LET ME LOVE YOU ONE MORE TIME

by Sue Whitehorn

Time: Approximately 1795

Place: Territory of Massachusettes, Large Mansion outside the community of what will be later called Bangor

Nick was pacing again! Back and forth from one end of the room to the other. He was restless and bored. Even Lacroix, sitting in the large sofa chair was becoming annoyed at this constant movement. Looking up from his book he stared at Nick then said in a rather irritated tone,

"Land somewhere Nicholas, or find solace outside in the evening!"

"I can not Lacroix! I must do something. But I know that to go out now, so soon after the recent "kills" would bring soldiers to our door! So you tell me, Master! What am I to do. sir?" Nick said as he looked peevishly at Lucien Lacroix, vampire master and father to the maturing fledgling.

"I am reading a very good book, Nicholas, and I do not wish to banter back and forth with you on the subject of entertainment at the moment. But, I say again, sit down and find something to do, or else go outside and leave me in peace!" Lacroix said, with a finality in his voice. And Nick knew that to provoke him further would mean certain punishment!

So, he took Lacroix's advice and left. That is how it all began. When Nick stepped off the pillar braced entrance, he looked about once, briefly, and took to the air. As he moved slightly above the tops of the trees he finally felt the freedom at that particular moment, he desperately needed! He had been traveling with Lacroix for several centuries. And to be perfectly honest, he was bored and tired of Lacroix's company. Something always happened to him, when he traveled with his "master" that caused him to feel anger and hatred for his maker. Lacroix would not let Nick run very far from him before dragging (literally at times) him back to his master's side. Why would Lacroix not let him be free?

Nick continued to fly along with the wind in his face and tried to formulate a plan on how he could "successfully" escape Lacroix. Although in his mind, he knew this was impossible. Still, there must be someway he could get free! Nick landed on the top of a large hill that overlook the village of New Massachusettes. He could hear people laughing and playing at the local tavern and babies wailing in the night demanding attention from their sleepy parents. As Nick took in all these sights and sounds he suddenly straightened up. He knew someone was near, as he could feel energy flow through him more powerful then the strike of a bolt of lightning!

Nick wheeled around immediately, and saw a figure coming towards him slowly. It was a woman, tall, slender and with long flowing hair. Suddenly, he recognized the signature of that aura. It was someone he had not seen in a long time! A very long time.

"Bonjour, Nicola! I knew if I followed the very intense energy heading away from Lacroix, I would find you." The caped figure spoke in soft sensual tones.

"Janette! I ne peut pas croire que je vous vraiment. (I can not believe that I am really seeing you.)" Nick said as he walked slowly towards his "former love". "It is good to see you again." he said, as he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

"I aussi, suis-satisfait pour vous coir aussi bien mon Nicola, (I, too am pleased to see you as well, my Nicola!)" Janette said as she gazed deeply into those piercing and yet beautiful blue eyes. For some time, they stood there, just staring at each other, taking in the image of the other and keeping their thoughts to themselves.

Finally, after some time had gone by, Nick spoke, "Janette, where have you been for the last 100 years?"

Janette looked at Nick and then walked past him to the edge of the hill. She looked down at the village and watched the drunken men as they left the tavern heading for their homes. Then she said sadly, "Qu'il ne le change jamais, fait, mon ami? (It never changes, does it, my friend?) The men go to the tavern, or whore house and seek comfort from their sorrows in the company of the poor wenches that keep the inns, and then discard them during the light of day!"

Nick walked over to where Janette was standing and looked down at the village as well. He knew exactly how Janette felt about her existence before she escaped that life at the hand of their master, Lacroix. He nodded his head in agreement to Janette and said, "Yes, it is true. Nothing ever does change. Even when we become immortal, we still must live in secret, never mix with mortals, and follow another master!"

There was a great deal of bitterness in both of their voices, and it suddenly became clear to Nick that there must be a very big reason why Janette chose to return to her master. Janette felt about Lacroix, much the same way Nick did. Oh, she did care for him as Nick did, which actually meant that they dearly loved him. But Lacroix, in his own way, always managed to alienate both his "children from his side" by constantly forcing his "will" on them. Yet, somehow, Janette managed to slip away from Lacroix, from time to time, only to be drawn back to his circle. As if, he were the flame, and she were the moth, who was still, so attracted to the flame that she couldn't draw herself away from it for long.

Finally, Nick turned to Janette and said, "Why are you here, Janette? Have you caused some kind of trouble somewhere and were forced to move on? Or have you missed the company of Lacroix?"

Janette moved closer to Nick and then, pulling her hood down from her head and face, and letting her long hair fall across her bare shoulders, she moved a gloved hand towards his face and began to caress his cheek. At first Nick allowed this most tender touch, and then shrugged her hand away, moving back away from her. Janette could see the hurt in his face, and she began to wonder if she would regret her decision.

"I am sure that Lacroix is waiting to see you, Janette. It would be wise of you not to disappoint him!" Nick said in a gruff voice.

Janette looked at Nicholas with a mist forming in her eyes. Then she lowered her head and said softly, "I did not come back to see, Lacroix! I came back to see you, Nichola!"

