An ADULT Virtual Fourth Season Forever Knight Story. And the usual disclaimers of not infringing but only borrowing the characters from Parriott, Cohen and Sony, and also from the FKV4 writers of borrowing their characters., but Lilith is my own creation for good or bad. Any and all comments should be sent to BrdOFire@aol.com

Ancient Curses
Vickey Brickle-Macky

Part 6/

          Elsewhere in the basement of a rundown tenement building in another part of the city the golden haired young woman woke up gasping for breath. She woke up alone, scared and bewildered as to where she was and how she got there. Sitting up she also noted that she was incredibly filthy and couldn't even bear to smell herself as ever movement brought new vile smells to her nose. She looked down at her tattered remains of clothing , which had once been a dark blue but were now black, and gray, and beyond grimy. Pale white skin like the underbelly of a fish poked through the holes unnerving her.
         "Yeech!" she squeaked out of her dry parched mouth, her voice hollow and raspy, not her own she thought fleetingly.
         Her head hurt. She could not think. Stars and sparks obscured her vision as the room spin around her and she quickly laid back down. She didn't want to know on what, she just wanted to lay down until she could puzzle this all but she could not. It was all a blank, a blur of images that would not hold still for her to focus on. Did she have a name? A home? Was she lost? Hurt? Or held captive by some unknown person or persons? None of these things could she answer.
         And creeping into her awareness was how hungry she was, how ravenous. Like the hunger was eating her inside out, and at the same time her vision turned red. She saw the world in different colors than some dim memory could remember seeing in. The blackness was not black anymore. there were shades of gray she didn't know existed as well as other colors she had never seen before. Part of her mind was very, very confused, while the part that was now taking control understood and accepted this as normal, as the way it should be.
         Her headache and dizziness were gone now replaced by the hunger which was controlling her every action. With a grace and lightness she did not know she possessed she climbed down from her bed among the broken garbage bag and rotting trash to the dark opening she saw beckoning her on the far wall of the small, lightless room. She could smell it now on the night air that was sharp and crisp, full of wondrous scents and . . . life. That is what she smelled--life--blood. That was what her primitive animal mind told her she needed to seek and find. That was what was calling her hunger, what she needed to make the pain go away.
         The close confines of the metal sides of the duct almost made her panic and back out in sheer terror, but the hunger was stronger and she made herself go forward as quickly as she could until she was stopped by a large grate. Somehow she knew how to open it and move it aside, then replace it carefully as if she was afraid that someone would find her hiding place, as bad as it was. Her hiding place kept her safe from the 'others.' Who those 'others" were she could not remember, only the fear remained and vague dark shapes.
         She was outside again and all her sense were on alert. It was a dark moonless night. She was glad of that. Moonlight revealed to much. She wanted the deep shadows as she started hugging the walls of the alley going from one trash heap to another looking on the ground, in the boxes and trash cans, listening for the scurrying, rustling sounds that meant her prey was on the move. She froze as she heard footsteps behind her. She had not heard the 'other' approach so absorbed had she been at her task. But she knew she was in real danger and tried to flee, but before she could move a heavy hand clamped down on her shoulder holding her.
         "Whoa, what have we got here?" came the rough, drunken voice. "What's yur' hurry?" the man slurred trying to make her turn around. "Hey man, I'm talkin' to youse," he impatiently said, spinning her around and after he did he wished he hadn't.
         Her eyes were glowing golden with red sparks, and her incisors had fully descended in anticipation, as before the man could react or scream she was on him sinking her fangs into his neck, tearing at his throat in her eagerness to feed. She held him easily now as she greedily sucked up his blood, letting her fill her like her normal prey never had. And as the blood filled her, she took on the man's memories and emotions as well, she was repelled, yet fascinated, and saw too that despite the layers of grime he had recognized her at the very end. He knew who she was. She had a name and her name was . . . 'Tracy!' She startled violently at that knowledge and broke her hold on her victim.
         She flung the lifeless husk to the ground at her feet and looked down at it in soul wrenching loathing. Because as he had said her name, he had also told her what she was, what she had become--'a vampire', and the memories of her former life came flooding into her conscious mind. She sank to the broken concrete of the alley sobbing and shedding tears of blood.
         A scream like that of a wounded jungle beast tore from her throat and filled the night, echoing eerily down the concrete and steel corridors as she pounded her fists into the dirt and glass littering the ground. She did not feel the shards of glass cutting her flesh, nor notice the blood coming from the numerous cuts she inflicted upon herself. She was too overwhelmed by all the memories pouring into her mind, especially the last ones--the ones of her 'death.!' She had died hadn't she? She remembered the bullet tearing into her after it had passed 'through' Nick slamming her into the wall and sliding down to land in a heap on the floor. Her words to him: "you could have trusted me!" The look of embarrassment, shock, and horror on his face as he had bent over her and yelled for the paramedics.
         She remembered the hospital, the tubes, the needles, the wires, and the constraint beeping and flutter of the life support machines. Most of all, she remembered the pain and shock of realizing that such a thing could have happened to her and that she was dying and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. With Vachon gone and buried what was the point of even asking Nick if he would bring her over. It was too late. She didn't want to live.
         Tracy was aware of him by her bedside debating whether to bring her over or not. Apologizing and almost crying. She felt the vamp in him rise and felt his breath on her neck, but then she heard Natalie's voice yelling at him--stopping him before he could 'bring her over'. She heard the doctor get angry at him--something like 'you would do it for her but not for me'. Like she was angry at him for being willing to give the dying woman a second chance when he would not even think of doing the same for the woman he supposed loved so they could spend eternity together. Something about he could not condemn 'his' Nat to the eternal darkness. And that made Natalie absolutely furious and she ran away. She heard Nick take off, following Natalie, leaving her alone, dying in her solitary bed, leaving her with no possibility of a second chance.
         Then she grew sleepy, her awareness grew fainter and fainter until there was nothing but endless blackness and she felt the ties to her mortal life go. Her body she no longer felt or cared about. It was just a shell that she had no use for. As she drifted in the darkness she became aware of a point of brightness in the dark and she went to it but instead of the heavenly gate, the tunnel of light she had expected, there was nothing there. No shining angels, no heavenly voices, no waiting relatives on the other side just emptiness and muted lights, like she was in rainbow colored clouds or mist. And most bitterly disappointing of all there was no Vachon--he was not there as she had hoped. He wasn't there to met her. There was no one --just herself alone in this formless vastness and she became very scared and frightened. She closed down her awareness of even the formless void until it felt like she was sleep and there was no awareness of anything, except there was that somehow she existed but yet did not.
         Suddenly she tasted something warm and wet and coppery in her mouth as she sputtered and choked on the rich liquid. She awoke to awareness of her being, of her body, and that somehow she was alive. She felt the first pangs of hunger that became a raging tide of desire and need unlike anything that she had ever experienced. She wanted more of whatever that had been and sought it blindly and was rewarded with something hard that she bit down on until it yielded up what she wanted. She drank until her head was shoved aside and something hard was placed in her mouth, and more liquid came from it and she fed until she was full and content.
         She felt herself lifted up by strong arms, and then there was the sensation of wind on her face, rushing by, like she was flying. She felt soft cloth against her face and felt safe. She drifted in and out of consciousness, even after they landed and she was carried somewhere and set down upon something soft. She could not yet open her eyes. They were stuck together. A moist wet cloth was gently used to clean her face and eyes, but she was now too tired to open them and she lost awareness once again. Her next awareness was of the hunger again and being alone. She had awaken in that small room she had left tonight. Instinct took over and she found her way out to hunt and she fed of the small furry thing she found that tried to run in terror from her. It took many to satisfy her great hunger, but there many to be fed upon. When the sun began to rise she fled to the safety of her room, only to rise with the setting of that dangerous orb. Throughout her endless days and nights of feeding her gnawing hunger she remained alone. Whoever had made her had abandoned her to whatever fate awaited her. Why?
         Tracy realized now to her growing disgust and horror that she had been living like Vachon's friend, Screed. She was a damn carouche--yick!! she thought in her mind. How utterly gross. A feeder of carrion, a bottom feeder. The lowest of low on the vampire feeding chain. Now that she was aware of who and what she was she was more than repelled and mortified.
         Looking down with a lot more awareness than what she had had upon her awakening she saw the pitiful state of her clothes. She was wearing what she recognized as her dress blues but they were almost unrecognizable tatters just barely covering her. She looked over to her poor hapless victim and saw he was wearing a grimy but yet serviceable overcoat. She nodded in satisfaction and got up and removed it from him, wrinkling her nose in distrust at the strong orders of cheap booze, stale cigarettes, sour sweat and other more unrecognizable odors hanging on the coat. But it would cover her almost from head to foot and hide the state of her clothing.
         Grimacing she put the coat on. It hung on her almost enveloping her small frame. Then she looked at the body again. It wouldn't do to leave it out in the open. She wondered what other vampires did with their "leftovers". She never real asked Vachon about that. She knew they disposed of the bodies but where? The 'where' she had handy was either a dumpster--which she dismissed as being too public--the police would be called--Nick would be called, then he'd have to deal with it or if he didn't then someone else who might figure out there were really vampires, which would cause a great stink and then the Enforcers would hear about it and everyone would have hell to pay--especially the vampire who was sloppy enough to leave her kill out in the open--namely her. Not good. The only safe place she could think of was that hole she had been staying in.
         She found it easy now to lift the dead man's body who out weighed her at least three times. Her strength amazed her as she carried the man to the basement grate and opened it. She shoved him in. It was a real tight fit. She had to stomp him down to make him slide down the hole and out of sight. By the time his body was discovered he would be too badly decomposed for anyone to figure out that a vampire had did the killing.
         The only logical thing for her do now was to head for the Raven. She couldn't think of any place else to go. Her parents were out. Her friends were out. Even contacting Nick was out for the moment until she had time to think this mess through. Like how could she be alive after she was sure she did really die, and the other important question was 'who" made her and 'why' did they abandon her? She knew from Vachon that the Raven was the local vampire gathering place. Since she was now part of the club she might as well officially join it. Maybe they had a shower she could use and some spare clothes--she could definitely use those getting another whiff of herself and wrinkling her now sensitive nose.
         With no further thought she launched herself into the air as she had seen Vachon do it so many times. Looking down as she cleared the alley and headed in the general direction of the club she was pleased with her accomplishment. "Wow mom, look I'm flying!" she yelled out loud, happy to be alive in some form at least.

