The Merryman and the Maid
By Spike Shovelton
Disclaimer
Forever Knight and the characters and ideas associated therewith belong to
Mr Parriot and Sony/Tristar. No infringement of their copyright is
intended. This story is mine and I assert copyright hereto.
Archive rights are granted to Mel for fkfanfic, Anita for her archive and
Cousin Mary if she wants it. Anyone else please ask first although it
shouldn't be a problem. I would welcome feedback at blot30@hotmail.com but
flames will be ignored. There are spoilers for "Fever" except in my stories
Screed survives. I'd call this about PG-13, no explicit sex but not quite
suitable for very young children due to some swearing, occasional violence
and implicit sensuality.
This story is a sequel to a short story that I wrote called "to love and be
wise." It probably won't make much sense unless you read that first. "Love
and be wise" is about Natalie sitting in a bar and thinking and then being
joined by Screed and just talking to him. Vachon had brought Tracy across
and Nat was wondering where things were going from there. I don't know if
it's been archived but let me know if you want a copy.
I am indebted to William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan for the inspiration for
the title. No infringement of their copyright is intended. I have been
trying to write this one for a while but got stuck about the ending for
ages. I'm still not sure it's quite right.
The Merryman and the Maid 1/4
"Vachon." Tracy poked her sleeping lover softly and he stirred and opened
his eyes. "Javier." Her voice rose softly on his name. Brown eyes studied
her fondly.
"Tracy." His voice was velvet brown and rich with warmth. His eyes looked
over her form and he drew her close, making the link between himself and his
new childe flare into life. Vachon wondered idly what had made him so
lucky. How had he managed, after a life like his, to win the love of
someone like Tracy? "Mine." He murmured against the tempting flesh of her
throat. "Mine."
Tracy shivered, feeling the fangs descend into her mouth at his breath
against her jugular. The neck was certainly an erogenous zone for vampires.
Still why not after all?
Later Tracy smiled at him, licking the blood from her lips as she stretched.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted."
"Sorry." Vachon said, he wasn't but it was expected.
"As I was about to say. We need to do something about Nick."
"Like what?" Vachon asked.
"Well get him to sort his life out." Tracy looked stern. "You need to have
a man to man chat with him about Natalie."
Vachon snorted softly. The likelihood of that was about on a par with that
of Lacroix wanting to take up sunbathing. Not to mention the fact that
Knight still was unhappy about Tracy coming across. Still she made a
fantastic vampire. Even Lacroix thought so. Vachon smiled as he remembered
her meeting with the General.
Flashback – The Raven, 1 month previously
"Why do we have to do this?" Tracy asked petulantly as she brushed the
gleaming gilded cloud of hair. As a vampire she was stunning, paler and
somehow refined to pure essence.
"The General will want to see you, given that you are Nick's partner. Also
it is good form to introduce fledglings to the elders. It makes the
community aware of your status." Vachon sighed. "The alternative is for
Lacroix to turn up when we don't want him around and make a lot of barbed
comments. This way we keep it brief and we can choose the battleground."
Tracy finished her toilette and picked up her coat.
As they went into the Raven heads turned. In a beige trouser suit and blue
silk blouse, Tracy did not exactly fit into the crowd. However she looked
undeniably classy and individual.
"Detective Vetter, nice to see you." Miklos smiled at her. "First drink on
the house."
"Thanks." Tracy smiled back at him and looked around. Vachon watched as
she mingled with the community. He looked up and realised that Lacroix was
standing in the shadows, removed and distant from the others. How did the
old vampire manage to move so silently, so subtly that he could appear
without warning? Vachon had not noticed the old vampire to begin with, not
until Lacroix had wanted him to do so.
"Tracy." Vachon said and tugged mentally on his link to his childe. She
walked to stand beside him, moving to flank him automatically and sliding
into a defensive position. "Let me introduce you to the General."
Tracy studied the old vampire. So this was what a vampire of his age looked
like. No wonder Nick needed a sense of humour transplant.
"General, please will you allow me to present my newest childe to you?"
Vachon asked and Lacroix inclined his head. "This is Tracy Vetter. Tracy
this is Lucius of Rome, who goes by Lucien Lacroix, leader of the community
and eldest in Toronto."
"I am delighted to meet the Nightcrawler at last." Tracy said, extending
her hand.
"The pleasure is all mine." Lacroix studied her. "You are certainly
prettier than my son's previous partner."
"Also I don't eat souvlaki." Tracy added and Vachon froze for a moment,
wondering if that had been a bad thing to say.
"Definitely a bonus." Lacroix studied her. "Do you regret your decision?"
Tracy looked at him, such old eyes in such a beautiful face. He was not
classically handsome like Nick, or darkly attractive like Vachon, but there
was a timeless grace to the old vampire. She was reminded of an old statue.
"I accept the situation. I knew when I made my decision that I would make
sacrifices but I feel that it was the right decision." Her smile broadened.
"It wasn't exactly what I intended to happen with my life but so far I
have no regrets."
"That is an interesting perspective." Lacroix said.
"I will take that as a compliment." Tracy responded, meeting his eyes. He
was not an easy person to look at. His eyes were so old that the feeling
behind them was hard to identify.
"You might consider sharing your particular perspective with Dr Lambert and
Nicholas." Lacroix smiled. "So that when she joins us she will be better
prepared."
