did know that he did not want them finding his house.

This whole thing was beginning to wear thin. Sleeping was difficult, even during the day, and when he did sleep, he was plagued with nightmares and visions. The exhaustion was starting to take its toll on him, as well as the hunger. The only blood he had drank since his conversion to half vampire was the small glass Rhiannon had given him the first morning of this existence. He knew he should get more, but he did not know how. Especially when he was being tracked all the time. If I could just have a few moments t'think, I'd break into a hospital an' try to steal some. He leaned against the wall, hoping for a moments reprieve.

There is no escape, breed. We will find you and we will judge if you are worthy of the blood. And I think you will be found lacking!

He looked up. This voice sounded close, too close. His eyes darted from person to person until he spotted the owner. Across the street, standing under the street lamp. Long, silver blond hair, a gold cross hanging from one ear, pale skin, wearing a London Fog trench coat. He smiled at him, just letting Remy get a glimpse of the fangs. Hello super ghoul. Ready to meet your fate? Ready to die the true death? Don't worry, little breed. It won't hurt... much.

"Non!" he shouted, knowing he must look insane to the tourists and normal humans wandering the street. He had to get away. He looked around frantically. A few feet away from him was a doorway to a shop. He sprang for it, knowing that he would not be followed. They would not allow a confrontation in such a public place. If Remy was lucky, they would have a back door he could slip through.

Don't think you're getting- the voice began as he scurried down the stairs and opened the door into the shop. He walked inside, shutting it behind him The moment the door closed, the voice stopped. Not only that voice, but all of the voices, even the distant ones that just hummed in his head like a constantly annoying buzz. Remy did not know why, nor did he care, he just knew that for some reason, this place offered some sort of relief. He pressed his back to the door, eyes shut, breathing deeply, trying to get some sort of mental grip on things. For the first time since arriving in New Orleans at night, There were no voices in his head, only blessed, beautiful, silence.

"Excuse me, Sir, we're closed."

He opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the voice. Behind a desk was an attractive Japanese woman in her mid to late twenties. Thick glasses rested on her nose and she seemed to be looking over some paperwork. Behind her was a man with blond hair, studying Remy with interest.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but we're closed," the woman repeated, looking at him. Despite her appearance, her accent was pure Yankee. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

Remy's mind caught onto that last word, leave. She wanted him to go back outside, back to the bloodsucker that waited across the street. Back to the voices that screamed in his head. She wanted him to leave this place, where for some reason the mental voices could not go and return to Hell. He looked around, realizing he was in some sort of bookstore. A used bookstore, from the looks of the volumes on the shelves. A used bookstore that did not get too much business, at least that is what it seemed. Get it together, he ordered himself. Don't act like a lunatic, jus' calmly ask her if you can use de back door to leave. If she asks why, you can make up somet'in. Jus' be cool Mebe you can stretch this out an' stay a little longer.

He straightened up, trying to smile; trying to look collected, as if he had merely forgotten what time it was, not as if he had run in here, looking like something the devil had touched. "I'm sorry," he began, then stopped. The terror of the past few days, the gnawing hunger, the voices, and the nightmares all came rushing up to take their toll on him. He closed his mouth, swallowed and tried to speak again.

To his absolute horror and shame, he burst into tears. Suddenly the idea of going back outside, of leaving this place just terrified him. Burying his face in his hands, he sobbed, part of him knowing he must look completely insane, but not caring.

"Sir, uh-" the woman began, only to be interrupted by the blond man.

"Grace, leave 'im alone, it's okay." If "Grace" was a Yankee, this man was N'awlins born and bred, his accent as thick as Remy's. There was something immediately comforting about hearing that voice, those familiar speech patterns. He walked over, slowly, as if Remy was a snake that might turn and strike him. "Hey, you okay?"

Remy could not answer, he just continued to cry like some helpless infant, tears spilling out between his fingers.

"Yeah, I know, stupid question." The man moved a little closer and reached out, putting his hand on Remy's arm. "C'mon, you look like you need to sit down."

When his fingers touched Remy's arm, there was a reaction, almost an electricity that seemed to flow from him into Remy. His first reaction was to jerk back, but he fought it, because there was another part of him that liked it. There was a certain warmth to it, that penetrated right to his bones. Trying to gulp away the tears, he allowed the man to lead him over to a chair. Still trembling, he sat down. "T'ank you," he whispered.

"Gabriel, I don't know if this is a good idea or not," the woman said, looking from Remy to the man with a worried expression.

"Grace, I can handle this. Why don't you go home?"

"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Grace said, still alternating her gaze between Remy and Gabriel. Although she was trying to be polite, Remy knew what she wanted to say. This guy looks like a lunatic and there is safety in numbers. I'm not sure I want to leave you alone with him.

Remy did not care if Grace thought he was Satan himself, as long as he did not get kicked out of this place. He needed this break and he needed it badly. He wiped his eyes, trying to compose himself.

"Grace, I've been up against worse than this an' I've taken care of myself. I'll be fine." Gabriel's fingers toyed with a necklace that had some sort of medallion on the end of it. "It's closin' time, why don' you head home and leave this t'me."

Grace sighed, as if she was more than used to this sort of thing happening and while not liking it, was at least resigned to it. She rose from the desk, slowly closing the ledger, then gathered her things. The whole time she did it, moving slowly and deliberately, she kept staring at Gabriel, giving him the chance to come to his senses (for once) and kick Remy out.

"See you t'morrow, Grace," was all Gabriel said, when Grace had her coat on and was heading out the door.

"Hmph, yeah, see you tomorrow, Knight. If you don't manage to get yourself killed in the meantime," was her parting goodbye as she closed the door behind her.

As the door clicked, Gabriel turned his attentions to Remy, who had at least stopped crying, but was still looking miserable. "If you don't mind my sayin' this, you look like you've had a bad day."

Remy managed to smile. "You might say dat," he said. "T-t'anks for lettin' me sit here a minute."

"It's okay... uhm..."

"Remy." He was able to hold the faint grin. "Remy LeBeau."

"Knight," Gabriel said. "Gabriel Knight."

"I knew de Gabriel part from listenin' t'your friend."

"Hang on a sec." Gabriel walked through a curtain into a back room and returned a few minutes later with a bottle of amber colored liquid. He got a cup of coffee from the coffee maker that sat on a table in the center of the store, and poured some of the liquid from the bottle into it. Bringing it over, he handed it to Remy. "Can you drink this?"