Part 7/

         Tracy landed neatly in the alley outside of the side door of the Raven. The front was boarded up and it looked abandoned from the outside. But she could sense the presence of other vampires within. Yeph, this was the place, she thought to herself. Looking around nervously, she couldn't see anyone but she sure could feel eyes watching her intensely. Mustering her courage she boldly went to the door and knocked. After about a minute she heard footsteps then heard a small panel slide open and saw eyes regarding her suspiciously.
         "What do you want?" asked the girl on the other side of the door, looking her over with extreme distaste, her voice cold and icy.
         "I came for help," Tracy said truthfully, trying to appear friendly.
         "Who sent you?" the girl asked unimpressed.
         "No one sent me. I came alone. I woke up alone," Tracy told her, startling to get real pissd at this girl's attitude.
         "Too bad. Can't help you then," the girl said with a smirk, starting to close the little door.
         Frantically, Tracy yelled, trying to think of something quickly," Wait! Vachon sent me! Is Mikos here. Detective Knight? Anyone?" she asked frantically and was rewarded with a wide eyed stare.
         "You know Mikos?" she questioned, dubious of Tracy knowing anyone, let alone Mikos or Knight. "How?"
         "I met him when I was mortal. I was with Vachon at the time," she said, hoping that bit of information would at least help her get to talk to someone in some form of authority if there were such a thing in the vampire community.
         "Wait here. I'll get him," the girl said as she shut the little door and vanished.
         Tracy cooled her heels for at least five minutes before she heard footsteps approach from the other side. The little door was slid open and she was looked over again. This time very carefully.
         Suddenly there was a voice asking, "you say you know me, and you know Vachon and Knight? How? I don't recognize you. Who are you?" he questioned sharply.
         "We met here when the club was still going and the Nightcrawler was broadcasting from the back in his private studio. I came in with Vachon. I was still mortal then. I'm Tracy Vetter," she explained.
         "No, you can't be!" he said shocked, his voice strained. "Tracy Vetter is dead, dead. Shot through the heart. In was in all the papers and all over the TV. I went with Nick one time to put flowers on your grave. He said he almost brought you over but Dr. Lambert stopped him. Though he almost killed her when he tried to apologize to her and then almost died himself because LaCroix staked him. If you are her, who made you?" he questioned, still doubting, having a hard time seeing past the layers of dirt and other grime.
         "I don't know 'who' made me--seriously. I don't know 'even when' they did. I've been out of it for I don't know how long. I don't even know what day, what month or year it is," she said truthfully almost in tears now. It was not going the way she thought it was going to go. "All I know is tonight I 'woke' up when this guy put his hand on me and I reacted. . ., if you get my drift," she said looking embarrassed.
         "Yeah, I comprehend," he said. "So you don't know how you came to be?"
         "No, no clue. I remember dying and nothing. The next thing is I'm sinking teeth into some drunk. It's been a bit unnerving," Tracy added, hoping he would at least open the door. She was feeling very vulnerable standing there.
         "So why are you here?' he asked finally.
         "I didn't know where else to go. I need someplace to get my head together, understand what I've become. I don't want to be Vachon and have to figure out everything on my own," she said, feeling his surprise at her knowledge.
         "He told you? About himself, the Community when you were still mortal?" he questioned, incredulously with a hint of anger in his voice.
         "It just kind of happened by accident. I saw him in action,. It was the night of the big plane crash. He tried to make me forget and couldn't. I am--was a resistor. He helped me out. I helped him out. I took care of him when he was sick and buried him when he died after he was attacked," she said sadly, trying not to remember, but finding how she couldn't forget. The memories were stronger and clearer than they had ever been when she was alive.
         "Then you don't know?" he asked in odd voice.
         "Know what?' she questioned puzzled at his tone as she heard the door opening and he stepped outside to face her.
         "Vachon's alive. Dr. Lambert cured him. He came back from the dead because of Divia's poison," he said carefully watching her reaction.
         Her knees buckled on her and Tracy crumbled to the ground in shock. "He's alive?" she said weakly from the shock of it, looking up at him in disbelief.
         "Very alive," he said with a touch of disdain in his voice. "In fact he was here earlier. He and Knight were getting into it over Dr. Lambert. Then he took off and this strange woman came out of nowhere and started talking to Knight and then the two of them took off together," Mikos said, helping her to her feet.
         "Whoa, slow down. What are you talking about 'they got into it over Dr. Lambert'?" she questioned real confused.
         "Well, Ms. Tracy, that's a long story. I think we better get you inside and do something about your clothes and explaining the facts of life to you. You did do something about your 'snack' tonight?" he asked as he carefully took her by the arm and steered her inside, while Tina closed and locked the door following behind the as they went down the corridor to the back guest rooms.
         "I'm not that dumb. And I do know about not leaving traces for mortals," she said defensively, looking at Mikos like she couldn't believe he'd ask her that.
         "Good, so many unsupervised fledglings don't know even to do that and have to have someone clean up after them," he said in approval. "Tina will find you some clean clothes. About a size seven or eight aren't you?" he asked as she took off her coat and he took it.          "Yes," she said surprised, he could tell women's dress sizes with a just a look.
         "There's the shower through there with soap, shampoo, and lot of clean towels. I would advise that you let us dispose of what's left of your clothes and belonging, not that it looks like you have that much anyway," he commented and saw the angry look she gave him and backed down. For the time being we'll keep your badge and whatever else you want to keep safe until you have a safe place of your own. As long as you stay here you shouldn't have any evidence around of your former life. it's too dangerous to you, to us, and to everyone," he explained.
         She nodded in agreement. "I understand. The badge is the only thing important. I worked real hard to earn that on my own merit, not because my father was the police commissioner," she said, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.
         "Yeah, that's right. That's why they made such a big stink over the shooting because you were the commissioner's daughter. Except something happened after you died. Your dad resigned and I think moved out of town, I think. Never heard what happened to your mother," he sadly said, knowing how hard it was for new ones to understand that all they knew was behind them including family. They could never go back.
         "At least you were honest enough to tell me, Mikos. I know my old life is over and I have to accept that. They've probably gone on with the lives so I have to too. So, let me go get these layers of grime off. I haven't looked in mirror and I don't want to until I'm clean, " she said, looking forward to a very long hot shower.
         "Sounds good. I'll see you after your shower and I'll leave something for you in case you're still hungry. You do know about the House special?" he asked, trying to gauge her knowledge.
         Yeah, Vachon, clued me in. I used to shudder every time he drank it in front of me but now I'm kind of curious as to what it's like. And I do definitely want to talk to you about Vachon and Dr. Lambert. It sounds like he may not like me complicating his life by my being 'alive'," she said carefully, looking at him and reading more into his expression then she wanted to know or accept.
         He was plainly embarrassed and she could tell he didn't really want to talk about it but for her sake he would have to tell her something. "We'll talk after your shower. Later, Tracy," he said seriously, cutting off any further conversation as he purposely left the room, shutting the door behind him as he went, leaving her alone.
         As soon as he was gone she started striping off her clothes and dumping the shreds of materials into a plastic lined trash can. She was outwardly appalled at what peeled off of her. It was more than a little gross and really smell beyond disgusting. Naked finally, she headed for the shower and turned on the water and stepped in just letting it run, and run, and run, as she soaped, and resoaped her body and hair over and over again until she finally satisfied that she was indeed clean again.
         She toweled herself off noting that everything felt different more intense. The feel of the towel on her hypersensitive skin, the colors in the soft lights, heat, cold, everything. All the things about the intensity of just everyday things she had heard from Vachon were true. She should have been angry, she should have been afraid, she should have been at lot of things, but she was now understanding and was not regretting she was now a full pledged vampire. At least not yet she wasn't. And for all the weirdness to this whole situation she was taking it pretty calmly, more than she thought she would. More than Vachon would have thought she would. If only he could see her now, Tracy Vetter-- vampire and liking it.
         Which brought her to Mikos's guarded comments about Vachon and Dr. Lambert--what the hell was going on? She wasn't even aware that he knew her, but then there was Knight, and she had gathered rather quickly that a whole lot had changed people wise since she had been--'dead'. What the hell could he or did he see in an old chick like Dr. Lambert? Then it hit her to Vachon, the doctor wasn't old she was young, way younger than he was by many centuries. Never judge a book by it's cover. She always had had a hard time with realizing his outward appearance had nothing to do with his real age. To her he always acted and looked like he was her own age. But what was the truth was he was frozen in age. He would never age and now never would she. Like a bug frozen in amber or Peter Pan. And he was definitely one of the Lost Boys.
         Reality was beginning to slowly sink into her consciousness. Like what the hell was she going to do with her 'life'? Forget doing the cop bit, unless there was someway to lie and outfox the computers and instantaneous information systems of the world. But knowing what she did of Knight's lying his way through the system to be a cop in good standing here in Toronto, it occurred to her that anything was possible with this group as secretive as they were. New identities were probably second nature to them. But seriously, what was she going to do for money? Robbing people was not in her nature, and normal forms of employment did not seem likely either. She didn't have years of accumulated wealth to live off of. Maybe there was some kind of emergency vampire relief fund for newly made vampires with no where to go and no one to take them under their wing. She hoped so because she didn't want to spend the rest of her however long life hanging in alleys or worse.
         There was a knock at the bathroom door, "yes, who's there?" she asked, wrapping a large towel around herself before she opened the door.
         "Tina. I brought you some clothes want me to just leave them?" she asked sounding none too anxious to be there or doing this.
         "No, I'll come out," Tracy answered stepping out.
         The young girl looked started as she looked over the freshly scrubbed young woman. "You are her," she exclaimed surprised.
         "Who you said you were. You were so filthy and disgusting looking, you could have been anyone under all that dirt. But you really are Tracy Vetter. I saw you once here at the club with Javier, and a couple of times with Knight. Urs pointed you out," she said with a touch of sadness in her voice.
         "Urs? You mean Vachon's friend? I never actually met her. I saw her talking to Screed. Is she still around?" Tracy asked.
         The girl shook her head sadly, "no, she's dead. Divia killed her when she went to go see Knight," she answered.
         "Ohh," Tracy said politely, trying to remember who Divia was and that it had something to do with Vachon's injuries and him asking her to kill him which she thought she had.
         "That's okay, she finally got what she wanted--real death. She really hated being a what she was. She was always so sad and depression. Vachon said she had always been like that since he made her. And she hated him for crossing her over. I just hope she's found the peace she was looking for," Tina sighed.
         "Yeah, I hope so too. Me, I think I'm glad this happened. I wasn't ready to die when I did. Vachon offered to bring me over a couple of times. Sometimes he was serious, and other times he was joking, but at that point I didn't want to become like him, but now that it's happened I feel okay with it. I remember dying and I remember nothingness. This if this is what it's like to be dead, I like it a whole lot better," she told the girl and saw new respect for her in the girl's eyes.
         "Wow, I never really died died. Is that what it's like--nothingness?" she asked curious.
         "I guess so, at least that's what happened to me," she said, then turned her attention to the clothes in the girl's arms. "You have some stuff for me?"
         Tina looked flustered and embarrassed, "Yeah, Mikos said for you to try these on. If they don't fit or you don't like them we'll try to find something else. We've got tons of stuff in the cellar. Some of it's pretty out of date but we get contributions all the time. Tomorrow night if you want we can go shopping at one of the malls to get something that fits."
         "The malls, for real?" Tracy asked surprised, "and how am I supposed to pay for anything?" she questioned worried about how far this was going to put her in debt with the Community.
         "You don't worry about it. That's how. New ones always get new clothes--within reason and help on finding a place or job if they need it. It's part of getting a new identity--the whole works. We take care of our own. Though nowadays it's harder than in the old days when you could go or be anyone you wanted to be, at least that's what the older ones keep telling me," she said.
         "I figured it might be. So Mikos will explain this all to me?" Tracy asked.
         "Yeah, either him or somebody will. He's busy right now, had some business to take care of he said and he'll be back later," Tina told her, cutting off any more questions Tracy might have have. "Get some rest, if you can and if you need a bottle go right out of here and down the corridor until you see the little room by the bar. In there there's crates of the stuff. Just get one, it's on the house so to speak," she told her with a smile.
         "Thanks, I guess that does it. I'll try these on and let you know how they fit," Tracy told her putting the large stack down as she watched the girl open the door and leave, then she was alone. "Well, it looks like I really don't have anything better to do than try on clothes," she said out loud to herself as she started looking through them and picking out ones to try on.