"I don't really like to evangelise too much on the joys of this life.
Telling other people what they should and should not do is not my idea of
fun." Tracy said. She knew she wanted nothing to do with his little war
with Nick. Getting in the way between her partner and his sire would not be
a good survival tactic. "Besides when Nick commented adversely on my
decision I threw him across the room. I would hate for him to return the
favour." Her smile was wide and excessively innocent, but it did not touch
her eyes.
Lacroix nodded, understanding what she was trying to say. For all her
pretty face and big blue eyes, Tracy Vetter was no fool. Then again as a
police commissioner's daughter she had probably played more office politics
than most. "I see." He responded and sounded almost amused. "How long are
you planning on remaining in Toronto?"
"A couple of years or so, then we will move away." She smiled broadly. "If
we left overnight my father would send out the shock troops so we need to
plan this properly."
"Yes, there was some concern about Vachon selecting someone of such
prominence in Toronto. Certain individuals considered it most unwise." His
tone held a warning.
Tracy ensured that her empty smile remained in place. "I understand.
However I am sure that you were not among these individuals. I know I can
count on your full support, given that you are Nick's sire."
Vachon whistled under his breath. Tracy was sailing close to the wind here.
He looked at her and shook his head. She had no fear, just a healthy
respect for the old vampire. In a few hundred years she would be really
scary.
"Of course you have my support." Lacroix said and this time there was no
mockery in his tone. "If there is anything I can do to assist you, you have
only to name it."
"I don't think so." Tracy paused. "Actually there is something." Lacroix
leaned forward. "Get Miklos to sell Vachon some decent wine. If I have to
drink too much more of that atrocious, cheap Spanish plonk Vachon buys I'm
going to puke."
The vampires assembled in the Raven turned as one at an unexpected sound.
Lucien Lacroix was shaking with laughter, not a mocking chuckle but a
genuine laugh. It made his eyes turn from aquamarine to sapphire and Tracy
realised that he really was very handsome to look at. Regaining control
Lacroix smiled at her. "One cannot expect someone of his youth to have any
taste. If you will taste a few of my better vintages we can select
something for Miklos to supply."
"Thank you." Lacroix offered her one arm and she took it, walking with him
to a corner table and sliding into a seat.
End Flashback
Vachon realised that Tracy was speaking and he had missed the whole
conversation. "Sorry Trace, I missed that."
"You're catching Nick's bad habit, zoning out every so often." Tracy shook
her head. "I said you need to tell Nick to sort things with Natalie one way
or the other."
"I do not think he will like my interfering in his personal life." Vachon
said quickly.
"Then you can tell him to stop watching me. Every time we do anything he
looks at me, like he's waiting for me to turn into Jack the Ripper. I am
not about to go on a murderous rampage. Nothing could be further from my
plans."
"Good." Vachon murmured. The fact that Tracy had adapted easily to
community life was rather surprising. Lacroix liked her, and whenever she
went to the Raven he always seemed to be in situ. He was doing the perfect
host bit, being amusing and clever. Just as well that Vachon wasn't the
jealous type. Tracy had also made several friends with the more serious
youngsters in the community, most of them being between fifty and a hundred.
Vachon had always been a loner so as to avoid the Inca, Nick had turned
his back on the community, but Tracy seemed to relish the contact and
camaraderie.
Nick viewed her assimilation with deep suspicion, seeming to expect her to
run off and start hunting. In truth Tracy did not hunt regularly. They had
been out once hunting, so that she would know how to support herself.
Vachon had chosen a criminal for her, so as to make it easier. Since then
she had taken one other. That had been a man she had found in an alley
beating up an elderly woman. Tracy had lost control, momentarily and
drained the man dry in a heartbeat.
"So you will talk to him." Tracy said quickly. Vachon wondered why he
managed to get such disobedient fledglings. She was supposed to obey him,
not order him around.
"He won't like it." Vachon warned her quickly.
"Someone needs to do something. If Nick were left to it, he'd just carry on
as he is. He has all the sensitivity of an old fashioned truncheon." Tracy
said, her voice sharpened as she spoke through semi-descended fangs. "Nat
needs him and if he had half the sense he was born with, he'd go for it."
Vachon said something in Spanish and she glared at him. "What was that?"
"Nothing." Vachon responded and smiled. She was gorgeous when she was
angry, a burning golden flame. He wondered how he had managed to live
without her for so long. "You're going to be late." He pointed out and
watched as Tracy rushed over to the wardrobe.
End Part One
The Merryman and the Maid 2/4
By Spike Shovelton
See part one for disclaimer.
Natalie sighed as she put the coffee cup down. Institutional coffee was
terrible hot and worse cold. "Ya should try this." She looked up to see
Screed putting a cup down on the desk.
"Real coffee." Nat smiled at him and sipped the drink. "That is a kind
thought."
"Pleasure." He looked at the paperwork on her desk. "Owt interestin'?"
"Just the usual." Natalie looked at him and smiled. He didn't seem to be
going anywhere so she waited to see what would follow.
"I wuz wonderin' like." He began awkwardly. "Be ya busy tomorrow?"
"Not especially." Natalie looked at the carouche. "It is my night off."
"Yeah." Nat wondered how he knew. "I gots tickets fer the theatre
tomorrow. Would ya likes ta go?"
