by Terry S. Bowers

Blair's personal triumph. Nickodemos sensed what the warlock was feeling and focused his concentration even harder, but quickly turned it on Blair, taking him by surprise.

"You betrayed me. You lied."

Blair met his gaze, eyes blazing with power, reflecting red light from no source in the room. Julia, breathing more easily now, tried to reach out to her son, but felt Barnabas' grip on her tighten and pull her back. They knew they could not interfere.

"Of course I did. And you defy me, defy our Master."

"Your Master, not mine."

"Your very nature makes him your Master as well. I caused you to be created for one purpose only. You will follow your nature and do as you must. Destroy the vampire. Destroy the creature responsible for my humiliation in the Master's eyes."

Stare met stare, Blair's eyes growing brighter, the outline shadow of horns on his forehead growing more pronounced. Nickodemos glared back, using his own powers and abilities to counteract the warlock's will. Blair had been his tutor, his mentor, his guide, his confidant and ultimately, his betrayer. Nickodemos was more surprised than hurt or angry; surprised by his own reaction to the truth; surprised he was able to defy his own nature and sacrifice everything for which he'd trained his entire life. Later he would realize it was his dual nature - his human nature - that allowed him to do so, but at that moment, Nickodemos' only thought was to resist the very reason and purpose Blair had brought him to this place.

The insincere smile Blair usually wore turned into an angry, hate filled glare. He grew tired of this. He would not be defeated by Hoffman and Collins again, or by their inferior offspring.

"You will obey."

Each increased their strength of will, and Blair began to smile when he felt Nickodemos weaken. To emphasize his power, Blair took a step forward, hand raised, first finger slightly extended so as to command a channel for his power.

"Destroy the vampire."

Nickodemos turned, facing Barnabas and Julia. He'd never actually destroyed a vampire before, but knew what was supposed to happen; knew that his touch would be as deadly as exposure to sunlight or a wooden stake through the heart.

Concentrating, the dhampir focused all his energy and power, directing it down his arm and into his hand. He reached out to touch Barnabas.

Julia, eyes wide, terrified Nickodemos would kill Barnabas, tried to step between them to protect her husband from her son, but Barnabas' hands on her arms stopped her. She looked up to watch his face. His eyes were fixed on their son, his gaze locked with Nickodemos' gaze. Barnabas' hands on her arms, while firm, were gentle and caring, re-assuring. She glanced at the child she'd not been allowed to know, then closed her eyes and put her head on Barnabas' shoulder, her arms wrapping around his waist. Whatever was to come, she would be with him through it.

Although his gaze was locked with the vampire's gaze, Nickodemos saw the woman try to intervene, then relent. The action caused his own determination to harden. He stepped forward, hand extended to touch - to destroy - the vampire. There was no fear, no anger, no hatred in the vampire's eyes. Only acceptance - of his fate and the role Nickodemos was to play in that fate. Taking a deep breath, the dhampir extended his arm completely, reaching out to touch the vampire, suddenly swinging around to touch the warlock instead, releasing his distinctive power at the moment of contact.

Blair recoiled from the touch, his eyes blazing. Nickodemos didn't know what effect his touch would have on the warlock. It would not kill him as it would a vampire, but it might harm him.

"You betrayed me. You used me."

"And you defy me. For that you will suffer."

Blair raised his hand and stared at the dhampir, causing him to stop where he was.

"It truly is a shame I must destroy you, My Boy. I put a great deal of effort, of planning, of confidence into you. But I suppose I should never have used a Collins for my own purposes. All those of Collins blood are so very unreliable, so very deceitful. Really, quite attractive and qualities I admire in myself, but not in those who serve me. Still, Collins are also very good at turning on their own relations. A pity you have failed me, Nickodemos. For that you will not be around long enough to sample the human life I promised you."

Blair twisted his wrist and Nickodemos gasped in pain, then fell to the floor, pale and struggling for breath. Blair fixed his gaze on Julia and Barnabas.

"Perhaps this is equally fitting, my dear doctor. You were there at his birth, you shall attend his death. And you, Barnabas, we shall meet again."