Part 8/

         Natalie was just finishing up the second autopsy of the night when the phone rang. "Coroner's office, Dr. Lambert speaking," she answered. It was Det. Sakai looking for Nick, and rather agitated too, from the tone of his voice.
         "No, Detective I haven't seen Nick, not since the call at the construction site. I thought he was with you. Oh, I see, . . . he ditched you again and the captain is eating you alive for losing him. I'm sorry, but no I haven't seen or talked to him all night. Did you check the loft? No answer there or on his cellphone. Yeah, that is strange," she said in sympathy, but thought, no that's a typical Nick. There one moment and gone the next and not to be found half the time.
         "Ohh, he was supposed to come see me? He said that?" she asked surprised. "Well, what is going on is none of your business nor anyone's else's," she said with a touch of anger. "We have worked it out, and that's all I'm going to say on the subject," she told him. "Good-night Detective," she said firmly and then hung up on him, fuming now.
         "Of all the arrogant---oww, Mr. Knight, I'd like to find you and tell you off myself. I am not your keeper--no more--no way," she said angrily slamming down the pen she had been writing with down on the clipboard and counter of the lab table. The sound was like a shot in the quiet of the room.
         Before she knew it Grace was popping in the door looking to see if she was all right. "You okay? she asked concerned, seeing how angrily and mad Natalie was.          "Okay is a relative term, Grace. Yeah, I'm fine if you mean physically. Mentally and emotionally, I need a long vacation from it all," she said trying to keep from crying,
         "Det. Knight?" Grace guessed. And saw Nat wince at his name. "Yeph, it's Knight. I don't know what it is with you two. It looked like you were getting so close then ever since Tracy's death and your being in the hospital it's been downhill off and on. With more off than on. And you won't talk to anyone and from what I understand neither will he. You've got to let someone in, girl. It's eating away at you like a cancer. One of these nights you are just going burst and lose it if you don't," she said coming over to her and putting a hand on Nat's shoulder which she flinched away from.
         "I know, Grace, but I can't . . . I really can't talk to anyone about what's happening in my life. I wish I could. If I could, I'd would talk to you and you know that, don't you?" she said looking up at her.
         "Yeah, I know. But you've got to do something soon, girl. You don't eat, you don't sleep, and you never go out just for fun anymore. Just work and go home with your cat. Now I ask you what kind of life is that for a pretty doctor like you. You should be married and raising a bunch of young ones, like me," Grace smiled trying to cheer her up.
         "I wish, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen," Not if I only hang out with vampires, she thought to herself. "The only one who ever asks me out is Thomas. And he's okay, but he just doesn't do it for me," she sighed, wondering if she was doomed to a life of celibacy.          "That's too bad. He seems nice and he definitely has a strong interest in you," Grace commented dismayed at Nat's attitude.
         "Yeah, I know, but I am just not that interested in hi except as a friend and colleague, there just isn't anything there," she said firmly, trying cut Grace off from trying to play matchmaker for her.
         "Well, if I can make a suggestion, why don't you let me finish up here and you go home early. You really need to start getting more rest. Take a long, hot bubble bath, watch a movie or just do something for yourself. You need to," Grace told her.
         "Maybe I will, Grace," It is almost quitting time and if I have to sign one more form tonight I'll scream," she said wearily, getting up from her stool.
         "Good, go home. I'll hold the fort down," Grace said shooing her over to her desk where her purse and keys were.
         Nat smiled and took off her lab coat and threw it in the dirty clothes, then went to the coat rack where her own one was and put it on and grabbed her purse and left, with Grace watching her go with a worried look on her face.
         It was four o'clock in the morning as she left the parking lot and drove home. Time to sit back and relax and maybe take that long bubble bath Grace had suggested. Vachon wouldn't be over four at least another two hours. That was when sunrise was. In the meantime she did need to speak with Nick. She wanted to find out why the hell he had ditched his partner the way he had and not reported back in. Something odd was going on with him. That much she could feel through their connection. He wasn't in danger, he and LaCroix weren't having another argument, and he wasn't angry--what he was she wasn't sure, but she was sure that he was home at the loft and not answering his phone.
         Heading in the direction of his place she felt that she was probably nuts for doing this, but Adam's call had been the final draw after that scene at the construction site earlier in the evening. This had to stop. Nick was going to talk her one way or the other.
         She pulled into the alley where the entrance to the loft was and saw that his car was indeed there and there were lights on in the loft, not just the low lights he left on when he was at work. He had company. That she could feel. Vampire company--female vampire company. But so strong--it was unlike anything she had felt before. Working with Vachon had sharpened her senses as well as helped her control her growing urges for blood. But she sensed of the female presence was old, ancient--more ancient than LaCroix. The oldest vampire she knew of in the area. She pulled up behind Nick's car and debated what to do. Should she go up and confront him with another, unknown vampire present--an Enforcer maybe? Or would it be better to just go home and forget it all?
         Before she could decide her mind was assaulted with images and sensations--it was coming from her connection with Nick she was feeling what he was feeling. He was making love to this other vampire--that much was very clear through the link. It shook her to her very core on many levels and she grew enraged--how dare him! He said he was in love with her and wanted only her--no one else but that sure wasn't stopping him from jumping in bed with this female! Natalie was furious as the sensations of their lovemaking seared through her like a ragged edged knife. Natalie could feel and taste the sharp tang of the other's blood as Nick sank his fangs in to the woman's neck and drank deep as he made love to her. The taste was rich, coppery, sweet like a fine wine, and like nothing Natalie could relate to. With that first taste she could see what he was seeing--impossible images of civilizations and people's long gone. It could not be, she told herself completely stunned by what was flooding her mind.
         Natalie in horror and amazement saw animals and scenes that could not be or had not been seen since the beginning of even recorded history. Then she literally became the woman through the bloodlink--her thoughts, her desires, her needs, all that she was and had been and more as she made love to Nick. With fascinated desire and repulsion, she felt his body holding her tight, his hands carcassing her, touching her in ways that made her gasp aloud in unison with woman. Doing everything she had begged and pleaded him to do. As she felt him in her she hated the woman, but was too overwhelmed by what Nick was doing and what the woman was feeling and reacting to to fight it. She slumped unmoving against the seat like a limp rag unable to fight the waves of pleasure, pain and psychic overload. This was unlike anything she had ever experienced, even when Nick had been draining her life's blood.
         She was Lilith, the first born. The original Lilith of legend. Natalie's mind reeled with that knowledge. It's was too impossible to be so. But a vampire could not lie through the bloodlink. That was the ultimate way to tell if they were telling the truth and she understood beyond the carnal pleasure aspects of the link why he was drinking of this other vampire's blood to find out if she was telling the truth. And merciful heavens she was! Nat thought dumbly in complete shock. So much history, so many lives mortal and immortal had passed this woman by while she had stood still, unchanging through the endless centuries.
         No, no, no, this can't be happening, she thought to herself. She couldn't be feeling Nick and this woman. Lilith--it was impossible--but she was. She was one with them without even being physically present. It was sick and then some but on another level as a scientist she was totally fascinated with the knowledge that vampires could be this intimately linked with one another. She also became aware of what danger she had placed herself in . she had to get out of here before they became aware of her unknowing voyeurism. Natalie made herself move and shaking her head to clear it as best she could she tried to shut out what she was still feeling from Nick. She thought of walls, nice thick brick, soundproof walls in her mind as Javier had taught her. It was a struggle but she managed to get enough of a barrier erected that she could move now and start her car. She put it in gear and stepped on the gas rather hard causing her to peel out it a roar of engine and squealing tires which she felt Nick noticed and became aware of her.
         Frightened now, she took off in a spray of rocks and gravel down the alley, blind instinct taking over as she drove for home through the deserted streets away from him like a madwoman very glad that rush hour traffic hadn't begun yet. She did not know how she made it home. She was still in deep shock as she pulled into the apartment building's parking lot and almost ran into the building before screeching to a stop. As it was she chipped her front fender as the forward momentum rammed the wall. She was thrown back in her seat from the impact and remembering to turn off the engine, her car bucked as it sputtered and died finally.
         She was shaking like a leaf from her experiences still, too numb to move or get out. The next thing she knew someone was tapping on her window, she yelled and jumped a foot.
         "Whoa, calm down, Nat." Vachon said taken aback from her reaction. "Are you okay? You almost creamed your car?" he told her, seeing that she was in shock. "What the hell's happened to you?" he asked worriedly.
         "I'm fine," she said trying to compose herself and get the keys out of ignition but couldn't. her hands were shaking too bad.
         "Yeah, you're fine," he commented knowingly as he opened the door and reached in and got the keys. "Here, let me help you out," he told her reaching for her but before he could touch her she shoved his hand away and glared at him.
         "I can get out on my own,' she growled, and slid out of the seat and stood shakily before him.
         "Umhumm," he said noting her shakiness. "You're in really rotten shape, you know that?" he said trying to get a handle on what was happening to her and all he was getting was very confused images in his mind from her.
         "I hadn't noticed," she shot back. "Vachon, I don't think I want any company tonight. Go home," she told him.
         "No," he told her firmly. "No way. I've seen you mad, I've seen you hurt and dying, frustrated, and all other kinds of states of being--but I have never seen you this shook and out of it. I ain't leaving until you tell me what happened and what's wrong with you," he said firmly, crossing his arms across his chest as he regarded her.
         "I can't," she said, not wanting him know what had happened for some reason.
         "Natalie, it's me, Javier. Me you can talk to, remember. I don't pull any punches and I do listen," he said uncrossing his arms and moving closer to her.
         She shook her head, not wanting any help, just wanting to go off and die --alone. "I know but it's too overwhelming and too embarrassing," she said in a small voice unwilling to meet his concerned dark eyes staring at her.
         He quirked his eyebrow at that statement and looked her over carefully. Something bad and unexpected had definitely happened to Natalie. It wasn't anything physical he could tell from causal observation. But something had her very shook and rattled. Somehow he suspected it had to do with Knight to get her this bad off. "It has to do with Knight? he ventured bluntly.
         She startled, and thought, ' is it that apparent?' She was still afraid to met his eyes, but she did. "Yes," she said with a beyond bitter edge to her voice. "I was stupid and went to Nick's--but I didn't see him--I . . . I'm not sure what the hell happened," she told him, trying not to remember but finding it impossible not to.
         "Okay," he said simply, not questioning, not condemning her, just accepting her statement. But his mind was going ninety miles an hour trying to figure out what had happened to get her this thoroughly shook up. "Nat I hate to pry, but what the hell happened? You've got to at least give me a clue. I won't get mad, or make you feel stupid, if that's what you're worrying about.
         "I don't know--what happened!" she almost yelled, catching herself before she did, noticing she was standing still in the parking lot. "And I don't want to discuss it here. I'm going in," she told him and turned on her heel and practically ran to her apartment building.
         But he easily followed. There wasn't anyway he was going to let her go, or be by herself. She tried to get the security door open but her hands were shaking so bad that she dropped her keys on the ground which he quickly retrieved.
         "Here, let me," he said and opened the door for her. She went in quickly and tried to close it on him. "Uhuh," he said sliding in despite her efforts. "I'm staying and you're going to talk Nat," he said firmly as he opened her apartment door for her and she went in meekly now. "I at least want to know if Knight has done something I ought to stomp him into the ground about or not," he added, closing the door and guiding her carefully over to her couch to sit down.
         "Vachon, this is not a good idea," she told him taking off her coat and sitting down. "I am not going to talk about it. You can stay, crash out on the couch, whatever, but I'm going to my bedroom--alone," she emphasized, getting back up.
         Before she could take two steps he had grabbed her wrist and held her firmly. "No," he said gently but firmly. "You're talking, Nat, if I have to stand here all night and force you to," he added in no uncertain terms.
         Natalie looked at him with both anger and fear. He would, she knew that for certain. He would force her to talk and that was the last thing she wanted. "Don't do it, Vachon," she asked him, red glints in her eyes.
         The red glints surprised him, but he didn't back off. "Talk or I bite," he told her not backing down either.
         "You wouldn't!" she said scared now as his eyes had his own red glints of the vamp in him rising.
         "Never underestimate me, Nat. Vamp rule number whatever, when you want to know something go for the source. The blood tells all. I don't want to bite you but I will. What happened tonight?" he asked again as she began to struggle to get away from him.
         "Vachon, don't! Let it be!" she yelled, tugging mightily against the hold he had on her.
         He shook his head and shrugged. He had given her a fair chance and a fair warning. He hated doing this but she had given him no choice. The eyes went suddenly from just red glints to bright, burning gold with hot fires. He drew back his head and his fangs descended. He was vamped but he was still in control.
         "NO!! Vachon!! Don't you dare!" she yelled at him, almost screamed in sheer terror at the glowing eyes and the fully descended fangs heading right for her neck. She swung at him with her free hand and hit him in his jaw and knocked him back with a look of shock and then surprised anger then rage. "Ohho," she squeaked, realizing what a stupid thing she had done. Now there was no mercy in those cold eyes.
         He struck like a serpent before she could move or react. The pain from the razor sharp points was intense--worse than when Nick had done it. "Oh, shit!" was all she could say as she felt him drink her blood and with it her memories and the essence of her being. "I'm a goner now," she thought to herself as a creeping lassitude took over her as he felt her knees go weak and she felt him encircle her waist with his arms holding her up and pulling her close until her body was molded to his.
         He was in her mind. Everything that had happened to him in his long life raced before her mind's eyes, all his emotions, feelings, loves, hates and desires. It was more intense than what she had experienced when Nick had taken her blood, because so much more of Javier was on the surface and not hidden below. She knew him in ways she had not known it was possible to know another person and she realized with a shock how much he knew her and all the hidden places she did not want him to know. "Ohh, this is way it's supposed to be,' she thought losing herself in the sights and sensations.
         The she heard an answering chuckle from him, "oh yes,' he purred in her mind. "You haven't seen the half of it," he teased her and showed her what she had been missing as he took from her all the knowledge for what had happened to her at Nick's. She felt his complete shock at what she had experienced without even being near Nick and felt Vachon physically stiffen as he held her and gasp out loud with the intensity of it.
         Then it was suddenly over and he withdrew his fangs from her neck. She realized with a shock he had not drained her and she was still alive and breathing. She pulled back to look at him with her blood still on his mouth. He was regarding her with a mix of sympathy and confusion. "Yeah, I can see why you didn't want to talk about it, you poor mortal. Hell, of a thing to happen to you prepared but just sitting there and all that blast you out of nowhere--seezh! I don't know whether I could have handled it if I had been there myself," he said truthfully, his dark eyes soft and full of pity. "Knight's a real son of a ...b," he said not too kindly still holding her and looking at the tears in her eyes. "And I do apologize for doing that, but you left me no choice. Especially after you slugged me in the jaw. That hurt."
         "Sorry," she apologized, "but you pushed and I couldn't think of any other way to stop you and it didn't do any good anyway," she added, seeing he wasn't holding a grudge for her hitting him.
         Nope, it only made me mad and more determined. So now, the question is what are you going to do about the situation? You and Knight, I mean," he asked letting her go in case she thought he meant their rather intimate embrace.
         "What the hell can I do? I'm not even sure what I feel about it except angry and confused," she said pacing away from him to the couch.
         "That's not what I got from you. You'd like to stake her if you could and him--especially him--for sleeping with her when he wouldn't even try with you. But you've got to face one fact of life, Nat, " he said seriously getting her attention, she was staring at him with a cold, hard look. He continued despite the daggers she was sending, "Nick's a vampire. We are not monogamous like mortals--it's kind of against our nature especially when it's a lady vampire throwing herself at us. I'm sorry that's just the way it is. And if what you were getting is for real then we know who killed the construction worker and also that something none of us has ever seen or dealt with has entered the playing field," he said slowly and she nodded in agreement.
         "Her name is Lilith. But I can't believe she's who she says she is. I know I saw it all. You guys can't fake your memories when you're doing what you did to me?" she asked hopefully, remaining standing and pacing back and forth in front of him. It was making him dizzy but she needed to do it to work things out in her mind.
         "No. Not even the most ancient ones I've known could fake out blood. She's for real and that's beyond scary," he said shook looking at her as he sat down heavily on her white couch. "He must have ran into her after I left him at the Raven. He showed up just before I got there to talk to Mikos. He was not pleased to see me and warned me to stay away from you. He wants his cake and then some," he commented, with a disgusted smirk as he flung his arm across the back of the couch getting comfortable.
         "Yeah, evidently," she said. "So you didn't see her with him?"
         "No, but I did feel something watching me. It gave me the creeps. And feeling her in your blood--it was her. I'm sure of it. She just waited until I took off before she approached Nick and did the poor helpless chick routine on him and he took it hook, line, and sinker. At least we know where she is and that Knight will sit on her--if he can. I think he's bitten off way more than he knows how to handle. I think for once I'm going to do something I really hate doing, I'm going to talk to LaCroix let him know what Knight has stepped in before something bad happens," he said seriously, leaning forward with his hands steepled together on his knees.
         Nat raised her eyebrows at that. "You feel it's that bad?"
         "Yeph, real bad. Not only for your kind but for mine as well. It's apocalypse time, Nat," he told her deadly serious. "Where' s your phone?" he asked, looking around and not seeing it.
         "Phone?" she looked stunned, then looked around and found it for him and handed it to him. "You're calling LaCroix now?"
         "The sooner he knows, the sooner something can be done and she doesn't talk Nick into doing something we 'all' might regret. She's a danger to the whole Community, not to mention the larger world. It'd either him or I go straight to the Enforcers and I've got enough problems without dealing directly with them," he said taking the phone from her and pushing buttons.