Natalie looked at him quizzically. What was the deal here? Then again
anything would be better than the usual lack of activity and brooding. She
was becoming almost as bad as Nick for brooding and being depressed. "Why?"
"Be good ta 'ave a purty bird on me arm. Make ol' Screed look good." He
murmured. "Sides, I wants ta get ta know ya a bit." He looked rather
embarrassed.
"What's the play?" Natalie asked quickly.
"Mikado." Screed murmured. "I likes G an' S."
"Great." Natalie said quietly. She rewarded him with a broad smile.
Screed shook his head. She was a stunning, vibrant woman. If he'd been
Knight he'd have claimed her years ago. Just went to show that the old ones
had no sense whatsoever.
"I'll collects ya 'bout seven then." Screed smiled at her and then
vanished.
"An I said to him dickybird
Why do you sit
Singing Willow, tit willow, tit willow."
Lucien Lacroix winced as he listened to Screed singing. Screed had to be
the only vampire in Toronto who was completely tone deaf.
"Is it weakness of intellect
Birdy I cried
Or a rather tough worm
In your little inside
With a shake of his poor little head he replied
Oh willow, tit willow, tit willow."
Lacroix decided to make his presence felt, before he suffered permanent
auditory damage. "How does your friendship with Dr Lambert progress?"
Screed jumped as he studied the old vampire. Lucien Lacroix was not a good
sign. Not now, not at any time. "I'm goin' out wiv 'er ternight." Screed
said and smiled.
"Excellent. You must ensure that she develops trust in you, confides in
you." Lacroix smiled, it was not a beautiful sight. "I hope you have a
successful evening." As he left he winced again as Screed began to sing
lustily. He would never admit to regretting any vampiric attribute but just
now he would give a great deal not to have enhanced vampire hearing.
Natalie looked at herself in the mirror, taking in the crimson silk trousers
and black top and she smiled contentedly. "Well what do you think?" She
asked her cat.
"You look great." She turned quickly to see Tracy Vetter standing behind
her, having entered, vampire-silent. "Screed is going to die."
"You know about this?" Natalie was concerned. Was it common knowledge in
the community or something? Was she always being watched?
"Oh please, Screed made me spend all last night shopping, getting him
suitable clothes for "goin' roun' wiv a purty bird" and finding flowers for
you. I had to explain the state of political affairs in Northern Ireland,
the current exhibition at the art gallery and answer a long inquisition
about your favourite books, so he could have something to talk about with
you." Tracy rolled her eyes. "You have to say how nice he looks. I went
to a great deal of trouble over it."
"Do you know why he is doing this?" Natalie asked. "I mean, is there an
ulterior motive?"
"Screed isn't really one for ulterior motives." Tracy ran a hand through
her hair. "I wouldn't rule it out, but he doesn't really go into community
power games. He's usually pretty easy to get along with." She sighed. "On
the other hand, he does believe in paying debts. In his currency he owes
you for curing the sickness." She sighed. "I can't say conclusively that
he might not have an ulterior motive, but he doesn't normally have one."
"There's something else." Natalie said, watching as Tracy twiddled a lock
of hair around a finger. It was not normal for her to look nervous.
"Don't lower your guard too much, don't let him, let any of us, get too
close to you. Screed might be sweet, funny and into rats in a big way but
he is still a vampire." Natalie sighed. Tracy being on the other side of
the mortality game was weird. "Then again you probably know that fairly
well." Tracy smiled at Natalie. "I've got to run, have a nice evening."
To her surprise Natalie did enjoy the evening. Screed was amusing and
undemanding company. He did not seem to ask anything of her, merely her
company. For a vampire he was incredibly normal and well balanced. The
operetta was light and amusing and not too complicated.
"Did you change much when you came across?" Natalie asked him as they
walked away from the theatre."
"I dunno." Screed studied her. She was seriously pretty in that outfit.
Her piled hair drew attention to her face and long, biteable neck and the
clothes outlined a pleasingly curvy figure. Her blood smelt sweet with
overtones of coffee. Nick really needed his head examining. "Not overnigh'
like. Ya don't become some'un else but if ya gots a trait it becomes
stronger see. Take 'is nibs, Roman, commander, used ta bein' in charge. As
a vamp 'e wants ta be more in charge an' likes ta control things, people.
S'why a lot a folk goes nuts, iffen they gots some instability then crossing
can bring 't out." Screed smiled at her. "Ere ya goes, 'ome sweet 'ome."
"Thanks for a lovely evening." Natalie smiled at the carouche. "You're
very good company. I wonder why you are you doing this."
Screed sighed. He had too many reasons. Damn, he liked Natalie Lambert.
He owed her for curing the fever, but he was doing this because Lucien
Lacroix had ordered it and nobody disobeyed the Roman. "P'raps it's because
ol' Screed don't 'ave so many friends, on'y V-Man, Ursie an' now Fruit."
"Fruit?" Natalie enquired and studied him. "You mean Tracy?" He nodded.
"Why do you call her that?"
"Well it be 'er blood, smells like apricots." Screed responded. "Apricot
an' lilies mostly."
Natalie wondered about her own blood. Screed was a lot easier to ask than
Nick, in some circumstances. "Do all people have identifiable smells? Do
all vampires identify them in the same way?"
