Season of Light, Season of Darkness 1/5

Disclaimer

I don't think there are many spoilers.  There is one slight spoiler for
"Fever" but nothing else.  Forever Knight and all characters, concepts and
ideas associated with it are the property of Sony/Tristar and Messrs Cohen
and Parriot.  No infringement of their rights is intended.  I hold the
copyright to this story and to any original characters not belonging to
Sony. The title is taken from the opening lines of "A Tale of Two Cities"
the rights to which belong to Charles Dickens and his inheritors.

Please do not reproduce without my prior content.  Permission to archive is
given to Mel, for the fkfanfic site.  Anyone else who wants to archive it is
welcome to do so, but please do ask first, and do not separate the story
from my name or this disclaimer.  Any considered comments would be welcome
at blot30@hotmail.com but flames would be unwelcome.  There is some bad
language and innuendo, as well as some oblique violence.  I wouldn't
recommend this for young children, but it's not detailed enough to require
an "adult" header.  Many thanks to Cousin Mary for beta reading this.

Season of light, season of darkness 1/5

By Spike Shovelton

Tracy Vetter sighed as she forced herself to stand.  Trust this to happen to
her.  Next time Nick went to the conference.  She sighed again.  She was
definitely going to kill her two faced, lying partner the next time she saw
him.  She would have to be set on by his enemies, and his enemies had very
painful fangs.

So she had found, on waking up in the alleyway.  Her first thought had been
hunger, a burning, blinding agony that prevented her from seeing anything
else.  Only when she looked down on the dead body of a local tramp did she
realise what it had made her do.  She had disposed of the body quickly,
abrading her own mouth on her fangs, until she could force them to recede
into the gum.

She sighed as she looked out at London at night.  She had just finished
attending a conference on new forensic techniques and was having a couple of
days off to see the sights.  She was going to have to learn to control this,
not to mention find a source of supply other than the homeless.  She did not
want to fly yet, she felt too out of control.  This body did not seem to
belong to her.  She was a passenger.

She took the tube back to her hotel, sinking into the anonymity of it, and
trying to avoid the melange of scents and flavours.  She had been partially
revolted that Vachon continued to hunt, not understanding why.  The need was
so strong.  Was this what she was going to have to live with for the rest of
eternity?

"Don't be defeatist."  She murmured, gaining a surprised look from the
person opposite her in the tube carriage.  Once back at her hotel she
changed clothes.  She was glad to remove her filthy soiled rags and change
into something clean.  She did not know who had happened.  She had been late
night shopping and as she went down into a tube station she had felt a sharp
pain in her arm, and looked up to see a man injecting her with something.

Things had gone blurry after that.  She remembered hearing voices talking
about "teaching de Brabant a lesson" and then lapsing into languages she did
not even recognise.  Then there had only been the pain, and then
nothingness, and then more pain.  She sought in her mind for the mental link
that Vachon had informed her that vampires had to their sire and could find
nothing, only emptiness.  Maybe she was not doing it right.

Now she needed to find a community spot, needed to get some supplies.  She
could not get back to Toronto just yet and she wanted desperately not to
kill again.  She could feel the hunger and the need, as she forced her eyes
to remain blue and her fangs to stay put.  She smiled at the receptionist.
"Tell me, where is there to go in London?"

"There are several theatres."  The other began.  "Or do you mean clubs and
things?"

"Clubs."  Tracy said and thought for a moment, visualising the Raven.  "I
love the gothic scene."  She smiled at him.  "You know those pseudo vampire
bars."

"You want to try "Helen of Troy" near Covent Garden."  The lad suggested,
and showed her where that was on the map.  Tracy sighed as she took the tube
again.  She looked around as she went into this club.  She could feel and
hear the people inside, all of them seemingly mortal, yet dressed in the
black clothes and white makeup, seeming more vampiric than the vampires.

The irony amused her and she looked around with interest.  No there was
another vampire here; she could feel him or her.  She walked towards the bar
and as she did so one of the waitresses turned to her and smiled.  "You look
a bit out of place here."  She said quickly.  She was a tall slender woman
with dark hair and green eyes.  "The drinks are better at O'Malley's, the
Irish pub."

Tracy nodded and not sure what else to do, she went to O'Malley's.  Once she
arrived there, she smiled as she felt the vampires.  It was odd that she
could feel them.  Mortals she could smell, drawn to the warm blood rushing
through their veins, but vampires she felt with a different sense, a kind of
knowing.

"Hi, you're new in town?"  The bartender said, putting a glass in front of
her, without even being asked.

"Just passing through."  Tracy said nonchalantly.  She wanted to gulp the
glass down, drink it dry, but forced herself to sip it.  The bartender
appeared to be a man in his forties. His face was kind and wrinkled, with
amused grey eyes.  He only had one arm; the other was a neatly pinned
sleeve.  He spoke with an accent and she was reminded of Screed somehow,
although his was not as strong.  "I'm Tracy."

"Mat Wallace."  He responded and smiled at her.  "Where are you from?"

"Toronto."  Tracy said and he looked more interested.  "Do you know it?"

"Sure do, my father was in Toronto.  He died of the sickness, did you catch
it?"  Tracy shook her head.  She knew better than to admit verbally how
young she was.  Vachon had warned her how some people exploited the young.

"Maybe I knew him, what was his name?"  Tracy asked.

"Bartholomew Screed."  Mat smiled as her face lit up.  "You knew him?"

"Not well, but in passing."  Tracy said and he poured her another drink.
"He was a kind man."

"Aye that he was."  The other smiled in agreement.  "We served together in
the navy, until he went AWOL and then I got this."  He indicated his sleeve.
  "I couldn't get work so I was starving in a gutter, too old to do most
things, and crippled at that.  He came for me a while later, and I accepted
his offer."

"I'm sorry."  Tracy raised her glass.  "To Screed, wherever he is."  He
brought his glass against hers and Tracy felt a growing contentment seep
through her as she drank the red liquid.  The burning hunger in her stomach
was settling down slightly.  "Nice wine, burgundy, right?"

"Got it in one."  Mat smiled at her in amusement and refilled the glasses
again.  "How long are you in town?"

"I came for a conference.  I'm flying back tomorrow."  Tracy said and saw
the amused look on his face.  "I ran out of wine."

"Happens to us all."  Mat said and grinned.  "I'll do you a few bottles to
last until you get back to the Raven."

"Thanks."  Tracy smiled at him.  "I'd love to hear the community gossip for
London, I haven't had time to catch up on it."

"Well then, say no more."  Mat then launched into an explanation of what was
going on with whom.  Tracy made a mental note of what was said.  She decided
that if she were a part of this community, even by default, then she would
learn all she could.  It might be useful at some point.  Hopefully Vachon
would teach her the rest when she got back.

When she got back to her hotel she realised she could recall the
conversation with Mat almost perfectly.  Spooky stuff this enhanced vampire
memory.  If that was the case then how come Nick still forgot to do his
share of the paperwork?  She had not been too pleased to learn that her
partner had been hiding this from her.  "Definitely not in Kansas any more
Toto."  She said as she settled down onto her chair.  Mat had been very
pleasant, giving her half a case of wine to see her home, and filling her in
on the community matters.

She hoped matters with Vachon would work out as well.  She would have to
talk to Nick.  If it had been an enemy of his, then this enemy could be
after him, could have gone to Toronto.  Her attempts to call him had failed.
  Tracy sighed and decided to give up the unequal struggle and she went to
bed.

