Ruffled feathers
-E McCann
Nick called after Tracy as she stormed out of the precinct. "Trace, I'm sorry, I was only kidding! We have to finish this paperwork..."
"Finish it yourself, wonder boy. I'm off anyway." Tracy shot him a glare, and a sneer. Make it sound like *he* figured out the case, even though she'd told him since the beginning that Rogers seemed too nervous, that he was probably the one who'd killed the night watchman and stolen the vase. But no, he spends three days chasing after that black-haired woman ("And I wonder how Nat feels about that?" she thought to herself with another smirk.) Finally, he decided to 'humor' her.
Lo and behold... one stolen Ming vase, complete with bloody fingerprints, one gun - fired, all in Rogers car.
"'With assistance from Detective Vetter' my butt."
"Hey Trace! How's..."
"Ask SuperCop over there. I'm outta here." Tracy blew past a thoroughly confused Natalie on her way out the door.
"What was that all about? Nick?"
Tracy didn't hear any more as the door closed behind her. She made her way to the garage and looked at her Taurus with disgust. "This just isn't gonna cut it after this week."
She sighed and pulled out her keys. She really needed to let go this weekend.
-------------
Tracy parked her car, and headed up to her apartment. As she got closer, she heard the sound of water running. "Great, just what I need. Guests." She opened the door to the sound of Vachon singing. She tossed her coat and purse down, kicked off her shoes and marched into the bathroom.
Making her way through the hot-shower fog, she whipped the shower curtain open. "Nice of you to tell me you were stopping by first," she said curtly, but with a slight smile crossing her lips.
Vachon jumped - he hadn't heard her approach at *all* - then slipped and landed with a THUD.
Tracy started laughing.
"Very funny. Do you normally sneak up on people in the shower?"
"It *is* my shower."
Vachon blinked at this. "OK, your point.... could you hand me a towel?"
Tracy looked him over once, then handed him a washcloth.
"Very funny. What do you expect me to do with this?"
"Vachon, I've had a rotten day - no, week - at work. You have two choices - one, dry off with that and get out."
"And two?"
Tracy just grinned.
--------
Part two coming up shortly...
Ruffled feathers, part two.
Dark Perkin' away on this story...
Tracy looked over with mild disgust at the thoroughly worn out four hundred year old vampire laying on her bed. She smacked him on the chest.
He groaned.
"Great. Two hours and you're beat already." She sighed and got off the bed. "Didn't even get to the good stuff. And it's early yet!" She wandered out to the kitchen and grabbed herself a cup of coffee. When she got back, the window was open and Vachon was gone.
"Chicken!" she called out the window. Noticing the Hampton kid across the street staring at her, she yelled down "What are YOU looking at?" The breeze that blew in the window (as fast as the kid ran off) reminded her she'd been too annoyed at Vachon to remember to cover up much when she got up, and she pulled her robe together.
"Oops. Just great, Trace - you'll never hear the end of it if you're arrested for indecent exposure..." She closed the window and the blinds, then went to find something to wear.
"Too early to go to bed. Time to hit the clubs.." She rummaged through her closet, and pulled out a Dark Pink top - then decided to add a black skirt with it...
"What else... "
By the time she was done, dressed up in Dark Pink and black, even SHE had to admit she looked great. She turned to look at the discarded pile of clothes on the bed - the ones that didn't quite make the cut - and decided to worry about them later. The skirt was gone - she didn't feel like dealing with the Taurus any more, and skirts and motorcycles - well....
She grabbed her keys and marched out the door.
---------------
She had to admit, she loved this.
Riding down the nearly empty streets on her custom-painted (Dark Pink pearl, of course) Harley, the wind whipping around her, the feel of the leather jacket and the open road - she really had to do this more often. She laughed to herself - what would the station say - or the Cap, Nick, or Natalie - if they knew about this bike? She imagined their expressions as she pulled up -
"They'd probably think it was cute and call me perky again," she growled to herself. She was starting to hate that word.
Beneath her, the bike growled back as she hit the throttle, and the streets fell away faster behind her.
She parked the bike outside the Raven. After staring down the bouncer ("Do I *look* underage to you?") she went inside for a look around, went down the steps, and promptly ran into Urs.
"Is Vachon here?"
Urs just stared at her. "Wow."
Tracy had to smile at that. "Thanks. Is he around?"
"Oh, sorry... no, I haven't seen him for a while."
Her smile broadened. "Good. I don't *want* to for a while." She ignored Urs's questioning look, dropped off her jacket and helmet, and went deeper into the club.
---------------
Part 3.
Lucien LaCroix, also known as the Nightcrawler, had a dilemma. His show was due on in an hour, and he had yet to come up with a topic for tonight's rumination. Walking the streets, flying above Toronto, and two thousand years of memories brought him nothing.
He considered just replaying a previous show, but that thought left a bad taste in his mouth. He downed another glass of his "special vintage" to get rid of it. He leaned against the bar nonchalantly He scanned the crowd slowly, noting the usual mix of humans and vampires. Nothing extraordinary in this mix. Sighing, he motioned to have his glass refilled as he heard the door to the Raven open - and raised an eyebrow in astonishment.
Down the stairs to the Raven came a figure with an incredible presence in a slight, well sculpted body. He listened, and reached out carefully - no, she was a mortal.
This was intriguing.
As was the fact that she seemed somehow familiar.
Intriguing, unique... and the fact that he *knew* her from somewhere and couldn't place her was infinitely annoying.
He watched as she descended the steps, and spoke for a moment with Urs - leaving her astonished - then headed to the bar. LaCroix looked at Urs, and signaled her to come over.
"Yes?"
"Urs, who.. is.. that mortal?"
"That? That's Nick's partner."
"That.... incredible creature, is Nicholas's *partner?*" Lacroix was incredulous. His son seemed so - dismissive of the woman. Either Nicholas was a fool - which, admittedly, he didn't believe, most of the time at least - or he had not really looked at this woman, and gotten to know her...
"What is her name?"
"That's Tracy."
"Indeed." He looked at Urs. "Thank you, my dear. You may go about your business now." Urs looked at LaCroix for a moment, wondering if she should worry, then decided it was none of her business and left quickly.
-----
Tracy sat at the bar, sipping at a scotch. She had to admit, it was good to be out, but it had been too long since she had really *been* "out."
"Which means you damn well deserve it," she said to herself.
"Indeed you do," came a quiet, silky voice from behind her. Tracy raised her eyebrow, and turned to meet the speaker.
"Hello, my dear. I am Lucien Lacroix."
//You certainly are,// she thought, staring at his marble-white skin, the ice- blue eyes.... "Tracy. Tracy Vetter," she said after a moment. "Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure's all mine," said LaCroix, taking her hand to his lips.
//I've heard that voice before. Where....Ooh...// She remembered *quite* clearly. Nick's car. And her own, when Nick wasn't around. The Nightwatch with the Nightcrawler program... "Would you like to sit down?"
LaCroix smiled at her, and sat. "Thank you." He caught himself gazing at her face, her hair... "Forgive me, I don't mean to stare. You look... exquisite."