Screed considered, trying to find words for something instinctive. "I
dunno, I thinks the smell be the same fer us all, but it puts us in mind o'
diff'rent things. Ya compares it ta wha' ya knows. Urs, 'er blood smells
like good aftyshave ta me. V-Man reckons it be orange, cinnamon an'
patchouli, but ta me Ursie smells like aftyshave."
"What does mine smell of?" Natalie enquired. Screed turned and studied her
deeply, reaching out as he did so to take her right hand. His eyes narrowed
slightly and she could see gold flecks dancing in the irises. He raised her
hand towards his face. For a moment she remembered Tracy's warning that
Screed was, after all, a vampire. His grip was not painful but she could
not get free.
Finally he released her hand. "Ya 'ard ta ident'fy. Lavender, mint, dunno
wha' else." He looked at her. "Used ta be an ole trick 'mong vamps ta sen'
ya lover the stuff in ya blood. Indicated ya wanted 'im or 'er." He looked
at her and smiled in amusement. "Did I scare ya?" He asked and Natalie
looked at him.
"It unnerved me a little." She admitted finally. "I don't think of you as
being a vampire."
"Ya lucky as ol' Screed don' get insulted easy." Screed studied her. "Jus'
cause I don' look like Bela Lug'oles or Chrissy Lee."
"Sorry. I'm sure you could be very frightening if you wanted." Natalie
realised that she had obviously violated some male vampire code thing.
"I reckons tha's a'most as bad." Screed smiled at her, the anger fading.
"Don' be frettin' yaself pet." He smiled at her. "Well thanks fer a
loverly evenin'."
**************************
"I really don't know about this, General." Tracy murmured as she sipped her
wine. "Nick never mentioned any political system." It was their weekly
meeting and he had just made her an offer. He had invited her to stand for
election to some vampire council that sounded like something out of one of
the vampire role playing games.
"Nicholas does not interest himself in community affairs." Lacroix looked
at her. She was an unlikely vampire but it seemed to suit her. A pity that
she was too young for his taste. Still in a hundred years or so she would
probably have outgrown her Spaniard and would definitely be an interesting
ally and an even more interesting lover. "The council is a means to enable
the community to speak to the elders. It serves as many things, a political
forum, a means of airing grievances and an opportunity for elders to gain
insight into the feelings of the young. Not all cities have councils, it is
a comparatively recent innovation."
"Whose idea was it?" Tracy asked, intrigued despite herself.
"I do not know originally, It became far too pervasive as vampires felt a
need for democracy. The young complained that they felt ignored by their
elders. Besides they have them in that ridiculous role playing game and
heaven forbid that we don't comply with the expected cliche." He sighed
deeply. "Personally I do not consider it of much value but the community
likes it." He sighed and resumed his explanation. "As I have already
stated, the elections are due soon you may wish to consider standing as one
of the juvenile representatives. Two individuals are always elected to
represent the young, those under fifty years old."
"Why?" Tracy enquired.
"The concerns of the young sometimes differ from those of their elders. In
addition some younger vampires often feel excluded by the community elders
and it assists them to have a voice in community affairs." Lacroix said
calmly.
"No, I mean why are you encouraging me? Why do you want me to stand?"
Tracy looked at him with determination. "What's the ulterior motive?"
"Perhaps I wish you to do well." Lacroix sipped his wine. "You are young
and stupid yet but you have a great deal of strength and potential. You
could achieve so much."
"You don't work quite that way." Tracy studied him. "I have a sneaking
suspicion that this is something to do with Nick."
"The world does not revolve around my foolish childe." Lacroix insisted.
"He merely believes it to be so. Although he may soon learn that Natalie
does not share his view."
"Yeah, he's going to be miffed when he hears about Natalie's evening with
Screed." Tracy frowned and Lacroix could almost see the wheels turning in
her agile mind as she seemed to fit the pieces together. "You told Screed
to go out with Natalie."
"Why do you say that?" Lacroix parried.
"I know Screed and so does Vachon and he's not been his usual self lately.
Also he knows how possessive Nick is. Most of the community does. He
wouldn't invite Nick beating him up unless he had a good reason." Tracy's
eyes hardened and turned to gold. "You told him to ingratiate himself with
Natalie, didn't you?"
"Maybe." The response was very calm.
"You would have to have something to hold over Screed to get him to
co-operate." Lacroix watched with interest as Tracy's eyes turned from gold
to red. She moved faster than a human eye could detect, pushing his chair
back down so he fell to the floor, then moving to pin him there. "You used
me, didn't you. You utter bastard. You used Vachon and me to blackmail
Screed."
Lacroix hid his smile. Once she learnt to control her temper she would be
quite something. Taking advantage of his superior strength and age he
flipped her, holding her down and relishing the feel of his body against
hers. No trace of his amusement or appreciation penetrated his tone. His
voice was icy and each word had a soft, deadly emphasis. "Ms Vetter I would
be well within my rights to break your neck for attacking me. The fact that
I have found you amusing in the past should not delude you into thinking
that I will not destroy you if I see fit to, and there is nothing that you
or your fool of a Spaniard can do to stop that."