As the plane landed in Toronto she smiled.  Mat had also given her his phone
number and a standing invitation to visit him in London.  He had introduced
her to some of the London community.  She was more settled, although still
decidedly pissed off at whoever had brought her across and dumped her.  She
was also more than a little irritated at her partner.  How dare he not tell
her what he was! How dare Vachon not let her know! Did they all think she
was stupid?  She knew the risks, just not well enough.  In fact she had
suspected Nick of being one of the community, but she was not too pleased to
have it confirmed by being bitten.

She went home and dropped her stuff.  In her room she closed her eyes and
concentrated, feeling herself lift and rise towards the ceiling.  She tried
this a few times, before calling Nick.  She received no response and tried
the office.  Nick had rung in sick.  There was no indication of Natalie
either.

By this time Tracy was seriously concerned and she drove to Natalie's.  Not
finding any sign of anyone except Sidney she fed the cat before going to
Nick's place.  Once there she let herself in quickly, when there was no
response to her ringing at the door.  Thank whatever gods looked after cops,
that he had not changed his door code.

"Nick, you'd better be okay, or I am staking you."  Tracy murmured as she
searched the place.  "You deserve it, but I would hate to ruin your
expensive shirts."

She did not feel the presence behind her until the hand touched her
shoulder.  Annoyed at this she responded instinctively, and spun.  She
lashed out at her attacker, punching hard at the stomach and kicking at the
genitals.  Then she watched as the other ducked from the kick and evaded
most of the impact of the punch.

"Where is Nick?  What have you done with him?"  Tracy asked quickly.  She
reached for her stake.

The other laughed softly.  "I have done nothing to Nicholas."  The voice was
familiar, and it sent a chill down her spine.  "I came to try to find out
where he has gone."

"You're the Nightcrawler."  Tracy said and he nodded.  She studied the face
that went with the caramel soft, chocolate bitter voice.  Not unattractive,
so pale as to make most of the Raven regulars appear sunburnt.  He had
elegant features, and aquamarine chips for eyes.

"Lucien Lacroix at your service."  He looked at her, enjoying the sight
before him.  "Are you new in town?"  He thought she was familiar but could
not place her.

"No, I just keep a very low profile."  Tracy frowned.  If he had not been
visible she would not have known he was there.  He produced neither the
scent of a mortal nor the psychic images of a vampire.  "Why can't I feel
you?"

"Age has some advantages.  There is a trick to shielding my signal."  Then
Tracy felt him, receiving an impression of such age and power that she
almost winced at the strength of it.  "Do you feel me now?"

"Like a ten tonne truck."  She said and he smiled, softening the sharp bones
of his face slightly before the sensation vanished.  "Do you know what
happened to Nick?"

"Why does it concern you?  How do you know my son?"  His voice was
intrigued.  His son did not socialise with the community very much.

"Nick is your son?"  Tracy swore as she began to put the pieces together.
"I am going to stake his behind to a windowsill at dawn.  Damn but I've been
stupid!"  She turned to the other who was watching her with one eyebrow
raised in amusement.  "Sorry, I'll start again.  I'm Detective Vetter, and
it's a pleasure to meet you Mr Lacroix."

End Part One


Season of Light, Season of Darkness 2/5

By Spike Shovelton

See part One for disclaimer

They adjourned to the flat over the Raven for a discussion.  Tracy explained
exactly what had happened.  "Do you recognise any of your attackers?"
Lacroix asked.

"No, I was blindfolded, I couldn't see."  She said and tried to remember.
"Do you know what this is about?"

"I might do."  Lacroix studied her, admiring her control.  For her age she
was doing quite well.  "Would you share the experience with me?  Perhaps I
might recognise them."

"I told you what happened."  He smiled condescendingly and she realised what
he meant.  She was definitely not thinking right.  "Oh I see, I'd rather
not."  She shivered as she remembered the indescribable agony of that first
bite.  It had felt as though two burning pokers were slicing through her
skin.  She could not tolerate that again.

Then she thought of Nick.  He could be in any sort of trouble, Natalie too.
Tracy sighed at the thought.  No she had to do this, would not forgive
herself if anything happened to Nick.  "Okay then."  She said and set her
face.  She rolled her sleeve up and held out her arm.  She braced herself
for an attack.

"Your foreplay is unique."  The voice said and she looked up into amused and
sympathetic eyes.  "You know just how to make me feel wanted."  His tone was
slightly sarcastic but without being unkind.  "I will not hurt you."

Tracy looked at him.  Vachon had described coming across as the most erotic
experience of his life.  She rather doubted that part of it and she sighed
heavily.  "Just get it over with."

"They must have hurt you very badly."  He mused, irritation fighting with
unexpected sympathy.  He knew that if he pressed her then he could win, but
it might damage her.  He refused to admit that this concerned him.  "I will
not harm you, perhaps I ought to demonstrate that."  Tracy watched as he
rolled up his sleeve and ran a fingernail up his forearm.

The air was perfumed with a delicious scent, a mixture of oranges and
cinnamon, yet tinged with the scent of honey.  Tracy felt her fangs descend
and her eyes fixed on the red beads beginning to pool on the ivory satin
skin.  He held out his arm and she reached for it.  Just as when she had
killed the wino, her body knew what to do, and before she knew it, she was
setting her fangs into the white skin.

It tasted better than anything else she had tried did, sweet and exotic and
so alive.  She felt herself move past the sheer pleasure of the taste, into
an examination of the memories it contained, trying to see each one
individually.  So fascinated was she, by one of his battles, that she did
not notice when he bit into her own wrist.

It did not hurt, but the delight of tasting his life turned into the ecstasy
of sharing, for a brief, too short moment, before he moved his arm away from
her mouth and concentrated on her memories, combing his way through her
mind.  She let him do so and sank back, this time seeing clearly what had
happened.

Flashback

"Is this the one?"  Tracy could not see properly.  Her body felt awkward,
still muddy from the drugs.

"That's the one."  Another voice said.

"Excellent, quite attractive."  The speaker had a cold voice, slightly
accented and yet unfamiliar.  "Shame I don't have time to take her properly,
nor does that accord with my plans."  English was not his native tongue.

"Do you wish me to kill her and teach de Brabant a lesson by leaving her
corpse on his doorstep, Master?"  One of the others asked.

"No, I have a better idea."  The voice was frosty.  "Alex, you failed in
your previous mission to obtain the Lambert woman.  Redeem yourself by
bringing this one across."

Tracy had tried to struggle, but her limbs were unwilling to obey her
instructions, and she could not move, the paralytic drug meant that she
could hardly scream.  There was only the pain of the bite, a razor of agony
crossing her skin.  She felt herself drifting into faintness, before she
choked on the blood in her mouth.  She wanted to stop herself from drinking
but the part of her that wanted to live was too strong.  As she struggled to
return from the darkness her eyes began to work again and she could see the
vampire leaning over her.  He stood and grinned, fangs still dripping with
the last of her mortal blood.

"Alex.  I do not accept failure.  Nor do I tolerate treachery."  The leader
said and Tracy watched as he nodded.  Two of the other vampires moved
forwards and staked her maker through the heart, then coolly and efficiently
decapitated him.

"Brilliant, Master."  One of the others said.  "That will drive her mad."

"Quite so.  Our research indicates that she is unaccustomed to this sort of
challenge, and will not adapt.  The lack of a link to her maker will either
prevent her from crossing fully, or drive her mad so that the enforcers deal
with the situation.  There is a delicious irony that one made by a traitor
should be destroyed by them.  Take photographs to show de Brabant."