Part 9/

         She stopped pacing and decided that she needed a drink and not the nonalcoholic kind. Plus she didn't want to intrude. Up on the top shelf she found the bottle of rum she had stashed up there. Getting a tall glass she went to the refrigerator and got ice and a can of coke. She put ice cubes in then poured the rum to halfway and then added the coke and swirled it around with her finger. She drank half of it standing there at the sink, then refilled her glass with more rum. She left off the coke entirely before she wandered back to the living room. On top of feeling a little lightheaded from Vachon's bite, the rum was hitting her hard so by the time she sat down in a chair with her glass she was feeling no pain for which she was eternally grateful.
         Vachon was still talking on the phone. She gathered to LaCroix from the way he was saying things and looking angry at the response he was getting.
         "No, Knight's your problem not mine... I think you better get concerned. This isn't an ordinary vamp 'your son' is messing with. I don't think even you can handle this one. She's bad news, man. Real bad news. This is death and destruction time I'm telling you... oh, right, I'm imagining things. I wish the hell I was but Nat saw and felt it and I saw it through her--it was that f''in' strong man, that a mortal could feel it. . .. Now, you get it. You see what I mean. This is big time shit. You're the big shot not me. If it comes from you they'll believe it--no one believes me about anything. Well, you'd better. This is for real and why would I call you of all people with a cock and bull story if it weren't for real. Good, you're showing sense in your old age, LaCroix," he growled back angrily. "Let me know what you do find out so I can tell Natalie, because I have a feeling Knight isn't going to be showing up for work for awhile... Yeah, Good-night to you too," Vachon said hanging the phone up without trying to break it.
         He just shook his head and looked up at her from under his stringy bangs. "I'm surprised no one has offered that man before this. Got he's an arrogant so and so. Glad he's Knight's problem, not mine. I would have staked him before this," he said disgusted.
         "Nick did. He just didn't stay staked," Nat commented sipping on her drink and feeling no pain.
         Vachon quirked an eyebrow at that. "So the worm did get up enough backbone to turn. Too bad it didn't take," he retorted and she just shrugged which was not the reaction he expected, normally she defended Knight no matter how dirty he had done her. Her looked at her, really looked at her and grinned. "You're drunk," he laughed, amused to see the doctor in less than her usual right on top of everything state.
         "No, . . . I'm not, but I'm working on it," she said finishing off what was left in her glass and getting up to go fix herself another. She took three steps and felt her world going black. He was off the couch instantly, catching her before she fell to the floor.
         "Nat, are you in there?" he asked worriedly, as she tried to look up at him and focus on his face.
         "It all went dark," she said her speech slurred.
         "Not surprising," he smiled still holding her in his arms, brushing the hair from her eyes with a tender finger. She was limp as a dishrag, and very, very drunk. It was not surprising considering what she had been through in the course of the whole night. If he had been mortal in her place, he would have drained the entire bottle. She was in so much pain inside she didn't know up from down.
         "I think I need to go to bed," she said, trying now not to get sick. "Help me?' she asked, in a weak voice.
         Her asking him to help her blew him away. Usually it was 'let me do it by myself, I don't need anyone's help'. "Sure Nat, no problem," he said sincerely, picking her up easily and carrying her to her bedroom and her bed. Sidney jumped off the bed as soon as he opened the door and looked at him and her wide eyed. He wasn't sure what was up but he decided to keep his distance until he figured it out. Vachon stood Nat up, leaning against him as he pulled the covers of the bed down. He debated on whether to undress her but decided if he did she'd kill him when she woke up. The hangover was going to make her mean enough. He left her clothes alone. He laid her down, and she groaned and flung her arm over her eyes as he did so. He did take off her shoes, killer heels and placed them by the bed but out of the way in case she had to make a hasty retreat to the bathroom.
         He tucked her in and kissed her good-night on her oddly cold forehead. The he went and turned off the light, leaving the door open and the hall light on and he retreated to the living room to sit and think. He had just stretched out and was falling asleep on her couch when he heard her get up and run to the bathroom and throw up. From the sound of it, she was not in good shape as he got up to see if he could help or do anything. She was sitting on the floor next to the toilet, her head hanging down and shivering. She was in shock. he wondered if he had taken too much on top of all she had been through. He carefully hunched down next to her and touched her forehead. She was still cool for human standards, and sweating. She tried to look up but couldn't, she was too weak.
         What's wrong with me?" she asked in almost a whisper.
         "You drank too much," he said concerned.
         "No, it's more than that. There's something very wrong than just being drunk and throwing up. . .I feel numb, but I also feel like I'm on fire and cold at the same time," she explained, trying to look up at him from under her tangled hair.
         He brushed the sweaty hair back out of her pain filled eyes. He had a suspicion, which he hoped wasn't true. The damn virus. He had forgotten about that. Her symptoms sounded like his when he had been sick. God, he hoped not. It was stupid his even of thinking of touching her and contaminating her. She had the virus, but it was dormant like Nick's was. They had gone through hell to get rid of his active virus and he wasn't completely free of it. It was there but it had gone dormant like theirs had. If his bite had pushed her virus into high gear he would never forgive himself--and neither would she.
         "Nat, are you through being sick?" he asked, getting a cool wet washrag and wiping her face off with it.
         "I think so," she said weakly as she got up shakily and flushed the toilet. He helped her up and held on to her as she started to sway dangerous close to the hard porcelain surfaces.
         "I'm carrying you," he said decisively, as he picked her up and walked the short distance to her bed and laid her down.
         "I need to get out of these," she protested sitting up as he started to tuck her in.
         "Where's your nightgown?" he asked as he looked away as she clumsily unbuttoned her blouse, and stood uneasily to get her skirt off. She was wearing a long slip underneath, but it was sticking wetly to her with sweat despite the coolness of her bedroom.
         "Over there on the hook underneath my bathrobe," she said pointing vaguely in the direction of her closet. He went and got both of them and handed them to her and started walking away. "Don't go," she called.          He turned and regarded her with surprise. "Why?" he asked.
         "I don't want to be alone," she admitted as she slipped out of the slip, then her bra and panties, but put her plain cotton white nightgown on, under his watchful eyes. "I'm scared to be alone, because then I remember. That's what woke me up--what I saw through the link I have with Nick and what I have. ..with you. . .now," she said slowly and carefully as she sat down shakily on the edge of the bed.
         "With me?" he questioned, not fully understanding. He knew he was linked to her, but not that she was to him.
         "We were a little before this but when you took my blood it intensified it, magnified it. It's real creepy, having you inside my head. I can real your thoughts now," she warned him.
         He took a step back on that one and just looked at her unsure how to react. "Yeah, sure," he joked. She was making a joke, wasn't she?
         "It's no joke, Javier," she said startling him by answering his unvoiced thought. "It's for real. I don't know if it's temporary or permanent, but for the moment I can hear you and feel you," she said quietly, looking at him watching and feeling his reactions.
         "I've never had that happen with a mortal before," he said.
         "But it does happen between vampires, right? And you said yourself that I've got the vampire in me, " she questioned, leaning back against the pillows, still dizzy and weak.
         "Yeah, you got it. And it does happen if the two are real close or have been close. But you and I we haven't , , , well done anything. It's been just friends," he said, but it's not that I haven't thought about it.
         "I have too," she said, freezing him in mid thought, "but there was Nick, and complications," she added.
         "Yeah, like you didn't trust me not to drain you like Nick did. I think I proved that I do have some self control, even if he doesn't," he countered. "And Nick, himself. That is the big one," he added.
         "'Was' the big one. I've lost him, Javier," she said partly angry and partly close to tears. "Hell, I lost him long before that but I was too stupid to know it, if I ever had him at all. He played me along, working me, knowing how I felt about him. Even now he still does. I'm just sick of it, of him. He can have his vampire lover. Good riddance," she said finally breaking down and sobbing, something she hated doing in font of anyone let alone him.
         He stood there rooted to the spot unsure whether to go or stay or go get her a tissue. "Nat, I. . .," he started to say but she finished for him.
         "You don't know what to say or do, I know. I heard you. I'll make it easy on you--just go. Go back to the couch Vachon, and let me cry,' she said between sobs.
         "But you're sick," he protested, worried now as he saw how she was sweating and it was not normal sweat. It was tinged pink and staining her nightgown.
         She looked back at him angrily, "you think I don't know or suspect I just got infected by Divia's virus by you. That hit me before you even thought it. The chills, the sweating, the fever, and feeling like I've been run over by a train, and the pain in the joints. If it's not I've got one hell of case of the flu. But it's not your fault Vachon. I asked for all this getting messed with vampires and staying messed up with them. I fixed myself up real good," she said bitterly, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "You play with fire, you get burnt--bad."
         "Nat, I know I really can't say a thing to that. Sorry won't cut it, I guess," he said embarrassed, drifting closer to the bed to touch her cheek and she winced away from his touch. He drew his hand back but did not retreat from beside the bed.
         "Don't," she told him.
         "Why? I can hear and feel you, too. Remember? You are the most confused and messed up person I have run across in a long time. More than Urs was, and that's saying a lot. You want so desperately to be close to someone, but whenever anyone tries, you push them back hard. You won't let anyone in, willingly. That was Knight's frustration with you, wasn't it?" he questioned gently, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
         "Yes," she admitted, ashamed. "We had problems on both sides. Ones we couldn't talk about because we didn't know how to just talk to the other. He wouldn't let me into his world," she said sadly.
         "But did you ever let him into yours?" he asked and saw her look at him shocked as she realized what he was saying.          "I thought I did, I really didn't, did I?"
         No, you didn't. You let me. I didn't know it for a while but you did. It happened when I was sick and you took care of me. I was stuck here and we had to get along, make compromises. I turned your world upside down and you let me. You never went that far for Nick, Nat, and you know that, don't you?"
         She nodded, her head down. "I had to protect you from him and the Community. Nick only let me protect him to a point. He wouldn't let me get close or let me know the real rules. You've at least been honest with me about the Community and how you guys react to things so I could help you and get you well. Even though me knowing what I do makes me a real target if anyone wanted to put a word in with the Enforcers," she said, knowing that was still a real possibility.
         "But they won't. LaCroix won't let them," he told her.
         "LaCroix? What the hell has he got to do with that?"
         "You're under his blanket protection, as we both are because of Divia's virus and your work with the Community during the fever," he admitted.
         "Oh, really?" she raised an eyebrow to that. "Great! I'm safe because of 'him?'" she growled unhappily at the idea of 'that' man having anything to do with her life or safety.
         "Yes. Nick as you know doesn't rank too high in the opinion polls."
         "Yeah, I've gathered that. So, what was the idea of telling him about me feeling Nick, etc. on the phone? I really didn't appreciate that!"
         " I didn't have any choice. It was the only way he'd believe me about what you saw and what I saw in your blood. He knows I wasn't lying and he'll hopefully do something about her," he told her.
         "But you told him you drank my blood. What"s he going to think is happening between you and me?" she questioned seriously.
         He shrugged, "let him think whatever he wants. It's none of his damn business, We may be under his protection but I'm not his offspring and neither are you. He doesn't make rules for me and I won't let him," he told her, and she agreed.
         "But he'll tell Nick," she argued.
         "So, do you really care? You said you didn't, but there's still a large part of you that still does give a damn whether Nick thinks you and I have something going on even though we don't--though that could always change," he smiled mischievously as he dared stroke her hand resting on her nightgown covered leg. "Though in vampire terms we did have sex," he added semi-seriously, and she shot him a look.
         "Huh?" she questioned. "We what?"
         "You don't have to do the whole nine yards. Actually we get more of a rush out of the blood than the pure sexual part," he explained. "It's you mortals that seem to want and need the sex part more."
         "So we had "sex' and I missed it? That's what you are tell me?"
         "Pretty much."
         "Gee, that's great to know," she said not sure how to think about that.
         "How are you doing?" he asked changing the subject, clinically checking her over and seeing that she was still sweating and it was still blood tinged.