End Part Two
The Merryman and the Maid 3/4
By Spike Shovelton
See Part One for disclaimer
Tracy shivered at the tone of voice emerging from the Roman vampire. It
seemed to lash hailstones, the more so for its quietness. She shouldn't
have let her emotions conquer her but she had been so furious that Lacroix
had used Screed, one of the most harmless people she knew, to play games
with Natalie. She was equally furious that she had started to like Lacroix,
despite the warnings to the contrary. She wondered if this was really it.
He was going to kill her just like that. Doom made her bold and she
chuckled.
"What's the matter Lacroix, can't stand anyone telling you the truth for a
change?" She tried to inch away but he moved closer to her, pressing his
body against her.
"No, but it is surprising." Lacroix studied her, looking into her golden
eyes. He could smell the lush, fruity scent of her blood and it appealed to
him. "You never cease to amaze me, Tracy." He let his voice soften into a
purr. "You have so much courage, so much intelligence." He looked her over
with hunger. "You are wasted on Vachon."
"I love him." Tracy responded, her voice as soft as his. She felt fury
fighting with attraction. Thinking of Vachon gave her strength and she drew
back.
"Really?" Having her soft body pinned beneath him was very pleasant.
Reluctantly he stood and offered her his hand to help her to her feet. "No
matter. It is better to control your feelings until you have evidence
rather than a supposition."
"You may be right." Tracy smiled. That wasn't yes and it wasn't no. She
knew and he knew that she knew.
"Now, with regard to your standing as a juvenile representative. I would
suggest that you stand, but you may wish to think about it. I am sure that
you would have no difficulty in gaining a majority."
"Lacroix, if I decide to stand then I will win of my own accord. I do not
want you telling people what to do. I am no-one's patsy and I will not
thank you if you make people vote for me." She looked at him.
"I know and therein lies the challenge." Lacroix was quite amused by this
turn of events. Tracy Vetter was always challenging, it was part of her
charm.
"If I stand I will want your word that you do nothing, either overt or
covert to assist me. I am not going to be your tame juvenile member and I
don't care how loudly I have to say that." Tracy glared at the old vampire.
"I will give you my word of course." Lacroix smiled at her. "The decision
is yours." He studied her. "If you wish to discuss the matter, go and see
Aristotle Everdene. He administers the process."
Tracy said her farewells and left the room. Lucien Lacroix was seriously
frightening. She sometimes wondered why she wanted to spend time with him.
Odd how someone so charming could be so totally ruthless and evil. Yet he
was undeniably compelling and she found herself attracted to him, for all
her love for Javier Vachon. It wasn't the comfortable pleasure that Vachon
gave her by his very presence, rather it was the erotic pull of someone so
old and so completely composed. Tracy had begun to see why women fell for
men in positions of authority, like Bill Clinton, it wasn't the looks or the
money it was the aphrodisiac draw of power and strength. Tracy decided to
give up trying to understand men, particularly old ones.
Screed was having the same problem with women. Natalie Lambert was his
particular problem. She was so lovely, so irritatingly innocent and yet...
Christ above Knight was a fool to leave her alone. Although he had started
seeing her on the orders of Lacroix, he had come to admire her mind and
desire her lovely body.
That part he was certainly not telling the old Roman. As he saw her walk up
the street towards the all night corner shop he wondered about inviting her
for a coffee. After all, they both liked coffee. Always provided that he
could find somewhere open and serving at this late hour. He followed her up
the street and watched as she went into the shop. The quiet of the evening
was broken by a sharp noise. Screed realised to his horror that this noise
was gunfire and it was coming from within the small shop and raced towards
it.
Entering the shop he gasped at the strong smell of human blood. Some of it
had the unmistakable scent of lavender and mint. A skinny youth was
rummaging through the till, helping himself to the contents and swearing
about women and life in general, smoking gun still in one hand and the body
of the luckless storekeeper on the floor, dead. Natalie Lambert lay by the
door blood oozing from the wounds in her chest. Only the weak pulse
indicated that she was alive.
The attacker turned, seeing Screed in the doorway, and bringing up his gun
opened fire on the carouche. Screed simply ignored the bullets. He felt a
rushing fury through his veins. This stupid mortal had destroyed a
beautiful, perfect woman for no reason.
Screed did not remember going over there, passing the dead body of the
shopkeeper. His next memory was dropping remains of the criminal having
torn him to pieces. He had not drunk the blood, the scent of pcp being too
offputting for that, but had literally shredded the body. Stepping over the
grisly carcass he rushed to Natalie. His medical skills were rudimentary
and he looked at the three gunshot wounds to the chest, the blood gushing
from the thigh wound and the smaller indications.
"Gawd above." He touched her hand but she did not respond, having passed
out from loss of blood. He could hear her breath wheezing out from the
holes in her chest, the skin popping slightly. Open wounds to the chest
were often fatal. The lungs deflated and the victims drowned on their own
blood. He knew that from watching medical programmes. He had seen one of
his best mates die from a sabre wound to the chest during a sea battle and
for years afterwards nightmares of it had haunted him. Rob had died
pleading for help and Screed had been able to do nothing. For a moment he
could smell sweat and death and brine and was back on the ship, a boy of
twenty and helpless as his best friend had died. His call to the sawbones
had not helped. Screed returned to the here and now.
He could not let Natalie die. He knew that as surely as he knew anything.
He could not let her die and could not save her any other way. Nick was
going to kill him for this, Lacroix too. Screed knew that and took the only
action he could.