Remy sniffed. Coffee and whiskey. Okay, not his usual drink, but hardly poison. It smelled pretty good too. "Oui," he said, taking it. He gulped it down quickly; glad for the searing heat that burned down his throat into his gut.

"Fascinating," Gabriel said, watching him.

For the first time, Remy really looked at his savior. He appeared to be in his early to mid 30's, with a mop blond hair that gave him an almost boyish charm. He had deep brown eyes that seemed to not only look at you, but look inside you. While Remy studied Gabriel, it seemed like Gabriel had the same idea and studied him. They both looked at each other with the expression of men who were more than used to being the best looking man in the room and were in minor shock to find someone else that might compete with that standing.

"What's so fascinating 'bout watchin' a man drink?" Remy asked, cautiously.

"Nothin' fascinatin' 'bout watchin a man drink. But watching a vampire drinking coffee with a twist is another story," Gabriel said calmly.

Remy stared at him. "No such t'ing as vampires," he murmured, trying to sound casual.

"Uh huh, no such thing as werewolves an' ghosts, either," Gabriel said, rolling his eyes with a look that clearly stated, do not piss me off, boy, I've seen more than you have. "Then how do you explain those things that go bump in the night?"

"Depends on de t'ing doin' de bumpin'" Remy said softly, reaching in his pocket for his cigarettes. "D'you mind?" he asked, holding up the pack.

Gabriel shook his head and walked over to the desk. He took an ashtray from it, and brought it over to him. "What about you? Who are you? You ain't normal, that's for sure."

Remy held out the pack, offering one to Gabriel. When Gabriel declined, Remy shook one out for himself and lit it. "Mutant," he murmured. At that moment, he did not care if this Gabriel was a card carrying member of the FoH. Somehow, being a mutant had paled a bit compared to what he was now. He took a deep drag off the cigarette and exhaled, smoke pouring through his nose.

"Yeah, that's obvious, but you're more'n a mutant," Gabriel commented. He was leaning against the table that held the coffee maker, still watching Remy carefully. One hand went back to playing with the amulet around his neck.

The few minutes without voices to bother him and the whisky in his system, Remy was beginning to almost feel like his old self. "T'ink what you wan' Gabriel. Mebe it's time I was leavin. You wanna close shop an' I should let you get to it." He rose from the chair and started for the door.

"Go out that door an' whatever was botherin' you is gonna come back to haunt your sorry ass," Gabriel said calmly.

Remy's hand was on the knob, just about to turn it. He stopped. "How do you know 'bout dat?" he whispered.

Gabriel took off the amulet. "Catch!" he called out, tossing it to him.

Remy reached up, plucking the metal disk on its chain, easily out of the air. He held it for a moment, looking at it. It was shaped a bit like a cross with a circle in the middle of it. In the middle of the circle was a lion. On each of the cross extensions with the exception of the top one was a green stone. The top one had a loop to put the chain through it. He had the feeling, looking at it that it was old and somehow, powerful. "Nice necklace," he said, trying to sound casual. It felt faintly warm to the touch, as if it had just been resting on a radiator.

"Yeah, it is, isn't it." Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest and continued to watch him, waiting for something.

The warmth from the medallion started to increase, as if heating up from the inside. Remy's eyes widened. "What de hell is dis?" he asked, tossing it to the floor.

Gabriel walked over, picking it up off the floor. "Let me see your hand."

Remy held it out, trying to keep the trembling to a minimal. In the center of his palm was a faint pink impression of where the amulet had been. "Holy..."

"That's one way of putting it," Gabriel said, tipping his head to one side. "Didn' burn you though. Hmm..."

Remy was confused. Rhiannon had indicated to him that many of the old myths about vampires were false, in particular religious symbols bothering them. He thought of the vampire across the street and with the cross hanging from his ear. "What is dat?" he demanded.

"Little family heirloom," Gabriel said calmly.

"But-but crosses an' stuff aren't supposed to work!" he blurted, before he could stop himself.

"Ah hah!" Gabriel grinned. "I was right then, you're not fully human. Or fully mutant for that matter." He moved closer. "But there is something very strange about you."

"Why did dat t'ing feel hot?" Remy demanded, seeming to forget that less than five minutes ago, he thought Gabriel was some sort of saint. Now he was frightened of the man, frightened and slightly angry with him, as if Gabriel had tricked him.

"Because it's the real thing," Gabriel said. "It's not some cheap piece of metal in the shape of something religious with nothing behind it, it's got power." He rubbed his chin, still studying Remy. "So, what are you, Remy? If you were a true vampire, you'd be screaming in pain, but you're not."

"What I am is none of your business!" Remy snapped. I should turn and run, he thought. I should just leave this place. Yet, he made no move to do so. He was not sure which fate was worse, this man with his strange toys, or the evil that waited outside, wearing London Fog coats and gleaming mouths full of fangs.

"Uh huh," Gabriel looked at him. "You were cryin' a minute ago, like you lost your best friend. Something is botherin' you, an' botherin' you bad. You look like you haven't slept in a week. Something happened to you, something that's eating you from the inside out."

"It's none of your-" Remy began, the stopped. Gabriel was right. He could not keep running. He was being eaten alive by this. He had a feeling this man might have some sort of power that could prove to be very dangerous to him, but at least Gabriel seemed to be willing to listen to reason. Unlike my new "friends" outside de door. "You're right," he whispered. "I'm not jus' a mutant."

"Then what are you?"

Remy drew in a deep breath. "I'm a half vampire."

"Fascinating."

"Dat all you got t'say 'bout it?" Remy demanded.

"Hey, forgive me, it's taking a moment to sink in. I've never even heard of a half vampire. An' trust me, Remy, I've heard of a lot of strange things." Gabriel reached up to rub his chin thoughtfully. "I kinda thought vampirism was an all-or-nothin' thing."

"Apparently not in my case," Remy said, biting his lip. "How did you know what I am? And what's wit' de family heirloom? What are you, Gabriel Knight."

"Shattenjager," Gabriel said.

"Shatten-what?" Remy's brow furrowed as he tried to pronounce the word.

"Shattenjager," Gabriel repeated. "It's German. I'm a shadow hunter, someone who hunts down all those things that go bump in the night." He shrugged.

Remy swallowed. "You plannin' on destroying me?"

Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest and studied Remy. "No, I don' think so, least not now. You're not a full vampire and I sense some good from you. But I am curious, what's got you so spooked?"

Remy hesitated. Part of him thought he should just run from this place, but he made no move to do so. At least Gabriel was not obviously ready to kill him, unlike the vampires outside. I guess I take some chances, he told himself. He already knows vampires exist, would it really hurt to tell him more? "De vampires 'round here don' like me. Dey been followin' me, speakin' to me in my head, tellin' me dey are gonna destroy me." He sighed.

"That could be a real problem," Gabriel said, thoughtfully. "Vampires can be ruthless. "

"No kiddin'," Remy said bitterly. "Not like dere is a whole lot I can do 'bout it either. I'm not strong 'nough to fight 'em on my own."

"Maybe you aren't but I am." Gabriel shrugged again. "That's the sort of stuff a Shattenjager does, help people with these kinds of problems. I've never tangled with vampires, but that don't mean I can't."

Remy's eyes widened. "Are you sayin' you can help me? An' you will help me?"

"I might," Gabriel said. "But I want t'know a bit more about you, first."

"What do you wan' t'know?" Remy asked, carefully.

"I want to know a little more about this... condition of yours. How can you be a half vampire? How did it happen?"

Remy thought for a moment if he should do this, then sighed. Why not? If he can help me wit' dis problem, it's worth it for a little information. An' as long as I'm tellin' de story, I'm not outside wit' de bloodsuckers hunting me. He sighed. "All right." He returned to the chair and sat down. Gabriel filled the mug again with the coffee and whiskey mixture and gave it to him. Remy took it gratefully. Taking a deep breath, he plunged into his story.

Halting frequently and sometimes almost breaking down completely, Remy told the story of himself and Rhiannon. The entire story, from beginning to end. To give Gabriel credit, the man never flinched, or looked as if he was passing judgement. He simply listened. His face showed little to no expression beyond that of someone who is doing his best to not only hear but completely comprehend what another man is saying. His gaze never left Remy's face, the only gestures he made were to nod encouragingly or rub his chin thoughtfully. With such a captive and non-judgmental audience, Remy found it easier to speak as he went along.

When he finally finished, Gabriel poured more of the whiskey in Remy's cup, but this time did not add coffee. Remy hesitated only a moment, then drank it down. "T'anks."

Gabriel waved his hand, one quick motion that dismissed the thanks as unnecessary. "So as far as you know, Rhiannon was the only half-vampire in existence, ever. Until she made you, that is."

Remy nodded.

"Fascinating."

Remy sighed. "Dat one of your pet expressions, Mon ami? Seems like you said it a hun'red times all ready."

"But it is fascinating," Gabriel defended himself. "If we're goin' on the theory that vampires have been 'round 'bout as long as mankind has, what are the odds that the same thing happened before? Someone start making another vampire, only to be interrupted? Sure, maybe it hasn't happened often, but we've got a long time to work with and I'd imagine it must have happened enough. I've done some reading on the subject of vampires and I think Rhiannon's creator was trying to make her a bondchild. Three times he was gonna drain her, a bit more every time, giving her bits of his blood until the third time, when he would drain her completely and give her his. By the time he was done, she would have not only been a vampire, but she would have been bound to him so tightly, her free will would have become a think of the past. It's a very old way to create a childe, but all my research on the subject says it's popular enough and very effective."

"Your point?" Remy asked. He was growing so weary the strain of the last few days wearing on him. He wanted a solution to his problem so he could get some peace, not get into a discussion of the making of half vampires.

"My point is that the creation of Rhiannon is a fluke that the world has never seen. By all rights she should either be dead or a ghoul. But she isn't. She became a half vampire, someone that doesn't need vampire blood to maintain her condition, but does need blood from an outside source. She's become someone who is in part alive, but has many vampire characteristics. The odds of that are impossible!" Gabriel looked honestly amazed.

"Okay, Rhiannon is one in a billion, I get it," Remy said.

"No, now she's one of two in a billion," Gabriel said. "I think there must be something very special and very different about Rhiannon that allowed this to happen to her. It's amazing, but the really amazing thing is that she was also able to change you."

For one brief moment, the impact of Gabriel's words tried to reach him, like a child's soap bubble, clear and fragile, floating somewhere just inside his mind. But the rigors of trying to stay one step ahead of this condition and the troubles it brought proved to be the sharp point that burst it. "Gabriel, I don' care. I don' mean t'be rude, but I got some bigger problems waitin' for me outside de door."

"Yeah, I know," Gabriel admitted, shaking his head as if to bring him back to the true subject. "An' you look like hell, if you don't mind my saying so."

"Why not?" Remy tried not to sound as bitter as he felt. "It's de truth. I 'aven't slept much since I came to N'awlins. Even durin' de day when dey sleeping, I have dreams. Bad ones."

"Then the first think we gotta do is get you on track," Gabriel said. "Take care of the basics so's you can think clearly. Sleep and food."

"I've eaten," Remy said.

"Food maybe, but not blood," Gabriel saw Remy flinch and shook his head. "It's a part of you now, Remy. You can't just deny it. You have to deal with it. Just be grateful it's not an all consuming thing like it is with your full blooded cousins." He nodded towards the door. "And it ain't like you need much."

"I t'ought 'bout breakin' into a hospital an' stealin' some," Remy admitted.

"Yeah, but I'll bet your nerves are a bit frayed for somethin' like that," Gabriel stated. "Sides, it probably won't be the same. Might help with the craving' but it won't satisfy the desire. Vamps don' just drink blood for the nourishment, there is some sort of emotional high they get out of it."

Remy thought about Rhiannon for a moment, how it was obvious that she had some sort of access to bagged blood, (as proven by the blood she was able to give him right after his creation) but preferred, it seemed, to get it from a person. "I'd say you're right, Gabriel, but I don' t'ink I'm up to findin' a donor. Not to mention I don' t'ink I could follow Rhian's methods right now, he thought. Goin and' picking up a woman wouldn' be easy wit' de way I'm feelin'.

"Nope, not in your condition," Gabriel agreed. "But it might help you sleep if you could."

"Not hearin' voices or bein' worried would help with' de sleep."

"That ain't a problem," Gabriel said. "Since the voices can't bother you in here, you can crash in my back room for a bit. That is if you don' mind the mess. There is a bed back there."