Tracy colored slightly. "Thank you." She was definitely liking this after the decided lack of attention she'd been getting lately. "You look quite handsome yourself."
Lacroix smiled somewhat. "Why, thank you... Tell me, Tracy, what brings you here?"
There was something in his smile that bugged her a little. "Work. Life. The usual, I suppose."
"You misunderstand me, my dear. Work and the drudgery of a day to day life brings many to this club, yes. You, however, stand out from the rest. You have an inner strength that shines through from inside of you. Strength of conviction, determination... it shines like a beacon. Or a warning."
"He's good," she though to herself. "Well," said Tracy, sizing up her companion, "why don't you tell that to my dad. And my boss. And most of all, my partner."
"Nicholas can be rather dense at times, I agree."
That gave her a start. "You know Nick?"
"We have been... close acquaintances for several years."
"Great. And now you probably feel the need to look after me and keep me 'safe' for God's sake. Why does everyone insist on being that way?"
"Oh, I have no doubt you can take care of yourself. Better than anyone else believes." He smiled again, realizing he had found a topic for his show - among other things. "Appearances can be... deceiving."
"So, you're not going to mention to Nick that I'm here."
"Why would I want to do such a thing?" LaCroix looked at the clock. "I must take my leave now - I do have a program to attend to." He took Tracy's hand and kissed it again. "Don't worry. Nicholas won't know that you were here. I will see to that. After all," he added, "I wouldn't want to do anything to keep you from coming back."
For all the 'inner strength' Tracy supposedly had, she just about melted at that comment. "I will definitely come back. It's nice having someone see you for what you are..."
"Indeed. But now, I must go. Please, enjoy yourself - on the house."
"Thank you."
Lacroix gave her a little bow, and she watched as he walked away. She smiled to herself.
"Nice butt, too."
---------------------------------
Part 4 - "Ruffled Feathers"
"Surprises come from everywhere, in all shapes and sizes. The child who plays in the mud, goes home to write a symphony to dazzle a king. The harsh, hard looking man with the soft heart. The woman, considered soft, naive, with steel nerves and the world wrapped around her finger. The most colorful snake has the deadliest bite." He paused for a moment. "Never fall for the obvious nature of the 'other.' You may find your suppositions quite... wrong."
Lacroix looked out the window facing the patrons of the Raven, and smiled. The... intriguing young woman he had just met was still at the bar, nursing a drink, occasionally going out and dancing, flirting with some of the younger ones - mortal and vampire alike. He was sure his wayward son had never seen this side of his partner. He cued the next few songs and turned off the mic.
-----
Nick sat there, staring at the radio.
"Uh, Nick, it's green."
"What?" Nick looked at Natalie, then up at the light. "Oh." He pulled away from the intersection with a grin.
"So, what's Lacroix bugging you with this time?"
"What do you mean?"
"You were staring at that radio like it was going to bite you. I assume you had zoned out into your memories again."
"Actually, no. I have no idea what he's talking about. Who knows, maybe he's gotten bored with the mind games."
"LaCroix?" Natalie sounded incredulous. Nick raised an eyebrow and looked over, to see her on the verge of giggling. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll find some string of yours to pull. In any case, you passed the Chinese place...."
"I know. There's a new one I want you to try, everyone's been talking about it. Even Tracy likes it...." Nick got that distant look in his eyes again.
"Don't worry, Nick. I'm sure she just needed some time to cool off. If it bugs you so much, call her up when we get to your place."
"And say what, Nat?"
"Oh, I don't know... an apology?" Nick shot her a "For what?" look, and she slapped his arm. "Come on, now. She was *right* and you barely said anything to her. I'm sure she's upset about that - she probably thinks you're brushing her off." She cut off his protest. "I saw that first draft of the report... It was her idea to check that guy out, and you made it sound like she just tagged along."
"I changed that!"
"After she left. Look, if it bugs you so much, just call."
Nick pulled over at Wa-Hu's Chinese Deli. Natalie looked at him. "Wa hu?"
"Guy from the US... Texas, if I remember right. No, he's not Chinese."
"I can tell." Natalie looked doubtful.
"It's supposed to be good... Go on in, and I'll call Trace." After one last dubious glance, Natalie got out, and Nick pulled out his cell phone.
-----------
LaCroix walked over to Tracy. "Well, my dear, how is your evening going?"
"Great, thanks... I really needed this."
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." Lacroix sat down, and had a glass of his "special" vintage handed to him. "So tell me..."
Just then, Tracy's cell phone rang. She glared at her purse. "I knew I should have left that at home." She looked at LaCroix apologetically - then decided she'd rather talk to him, and shut the phone off. "I'm sorry. You were saying?"
A slight smile crossed LaCroix's face... which grew a bit more when he felt the twinge of irritation from his son. "I was about to ask...."
"Tracy?"
Tracy nearly growled, then rolled her eyes and turned to face Vachon. "Vachon?"
"Uh... hi... Tracy, what are you doing here?"
"I'm having a drink, and *trying* to have a conversation."
"I can see that, but what are you doing..."
"What do you think, Vachon? I can have a life of my own, you know. Besides, I thought you were tired."
Vachon looked over at LaCroix cautiously, quietly drawing closer to Tracy and staring at the older vampire, protectiveness towards the blonde-haired woman and a silent challenge forming in his eyes - to be cut off with a sudden slap in the chest from Tracy.
"Ow!"
LaCroix sat back and watched the exchange with an amused look on his face.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Vachon looked confused, looking at Lacroix, then at Tracy. "Well, uh, Trace, I..."
"Oh, my," LaCroix said with mock worry. "Those CDs should be just about over, and I really *must* get back to my audience." He took Tracy's hand and kissed it once more. "Perhaps we can converse another time."
"Yes, I'd like that..."
"Until then." Lacroix smiled warmly at Tracy, coldly at Vachon, then made his way back to the small 'studio' in the Raven.
Tracy watched him leave, then turned around and smacked Vachon again.
"Ow! Hey, watch that..."
"Thanks a lot, Vachon. I was just starting to really enjoy myself...."
"But I... but...." Vachon just watched as she grabbed her stuff and made her way up the stairs, then shrugged and made off after her. He caught up to her as she mounted her bike. "Trace..."
He held his ears and jumped back as the Harley roared to life. "Tracy!..." he yelled out after her as she turned and sped down the street.
"Damn."
======
Ruffled Feathers 5/?
"Mmmm, that was good."
"You liked it?"
Natalie looked at Nick with a grin. "Wu hu!" Nick just shook his head as they walked to his car.
"Nick!"
Nick and Natalie stopped and turned around to face Vachon. The younger vampire was clearly agitated, and quite nervous. "Yes? What's wrong, Vachon?"
"What's up with Tracy? Did something happen, or..."
"What do you mean? She was kind of upset with us... well, me," Nick amended as Natalie glanced at him, eyebrow raised, "earlier tonight." Nick was instantly worried. "Did something happen to her?"
"I saw her at the Raven." Vachon raised his hand when Nick started to speak." She was dressed to the nines, and wouldn't talk to me..."
