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 I don't know if it's been archived but let me know if you want a copy.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.