         "It comes and goes in waves. I feel okay one minute, the next my bones hurt, and I start shivering. I'm sweating blood aren't I?" she asked aware of his thoughts and how her gown was turning pink.
         He nodded. "How's your teeth?" he asked.
         She glared at him. "Fine, I think. They hurt, too," she added feeling around in her mouth with her tongue and not finding anything too much out of the ordinary.
         "Open," he told her leaning forward before she could react and grabbing her chin.
         "What the hell! Vachon!" she protested, trying to knock his hand away, but he wouldn't let her and he forced her mouth open and stuck a finger in and probed the roof of her mouth. he found what he had been dreading to find--vampire teeth buds.
         "Shit!" he exclaimed, and removed his finger.
         "Damn you, don't do that! Or at least wash your hands before you do," she said disgustedly. "And why did you say "shit'?" she questioned, worriedly looking at him but he was trying to avoid her eyes.
         "They're there, Nat. I'm sorry," he said flatly, looking at her in sympathy.
         "What's there?" she asked suddenly afraid as he tried to blank his mind and keep her from seeing what he knew for a certainty now. "You've got to be kidding," she said slowly as realization dawned on her. "I've got the teeth, don't I?" she demanded, and he flinched back at her anger.
         "Yes, they are there, just under the surface. They're not full blown. They may never be, but they are there. I'm sorry, Nat," he said.          "Oh wonderful, just one more nail in the coffin," she said frustrated, looking up to the ceiling, wondering if by tomorrow night if this sickness kept on if she wouldn't be a full pledged vampire. The tears came back full force and they were pink tinged too, which made her cry even harder. She flung herself away from him and hugged her pillow crying into it.
         She ignored his hand on her sweat stained shoulder and kept crying. "It isn't fair," she sobbed into the pillow.
         'No, it's not,' he thought as he rubbing her back, wanting to gather her in his arms and hold her, but in her current state of mind she'd probably kick him off the bed on to the floor if he even tried. So he kept on stroking and massaging her back and the sobs began to ease up and she began to relax and move into his touch. He could feel her reacting, but not in the way he intended, it was getting her aroused. Boy, could he feel it through their link. The gentlemanly thing to do would to be to stop and get up and go back to the couch, but he couldn't stop, didn't want to stop and neither did she want him to. He worked his way slowly down her back to her hips then to her legs, working through the cloth nightgown When he got to her bare calves he stopped uncertain what to do next.
         "Why did you stop? That felt wonderful," she said turning her face from the pillow to look over her shoulder at him.
         'Yeah, she was interested--more than interested,' he thought worriedly, but outloud he said,"I think I'd better go back to the couch." He recognized all too well the look she was giving him and wondered whether he should ignore it or act on it.
         "No, stay. I don't want to be alone," she told him again. "It's okay. It will be okay," she reassured him reaching for his hand and taking it in hers.
         Will it?' he questioned. "Once we step over the line, nothing will ever be the same. Can you deal with that? And if it pushes you over and you become full vamp, can you deal with that?" he asked, trying to give her a way out and half hoping she'd take it and the other part hoping she wouldn't.
         "I know what I'm doing. I'm not some naive schoolgirl," she defended.
         "True, but I don't want you doing this for revenge, Nat, because you are pissed at Nick. I guess I'm saying I want you to know 'who' you are going to bed with. I know you care about me, Nat, and I care about you, sometimes a little too much for my own good. You're the second mortal recently that has really gotten under my skin and that scares the hell out of me," he told her truthfully. Tracy had been the first, but she was gone and Nat was here and wanted him in ways he didn't know he could be wanted or needed. It felt good, if it was for real and he still had a hard time believing it was for real. "I guess I'm saying I want you to go to bed with me for the right reasons and for you to be damn sure because there won't be any turning back.
         "I know," she said meeting his eyes without backing down and he saw her desire for him mirrored there. "No turning back, I promise," she told him, turning over and taking his hand and pulling him to her beside her in bed. He came willingly, but then he grew suddenly shy and afraid. He wasn't in command of the situation at all. She was.
         His boots and socks were already off. He had taken them off before he had laid down on the couch. His leather jacket, too, was hung up neatly on the coat rack. Old habit from staying there. All that remained were his t-shirt and pants. He hated underwear. But to be on the safe side he sat down on the edge of the bed with clothes on, real uncertain what to do next. This was Nat-- his friend--was he 'ready' to cross over the line? He was getting a major case of cold feet.
         Natalie saw his hestitation and looked up at him puzzled. "What's wrong?"
         He shook his head and looked down, "Nat, I don't know whether I can do this," he told her truthfully, keeping his distance.
         She felt poleaxed. He was rejecting her? First Nick, now him? She was hurt then angry."Okay, I understand. Just go--please just go!" she said angrily and pushed him off the bed.
         He was not expecting that and fell off and landed on his rear in a heap on the floor. He looked up at her incrediously. "What the hell was that for?" he asked in shock.
         She wouldn't answer him and just turned her back on him and went back to hugging her pillow again.
         Now he was mad. He jumped up and put his hands on her shoulder and pulled her back to face him. She glared at him, red fires swirling inside, turning to glowing gold. But that didn't stop him. Before she could push him away he kissed her hard and pulled her to him, crushing her against him. She started to struggle and hit him with her fists but he ignored her as he deepened his kiss and tightened his hold on her until she started responding back and her arms wrapped around him in frenzied desire.
         His hand trailed slowly down her body, following her lines and curves and her body arched in longing and desire as she responsed fully to his touch with every movement of his hand. Her kisses became more and more passionate arousing him in return as she nuzzled his neck and ran her fingers through his thick, long, raven locks of hair. "Do you want me to stop? Do you want this?" he asked in a low rumbling growl which vibrated through her body as he trailed kisses along her shoulder, looking at her from under lidded eyes.
         "Yes, . . ," she gasped, was he nuts? Hell no, she didn't want him to stop! He could keep doing what he was doing for forever--just don't stop, she begged in her mind. Whether or not he caught that thought, she wasn't sure. As she heard and felt a rumbling chuckle against her neck and he intensified his efforts until she felt she was going to go nuts for the sheer intensity of sensations that was flooding her every fiber of her being.
         She was only dimly aware of when her nightgown and his clothes went elsewhere and they were together flesh to flesh and he was inside her, like nothing she had ever known before. That he knew how to make love was an understatement. She lost track of how many times she hit and kept hitting. And she could feel his amusement of seeing how many times he could get her climbing the walls before she begged for release. But she was also making him react as she moved and molded her body to his, matching her movements to his rythmuns. A fine sheen of sweat covered them both as they came closer and closer to a mutal climax. Then she felt the vamp rising in him as he climbed higher and higher as he began losing what little self control he still had. In her was an answering as she lost control and the blood fever took hold. Before he could react she was at his neck, kissing his shoulder and trailing up to his neck. Without warning her fangs descended and broke through, and she sank their very sharp points into his neck. He stiffened with the shock of it and moaned against her neck in ectasy as he felt his release and bit down sharply on her neck. She struggled against his taking her blood because she could feel him becoming one with her in her mind as she was one with him as she drank greedily of his blood.
         She saw and felt everything he had been through in his life, the joys, the happiness, the sorrows, the horrors, and the pains. It was as or more intense than what she had experienced with Nick eariler. This time in was direct into her mind, not filtered. So, this is what he saw in my blood--my life-there are no secrets--nor can there be--all the walls are gone--this is what Nick was afraid of --that I'd see him as he really is or thinks he is--she realized with a start. And she could feel Javier agreeing with her.
         It all hangs out in the open--we can never truely lie to one another--the blood tells all,' he told her in her mind. "I told you once we stepped over the line--nothing would ever be the same on levels you may not even comprehend for a while."
         "And I do not regret doing this, Javier. I'm not going to get all guity on you later,' she told him truthfully elevating some of his fears that she would hate him for possibily taking advantage of her in her weaken mental and physical state. And to show him that she meant it she redoubled her efforts of continuing to make him feel good.
         "Oh shit!" he exclaimed in a combination of absolute pleasure and semi-awareness of what she was doing to his neck and how much blood she was taking. 'Take it easy woman," he warned her mentally, "this boy wants to walk after this."
         She laughed and released her hold of his neck, hearing him. Savoring the taste of his blood where eariler she woluld have been repelled. She licked her lips as she drew back and looked up at him studing her. He tenderly brushed a tendril of sweat soaked hair out of her face, and kissed her gently on her lips. "I'm sorry," he said.
         "For what? she questioned puzzled.
"          For maybe pushing you over that final couple of inches--to becoming a vampire like me," he said with deep regret.
         "Are you sure I am? she asked suddenly aware she could have finally stepped over the line in more ways than one with him.
         "No, not really. You still have a mortal heartbeat, and you're still warm. You never completely died--like I did or like most vampires. But you do have a slower heartbeat and you've got the eyes, and definitely got the teeth," he said winching as he rolled over and checked his very sore shoulder. "But you did drink my blood--and enjoyed it," he told her with a touch of worry in his voice as he looked over at her.
         She was being quiet, digesting his words, and putting it perspective of what she knew so far about the biology of vampires, and whatever she was didn't fit with anything she knew or thought she understood about them. "So I'm still neither flesh or foul am I? she asked.          "It looks that way so far. Except I'd be real damn careful about going out in direct sunlight without protection. How do you feel?" he asked, as she lay her head on his chest and he stroked her hair.
         "Happy, but a bit scared. Like what happens next? Where do we go from here?" she asked, not expecting an answer or any commitments from him.
         "I dunno," he said seriously. He hadn't really thought that part out. He hadn't really thought about anything or about this really happening and what happened afterwards. He wasn't just going to tell her bye, thanks for the lay and vanish. He wasn't quite sure what 'she' wanted to do about their new situation. Natalie was a very complicated woman with a lot of emotional garbage that she still had to sort out--namely in the area of a certain NIcholas Knight. That part was very clear in her blood. He knew she loved him, but it wasn't with the undying intensity that she loved NIck. Maybe in time she could feel that way about him but she had to get free of Knight and all the pain that had gone into loving him before she was truely free to love him even partially unconditionally. "Let's just wing it and see where it goes, Nat. No promises, no strings, let's just be us however and whenever it happens. I won't pressure you. You've got too much pressure and stuff you have work out for your own head and happiness.," he said gently.
         She really didn't expect him to say anything different. One part of her was a little disappointed--maybe she expected a commitment of sorts, but she had to realize she was dealing with a vampire--and vampire's didn't make commitments of the mortal kind as far as relationship's went. The daily grind of eternity with the same person could get pretty boring she had heard. Vampire's took each day or rather night as it came. And that's what she had to do--start thinking in terms of taking whatever came along as it came along as she had done with him and their relationship since he had been sick.
         "Yeah, I guess I do--but I do want you know you aren't complicating my life. Actually when you're around things seem simpler and easier to deal with. You don't go around in a deep despair, blaming yourself for everything. You just accept that things happen as they do and deal with them one way or the other. And no, I don't think you're irresponsible. Actually you're very responsible--in your own way," she smiled, as she lay curled in his arms feeling safe and protected and finally drifting off to sleep.
         Javier just laid there a little stunned and amused by her statements. It was her total acceptance of him as he was that always floored him, but he wasn't going to complain. He didn't know what direction this relationship was heading but he was definitly going to stick around and find out. In the meantime the sun was definitely up and they both needed to get some sleep. He knew tonight was going to be killer on everyone. If LaCroix had called Knight then the s...t was going to hit the fan in more ways than one. He doubted if LaCroix had had time to go there personally before the sunrise but given what he had told the old Roman about Knight's guest he might have made the effort anyway out of curiousity if nothing else. Well, whatever LaCroix had decided to do he wasn't going to worry about it until he woke up and with that firmly in mind he too drifted off to sleep.