Blair had stepped closer, wanting to emphasize his victory. He glanced down at Nickodemos with a contemptuous look, then back at Barnabas, who had moved to keep himself between Julia and Blair. The warlock didn't see the movement near the floor and yelped in surprise when he felt an iron grip on his leg, when he looked down again to see Nickodemos' hand wrapped about his ankle, the warlock's power being pulled into the dhampir.

"No!"

Nickodemos smiled, revealing even teeth, the incisors just slightly longer than a human's would be, indicating his dual heritage. Blair tried to pull free, but Nickodemos held fast, continuing to pull what strength and power he could from Blair.

Quite suddenly the dhampir's grasp of Blair was broken when the warlock was engulfed in a bright, glowing light. It had elements of fire light to it, but emitted no heat. Blair's cry of 'No, Master!' echoed in the room just as Blair faded from sight.

Julia dropped to her knees beside Nickodemos, reaching to feel for a pulse, not caring she knew nothing of his physiology. He was her son. She had to help him. Barnabas was beside her, cradling their son's head in his lap. Nickodemos met Julia's gaze, his own questioning.

"Mother?"

"Yes."

"I do not... repulse you?"

"No..."

Julia's voice broke as she bent close to place a kiss on his forehead. She took his hand and squeezed it.

"No, of course not."

"Nicholas said..."

"What he wanted you to hear; what would cause you to do as he wanted, as he needed."

"I... am sorry."

Nickodemos' eyes closed, his breathing becoming more labored. Julia raised imploring, tear filled eyes to Barnabas. They had to do something.

Collins met his wife's eyes, looked down at his son, and made his decision. He didn't know if it would help or not, but he had to try. Reaching for Julia's hand, Barnabas brought her fingers to his mouth and oh so gently allowed his fang to pierce the tip of her middle finger. He drew a little of the blood into himself, to still the mild craving he felt, then raised his head and met Julia's gaze. Turning her hand over, he placed her finger on Nickodemos' lips and squeezed gently. Her human blood, tainted with the vampire cell, flowed into the child who was part of them both. Perhaps he could gain strength from their combined acceptance of each other. Together, they watched and waited.

Still holding Nickodemos' hand, Julia walked beside him as Barnabas carried him upstairs and placed him on the bed in the room Barnabas had occupied as a youth. Collins drew a chair over to the bedside so Julia could sit. He moved behind her, hands on her shoulders, and together they stood vigil over their son. An hour before dawn, Julia became more alert, sitting forward. She felt for a pulse on Nickodemos' neck and laid her hand against his cheek and forehead, then on his chest. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.

"Julia..."

"He's sleeping, Barnabas. I think he'll be all right."

She stood to face him and Barnabas wrapped her in his arms. They stood that way for several long minutes, then Julia pulled back to meet Barnabas' gaze, realizing his breath on her cheek was warm.

"Barnabas?"

She reached up to touch the pulse at his neck, staring into his eyes. He stared back, suddenly aware that he was breathing, his heart was beating, his hands were warm. Turning, Collins crossed the room to stand by the bureau and slowly raised his gaze. He saw himself reflected in the mirror, and smiled widely when Julia stepped up beside him. She too smiled and slipped her arms about his waist, her cheek resting on his shoulder.

"How?"

"Blair, it had to be. When he was... reclaimed by his Master, all his powers and plans were nullified."

"Julia, you think he was responsible for my condition?"

"Yes, probably more than once. He was toying with us, Barnabas, using us to amuse himself until Nickodemos was strong enough to confront you."

Collins had turned to face his wife and nodded his agreement.

"There is likely no other reasonable explanation."

"I'll run some tests later, to be sure. Do you know when it happened, when you changed?"

Barnabas closed his eyes in concentration, then took a deep breath, gazing into Julia's eyes once again.

"I believe it has been a gradual change throughout the course of this night. We have been so concerned about Nickodemos that neither of us noticed the change."

She nodded, knowing Barnabas had still been a vampire when he used his fangs to draw her blood and share it with their son.

"Yes..."

Together they returned to their son's bedside and Julia again checked his breathing, his pulse. She nodded, satisfied he was indeed only sleeping.

"Perhaps you should try to get some rest, Julia. I will sit with him, and call you if there is any change."

