This started out as a sequel to my first story "Dogs Best Friend" but along
the way it took on a life of it's own.
As always my gratitude and thanks to my long lost twin Mary Jenkins for all of
her faith and support and her patience in betaing this story again and again!
Also to the folks who wrote and encouraged me after "Dogs Best Friend"
I do not own any of the Forever Knight characters in the following story.
My permission to archive it is granted to whoever would like to do so. Mel
has my permission to archive it at www.fkfanfic.com, it goes without saying
that it may be archived at any Dark Perk page!
Now without further fanfare I humbly submit,
Kindred Spirits
The ancient vampire landed soundlessly on the front lawn of the large
farmhouse. It was isolated and not visible from the road so there was no
danger of being seen. He read the sign at the end of the drive.
'DeBrabant Animal Sanctuary.' His smile was a humorless one, "Animal
sanctuary indeed!" He muttered, "Utter nonsense this." 'Of course
Nicholas would be a part of it.' he thought angrily.
He found himself highly perturbed that, given his apparent connection with
them, his own son had not been able to find the time to tell him about
Perry the Carouche and his human fledgling Jody. He had happened to
overhear bits of conversations about the pair at The Raven. That was how
he'd been forced to find out. If he had been in a better mood, he would
actually have enjoyed mulling over the more humorous aspects of the notion
that he had been reduced to eavesdropping to gain information. However,
with Janette gone and the current strained, state of his relationship with
Nicholas there really was no one to share his thoughts with, no matter how
amusing.
The overheard comments were what brought him here tonight. Apparently the
pair impressed everyone that had seen them, with their unusual strength and
the bond that they shared. The gossips had gone on at great length and too
many of them were aware of the same things for it to be mere exaggeration.
In addition to this if Nicholas was involved, and didn't want him to know
about them, then there was definitely something of interest here. So
tonight, Lucien LaCroix intended to pay the two newest members of Toronto's
vampire society a visit.
As he approached the house he checked for occupants; mortal, vampire or
carouche. He sensed only living animals. So, the Carouche and his
fledgling were out, that would make things easier. He had always
preferred having the element of surprise. LaCroix walked to the door and
tried the handle, it was locked. At that moment a Dalmatian pushed its
way past him. The dog paused and stared up at LaCroix with slight interest.
It cocked it's head to the side, blinked once, wagged it's tail and then
continued on it's way through the swinging panel at the bottom of the door.
LaCroix stared down at the small door in consideration. Suddenly seeing
the lunacy of his thought he simply pushed on the door until it gave.
"Lucien LaCroix needs no invitation." he announced as he walked into the
house.
He was in a hallway, a staircase stood directly in front of him. Blocking
that staircase, ears flat back against it's head, teeth bared in a vicious
snarl, was an enormous Doberman Pinscher. Though fading scars on the dog's
sides and ears were evidence of the abuse it must have suffered earlier in
life, he was now a magnificent example of the breed. His coat was sleek
and shining, his body muscular. LaCroix readied himself for the attack.
Suddenly the dog's ears perked. As though some silent command had been
issued the dog turned and padded up the stairs.
"Ridiculous creatures!" LaCroix snorted then continued his examination of
the house. To his left was a large sitting room, to his right a dining
room. A kitchen, full bath and a library completed the rooms on the first
floor. He was pleasantly surprised at the overall neatness of the place.
He had been concerned that he would find unspeakable filth. He entered the
sitting room.
The walls were painted a light yellow. Far too cheery for LaCroix's
tastes, though the overstuffed furniture did appear comfortable and
inviting. Dogs lay in various spots around the room. Most of them were
asleep but those that were awake appeared to find nothing unusual in his
being there. 'They must be accustomed to vampires on the premises.' He
thought. Though, he did find it odd that, other than the initial reaction
from the Doberman, they were not even curious about a stranger. No matter,
the idiosyncrasies of these animals were of no concern to him.
The house was very large and LaCroix sensed that there were more animals in
other rooms. He paused, was there something else here, another presence?
No, he dismissed this as merely a mistake on his part, he had checked for
any vampire or carouche presence earlier and found none. He approached
what he believed was an unoccupied armchair and sat down. He immediately
scowled, stood back up and gazed down at what appeared to be a piece of
heavy rope knotted at each end. A leggy Greyhound snatched the hideous
thing from the chair, gave LaCroix what could only be described as a
"dirty" look and proceeded to crawl onto the chair with the rope in it's
mouth. It curled up into an impossibly small ball and began to chew on the
rope. "How utterly revolting!" LaCroix spat out. He decided to leave
this room in search of a more hospitable one to await the return of the
Carouche and the girl. Though the animals held no charm for him, LaCroix
had no intention of harming them. His business was with Perry and Jody the
animals were inconsequential to him.