Part 10/

         Nick was vaguely aware that there was someone standing over him--in his bedroom-and that person was not at all pleased with him. Groggily he raised his head from his pillow and looked over his shoulder to see his "father" glaring rather nastily down at him. He should have known--but yet he was shocked. It was daylight outside--noon to be exact and LaCroix was here? The older vampire put his finger to his lips and motioned him to follow him--presumedly downstairs. It was apparent that LaCroix was reluctant to wake the woman sleeping next to him. And Nick could tell she was still very deeply asleep and not faking it as he slipped quietly and carefully out of the bed and grabbed his robe and put it on quickly. He gently closed the bedroom door behind him knowing that conversations between himself and his sire tended to get more than a little loud and heated. LaCroix was already downstairs waiting for him and holding out to him a wine glass full of the House Special, not Nick's usual.
         "I should ask why you are here," Nick said taking the glass cautiously from his master's hand, "but seeing that it's daylight, I assume it must be very important?" Nick questioned.
         "Yes," LaCroix nodded solemnly, and took a sip from his own glass before answering his son. "It involves a very distrubing phone call I recieved this morning before sunrise. I thought I could wait until this evening but I checked with some other 'sources' and what I got back from them compelled me to seek you out before then," he said cryptically as he regarded his son worriedly.
         "A phone call?" Nick asked, thinking that must have been some phone call.
         "Yes, it concerned the woman. . .upstairs," he said, hestitantly, glancing upwards in hopes she was still sleeping and would not distrub this conversation yet.
         "Someone knows about Lilith?" NIck questioned, taken aback that someone knew she was here.
         "Yes, indeed. It was a strange accident and I would not have heard about if the other parties involved had not been so upset about the circumstances under which the information was obtained," the older vampire said slowly, and saw Nick's growing confusion.
         "Other parties? What other parties?" NIck questioned, wishing LaCroix would get to the point and tell him what he was talking about.          It seems to involve the Doctor and Vachon," LaCroix said, and was rewarded with Nick going wide eyed and visibly shaken to the point he had to sit down hard on the black leather couch.
         "Nat? Vachon? I really don't understand? What has Lilith to do with them? I ran into Vachon last night when I was investigating a "vampire" case and went to the Raven to make inquiries about newcomers. I didn't meet Lilith until Vachon had taken off from the Raven. And he was not around when I brought Lilith home with me. And Nat? Nat was at work as far as I know when I came here," NIck asked.
         LaCroix looked a little flustered as he answered. "It seems your doctor friend got off early and came over here to see you. Something about wanting to have a "talk" with you," he told him.
         Nick digested that information , but he was still puzzled. As far as he knew Nat had never gotten here or had she? He admitted that he had been a little distracted before sunrise--then it dawned on him--the images of Natalie when he had been making love to Lilith--he had put it off to guility consequences--but if Nat had been close by--given their connection and her growing vampiric tendancies--ohhoh. "She was here?" Nick asked, afriad to confirm his suspicions.
         LaCroix slowly nodded, enjoying watching Nichols squirm. "Yes, outside in her car. She never made it further than that. She experienced the blood link you had with Lilith--'everything'," he emphasized and let that information sink slowly in.
         "Oh---," Nick gulped, "she. . .?" Nick couldn't finished his sentence as he looked up to LaCroix for comfirmation.
         "She saw and felt 'everything' you and that woman did," he comfirmed, almost feeling sorry for his son, knowing how embarrassed he must be and how strong his feelings for the ladty doctor were.
         Nick drained his glasses and poured himself another full one and downed that just as quickly as he digested what LaCroix had just told him. If Nat had experienced the blood link as his master suggested then Nat knew all--there would be no secrets between them--which in one way was good but then she also knew that he had slept with someone else and not her. That would not help their current strained situation. But what the hell did Vachon have to do with this, he wondered?
         Calmly Nick asked, "What has Vachon to do with this or with Nat?"
         LaCroix had been debating how to answer this particular question, and there wasn't any good way except the truth. "He met the doctor after work at her apartment. It seems they had a 'date'," he answered and saw with great inner amusement the look of shock and anger on Nick's face.
         "They what? A date? The two of them?" Nick questioned angrily. "Explain," he demanded in a savage voice almost rising up off the couch.
         "That was what I was told by Vachon when he called me. Your doctor friend was more than a little shaken by her experience to the point she almost wrecked her car pulling into her parking lot. Vachon said she had been crying and was in a state of shock but refused to tell him what had happened. He apologized to me for what happened next, but he couldn't see any other way to get the information out of her," LaCroix said cryptically.
         "What did he do?" Nick questioned, barely containing his anger and hoping his suspicions were true.
         LaCroix moved back a couple of paces, ready for what was to come. "he read her blood," he told him bluntly.
         Nick just looked at him stunned as what his master had just said sank in. "He bit Nat?"
         LaCroix nodded, "Yes, he felt he had no other choice because of the state Natalie was in. He did not hurt her and once the air was cleared she could talk about it," he added.
         "He dared? After I warned him to stay away from her? He bit her? I'm going to kill the little bastard!" Nick roared, furious to the core that the Spainard had violatded 'his' Natalie! The woman he loved. As soon as the sun was down he was going to hunt him down and stake him. How dare he!
         "It seems the doctor consented, Nicholas. Vachon is not all to blame. She let him," LaCroix added and saw his son get even more furious.
         "What? She what? Let him?---NO! You're lying!" he yelled, his eyes blazing up at him with a mixture of jealousy and rage, his hands clenching, wanting to break or tear something--someone.
         Ingoring his son's growing temper tantum, LaCroix went cooly on knowing full well how his son was taking these bits of news. "Unfortunately, no. She couldn't talk about it and she agreed it was the only way. She "trusts" Vachon not to harm her," he put in.
         "She trusts that piece of --to touch her in that way when she won't let me near her?" Nick was dumbfounded and confused.
         "That appears to be the case, Nicholas. They have grown rather close during the course of his illness and afterward. And when you threatened to kill Vachon that made them become even closer. Surely by now you know how protective your doctor friend can be when it comes to 'sick' friends. I am very aware after the times she stood up to me on your behalf and for the protection of the community," he reminded him.
         "But still? Her and Vachon?" Nick asked incrediously as he shook his head in disbelief.
         "So what does that matter, Nicholas, in view of your friend upstairs? Your lady doctor is not going to easily forgive you that, knowing her," Lacroix reminded him, glancing meaningfully towards the upstairs bedroom and saw Nick visibily pale with that knowledge.
         "Yes, I know. I've really blown it this time with Nat," Nick said calming down and realizing the consequences of what he had done.          "I hate to say this my son, but I feel that may be very true. The question is what about the woman upstairs? Vachon told me about her, but I really want to hear what you know and what she told you," LaCroix said seriously, coming to the real point of his visit.
         Nicholas's face took on a completely different cast, a one of awe and wonder. "She is incredible. She may the oldest one of all our race. She may even be the original one of our race."
         "She not lying or decieving you?" LaCroix questioned, still very much the skeptic.
         "We shared blood. She could not, cannot lie. You know that as well as I do. She has seen the rise and fall of most of civilization and their beginnings. She has abilities that we only have in minute portions compared to her. She can walk fully in the sunlight and not be destroyed. Her mind and knowledge is far beyond ours. Already she can speak our language from the words in my mind and what I have spoken to her," Nick told him, but Lacroix remained unimpressed.
         "I cannot believe it, Nicholas. I cannot believe this woman is as old as she claims to be. And that she has remained entombed here for four thousand years only to be released by accident now? Why here? There was no civilization here in that time period only wandering savages if I remember my history," LaCroix questioned.
         "She was brought here in chains and entombed by the mortals who once served her. She could not be destroyed--they tried. Many times mortals tried to destroy her as they do us with fire, beheading, dismemberment,but she always managed to regenerate as fantastic as that sounds. Only entombing her with ancient magical seals could keep her contained," Nick explained.BR>          "Like Divia?"
         "Yes, like Divia, but in the end Divia could be destroyed permantely. Lilith cannot and even she does not fully understand why she is this indestructiable. She has made others like her in the past but as she has said they were all pale copies of herself as were are even paler copies. She is also capable of giving birth as a normal mortal woman and can eat food without discomfort though she prefers blood over food," Nick also explained.
         "She cannot be destroyed?" LaCroix questioned.          "Not by any means mankind has thought of to destroy our kind. She said the dark goddess blessed her and made her above and separate from humanity. And I believe her," Nicholas said truthfully.
         "Hah!" LaCroix almost laughed in his son's face, "You expect me to accept that some unknown "dark goddess" created this woman--now you'll tell me that that fairy tales are true," he scoffed.
         "Well, don't a lot of these fairy tales have some basis in reality or have been found to be true by historical records that prove the events did happen, or creatures previously thought to be myths or legends have had their skeletonal remains found. The ancient world had beings wandering in it we still can't explain and who could control forces we can't even comprehend. All Lilith knows was that she was "created" not born. There were no beings like her for a very long time. She grew up alone and after many years of wandering and searching she found people--mortals but none like her. She lived as a mortal for many centuries, never aging, but able to have children. And she had many--you could say many of the early civilizations owe their direct decention from her," Nicholas explained, from the memories he had absorbed and whatshe had explained to him.
         LaCroix only crooked an eyebrow at him, more than a little skepital but willing to hear him out. "Continue, please. . .I'm fascinated," he drawled.
         Nick ignored his sarcasim,"It wasn't until another tribe came and slaughtered her family and "killed" her did she realize how invulnerable she was to mortal weapons and that she had abilities and powers she had not even been aware of. In the anger and pain of the destruction of her family and children she came to first bloodlust after she woke up from her "mortal" blow and completely destroyed her destroyers with fang and claw and drank human blood for the first time and realized she enjoyed it. That was how she became the first vampire as far as she knew," NIck told him.          There were no others like her?"
         "Not as far as she knew. She heard rumours and had them checked out but all the rumours proved to be false. The only ones that she knew of for sure were those chosen ones she brought over herself and their offspring.These chosen ones became her priests and priestesses as a religion of the dark goddess in which she embodied began to evolve around her. And she moved mankind into building permanent homes and towns, turning the desert wanderers into farmers and townspeople to act as a buffer against those who were still nomads and savages. Early Babylon was one place she lived for many centuries, making the people build her a temple and palace so she would have a place secure from the sun. She was beginning to find out that the more blood she took the less she could tolerate being in the sun all day as she had been able to, but that was a gradual thing over milleniums. Her physical children of her body were long lived but could be killed, as those she created were like her as well but could not physically reproduce themselves except by the exchange of blood as we do. These early first generation created ones could also tolerate the sunlight, but each generation thereafter became increasingly vulnerble to the sun until they were like we are today," Nick explained, with LaCroix becoming more and more interested in the story, though still skepitcal.
         "And the offspring of her physical ones?"
         "They remained mortal, unless they were brought over. Though she did say a few did become vampire on their own like she did in the heat of battle or under extreme stress with "fatal" wounds. And those that were mortal bred with other mortals so that her genes got spread far and wide as she encouraged her children to travel and explore as well as expand the boundaries of her influence and power."
         "That might explain the origins of some ancients I had heard about that seemed to spring from mortal parents without having been brought over by another. And why some persons "call" to you to be brought over when others do not. The blood calls," he said thoughtfully, beginning to understand certain puzzling things about the vampiric nature that now modern science and the work of the doctor had brought to his attention. In was in the genes--he realized. Why some mortals could easily be brought over while others despite ones best efforts could not. The genentic marker had to be present to begin with or the vampiric gene could not be activated. It made perfect sense now.
         "An interesting theory," Nick commented, thoughtful himself, that Nat was closer to the truth than she knew. And given with that she 'called" to him when they first met, more strongly than any mortal he had met in ages, and with her infection from him it was possible given the right set of stress factors she could become a vampire on her own without anyone accuatlly bringing her over. That thought chilled him.
         LaCroix had ben watching him and saw his look of intense worry and pain. "What is it Nicholas? he asked.
         "Nat. If this theory is correct what about Nat? Could she cross over on her own?" he asked dreading the answer.
         He looked thoughful for a moment, running through the possibilies himself. "In theory I would have to say, yes--especially if the good doctor was pushed more in that dirction. Mainly it could occur by contract--close contact with one of us, given she already has vampiric tendencies from you infecting her with Divia's blood. If the Spainard has drank from her, and he too was affected by Divia even though the doctor "cured" him, he would still have minute traces in his blood and that would reactivate the infection. Yes, it is more than possible for the good doctor to cross over on her own," LaCroix answered, not sure whether after all that had been said and done that he wanted the good doctor as one of them.
         Nick nodded solemly, finding no flaw in his mentor's logic as much as he would have like to. "And you are sure he took her blood?" he questioned.
         That is what he told me and given how upset he was when he called I have no reason to doubt his word on this."
         And if Nat drank his blood? Would that accelerate the process?" Nick asked, worried now.
         "Possibily. Why do you think that?" LaCroix asked puzzled.
         "A dream I had this morning--which might not have been a dream. I saw--felt them making love--as vampires do," NIck said bitterly, not knowing him he had dreamed or if he had experience a bloodlink with Nat like she had had with him.
         "LaCroix raised both eyebrows at that. "I see. I do understand your concern, Nicholas, but the doctor is a grown woman and capable of making her own choices as to what she does and who she does it with. Given that you and doctor have been somewhat on the outs for months since the unfortunate accident and your waiting to kill Vachon whom she was protecting, it is perfectly understandable that she would get closer to him--and given he doesn't have your guilt ridden tendencies and has control she would be safe with him," he answered truthfully.
         "Nat safe with Vachon?" Nick asked amused, despite the apparent grimness of the situation.
         "Well, she certainly wasn't safe with you, was she? And you supposedly "love" her," he reminded him.
         Nick looked very dejected at him, accepting the truth of that statement. Nat wasn't safe with him--or had she ever been. He could not control his beast as much he had wanted to with her. But it appalled him that the younger vampire had the control that he lacked and LaCroix knew it. Even when Vachon had been sick from Divia's attack he had protected Tracy despite his bloodlust. He had chosen to die rather than harm her, and when he was with Nat and she was trying to find a cure he had not hurt her that he knew of. "So what do you suggest I do? Walk away from the situation?" he asked.
         "That might be the wisest course. The doctor knows about the woman and there is also the woman to consider--what do you intend to do about her? That in itself is a very big question. She is outside of the Community if she is for real and cannot be let loose to wander on her own. She must learn the rules of this time period and how to blend in to survive. Most importantly she cannot be allowed to kill openly or freely. Are you prepared to be the teacher of one so ancient that you and I are mere children in her eyes?" LaCroix asked bluntly.
         "I had thought about it in those terms. I really hadn't thought about what to do with Lilith, except try to tell her about this century and how we cope with mortals," Nick replied.
         "That is something. Unfortunatley, you haven't seen beyond the fact that she is female yet. This woman was a ruler of nations for milleniums before either of us was even born or brought across. She will still think in those terms and how can she not. We and mortals were put forth to do her bidding, you think you can really "teach" her to be unintrusive or invisible to mortals or to the Enforcers? I have dealt with Kings and Emperors as well as Queens--I fear this task is beyond you, my son. As she is beyond us," LaCroix stated.
         Nick glared at him. "You think I cannot teach her? Help her adjust to life in the present day?"
         "Frankly, NIcholas--no, I do not think you can."
         "And who are you to make such decisions for me?" asked Lilith angrily, from the top of the stairs as she glared down at both of them wrapped in Nicholas's robe.

