General Information: LOVERS, FRIENDS, AND MASTER!
by Sue Whitehorn
This is another idea of what could have happened to Daniel, the boy Nick and Janette took in has sort of an adopted son,for a short period of time during war torn 1940's London. No other references are needed.
This story is darker and deeper than Old Friends! It's also shorter, I think!
The Characters of Nick, Janette, and Lacroix belong to James Parriott and Tri-Star.
Again, please let me know what you think of the story.
Enjoy!
The Loft:Nick came into the loft, weary and tired. He walked over to the refrigerator as usual and opened the door. Reaching in, he grabbed a green bottle and shut the door. Pulling the cork out he put the bottle to his lips and took a big gulp. Then he walked slowly over to the couch, and threw his jacket down. Slumping down on the couch, he looked around. Empty! His loft was always empty. Every night he came home to no one. It dawned on Nick just exactly how lonely he was. He had no one to share his life with. Oh, sure Lacroix was always around to make his life miserable, and interesting at times, but no one he could truly share his thoughts, interests, loves, and hates with. His thoughts drifted to Natalie Lambert, and he thought about how much they had shared in the last six years. But Nick knew that no matter how much he cared for her, Natalie and Nick could never be together. If he got too close, either Lacroix would kill her, or he would! So, as much as he cared for Nat, they would never be a couple. He had to face the fact too, that there just was no cure for his "condition". A vampire, he had chosen to be, and that is what he was going to remain. Despite all his yearnings for human life, it would never be his. Nick was brought out of his thoughts by a sudden vibration. Looking up, he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever known. There she stood, at the stop of the stairs, her dark hair soft, and flowing down around her shoulders. She was wearing a beautiful red velvet gown with a soft purple cape around it. She smiled down at Nick, and as if reading his thoughts, she said,
"Seulement encore, Nicola?"
Nick stood up and smiled at that beautiful woman. "Pas plus, maintenant que vous etes ici!" He reached out his arms to beckon her to him. Janette glided down gently to Nick's waiting arms and they embraced. It had been a long time since Nick had held Janette. She felt so good next to him. He bent down and gently kissed her on those full, soft lips. She smelled of Jasmine and tasted of honey wine.
Janette broke from his kiss and looked with sadness at Nicholas. "Mon amour, faible. Do you not see where your quest has led you? Vous etes un vampire! You can never become human again. These mortals we come in contact with are weak souls. The lives we live while we are in their world are merely fantasies. We play with them for our amusement. You must forget this idea to regain your mortaility and come back to the world where you will be at peace." Janette watched the pained look on Nicholas' face and decided that now was the time to press the issue. "Svp, mon Nichola! Reviennent a moi! Come back to those who really care about you! Revenu a votre sorte!"
Nick moved away a little from Janette and took a deep breath. He knew in his heart that she was truly right. He would never be happy among these mortals. As much as he cared for them, they always caused problems for him, or he, for them. And when he did get close, they were taken from him, as Tracy, Schanke, and Cohen had been not so long ago. If he didn't leave soon, Natalie would be the next to go and he knew it. He turned back to Janette and smiled. Then he took another long breath and said,
"Vous avez raison, Janette! I can never be happy with these mortals. Their world beckoned me, but it is not the world that will be a place of joy for me either. I was foolish to try and think that I would ever be happy in their world. I should've known that from the beginning. I chose to be a vampire and this is the life I must now live. It is what I am." He paused for a moment and then said, "But I will not kill, Janette. That is one thing I could never go back to again."
Janette walked over to him and put her hand on his face. "Je vous comprends, Nicola. For I will not kill, now. I too, understand how you feel when it comes to "draining the mortals to death." I regained my mortality for a brief period of time and I remembered what it was that humans value about that life. It is so precious and fragile, and we become monsters when we take advantage of that frailty." And then Janette kissed Nick on the cheek and finished with, "I was angry for a short time when you brought me back. I did not want to return to that world of darkness. But I understand now, why you did. We share each other's soul, mon amour. And I know that to let me die would have torn your heart apart! I forgive you and thank you. Welcome back, mon Maitre!"