"Well, as long as nothing happened at the Raven - she just needs to unwind a bit..."
"She was talking with LaCroix." Nick and Natalie stared at the younger vampire, then shot worried glances to one another.
"You're sure it was Tracy?"
"Come on now, do you think *I* would confuse anyone else with Tracy from two feet away?" Vachon sounded irritated.
"True." Nick sighed and motioned Vachon to get into the car. "We'll head over to the Raven. Tell me everything..."
"Well, she's not at the Raven any more." Vachon proceeded to tell the couple exactly what had happened. "And then she fired up her bike and tore off down the street."
"Tracy, on a Harley?" Nick couldn't seem to fathom this.
Natalie piped up. "Maybe it was her evil twin sister."
Vachon just rolled his eyes. "Don't go there, doc." Natalie shot him a wondering glance, then shrugged it off.
"OK. We need a plan here... Vachon, I think you should head back to the church. She may come by to talk to you."
"After our little exchange, I doubt it, but..."
"Nat, would you swing by her apartment? Maybe she'd talk to you..."
"Considering I'm the only one in the car who can't fly, and the only one who she's not annoyed with, how about if you swing by there? Or lend me the caddy so I can get home afterward."
Nick shot her an 'I don't' think so' look, and in the next few seconds a war of glances was waged and won. Nick sighed. "Be *careful* with her.... I'm heading back to the precinct, then... to the Raven."
With that and a rush of air, the two vampires were gone. Natalie looked around, then scooted over to the driver's seat. She reached over to start the car back up... "Oh, great... NICK! I can't believe he took the keys...."
She felt something hit the seat next to her with an accompanying *clink.* She looked over and grabbed the keys, then looked up into the night sky to see a blonde-headed shape flit off into the night. "Gee. Thanks...." With a sigh and a few more grumbles, she pulled away to get to Tracy's apartment.
------------------
Tracy spent the next hour just riding, to get Vachon and the rest of them out of her mind. She rode on aimlessly, until she noticed her fuel tank was getting low. She pulled in to a dinky little gas station in a run-down area of town, and filled up. When she got back out to the bike, there was a rather large, scruffy-looking man eyeing her beloved Harley. He started to get on it...
"Hey, You. Off the bike."
He turned to sneer at her. "Awww, is this yours? Such a big bike for a pretty little girl... I think it might be a bit too much for you." In the shadows to her side, someone else gave a drunken laugh.
"Now, why don't you just give me your keys, and if you're nice I might just give you a ride."
Tracy looked at him a moment... then with a resigned look on her face, started to hand over her keys.
"That's ri...URK!" said the would-be thief as he suddenly found himself *off* the bike, his arm twisted behind his back, and his face to the concrete.
Tracy dug her knee into his back. "Now, you seem to have a few VERY wrong ideas in your head. Don't even think it," she said, shooting a steel-eyed glare to the figure in the shadows, who immediately put his hands up and backed off. "Lesson one," she said, with another goad from her knee. "We do not take things that belong to other people. You like the bike, head over to The Harley Shop on the west side. They'll custom paint one any way you want. Lesson two," she said, shoving her knee into his back again and getting another satisfying groan, "We do not mess with anybody owning a Harley, man or woman. Especially when it's a pissed off woman. Do - You - Un - Der - Stand?" she said, jabbing him with her knee on each syllable.
*Urk. Yes..*ahk* YES!!" Suddenly the sound of a dozen more motorcycles filled the gas station, and he turned his head (as much as he could) to grin at her (and got rewarded with another facefull of concrete. "Well, looks like you'll be letting me go..."
"Hey Tracy! Long time no see, need any help?"
"Hey Brad, thanks, no, this guy was just giving me a hard time." The would-be bike thief's face fell.
Brad, the leader of the group of bikers, just shook his head. "Don't be too rough on him...."
"Don't worry. I think he's learned the error of his ways." Tracy got up." Which way you guys heading?"
"We're just riding tonight. Think we'll head out to the waterfront."
"Great, I'm heading that way for a bit. Mind if I tag along?" She grinned. Brad hadn't minded her tagging along since middle school.
"Hop on your ride and come on!"
Tracy looked around - the guy she'd had pinned was running at top speed the other way. She laughed and put on her helmet, and joined the rag-tag group to a chorus of "hellos" and "Where ya been?"s.
Yep, this was a good way to unwind.
-------------------
OK, I hope I have everyone on this one... Standard disclaimers. =] And right now, I don't know exactly *where* this is going. Had to let Tracy have some fun, though.
Ruffled Feathers 6/?
Tracy stepped out of the bathroom after her shower, drying her hair. "Thanks, Brad."
Brad just looked up, and stared for a moment. They were good friends, but he had to admit he'd always thought Tracy was an absolute knockout. He shook his head and went back to putting the couch back together. "No problem, Trace."
Tracy saw a look flash across Brad's face. They'd ended up at his house late last night, across town from her apartment, and he'd let her stay the night when she needed to crash. He'd taken the couch - insisted he take it, in fact - but she noted the look he'd had just now...
He'd had a crush on her for a while in high school, but even when she was too busy, wasn't interested, or couldn't *act* on her interest because of her father, he hadn't let that affect their friendship. They'd been close friends for a long time. Still... he had regrets at times. As had she.
They were silent a moment, their own thoughts and memories taking over...then Tracy decided she had to do something.
"Uhh... Could I use your phone? I have to check my messages..."
Brad looked at her, startled, then smiled. "Sure, Trace. Though I'm surprised you don't have a beeper...."
"It's in the shop." She smiled. "It died in the line of duty." Brad shot her a puzzled look, and she giggled. "I dropped it, and Nick - my partner - sort of ran over it when he pulled his car up to get me."
Brad just stared at her a moment, then broke out laughing. "Line of duty, huh." He grinned, and shook his head as Tracy went to the phone. She punched in her number, and her "code" ("Two." she thought to herself disgustedly. "Real tough one... they got nice and creative.")
"Tracy, it's Nick. Look, I wanted to ap...." She made a disgusted face, hit the button and skipped the message.
"Hey, Trace, it's Nat. Nick's been trying..." She decided to skip this one too. They could sweat a bit longer.
"Tra..." Nick again. Skip.
"Tracy, it's your mother. I won't be in town next weekend like I thought..." Tracy sighed. Mom had been doing much better, but she didn't want to make what could still be a heated long distance call from Brad's phone. She skipped it.
"Detective Vetter... Tracy, I believe." She stopped. The smooth voice sent a chill up her spine. "I wanted to let you know how much I regretted being deprived so early of your company. My weekend evenings are free from the duties of my broadcast, and I would enjoy the opportunity to speak further with you. I would consider it an honor if you would join me for dinner tonight."
Join him... Tracy pictured the tall, pale man, the ice-blue eyes that could bore through anybody foolish enough to stand up to him.... Quickly, she grabbed a pencil and jotted down the number.
*Beep*
"Tracy, it's Vachon. Look, I, uhhh... there's something you should know about LaCroix. He's...."