Part 11/

         Tracy woke up disorientated and looked around confused as to where she was and how she got there. Slowly, the memories of the night came back to her as she leaned back against her pillows in the soft bed. She was at the Raven in one of the guest rooms in the subbasement.She was a vampire--a very hungry vampire she realized as her stomach cramped. Looking around she saw four bottles on the small end table by the door. She got out bed and opened one of them with a savage twist to the cork stopper, and raising the bottle to her lips she drank it all quickly. That only took the edge off her intense hunger, so she opened another one and drained it, then another until aftr the third bottle she finallt felt "human" and in control of herself. She looked down at the empties in amazement and wondered if that was normal or not.
         Some inner sense told her it was nearing sunset. A built in vampric alarm clock, she was realizing that also warned her when sunrise was approaching--useful, she thought. She took another shower, wanting to be sure she had all her accumilated grime off before she dressed in clean clothing. She dried and styled her hair, enjoying how her hair actually looked and behaved better than it had when she was "alive". Some instinct told her to try some of the makeup she found in a box on the vanity--she hadn't been much for makeup before but she liked it now. Her eyes looked larger, more lumunious and her skin almost glowed--reminding her of how Vachon's skin looked.
          And what had they told her last night --that he was alive? She couldn't wait to see him--let him know everything was okay and that she was alive and one of them. Now there wouldn't be any barriers between them--no fears--she was safe to be with. That was if he still wanted her? They had mentioned something about him and Dr. Lambert? Surely, she hadn't heard that right?. No matter what she was going to find him tonight. How could he want Dr. Lambert--she was too old for him--at least appearance wise. With luck she could find someone who knew where he was or was living now--she doubted he was still living in the old abandoned chruch.
         In anticipation of finding him she looked over her choices of clothes. She chose the silky black slip like dress that came to mid thigh on her and a pair off low heeled sandles. She didn't have any jewelry, but she didn't need any. She surveyed herself in the bathroom mirror. Satisfied she was suitably attired for the night she went in search of Mikos and Tina.
         As she neared the bar she noted others coming forth from their daytime hiding places. The Raven was more occuppied than she had dreamed. She saw a young man with his back towards her longing against the wall with long black hair and a leather jacket. Tracy's heart took a leap-Xavier? She went over and tapped him on the shoulder, he turned. It wasn't him. He raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
         "Sorry," she apologized as she realized her mistake. "I thought you were someone else," she said nervously.
         "I'm sorry too, you new here?" he asked pleasantly looking her over and liking what he saw very much.
         "Yeah, just got in last night. I'm kind of new to everything--you might say," she replied carefully in a low tone.
         "Ah, a newbie? And you are on your own?"
         "I think so--it's rather comflicated. I'm not even sure when and how I was brought over and by whom. I don't remember. I just remembered who I was last night and came here.," Tracy told him, and he just nodded as he digested that information.
         "How'd you know to come here?"
         "I had "friends"--before when I was mortal that used to hang out here as did my partner. I was a cop," she said.
         He took a step backwards," a cop?" he questioned. "Now I know why you look familar. I saw you here with Dective Knight and with that sleezeball Vachon a couple of time. You're her, you're Vetter?" he said flatly, and started to turn away.
         "Yeah, I am. What's the problem?"
         "Given that you were Knight's partner that means LaCroix's involved and I don't want to mess with him. In otherwords you are off limits and bad news," he explained backing away with a hint of fear on his face.
         "Huh?" she said totally confused. "Who is LaCroix? You mean the guy on the radio who is the Nightcrawler? What he has to do with Nick or with me?" she asked totally confused.
         Her lack of comprehension stopped him. "You really don't know?" he asked, suspicious, but willing to give her the benifit of a doubt.          "He's Knight's master--the one who made him. Didn't you know that?"
         "No. I knew he and Nick were sort of acquainted--but his master? And why are you afraid of him?" she asked.
         "He's an ancient--a real bad ass ancient. You don't mess with him or those under his protection if you want to keep on living. He's dangerous--girl--real dangerous. He used to own this place but he gave it to Mikos so we would all have a safe place to come to especially after the fever, and the hunter. There's not that many of us around--not like it used to be. Toronto is not a safe place to be," he explained.
         "But I don't even know LaCroix. What makes you think I'm under his protection as you call it."
         "Because you are, my dear," said a silky voice from behind her.
         Tracy spin around and came face to face with LaCroix who was looking down at her in amusement and approval at what he saw.
         "I am Lucien LaCroix, Miss Vetter. We have met but unfortunately you probably don't remember," he said taking her hand and kissing it which unnerved Tracy who was staring at him wide eyed, as she could feel the caged power in him. She now understood very well why the young vampire--who had vanished with laCroix's appearance--had called him dangerous--he was--in spades.
         "No, I don't. I'm sorry," she said, truthfully. She would have remembered even if she was still mortal. Those cold icy eyes, and the imposing dementer were hard enough to handle as a vampire. This was Nick's master?
         "Just as well. I am very surprised to see you Detective--very surprised indeed. Mikos called me and told me that you showed up on his doorstep last night with no memory of how you came to be. I think you and I need to talk," he said gently.
         "You can explain why I crossed over?" she asked surprised.
         "In a manner of speaking, yes. Not all the details but I have a theory if you would care to listen?" he asked.          "Okay, I'm game," she said curious despite herself.          "Then let us adjorn to my my office. It's a bit more private than here. There are some things that need to remain between you and myself," he said taking her arm and giding her back down the main coridor to a door which he unlocked with a key. He turned on the light and ushered her in seating her in a large oversized chair that sat before a massive wooden carved desk while went and sat down in a throne like swirl chair behind the desk. "Would you care for a drink? he offerrd gesturing to a green bottle on a tray with two glasses. Evidently he had prepared for her visit to his office.
         "No, thank you, I'm fine," she replied. "So you said you knew who I might have crossed over?" she asked, coming to the point.
         "You're direct, I like that. So I will be just as direct. I believe it has to do with my daughter--my real daughter, Divia. She brought me over, you see when Pompey was exploding. She was a horrible dangerous thing, And long before I met Nicholas I entombed her because I feared her "evil" loosed upon the mortal world. Unfortunately, she was released accidently by treasure hunters and came looking for me. She was who attacked Vachon and NIck and killed Urs, Vachon's friend."
         "That doesn't explain who made me," she said getting impatient.
         "I'm getting to that my dear," he said patiently. "As I said, she attacked Nick and infected him with some sort of virus. He was not as deeply affected as was Vachon because Divia shares a blood link to me as does Nicholas. However, he was affected and when you were shot those bullets passed through him and into you and infected you."
         "But I was dying. I died, didn't I?" TRacy asked confused.
         "Yes, or at least that was what everyone including myself and Nicholas thought. Nicholas almost brought you over himself but the good doctor stopped him," LaCroix explained.
         "The good doctor--you mean Dr. Lambert, Natalie? She stopped him? Why?" she asked.
         "They were having problems at the time and I believe she was more than a little jealous that he was willing to bring you over and not her. In fact when they did get together he drained her and left her for dead while he vanished on her for a time and she had to recover alone. I took her to the hospital myself and they managed to pump enough blood into her that she recovered. She did not cross over, but she does have vampiric traits, that seem to be intensifying. She has never forgiven him for abandoning her, and leaving her to die on his floor," LaCroix told her.
         "I don't blame her--I'd kill him too if he had donne that to me. That's horrible. But I take it she is still working as a coroner and he's still working as a cop?"
         "Yes, to both. They have made peace of a sorts for professional reasons but personally no. And it has been quite bad for both the mortal persons and immortals that have to deal with both. And it looks like it will heat up even further because of some new developments," he said.
         "New developments?"
         "I hate to be the bear of bad tidings as I understand you were quite smidden with Vachon when you were a mortal, am I correct in that assumption?" he questioned.
         She flushed embarrassed. "You might say that. Why?"
         "It seems that the doctor and Vachon have become rather close over the last few months since he turned up on her doorstep after he climbed out of his grave. He was sick and out of control and she cured him. He's still a vampire but she managed to get most of Divia's poison out of him so that he can function as a normal vampire. He's still not completely free of the virus but at least he can feed and doen't go on killing rages as he did."
         "So Vachon was dead dead like me and he came back too? And this has to do with Divia?"
         Yes, I believe so, my dear. It may have taken you a bit longer to surface but it seems the virus kept you alive and allowed you to recover and return. Mikos said you didn't remember anything until last night and the taste of human blood brought back your memories. He said you were truely horrible to behold--something about your clothes being rags and you being so covered in dirt and filth to be unrecognizable," he said.
         "I guess so. I know it took awhile to get clean. Evidently, I must have dug my way out of my grave and chased rats or animals like a cartouche. I have vague memories of doing that--just like Screed," she shutterred at those disgusting memories. "So this virus is what kept me alive as well as Vachon when everyone thought we were really dead? And in some way it's affecting Natalie too?"
         "Yes, to all your questions. That seems to be the case. I don't pretend to understand all the scientific basis to this. But I have learned new information today to add to what I have just told you. It seems there is a gene that predisposes one to be a vampire. That is why some people can cross over easily, and why others fail in the attempt. It seems you have that gene otherwise you would not be siting here talking to me. And why you and Vachon had such an afinity towards one another. Blood recognizes blood--always," he said.
         "I have a gene that predisposes me to be a vampire?" she questioned incrediously.
         "It seems so."
         "Wow, that's a mind blowing concept."
         "It is and one I have suspected for ages, but unti today I had no proof."
         "What kind of proof?"
         He looked unsure how to answer that. "It appears that our the "mother" of all vampires has appeared, risen from her entombment for four thousand years and landed on Nicholas's doorstep."
         "Huh?" was the only thing she could say to his statement. "The "mother" of all vampires? You got to be kidding?" she almost laughed in his face until she saw he was dead serious.
         "I assure you this is for real. Her name is Lilith."
         "As in the Lilith?"
         "Ah, I see you know the legend."
         "I have heard it, yes. And you believe she is the first woman, created before Eve that was cast out before Eve came along?"
         "Her story certainly suggests that. And I did not take her and Nicholas's word for this I drank her blood to ascertain the truth. What I saw convinces me she is indeed on the level. She many, many centuries, even millenium older than me or of the oldest Ancients I have ever known about and yet she looks no older than you," he said with a touch of awe in his voice.
         "She made quite and impression on uou, I take it?"
         "You could say that. But she also poses a problem that I am unsure how to deal with. She has been used to being an absolute ruler of all she surveys--that she cannot be in this present day and age. Plus being entombed for four thousand years has put her a bit out of touch with what id happening in this world. In many ways she is child full of wonder at all 'our magic"--telephones, television, electric lights, indoor plumbing. Not to mention, languages, and how to behave in a civilized manner," he said rubbing the tender spot on his head where she had thrown the remote at him in a fit of anger.
         "Yes, that does sound like a problem. An ageless vampire with no control, not a thing you'd want the Enforceres getting wind of," she said sympathically. "And I take it she is with Nick?"
         "Yes, unfortunately. She refused the benefits of my wisdom. We did not hit if off well," he said with a noticeable sneer. "She is very, very opinionated and seems to like my son--why I can't fantom," he growled to himself.
         Tracy was somewhat amused that the elder vampire had been refused. She understood with perfect clarity that if he had been able to convince this Lilith to join him his power would have been overwhelming in the community both here and elsewhere. Instead Lilith had chosen Nick to be her teacher.
         "How did they meet anyway?"
         "She just showed up outside the Raven as you did. She said her enemies had brought her to this continent. They traveled inland to the shores of this lake as they were instructed to do by visions and created a special tomb for her. They kept her weak, without blood or susbstaince, hoping that would kill her, and it didn't She said no weapon forged by man or magic has ever killed her only, weakened her for a time, not even fire or beheading, or dismemberment has worked. She cannot die--that is her ancient curse from the gods or goddess that made her. She created the first vampires and breeding with humans she has passed on her genes through time"          "You're saying she can have children?"
         Yes, mortal children as well as vampire ones. Even if she breeds with a vampire she could have a mortal child. That part I do not understand, but her memories show me that is so. She has born over two hundred children from her body since the beginning of mankind. How many she has made is four times that number," he explained.
         Tracy slowly shook her head. "This all sounds more like some kind of weird science fiction story. It is just too incredible," he said.
         "I wish it were only a tale. She will either be the salvation or the undoing of our race as well as mankind's as she is very bitter against mankind for imprisoning her. Her tomb was uncovered yesterday by accident when she said some metal monster knocked the lid off her tomb and broke the magical seals that held her prisoner. She said when she got out she was in a deep pit of some kind--which sounds like a construction site, and that it was near the lake shore. I will have to check on what new construction is being built there and if anything ususal has turned up. In the meantime, I will have to just watch and observe. Nicholas has promised to keep her in check and teach her about life in the present day, but I fear he may not be up to it as he has other concerns on his mind," he said, trying to avoid the subject of the doctor and Vachon.
         "His problems with Nat?" she asked hitting the target on the mark.
         "Yes, Miss Vetter. And now you too are a concern for me as well. What are your plans?"
         "That I don't know. Mikos was supposed to give me some sort of talk--I guess the equivalent of vampire 101 to let me know the rules and ropes, but he hasn't. I'm still in the dark as to what to do next. I know I can't go back to my former life--I wouldn't even try--it'd tear my parents and friend up too much. But I want to at least see Nick and say hi. Does he know I'm alive, yet?" she asked hopefully.
         The opportunity to tell him did not present itself. I'm sorry. The problem with Lilith and the doctor were very pressing concerns for both of us. I had just returned from seeing him when I ran into you. I haven't even talked with Vachon or the doctor to let them know what I have found out."
         "And I take it Vachon is with Natalie?" she questioned half afraid the answer would be yes.
         "He was at sunrise so it is safe to assume he spent the day there--probably on her couch. I am not privy to how inamate they are--at last report they were just friends," he said trying to reassure which brightened her mood considerably.
         "Can you let him know I'm here and want to see him?" she asked hopefully.
         "I will, my dear, but I repeat what do you want to do with your new life?" he asked again.
         "I really don't know. I don't know what options I have. I know that generally on moves on to someplace new where one doesn't know you to begin a new life, a new idenity, but I just awoke to this one and haven't had a chance to figure out what I want. And I don't want to do anything until I see Vachon and Nick--there are things I need to get settled with both of them before I can even begin to figure out what I want. Then I also need some sort of job. I just can't spend my days sleeping and my nights clubbing or whatever young vampires do with themselves. I want to feel useful and not be a preatory decoration on someone's arm, if you get my drift," she said.
         "I do indeed understand, child. I will make inquires into possible real jobs for you. Most young ones want to party and play, but given how dedicated you were to your job, it is understandable that you would want to do something useful in your immortal life. But I hope you do not share Nicholas's unfortunate desire to be mortal again?" he questioned.
         "No, not in the slightest. When I was mortal I feared dying, and for a time I feared being brought over. I wasn't sure whether I could handle it or not. Now that it has happened-I accept it wholehardedly. I cannot change what I have become--but I don't have to be a killer either. I have killed as mortal, and I have killed as an immortal. I don't enjoy it, I just accept it. But for now I will stick with the bottled variety--if that is acceptable?" she asked him flately.
         "That is quite aceptable, my dear. And keeping with our current low porfile policy. I was worried that you might not be able to control your urges seeing that you are so new to all this," he said.
         "New in some ways, as in first hand experience, but Vachon told me a lot about what it was like to be a vampire, how he controlled it. And Screed talked to me, too. That's one of the reasons I'm handling this so well, because I sort of knew what to expect and how to cope with it.But what do I do about a place to stay and money? I assume that even vampires need money to live on for some things--like clothes, travel, places to stay? What about ID--even Vachon had ID?" she asked, coming to practical everyday matters.
         "I expected you to ask about that,"he said as he handed her a small evening bag. She took it in curiousity. "Inside you will find a billfold with temporary ID. We had to make do with the photo off your old driver's license. You are now Melody T. Dannell. You will also find about ten thousand in cash, credit cards with no limits and the key to a completely furnished apartment in the Heights. In the apartment you will find some clothes, personal items and a large supply of the "House Special" as well as "donations" from the local blood bank. There is also a number to call in case your supplies begin to run low," he explained as she looked over the contents, espeially the cash. "When you decide to move on you will be given new ID and whatever funds you need to make your move as easy as possible,"
         "I take it this is the vampire equilvant to the "Welcome Wagon"?" she asked half in jest.
         "You could say that. A broke, homeless, unbound fledgling is something the community tries to avoid. In the old days it happened, and the fledging was either taken under some protector's wing or dispossed of if they caused too much trouble to the Community or drew too much attention from mortals. You, my dear, present a unique problem, as you have not been brought over in the ususal way but you share my bloodline indirectly through Divia as does Vachon now even though he was originially brought over by another. Technically, you are under my protection, but you are your own mistress just as if you had been abandoned by your master," he told her and she acknowledged those facts with an inner sigh of relief.
         "I take it Divia is dead?" Tracy asked, not wanting to meet her mindirect maker face to face.
         "Ohh, quite dead. I killed her myself and scattered the ashes to make sure," he said with just a trace of remorse.
         Your own flesh and blood?" she asked, incredious.
         "It was necessary for the good of the Community as well as for the mortal world. I should have done it ages ago, but I still had humanity then and could not do it. Instad I entombed her for the ages. She just didn't stay entombed," he said with regret. "However, if I had killed her then, you would not be siting her talking to me, would you?" he asked with a slight smile.
         "No, I guess I wouldn't," she said in agreement. "So what should I do now, Mr. LaCroix?"
         "You could check out your new apartment or you could enjoy the club.The choice is yours," he said rising and she did too, knowing that their converstion was ended for the moment.
         "Are you going to call Vachon and let him know I'm here? And Nick? I think I would prefer to met them both on neutral ground like here than at an apartment I haven't even seen yet," she said thinking as she walked to the door.
         "Yes, as soon as you go off and enjoy yourself. I'll send word if either one are coming," he said, "And by the way, I did enjoy our conversation. I can see now why both Nicholas and vachon spoke so highly of you. You are quite an impressive young lady," he said.
         She looked up at him unsure how to take that statement, but as long as she had his approval that was a good thing, she hoped. "Well, good evening, Mr. LaCroix, I hope we'll run into one another again and thank you for everything," she said sincerely as she stepped out into the hall.
         "Ohh, I'm sure we will my dear, have fun--it's on the house by the way for you tonight," he told her as she walked away and he enjoyed the view until she rounded the corner and then he closed the door and went to make his phone calls.

