Archibald's Revenge

Some lawyer stuff to discuss: First of all, I give my permission to
post on Mel's Forever Knight Fan Fiction Page, FTP site, and Anita at
fkfanfic2.  It will also be available on my website at
http://www.nicholeknight.com/ for download.  Second, I do not own most
of the characters.  Jim Parriott owns Nick, Natalie, Donald Schanke
(who is mentioned but does not make an appearance), LaCroix and
Janette. These characters I am borrowing for my enjoyment, and
hopefully yours too.  I, myself, do own Nichole Ann de Brabant Knight
and Archibald, thou.  So please ask before using them.  Any
resemblance to anyone mortal, dead, dhampir, or vampire is purely
coincidental.  If this story sounds like another story, it most likely
is.  I got the idea from Valerie Meachum's 'Further to Fall' after I
read the story.  :-&

Everything that is in apostrophes {'…'} are the characters' thoughts. 
:-[

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Archibald's Revenge
Part 1/4

      Nick Knight pulled into the loft's driveway after a surprisingly
light night at work and was looking forwarded to speeding sometime
with someone special.  For once he finished the paperwork on the
previous case instead of shoving it off to Donald Schanke to complete.
He was humming a lullaby from his childhood as he pulled the caddie
into the garage, and called for the lift and waited.  When it arrived,
he entered and went up to the third floor.  He was so preoccupied in
thought, he didn't smell the blood scent coming from the loft before
it was to late.
      When the door opened, Nick could not ignore it any longer.  The
kiwi and pine scent he knew so well was overwhelming as he walked into
the loft.  He immediately stopped in his tracks, and started to look
for the object of his concern.  When he could not find the person, he
used his vampiric hearing to locate their heartbeat and found nothing
to listen to.  He tried once more and failed again.  Looking around
the room, he spotted whom he was looking for sprawled out in front of
the couch in a small pool of blood.
      Nick immediately crossed the room to the body and felt its
pulse.  He found none.  "Nichole, I swear I will find who ever did
this and make them wish they had never met their master after I get
through with them!"  He slammed his fist into the concrete floor and
heard a couple of his bones break in his hand from the impact.  He
then began to cradle the sixteen-year-old in his lap and started to
shed blood tears all over her face.
      Once Nick had calmed down to do what he had to do, he was able
to get up and walk over to the phone to call the cops.  As he takes
one last second to make sure he could do this, he hears the girl
whimper behind him.  He turned around to look at her just in time to
see her curl up into a fetal position and rock side to side, he
immediately picks up the phone and dialed the Raven.  He talked
briefly on the phone to the bartender and ordered 3 crates of uncut,
non-alcoholic human blood and 4 crates of the 'house special' for
himself.  After that was done, he then called Natalie at the morgue to
warn her of Nichole's changed condition.
      "Natalie's Bed and Breakfast."  Dr. Lambert answered cheerfully.
      "Nat, it's me, Nick.  I'm going to have to cancel tonight's
video party.  I'm sorry, but something came up and needs my attention
immediately."
      "Sure, no problem Nick.  How about we reschedule for next week?"
      "No can do, Nat."  Nick replied back.
      "How about the week after next?"  Nat answered back, trying not
to be dissuaded from her goal.
      "Not good either."  Nick shot back into the phone.  He was
trying desperately to come up with a good date to reschedule.
      "Well, Nick, if that is 'not' a good enough time, then do tell
me when is it a good time."  Nat replied agitated.
      "How about two months from now?"  Nick replied seriously to her.
      "Two months?!  Are you crazy...wait don't answer that.  What
could possibly require your attention for two months?!"  Nat exclaimed
rather loudly into Nick's ear.
      "Remember your brother Richard, Nat?"
      "Yeah."
      "Well, replace Richard with Nichole."
      "You mean, Nichole was fatally wounded and you brought her
across.  Hoping to save her from a guilty, killing consciousness, you
fed her bovine.  It back fired and drove her insane, you had to kill
her before she went on a killing spree?"  Nat summed up what happened
to her brother, but replaced him with Nichole.
      "No, Nat, not quite.  Although I did come home and found her
sprawled in front of the couch, dead.  I was just about to call the
precinct, when she whimpered and curled up into a protective, fetal
position.  Someone else brought her across, Nat."  Nick explained to
her, but excluded the part about not using cow but regular human blood
to feed her.  He also purposely 'did not' mention himself going back
to human also.
      From behind him, Nick heard a quiet, terrified scream from the
girl.  Turning around with the phone still to his ear, he watched as
she thrashes out trying to fight off an unknown attacker.  "Daddy!"
Nichole quietly screams again.