She closed her eyes against the flash and winced.  "Who?"  She whispered,
trying to work out what was going on.

"Silence."  The voice hissed.  She could see him now.  He was tall with red
hair and blue eyes.  His face would have been handsome, had it not been for
the long scars on both cheeks.  "Dispose of her in the nearest gutter.  She
is no longer of use."

End Flashback

Tracy looked around as the memory ended.  They were back in the flat above
the Raven.  She looked down.  Lacroix was holding her hand and Tracy shifted
under his scrutiny.  "Did you recognise him?"

Lacroix frowned.  "His face is familiar, but I do not know from where."

"Can you feel anything from Nick?"  Tracy asked the other.

"No, I can barely detect him.  He is alive, but I believe him to be drugged.
  His attacker has used a drug, probably curare, to knock him out and deaden
the link between us.  I know he is alive, but nothing more."  Lacroix
studied the blonde.  "I regret that this link made you relive that pain.
Rest assured it shall be avenged."

"It was necessary, besides you were delicious, like caramelised oranges.  Do
all vampires taste so wonderful?"  Tracy asked.  She watched as the other's
alabaster complexion took on a faint hint of rose, the vampire equivalent of
a blush.  The colour faded quickly.  "Sorry."  She realised he was trying
not to laugh too much.

Lacroix looked at her.  At any other time he would take that as a come on.
From her it was a genuine question.  Nobody had made him blush in that way
for centuries, especially not a fledgling.  He was intrigued.  Like her
attacker he had read Tracy's enforcer file, and the profile on her.  It told
of a woman who had enjoyed an easy life, been sheltered and protected and
never had to struggle, due to her father's influence, and then protected and
shielded by Nicholas and Vachon.  Attractive and well liked, she had done
well as a cop.  The estimate made had been that she would be unlikely to
cope as a vampire.

None of this bore any resemblance to the woman he had met, or the impression
in her blood, and the contrast intrigued him.  She turned to him and he
smiled.  "There is one thing I would like to ask."  He said.

"Only one?"  She asked and he chuckled.  "I can think of at least three
hundred questions I want to ask you."

"Not today though, it is too close to dawn.  I will answer one question if
you will do the same."  He said and she nodded finally.  "Ladies first?"

"I'd rather hear your question."  Tracy said.  She could still taste his
blood and she realised why vampires enjoyed that.  Even without the sexual
intention it was a remarkably stimulating experience.  He was a very
charismatic individual, not just the appeal of a vampire, but something
else.  He intrigued her on a more personal level.

Lacroix tried to phrase this as best he could.  "I am curious about how
little you resemble your profile in the enforcers."

"Is that a question?"  Tracy asked and he raised an eyebrow.

"No, but your father has always protected you, has he not?"  She nodded.
"How has that affected you?"

"Can I think about that?"  Tracy asked and he nodded.  "I will tell you
tomorrow evening, no this evening.  Now it's my turn."  He nodded.  "How did
you score a victory over the Syrians, and was it necessary to crucify every
third man in the town?"

"You saw that?"  He had fenced off a few areas in his mind, but had left the
majority open, allowing her to see his life easily enough.  He wanted her to
relax and trust him.  Odd that she had wound up looking through his early
life.  "That also will take time to explain."  He smiled.  "Now that I know
the face of your attacker I can run a search through the database on known
vampires and identify him."

"Will that take long?"  Tracy asked and he shrugged.  She decided to treat
this like any other criminal case, perhaps it would stop her from having to
answer too many questions.

"I should know within a few hours.  Then I can track him down and go after
him."  He smiled ferally and Tracy was very glad that he was not her enemy.
She frowned.

"Let me know when we go after him."  She said.  "I am not letting you do the
lone ranger stunt.  It pisses me off when Nick does it and I don't take it
from you."  He hid a smile.  He was capable of subduing her through brute
force, but that never appealed to him.  "Besides you need someone to watch
your back.  Someone you can trust shielding your right arm in a testudo."
This last sentence was in Latin and he grinned at hearing his own inflection
and accent on the words.  Clearly she had picked that out of his memories
from their sharing.  If it had not been rude he would have asked her what
she saw in his mind and he wondered why she had gone for old memories.

"I bow to your logic."  He walked to the computers.  "I hope the enforcers
have not changed their codes, so I can still gain access."  He soon had the
programme up and running and then Tracy looked at the computer before
returning to the armchair.

"I think perhaps I can guess what the profile says."  She looked at him.
"People think it must be easy being commissioner's daughter.  Every time I
succeed I am proving myself.  Every cop I meet thinks I am there because of
my father, not myself.  No matter how hard I work, there are always some who
will doubt that I can cut it."

He nodded; he was beginning to see the other side of the coin.  "Go on."

"I also have to fight the fact that people expect me to be like my father,
to follow the same ways, to think the same.  His political friends expect me
to vote for them.  I had to work out who I was a long time ago, and I
realised that I could either do what my father wanted, and hate myself, or
try to go my own way."  She paused quickly.  "Does that answer your
question?"

"I believe so."  This was becoming more and more intriguing.  "It will soon
be dawn.  If you wish to remain here for the day, then I have no objection."

"I had planned to see Vachon."  Tracy said and looked at him.

"He is not in town."  Lacroix paused and Tracy nodded, not seeming surprised
that her Spanish lover was in Bali with his daughter, Urs.  "You might do
well to go home and get some rest."

"So you can go off and rescue Nick single-handed?  Not a chance."  Tracy
said and the old vampire smiled and nodded.  "Besides I have a lot of
questions I want to ask you, when you answer the one about the battle."

"I give you my word that I will do nothing to rescue Nicholas without your
support."  He thought for a moment and then poured them some more to drink.
"You had better stay in Janette's room.  If I put you anywhere else then the
youngsters may see you as fair game."  He showed her into the room next door
to his own.

Whoever Janette was she had wonderful taste in dicor.  Tracy smiled as she
climbed into bed, snuggling under the black silk sheets, feeling strange in
a borrowed silk night-gown, slightly too large.  Her sleep was sound and
untroubled by dreams.

End Part Two


Season of Light, Season of darkness 3/5

By Spike Shovelton

See Part One for disclaimer


When she awoke it was early afternoon.  There were clean clothes on the
bedside table, a dark pink cotton shirt and black jeans.  Clothes in her
style and her size too.  She sighed and washed in the black bath before
dressing and going to find breakfast.

Lacroix was already up, and from the fatigue on his face, she wondered if he
had slept at all.  "Tracy."  He said and she poured herself a glass of wine.

"Have you slept?"  Tracy handed him a glass and he nodded.

"A little.  Nicholas is awake, unharmed physically, but mentally "  Lacroix
grimaced.  "I can feel only horror, fear and such distress and despair.  I
believe that they are torturing Natalie in front of him."

"Do we know who?"  Tracy asked and watched as the screen displayed a
profile.  She recognised the face on the screen and controlled a shiver.
"Pieter van der Esselin.  I don't know him, who is he?"

"I can only find the name, no more details.  His file has been purged and so
I do not know his age."  Tracy frowned and he went on.   "I know that
Nicholas is not near, but he is still drugged, so the details are fuzzy."
Lacroix said quickly.

"Let me run a police check on Esselin, perhaps I can come up with
something."  Tracy said and the other studied her.  "Don't worry, there are
a few advantages to having a police commissioner for a father.  Thanks for
the clothes."

"I thought you might appreciate them."  He studied her for a moment.  "As
usual my taste is excellent, and they frame your beauty to advantage."  He
felt another wave of agony through his link to his son and forced his eyes
to remain blue.