Part 12/

         It was close to sunrise when Natalie finally awoke with a start, both from the gnawling hunger in her stomach and from the the realization there was another person in bed with her--in fact it was a very much nude male body pressed up against her with an arm causally drapped over her bare midsection. Her first impression was it was Nick then she saw the long locks of gleaming black hair--Vachon. How drunk had she had been --was her first thought until the memories of the night before came rushing before her mind's eye. "Oh shit! she said to herself as she looked down at him and and remebered in graphic detail what they had done and what had happened to her and what was happening to her now. She needed a drink and not of the alcholic kind--and that scared her.
         Carefully, she gentlely slid out from underneath Javier's arm, and grabbed her robe on the way to the bathroom. She looked back he hadn't stirred--good, she thought. She needed to digest what had happened and put it in perspective. Going into the bathroom she closed the door behind her and turned on the light. God, she looked like hell--just the way she felt. She thought vampires looked good no matter what or was that just good PR. She looked like she had been dragged through the mud, barbed wire, and then stomped on for good measure. She was pale, blocthy, and she had circles under her eyes. She still was having hot and cold chills, and the shakes like some kind of flu but every once in a while she'd see her eyes flicker to red, then gold and feel a dull ache in her insors. And she ached all over , in a number of places she didn't normally ache. No, there wasn't any way she could go into work tonight. She was going to have to call in sick until she could get a handle on whatever was happening to her. In the meantime she was going to take a shower and see if that helped.
         The shower did help as she washed her hair and body. But she wasn't feeling the heat of the water like she normally did. It was like her skin was and wasn't numb, she noted with both interest and alarm. Maybe, she should go in after all, she thought to herself as she dried off, just so she could run some tests on herself to figure how far she was changing over. And it was clearly apparent she was changing over. But not in the way most vampires did as she still had a heart beat and a pulse, though it was getting slower and her body temperature was dropping as well. The blood lust was growing, but she wasn't going to let herself surrender to it. She was going to eat, and drink normally--she wasn't going to give in and let the vamp take over her--no--no way!
         She heard the phone ring and before she could out and get it vachon had picked it up and was answering it. He was sitting up in the bed with a dazed expression as she came towards him in his bathrobe. But it wasn't from her he was getting that look but from whatever the conversation was about.
         "You're sure it's her? You're sure she's alive?" he asked the still unknown party on the other end. "She wants to see me? She said that?" Where? Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes. Do you want to talk to Nat?" he asked excited, happy, she couldn't tell, but whatever the news was he was scrambling out of bed and looking around for his discarded clothes as he handed her the phone.
         Taking the phone she asked, "hello, who is this?" Since Vachon in his excitement hadn't bothered to tell her and seemed more than a little distracted as he went into the living room to find his boots and socks. And who was this 'she' that had him all up in the air?
         "Ahh, Dr. Lambert, good, I wanted to speak to you directly," LaCroix said.
         "LaCroix, I thought so. What is with Javier? What did you say to him?" she questioned watching him zoom around her apartment.
         "Good news, I assure you, my dear doctor. It seems that Tracy Vetter is alive and well and showed up on the doorstep of the Raven last night. It seems that she is now one of us, but completely by accident," he told her carefully, waiting for her explosion.
         "She's what--a vampire? How? She died. I saw her body in the morgue. And I wouldn't let Nick bring her over. It's impossible," she said coldly, wondering what kind of trick her was pulling on her now.
         "I would have thought so too, if I had not seen and spoken with her not five minutes ago. It seems that some how that when the bullets passed through her, enough of the virus got into her system to keep her alive at levels your science couldn't detect. You didn't do the autopsy on her did you?" he asked.
         "No, there wasn't one done. Her father refused to let us--saying he knew what the cause of death was and she had been cut up enough from the surgury to remove the bullets. I don't even believe she was embalmed. I take it this has something to do with Divia's virus?" she asked getting fascinated now.
         "That appears to be the case. NIcholas had the virus, the bullets went through him and into her. Somehow she managed to regenerate and come back to life on her own. But how or when she did she has no memory of. She wasn't aware of who she was until last night when she evidently tasted human blood for the first time and the man apparently knew her and that shocked her mind back to reality. She said she had been living on rats--she thinks?" he told her with compassion in his voice.
         "That's horrorible. So I take it she wants to see Vachon?" she asked, feeling stupid for even asking. If she found out he was alive and he found out she was alive--what do you think Lambert--get real, she told herself.
         "Yes, she just missed seeing him last night i was told as well as Nicholas. She arrived at the Raven just shortly after they both left. Mikos told me all this after i got back from talking to Nicholas and Lilith," he said slowly.
         "I see," Nat said trying to keep calm and collected. And at that moment Vachon came in to say goodbye. :Hold on for a minute," she told LaCroix, "Vachon wants to say something to me before he goes.," she added putting her hand over the reciever before talking to the eager young vampire.
         "I guess he told you, Nat, Tracy's back. I hadn't planned on running out on you but I have to see her. Can you understand that?" he asked hoping she wasn't going to get mad at him or think he was doing a one night stand on her.
         "Yes, I can and do understand. But let me know what happens, okay? And if she wants to talk to me. Tell her I"m happy she's alive. And you and I will work this out--don't worry about me I'll be okay. If you and she get back together--great! I know how much you love her and have missed her," she told him.
         But I love you, too, Natalie. You're not just a casual friend or a one night stand. I hope you know that. I care about you very deeply and I don't want to hurt you ever. You've been hurt enough as it is. If you don't want me to go, I won't," he said sincerely looking down at her with his dark soft eyes to where she was sitting cross legged on the bed.
         "No, I want you to go, Javier. And I'm pretty sure Tracy needs a friend, someone she's knows. She's still got to adjust to being a vampire and wouldn't you rather be the one to show her than some other parties we know, motioning with her head towards the phone reciever she was still holding.
         "Yeah, I get your point," he agreed, knowing full well who she was referring to. "I may or may not be by in the morning," he said as he started walking away.
         "I know. If you are, you are. Have fun, in any event. If you need me I'll be at work," she said as she saw him open the door and leave. She looked aftr him for a minute wishing she could have had a talk with him before he left but it did happen, and wasn't going to happen. Right now the only thing that was on his mind was Tracy. She should be used to being left for another by now.
         Pushing down her hurt, she turned her attention back to the phone and LaCroix, who was amazing still holding for her. "Are you still there?" she inquired.
         "Yes, my dear doctor. The young Javier on his way here?"
         "The way he few out of here he might be setting flying records," she told him and heard him chuckle. "So what else is on your mind, LaCroix?" she asked.
         I really hate doing this over the phone, my dear. Is there any way I could persuade you to meet me somewhere? I would have suggested the Raven but that might prove a bit uncomfortable for everyone. I have some news that might interest you from a scientific basis with your research on us," he said getting her immediate interest.
         This is on the level?" she asked, always suspicious where he was concerned.
         "Very much on the level. I, like you are intrigued by the effects of Divia's virus on both immortals and mortals. And this also has to do with our new arrival Lilith. I assure you will find this talk very interesting," he said dangling the bait, and he knew she knew he was doing it.
         "Okay, I'm game. I was going to call in sick anyway. Where do you want to meet? ANd not the Azure--either," she told him. she never wanted to step into that place again.
         "Alright, do you like Tai?"
         "Yes," she replied cautiously.
         "How about the King and I, over on Fouth?" he asked.
         "Sounds okay, but please don't buy out the resturant. It makes me nervous," she added.
         He chuckled at that. "Very good, doctor. I will leave you a buffer zone. An hour then?" he asked.
         "Okay, I'll be there," she replied.
         "Good, I'll see you then," he said and hung up.
         She hung up the phone and then just looked at it dumbly. And then wondered at her sanity. A date with LaCroix--had she stooped so low already? But he knew how to get to her--her research and he was very aware that she was continuing to study the effects of Divia's virus. especially now that it personally affected her. She had to admit she was intrigued with Tracy'sresurrection. She wanted to get her in her lab and run blood tests the works to see what had happened.
         But she was also intrigued about this Lilith. And she still remembered everything she had seen and felt from last night through Nick. Were they really dealing with the first vampire or was this some sort of elaborate hoax that that these vampires couldn't see through? Now that's the woman she'd really love to get samples from. God, that's all she ever thought about anymore was getting samples and her research. Even now with the changes happening with her that's all she could think of was lab work and more lab work. People have quit being people to me. They are only subjects any more and that thought chilled and scared her as she realized with a start how much she lived and beathed her work. When had people-personalities dropped by the way side--when Nick had almost killed and left her or dead. That is when she had retreated from the world and into to her work to handle the pain of constant contact with him.
         And she couldn't keep hurting herself. It was more than time for her do something with her life and move on. She figured he was going to be occupied for awhile. Why would he bother with a mere mortal when he could have the queen of the vampires? And even if she crossed over-she still couldn't compete with this woman. NIck was a total lost cause and she had to get over him and go on--but that's what she had been telling herself for months but nothing had happened except for them to push each other further and further apart until she just didn't even see the point in trying to get back together. She roused herself out of her deopression to look at the time, and went ohh no.
         Rushing around she found a suitable evening dress--something red, long and slinkly. She then threw some make up on and fixed her unruly hair as best she could before dashing out the door. In her rush she forgot her beeper as well as forgetting to call in sick. She arrived almost fifteen minutes late because of traffic and trying to find a parking spot. She was a little out of breath when she arrived at the resturant and was shown to her table where LaCroix was waiting patiently with a glass of "wine" in his hand.
         He smiled at her arrival and rose to sit her. For all his faults he was a gentleman when he wanted to be. "You look lovely tonight, dear doctor," he said as she sat down and he sat her before returning to his seat.
         "Thanks," she replied, hoping she looked better than she thought she must. He wasn't looking too bad himself, she admitted with his black turtleneck sweater and stylish dark gray suit.
         "Would you care for a drink?" he asked, motioning the waiter.
         "Some Tai coffee would be nice. I'm not up to handling wine tonight," she admitted. "Im not feeling all that great. Guess I have the touch of some bug," she added as the waiter went away with her order.
         "I'm so sorry. That is one of the draw backs to being mortal--sickness. I do hope that you get to feeling better," he told her sincerely.
         She nodded polietly back, and tried not to be interested in what he was drinking which she knew was not wine. "So you said you had news?" she asked.
         "Yes, about Lilith. I talked with both her and Nicholas this afternoon. I'm afriad that when Vachon called this morning I was very much skeptical so I went there myself to meet her and see whether you visions as relayed by the Spainard were correct. I had half hoped they were wrong because we all have a problem of epic proportions," he said carefully.
         "Oh really," she replied, not sure what to say at this point after such a statement.
         "She appears to be the genuine article. The original Lilith as described in legend. How old she is I cannot even begin to hazard a guess but she still looks no older than a girl in her earily twenties. And she is quite beautiful, and charming, but she has this aura of power that she wears like a mantle. I have nevr sensed such power before in anyone, and she's fixated on Nicholas as he is on her," he replied, and was dispointed when Natalie did not react as he had expected.
         "I'm not surprised. I knew that last night, LaCroix. I had full surround smell, taste, touch, hearing and seeing. I was there just like I was her/him--damn-- I don't know anymore. I've never experienced anything like that before. It was the ultimate voyuer trip--but not of my chosing--do you understand," she said bitterly, trying not to remember, but that was impossible. It was still clear in her mind--it wouldn't go away.
         "I do quite understand that one can partake of another's experiences without being an active partner if one is suffiecently attuned to another. But to have it thrust upon you in such as way as what was described to me is a terrifying experience for a mortal. I must aologize for Nicholas's lack of control--he was never very good at blocking what he was experiencing or feeling," he said taking another sip of his drink.
         She raised her eyebrow at that. "This is normal? For him?" she questioned.
         "Unfortunately, yes. He and Janette were almost impossible to be around at times. And I take it since your accident you have been coming more and more aware of him on many levels?" he asked, wanting to verify what he had heard.
         "Yes," Natalie admitted. "Last year I would have welcomed it, but this year It's damned annoying and painful. How do I break this or dull this damn connection?" she asked seriously.
         He sighed, "Alas, you are stuck with it. Like I am--it's the blood connection. Even though he didn't bring you over, he has first claim on you--just as I have first claim on him. Only if another vampire brings you over--completely, and imprints you with his essence can you overule NIcholas's claim on you," he carefully explained, and saw that she understood.
         "I see. By completely you mean the full works--draining until there is only a spark left and then being given blood by the vampire making you?" she questioned.
         "Yes, exactly. That has not happened has it?" he asked, looking her over closely, almost too closely for her comfort.
         Does he know? What does he know? She wondered worriedly. Can he see the changes in me already? "No, no," she said quickly, maybe too quickly. "Making love with a vampire doesn't count does it?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer.
         He looked at her shocked, and frowned mightly before answering. "It depends on how and what was done to whom during the act of love. It depends on how much blood was exchanged both ways," he emphasized. "The more a mortal drinks or exchanges blood with a vampire the more the vampire can put a claim upon the mortal and more likely it is that the mortal can and will be crossed over," he answered watching her, his suspicions more than aroused. "I take it that was not just an idle question, doctor? You and Vachon?"
         "Yes," she admitted and saw he was not pleased. "Have I shocked you, LaCroix?" she asked.
         "No, but I had hoped it had not gone that far between you and the Spainard. I do sense strange differences in you that I do not understand. He has reinfected you, doctor, with Divia's virus. You were well on your way of crossing over by yourself but now he has given you a push or should I say a shove into the darkness that you fear becoming. I won't question how it happened, as I know you also got shoved by my son to do such a thing which I know is against your better judgement," he said not unkindly and with real concern in his voice.
         "Then you understand," she said looking at him.
         "Unfortunately, I do. But you that have fought me tooth and nail over Nicholas's quest or humanity seem now to be willing to give your own up? Or am I misinterupting what I am seing?" he asked.
         "I'm just tired of fighting, LaCroix. I'm no closer than I was a year ago to a cure or answers to explain why and how the vampire gene works or how Divia's virus affects vampires and mortals. I've known for months that I'm changing, becoming one of you and I can't stop it or slow it down. I'm this weird thing caught in the middle--neither fish nor fowl. And by the way your drink is driving me nuts. Got any more with you?" she said really shocking him, And he just looked at her in amazement.
         "You want what I'm drinking?" he asked in disbelief, sitting back in chair and just staring at her.
         "Yes," she said bluntly. "And I am fully aware of how this is going to affect me--but right now I don't care. I need a drink and not a wine cooler or a cup of coffee," she added, setting aside her coffee that she had only taken a few sips of and and saw him look speculatively at her as he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a tall flask and poured her a drink.
         "You never cease to amaze me, doctor," he said watching her take a couple of healthy swallows from her glass before she set it down. "And that was not the dilluted stuff that is served at the Raven," he told her.
         "I know. I can tell," she said, daring him to say anything and he didn't he just studied her as she took another drink then another before draining it. Without a word he refilled it with a slight smile. The time for secrets was over. She couldn't hide what she was becoming and she had to admit she needed help and answers. He was at least giving information rather than holding it back. But there was apart of her that was wondering why he was being so helpful.
         "You are changing, doctor. I'm sure that you are aware of that. You still have a heartbeat but it is admittedly slower than normal. So you exchanged blood? Was this the first time?" he asked.
         "Yes," she admitted, and maybe the last time now that Tracy had reappeared, she thought to herself, unhappily.
         "How?" he pressed. looking her over very carefully.
         "What do you mean how?"
         "A cut, a bite?"
         "A bite. I bit him. I seemed to have developed fangs in the heat of the moment. They seem to be gone now. But Vachon was telling me I was changing last night before anything happened. I was having hot and cold flashes, then sweating that turned into blood sweat. And he said my eyes changed," she told him and he sat back very, very thoughtful.
         "I take it this was after he read your blood?"
         "Yes, much later after I got drunk, passed out and then threw up. I was and still am not taking my experince with Nick very well. I got drunk--I think I was entitled under the circumstances," she said taking another sip of her drink."But I have been having problems since I got out of the hospital with handling blood--murder scenes are real fun anymore," she added.
         "Yes, I can understand that. But until last night you had not indulged?"
         "No, I hadn't. But I've had to make myslf eat, and drink normally. I've lost a lot of weight and have a hard time keeping food down."
         "Nicholas has not told me this otherwise you and I would have talked sooner, doctor," he said with a touch of worry in his voice for her.
         "He doesn't know, because I haven't been talking with him about my problems with food. he knows about the blood. I couldn't hide my problems with blood especially when we had to work together on cases. And I really haven't been talking to him since he went after me and Vachon to kill him. And your son is not exactly a wealth of information--I've been getting more information out of Vachon in the months I've known him than I have from Nick in years. Even you are not as tight lipped as he is," she told him and saw him smile justa little.
         "I'm terribly afraid that NIcholas is in many ways very ignorant when it comes to himself and what is and isn't normal. And I have not been that forthcoming with information to him. But you, doctor, have proved to my satisfaction that you can and do keep our secrets , even those you find out about by accident, so any more I do not hestitate to tell you or give you answers to your questions as I am too interested in knowing how and why my kind exists," he told her. "In the past I just took our existance for granted, but since Janette reverted to mortal and the plague and now with the effects of Divia's virus on everyone infected I have begun to question and wonder if you and your science was right that there might be a physical basis to why we exist. And interestingly enough it is Lilith that holds the key to all of it," he told her.
         "How so?" she questioned, interested despite herself.

End of Part 2-- Ancient Curses Parts 6-12