"Save it, fang-boy," she thought to herself as she hit the "skip" button again and found herself at the end of the messages. She hung up the phone and turned to Brad, smiling.
"Thanks, Brad."
"No problem, Trace. Good news?" he asked, seeing the smile on her face.
"Nah. No real news. Which itself is pretty good."
"Well, if there's nothing important going on... How does breakfast sound?"
Breakfast... It'd been a while since they'd had breakfast. "Sounds good to me. Let's ride... My treat. No arguments," she said, as he started to object. "You let me borrow your bed, I'm just returning a favor for a favor."
He knew Tracy well enough not to argue. "OK, fair's fair then. Where to?"
"Just come on and follow me," she said, and they headed down to their bikes.
----------
Two hours later, they finally parted with a wave, a hug and a promise to keep in touch.
Tracy tore off down the streets of Toronto, anxious to call Lucien back and accept his offer of dinner. Who knows - she was in a good enough mood to call Nick back and talk to him. Maybe even Vachon....
A sound broke her train of thought. "Wha..." she thought to herself, and looked behind her to see one of Toronto's finest, lights flashing, ordering her to pull over. Swearing to herself, she pulled over.
"Can I see your license and... Oh, hi, detective. What's the rush?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you blew through two red lights and were doing a good 80...."
She swore again, getting a startled look from the other cop. "Sorry. My mind was just somewhere else. It's been a rough week."
"I've heard." The other cop looked down, and back at the squad, then turned to face her again. "Look, I have two choices... One, give you a ticket, which seems rather useless, considering..."
"Considering I'm a cop and my father's the commissioner."
"Well... yeah. But, I can't let you go or I'll get my butt chewed as well."
"You called it in?"
"I had to. Nobody believed you were on a motorcycle...."
"Great," she thought to herself. "I'll never hear the end of this."
She looked at the guy that had pulled her over. "So, what's your other choice?"
"Escort you home so you don't get... distracted and possibly hurt yourself or anyone else."
Tracy looked at where she was and smiled. "Okay, that'll work." She got off the bike and pushed it for the next block to the front of her apartment, to the disbelieving stare of the other cop. She giggled and waved. "Thanks, guys...." She watched them pull away, and hurried up to her apartment.
After all, she had a call to make.
--------------
Ruffled Feathers 7/?
There were times LaCroix hated being a vampire.
Not that he'd tell Nicholas that, no. But having exceptional hearing did not help when the phone was ringing in your sleep.
Muttering a few choice curses that had not been heard in nearly two thousand years, he started to head to the phone, determined to tear down whoever it was that woke him up... until he remembered.
Nobody had this number.
The studio phone was muted. The phone in the Raven was shut off behind soundproof office walls. Nicholas wouldn't call him, and Janette would just announce her presence through their link. The only other person who had it.... LaCroix smiled to himself. Nicholas's partner, the one who had intrigued him so. He picked up the phone, smiling.
"This is LaCroix."
-----
On the other end of the phone, Tracy Vetter just stood there for a moment. She couldn't believe she was calling someone she had talked to exactly once... Still, he had left the message. She cleared her throat.
"Hi, this is Tracy Vetter. You called and left a message for me?" ("Nice and personal there, Trace," she thought disgustedly to herself.)
"Yes, I did." The smooth, almost whispered voice almost flowed through the earpiece. "I had hoped to continue our conversation, without worry of further interruption tonight."
"That sounds great. But isn't the club a little loud? Or did you have somewhere else in mind?"
"You are quite correct about the club. Yes, I did have somewhere else in mind. There is a new restaurant on the other side of town which I have... some interest in. You do, I hope, like Italian?" LaCroix smiled on his end of the phone.
"Italian?" Tracy thought about it for a moment. She hadn't had Italian since... She sighed. That long. "Sounds great. Where and when?"
"I have some business at the club to attend to before it opens. Perhaps it would be best if we met there, around six."
"That works for me." Tracy smiled. "What kind of place is it?"
"Dress casually, and you'll be fine. It's a quiet, out of the way place."
Tracy felt a slight rush at this. She composed herself quickly. "Okay. Six o'clock, at the Raven. I'll see you then."
"I look forward to it."
Tracy hung up the phone, then leaned back against the wall and sighed. "Vachon's going to be pissed." She shook her head, and thought about what had happened in the Raven earlier. She got thoroughly annoyed at him feeling he had to 'protect' her... but he hadn't tried any of his usual tricks on LaCroix. In fact, he had seemed... cautious. Subdued...
"Of course. He owns the club, and it's one of Vachon's hangouts. He wouldn't want to lose that... and probably found that Lucien was a resister, so he can't whammy him away." Word like that *would* get around, after all.
Her mind flicked back to the answering machine for a moment. "He said there was something I had to know...." She snorted. "Probably something trivial, mostly that he's not Vachon." Still... he had sounded worried....
Something moved behind her. Tracy spun, reaching for her gun...
And faced a sleepy 400-year-old Spanish vampire. "Woah, Trace..."
"Vachon!" Any concern she had for him rapidly evaporated. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Sleeping, until a minute ago. Waiting for you, actually. Where were you all night?"
"What business of it is yours?"
He looked at her, concern shining through his big brown eyes. "I was worried about you. That's all."
"And you couldn't be worried at the church?"
Vachon stared at her for a moment, then looked away. "No. I couldn't."
Tracy felt her anger slip away. She walked over to him after a minute. "Vachon..." He looked up at her, hopeful. "Look, I had a rough day at work, I was enjoying myself at the Raven until you decided to be protective of me and chased Lucien away..."
Vachon laughed. "Chased *him* away. That would be a first."
She looked at him, curiously. "I take it you two have had a bit of a history... He's not a vampire, you said before. How could he stand up to you?"
Vachon's expression changed to embarrassment. "Well, uh... that wasn't exactly...."
"Wasn't exactly *what,* Vachon?" She wasn't sure if she should be angry or not. Not just yet, anyway.
"Tracy, I could get into a lot of trouble for telling you this. YOU could get into a lot... hell, we could both end up dead."
"He is a vampire."
Vachon nodded, slowly. "Not just *a* vampire, Trace. He's the oldest vampire in Toronto."
"Older than you?" Her amazement outweighed her anger for the moment.
"Much."
"What, five hundred? Six? Eight?"
"His *son* is eight hundred. I'm a teenager by comparison."
Tracy slumped back against the wall. "Vachon..."
"He's nearly two thousand years old, Trace." The former conquistador watched her closely to see what she'd do next. He expected her to faint, or hit him, something...but what she said next floored him
"Well, I always did seem to like guys older than me. Guess this proves it."
Tracy's thoughtful mood was shattered by the surprise "THUMP" as Vachon hit the ground.
"Vachon?"
She looked over at where the vampire had fainted, and groaned. "I guess I could have phrased that better...." She wandered over to her medicine cabinet, then glanced back over at Vachon.
"I wonder if smelling salts work on vampires...."
-----------
Ruffled Feathers 8/?
Vachon spent the day trying to talk to Tracy - or rather, trying to talk her out of her meeting with LaCroix.
"Tracy... he's killed millions of people."