Tracy decided she could get used to compliments.  Half the time Vachon did
not seem to know whether she was wearing a bikini or a mackintosh.  She
smiled at the old vampire and he let her sit down at the terminal.  Tracy
picked up the telephone.  "Hi Ellen it's Tracy.  Can I ask a favour?"

Lacroix listened with interest to this.  "Sure Tracy."  The voice said
quickly.  "You know I owe you.  It isn't another party is it?  Remember
Violet Thompson's hen night?"

"The dancer we hired?"  Tracy asked and chuckled.  "I haven't been able to
look at fudge sauce since then without blushing."  Lacroix listened in,
enjoying this conversation.  It was getting interesting.

"Well you were the one wanting to play Mistress Dominatrix with the poor
guy.  He was paid to strip and you went after him with a whip."  Sue said
and chuckled.  "You want me to hire him again, is that it?"

"No, this is a work based favour.  I need to run a check on someone,
possibly foreign.  Can you keep it between us?"

"For you it's a pleasure.  How's that Spanish stud you were telling me
about?"  Ellen asked.  "Can he cut it?"

"Nope, he is probably two timing me right now."  Tracy sighed heavily.  "How
about yours?  Is Murphy making your dreams come true?"

"Girl, that Irishman is hung like a donkey.  If he weren't so good I'd lend
him to you."  Both women laughed.  "He does have a brother if you're
interested."

"I'm sending you the pictures now."  Tracy sent the file to Ellen's
terminal.  Ellen Baker was an ex hacker who had joined the good guys and was
now a brilliant cop who had recently broken two child pornography rings.
Tracy could have run the same search but it would have taken longer and
involved answering questions.

"I got it.  Where are you now?"  Ellen asked.  "This isn't your e-mail, why
do I know Rosebud? Isn't he the freak who writes to nutters?  Does the
Knightmare know you're involved with weirdoes?"

"He's a friend of Nick's."  Tracy said and grinned at the screen, despite
the fact that her friend could not see it.  "Just run me the search Elly,
it's very important."

"Sure thing, give me a second."  Sue said and smiled.  "Want me to search
locally or more globally?"

"Globally, if you can."  Tracy said and the other snorted.  "Let me know
when you get the information."  She gave the other the number and then hung
up.

Twenty minutes later the telephone rang.  Lacroix handed it to her.  Nick
was screaming in his mind and he forced the sensation down to enable him to
concentrate.  "Tracy, for a weirdo that rosebud has one sexy voice.  What
does he look like?"

Lacroix raised an eyebrow and Tracy realised that he had been listening to
the whole conversation.  Damn vampire hearing.  She was still not quite used
to that part of this life.  She felt herself trying to blush.  "Fairly
normal.  What do you have?"

"His name is Pieter Braun, naturalised German citizen, according to the
files he lives in Bavaria.  Some suspicion that his father was a nazi but
young Pieter has no criminal record.  We wouldn't know about him at all
except for German thoroughness in record keping."  Sue said and gave Tracy
the address.  "I'm sending the information I have gathered on to you.  I
want the full story later.  You want to meet for some fudge cake next week?"

Tracy had agreed to this before she had time to think.  It was only as she
hung up and reached for the wineglass that she remembered.  No more fudge
cake for her.  Odd how worrying about Nick had helped her to stop worrying
about herself.   Now it was brought home to her exactly what she had lost.
She looked down at Lacroix, as he poured her some more wine, his hand near
her own as she clutched the stem of the glass.  Her hand was still light
brown from the tan she had received during her last holiday, and his was
marble white.  How long before hers was that colour?  She would never lie in
the sun again, never walk through a summer field.

Suddenly Tracy realised everything that she had lost, no more summers, no
more chocolate fudge cake, and no chance of children.  There was only an
eternity of nights and blood and colourlessness.  She did not know when she
started crying, but it was too overwhelming and she could not stop it.  As
she saw her own red tears falling she cried at how alien she felt now, an
alien in her own skin.

"Hush now."  Lacroix watched her for a moment as she wept.   He did not have
time for this, but if he did not help her then she would wind up like his
son.  He took the glass from her clutching fingers and put it on the table.
  Then he reached for her, gathering her into his arms and holding her as he
had once held Janette through her nightmares.  He stroked her hair, enjoying
the texture of it.  She was as beautiful as she was delicious.  Her attacker
was correct that most posthumously sired vampires died instantly, unable to
cross fully, or went mad, unable to tolerate being so alone and without
help.  For her to have survived took strength of character.  He had watched
as she had subdued her own concern and fear and replaced it with anger, and
worry about Nicholas.  Now her fear had returned and was swamping her.

He soothed her until she stopped crying, and wiped the tears from her
cheeks.  "There ma mie, do not cry so."  She had stopped crying and realised
that he was holding her very closely.  Odd how it felt so comfortable in his
arms.  She could smell again the caramel of his blood and it was both
arousing and relaxing.  She forced herself to remain composed and breathed
in deeply.

"I am sorry."  Tracy pulled away and he helped her up.  "I just realised."
She expected to see scorn and derision but the blue eyes were warm and
surprisingly sympathetic.

"I do not know anyone who has not had a night when they realised the
repercussions of this existence.  For me it came when I tried to eat honey
cakes."  His voice was a gentle soothing caress and Tracy sat back down.  "I
was violently sick and nearly wept that I could no longer eat honey cakes as
Domitia used to prepare them."

"No."  Tracy said and he took her hand and smiled at her.

"The important thing is to grieve for mortality and then accept and move
on."  He looked at her.  "Nicholas was never able to move on, he could only
see what he has lost.  I grieved for what I gave up, then I moved on and
accepted what I became.  I have never regretted my decision."

Tracy had expected him to laugh that she grieved for chocolate fudge cake.
He was unusual and she looked at him.  "Okay."  She was going to deal with
this, was going to adapt.  The first couple of nights had been occupied with
the basics of survival and then with her concerns about Nicholas.  She had
not had the time to consider it.  She looked up and realised that the old
vampire looked even paler than before.  "Nick is hurting?"

"Not physically, but he is in great distress."  Lacroix looked at her.  "Do
you still want to come?  It will not be very pleasant."

"This is what I am."  Tracy said and smiled, letting her fangs drop.  "He is
going to pay for this."  Lacroix smiled back, his face a beautifully evil
grin, the fangs slightly longer than hers.  She could feel the anger that he
had leashed in before now bubbling beneath the surface.

As soon as the sun set they boarded a flight to Germany.  The plane they
took went via Amsterdam and it would be nearly dawn by the time they arrived
in Germany.  Lacroix had cursed that they would have to wait another day
before attacking Esselin, but it was unavoidable.  Tracy was surprised to
find Miklos and a few of the other vampires in tow.  Apparently Nick was
quite well liked but not respected.  Natalie was respected for her healing
ability and her knowledge if not exactly trusted.

Tracy smiled as she saw Miklos pouring her another drink.  Lacroix had
managed to get the vampire into the cabin crew so he was pouring drinks for
them.  The irony of this amused her greatly.  Lacroix was making a telephone
call using the air phone.

"I hope you are enjoying the flight."  Miklos said and Tracy nodded.

"I don't often get to travel first class.  Did you persuade them to upgrade
us?"  Tracy saw him shaking with laughter.  "What?"