Gazing at Nickodemos, Julia finally nodded. She bent close and placed a gentle kiss on her son's forehead, then kissed her husband as well. Barnabas squeezed her hand gently, and watched until Julia left the room. Then he settled into the chair by his son's bed to wait.

Nickodemos woke slowly. When his eyes focused, he realized the vampire was sitting at his bedside. Instinct took over and he reached out to touch the creature, his concentrated energy collecting in his fingertips. He was just about to make contact with the vampire's arm when he heard movement across the room. His gaze darted to where the sound originated and he saw the red-haired woman smiling as she came closer, stopping behind the chair in which the vampire sat. Her hands rested on his shoulders and she bent over to place a kiss on the vampire's cheek, then speak softly to him. His eyes came open and he smiled at Nickodemos.

He did not understand. This was not what he'd been taught about vampires and their human victims. He watched carefully as the woman stepped around the chair, bent over him and smiled at Nickodemos, then touched her fingers to his neck.

"How do you feel?"

"I am... perplexed. Nicholas?"

"Claimed by his Master. He left you for dead. I think the fact he was dealing with a Collins was his ultimate undoing this time."

"Yet, I am not dead?"

"No, I think you'll be fine, although... I have not had any experience caring for a dhampir before now."

"You know what I am?"

"Yes."

"How can you care for me, show compassion when I was brought here to... destroy..."

"To destroy me? We care because you are our child. And because, as you will soon learn, your mother is a very rare, very unique woman."

"I do not understand."

Julia sat on the bed beside Nickodemos and touched his hand, leaning back slightly as Barnabas stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. Nickodemos watched carefully. It was easy to see these two shared a long history. They were comfortable with one another, they trusted one another, they were deeply in love with one another.

"What don't you understand?"

"Everything, the two of you. I was told... You are my human mother?"

"Yes."

"And you, as a vampire, sired me."

"Yes."

"And you could forgive him this atrocity?"

"Nickodemos, there was nothing atrocious or horrible or repulsive about your conception, or about you."

"More lies..."

"From Nicholas Blair, it is to be expected. What did he tell you?"

Nickodemos glanced from his mother to his father. They were genuinely curious.

"He told me... a vampire viciously, cruelly attacked my human mother. He fed from her, then he brutally and repeatedly raped her. When she learned she had conceived, she was unable to face the horror of it. Blair... intervened. He prevented her from killing herself and her unborn child - me. He said he... protected her, kept her from harming herself, cared for her. When I was born, he took me from her. Then he cleared her memory of the terrible events and returned her to her human life. Knowing what I was, he raised me, tutored me, trained me for the destiny I could not deny due to my unique parentage. When I was ready, Blair told me he had located my vampire father. He brought me here to destroy that evil creature. But... I did not find what I had been taught to hate and revile. I found instead... a woman who did not fear the vampire who preyed upon her, but welcomed him into her arms, who loved him. And the vampire was not the evil creature I'd been schooled to destroy, but a being who genuinely loved and respected the woman in return. I could not obliterate that without first learning more, perhaps coming to understand it. Why did Blair lie to me so?"

Barnabas moved to sit in the chair by Julia so he could meet her gaze. He smiled with resignation and looked back at Nickodemos.

"Perhaps... you were his means of exacting his revenge upon us and he was counting on your hatred of the creature he described to you to override anything else you might have sensed from us. Twice in the past your mother and I helped to defeat the plans Blair had, causing him to lose his Master's favor. Forgiveness is definitely not one of Blair's attributes, so when the opportunity for a suitable revenge did not present itself in a timely manner, Blair caused it to happen."

The confusion in Nickodemos' eyes caused Barnabas to continue. He briefly explained how he'd originally come to be cursed, and Julia's part in his cure.

"I had been free of the curse for several years, leading a human existence, when, with no warning, the vampire curse returned - or perhaps was placed upon me again. But it was not like it had been before. This time... intense, overwhelming sexual needs accompanied, almost overshadowed the need for blood. The need to mate was so strong I believed I would die if I did not copulate. Had your mother not... imposed her rather daunting will upon me, the scenario Blair related to you could easily have been the truth. I was prepared to attack and use a perfect stranger, but she would have none of that."