He ignored the dining room and bath and entered the kitchen. It was large
and extremely clean. A huge refrigerator took up a great portion of one
wall. LaCroix opened the door and was pleased to find a good selection of
bottled blood on the shelves. Of course, they fought for space with
various types of dog and cat food. He sneered his distaste. Choosing one
bottle he removed the cork easily. Sniffing delicately he was relieved to
find it to be human and of excellent quality rivaling even his own personal
stock. He smiled and headed to a cupboard to obtain a proper glass. With
the bottle and a wine glass in his hands LaCroix walked into the library.
Yes, this was definitely a better choice.
The room was carpeted in a deep hunters green color. The walls and
bookcases were made of dark cherry wood. Fine leather furniture was
strategically placed throughout the room near tables with lamps on them to
make for comfortable reading. The bookcases were well stocked with
classics. He filled the glass and sat the bottle on a table. As he
perused the selection of books he lifted the glass to his lips and drank
deeply.
[Does it meet with your approval, General?] A softly accented feminine
voice politely inquired.
LaCroix whirled around in surprise. He had sensed no one. His eyes
searched every corner of the room. There was no one here! His agitation
was increased by the realization that the voice was only in his head.
[Calm yourself General and look at me.] The same voice gently continued.
Not fully understanding how he knew where to go, he approached a dark
green chair which faced the unlit fireplace. As he walked around to the
front of the chair he was unsure what to expect. What he found surprised
him more than anything he could have imagined. She was an unbelievably
beautiful cat. She appeared to be Siamese though subtle differences made
her exact breed difficult to determine. Her eyes were so incredibly blue
and clear LaCroix imagined himself looking into a summers day sky. She was
also a carouche! LaCroix stared at her in stunned silence.
Part II
[Please, sit down before you fall down.] The cat directed him.
"This is impossible," LaCroix snarled as he flung the glass with the
unfinished blood into the fireplace "some kind of trick!"
The cat who had been laying comfortably on her side began snapping her tail
in irritation. [There is no trickery going on here you fool! I am what I
appear to be, you are just too stubborn to admit it to yourself!]
Gaining control of himself LaCroix addressed the cat out loud "I detected
no carouche presence here! I checked before I entered and no one has
arrived since I've been inside."
[You did not know of my presence because I did not wish you to.] The cat
replied in slow measured tones as though addressing a child in mid tantrum.
"You did not wish me to?" LaCroix laughed, "You expect me to believe that
a simple carouche has the ability to shield itself from me?"
[I am no simple carouche Lucien, surely you already sense that.]
Irritated by her sarcastic tone LaCroix snapped, "Where are Jody and
Perry?"
[Well Lucien, if you must know, they had some business to attend to in the
States. Fairfield, Iowa was the name of the place I believe.]
LaCroix leaned back against the mantle and crossed his arms over his chest.
He lowered his head, eyes narrowed and studied the cat for a moment, "How
is it, Carouche, that you know my name?"
The cat settled down again and tucked her front paws elegantly under
herself, tail wrapped tightly around her body, [Lucien don't be silly, I've
known of you, followed your progress for some time now. We have much in
common you and I.]
At this LaCroix burst out laughing. "You and I? Much in common? Stop it
carouche, you push me too far!"
The cat's tail began to snap again. [I have a name LaCroix, I would
appreciate your use of it when you address me!]
"Oh, the carouche has a name, fine then, what shall I call you? Kitty,
Pussy Cat, perhaps Mittsy? I know, how about Mittens? Which shall it
be?"
She glowered at him as she said, [Though I have had many names in my time,
the easiest for you to pronounce is Tia, kindly use it from now on!]
As he headed toward the door LaCroix fired back over his shoulder "Fine,
Tia it shall be, though I will not be addressing you any further my
business here was with your Masters. I shall return when they do. Lucien
LaCroix does not carry on conversations with a mere carouche."
[Masters? Mere carouche?] She hissed. Then carefully controlling her
rage she continued, [It seems, Lucien LaCroix, that you don't carry on
conversations with much of anyone anymore. Let's see, can we count how many
companions you have driven away? Or better yet how many of them have died
because of you?]
LaCroix stopped at the doorway, his body stiff with rage.
[Oh my, have I struck a nerve General? I'm so sorry.] Tia's voice dripped
with sarcasm.
He turned slowly and walked back to her, "Now you have gone too far, Tia, I
will not be spoken to in that manner!"
As he approached her she calmly replied, [So what will you do Lucien, kill
me? For speaking the truth, the truth you can not bear to hear? Tell me,
if you can even remember, how long has it really been since you had a
conversation with anyone? Since anyone cared enough about you to ask your
opinion or hear your thoughts?] She was sitting up ramrod straight and
perfectly still. Her eyes, now edged with gold as her own anger mounted,
stared into his, unblinking.