"General insisted on it, you can't imagine him travelling economy can you?"
Miklos said and she smiled back.  "He is quite taken with you.  He is not
often so interested in the young."  Lacroix returned and sat down.  He did
not speak and Tracy could see the pain in his eyes.  Whatever they were
doing to Nick was having quite an effect on the old vampire.

When they arrived at Munich airport they managed to make the hotel just
before dawn.  They had reserved suites on the top floor and Lacroix went
straight into one of them and shut the door.  Tracy could hear him pacing
about and she looked at the others.  Miklos had settled down in the living
room of one of the other suites with some of the other vampires and they
were starting to play poker.

"Is he okay?"  Tracy asked as she heard a crash.

"He will be."  One of the waiters said.  "Just leave him alone, he's not
very good company at the best of times."

Tracy thought of the man who had held her as she wept for mortality and
ignoring the knowing grins and stares she knocked and then went into the
large bedroom.  There was the sound of shattering glass as she opened the
door.  Lacroix turned, face transformed into a vampiric grimace.  "What do
you want?"  Her eyes went to the broken china on the floor.

"To tell you to stop damaging the furniture."  Tracy could see that
tiptoeing around the issue would not help and she stalked across the room to
stand in front of him.  "Even at the Hilton you can't get away with trashing
the room, not unless you're a popstar." He glared back at her.  "Besides
some of us are trying to rest."

"I will do what I please and you should not even think to stop me."  He
reached for another of the silly china ornaments.   His glare was murderous.
Tracy caught his arm.

"Look I may not be old but I can be just as stubborn as you."  Tracy said as
he tried to break free.  "I know you're worried about Nick but destroying
things won't help matters."  She smiled.  "Besides you haven't kept your
word."

"Have I not?"  Lacroix found his fury replaced by interest.  What had really
annoyed him was being unable to do anything.  He could feel his son's fury
and despair and it drove him mad being unable to act.  His eyes met hers and
she almost sank into them.  "How have I not kept my word?"

"I want to hear about your battle."  Tracy said and waited.  "I saw it in
your mind, you were planning to attack rebellious Syrians and you disagreed
with your commander, Titus, about the plan."

"Really?"  Lacroix smiled ever so slightly.  "Why would I want to tell you
that?"

"It might help you to relax, ease tension."  Tracy said, refusing to look
away from those beautiful eyes.  He smiled and this time it was a real
smile, warming his eyes and softening the bones of his face.

"I can think of many better ways to relieve tension."  He said and the
invitation was unmistakable.  Tracy felt herself shivering at the idea but
could not think of any reason not to go with this.  Then she decided to stop
thinking as he reached for her and kissed her.  The kiss sent a flame
through her and her fangs descended into her mouth as she slid her arms
around him and returned the kiss.

They moved towards the bed and Tracy gave into the pleasure of sensation,
enjoying his arms around her, his hands moving skilfully over her body and
the scent of his sweet blood.  Later as they lay in bed he told her the
story of the campaign in Syria, culminating in their return in triumph to
Rome, and in his commander and friend Titus Vespasianus rising to the
purple, and Lucius Aurelius being promoted to General.

Tracy stretched and crept out of bed and went to the shower room.  As she
washed she considered the events of the day.  Winding up making mad
passionate love to the nightcrawler was not what she had expected to happen.
  She grinned, not that she minded.  It had been wonderful.  In 2000 years
he had certainly learnt what to do to please a woman.

She thought of Vachon for a moment then dismissed the thought.  Vachon
hadn't said anything, had made no commitment to her.  She had the right to
do what she wanted.  Besides sex that good was not a regular feature in her
life.  Once dry and dressed she returned to the bedroom.  Lacroix was still
sleeping and she studied him.  Men often looked like little boys when
asleep, but he looked the same as ever.

She poured wine and drank the glass down; refilling it she placed it by the
bedside and studied her sleeping lover.  Well, he looked more relaxed.   The
tension had gone.  Suddenly his eyes opened and looked at her, turning to
the glass by the bed.  Once he had drunk it he looked at her.  "Hello ma
mie."

"Good evening Lucien."  Tracy said his name for the first time.  "Can you
still remember my name?"

He sat up and roared with laughter at this comment.  Finally he smiled at
her. He looked her over and for a moment they were partners in a brilliant
joke.  "I remember your name, Tracy.  I hope you are not too embarrassed."

Tracy considered this for a moment.  "No, I enjoyed myself."  She poured
some more wine and sat on the edge of the bed, enjoying the way his eyes
followed her movement.   She wondered whether she had imagined the
tenderness she had received from his blood.   "Glad that the rumours about
vampire stamina are true."

"My dear, you do not know the half of it."  He smiled brilliantly before he
stiffened and his face fell.  Tracy watched this and when he looked at her
again, all trace of levity had vanished from his complexion.

"I'll go and gather people."  Tracy smiled and her companion studied her.
"We will get Nick back."  Tracy tried to ignore the broad grins on her
arrival in the lounge.  Miklos had checked her over carefully, looking for
bruises but finally he nodded and they all made ready for the attack.

End Part Three


Season of Light, season of darkness 4/5

By Spike Shovelton

See Part One for disclaimer

As they flew along Lacroix hid a smile as he watched Tracy flying.  He
turned to Tracy.  "Imagine there is a line on the ground beneath you.  You
have to keep one leg on either side of the line."

"Why?"  Tracy asked and he smiled.

"What is a test for drink driving?"  He asked and she thought for a moment.

"Walking in a straight line."  She responded and realised that he was
telling her that she was weaving around.  She concentrated on the invisible
line and Lacroix nodded as she kept in a straight line.

"The important thing to remember is to watch out for landmarks.  Everywhere
looks different from above."  The old vampire smiled as he remembered
teaching Janette that trick.

"I'll remember that."  Tracy said and smiled.  She was getting there, she
was beginning to learn how this worked.  It wasn't too bad provided she
remembered to keep eating.  At least over the countryside the scent of
mortal blood was not so distracting.   Some aspects of this life were even
quite pleasant.  She liked the flight part among others.  "Is it possible to
learn to shield my signal, so I don't read as a vampire?"

Lacroix shrugged slightly.  "That comes with age.  There is a skill to it,
but it requires two things, age and the mental development to focus the
skill.  You might want to learn the mental skills, but the ability to make
the shield last requires the strength provided by age.  Nicholas has never
mastered the skill.  Miklos is half his age and yet he can produce some
shielding.  It depends on individual strength and determination."

"How does one acquire the necessary mental skills?"  Tracy asked and he
smiled.

"A combination of exercises, meditation, building mental control and
shielding."  He shrugged and considered the matter.  "By and large you
either have the ability or you don't.  You can learn the skills but it is
like having perfect pitch.  It is partly nature."  He looked at her.  "What
do you think of this life now?"  He wondered why he was even concerned.  He
had never much cared about the women with whom he had disported himself in
the past.

"I'm sort of getting used to it."  Tracy said quickly.  "I still feel a
little uncomfortable but I am starting to fit in a little better."  She
looked ahead of them.  "We're nearly there."

They quickly arrived at the castle where Esselin had taken up residence.
Apparently although it resembled a gothic castle a nineteenth century
English gentleman who had settled in Germany had built it.

"General."  Tracy said and Lacroix turned "We ought to send some people
around to ambush them."

"Let us see."  Lacroix had a look.  "He has guards everywhere.  I think this
house is quite well guarded, and he will not exactly open the door."

"He might."  Tracy said quickly.  "Supposing a strippergram arrived at the
door by mistake."

"That would distract the guards and let us attack."  Lacroix smiled and
extended his shield to hide the signals of the all the other vampires.

