Another Reality

by Olivia Jean Ecklund
Chapter 9

"What is it?" he asked, curious.

"The woman who donated the blood had a child less than a year ago. She lives for that baby. She loves that baby and finds such a joy in raising her." She smiled.

"You can see who donated the blood, feel what they feel?" A feeling of awe washed over him and he shivered.

"Yes, Nick. It's how we live. We see and feel through the blood and for a short time it warms our cold hearts. Freely given donated blood is sometimes bland if it's old, but when its new and fresh it is a wonderful treat."

"Donated" How?" he asked, looking forward to having an answer to that mystery.

"We have blood banks here and there."

"Well, I'll be," he said. "So you don't go out and feed off people anymore"

She studied his face and decided to tell him the truth. "Not often. It has been years since I last took from the source." She smiled seductively and dipped a finger into the mug and stuck the finger into her open mouth. Nick saw her tongue run around her finger licking it off. "Well, not since I tasted your blood the night we met."

He shifted, suddenly too warm.

"Its very intoxicating Nick. You'd have dead bodies everywhere if we didn't follow the rules."

"Rules?" he asked.

"Our society has very strict rules and enforcers who enforce them. No one crosses them for long without regretting it dearly. It's necessary to protect our species."

He sat back, floored, but didn't say anything. He let the information sink In. Finally he asked, "Society" Are there many more?"

"A number of us. We usually don't mix with mortals often. It is too dangerous." "Then why do you do it?"

She leaned forward and touched his hand. Beast eyed her steadily. Nick felt a chill from her hand and forced himself not to draw back. He turned his hand and wrapped his warm fingers around hers.

"I can't live without the warmth of humans anymore. The darkness is overwhelming, Nick. It eats away at your soul. I want mine back, whole again."

"You need to come in for tests soon." He had spoken the words in earnest, anxious to start the study.

Natalie snatched her hand away and jumped up. Her eyes flashed amber. Beast started and rose to his feet and barked at her.

"Test!" she flung the word out like it was a piece a feces. "Tests won't save me. Only you can. Only your blood can!"

He felt the color drain out of his face. "What?" he said, drawing back. "Did you bring me up here to kill me...?" Panic took all rationality from him. "...Take my blood in some belief that it will save you."

He grabbed Beast up and got to his feet. He held the dog's face against his chest so that he couldn't bark anymore. He turned and looked toward the door that led to the stairwell. Could he possibly escape"

"No! Nick," she called after him, as he ran toward the door.

With his other hand he grabbed the crucifix hidden under his shirt. Turning back to her, he yelled, "Stop!"

She came so close and yet there seemed a barrier that stopped her several feet away.

"Please let me explain. Your blood and your love can save me," she begged. Yet his fear was buffeting her and ignited the beast inside her. It was getting away from her control. She was aware suddenly that her eyes were red and her fangs were out. She could smell his blood and she stepped closer.

"Natasha! No!" he cried out.

She drew back, "Go, Nick, Go into the day. I cannot follow you there, Run! You must let me explain!" she called after him as he fled. Nick turned not seeing the blood tears spilling down her face.

He fled for his life, not hearing the pain in her voice. He reached the bottom of the stairs and pressed the emergency release bar and fled into the sun. He pushed back against the door slamming it shut.

Standing in the sun, Nick leaned against the door to Natalie's loft. What had happened? 'What did I say," he said out loud. "We were having such a good time."

He realized he was holding the boy to close and he released his hold a bit giving the dog room to breath. Her words came to him as he had ran out, "You must let me explain...Your blood and your Love..."

She said "love". She hadn't wanted just my blood, she wanted my love too." Now Nick could hear the pain in her voice. "Damn," he cursed himself, "I jumped to conclusions. She wants to love me, too."

He turned and moved toward the buzzer and hit the button. "Natalie," he called into the speaker, "Let me back in!" There was no answer. He tried again. "Let me in, Nat, Please. I'm sorry. Please let me come in." There was no answer. He was getting angry now more at himself than he was at her. "Damn it, Nat! Let me in!"

There was silence and he buzzed the bell again. Finally she answered, "Nick, go home. I need to sleep. We can talk another day." The speaker then went dead.

Nick felt as if a part of him died too. Would they be able to get past This" The fear that he'd had felt must have hurt her so much. He could hear it over and over in his mind now. "Please let me explain," she'd cried after him.

He knew now that he had loved her from the moment he had unzipped that body bag. It had changed his whole life. He would never be the same.

He had to get hold of his emotions. The shock of finding out Vampires were real had shaken the whole core of his reality. If Vampire existed, what else in myth might be out there"

He felt Beast move in his arms. He looked down at his little companion and found Beast was looking at him with his rich brown eyes. Beast licked his hand to comfort him.