"Ouch." Natalie moaned slightly, trying to identify her location. She
seemed to be on something soft. Her body ached slightly and she felt
strange. Forcing reluctant eyes to open she looked up at the ceiling. She
was resting on a bed and looking up into darkness. The colours seemed
slightly off and everything was slightly out of kilter.
"S'orright now." The voice in her ear was slightly soothing. "Jes' relax
an' let it come easy." The accent was unmistakable. Natalie sat up and
looked into worried eyes. "Screed be 'ere."
"Screed." She said and looked at him. "What happened?"
"Ya nearly snuffed it, pet." Screed sighed and opened the bottle of cow
blood in his hands. The result was instantaneous. Her eyes went red and
the fangs slid into place. First hunger hitting with a vengeance. He
handed her the bottle and opened the next one for her. Once she had drained
two bottles of the stuff she seemed to regain some self-control and her eyes
returned to their usual blue. "I didn' 'ave no other choice, ya was dyin'
an' I didn' wants ya ta die."
Natalie felt the room return to its rightful place rather than moving. "You
brought me across?" He nodded and began to explain but she interrupted him.
"You don't need to justify it. You did what you had to and I didn't want
to be dead." She touched his hand gently. "I knew this might happen. I
had always hoped for Nick, but I'm glad it wasn't Lacroix." Her smile was
genuine but a cloud came over her face. "I don't have to eat rats do I?"
"No, cowsies like Nicky." Screed grinned at her. "Jes' don't let Knight or
ol' General kill me."
"No of course not." Natalie smiled at her sire. She knew that Screed was
mostly a sweet guy and she could have done a lot worse in her sire. "Why
would they?"
"Fer mekking ya into a carouche." His smile was wry. "Ain't 'xactly a
popular life choice. Gen'ral be like ta kill me fer it, iffen Nicky lets me
live. E won't like Nicky 'avin' a carouche fer a girlfriend, see." Screed
sighed. "Reckon as I'd better skip town."
"You will not." Natalie looked at him. "Get Tracy. She'll know what to
do. Besides if Nick doesn't like it then that's his problem." Screed
ducked away from her radiant smile. "You're my sire and I don't have a
problem."
Natalie was dozing comfortably when she heard Tracy coming down the
corridor. "Christ alive Screed, you must be off your head." The blonde
sounded quite irate. "General is going to hang you from the roof of the
Raven by your entrails for this."
"I couldn' let 'er die, Fruit." Screed was coming closer. Natalie could
feel her link to her sire coming back to life.
"I suppose you didn't have the sense to clear up the crime scene either."
Tracy shook her head. "For someone of your age you don't have a lot of
sense at all." The carouche grunted. "Oh hello Nat."
"Tracy." Natalie smiled at the other woman. "Stop abusing my maker like
that."
"Nat, you don't quite get it do you?" Tracy studied the other woman. "Half
the community despises carouches. Lacroix and Nick are going to want to
tear Screed apart for this. Lacroix certainly isn't going to want his
precious son involved with one. Nick is probably going to have a jealous
tantrum and break something, most likely the Raven. Either way we're
screwed." She paused. "Oh, welcome to the community."
"Thanks." Natalie motioned the other to sit and smiled as Screed handed her
some bottled cows blood. "Tracy I need to tell Nick about this. Nobody is
hurting Screed. Anyone who does may find the coroner and doctor to the
undead withdrawing her services. I may have preferred Nick but I don't mind
my sire."
"Okay, you tell Nick but soon. Otherwise Lacroix will find out and start
broadcasting hints. He always does." Tracy sighed.
Natalie smiled, licking the blood from her lips. "I still can't quite take
this in. It all happened so quickly. One minute I was going to buy some
more sugar and the next I was a vampire."
"I know." Tracy took her hand in a comforting gesture and the three
vampires sat in silence for a moment. "Okay Screed, divide and rule
strategy. Natalie can explain to Nick and get him out of murderously
jealous mode and into tolerance and connubial bliss mode." Tracy smiled.
"I'll explain to Lacroix and distract him if necessary so he doesn't
interfere. I'll also make sure that the crime scene is sorted. You can
tell Vachon and then get out of the way temporarily. Once we have the men
under control you can come back and get on with teaching Nat what she needs
to know."
"Can't Nick do that?" Natalie asked. She was quite amused by the fact that
Tracy had taken charge of the situation. Screed was right that being a
vampire changed people. Tracy had become more dominant, more forceful than
ever before.
"Some things yes, others do need a bloodlink to work." Tracy sighed.
"Honestly my life was quite serene and comfortable until I met Vachon, now
look at me." Even as she spoke Tracy knew that she would make the same
decision again and again if offered the chance.
Natalie smiled and pulled out her mobile phone. "It stops life getting
boring." She began to key in Nick's number and looked up at her new sire.
This was certainly not something she had ever envisaged happening. Then
again it could be a lot worse. At least Screed was sane and easygoing. She
would have to arrange for Nick to meet her at her place.
End Part Three
The Merryman and the Maid 4/4
By Spike Shovelton
See Part One for Disclaimer.
Nick studied Natalie. He had come as she had asked and wondered what she
had wanted. She was as beautiful as ever and yet seemed different. She
moved in a different manner and for some reason, he did not understand
seemed to be anticipating something.