Tracy knocked on the door and when the door opened she smiled.  "Hi I'm the
strippergram."  The two guards looked at her with pleasure, laughing softly
at her accent as she spoke in German.  Tracy had learned the language from
her Austrian grandfather.  "Which of you ordered me?"  She smiled at the
stupider one on the left.  "Is it your birthday?"  She slinked over to him,
stepping into the hall and as she came closer she moved against him and
stabbed a curare tipped dart into his wrist.  "Or is it you?"  She repeated
it on the other and then felt for other vampires before disabling some of
the intruder alerts.  The others followed her in and they began to search.

They spread out looking for Nick and Natalie.  Tracy went through the
different doors and shivered as they went down into the cellar.  All the
other rooms looked normal.  They dealt with the guards and explored further.
  Tracy had a bad feeling as she turned down one corridor.

Tracy turned into a room and was presented with a vision of nightmare
proportions.  It resembled little so much as a torture chamber.  There was a
mirror down one wall and she guessed that it was a one way glass.  There was
a figure chained to a table, blood running down her body and covered with
bruises.  Tracy forced down her instinctive reaction to the blood as the
other vampires; all of them dressed in black and masked turned to attack
her.

Tracy moved forward and the three vampires moved towards her.  The attack
was frenzied this time.  Unlike the doorkeepers these three were ready.  It
took every self-defence trick she knew to hold her own.  These three were
skilled.  She kicked out when Miklos joined her.

The assistance turned the tide and they soon had subdued the torturers.
Tracy rushed to the bound figure.  Only the curling chestnut hair identified
the figure slumped against the bonds as Natalie Lambert, the face was so
badly mutilated as to be unidentifiable.  The woman was naked and scarcely
an inch of skin had escaped undamaged.  "Natalie."  Tracy touched her skin
and felt for a pulse, not trusting her hearing.  She could not find a pulse
and she felt a surge of grief and fury because she could detect none.  She
looked down at the dead form as an invisible door opened in the mirror wall
and Lacroix looked at them.  The other half of the room was empty, save for
a chair with shackles attached to them.

Lacroix looked through the glass at the torture chamber.  He did not want to
think what his son would do now.  There was no sign of Nicholas in here, he
could not see his son and he felt a sudden white-hot surge of pain and fear
and fury from Nicholas, pushing through their link.  Forgetting everything
he concentrated on the signal Nicholas was giving and flew.

Tracy looked down at the dead form and sighed to Miklos.  "Nick is going to
be devastated."  Miklos and the others set off to follow Lacroix.  Tracy
turned back to the dead woman and began to unfasten the cuffs.  She could
not leave Natalie, or anyone else, tied to a torture table.  Tracy threw her
coat over her.  Odd how she was disregarding all the rules of forensics, but
it was different when it was someone close to you.  Besides the police
weren't going to be rushing to investigate this one.

Nick fought the titanium cuffs but was unable to break free.  His eyes were
red coals in his fury.  "No you can't get away."  The voice of the man who
had held them was recognisable but his attacker had always worn a mask so
Nick did not know him.  "I will have my revenge.  I was planning to torture
your slut to death in front of you.  I thought she would last longer.  One
day and one night are not very long.  At Auschwitz I made them last longer."

"Who are you?"  Nick asked, looking at this other one.  He was still trying
to take in the fact that Natalie had died just in front of his eyes.

"My name is Pieter van der Esselin."  The other smiled and removed his mask.
  "That means nothing to you?"

"No."  Nick tried to remember; he might have heard the name.

"I will make it easier for you.  Do you remember Alyssa?"  The other said
and Nick nodded.  "She was mine and you stole her."

Nick paused as a memory returned to him of his ill-fated wedding to Alyssa
and hearing two men talking together.

Flashback

"Graf van der Esselin won't be happy."  One of the old men said.  Nick
watched this with interest.

"He only wanted her for the money and land.  Young Pieter is a cruel man; he
takes pleasure from pain.  William the Baker's daughter died because of it.
No wonder the Graf prefers to give Alyssa to her French lover."  The other
man said quickly.

"You think this one does not want the money?"  The first responded and
refilled the tankards with ale.  "Happen something should be done about
Pieter."

The young bridegroom watched this conversation as the villagers made merry.
He would ask Alyssa about this.  Her parents had not made any trouble, they
said that there was some idea of matching her with a neighbour but no
contract.

There was nothing to stop the marriage, no previous betrothal.  Alyssa would
be his and they would share eternity.  Never had he loved like this before.

End Flashback

"So you remember it now?  You stole my promised bride.  Alyssa was to have
been mine and you took her from me.  She was mine to take, and mine to
destroy.  So I have taken and destroyed everything of yours.  Your little
partner is dead, and your woman died very painfully."  Esselin smiled.  "I
have watched you for centuries, waiting for you to find happiness.  When I
saw it then I knew and decided to move in."

Esselin checked the time.  "I'd love to chat but I think Daddy is coming to
rescue you, and I'd rather not be around when he does."  He pulled out a
long sharp stake as Nick ducked, unable to comprehend what had been done.

Nick felt a sense of despair and hopelessness as he looked at the other.  It
could not be true, not his Natalie.  He tried to imagine life without her
and he winced.  He was so caught in his despair that he barely noticed the
other moving towards him.  Only when the thick stake slid into his chest did
he realise what had happened.  "Nicholas."  He turned his head at the sound
of his name and saw his sire.  Esselin was gone.  Lacroix looked past his
son then returned his attention to the bleeding figure.  All else could
wait, his son needed him.

Tracy shook her head and looked at the form as she began to undo the
manacles.  Natalie was gone and Nick was going to walk into the sun.  How
could he survive without his Natalie?  As she looked at the dead woman the
reflexes of the body opened the eyes.  Tracy looked into the empty brown
eyes with a deep sadness.  Then she looked at the face, taking in the sheer
agony on the crumpled visage.  She had probably died of fright; her heart
stopped beating under the sheer torture she was suffering.

She looked up as Lacroix came back in, carrying Nick in his arms.  Tracy was
reminded of a picture she had seen in church of Abraham carrying Isaac to be
sacrificed.  The father, his face grave, a tear on one cheek and his arms
around his son, holding him closely and unwillingly putting him down on the
altar, the son looking up with bemused incomprehension.  She looked at Nick,
whose face was almost grey with strain.

"Nick."  Tracy rushed over as Lacroix put Nick down beside the dead figure
on the floor.  The blankness on Nick's face was dreadful, as was the pain in
his eyes.  He reached up and touched the soft hair with one finger.  Tracy
took one hand and Nick looked up at her before turning empty eyes back to
the dead woman beside him.

"Can you take Nicholas back to the hotel?  He is still injured.  I need to
oversee the search for Esselin."  Tracy opened her mouth to protest at being
excluded from the search.  Lacroix motioned her to one side and leaned to
speak in her ear.  "Someone needs to keep an eye on him and I trust nobody
else."  Tracy remembered some of the images she had seen in Lacroix's blood
and she finally nodded.  He wanted to be with his son but obviously the old
vampire knew that Nick would want him to find the enemy.

End Part Four


Season of Light, Season of Darkness 5/5

By Spike Shovelton

See Part One for disclaimer

She helped Nick up and ensured that he took flight with her.  Once back at
the hotel she poured him a glass of wine and held it out.  Nick looked at
her blankly.  Tracy realised that he was still in shock and she wondered
idly what one ought to do to treat a vampire in shock.  She tried the
standard treatment, wrapping a blanket around him and ensuring he drank the
wine.