      "Uhh, Nat."  Nick said into the phone.
      "Yeah, Nick?"
      "I've gotta go.  Nichole needs me to guide her back.  She's
terrified and calling for me."  Nick explained back.  He waited until
he heard Nat's understanding before hanging up the phone.  He walked
over to her and picked her up to place her on the couch.  Gently, he
grabbed her shoulders and shook her awake.  "Nichole, Princess, come
on wake up.  That's it follow my voice.  It's all right, Daddy's
here."  He gently coaxed her awake.
      "Daddy?  It that really you?  I don't feel so good.  I'm hungry
and so thirsty, it ain't funny."  Nichole whispered to Nick, who was
cradling his daughter against his side and rocking back and forth.
      "Yes, Princess.  It's me it's okay.  I know you're thirsty and
hungry, we can remedy that very quick."  Nick replied to her.  He
reached over the couch and picked up a bottle from the crate that he
placed there earlier.  He opened it and pressed it into her hands.
"Here, drink this.  It should help."
      Nichole took the offered bottle and emptied it in three seconds
flat.  Nick had another bottled uncorked and ready for her by the time
she was finished with the first.  She finished that one a little
slower than the previous one, but was still in the throws of the
hunger.  The third bottle he handed her was half way gone before she
stopped to think.  "Daddy, what happened?  Why am I drinking human
blood instead of eating my hamburger?"  She asked of her vampiric
father.
      Nick looked at his daughter for a while.  'She has no idea that
she was brought across.  Damn him!  His ass is mine!'  Knowing he
could not keep anything from her, he decided to tell Nichole what he
knew.  "I came home early hoping to spend some time with you, and I
did not hear your heartbeat.  I looked all over the loft for you, and
found you lying in a small pool of blood in front of us here.  I
checked your pulse and found none.  Next, I started to pick up the
phone to dial the precinct to report your murder but you whimpered
instead.  I watched you curl yourself into a fetal position, and
rocked on your side.  I called in an order to the Raven for supplies
for the both of us, and then called Nat to tell her what had happened.
So here we are.  You were attacked and brought across when I was at
work."  He waited for her to digest this information before asking,
"Princess, what do you remember of last night after I left for work?"
      "After you told me to lock up after you left and then went to
work, I started to get ready for bed.  I came downstairs to lock up
and grab a glass of water, and there was a strange man waiting for me.
Funny thing is that I don't remember what he looked like.  He
mentioned that I looked a lot like you, and said that it was a shame
he was going to bleed me dry.  Then he tried to play mind games with
me, making me doubt my faith in you.  He had me backed into the wall
before he attacked me, aiming for the side of my neck.  Next thing I
know, you're calling to me to tell me to wake up and follow the sound
of your voice.  You know better than me what happened next."  Nichole
answered her father's question.  As she was explaining what she
remembered of the night's activities, she watched his face for the
anger that she knew was there.  What she did observe was the twitching
muscle in his jaw, the only thing she knew she was going to get.
"Daddy?  He will be back for me, won't he?  He'll try to take me away,
right?"  She asked to break the silence in her vampiric father.
      Nick did not want to think about that just yet, but he did
answer his daughter's question.  "Yes, Princess.  He will 'TRY' to
take you from me.  The operative word being 'try'.  You are not
leaving my sight until then.  Now come on, it's almost sunrise.
You're sleeping with me, I purposely left your windows uncovered so
you can get some natural light when you studied.  Now, it is too
dangerous for you in the daytime and my room is more secure for you
right now.  The second that sun peaks above the horizon, you're going
to be fast asleep.  Understand?"  He explained to Nichole.  Also if
her attacker should show up after sunset but before she awakens, he
wanted to be able to defend her while she sleeps.
      All ready yawning, Nichole nodded her head into Nick's chest.
"I think you're right, Daddy."  She replied sleepily.  Sunlight began
to stream into the room, and he watched it for a while.  As it crept
closer to them, he thought for a split second that they could commit
suicide together but thought better of it.  He reached for the remote
and closed the shutters, blocking out the deadly rays.  When the room
became pitch black, he got up with his daughter and walked to his
room.
      Once there, Nick laid his precious cargo down on one side of the
bed and crawled in next to her.  "I know I'm right, Princess.  I've
been doing this for almost 800 years.  Tonight we're going to see if
we can shed some light on this mysterious bastard who tore my world
apart."  He whispered to his sleeping daughter.  Nichole's response
was to scoot back against her father, who in turned threw a protective
arm over her and hugged her to him.