Natalie for her part wondered why Nick had never told her half of what it
meant to be a vampire. "Nick, something happened this evening." She began.
"I went out for some sugar."
"Yes." Nick looked at her. "Go on."
"There was a thief in the shop, an armed robber." Natalie looked away,
unable to meet his gaze. There was something in his eyes that made this
hard for her. "I didn't know, I went into the shop to buy sugar. He shot
me."
Nick was across the room and taking her hand before she could continue. Nat
could see the sparks in his eyes as fury mixed with horror. "But you're not
hurt?" He subjected her to detailed scrutiny. "You're not even injured."
"I was dying, Nick." Natalie looked at him imploringly. "Screed was there
and he saved me."
Nick looked at her and realisation set in. Natalie, his beautiful and
mortal Natalie had been turned into a carouche! "No." He said and looked
into her blue eyes.
"I'm sorry Nick." Natalie looked at him. "I wanted it to be you, more than
anything."
"Natalie." Nick looked at her, trying to imagine Natalie in a sewer eating
rats.
Natalie returned his gaze. "I'm sorry, please don't hate me. I didn't want
to die so I turned away from the light."
"I could never hate you Nat. I'm just sorry that this happened." Nick
could only see his love. "Nat you know how I feel."
"I thought you might hate me for being a carouche." Nat sighed.
"I'm not thrilled about it." Nick was not really sure how he did feel about
this turn of events. "I won't pretend that I like Screed or that I'm not
furious that he brought you across." He looked at her. "But I would have
faced the dawn if you had died." He looked at her and Nat felt herself
drowning in the depth of his love. Nick reached for her and drew her out of
the sofa and into his arms, burying his face in her hair.
"So what now?" Nat murmured into his chest, several minutes later.
"That is your decision." Nick looked at her. "I would like for us to be
together more than anything, to be lovers and to find a cure together but I
don't know what you want."
"You." Natalie looked at him. "For our lives, vampire, mortal or whatever
we make of them." She smiled at him. "So let's sit down together and
discuss the future and things without interruptions."
"What about work?" Nick asked. "I've got a murder to investigate."
"I rang us in sick." Nat answered.
"Screed?" Nick asked.
"Out of town this weekend with Vachon." Nat grinned. "I wasn't sure
whether you were going to go caveman on me so we got him out of the way."
"Lacroix?" Nick asked.
"Under control." Natalie said, although she rather doubted that.
"He did what?" Tracy made a mental note not to annoy Lacroix and then stick
around. The Roman looked positively lethal, eyes burning red with fury and
fangs extended. "Tell me that I am misunderstanding you, my dear." His
soft, evil voice could have frozen the melting parts of the polar icecaps.
"You're not. Screed found Natalie bleeding to death and so he did the only
thing possible." Tracy managed to meet his gaze by sheer effort of will.
"I know it wasn't ideal, and it wasn't perfect but if he hadn't then she
would be dead."
"Where is the carouche now?" Lacroix demanded.
"I don't know. I told him to get out of town and not tell me where he was
going. I didn't want you hurting him." Tracy moved to stand in front of
him. "Natalie's going to be having rather a tough time. Neither she nor
Screed asked for this. Though it is thanks to you that she has come across.
After all if you hadn't told Screed to follow her around she would
probably be dead. She's going to have to live with it and will need all the
support she can get, so will Nick."
"Do not condescend to offer me your advice." Lacroix stalked over to the
young woman. Rationally he knew that none of this was her fault, but he was
so furious at his carefully honed plans being ruined that someone was going
to suffer. "I know what is due to her far better than a child like you.
You should take pains to learn your place." He backed her into the wall.
"Meaning that I should know that you are bigger than me, and older and
stronger." Tracy sighed. "I'm shorter and slighter than most of the people
I arrest. If I only arrested those who were easy I wouldn't be much of a
cop."
"True." Lacroix repressed his smile. She was not stupid, was she? Tracy
was maddening, desirable and a pain in the neck but definitely no fool. The
air seemed to sing with the chemistry between them, for a moment. Then he
stepped back and let her move away to a comfortable distance from him.
"Very well then. We will see how the situation develops for the time
being."
"Okay then." Tracy looked at him gingerly. This was probably not a good
sign.
"Now I seem to be developing an appetite." Lacroix smiled at her. "Would
you care to come out to dinner with me?" He studied her as she shook her
head. "In that case I will invite Natalie."
Tracy sighed. She didn't think Natalie would want to spend an evening
"eating out" with Lacroix. "I don't think she'd like to be disturbed
tonight." Tracy really didn't like hunting, even when the result was
non-fatal for the prey. She was a police officer and had a morality that
discouraged her from dining on the citizens she tried to protect.
"In that case, I have a fancy for something exotic, perhaps Chinese or
Thai." He studied her and watched her squirm slightly. "I do not wish to
eat alone."
"Okay then I'll come." Tracy smiled at him although it was without feeling.
Sometimes she wished she could kill him, so much. Lacroix bowed to her
with all the grace of an eighteenth century gentleman and then offered her
his arm. As she took it Tracy decided that Nick owed her one. For him to
be happy with Natalie everyone else seemed to have to make a lot of
sacrifices. She was stuck dining out with General Sarcasm and Vachon was
miles away for who knew how long. Natalie was probably having a lot more
fun.