"So you're behind a few. I never held it against you." Tracy stopped for a moment. "Well, occasionally, but I put that behind us."
Vachon just looked at her.
"He's manipulative. He has secrets, hidden agendas..."
"I work in the police department. I'm used to it."
Vachon shook his head. "It's nothing like him."
"I know. Nobody does hidden agendas like the Precinct."
"That's not what I meant."
Tracy just grinned. "Give it up, Vachon. I'm going to go see him."
"You'll be in danger."
"So I know he's a vampire. I know about you and Screed, too, remember? Besides, if anyone has a problem with it, don't you think I'd be safer with someone who's survived two thousand years?"
He had to give her that. But LaCroix was dangerous... and she didn't seem to care. "Tracy, he might be doing this to make you forget about us..."
"Vampires, you mean? Or you and me?"
"Either." Vachon shrugged. "Both. Who knows. And when he can't whammy you... "
"Vachon," Tracy started, getting a little tired of this. "I'm a cop. I'm not JUST a cop, I'm the partner of one of the most well known cops in the precinct, *and* the daughter of the police commissioner. He knows about my partner, he probably knows about my father if he's even partially as 'connected' as you suggest he is. He wouldn't dare kill me."
"You mean drain you? No, he's too smart for that. But he might arrange an... accident. Or - well, he's been known to be able to work around resisters. I don't know what that would do to you. From what I hear... it isn't pleasant."
"What, you think nobody would notice? Not even my partner, Nick?"
Vachon stared at her a moment. "Trace... yes, Nick would. He'd know exactly what happened."
Tracy looked back at Vachon, then her eyes grew. "He knows about vampires, too?"
Vachon looked away. "Yeah. He does."
"But how? He's only been in Toronto a few years..."
Vachon tried to find an easy way around this... Still looking down, he explained - "He's known LaCroix a long time."
Several things clicked in Tracy's mind, and made more sense now. "How long..."
"Most of his life."
Tracy just stared. "And Natalie?"
Vachon looked up, startled. "What about Natalie?"
Tracy wondered what shocked him so much. "You tell me."
Vachon remembered watching Knight's ... "friend" from a distance, several nights. He sighed, not wanting Tracy - or Knight - to know about that. "Yes, she knows about vampires, too."
Tracy looked at him wonderingly. "And you?"
Vachon grinned. "Yep. I know about vampires, too."
Tracy colored. "That's not what I..."
Just then, her clock rang out... five o'clock. She looked at it, and glared at Vachon. "You should be about able to leave. I think it might be a good idea - I have to get ready to go."
"Tracy..." Vachon looked at her, concern deep in his eyes.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Vachon. I'll be fine. Really." She shooed him toward the door. "Now, go on. I have to get ready, and I don't need an audience."
Vachon opened his mouth to argue, but seeing the look in her eyes he knew it would be futile. He nodded his head. "Just... call me when you get back."
"I will, Javier." The sound of his name, spoken so tenderly warmed his heart - no matter what, at least she wasn't upset with him.
"Thank you." Vachon waved with a cheerfulness he didn't feel, and headed out the door.
Tracy looked at where her friend had just been, and shook her head. She knew he meant well, she knew how he felt, she just wished he didn't have to feel so... protective. She really would be fine.
She hoped.
---------------
Ruffled Feathers (9/?)
LaCroix finished giving his instructions to his staff, and walked outside to the sound of a motorcycle coming around the corner. He raised an eyebrow as the dark pink pearl Harley pulled to a stop, and off stepped Detective Vetter, the dark slacks and royal blue blouse setting off her light skin and providing an intriguing counterpoint to her deep, penetrating eyes.
"Hello, my dear. Your timing is quite fortunate." LaCroix looked from he blonde detective to the motorcycle. "And an interesting form of transportation."
"Yeah, it's great for those days I have to unwind." She smiled. She was glad he wasn't one of those guys that insisted she should find something more "feminine" to drive. "So, are you ready to go?"
LaCroix raised an eyebrow at her. "On... this?"
Tracy hoped he wouldn't get into the "women on motorcycles" speech. "Yes, on this. Just get on and hold tight." She hopped on the bike, and patted the seat behind her. "It's the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground."
LaCroix raised an eyebrow at the smile she gained at that last comment, then slipped onto the bike behind her. "How's this," he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Hold on a little tighter, and lean against me." Tracy wriggled a little as he pulled himself against her, resting his body against hers. If tonight was starting out like this... she was *really* going to have fun. She started up the bike (rubbing against him as she did) and took off down the street.
LaCroix enjoyed the feeling of the wind, whipping around him - He smiled, absorbing the mixed sensations of the air rushing past, the bike's motor roaring below him, the ground speeding endlessly by... He leaned forward a little more, resting his head on Tracy's shoulder. "You're right. This is almost like flying."
"What?"
He realized she probably couldn't hear him, between the wind and her helmet. He spoke up. "I SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS ALMOST LIKE FLYING."
Tracy came to a stop. She had to admit, she *liked* having him lean against her like that... but she couldn't hear a word he was saying. She smiled bashfully. "Sorry. One more time?"
"I said, you were right, this is much like flying."
Tracy grinned. //If anyone would know,// she thought, //you would.// But he didn't' need to know she knew what he was. Not just yet. "Oh, do you fly?"
"Yes, in fact. I do." LaCroix smiled at his inward joke - only to have his jaw drop when Tracy mentioned offhand, "I know."
"What do you mean, you know?" LaCroix was furious. "Nicholas told you, didn't he... he hasn't gained any more sense in the past few hundred years..."
Now it was Tracy's turn to have her jaw drop. "Past few hundred?"
LaCroix looked at her with no patience. "Come now, you can't tell me that if you know about me, you DON'T know about *him?*"
Tracy felt ashamed. More than that, she was mad. Furious, in fact. "No. He never told me. DAMN him!" The look in her eyes made LaCroix pull away for a moment. The betrayal in them pulled him back.
"Tracy..."
"What? Are you going to tell me that he did it for my protection, too? I'm a cop. I'm the daughter of a cop, and a sister of cops. I grew up knowing how to take care of myself."
"Not against the forces that would come against you, should they know you know the truth of our existence."
"So I keep a stake handy." Tracy glared at him.
"My dear, you wouldn't have a chance to use it. They have dealt with vampires a millennia old as if they were fledglings. Mortals... live up to their name." He motioned to a side street. "Let's go over there."
Tracy looked at him for a moment. "You're not taking me to them..."
"No. We're still going to dinner. But, it seems, we have much to discuss." He looked at her, insistent.
Tracy nodded, pulled her bike into the alley, and pulled her helmet off. "What now?"
"Let go."
"Let go?"
"Let go of the bike."
Tracy let her hands fall from the handlebars, and let her legs relax. If he was going to kill her...
The next thing she knew, his arms were still holding her tightly, and they were flying high above Toronto. She let out a quick yelp of surprise, then wrapped her arms around his, slipping her legs behind his...
LaCroix smiled. He *did* enjoy this. He bent his head forward. "Relax, my dear. You're perfectly safe."