Remy was touched by this offer. "I really appreciate dat, but what 'bout you?"

"I'll be fine," Gabriel assured him. He pointed towards the back end of the store. "There's a couch back there I can crash on. I've been sleepin' just fine lately, I can take a night on the sofa."

The way he said the last part gave Remy the impression there were times in Gabriel's life when sleep had been a difficult mistress to serve. The man could sympathize with him, which is probably why he offered Remy his bed so freely. "T'anks," Remy gratefully whispered.

Again, Gabriel dismissed any thanks with a quick sweep of his hand. Remy caught the fluid, graceful motion and felt almost captivated by it, both the complexity and the simplicity of the gesture. Stop it, he ordered himself. It's the tired affecting you.

"Which leaves only one problem now, gettin' you something or someone to drink," Gabriel mussed.

"Gonna go an' find me a friend?" Remy asked, trying to keep the disgust from creeping into his voice. Not disgust at Gabriel but at himself for needing so much help.

"No, Gabriel said slowly. "I couldn't get someone to do this without telling them, it wouldn't be right. Nor can I tell anyone either. There's only one solution."

"Which is?" Remy asked, getting a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach.

"I'm gonna have to feed ya."

Although there had been part of him suspecting that answer, Remy was still stunned when he heard it spoken. "Non', I don' t'ink so."

"Why?"

"It-it jus' wouldn't be right," Remy said, swallowing.

"Why?" Gabriel asked, tipping his head to one side to study him. "If I'm volunteering, seems like no one can say it ain't right."

"I've never fed someone b'fore," Remy said softly. "I don' know what will 'appen."

"Only one way to find out." He moved closer to Remy, holding out his arm.

"Non, I can manage wit'out dat," Remy said, shaking his head. Deep down though, he wondered if he could. Now that the subject of blood was being so freely discussed, Remy realized he could literally smell the man's blood as it coursed through his veins. It smelled like power and life and every decent meal Remy had ever consumed. It smelled of energy and satisfaction. Despite himself, Remy could feel his upper jaw tingling and his mouth watering. "I-I'll be fine."

"Bullshit," Gabriel declared. "Tomorrow night we're gonna confront your little vamp problem head on and try to get rid of it. Now, I may have power, but I'm not infallible. I might need back up from you and I'm not havin' you at half strength, not when I can do something. So you'd better have a damned good reason for refusin' my blood or I'll cut my own wrists and stick it in your mouth!"

Remy thought quickly. "Yeah, you do got power. Power from good, where what I am comes from evil." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in the chair, refusing to look at him. "Dere's a chance your blood might hurt me."

"I doubt that," Gabriel said. "Especially if I remove this." He took off the talisman from around his neck and laid it on the table with the coffee maker. "There, that should be fine." Again he moved closer to Remy.

Remy gulped. "Gabriel, you don' understand, I never done dis b'fore. I know some vampires feed on pleasure and other on fear and pain. I don' know what I'm gonna go for. Automatically Rhiannon go right for pleasure, but what if I try to hurt you?" Or even worse, what if I end up turnin' you on? he thought, finally able to admit the bigger truth at least to himself. Rhiannon made vampirism so sensual, it was hard to keep it in his mind that blood was necessary for survival and not some bizarre form of foreplay. Even if he dismissed the sexual side of this, drinking from someone was an extremely intimate experience. He was not sure if he wanted to be that intimate with Gabriel or that Gabriel wanted anyone, especially Remy to be that intimate with him.

"I'll take my chances," Gabriel said. "And I'll keep an open mind, no matter how weird it gets." He moved the wrist towards Remy again. "Just do it."

Remy closed his eyes and tried to pull back again, but he could not. He felt something inside of himself pushing its way forward, insisting it be followed. A deep hunger that saw the means and demanded satisfaction. The tingle in his jaw shifted into a sharp pressurizing pain under his gums. He reached out and grabbed Gabriel's wrist. Bringing it up to his mouth, he sniffed it, then licked it back and forth, slowly. The pain in his jaw began to burn and he felt his eyes were blazing, shifting to entirely red. It clouded his vision, making everything seem awash in a blood light. His upper lip curled back and he could feel his canine teeth pushing back in his mouth as his blood teeth tore through the gums. They were longer than Rhiannon's a bit more rounded, but tapered to a razor sharp point.

Opening his mouth, Remy plunged his fangs into Gabriel's wrist, hitting the vein easily, as if by instinct. Gabriel grimaced at the pain but refused to move. Remy pulled the blood teeth out of the vein. The instant he withdrew, two streams of blood spurted into his mouth, sliding over his tongue. At the first taste of rich, thick blood, he found himself zooming into Gabriel's mind, into the very core of his being. Remy felt two paths before him. Both were powerful, but one seemed risky, the other easier and more natural. He automatically went for the one that seemed natural.

"Oh. My. God." Gabriel whispered. He leaned his head back, eyes closed, mouth half open in an expression of ecstasy.

The rapture, Remy thought as he pushed further into Gabriel's mind. The fears of what he was doing vanished. The more he pushed into Gabriel's pleasure center, the stronger, the more vitalized the man's blood seemed to become.

Eyes still closed; Gabriel swayed slightly, then fell to his knees. Remy held onto his arm with both hands to hold it steady. Gabriel's face flushed and a noise that rested somewhere between a sigh and a moan escaped his lips.

Make him forget! a voice in Remy's mind ordered. You can do it, make him forget about this. He knew the voice was right, he could alter Gabriel's mind, he just was not sure of how to do it. Think about what you're doing, find the memory, and alter it. Take away the memory of the bite and put something else in its place.

Remy realized there was a slight problem with this. When Rhiannon played in his mind, she merely substituted the memory of the bite by using sex. Since Remy had going into the experience expecting sex, it was an easy trick for her. In this case, Gabriel walked into this for one purpose, to feed him. There was no substitute for this.

Don't you dare mess with my memory!

Remy was not sure if Gabriel really said it aloud, or if it was through the feeding bond. All right. The man already knew what Remy was and what he was doing; he deserved to remember what had happened to him.