Natalie would have agreed with her. Sitting up in her bed she studied her
sleeping lover, pulling the covers down slightly to get a better look at
him. She felt a surge of possessive pride run through herself, Nick was
hers and God help anyone else who tried to take him. She was actually
starting to understand what had motivated Janette. Yes, the more she
thought about it the better she liked it.
Curling up closer to him she chuckled softly. She had finally managed to
get what she wanted, Nick in her arms and in her life forever. She just
hoped that the price would not prove too high for any of them. She had not
had any choice about coming across. Well she had chosen to come back rather
than go to the light but she had not asked to be nearly killed. Still she
would try and make the best of the situation and hope that good came out of
it rather than evil. In the end only time would tell. Natalie decided that
she wouldn't get any further by worrying about the situation and lay back
down beside Nick. He moved slightly and she took advantage of the gesture
to move closer to him.
"So now what? Lacroix is going to want you dead." Vachon asked as he
studied his friend. They sat in a dark motel room on the outskirts of
Quebec. It was as far as they could have reached before dawn. "You have a
childe you didn't want and don't love." Screed looked away and shook his
head. "You didn't, did you? Tell me you weren't that stupid"
"No." Screed stood up and walked away. "I wanted ta keep 'er. I could
'ave used the bond ta make 'er mine an' would 'ave been within me rights as
sire. I didn't think o' tha' when I crossed 'er but afterwards it come ter
me an' I were glad she were mine. I looked at 'er layin' on me bed an' it
would 'ave been so easy." He looked at the curtained window.
"Knight would have killed you." Vachon touched Screed on the shoulder.
"You know that."
"Aye. Wouldn' be right neither." Screed looked away. "Her loves Knight
an' I'm nowt ta 'er." His voice was unexpectedly bitter. "Was I wrong ta
cross 'er, V-Man?"
"I don't think you had any other choice." Vachon sighed. "It doesn't mean
it will be easy for either of us at the moment. Natalie is with Nick and I
don't know what Lacroix is doing to Tracy. He won't be pleased that she is
telling him about this." A very wry smile crossed his lips. "His people
tended to have a habit of shooting the messenger." Two pairs of old, pained
eyes met.
"Fruit'll be okay." Screed insisted in a gentle voice. "Her's got t'owd
demon under control. 'E won' 'urt 'er." Lacroix and his interest in
Vachon's fledge were the talk of the community. Most of them thought it
quite amusing.
"No, but to dip your finger in holy water leaves a mark." Vachon sighed.
"He may not hurt her but he does affect her and that worries me." He poured
mescal into two tumblers and topped them up from a bottle of blood, before
mixing the two liquids together. Reaching through his link to his childe he
felt Tracy send warmth and reassurance, burning through the distance between
them. "It worries me." He said again, almost to himself. "I do not know
what will come of this. I love her and fear to lose her."
Screed reached for the tumbler of mescal. "All us can do is 'ope fer best."
Both men savoured the burn of the spirit and the sweetness of the blood as
they sat in the darkened room each lost in his individual thoughts.
Ten minutes later Vachon's mobile rang. He smiled at the sound of it. Only
one person he knew had that particular number. After all she had insisted
that he get one. "Vachon." He said into the telephone. "Querida."
Tracy chucked softly. The sound of his voice assured her and calmed her.
"Vachon. I just wanted to talk to you."
"Problems?" Vachon asked.
"No, should be fine." Tracy smiled at the telephone.
"I am glad." Vachon could hear her pleasure. "Was Lacroix okay?"
"Fine." Tracy sighed. "Hard work though. How Nick managed to spend
centuries with him and not stake him I will never know."
"I think he did, just not hard enough" Vachon said and they chuckled. "He
didn't hurt you or anything?"
"No Vachon." Tracy said. Lacroix unsettled her but he had not harmed her,
or at least not like that.
"Can we come back?" Vachon asked. There was silence.
"No. I don't know." Tracy sighed. "I think everything should be okay, and
Lacroix assures me that all is well and he is resigned to the situation
but I'm not comfortable. I have that feeling that something is wrong. I
don't know what and I don't know why but I trust my instincts."
"Understood." Vachon had not lived as long as he lived by ignoring
instincts. "Let me know how it goes."
"No problem." There was a long pause. "Vachon." Tracy chuckled. "I love
you."
"You too." For a moment the warmth between them was tangible, the bond
between a childe and its sire burnt indestructibly bright, its flame a
warning against the night before the link settled to its usual burn as the
two lovers ended their telephone call.
The End
At least for now...not sure whether I should carry this on. If anyone has
suggestions for where next then let me know.
Notes
1) The title comes from a Gilbert and Sullivan piece "The Yeoman of the
Guard." The operetta is the one tragedy that the pair wrote, and deals with
a singer and a jester who are engaged until the singer falls in love with a
lord. The operetta ends, after many mishaps, with the singer and the lord
walking away while the jester falls dead at her feet with his heart broken.
2) Gilbert and Sullivan composed the Mikado and no infringement of their
copyright is intended. It is a brilliantly written, beautiful piece. The
song that Screed sings "tit-willow" relates the story of a bird, which
drowns itself in a river for love. It is an incredibly stupid yet funny
song.
(
geocities.com/area51/hollow/1228) (
geocities.com/area51/hollow) (
geocities.com/area51)