"Oh, Lord," he thought. "Why did this happen to me? My life was a bit boring, but I was comfortable, happy in my reality. Now it was all a mess. He looked back up at the silent, sealed building, sighed and headed for the car. He'd send her flowers and apologize when he saw her again. He got into the car and started to drive home.

What must her existence be like? She was strong, hard and obviously a Killer, yet there was a side of her that was soft and gentle and begging to be loved. The side that yearned to have the chance to have children and be a wife.

She made him soft and that was dangerous. He had to be strong for her. To be able to take what she dished out and show her his strengths. He would have to reel in his emotions and keep them in check around her if they were to work together. If they were to be friends.

Nick was so angry with himself for running out. He would have loved to have spent the day with her. How could he change his fear to constructiveness" The woman made him into Jell-O. He was usually not so swayed by his emotions. His work demanded that. He desperately wanted to help her, to love her. She must believe that his love would somehow change her. That made him feel wonderful and horrible. Had he damaged their budding relationship" He sincerely hoped not.

He drove the rest of the way home without much thought. He let the silence of the car sooth him and he reached out to caress Beast's head for comfort.

When he got home he fed Beast and then made a few phone calls before crawling into bed. Beast took his place at the foot of the bed on his own blanket. Nick found it hard to sleep and he tossed and turned and prayed. Finally he drifted into a deep sleep.

Just before sundown his beeper went off as he was fixing breakfast. Another homicide.... He grabbed two pieces of bread and shoved the scrambled egg in between. He made sure Beast had his water and a treat before rushing out the door.

On the drive there as the sun set he wondered if Natalie would come to this crime scene. He was disappointed when she didn't show up. As the night wore on he found he was too busy to give her a call and find out how she was.

A couple hours before dawn, Natalie stood on the steps of the coroners office and debated going in. What could she say to Nick to make him less afraid of her? She believed her very presence had shaken all his beliefs to the roots. She'd hoped she hadn't destroyed in him that which made him her possible soul mate.

Every time she was near him, she wanted nothing more than to run her hands through his beautiful thick blond hair. Feel his lips against hers. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her. The beast inside would not allow her to get too close.

She turned away. "Maybe I should let more time go by. I will call his phone and leave a message."

She went to her car and got her cell phone and dialed his home phone. She got his message, "Nick Lambert, leave a message at the beep."

"That was dull," she said to herself. That man needed her. He was dying of boredom. "Nick," she said in her most sensuous voice. "Forgive me for last night. Thank you for the beautiful flowers. I guess that means you're willing to hear my explanation. You are very special to me. I'll call you in a few nights. I need some down time. "Bye, Nick."

The day after Nick had fled Natalie's apartment a package was delivered to the morgue. Inside Nick found a beautiful 8x10 portrait of Natalie in a fine golden frame. She was dressed is a velvet green dress that was off the shoulder and very low cut. She wore a necklace of emeralds and also matching earrings. Her hair billowed around her in a glorious mane of auburn. Her lipstick was blood red and she appeared to be half reclining. She was raised up on her hands like she was crawling up toward him to draw him down upon that bear skin rug of hers upon which she lay. She was giving him that look that turned his knees to jelly. Nick stared at it then hugged it to him. Chapter 10

Natalie decided that night that she had to go find LaCroix. She had to somehow convince him not to spoil this one. After parking her car in the garage, she went into her place, changed into casual clothes of jeans and T-shirt and a sweatshirt. She flew up through the skylight and out over the city. It wasn't long before she zeroed in on a penthouse atop a posh building.

LaCroix always lived in style. She dropped down on an outdoor patio. A Small, beautifully lit pool glistened in the moonlight. She could see him sitting in a high wingback chair. There was opera music playing and a goblet of blood wine on a small table next to the chair. He had a book in his hands.

He'd always had such a passion for the arts. That's how he'd found her. A woman of the 12 th century trying to be an artist in a mans world. He'd offered to sell her work. She'd had no choice. People just wouldn't accept her work knowing she was a woman. Yet being LaCroix he'd had an ulterior motive. He'd taken her work, selling it to the very rich and pocketed most of the money, barely giving her enough to live on. He was handsome and smooth and dangerous. She'd been attracted to him.

She'd decided she would be his woman. He had her money. As his wife she would live in style. She'd given herself to him willingly. That night she discovered that he was a monster. When she pulled away, trying to escape, he threatened to kill her and her family.

Because she made him rich he only fed on her occasionally. She started to see the power he possessed and she decided if she lived through time and the ages there would be a time she would be able to sell her own work, be recognized for her work. She convinced him to bring her across. He had insisted on a blood sacrifice and she hardened her heart and brought her sister Urs to him. She stood by and watched him drain the life from her beautiful sister and never shed a tear.