Remy continued moving around Gabriel's mind, pushing the rapture a little further, experimenting with it. The burning hunger began to dissipate, replaced instead with a warmth that spread through Remy's body, an intense warmth that seeped into his very bones. He stopped, drawing on Gabriel's wrist. Heal him, his mind ordered. His blood fangs were still extended. He raised his tongue up, piercing just the top. A drop of Remy's blood beaded at the tiny hole. Slowly, he dragged his tongue over Gabriel's wrist, smearing the blood over the two holes. They closed immediately. His blood teeth disappeared into his upper jaw, his normal canines moving forward to replace them.

A light sheen of perspiration had broken out over Gabriel's forehead. Swallowing several times, he opened his eyes and looked at Remy. "Was it good for you?"

Remy stared at him blankly for less than a second, then burst out laughing. "Oui, you 'ave very good veins."

"Glad you think so," Gabriel said dryly. He shifted so he was sitting on the floor, moving so he was leaning against the table. His coloring began returning to normal, his breathing becoming even again.

"Are you all right?" Remy asked.

"I'm fine," Gabriel assured him, reaching up and taking the talisman off the table. "But this is one you owe me, big time."

"Seems t'me I paid you back," Remy said, looking at him. His eyes reverted to their normal color. "T'ink of it as research, Shattenjager," he suggested. "Now you know what it's like to be bitten by a vampire. Might help you in de future."

Although Remy knew Rhiannon needed very little sleep, mostly a few hours around dawn, he knew he needed more, at least right now. All hungers within him satisfied the lack of sleep started to really bother him. So when Gabriel suggested he get some rest, Remy readily agreed.

With no voices to disturb him and the calm that seemed to penetrate throughout St. George's Bookstore, Remy fell asleep almost before his head hit the pillow. He did not care what type of plan Gabriel came up with for tomorrow night; he just knew that for now the world seemed a tiny bit brighter.

Most of the next day, Remy spent in the back room of the shop, talking to Gabriel and making plans for the night ahead.

"We gotta go right to the top," Gabriel said. He was sitting backwards in a chair, which was in front of a desk where an old typewriter sat. There was a cup of coffee on the desk, that he kept sipping from. "We gotta get t'the prince. He can call off a blood hunt on you."

"Prince?" Remy asked, sipping from a cup of coffee himself. He was sitting on the end of the bed, a paper bag with the remains of a fast-food breakfast inside it sitting next to him. Grace, Gabriel's assistant had brought the food when she opened the shop. She did not seem pleased to see Remy was still there, but obviously she had expected it, because she brought enough for the both of them. "What prince?"

"The prince of New Orleans," Gabriel said. "Vampires have their own society, their own form of government. For every area they have one guy who's in charge and he's the prince."

"How do you know so much?" Remy asked, curiously. While Rhiannon had hinted there was more to vampires than met the eye, that they were somewhat organized, he did not know very much about it. He knew their ways were secret, so how did Gabriel, obviously someone they would consider an enemy, have so much knowledge. "An' what's a blood hunt, exactly?"

"This Shattenjager stuff runs in my family," Gabriel said. "And it's been goin' on for a long time. Throughout the years other Shattenjagers have dealt with vampires or studied them. They kept records, journals, and I've studied them. And a blood hunt is when the entire community is alerted that there is a vampire t'be destroyed or brought down."

"T'ings might have changed since those journals were written," Remy observed.

"I doubt it. You're talkin' 'bout immortals. Yeah, I know that a lot of young vampires get killed in skirmishes. In fact, sometimes becoming a vampire is a good way to shorten your life span. But if you can make it through the early years, then you start to rise into some power. Chances are the Prince of New Orleans is at least a couple hundred years old, if not older. He's comfortable with the system that's always been and he's not going to want to change it. There's still a prince in New Orleans, I can almost guarantee it."

"I suppose," Remy agreed. "Okay, so how do I arrange a meetin' wit' him? I don' even know who he is."

"You don' have t'know who he is," Gabriel said. "You can use your mindspeak thing. When it gets dark, just send a general message that you wanna talk to the prince. He'll get it."

"So den what?" Remy asked, frowning.

"We arrange a meetin' somewhere. Not at the bookstore, they won't come here."

"Okay, so we go to this meeting an' a hun'red or so vampires come out and kick my ass?" Remy stared at him. "Hell of a plan, Gabriel."

Gabriel chuckled. "No, it's a bit more'n that. You're gonna tell him you want to meet him alone. He can bring two lackeys, but no more. He won't agree to come completely alone, he won't be that stupid. Tell him if you sense any more, you'll take off."

"Why should he agree t'anything I say?" Remy asked, frowning. "Dey have more cards in their deck dan I 'ave in mine."

"That's true, but you're gonna have a little incentive for the prince." A slow smile spread across Gabriel's face.

"Oh? And what would dat be?" Remy's right brow rose, not liking the smile on Gabriel's face.

"Me." The smile broadened into a grin. "You're gonna use me as bait. See, the vamps around here know of me, an' they don't like me anymore than they like you. So far, since I haven't bothered them, they've just let me alone. But I know they're worried about me an' wouldn't mind seeing me out of the picture. And I'm sure the prince would love t'get his hands on this." He pointed to the medallion.

"I don' know if he'd actually want t'hold it or not," Remy said, looking at it. "It turn my skin red, don' wanna t'ink what it would do to a full-blooded vampire."

"True, just a figure of speech," Gabriel said. "But whether or not the prince wants t'hold the damned thing, I'm sure he'd love to possess it and take it out of circulation. Makin' vampires burn ain't the only thing it can do."

"What else does it do?" Remy asked, lighting a cigarette.

"I'm still figuring that out myself," Gabriel admitted.

Remy took a deep drag and exhaled, thinking. "Okay.. so how dis gonna work, Gabriel? You seem t'have it all figured out."

"You're gonna send a message at night that you wanna meet the prince. Alone, at St. Louis Cemetery number two."

"How cliche," Remy commented, dryly. "Meeting vampires at night in a graveyard."

"Yeah, ain't it?" A slow smile spread over the blond man's face.

"So, why are we gonna be able t'count on de prince meeting us dere?" Remy asked. "An how are you gonna be sure he'll come alone?"

"Cause you're gonna tell him you bonded me."

"Dey gonna believe dat?" Remy asked, eyes widening. "Dey a lot more powerful dan me, but I'm de one dat got de Shattenjager? I don' know." He shook his head.

"They might," Gabriel said. "You're only a half vampire and you're a mutant. I don't know if the prince will completely buy it, but he'll want to see for himself. I can play along with the act."

"Can dey tell if someone is bonded?"