He paused in front of her, "The state of my personal affairs is no concern
of yours."
[It doesn't "concern" me Lucien, I merely thought that we might pass a bit
of time this evening in conversation.] She paused and lowered her eyes, [I
must admit, I was rather looking forward to it.]
LaCroix thought that, for a moment, her voice seemed to change to became
almost wistful. Then
her downcast eyes snapped up to meet his defiantly. LaCroix stared back
for a time then looked away, his own eyes distant and thoughtful. He
walked back to the bottle of blood he had left and picked it up. Noticing
a stocked bar he got another glass. Filling it he then raised it in a
toast towards her, "To conversation Tia."
Her body relaxed and the gold left her eyes. [If you would be so kind
General, I wouldn't mind a bit of that myself.] She purred.
LaCroix raised one eyebrow but poured a generous amount into one of the
saucers that were stacked next to the glasses. He placed the saucer on the
chair for her then, picking up his own glass and the bottle from the bar,
he sat down in the chair next to hers and stared into the unlit fireplace.
Part III
[It's difficult isn't it, existing for so very long?] Tia broke the
silence between them.
"To which aspect of our existence specifically do you refer my dear?"
LaCroix replied, still staring straight ahead.
[The loneliness is the most difficult I suppose. It does become impossible
after a time to find any contemporaries and choosing a companion from what
is currently available is, shall we say, distasteful at best.]
LaCroix smiled knowingly, "When one becomes truly an ancient, such as
myself, you learn to adjust, you'll see."
This brought about sudden hysterical laughter from Tia, [LaCroix, you
pompous ass! You don't even know what it means to be truly an ancient!]
She continued laughing as she stretched out and leaned to one side.
LaCroix scowled at her. She had made him feel... foolish. An emotion he
had not experienced in a very long time. " I watched Pompeii smolder under
Vesuvius' wrath! " he snarled.
[Well, I'm sure that is quite impressive, to some.] She placed her head on
her paws and watched him with visible enjoyment, her blue eyes sparkling.
"Fine," he snapped frustrated, "Since you so obviously desire me to ask,
just how old are you Tia?"
[Why General, has no one ever told you that it is quite impolite to ask a
lady her age?] He glowered at her. Finally deciding that she had tormented
him long enough, for now, she went on, [Let us suffice to say that there
were none before me.]
"Are you implying that you, a Carouche, were the first of our race?"
LaCroix asked incredulously.
Tia sighed, and cleaned a nonexistent spot from her paw, [Calm yourself,
General, you are not a direct descendent of a Carouche. Did you really
believe that vivisection was a recent development? The humans have been
testing their potions and poisons on animals since time began. Oh yes, I
was a test subject. A most successful one I might add, and I made sure
that they gained the proper respect for me when I demonstrated exactly what
they had made me capable of.] She paused for a moment and appeared to be
enjoying this particular memory, then she continued, [After my trial the
elixir was declared safe for humans. Selected humans of course, only those
deemed worthy received it.]
"When was this...where was this?" LaCroix demanded, though somehow a part
of him already knew. He waited impatiently as Tia ignored him, stretching
slightly and flicking her tail slowly as though she were considering
whether or not to answer his question. Then she spoke. Though it was no
louder than before, her voice seemed to echo in through his mind,
[I watched my land sink below the ocean much as you watched yours become
covered by Vesuvius' ash.] Seeing the look of pure awe that crossed his
face she added gently, [I told you we had much in common.]
"Tia, this is incredible you must tell me..." LaCroix broke off as the
same Dalmatian that had crossed his path on the way in attempted to crawl
onto his lap covering his immaculate black suit with white hair in the
process. "Get away from me, shoo, get off I say! Oh this is ridiculous!
Tia!"
At first amused by the aristocratic vampire's dilemma, Tia quickly tired of
the interruption. Her eyes suddenly blazed a deeper blue. The Dalmatian
immediately picked his head up and met those eyes. He slid off of LaCroix
and backed away, head lowered. He paused for a moment at the door and
LaCroix could have sworn that the beast even bowed before leaving the
library.
LaCroix gazed at the cat. The entire episode had left him feeling -
unsettled. How much power did this creature have and over how many? The
mere fact that the Carouche was able to communicate with him telepathically
had been impressive, but now he felt a deepening respect for her. The
things she could tell him! So many questions he could ask her since she
knew of the beginning!
[Yes,] She sounded as though she had reached a decision, [I believe that I
will tell you more of the beginning, eventually.]
Shocked, his voice rising, he exclaimed, "You can read my mind?"
[Of course, cats are naturally intuitive. The change enhanced this ability
along with my telepathic powers. If you wish you can speak to me with your
mind or we can continue the way we have been, but please do stop yelling,
my ears are quite sensitive you know.] She paused for a moment and
observed him then added thoughtfully, [My, but you certainly are a high
strung one.]