"Why? To tell me of some new adventure you have found with the young men of Paris? Or, perhaps you have met a new painter who is just as skilled, and just as much in need of sex as Da Vinci?" Nick replied with a lot of venom in his voice, and then added with just as much poison, "Mais, naturellement, mon cher! (But, of course my dear!) You have met a writer who is just as skilled as "Will Shakespeare?"

Janette began to become angry herself. "Do not chide me, Nicola! I said I came back to see you. I do not want to tell you of any of my adventures, for they were merely sands in the hour-glass of time. Why do you make it so difficult for me?"

"You were the one who left, Janette. I did not want you to leave, and I tried my best to make you stay, but you chose to leave! And you did not leave once, but three times! Nick said and then began to slowly walk to the clump of trees behind the hill. "When we were in Rome, I was happier than I had ever been! I thought that you were happy too! But apparently, I was wrong!"

Janette now knew just how hurt Nick was. She had stabbed him deeply, and was not sure if she could redeem herself with him. But she walked bravely toward him and touching his shoulder gingerly she said, "I told you that I came back to see you and I meant that, Nicola! If you choose not to accept me, then so be it. But, at least give me a chance to tell you why!"

Nick was beginning to soften in his manner toward Janette. How could he stay angry at this woman who had so captivated his heart over 400 years before? He loved Janette with his whole being, and yet she had left him! She had made it clear that she loved him, but that vampires got "bored" and had to move on. It was their way. And now he began to think of what he had done earlier in the evening. He and Lacroix had gotten into a terrible argument in the tavern and almost alerted the whole building as to who and what they were. Then, when they had returned home, Lacroix had given Nicholas the silent treatment. One of his favorite tricks to get Nick to apologize and follow whatever Lacroix wanted. Nick had been so irritated at his master, that he was trying to find a way to get free! Is this any different, than what Janette had done to him?

Janette turned Nick around and placing her hands on his chest, began to speak to him in a soft, but ernest voice. "No one ever cared for me as much as you did, my brave knight. From the very first night, you always let me know how much I meant to you, and how you would do whatever you could to please me. To make my life as happy as you could possibly make it. I did not know that there were people like you. People who truly cared for others before themselves. I felt trapped and scared of this new found kind of "love". I did not know what to do, except escape and run away to keep my "freedom"! Much as you were planning to do tonight, with Lacroix!"

At this last comment, Nick raised an eyebrow. He knew that Janette could always guess what he was up to, before he even acted. He wasn't sure how she was able to do this. The only way he ever knew what she was thinking or planning was when he shared her blood. And that thought sent shivers down his spine, shivers of delight. Oh, how he wanted to pull her close to him, and kiss her, caress her, make love to her, and drink her blood. But he calmed himself inwardly, and pretended to appear very uncaring as to what she was saying to him.

Janette looked at Nick for any signs of disfavor, or acceptance, but she wasn't sure that she was getting through to him. She knew that he still loved her. She knew in her heart that he would never stop loving her, nor she him. But was he willing to take her back again?

"It is true, mon cher. I did meet a young man in Paris. He was not a painter as da Vinci, but a musician. He played the lute. And I was fascinated with him." Janette continued. Nick was now listening, wondering where this was going. He really did want Janette, but there was a barrier between them now, and it was not going to be easy to break that barrier down! Or, at least that is what he thought!

"Each time I heard Petrie play, I would see you! I would remember how much you loved music. How good you were with any musical instrument. And how you marveled at the great composers that we would hear on our travels. And I remembered how much you meant to me. How much I cared for you, and love you!" Janette stopped as Nick had slowly gotten closer to her and was now grasping her hands and looking deeply into her blue eyes.

"Why, Janette?" Nick said softly, still looking into those now misty eyes.

"Oh, Nicola! 'I never meant to hurt you, didn't mean to do you wrong. I guess I never learned to cherish love, 'til it was gone' Janette sighed and Nick put his arms around Janette and she leaned her head on his chest. She sobbed into his chest, "'And bringing back these memories, I realized I need you! Could you ever come back to me?'"

Nick put his finger under Janette's chin and pulled her face up to meet his. He smiled and then bent down and gently kissed her on the lips. A soft, gentle kiss that told so much, (without the taking of the blood), to one who was in love. When they broke from the kiss, Janette looked into Nick's eyes and said, "'Let me love you, one more time. Ome more chance to make it right. I didn't know 'til I saw you, we've been apart for much too long, How my heart still beats for you, oh my love is growing strong.' Svp, Nicola, me pardonnent, (Please, Nicola, forgive me) and let me show you how much I truly need you!"

Nick smiled at Janette, and bending down, her picked her up and leapt up into the night sky, holding his "beloved" close to his breast. As they flew away towards the mansion, they were unaware that their master waited at the foyer, watching them from afar with a smile on his face. He knew that it was only a matter of time before "his children" would both be together again and at his side. Lacroix moved closer to the steps and watched the couple come closer to the door. Nick bent down to kiss Janette gently on the forehead before landing in front of his master. Lacroix smiled at both of them, and without another word, gestured them to move into the house. Janette and Nick walked quietly, arm around each other's waist into the house, with a very happy, and pleased master following close behind.

Finis

"LET ME LOVE YOU ONE MORE TIME, ONE MORE CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT."

-Sue
DK Knight/IB/DK Trinity
suwwhit@ccp.com