"Mind reading and that sort of thing?" Gabriel said. "Nah, I don't think so. Bonding is between the two doin' the bonding." He rested his arms on top of the back of the chair. "Look, Remy, I'm not sayin' this plan don't have its risks, but doesn't everything in life?"

Remy thought about that for a bit, then nodded. "Oui, you're right."

The rest of the day passed slowly. While Remy was not truly looking forward to this confrontation, there was a part of him wanting it to begin, just so that it would be over sooner. Dis might end up killin' you, he thought to himself.

There was a part of him that realized an easier solution might be to go back to New York. Rhiannon had some protection against the kindred in Stealth. Remy was almost sure he would be covered by that protection if he returned, not to mention that the X-Men were pretty good protection as well. He was not ready for that though.

You bein' a big baby, he told himself. This ain't reversible. It's your life, face up to it. Not'in gonna change what you are. Get used to it. Easy to think, but not so easy to act on.

He missed Rhiannon too. Missed her as much as he was angry with her. Sometimes he thought if she was to walk in the door, he would tear her apart, yet others, he thought he would wrap his arms around her and kiss her until she was breathless. Find out how little she really does need t'breathe.

He was confused right now. This vampire problem was not helping any either. Get through this, he thought. Get through it and if you survive, mebe you can figure out what you gonna do, what's the best thing to do.

Nighttime finally came and St. George's' books closed. Again, there was a bit of a scene when Grace left. She knew something was going to happen, but she did not know what it was. Remy found it rather sweet that she was concerned about Gabriel. Despite her sarcasm to her boss, it was obvious she cared for him deeply. Look like I'm not de only one wit' romance problems, he thought. In a strange way, that was almost a comfort.

When the clock finally read midnight, Gabriel looked at him. "Ready to begin?"

Remy nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be." They had been playing cards. It was getting dull, mostly because Remy kept winning, but Gabriel did not have any real money to win. Mental note, never go into the used book business, Remy thought.

Gabriel grinned. "Just focus on what you have to do. Don't think of anything else but getting the message across. You can do it. And if there is any trouble, come back in."

Remy nodded, rising to his feet. Taking a deep breath, he walked outside and leaned against the building. For a few moments his head was clear, then the voices started again, as if they never really stopped, but were only blocked.

You, it's you. You can't escape us, why do you try? Get it over with. Judgement is near for you, breed.

Closing his eyes, Remy took a deep breath. Shut up! he thought as "loudly" as he could. Shut up and listen! I have somet'in you wan, an' if you don' back off, you might find you'selves kissing de true death. There was a part of him that wanted to offer a silent prayer, but he did not dare. He had to remain focused only on this. He did not know how far into his mind these vampires could read.

What is it, breed? What could you possibly have that we want?

Was it working? Did the collective voice actually sound interested? Remy opened his eyes, exhaling sharply and looked across the street. The blond vampire with the cross in his ear was back, staring at him. Remy stared back. Why should I tell you?

Because if you don't, we will just destroy you.

Mebe you will, mebe you won', Remy continued to stare at the vampire. Although he knew he was talking to a lot more than just him, it helped using one for a focal point. You know where I am, you know where I been for de last day. You t'ink mebe I might have more power dan you first thought, bloodsuckers?

The voices quieted. They did not stop completely, but slowed down to a murmur, as if they had all moved someplace where Remy could still hear them, but could not understand what they were saying. He dared not even think what this could mean, just waited, trying to keep his mind blank.

What do you have?

Oh, you t'ink I'm gonna give in dat easy an' tell you? Remy projected the image of himself snorting in sarcastic amusement. I'm not dat dumb. I wanna talk to de prince. An' I wan' all of you to shut up while I do it!

Who are you, impudent little worm, that we should let you talk to the prince?

I'm someone who has somet'in you want. An if you wanna know what it is, den you let me speak to him, now!

A very long pause followed, but this time there was no faint murmuring. Remy forced himself to lean against the building and casually light a cigarette. "Sting" (as he had nicknamed the blond vampire across the street) was still watching him. If Remy looked even the slightest bit nervous, it might blow the whole thing.

Finally, one voice came through. Speak to me, breed.

Remy almost choked on his cigarette. The mental voice was distinctively female. It was not that he thought there could not be a female vampire prince; he just had not been expecting it. I wan' you to meet me at St. Louis cemetery number two. Now.

A mental laugh rang in his head. Soft, sweet and almost musical, but a faint sinister undertone. You're brave, little breed, I give you that. Why should I go out of my way to fulfill any request you have of me?

Because I have somet'in, and someone you want.

What could you possibly have that I would want? Again, that dangerously musical laughter filled his head.

Remy took a deep breath. Time to deal the big cards now and pray it worked. I have de Shattenjager. Which means I have de talisman.

A pause. Why should I believe you?

You got one of your spies across de street. He can tell you where I am.

Another longer pause. And you really expect me to believe you have the Shattenjager? And that he will be willing to turn himself and the talisman over to me?

This was the big one. Everything hinged on her believing this. Perhaps not with all her heart, but enough that she would come to the cemetery. He willin' t'do jus' bout anything for me now. I bonded him!

The pause that followed seemed excruciatingly long. He knows kindred by site. You could not bond him; he would not let you close enough!

I'm a breed, as you so nicely keep pointin' out t'me. I'm human 'nough t'fool 'im. He made sure just a hint of annoyance crept into his mental "voice."

Tell me more. How were you able to fool him?

No more! It was time for the final push and to pray it worked. I'm not going to stand here and answer questions. You wan' to know more? You do what I say. You meet me at St. Louis Number two, an' you better not come wit' more dan two lackeys. An' dey better not 'ave any weapons. I bring Gabriel and de talisman. Dere I answer your questions.

Don't you tell me what to do you-

Before she could finish, he made one mental push to shut the voices down. It was not an easy feat, even with his psi training. The mental process of a vampire worked different from a mutant. Still, he was able to do it. Just shut her off completely, at least for now. If there was one thing to be said for the undead, they were persistent. He knew the blood he had drunk the night before and the chance to sleep probably contributed to this ability to shut them off. T'ank you, Gabriel Knight, he thought. I 'ave a feelin' I might be t'ankin' you a lot more b'fore dis is done.

He walked back into the store. Gabriel was sitting at Grace's desk, looking at the talisman, which he held in his hand by the chain. "Everything okay?" he asked.