He'd taken her that very same night and she'd awakened to the thirst. To endless nights of death and pleasure. She surrendered herself to the vampire and to LaCroix. They'd roamed the world taking what they wanted, reveling in the kill, until one day she had awaken from the feeding frenzy to find a beautiful baby stone cold in her arms. She'd felt an open pit engulf and swallow her and she fought to reach the light again. She hurt so bad. She'd had no feelings for centuries. She realized she still had a soul wounded but there. The atrocities piled on her and she ran leaving LaCroix for the first time. She'd nearly starved to death not, wanting to kill again. She started to feed on criminals, but it only made her soul blacker. She turned to mostly to animals for their blood for a hundred years. She was so weakened when LaCroix found her that she nearly died from the beating. He'd forced her to feed on him. After that her body craved human blood and discovering they bottled it now from donated blood, she was able accept it. Her body got strong again but her soul was dead. She'd allowed him to use her again, giving up on her hope of freedom.

Only her sculpture had kept her sane and LaCroix had become wealthy beyond imagination.

LaCroix stood now. He put his book down and came toward the glass door. She stepped back into the shadows.

He opened the sliding door. "Are you going to stand out here peeping all Night?"

Natasha took a deep breath and came forward. She side-stepped past him and into the warm glow of the lighted room.

He laughed at her. "It's a bit late in our relationship to be so timid with me. I know you so well." He leered at her. "My dear, WE know each other so well."

"I know you're a monster!" she hissed at him.

He stepped closer to her and grabbed her wrist. His nails bit into her arm and her blood ran in thin rivers down the pale flesh. He brought her arm closer and his cool pale tongue lapped up the small blood offering. "You used to revel in this monster," he said.

The wounds had healed. He dropped her arm disgustedly. "You fancy yourself in love with that weak, spineless doctor. Will you never learn? I've put up with this - whatever is is - for '50 years now."

He reached out, grabbed her and pulled her against him. "You are mine and you always will be." He thrust her neck aside with the other hand and buried his fangs into her neck. Involuntarily her body arched against him, no matter how much she hated him. A daughter could only find extreme pleasure in the close connection with her master. No matter what she thought of him, no other blood made her feel so filled as that of her master's blood kiss.

She felt compelled to bit him back, unable to reach his neck she pulled the robe away from his shoulder and plunged her fangs in. She knew that his blood would calm the vampire more than any other and she would have more control around Nick.

She felt him press against her as he released her with a sigh of pleasure. She was trembling as he released her. He'd been so intent on the blood and the fact that she'd been willing to complete the circle that he'd not read many of her thoughts. He was reveling in the fact that he still pleasured her.

"You see, you do still find pleasure with me." He kissed her, his tongue demanding entrance into her mouth.

She pulled away and stumbled back, "Lucien, why can't you let me go? Find another who really wants your love. I cannot deny your blood fills me as no other, but that's our nature. It is inherent in our relationship. It has little emotional satisfaction for me."

He came close. "Wouldn't your life be simpler if you could still love me?"

She could see real hope in his face. "Perhaps simpler, but I need to caress warmth. I need this man, LaCroix. Forty-five, fifty years to you is a blink of an eye. Let me have this one. I promise you if this one rejects me, I will never ask again."

His eyes became piercingly blue and she felt him touch the promise in her mind. "So be it," he said. He had touched upon the incident with Nick and saw how he'd fled her vampire visage. Perhaps this spineless human would not be able to adjust to what she was. In that case she would be back soon, and if the mortal did stay with her, it would only be as she said...45-50 years or less. He could wait.

"If he does reject you, you must come to me forever. I also make the same request after this one dies. That is my terms."

His words chilled Natasha to the bone. Nick had sent her flowers and he had begged to return to the loft the minute he'd fled into the sun. If she refused LaCroix this request she knew despite any promises he might give he would never let Nick live long enough for her to find out if he was the one. In her heart she felt he was. It was worth the gamble.

She looked her master in the eye, "All right. If he rejects me, then I will come to you forever."

LaCroix thought, then said, "I will destroy him for all eternity, agreed?" She took a deep breath, "Agreed."

She tried to move past him to leave but he was fast and grabbed her wrist and placed cold lips on it. She forced a smile then fled through the open glass doors and took to the air.

His terrible laugh rang in her ears.

Natasha stayed away for two more nights with hope that she would be more in control of the vampire. LaCroix's blood had pacified the vampire in her. That third night she wasn't called to any crime scenes that required a coroner, so when she was off duty she headed for the coroners office. She parked and then went up the steps and into Nick's lab. He was there just putting his coat on.

"Nick," she said softly.

He turned and saw her, smiling as he came forward.

It relived her fears and she reached out for him when he did for her. He held her hand gently. "Natasha," he said. "It's really good to see you." He leaned forward and kissed her. Then he let his cheek linger against her's for a moment before drawing back. "I'm sorry. It was foolish to run."

She reached up with her cool fingers to caress his face. He turned his face to kiss the tips of her fingers. "I understand," she said, pleased with his boldness.