Tracy opened her eyes, and watched the city flow by beneath them. She turned her head... "We're flying?"
"Yes, we're flying." He looked into her eyes, brighter than before with wonder and delight. "I thought you might enjoy the real thing. A few moments of enjoyment before we dine, and mull over serious matters."
Tracy looked at the man holding her, more ancient than she could easily understand. "Thank you," she whispered, and gazed at the lights below.
LaCroix just smiled, and took them on their way.
Miles behind them, another vampiric presence glared at the two, then turned and flew away.
-----------
Ruffled Feathers (10/?)
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
Nick whirled around and paced some more. Vachon stared at him, confused, almost pleading. Nick held his hands up. "Okay. LaCroix has Tracy. Did he seem like he was going to hurt her when you saw them?"
"They were flying."
"But did he look like he was going to hurt her? *I* couldn't whammy her. Did she seem nervous? Scared?"
"Well... no."
"Aware of what was going on? He *can* get around some resistances."
Vachon thought about it a moment. "No. She was even talking with him..."
"Then he hasn't whammied her. And it doesn't sound like she's in danger - yet." A realization came to Nick, who gave Vachon a hard look.
"You're jealous."
Vachon snapped back. "No, I'm not, I'm worried about Tracy, that's all. YOU told me to look out for her, remember?"
Nick started to grin. "You *are* jealous. You're jealous because you think LaCroix is taking Tracy away from you."
Vachon glared at Nick, and shot back a weak "I am not jealous." He had begun to admit - to himself, at least - that Nick was right. He *was* jealous... and powerless to do anything about the situation. He wasn't sure which fact bothered him more.
Nick watched Vachon for a moment, then crossed to the younger vampire. "Vachon, I know you care about Tracy. I know you're worried, and whether you want to admit it or not, I know you're jealous. But this is something you have to work out with her yourself."
"And LaCroix?"
"I can't step in here. He hasn't hurt her. I haven't heard from him and I don't feel any malice from him, so I don't believe he will hurt her. He's definitely not doing it to get to *me,* like he's done with so many others...." Nick lost himself in his memories for a moment, then shook himself back to the present. He put his hand on Vachon's shoulder. "I'll go with you if you'd like, but as a neutral party if LaCroix causes problems. You and Tracy are on your own."
A smile crossed Vachon's face. "Thanks, Nick." He reached up and clasped the other vampire's hand, still resting on his shoulder. "Thanks."
-----------
Lucien LaCroix watched the mortal across from him with some amusement.
After her initial shock at being the only customers in the restaurant, Tracy had settled in to her seat. After a lengthy perusal of the menu, she had ordered the lasagna, stating "I haven't had any *good* lasagna in years." When it had finally arrived, her eyes had grown quite large with surprise at the size of the portion served to her. "I thought there might be a lot, but... wow." She'd leaned over and smiled. "Then again, if it's half as good as it smells, I don't think leftovers will be a problem." She looked across at Lacroix, apologetically. "I feel a little odd eating with you just... *sitting* there."
"Don't worry, my dear," he said, filling his glass from the bottle set near him. "I will be taking my own form of... nourishment." He smiled as her and raised his glass for a taste. "Besides, I'm sure you have questions, and it is much easier for me to talk while you eat."
Tracy realized what was in the bottle, but didn't dwell on it. "That does make sense." She gestured towards the bottle. "How do you get...that?"
LaCroix smiled again, a smile that could be chilling at times. This woman was definitely interesting - she didn't dance around, asking fanciful questions, but chose a practical matter instead. "For the past - oh, hundred years or so, we've used donated blood. Sometimes donated by those who knew about us and wanted to be brought across, sometimes from old blood stocks from hospitals. Others choose somewhat... blander fare, and drink animal blood. Pigs, cows, easily gained from slaughterhouses."
Tracy paused in her eating, looking at the tomato sauce in the lasagna. "Blander?"
"Yes. Imagine someone who had been brought up on tender steaks, fine foods, rich, well prepared meals, being handed a TV dinner that had been... 'nuked' for a few minutes. It is much the same for a vampire, used to human blood, to drink blood from an animal."
Tracy was getting put off her food slightly, but her curiosity led her on. "But, some people like TV dinners, hamburgers, fast food..."
"Yes, we have some who prefer the blood of animals." Lacroix wrinkled his nose in distaste.
"Those who first feed on animals are doomed to be a lower form of vampire, that which we call a 'carouche.' They can feed n feed on human blood, but they will actively seek the blood of animals - preferably that sort of animal on which they first fed. We... 'true' vampires," he said with a distinct note of elitism, "those who have been fed human blood, can survive on the blood of animals. But most choose to return to human blood as soon as possible."
Tracy swallowed and decided to change the subject. "You say 'most' choose to. Some don't?"
A somewhat annoyed look crossed his face. "Yes. Some, for reasons incomprehensible to most vampires, choose to turn from human to animal blood. Some do it for 'moral' reasons, not understanding that we, as hunters, must follow a different moral code. Forgetting for a moment that today, our food comes from 'safe' sources, usually donated voluntarily, we must not feel guilty about what we must do to survive. A lion doesn't feel guilt over the animals it kills to eat. Humans don't feel guilty about slaughtering pigs for their morning bacon. However, because we - unlike any other species - are taken *from* humans, some feel they are murdering their own. They do not understand that we are not... human. Others turn to it to 'repent' of their 'sins.' Some even do it to try to help them regain their humanity." Lacroix said this last with a mixture of bemusement, disgust, and exasperation.
"Regain their humanity? Have any vampires ever done that? What happens to them?"
LaCroix looked at her guardedly. "Have you spoken to your partner recently?" His eyes grew cold, and took on a golden tinge. "Speak truthfully, my dear."
Tracy dropped her fork. "NICK was.... No, I haven't... You mean he..." Her jaw dropped open, her food forgotten for now.
Lacroix leaned back, calmer. "My apologies. No, Nicholas - to his regret, but also to his continued existence - did not return to humanity. The few who have... have learned what gives 'mortality' its name, quickly. Some went insane, others.... were taken care of." He noticed Tracy staring at him, still in shock... but no, that wasn't quite it. "What is wrong, detective? Is your dinner not agreeing with you?"
Tracy shook her head, then looked at LaCroix. "No, thanks. Dinner is fine. It's just... my world's being turned around. Nick always looked so... haunted. And this - it makes sense." She considered the old vampire for a moment. "You're the one who made him what he is. He killed to survive...."
"He killed for the joy of the hunt once, as well. Do not forget that, while my kind are hunters, we do not just hunt for survival. The more sport that's in it, the more we enjoy it. Once, we could hunt for the entire night, if we chose." His voice took on a note of reverie. "Just letting the prey know we were there, that they were watched... Or bringing them to another peak, that they were desired in... other ways. Excitement, lust, and fear all spice the blood differently. And every mortal tastes different.... Now, much is lost in preserving old blood." He sighed, then looked to his guest. "My apologies. I didn't mean to frighten you." LaCroix noticed movement in the shadows, then turned back to his guest.