Remy shrugged. "Don' know. I did get t'rough to de prince though. I don' know if she'll meet us or not. I gave de message."

"She?" Gabriel repeated. "The prince is a woman?"

Remy nodded.

Gabriel nodded and smiled slowly. "Well, that's either gonna work for or against us."

Remy chuckled.

They took Gabriel's bike to the cemetery. It felt unusual to Remy, being a passenger when he was more used to being the driver, but he knew better than to ask Gabriel for the keys. Like Remy, Gabriel's bike was an extension of himself and he was not going to lend it out easily.

"Dis is a crummy neighborhood t'leave your bike in," Remy murmured as they parked it outside the cemetery gates.

"Yup," Gabriel agreed, also keeping his voice low. "But life is all about takin' chances sometimes, no?"

"Oui."

They entered the graveyard. Remy had been to all three of the St. Louis graveyards, but this was not one had visited often. It was not one of the more popular ones. Like all cemeteries in New Orleans, the graves were above ground, due to the high water table. Remy sniffed and made a face. Why was it all graveyards seemed to have the same smell? Traces of grass, mold, and decaying flowers. It seemed even worse than normal. Damned dese heightened vampire senses, he thought. How does Logan deal wit' dis stuff?

Gabriel followed right behind him, looking at him the entire time, occasionally reaching out and touching Remy as if he were some sort of god come down to earth. It only added to Remy's discomfort of the whole situation, although he knew it was all an act on Gabriel's part so the prince would believe he was bonded to Remy.

Gabriel leaned over as if to kiss Remy's ear. "Sense anything, yet?" he whispered.

Turning his head as if to return the kiss, Remy whispered back, "Non. I t'ink dey keepin' quiet deliberately. But I 'ave a feelin' she's here."

"Me too." Gabriel ran his fingers through Remy's hair, staring at it while he whispered as if mesmerized by it.

A distinctly feminine voice broke the silence of the graveyard. "How sweet."

Remy whirled around quickly. To give Gabriel credit, he was able to hold back his surprise and took longer to look, as if it was painful for him to take his eyes off Remy. He's playing dis well!

A figure walked out from behind one of the family tombs, her body silhouetted in the faint light from the moon and stars. She wore one a black, velvet dress with a white collar. Delicately, she moved across the grass towards them, as if the high-heeled shoes she wore were winged slippers. Remy looked at her, gulped and looked again.

The prince of New Orleans looked like child, fifteen years old at most.

Her long blond hair hung down her back in a silvery mass of curls that gleamed in the moonlight. Her face was the sweet, angelic face of a child with wide blue eyes and delicate features. It's jus' an illusion, Remy told himself. She could be five hun'red years old, for all you know.

Out of the shadows came two other figures, both males, both much bigger and bulkier than Remy or Gabriel. They walked over, standing on either side of the prince, making her look even more petite and child-like. While Remy did not see any weapons, both men had plenty of spaces to hide them.

"My, don't the two of you make a lovely couple," the prince commented, looking from Remy to Gabriel.

"Never mind, dat, princess," Remy said, trying to look tough. It was not easy. Despite knowing that this woman was much older than she looked, his instinct was to treat her like Jubilee or as any other young girl.

"Prince," the woman snapped. "We're not hung up on gender, unlike mortals."

"Sorry," Remy muttered. It was hard to stay focused on this, because Gabriel kept reaching out to touch him. Act or not, it was distracting. "Stop dat!"

The prince's eyes narrowed as she studied them. "You bound him tightly, Cajun."

Remy shrugged. Gabriel had stopped playing with his hair, but kept reaching out his hand and pulling it back, as if he wanted to make Remy happy, but found it hard not to touch him. "It was my first time, I'm still learning."

"Remy," Gabriel murmured, quietly.

"What?" Remy turned to him, ignoring the price for a moment.

"There's something about these people I don't like," Gabriel said, looking confused, as if his reasoning was clouded over. "Do we have to stay here?"

"Non, we'll be goin' soon," Remy said. In keeping with the act, he reached out and patted Gabriel on the head, as if consoling a cranky child.

"So, Remy," the prince said, looking bored, now that she was convinced Gabriel was harmless. "What's the deal?"

Remy turned to her. "Do you 'ave a name I can call you, or should I jus' refer to you as 'your majesty'?"

The prince's eyes narrowed for a brief moment, then she chuckled. The illusion that she was a child shattered whenever she spoke, for her voice was not that of a teenager. Remy also knew she was not a native of New Orleans. Her accent was different, as if a combination of several accents, blended over the years. "You're a bold one, little breed. All right, call me Heather."

"Fine," Remy nodded. "Heather, I'm gettin' sick of your 'subjects' trackin' me down an' I want it to stop."

"It's not that easy, " Heather said. "You're an abomination. You're of the blood, yet not of the blood. We've never had to deal with something like you before. And our first instincts are to destroy you."

Gabriel whimpered when Heather said, "Destroy." "Remy, let's go," he said, grabbing onto Remy's sleeve.

"Control your pet," Heather snapped.

Remy could sense Gabriel's body stiffening when referred to as a pet. Don' blow it, yet, he thought. He turned to Heather. "Back off, Heather. He might be bonded, but he's still de Shattenjager. An' if I tell him you botherin' me, he might jus' decide t'take action."

"Bothering?" Gabriel said, looking only at Remy. "Is the lady bothering you, Remy?"

"Non, it's okay," Remy "assured" him.

"This is boring me," Heather said, covering her mouth as if to stifled a yawn. "What, exactly, do you want, breed?"

"I wan' you to leave me alone," Remy said. "I wan' you an' your subjects to jus' back off. You live your lives, I'll live mine."

"And why should I do you this favor?" Heather asked. "What is in it for me?"

"I can keep de Shattenjager under control," Remy said. "He's bound t'me. If I tell him to leave you alone, he'll do it."

"But he's one man," Heather pointed out. "Against many of us. Why should we worry?"

"Because of dis," Remy reached over, taking the talisman, lifting it out of Gabriel's shirt, and holding it up.

The two lackeys cringed at the sight of it. A low his escaped Heather's lips, but she quickly composed herself. "He has not bothered us before."

"Yeah, but he might, if he t'inks you're botherin' me." Remy pointed out, dropping the talisman so it rested on the outside of Gabriel's T-shirt. "As you can see, he's rather.. fond of me."