She talked to him gently, assuring him that they would find Esselin and give
him what for.  She swore to herself that she would kill Esselin herself, to
make him pay for the death of Natalie Lambert.    When she sipped her own
drink Nick started focusing on her, and looked shocked as she drank the
wine.  "Did Vachon do that to you?"  Tracy sighed, she had hoped to avoid
the lecture.

She was spared further trouble by the arrival of Lacroix, who looked grim
and who shook his head.  "I can find no trace of Esselin."  Lacroix said
quickly.  "I will continue to search."  He looked at Nick and sighed.
"Nicholas I am sorry about your Natalie."

"You don't even like Natalie."  Nick glared at his maker.  "Why do you
care?"  The fury that filled his face showed the shock was wearing off.

"I had a great deal of respect for her."  Lacroix said and then the look in
his eyes softened.  "She made you happy, happier than I have known you for
many centuries."  Nick looked sceptical.  "Has he eaten?"

"Not much. Can I do anything to help?"  Tracy asked, looking into the weary
grey blue eyes of the Roman vampire.

"No but pour some more wine."  Tracy obeyed.  "He knows that we will find
him.  What he may not realise is that the whole community will be onto him.
Natalie was very highly regarded.  Anyone who kills her will die."  Lacroix
smiled in bitter amusement.  "We will hunt him down and he will be
punished."

"Sounds good."  Tracy said.  She looked at Nick and poured him another glass
of wine.  His face was dreadfully drained and Tracy could the strain
penetrating his bond with his maker.  Lacroix did not say anything; he
simply sat with Nicholas.

Tracy tossed on the couch.  Lacroix had put Nick to bed and she had settled
down on the pull out sofa bed.  She knew that Nick needed his father now.
She had tried to sleep but she kept seeing Natalie.  Poor Natalie to have
died in such agony.  All Tracy could see was the pain in the dark brown
eyes.

Tracy frowned at the image, there was something nagging at her.  Something
about the picture was very wrong.  She remembered another occasion, talking
to Natalie as the coroner made her face up, preparing to address a
conference in Toronto.  Tracy had watched the coroner choosing a green
eyeshadow to bring out the green notes in her blue eyes.

"Natalie has blue eyes."  Tracy murmured as she sat up.  She went to her
wallet and pulled out a photograph.  She and Nick were standing with Joe
Reese and Natalie Lambert.  Natalie had been looking at Nick and her eyes
revealed her feelings.  They were a clear open blue and the love in them had
been clear to see.   Tracy shivered and checked the time.  It was three
hours before dawn so she had time enough.

Tracy dressed again quickly and went along the corridor, knocking on the
next door.  Miklos was fully dressed and he looked at her.  She explained
what she had seen and he nodded at this.  "Have you informed de Brabant?"
Miklos said and she shook her head.

"I didn't want to, in case it was a false hope."  Tracy said and the vampire
nodded in understanding.  "Where is Natalie?"

"We left her there.  Lacroix was going to deal with it in the morning."
Miklos studied her.  "He won't be pleased if you go out."

"I can't just wait around.  You can come or not."  She studied the older
vampire.  Miklos grinned.  No wonder the General liked her, she had spirit
and intelligence.  He had seen her sometimes waiting for Vachon in the
Raven.  She was always pleasant but often looked very much alone.  She
certainly deserved better than a Spaniard who was taking her for granted.

"I will join you there."  He said and she nodded and left.  Good that would
give him time to talk to Lacroix, let the old vampire know what was going
on.  Lacroix had ordered him in no uncertain terms to keep an eye on his
newest lover.  Miklos grinned; this was going to make life more interesting,
especially if Natalie was still living.  Knight would be unhappy but then
Tracy seemed to know what she wanted.

Tracy sighed as she went through the mess and rubble into the house.  In the
torture chamber she looked at the dead figure on the table, no longer tied
up, but not at peace.  Tracy studied her closely and this time she noticed
the differences between this woman and Natalie.  This one was older, the
hair was streaked with grey, and the face was lined.

A rush of fury filled Tracy, so acute that her fangs bit into her lower lip.
  This woman, whoever she had been, was dead because of her resemblance to
Natalie.  In order to torment Nick this poor creature had been put through
agony.

Tracy checked the time.  She had at least an hour so she decided to search
the house, in case the men had missed anything.  The castle was old and she
began exploring the rooms slowly, looking for anything they had missed.  As
she did so she considered the events of the last few days.  Her unwilling
entry into vampirism, and her growing understanding of what it meant to be a
vampire.

Lacroix was right, it was not simply sacrifices, nor was it all blood and
skittles.  There were some bad things, like the lack of fudge cake, and some
good things, like the incredible sex and improved sensory abilities.  Tracy
was starting to settle in, coming to terms a little more with herself.  She
still did not like the hunger she could feel, a throbbing ache beneath the
surface, but she supposed she would become used to it.

Now what could have happened to Natalie?  "Reconstruction time, Vetter.  He
left Nick and ran.  Lacroix was after him so he could hardly take her with
him.  My guess is that he is going to come back for her.  He must have
hidden her away somewhere to come back for her."  She remembered a
particularly good vampire romance; set in Tudor England, the protagonist had
hidden a beautiful damsel in a priest's hole.  "Well this is a castle, built
by an Englishman."  Tracy began to search in earnest.

As she did so she felt the sensation of another vampire.  She was not alone
in the house.  Tracy tried to minimise her own signal so she would not be as
easy to locate.  She doubted she could manage it but she tried to pretend
that she was not there.  She was walking through the hall, looking at the
pictures when her eyes focused on a picture of a particularly stern looking
man.  Tracy frowned, detecting a beating pulse, her vampire side unable to
avoid the rhythmic throb of the beating heart.  Tracy walked to the picture
and examined it.  As she felt around the side of it she hit a catch and the
picture folded back to reveal a compartment behind it.

Tracy could hear the pulse, slow but still fast enough for a mortal.  The
figure tumbled out of the priest's hole and this was unmistakably Natalie
Lambert, drugged as she was.  The pulse was reassuringly regular.  Tracy
sighed.  She had to get Natalie back to the hotel before dawn.  She gathered
the other up, surprised how easy it was now.  As a vampire she was stronger
than she had been as a mortal and this still amazed her.

Then again as a mortal she would not have been able to detect the pulse
behind the screen.  She had to get Natalie out of here before Esselin
returned, and before the dawn came.  She headed for the nearest window when
she heard a movement.  Looking across she saw her reflection in a mirror,
and heading towards it a crossbow bolt.  Instinctively she ducked and saw
the bolt pass her and shatter the mirror.

Tracy realised that she had no defences.  She wished that Miklos had come
with her.  Turning she saw Esselin standing at the other end of the long
portrait gallery.  Tracy put Natalie back down, out of his line of fire and
hurried back, moving at vampire speed, and dodging another crossbow bolt.
Esselin was ready for her and he turned.  His face was that of the vampire
and Tracy felt her own fangs sink into her mouth and she grinned as he came
for her.

He had dropped the crossbow and he tried to stab her with a stake.  Tracy
ducked around and brought her hand down in a karate chop on his wrist.
Reacting to that he dropped his stake and she seized his arm, bending it
upwards and backwards.  She continued to push it, moving away from his other
arm, and waiting for the snap of the muscles.

Tracy moved in closer.  She grabbed for him, her hand settling on his
shoulder.  Not knowing fully her own strength she felt the material of his
shirt tearing beneath her fingers, exposing the flesh.  At this point
instinct took over and she sank her fangs into the pale throat exposed to
her, drinking in his life.