"Can we walk a bit?" she asked. "Its a beautiful clear night."

Nick nodded looking forward to spending time with her. They left the building arm in arm and walked through the lighted city streets in silence.

Natalie took pleasure in the warmth that radiated from him. It warmed her fingers in the crook of his arm.

Finally he asked, "What did I say the other night that made the vampire so angry?"

She looked a bit embarrassed. "The vampire. It's afraid of tests. I've had so many that included blood letting, electric therapy, leeches... many things to horrible to talk about. I've taken potions, read spells, and tried so many magical type things they would make your eyebrows curl." Nick smiled at that, then sobered. "It must have been horrible. Medicine is still so primitive, yet it's much more advanced than a century ago."

Natalie shuddered thinking about it. "When I finally left LaCroix it was the first time I sought out legends and magical type cures. Nothing worked and a few times LaCroix beat me to the item of my search and destroyed it. It makes me believe that those things would have worked and he must have believed it would or he wouldn't have troubled himself."

Nick moved his arm from her hand to slip it around her shoulders and drew her close. "Explain to me about the blood. What were you trying to say when I bolted like a scared rabbit?"

They came to a small street park and Nick led her to a bench. When they sat down, he still held her close. She was silent for a bit trying to find the words. Nick waited for her. He studied her beautiful face in the moon light. He wanted nothing more than to pull her close and kiss her till she gasped for breath. Hummm... he corrected himself, he would do the gasping not her.

She took his warm hand in her cold ones and began to speak, softly, slowly." About 50 years ago I came across an ancient text. It stated that a vampire could be human again if they found their one true love. Their soul mate."

"Really?" he said carefully, with interest. "..and the blood?"

"We would have to make love and I would have to feed from you on numerous occasions." She looked deep into his eyes for his feelings.

"That doesn't sound to unpleasant," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

She took a deep breath. "It's a bit trickier than that, Nick. I have thought I've found the man before. They have all died in my arms."

"What!" he gasped. His fingers tightened on her painfully.

"The blood is intoxicating. It is almost impossible to stop once you start. If it's someone you love, it is like the sweetest nectar..."

"Then how would it be possible?" he asked, trying to keep his fear bottled in.

"The text did mention that if that if the partner is truly your soul mate found across the ages of time, you will want to preserve that person and you will know when to stop. It will be that person's protection you want more than the blood. In time I would need to feed less and less and I would become a woman able to bare children, and love you with out endangering you."

"You think I could be your soul mate. Why?" His voice was strong, but he felt the panic well upon him. With effort he was able to push it down inside of him.

"You saw what I was that night we met and you still came forward and reached out to touch me. That touch filled me with such warmth. I felt the vampire shrink back even though it was ravenous, Nick. It gave me the advantage and I was able to look for an alternative source of blood in your lab to feed on instead of you. You do not know what danger you were in that night. Something changed inside me then. I think I still have a soul. I've not felt it so strongly in hundreds of years.

"Nick, I know this is a lot to take in. This can't happen for me unless you can love me with all your heart and soul. Do you think that is possible?"

"It is a lot to think about. I do know the moment I saw you, even though I thought you dead, I believed you had been something very special. I would have to love the vampire wouldn't I?"

"Yes," she said looking away. " That's the hardest part. Love can Destroy it, Nick. Your love can make it vanish. We could have a life together. If you truly love me and the vampire, you will lose part of what you love. Its a sacrifice for both of us."

"The reward?" he asked.

"It's living in the sun, of course. Maybe marriage and children. Growing old together and not being forced to live in the endless nights," she said.

Nick saw something he'd not seen before - a deep sadness so profound he felt tears in his eyes. He drew her close and she laid her check against his chest.

"I would like very much to get to know you, Natasha. Let's see if what I feel will grow into that all consuming love you need."

She drew back and searched his eyes in the dim moonlight. "Really, Nick? You'll try?" He cupped her cheek with his hand. "Oh, yes."

He leaned and kissed her. When he drew back he saw a bit of amber flash in her eyes. Instead of pulling back, Nick stood and drew her to her feet. He placed his arm around her waist turned back toward the direction their cars were parked.

Nick got home at dawn. Beast met him, wiggling and doing his strange little excited gurgle/wine he did when Nick was gone longer than usual. Nick loved the sound almost like a purr. He gathered the little dog up and took him outside for a short walk and watched the sunrise. He watched the colors of orange, yellow, reds, blues and pinks. He found he had tears on his cheeks thinking of Natasha unable to see this beauty and feel the warmth caress her face. She was holed up in that huge warehouse alone with her pain.

"Lord," he prayed. "If this is what I was created to be... Give me the strength to face the monster in her and destroy it." End Chapter 10


By Jeannie Ecklund Gersknightlady@cs.com





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