"You can't be with him all the time," Heather said. "Not to mention time is on our side."

Remy could feel Gabriel beginning to stiffen. It was starting to become obvious that he was getting a little annoyed at this game. "I jus' wan' to be left alone," Remy said. "I don' want to mess wit' you."

"You're a danger," Heather stated.

"If I am a danger to you, I'm a danger t'myself," Remy reminded her. "I'm not gonna tell anyone what I am, or tell people dat vampires are real."

Heather rolled her eyes. "I tire of this."

The moment the words were out of her mouth, the lackeys made their move. For such obviously large men, they moved with inhuman speed, lunging for Gabriel.

Fast as they were, Remy had been trained in this sort of thing and was faster. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of cards, charged it, and flung them at the lackeys, before they could reach Gabriel. The cards exploded, throwing the lackeys backwards. One of them was smashed into one of the tombs; another was thrown into the grass. Before either of them could regain their wits, Remy hit them with another handful of charged cards. They stayed down.

While that was happening, Gabriel had taken advantage of the situation and went for Heather. She must have been startled that Remy would challenge her lackeys, because he was able to get the upper hand. He pulled off the talisman, grabbed Heather, and got her into a headlock, arm around her neck, her back pressed into his chest. He held the talisman less than an inch from her forehead. "It would be in your best interest not t'move," he said calmly. "Cause if this touches your forehead, you're gonna be very sorry. An' don't you even think of sending out a distress call for some re-enforcement's, cause if I get any sorta hint of another bloodsucker in the area, I'll make you eat this."

"Bastard!" Heather spit out the words.

"Hey now, Prince Heather, none of that." Gabriel grinned. "If you don't watch your language, I might get a little upset." His arm tightened around her neck. "Feel a little...drained, darling? A bit less... powerful? The power from the talisman is goin' right int' me, which means it's affecting you. I'll bet you feel almost... human."

"Damn you," Heather growled between clenched teeth. She looked at Remy. "You set me up."

"Oui," Remy said, staring at her. "We had to, you vampires don' play fair."

"Seems t'me we have a little choice here, Heather," Gabriel said. "Either you agree t'leave Remy alone an' call off the blood hunt, or I kill a prince."

"You kill me and your life is worth nothing!" Heather exclaimed.

"Maybe, then again, maybe not," Despite his words, Gabriel's voice remained calm and collected, as if passing the time with an acquaintance, not threatening the head of the vampires for this area. "Your kind been around for a long time, Heather, but so have Shattenjagers. You haven't managed t'destroy us yet." He lifted his arm slightly, causing Heather's body to rise so she was forced to stand on the tips of her toes.

"So you just want me to promise to leave him alone?" Heather gasped, as the arm tightened around her neck.

"I want you to promise none of your bloodsuckers are gonna go after him," Gabriel said. "He's under my protection."

Heather stared at Remy. "I don't appreciate this one little bit."

"I don' appreciate bein' hunted an' haunted," Remy retorted. "Give your word, or Gabriel gonna put dat little trinket on your skin."

"All right!" Heather finally shouted, as loud as she could. "You win."

"Swear to it," Gabriel said.

"As the prince of New Orleans and on my honor as kindred, I swear none of my subjects will harm him," Heather finally gasped.

Gabriel loosened his hold on her, allowing her to slip from his grasp. "This isn't over," she said, turning to glare at Gabriel. "I may have control over this city, but I don't control all kindred. He leaves this city and no telling what's going to happen to him."

Gabriel nodded. "Yup. Can't do a damned thing about that, but I can make sure he's safe while he's here."

"Why do you even care?" Heather's eyes narrowed, studying him. "He's just some cross. As a Shattenjager, you should want to see him dead too. Your ancestors would have."

Gabriel shrugged. "I'm not my ancestors, I'm me. Besides, seeing that he's only the second of his kind, I don't know for sure what they'd do with him."

"Why do you want to protect him?" Heather asked. "Why should he be so important to you?"

"I don't know," Gabriel admitted. "But I sense a lot of good about him. He's been changed by the blood, but he's trying his damnedest not t'be corrupted by it." He paused, turning his head to stare at Remy for a moment, as if evaluating him. "He's got a lot of sin on his soul, but he's trying his best to redeem himself. In some ways, he reminds me of me. He's not gonna have an easy time of it. He's stuck between two worlds and he can't go back to the one he started from. He deserves a break. I can't protect him from the world, but I can protect him in New Orleans."

Heather looked over at Remy as if she had never seen him before. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "All right. You're very strange for a Shattenjager, Gabriel Knight, but if it amuses you to protect this... childe, then I'll let him go."

Though he was tempted to remind Heather that it was really Gabriel that had the upper hand, Remy managed to keep it to himself. There would be no point in rubbing her face in her own defeat. "T'ank you," he said, softly, allowing her to keep a some of her dignity.

Heather shrugged. "You're a good looking man, Remy. If you ever get tired of being in the middle, come see me. You'd make a very good... addition to my family."

"Uh, I'll keep dat in mind," Remy muttered darkly.

On that note, Heather left the cemetery. Gabriel grinned. "That went better than I expected."

"Oui," Remy agreed. "T'ank you for your help."

Gabriel shrugged. "It's my job."

"I guess," Remy knew it was more than just a job. He had great respect for this man who had helped him when most would have turned away. He knew what Gabriel said to Heather about Remy reminding him of himself were true. Remy also knew better than to mention it again. "I don' know if I can ever be of any help t'you but..."

"Oh, don' worry. If I have somethin' that I think I can use you for, I'll call on ya. Gettin' Heather off you ass was a freebee, but you still owe me for dinner last night."

Remy laughed, then looked over at the lackeys. "Should we do anyt'ing about dem?"

Gabriel shook his head. "Nah. The prince will send someone t'clean up the mess. You didn't kill em' you just put em' in tupor."

"Tupor?"

"The equivalent of a vampire coma," Gabriel explained. "Heather'll put em' somewhere safe and in a few days or so they'll be fine. C'mon, I'll give you a lift back t'your place."

"T'anks."

Together, the two men left the cemetery.

The End.

Author's Notes:

This was a rough one. Did you ever get an idea for a story that you just thought would be fantastic, but it did not come out nearly as well as you hoped it would?

I am not upset at how it did turn out, but it is not quite what I envisioned it would be. I do hope people enjoyed it.

~J~