"High strung...?" LaCroix began exasperated. He changed his mind when he
noticed her obvious delight with his irritation, "Tia, stop toying with
me," he paused then added dryly "I don't like it."
Tia looked disappointed for a moment and sighed, [No, I suppose you
wouldn't.] She stood on the chair and arched her back in a graceful feline
stretch. This finished she jumped off of the chair and made her way to the
hearth. Now directly facing LaCroix she sat straight and still as a statue
and stared at him.
[Why are you here Lucien?] She asked suddenly.
Relieved by the change of subject he thoughtfully answered, "Curiosity I
suppose. Rumors about Jody and Perry are running rampant and, of course,
anything that interests Nicholas is always of interest to me."
[Ah yes, Nicholas, the 'lost child'. He wants to be mortal again does he
not?]
LaCroix dryly replied, "It has been his obsession for some time now.
You've met him, I take it?"
[Oh yes. Though I revealed nothing of my past to him. He reminds me of my
own favorite.] Her face took on a pained expression for a moment, [What an
exasperating child that one is. Always regretting, constantly searching
for something more, some hidden meaning in everything. Very trying that
one.]
LaCroix nodded in sympathetic understanding.
[You mentioned rumors Lucien. What are they saying about them?] Tia asked,
a concerned note in her voice.
He answered carefully, "There has been talk about them, stories of the bond
that they share and the strength they possess. I felt compelled to see for
myself."
So softly she could almost have been talking only to herself, she said,
[Interesting, that was also part of my reason for coming here.]
He leaned back in his chair and considered her. Folding his hands together
he inclined his head in her direction and replied, "Do tell Tia."
[I came here because I was lonely Lucien. My children have left me and I
have no real friends. I am completely alone now. I heard of Jody and
Perry's strength and yes I was intrigued but more than that I hoped to
create a relationship with them perhaps even a friendship, but at the very
least some companionship for a while.]
He would not meet her eyes, her story was far too familiar to him. He
stared at the mantle above her head while she continued.
[I came on the pretense of 'guiding' them. They were kind and gracious and
I was able to help them in certain areas, but, I don't belong here. It's
time for me to move on again.]
"Move on?" LaCroix exclaimed, he looked at her in surprise, "Whatever
for?"
She sighed, [Lucien, they don't need me, they have each other.]
"They must need your influence, your experience. You are special Tia!"
[They are special my General. They complete each other somehow. Their
bond is such that they are stronger together than apart. In all of my
years I have never seen anything like it. I have loved every child I
created. Yet, they always left, always felt compelled to be apart from me.
Perhaps I loved them too much, held on too tightly preventing them from
growing, from being all that they needed to be. When they left me they
each blossomed, became stronger and better without my interference. In the
end they were all better off without me. Though Jody and Perry are not my
children they are the same, they will be better off on their own. And, to
be totally honest, I don't much care for the idea that I have been reduced
to,] she paused, sighed dramatically and then continued, [baby sitting
dogs!]
In spite of himself LaCroix found her description of her current position
incredibly amusing and began to laugh. At first offended by his laughter
Tia was about to deliver a scathing remark when she too saw the humor in
her statement and began purring.
To his own surprise, LaCroix realized that he very much enjoyed the sound.
He found it, relaxing somehow. "Where will you go Tia?" He asked with
genuine interest.
She sighed, [I really don't know yet. I do like Toronto, perhaps I will
stay here a bit longer, to see what develops. That is if I can find
suitable lodgings of course.]
"Of course." LaCroix smiled, looked down at her and found that she was
watching him intently.
He paused thoughtfully for a moment and then his smiled widened.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"So what do you think Nick?" Tracy's question was met with complete
silence. They were in the Cadillac on their way from a crime scene and she
had just finished explaining, in great detail, her theory to an obviously
oblivious partner. Noticing that he was staring blankly at the road ahead
she repeated in exasperation, "NICK?"
He shot her a puzzled look, then smiled and said, "Sorry, Trace. Guess I
was lost in thought. You were saying?"
"I was saying that..." She began only to be interrupted by Nick suddenly
shushing her. She watched as he leaned in closer to the radio and turned
the volume up. They had been listening to the end of "Night Watch with The
NightCrawler". Tonight the host had been going on about 'kindred spirits'
and how you sometimes find them in the most unlikely places.
"What is it Nick?" Tracy found herself leaning forward too.
"Well," Nick began, "listen, do you hear something in the background
tonight? Static or something?"
Tracy leaned in and listened closely for a moment. She did hear something.
It sounded so familiar... suddenly it hit her, "Nick, I know this is
crazy, but it sounds like a cat, purring!"
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