"So, you let him..."

"No, Nickodemos, she had to persuade me to allow her to help. She was protecting me, just as she has always done."

Barnabas gave Julia a loving, grateful smile. She returned it, then looked at Nickodemos again.

"I did not realize I was with child until... well, until we were separated through no choice of our own. I have no clear memory of that time, except a dim, distant sureness that I was indeed protected, cared for, kept safe. It was not to prevent me from doing harm to myself or you, but to be certain that, when you were born, we had no opportunity to know you, love you, guide you. It was only after we were re-united that I came to vaguely realize what had happened and that you had been taken from me only days after your birth. We came to suspect, although we can never prove it, that everything was made to happen for the sole purpose of assuring your conception. Blair would have been content for any human woman to be your mother, but the fact I was made his potential revenge all the more sweet."

Nickodemos nodded, his gaze drifting from one parent to the other, then back. He looked down to stare at the blanket.

"Nickodemos, do not think that you were - or are - unwanted because of the circumstances of your conception or birth. Not a day has gone by that we've not wondered about you, hoped you were well and happy, contemplated the possibility of someday meeting you and coming to know you."

"That is true. In spite of the way we were manipulated, used, it forced me to realize how deeply and truly I love your mother. Circumstances aside, you were - you are - a child of love."

The dhampir met his father's gaze, seeing the truth of his words reflected in his eyes. That truth was mirrored in his mother's eyes as well.

Julia reached out to touch her son's cheek and brush the hair away from his eyes. His bangs behaved just like Barnabas'. She smiled.

"Will you stay with us?"

"I... do not know if I will be allowed to do so. Nicholas may..."

"I somehow doubt Mr. Blair will be making any demands on you -- or us for quite some time."

"Then yes, I would..."

Nickodemos' eyes grew wide as he began to wheeze for breath. Julia stared for a moment, then did what she could, but was unable to help. Their son gasped deeply then lay still. She felt Barnabas' trembling hand reach for her own, and she turned into his embrace.

They held one another tightly, their grief silent. Both knew Blair had his revenge - a form of it anyway. He had not been able to destroy them using their own child, but he had given them a brief hope of coming to know that child, then he'd taken that child - and that hope - away.

Slowly Barnabas released his hold on Julia and eased back to meet her gaze. There were no tears, just an intense, deep sadness that he shared.

"Barnabas?"

Collins took his wife's hand, lacing their fingers together. He looked at Nickodemos' body, then took a deep breath.

"We will... take him to the mausoleum after dark. He never knew his family in life, perhaps in death..."

Julia nodded, understanding what Barnabas meant. She closed her eyes again, taking a deep breath. When she opened them a moment later, she realized something was happening to Nickodemos. It seemed as though his body were being engulfed in bright light. Barnabas noticed it too, and pulled Julia back, away from the bed.

Arms about her, they watched as the light grew brighter. It became so intense they had to close their eyes and turn their heads away.

Slowly the light began to fade. Barnabas and Julia turned their heads back to once again look at Nickodemos. His appearance had been slightly altered. The pale complexion had deepened. His mouth, partially open, revealed incisors of a normal length. Julia took a step forward, but Barnabas held her back. She glanced over her shoulder to assure her husband it was all right, then she hurried to her son's bedside. Her trained medical eye had told her Nickodemos was not lost to them.

Reluctantly Barnabas released his grip on Julia and she hurried to the bedside. She bent over, reaching to feel for a pulse, resting her ear against his chest. He was breathing! His heart was beating. Barnabas joined her by the bed, their gazes meeting briefly, then Barnabas bent close too.

"Nickodemos..."

Barnabas rested a hand on his son's shoulder, and moments later the boy's eyelids fluttered. He took a deep breath, his eyes coming open to see his mother and his father - his parents - anxiously bending over him.

"Nickodemos..."

"I am no longer permitted to use that name, as I am no longer the protege, or the ward, of Nicholas Blair. I am no longer of... a dual nature."

"His failure..."

"Has been reflected upon me as well. I am no longer a person of unusual, supernatural abilities. I am human, and exiled from the realm of Blair's Master. I am not deserving of a place there, and sentenced to life as a human."