Tracy decided she definitely had to change the subject. "How old is Nick? Where... how.... did you meet? You two seem so different."
The shadows moved again as Nick stepped out behind her. "I was brought across in 1228, a knight from Brabant, back from the crusades, disillusioned, broken of spirit, sick of war." Tracy spun around in surprise. "I was with a number of men, eating, relaxing, when a raven-haired woman came gliding into the room. She captured my gaze, asking if I wanted her." A rueful look came into his eyes, memory mixed with joy, regret.... "I did."
----------
Ruffled Feathers (11/11) - where choices are forced.
Tracy got up from her seat. "Nick, why didn't you tell me what you were? You KNEW I knew about Vachon, and Screed. You could have *trusted* me." She looked to the other figure, leaning back against a column, in the shadows. "And you, Vachon. You outright lied to me. Why?"
"Tracy," Nick started, as Vachon looked away with regret in his eyes. "It was for your protection. And for ours, as well," he added, as Tracy opened her mouth to argue. "Not only does knowing about us put you in danger from the Enforcers - a fate which I'm afraid you've taken upon yourself already tonight - but if one of the few people that hunt us found *you,* the fewer of us you could point out."
"They wouldn't get anything from me, Nick. I'm a cop, and you *know* I can stand up for myself."
"Trace, I've seen what these hunters can do. They're ruthless, and not just to vampires." Nick gained that far-away look as his memories took over. "Some have the 'blessing' of the church, some have the hatred of their past and what they've seen, some run on fear... The vampires they catch die quickly. The mortals.... some, those who die quickly, or who join them, are lucky. Others...." His face contorted in memories of friends in pain, in sadness, regret, and Tracy understood.
"Yes, my dear," LaCroix said from the table. "Nicholas remains close to his humanity. He clings to his guilt - much of which his quest for mortality has brought on himself."
Tracy spun to face the old vampire, incredulous. "How can you be so cold?"
"Cold?" LaCroix raised an eyebrow. "I tried, long ago, to teach him we were separate from the mortal world. We may mingle, mix thoughts, teach, and learn, but we must not try to become a part of your world." He strode over, placing an arm around his son, which Nick shrugged off. "I did not, and do not tell him this to be cruel. I did it to save him from the pain that even now he carries with him. And still he tries to be mortal. Why, I do not understand."
"You know my reasons, LaCroix. I cannot be this. I cannot kill."
"You killed once, you will kill again. It is part of what you are." Vachon came up and pulled Tracy back as LaCroix spoke.
"You don't want to be between them when they start fighting," he whispered. She nodded absently and watched, fascinated. "It is part of what I am, and part of what I do not wish to be."
You wished it once. Nicholas, you have eternal life, immense strength, your knowledge
increases a thousand fold every century. You can watch civilizations rise, and fall. You can do what was once attributed to the gods themselves... Fly, have the power of life and death, be truly *free.*"
"And turn down the sun. Turn down children, a family, the chance to grow old with a loving wife, dying before existence is a burden..."
"If your existence is a burden..."
Their ages old argument was interrupted by the sound of crashing glass as the skylight fell in - with two Enforcers following. Two more barged into the door, casting aside the body of the now-dead doorman. The three vampires turned to face them, fangs barred, Tracy in the center of them.
"If your existence is a burden, we will be glad to relieve you of it. Nicholas de Brabant, Lucien LaCroix, Javier Vachon, you three are found guilty of revealing the presence of Vampires to a mortal. You have given Mortals secrets of Vampires, dangerous knowledge for them to posses. That mortal, Tracy Vetter, and this one..."
Another Enforcer pushed forward a struggling bundle toward Nick. He caught it to find a tied and gagged Natalie in his arms.
"... Natalie Lambert, must be either brought across, or destroyed. Their destruction means your destruction. Resistance brings your final death. You have five minutes to make your choice."
The small group of vampires and mortals looked at each other. "May we have a few moments alone? One of the back booths, perhaps?"
Another Enforcer spoke up. "Do not try to leave. Do not try to fight, or flee. We will wait for your decisions."
They nodded. Nick and Natalie went to one booth. Tracy, Vachon, and LaCroix went to another.
And the longest five minutes of the mortals' lives began.
-------------
"Nick, there's not a lot to discuss here."
"I can't do this to you, Natalie. I can't bring you across, make you what I am."
"Nick, it's my choice too."
"You don't know what you're asking."
"I think I do. Die in... four minutes, or live longer as a vampire, and find a way to bring us both back over. Besides, it's not like I have to do any killing these days."
Nick thought this over for a bit.
"Nick, I only have two minutes."
"OK." Nick's shoulders slumped. "But my... track record isn't too good here. Let me see if..."
"I don't want LaCroix to bring me over. I want you too. Dammit, I love you, Nick. Not him. Never him."
Nick smiled at Natalie, the depths of his feelings shining behind his eyes. "I love you too, Nat. If this doesn't work out.... I just want you to know that." Natalie smiled, relieved, happy to hear what she'd wanted to hear for so long. She rested her head against Nick's chest as he held her - then they got up to go to the front.
---------------
The discussion in the other booth wasn't much different....
"Javier, I don't think it's a *hard* decision. And it's NOT one for you to make for me."
"Quite. It is, after all, her life that ours depend on."
"Shut up, LaCroix. You're not helping."
LaCroix's eyebrow rose at the younger vampire. "Such impertinence...."
"Would you two stop fighting?" Tracy put herself between the two as well as she could. "Now, look," she said, as they backed down. "I guess I'm not going to see sunlight here for... well, forever. Either I'm dead, or a vampire. Not a great set of choices, but it's what I have to work with. So, yes, I'll become a vampire. And YOU," she said, sticking her finger into Vachon's chest, "You owe me."
Vachon sighed and grinned. "You want me to bring you across."
"Sorry, wrong answer." Vachon sat back, surprised. "Look, I have three minutes here. Quick answers. One, what's the hardest part about becoming a vampire."
"The first hunger... it can be hard to control yourself and not reveal yourself..."
"No," LaCroix said. "The first few nights, if not handled correctly, can drive you mad, or destroy you."
"So you need someone who can teach you what to do and what not to do."
"I didn't need much training," Vachon stated proudly.
LaCroix sniffed. "And we see where that's gotten us.... Training is important."
"Yeah, it's done Nick worlds of good."
Tracy glared at both vampires, thoroughly annoyed. "Enough! I'm down to two minutes here. OK, time to get to the basics. How many vampires have you made, and how many survived."
"Well... a couple. Urs is still around. Bourbon's... somewhere...."
LaCroix grinned. "Several hundred. At least fifty still survive."
Vachon looked at Tracy. "That's not really a fair question. He's been alive almost five times as long as me."
Tracy looked at them both. "You're right," she said after a minute. "And if I'm going to survive this, I think I'm going to need his help. And yours." She took Vachon's hand. "Don't take off on me, Vachon."
She then turned to LaCroix. "Well, I guess it's time."
"Indeed," he said, taking her hand and leading them all to the front.
----------
As the trio approached the half-circle of Enforcers, Tracy watched as Nick kissed Natalie passionately. She raised an eyebrow. "I didn't peg Nick as someone who'd have others watch him and Na...."