Nick's somber expression took on a look of sheer joy. He hugged Janette and felt much better, now that she was not angry for his decision to bring her back across. He had his love again. And no one in this world, or any other was ever going to take her away from him again. "I will rejoin the vampire community again, but I do make one request of you, mon cher!"
Janette pulled slightly away and looked at Nick with a puzzled look. "Et c'est?"
"Que vous cessez de m'appeler principal! (that you stop calling me master) I could never be someone who ordered you what to do, mon amour! Convenu?" Nick said with a wide grin.
Janette's frown suddenly burst into a wide smile and she nodded, "Convenu, Nicola!"
Suddenly there was a woosh of air above the embracing couple and Nick and Janette looked up. There, above them with his face pressed against the glass was someone Janette and Nick hadn't seen for a very long time. He grinned widely, then opening the glass, he glided down to the floor in front of them.
"Daniel!" Janette said in amazement.
Daniel walked over to Janette and taking her hand in his he said, "Bonsoir! Etva-t-elle comment ma belle, dame?" winking at Nick who was very impressed that Daniel spoke Français.
Janette's eyebrows went up and she was stunned. "Merci!" And then Janette could not contain herself any longer. "Daniel, how are you? Where have you been? What have you been doing?" She let go with a whole slew of questions.
"Janette, give him a chance to speak, mon amour!" Nick said, as he shook Daniel's hand. He too, was surprised to see him. "Daniel, you look well."
"That I am, Nicky 'ole boy. That I am." And then turning back to Janette, he said, "Got any refreshments for a lad, Milady?"
Janette looked at Nick who nodded, as Lacroix had brought over several cases of what he called, "fine vintage Human blood", as he did not like Nick's cuisine in the slightest. Janette went to the refrigerator and brought out one of those bottles and handed it to Daniel. Then she and Nick sat down together on the couch, while Daniel plopped down in the large leather chair facing them.
"I really am surprised to see you, Daniel." Nick said after a few minutes. "I. . ." then he looked at Janette and knew that she thought the same as he and Nick continued, "We thought the Enforcers had gotten to you after Lacroix informed them of the appearance of a "boy vampire" in the London area."
Daniel wiped his mouth on his sleeve and grinned at the couple on the couch. "Yeah, I knew Lacroix would turn me in som'ow. He really is a crafy fellow, ain't he? Always causin' trouble fer others." Daniel took another drink from the bottle and then continued. "I got wind of what Lacroix was plannin' and found me a good place to 'ide in the country! Nice, cold, dark, cave near a Sussex village. Stayed there for quite awhile. Never went out 'cept to get food. What I could get was from animals. But blood is blood. Don't matter where it comes from. Ain't that right?"
Nick and Janette nodded in agreement. When you are starving, even pig blood is better than no food at all! Daniel took another drink and then went on with his tale. "Stayed in the cave for a long time. Made no contact with any people. Took what food I could and laid low. Soon, I ventured out to a small village near Sussex and found out you 'ad gone. Made me sad it did. I really liked the two of you. But I 'eard 'at Lacroix had gone too, and I knew I was free!"
"But, Daniel. That was only a few months time. It has been years and you still have escaped the Enforcers and Lacroix! How did you manage that?" Nick said, almost envious of this enterprising young scoundrel.
"You forget, matey that I was good at that when you met me. 'member in London, when I stole Milady's purse and took off? Would've gotten away ifin you 'adn't been a vampire! Not fair, that wasn't!"
With this, Nick smiled. He realized that this was indeed a true scoundrel, who was very resourceful!
Daniel looked at both of them and again smiled and said, "As fer the Enforcer people, I soon found out that if you wanna survive, you use your wits, and you stay away from large cities and villages. Do nuthin to attract attention to yerself! And as fer Lacroix, he was always interested in you Nicky, 'ole boy. So it was no problem to stay away from him" Then Daniel stopped and appeared to be deep in thought.
Janette broke into Daniel's thoughts and said, "But you came here, Daniel. Why? Toronto is a very large city and there are a lot of Community Members here. Some are ruthless and would give nothing more than to turn you in. Lacroix is also here and probably has sensed you by now. Why did you risk all that?"
Daniel looked up at Nick and Janette with sad eyes. "Just wanted to see the two of you again. You were so good to me, when I was 'uman. I grew to love both of ya. Got lonely, and wanted to be with someone. Wanted to see both of ya again. So, thought I'd take me chances."