Julia had been doing a quick examination of him. His heart rate, breathing rate, and pulse were all those of a healthy human boy, approximately sixteen years of age.

"As far as I'm able to tell, he is human, completely. All the vampire aspects of his physiology are no longer present."

Barnabas nodded, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.

"It seems Mr. Blair's scheme has not been as successful or as satisfying as he'd intended."

The boy looked at Barnabas, his eyes growing wide with sudden realization.

"You are no longer vampire."

"That's correct. The change came gradually in the hours since Blair was... recalled to his Master's side."

His puzzled look caused Barnabas to continue.

"We believe that as Blair's powers were nullified, drained from him, his ability to keep me in a vampire state weakened and eventually vanished, taking the factors that caused me to be a vampire with them. Like you, I am now also fully human."

"I... do not know how to be human, I was never given a chance. My powers and abilities as a dhampir were stressed, and my human traits ignored."

Julia smiled and took her son's hand.

"It really isn't difficult. And we'll be here to help you. That's what parents do."

Their son nodded, then looked at his father.

"May I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"When... did you become a vampire again? How long ago?"

"Four days ago."

"That is the day after Blair told me I was soon to face my first vampire -- my father."

"And to do that, he had to be certain I was again a vampire. It was his intention all along to use you as his means of my ultimate destruction."

Barnabas just shook his head as he finished his sentence. The boy's gaze drifted to Julia.

"But surely he did not believe you too would be destroyed."

"I have never understood how Mr. Blair's mind worked. Whatever his plans for me, as a direct or indirect result of your father's destruction, no longer make any difference. Now,... I think we should let you get some rest."

"May I ask... If you had been given the chance to name me as an infant, what would it have been?"

Julia had risen and now looked at Barnabas. He took her hand and nodded once. She glanced down, then met her son's curious gaze.

"We would have named you Joshua Karl, after each of our fathers."

"They were good men?"

"Yes."

"Very much so."

"May I use those names now?"

"Of course you may, Joshua."

Joshua smiled slowly, liking the sound, and the warmth in his mother's voice when she said it.

"And... may I know your names?"

"I am Julia.

"Barnabas. Collins."

Joshua Karl Collins smiled slowly, and closed his eyes. Barnabas gave Julia's hand a gentle squeeze, then he bent over and placed a light kiss on his son's forehead. Julia did likewise and together they turned, heading for the door.

"Mother, Father... thank you."

"Sleep well, Joshua."

"Sleep well, Son."

The boy snuggled into his bed, a smile on his face. He was going to like being human, and having these people as parents.

His parents stepped into the hall and closed the door behind them.

"He has so much to learn, Barnabas, so much he needs to know and understand."

"We'll help him, Julia. We may have missed his first steps and his first words, but we will be there for him during all the other firsts."

"I know... What will we tell the rest of the family?"

"The truth. That Joshua is our son. He was taken from us at birth for reasons that are no longer important, reasons that no longer exist. The rest of his history is not relevant."

Julia nodded and moved into Barnabas' embrace. He held her closely and placed a loving kiss on the side of her neck, right where the bite marks had been.

"Will he be able to adjust, Barnabas?"

"Yes, given time and love, we can all adjust to most anything. You have taught me that, Julia."

This time he kissed her on the mouth, his love for her clearly evident. Julia returned his kiss, then rested her head on his shoulder.

"Do you think we have seen the last of Nicholas Blair?"

"We can hope so, Julia, but experience has taught us he is a very resourceful, resilient being."

She nodded and met his gaze for a moment, not wanting to dwell on the possibility Blair could re-enter their lives. Instead Julia tightened her arms around Barnabas' waist and willingly walked with him toward their own bedroom. They too needed rest, for they had just become full time parents with an almost sixteen year old son to raise. It would be the most difficult and enjoyable challenge they ever faced.

Joshua Collins heard his parents' voices slowly fade as they moved down the hall, away from his room. He opened his eyes, looking about the room that now belonged to him. A pale, red tinted light was reflected from his eyes as he smiled, touching the tips of his incisors with his tongue.

* * * * *
* * * * *

Terry S. Bowers
October 12, 1998

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