She stopped as she saw him rear his head back, eyes golden, fangs extended, and bite down into Natalie's neck. His arms were around her, holding her, supporting her as she gave sounds of mixed surprise, ecstasy, and fear, and her arms slowly dropped. Tracy pulled back for a moment, shocked, afraid, then gathered herself and went forward, morbidly curious.
A tear came unbidden to her eye as Nick knelt down beside Natalie, holding her hand to his lips, running it along his cheek. He reached down, brushing her hair out of her eyes, and kissed her forehead and her lips one last time.
"He's not going to let her die... is he?" Tracy asked, shocked.
"Just watch, my dear," LaCroix said - a note of patience and, she thought, pride in his voice.
Nicholas leaned back and seemed to bite at his wrist. A moment later, Tracy saw that was exactly what he had done. He rubbed his forearm and his blood began to flow, a deep red river. She watched as he lowered his wrist to Natalie's mouth, stroking her hair with his other hand.
Suddenly, Natalie's body shuddered, and a moment later convulsed.
"Natalie! Nick, what are..."
Nick looked at Tracy with sad, tired eyes as LaCroix held her back. "Patience. She is being brought across." Tracy looked up at him. "She is dying, and being brought to a new life. She will be fine." Even as he said this, Tracy watched Natalie reach up and drag Nick's arm to her mouth.
She sucked greedily at the wound in his wrist for what seemed an eternity of moments, until Nick finally tore his arm from her grasp. She fell back, seemingly exhausted.
The lead Enforcer spoke. "Nicholas de Brabant, you have discharged your duty to your Community. The death sentence against you is revoked. The sentence against the mortal Natalie Lambert is fulfilled, and duly witnessed. Train your new fledgling well." With that, Nick picked up Natalie, and flew out the skylight.
The Enforcers turned to the trio, eyes glowing red. "Tracy Vetter, you have been given a choice in your fate. What have you chosen."
Tracy straightened up, swallowing her nervousness. "I'll... be brought across."
"And which of these will bring you across?"
Vachon turned to Tracy. "Before you answer... I have to ask you something."
"Vachon, we have five impatient, angry vampires there who want to kill me."
"I know... Tracy, this is important to me. Please..."
Tracy sighed, and turned to the Enforcers. "Can you hold on a sec?"
"Too long and your choice is forfeit."
She turned to Vachon. "Hurry up."
Vachon closed his eyes. "Tracy, when one of us drinks a mortal's blood, we learn about them - what they feel, what they've done, known, everything. And, the mortal gets to know about us as well, to a point. There are some things that I've wanted to say for a long time, things I've wanted to ask that I've been afraid of the answers to." He sighed. "Tracy, he has to drink your blood - drain you - to bring you across. Can I... Will you let me taste you first, let you know everything - let me know the answers, before he takes you over?"
She thought for a moment. If this was true... maybe some of the relationship they'd had would make sense... maybe she'd get her answers as well.
"We await your decision," the Enforcer intoned.
Tracy turned to Vachon. "Yes." Turning to the Enforcer, she indicated LaCroix. "This one will bring me across." Lifting her wrist to Vachon, she nodded. "And he is going to get the answers to a few questions, first."
She sat down in one of the chairs pulled from the tables. As the Enforcers and LaCroix looked on, Vachon kneeled in front of her. Gazing into her eyes, he took her hand, then kissed the palm, working his way to her wrist. Vachon looked up one last time, eyes golden, fangs out, then he bit into her wrist.
Images and emotions slammed into her... she felt his concern, saw his constant wanderings, searching, concern again -- first for Urs, then for her, disappointment, frustration, wanting to do the right thing for her, maybe even the beginnings of love, friendship... resignation.
He tasted her blood, the nectar as sweet as it smelled. He felt her inner turmoil, from family, her friends dying, her pride and desire to live up to her father's expectations, the pain of thinking Nick dead...the confusion, hurt, interest, a touch of love, a strong friendship felt for him....
He pulled back and whispered in a voice of combined happiness and loss, "Thank you."
She felt... weak. Her arms, heavy. Her heart pounded in her ears. A figure stepped before her... "I know him," she thought. It was important, but she didn't know why. She felt something wrap around her, the arms of the figure, which had moved behind her. A voice whispered in her ear,
"It will be over soon. One life, finished, a new one begun."
Somewhere in her mind, she wished he would shut up and get it over with already.
She noticed something press on her neck. What seemed like some hours later, she realized it should have hurt. But that didn't matter any longer. She felt her heart beat harder, straining to push an ever decreasing amount of blood through her system. She felt foreign thoughts enter her head - watching ancient armies rise and fall, volcanoes rumble, a little girl horrify him... her....
She saw the girl's head disappear. Another, a blonde woman, appeared, holding a book, gazing to the stars.
Nick was there.... Nick? "That's not a very good getup for a detective," she thought. "Too unwieldy. He'll stick out." Nick took the woman away, and he... she ("Why do I keep thinking of myself as a guy?" she thought) felt love, felt a heart unused to the emotion tremble at the loss of it. She felt the anger and pain at Nick's rejection of a gift... pride in her children... determination to help Nick be what he should be...
Why was she riding a train with Hitler?
Her daughter left, but came back only for Nick to take her away again. The girl came back too, Divia was her name, to destroy her friends. She killed Nick, but Nick killed her too.
Nothing was making sense any more...
It was dark.
It was cold.
She didn't like it here. Her heart wasn't pounding in her ears at least, not very often.
She saw a light, a door, a figure, then felt something warm in her mouth. It felt good... it tasted...
The light disappeared, and she nearly doubled over in pain. She swallowed the liquid, over and over, sucking it down greedily. The world had a red haze... she didn't care. There was just hunger, and the liquid...
She felt concern through it. She felt love and pride through it. He was her father, he would teach her and protect her. As she would, him. He was more than father or teacher....
She felt the last drops of liquid leave her mouth, pulled away, and she fell back, exhausted. In the distance, she heard a voice....
Lucien LaCroix heard the reprieves for them all, and flew back to the Raven with his new creation. Once Tracy had been safely set up in one of the rooms, Vachon disappeared into the fading night.
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Tracy woke with a start to the pangs of Hunger, a hunger that was quickly sated with a bottle handed to her by LaCroix. After her second bottle, she sighed, and stopped to take a look around her quarters.
The room was one of the bigger ones in the back of the Raven. She admired the woodwork, and was amused by the dark pink bedcovers, walls, and furniture. A smile spread slowly across her face.
"I take it these quarters are... acceptable?" LaCroix asked, wryly.
"Oh yes. These will do nicely."
"Good. We have much to do, you and I. It's time for you to start learning how to be a vampire." LaCroix smiled down at her. "And from what I can tell, you're going to do quite well."
-An End, and a beginning, sequel after War most likely.
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Yes, I decided to end it there. Tracy's vamping lessons and what comes of them can be a whole 'nother story and I didn't' want to leave this hanging 'til then. So, what'dcha think?
Comments to emccann@iag.net