She shook beneath the flood of memories.  Unlike her two experiences with
Lacroix, where each memory was neatly compartmentalised, this one inundated
her with a mixture of pictures.  Tracy shivered inwardly at the sights of
executions and torture and pain.  Lines of stick thin people went in to a
large building, and oily smoke poured from the chimney.  In another picture
two men in white robes were lynching another man.

Tracy fought her way through the memories and pushed them down again.  She
heard a noise, with that part of her still connected to the outside world,
and moved away so she was no longer drinking his blood.  Looking up she saw
Esselin falling to the ground, a bolt through his chest and beyond him a
section of the wall, which had opened to reveal a figure standing in a
secret passageway.  The pale hand that held the crossbow did not shake.
Lucien Lacroix could have stepped out of a high class party.  He looked
completely unshaken and without a hair out of place.  Tracy felt conscious
of the dust and blood on her own clothes.   "Hi Lucien, happen to have a
sharp knife on you?"  Tracy asked and he smiled.  It was a cruel but
satisfied smile.

"Oh no, we will leave Esselin to the enforcers."  A tall woman with olive
brown skin and grey brown eyes emerged from another door.  "They will
inflict a suitably fatal punishment."

"Of that you may be sure."  The other smiled in pleasure.  "I am Tamar
Davidson of the Simon Wiesenthal centre.  I have been looking for this
little war criminal for a long time.  I have persuaded Lucius that my claims
against him, for the lives of those he enjoyed torturing, take precedence."
Tracy looked surprised at this.  She had expected Lacroix to do something
medieval to Esselin, not for him to give up a claim.  "Lucius knows that
there won't be much of Esselin left by the time I have finished with him."

Her smile softened and she looked at Tracy in particular.  "Thank you
Granddaughter.  Alex who brought you across was one of my children.  I had
helped him infiltrate into Esselin's men.  He was killed because of this."

"I see."  Tracy looked at the other and the enforcer dropped the mental
shield she had been holding and Tracy could feel a faint tingle through her
mind, the prickle obviously indicating family.   She felt pleased that she
was not completely alone.  "That's great."

"I hope so.  I suggest you all adjourn now.  It is becoming a little too
close to dawn."  Tamar studied the others.  "Besides Nicholas will be
becoming rather too excited."

Tracy looked at the old vampire as they flew back to the hotel.  "Where is
Nick?  I am surprised you left him.  I thought you would remain with him."

"The last bottle of wine I gave him was laced with curare."  Lacroix said
and Natalie chuckled.  "He was rather too restless."  Once they arrived back
at the hotel Lacroix studied Natalie.  "You do not appear to have been
abused."

"Not really."  Natalie said and sat down.  The drug was still in her system
and she was tired and dusty and looked in need of a square meal and a wash.
"He kept me tied up for a while, and kept coming back to taunt me.  Finally
he shoved me into that hole in the wall and said he would come back for me
and that nobody would rescue me now."

"He underestimated the opposition."  Tracy said and shook her head.  "I
won't grieve for him.  He was a nasty piece of work."

"Where is Nick?"  Natalie asked quickly and Lacroix looked at her.  "I want
to see him right now."

"He will not wake for another few hours."  Lacroix responded.  "May I
suggest that you take advantage of that to rest and recover."

Natalie yawned and nodded.  "Sounds like a plan to me, but I want to hear
all about it when I wake up."

"Of course."  Lacroix showed her where the other bedroom was.  "I would also
advise you to eat something."  He handed her the room service menu and
watched as she went into the second bedroom of the suite.

"So Lucien."  Tracy said quickly.  "Do you want to toss for the couch?"

"No."  Lacroix responded and Tracy waited.  "You can have it.  I will evict
Miklos."

Tracy watched as he left, opening her mouth to complain.  She sighed,
wondering if she would ever understand men, especially male vampires.  What
had she expected?  She had hoped he would want her to stay.  Then again, why
should he?  It was obviously just sex on his part.  She was stupid to
imagine that he had wanted anything more than the most basic satisfaction
and relief of tension.

Tracy found the next evening almost unbearable.  Nick and Natalie were so
happy.  They did not seem to have eyes for anyone else, and Tracy watched as
they were all over each other.  On the plane back they sat side by side and
whispered in each other's ears.

Lacroix had not been seen once he and Tracy had explained what had happened.
  Miklos had said that he needed to attend to enforcer business but that he
would be back in Toronto in a couple of days.  Tracy tried to pay attention
to the in flight movie and looked up to see Miklos moving down the plane.

"More wine?"  She nodded and he poured her a glass.  "Men didn't used to be
raised to need anything or anyone.  It makes it difficult to ask."  He said
and moved on before she could reply.

Once back in Toronto Tracy considered recent events.  Nick was happy,
idyllically so.  He and Natalie had been too close to losing each other.
Now they wanted nothing else but each other.  Whether Nick brought her
across or not, they would not waste any more time.  One never knew what
would happen tomorrow, perhaps it was better to take the chance.  This was a
chance for new beginnings, for changes and risks.

She was not going to wait any longer.  Tracy looked at herself in the mirror
and walked to the radio.  Turning it on she heard the tones of Nightwatch.
The Nightcrawler was tearing some poor soul to pieces verbally.  The smooth
coffee rich voice sent a shiver up her spine.

She had not heard from Vachon.  She would deal with the situation as it
arose.  She had once hoped that they would be together, but just because she
had fangs did not make them any more compatible.  She did not know what she
was going to do about that part of it.

Tracy changed into a black dress.  It was quite new, one of the most
expensive pieces in her wardrobe.  The silky black dress clung to her curves
and she looked at herself in the mirror.   She looked almost like a real
vampire now, dressed in black.  It had been worth investing in that
expensive fake tan lotion.  As long as she could use this she would be a
normal colour.  She did not want white skin just yet.  Perhaps it was a
foolish desire to retain the appearance of mortality.

She checked that her hair was brushed into shining waves around her face.
She had just risen to go when she became aware that she was being watched.
She looked across the room to see someone standing at the bedroom door.  She
looked at the radio.  She had not expected that to be a recording.

"Lucien."  Tracy said and smiled.  "I was going to come to find you."

"I found you first."  He responded and studied her.  "I have brought you a
gift."  He held out a bottle and Tracy looked at it with interest.
"Something you were missing."

There was an awkward pause then Tracy smiled.  "I am glad you called in.  I
was about to go to the Raven.  I'm looking for someone to teach me how to
shield my signal and whammy people.  You know anybody who might be
interested?"

"That would depend on the benefits and the conditions."  Lacroix purred and
Tracy looked at him.  "I might consider it, if you made it worth my while."
He looked at her and raised one eyebrow as a charmingly mischievous smile
softened his face.

Tracy smiled at him and motioned to the bottle.  "Why don't you get the
glasses from the kitchen.  This calls for a toast, among other things."

He returned with the glasses and swept her into an embrace, holding her
against him and running his fingers through her soft hair.  He turned,
keeping one arm around her waist and poured wine into one glass.  Handing it
to her he watched as she brought the glass to her lips.

Tracy sipped the glass and then put it down, smiling in pleasure.  She did
not know where this relationship was going but she was going to have fun
finding out.  She supposed it took 2000 years to learn some of the secrets
of vampirism, but she was going to get this secret out of him by whatever
means necessary.  How did he manage to make such a delicious drink that
mixed fresh blood with what had to be chocolate fudge sauce?

The End