Nick looked at Daniel and felt the pang of guilt and sorrow. This young boy had been snatched away from his parents when he was quite young. He had learned to survive on the street for quite some time and then was captured by Nick when he tried to steal Janette's purse. His life had been radically changed after that and it was not Daniel's fault. He was brought across at the age of 11. And his body would never be any older. He would always look like an 11 year old, even if his mind was that of someone who was 500. And he was a threat to the Community. One his age was never to be brought across, because of that reason, they could not fend on their own. Daniel was just lucky that he was so resourceful. And smart!
Janette too, could sense what Nick was feeling and she too felt some guilt. After all, she was the one who had convinced Nick to take the boy home and feed him and then to keep him as their own. They had both grown fond of this lad. He was cheeky, but they had started to educate him, and he had blossomed almost over night. They knew that Lacroix was jealous of all their attention to the boy and they knew it was only a matter of time before Lacroix did something to shatter their lives. Lacroix! This was all his fault, as usual.
"Daniel, I am so sorry that this happened to you. I find it totally amazing that you have survived all this time." Nick said as he looked with sorrow at the young vampire sitting in tht big leather chair. "I wish there was something we could do for you, I really do. But you put us all at risk by your very presence."
"I wish there was something we could do for you as well," Janette said with regret, but then in a firm voice she said, "But, I must agree with Nicola. You are taking a big risk being here. It is not that we aren't glad to see you, and we both want to help you, but if you are found out, you will be destroyed. If Lacroix doesn't find you, the Enforcers will. You are not in the country now."
Daniel looked at both of them with tears in his eyes. "But I really wanted to stay with the two of you. Please! It's lonely when you are by yourself! I'm tired of living in caves and shacks. I'm tired of always having to hide out, so no one knows who or where I am. No one cares about me. 'Cept the two of you. I'm tired of this damn curse Lacroix placed on me." And then he looked directly at Nick and said sobbing, "And I had heard that you were searching for a cure, Nicky. If you 'aven't found it, perhaps I can help! Please, don't shut me out!"
Janette went over to Daniel and hugged him and then she said in a very soft voice, "We will help you, Daniel. Somehow, we will help you." And then she released him and looked into his brown eyes and said, "And one more thing, Daniel. There is no cure for vampirism!"
Daniel looked at Nick with surprise and was about to say something, but Nick cut him off.
"Janette is right, Daniel. There is no cure for this curse! I have spent over 100 years trying to find a cure, but there is none! I have gone through a lot of pain and suffering to find out what Janette told me a long time ago was true. But we will help you any way we can. Of that I can promise you." And Nick walked over to the refrigerator for another bottle. He suddenly turned back around and said, "We'll contact Aristotle, and see if he can arrange anything for us. Perhaps we can relocate together. As a family! What do you say, Janette?"
Janette went to Nick and put her arms around his neck. "Oui, Nicola! It is settled then! I will contact Aristotle tomorrow."
Daniel grinned and nodded his head. "Seems we are gonna be a family, eh matey?"
"Yes, Daniel, it is settled. Tomorrow, Janette will contact Aristotle and soon we will be out of here, together, as a family." Nick replied.
"I think you should truly reconsider that Nicholas!" a voice said from the upper floor of the loft.
"Lacroix!" Nick said with a shocked look on his face. And not just Lacroix, but two men dressed in suits and with a powerful aura surrounding them. Enforcers!
Janette motioned for Daniel to come to them. All three stood together, Nick, Janette and Daniel, arms wrapped around each other as if to form a fortress against the enemy.
"Nicholas," Lacroix began, "The time has come to end the problems began over 50 years ago. This "boy vampire" is a threat to the Community. He can not fend for himself, and eventually will make our presence known to the mortal world. He must be done away with. It is the only merciful thing to do. It will end his suffering," and Lacroix did something very unlike his nature, he bowed his head and admitted, "and mine."
"No, Lacroix. This boy did not have a choice. You took that from him! You made him a vampire against our wishes to satisfy your own whims. We only wanted to care for him" Janette said in anger. She could not believe that Lacroix had contacted the Enforcers. But, he was always a man who did exactly what he wanted and to hell with other's feelings. And the crueler he could be, the better for him.
"We are vampires, Janette. We must protect our kind. This "boy vampire" will only be a threat to the Community. He will be found out." and Lacroix added with a little venom in his voice, "You are still my child, Janette and you will obey me." <How dare this woman, I saved from slavery to men reprimand me, the master? Have I not paid the price for my little indulgence?>
"N'interrogez pas mon loyality, Lacroix!" (do not question my loyalty), Janette said, her voice rising to an almost shrill.
But a growl from one of the Enforcers caused her to stop and she became quiet. Nick had not said anything. He appeared to be totally afraid of his master. And, Daniel who had then turned to Nick for help began to fear for his own life.
He thought to run, but suddenly Nick rose in the air and came very close to Lacroix and the Enforcers. "You sicken me, Lacroix. You bring Daniel across for a lark and then when you see the danger, you go straight to the Enforcers to have them straighten out your little mess." And then, Nick looked to the Enforcers and with pleading in his voice he said, "Please, listen to me. Janette and I can take care of Daniel. We can watch over him and protect him from mortals. He will not be discovered from the human world if he has adults to be around. Please, I beg of you. Do not take his life because of a mistake made by my master."
One of the Enforcers looked at Nick and then at Lacroix and then said, "Lucien has paid the price of his indulgence, Nicholas de Brabant. He has been stripped of some of his strength and power. But this boy will be the downfall of the vampires. He must be done away with, and NOW!"
And with that the Enforcer grabbed Nick and prevented him from moving. Janette looked up in horror and knew that the fate of Daniel had already been decided. She tried one more time to move to help Daniel, but the other Enforcer struck her across the face and she was thrown across the room. Then the Enforcer seized Daniel and threw him up against the loft door. Taking out a large wooden stake from the bag on his shoulder he shoved the stake into Daniel's chest. Daniel screamed and began to writhe against the door, where he was pinned. He struggled for a short time as Janette and Nick watched in horror, unable to come to his aid. And then Daniel began to stop struggling. He weakly looked at Nick and then to Janette and said in a soft weak voice, "Goodbye, Mateys." And Daniel slumped over, his body slowly beginning to crumble to dust. Within a few minutes all that was left of the 'boy vampire" was a pile of ashes on the floor.
The Enforcers looked around for any evidence of Daniel's existence, and once satisfied, they left in a sudden woosh of air. Janette walked over to where the ashes of Daniel lay on the loft floor and Nick flew down to where she was. Janette grabbed onto Nick and began to sob in his arms. Lacroix walked down the stairs toward the couple he once called, "his children" with a sad expression. He put his hand on Nick's shoulder, but Nick shrugged him away. "I am sorry, Nicholas, Janette. But this had to be done. It was for the best, and I realize that I made a mistake. But I did it for my children's safety and hap. . . "
Nick let go of Janette and faced Lacroix. "Vous m'irritez, Lacroix. Vous avez demande trop. Je vous detesterai toujours! Leave me and my daughter to our destiny!"
And with that, Nick and Janette gathered up the ashes of Daniel, placing them in a small urn, and as Lacroix watched, flew up into the early morning sky.
It was almost dawn when Nick and Janette had come to a house Nick rented just outside of Toronto. There, they landed and went inside. They took the jar of Daniel's ashes and placed it on the mantle above the fireplace. Janette was still sobbing uncontrollably. "Poor Daniel! Oh, Nicola, mon amour! Our would-be son!"
And Nicholas could only hold onto his love and grieve with her. For he, too, would miss the young, cheeky lad they almost were able to have as an adopted son. Once again Lacroix had interferred. But this would be the last. Nicholas comforted Janette as best he could, and when she had calmed down, he told her that they would still go to Aristotle and find a place to live, far away from Lacroix. Perhaps in Paris. It would not be as easy for him to come to them and demand they do as he said, since the Enforcers had stripped some of his power and strength. And if he found out where they were, they would just move on again. Nick would never live near his old master again. And he would never again call that old vampire by the name he used to love, because he did not deserve what the name implied. He would never again call Lacroix, "Father".
Finis
"The world is a stage, and we are merely players!"-Sue
Dk Knight/IB/Dk Trinity
suwwhit@ccp.com