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Archibald's Revenge
Part 2/4

      Nick had awoken first, before the sun had actually set.  He sat
up and wiped the bloodsweat from his brow.  Next, he turned and looked
down on Nichole to make sure last night either did or did not happen,
to his great disappointment it did happen.  He got up and grabbed a
set of clothes to wear after he took a shower; he did not want worry
his daughter with his horrified dreams and memories that resurface in
his sleep.  Before he headed to the adjoining bathroom, he locked the
door to his room to make sure he could hear anyone coming in or going
out.
      By the time Nick was done with his shower, the sun had set.  He
came out of the bathroom to find Nichole sitting up screaming and
shaking.  "Mon enfant fille, what is wrong?"  He asked his daughter,
holding her in the same manner he did this morning just before going
to bed.  She didn't say anything back to him at first, but instead she
just cried bloodtears all over her father's shirt.  "It's okay,
Princess.  I'm here and nothing can hurt you.  Please tell me what is
wrong.  Why are you crying?"
      Still sobbing, Nichole explains to her father about her
nightmare.  "It was last night again, and I just came downstairs to
grab a glass of water and lock up.  He was waiting for me, and I still
can't remember what he looked like.  He still played mind games with
me and promised to 'bleed me dry'.  He had me against the wall before
he attacked, but this time I remembered more about the attack itself. 
I remember him coming towards me, fangs bared and his eyes yellow.
Kind of like yours when you're either hungry or upset.  He then
quickly undress my lower half, and then himself.  Daddy, I remembered
that he raped me and then sometime during that he brought me across." 
She cried harder into Nick shirt.  At this rate, his shirt will be
covered in blood.
      Nick's famous temper, which was all ready blown sky high, now
just blew a gasket at this new piece of information that his daughter
had just revealed.  All he could do was to sit like a statue and let
Nichole cry all over him.  He was afraid to move, because if he did
someone would have to get hurt.  Right now, he was scared that someone
would be his daughter and she did not deserve it.  She was the victim
after all.  "Princess, after I drastically calm down, we're going to
see Nat at work to have you checked over.  Then, from there we're
going to see Janette at the Raven for information.  Okay?  Just not
right now, I'm so highly pissed that if I move I'm afraid of hurting
you."  He hissed through clenched teeth.  She nodded her head in
understanding at his statement, but she was very sorry for making her
father this angry.  After all, he did teach her to talk to him about
anything that bothered her.
      By the time she had stopped crying and reduced to only sobbing,
Nick trusted himself to move without hurting Nichole.  He gave his
daughter a comforting hug as she told him that she was hungry.  "I
know, Princess.  Lets go downstairs and get you something before you
get too hungry.  I can't stand to watch you when you won't be able
handle the hunger any longer."  He replied to her statement.
      "But, Daddy, how come you are able to handle it for a while?"
Nichole asked of Nick.  By this time, they were heading down stairs to
get her a couple of bottles to feed from.
      "Because, I've been doing this for almost 800 years.  I've got a
lot of practice in.  You haven't even been doing this for 24 hours,
and besides I'm your father and I know how to take care of you."  He
replied to her.  Once on the floor, Nick reached into the opened crate
and handed Nichole a full, green bottle.  He then effortlessly opened,
without any tools, one of the crates he ordered for himself and
grabbed a bottle to have.
      Nichole watched her father grab the cork of his bottle by the
teeth and yank it, spitting the cork out onto the floor.  Afraid of
hurting her teeth that way and knowing he did not own a corkscrew, she
held her bottle out to him.  He looked at her and the bottle, and
smiled.  He took the bottle and opened it for her in his usual
fashion.  "You know, Daddy, I'm not picking that up.  I sure didn't
make the mess."  She teased her father.  He turned around vamped out,
and her cork stuck on one fang.  She started to smile and then busted
out laughing at his antics.
      Nick smiled at his daughter's reaction to his little joke, which
he did on purpose.  "You don't have too.  I seem to have a problem
with them getting stuck on my fangs.  Do you mind helping me remove
it?"  All Nichole could do is to nod her head, and reach out her hand
and removed the stuck on cork.  "You know, you could do that now, too.
I've had the same set of teeth for almost eight centuries now, so it
shouldn't hurt your teeth.  But you are right, I do need to get a
corkscrew for appearances of course.  Now, give me a few moments to
put these bottles in the refrigerator and change my shirt before we
leave.  Why don't you grab a set of clothes to change into after Nat's
exam?"  He asked of her.
      She nodded her head once again and proceeds to empty her bottle.
By the time Nichole was done, Nick had one crate in the refrigerator. 
She put the empty bottle down where he usually reuses them, and turned
around almost knocking her father off balance.  He managed to
rebalance himself, and save the other bottle he had ready for her.
"I'm sorry, Daddy.  I didn't know you were behind me.  At least I
didn't make a mess I don't have to clean up.  Daddy, I'm confessed."
She apologized to him.
      Nick replied back, "About what, Princess?  What confuses you so
much?"  The look on Nichole's face told him how confused she was.
      "You're my biological father and you're also a vampire.  You
didn't bring me across, but another vampire did.  In the Community, a
master is also a father.  So according to the Community, you're not my
father but whoever brought me across is.  If you didn't bring me
across, then what are you to me?"  Nichole explained in simple logic
to Nick.
      "Princess, that custom was set into place to make fledglings
like yourself more comfortable with the idea of eternity.  Vampires
are not suppose to reproduce and have children, but once in a blue
moon they occasionally do.  Not so much as they see the reason to
change the custom, because the children were either brought across by
their vampire parent or died of natural causes.  You're most likely
the first on that doesn't fit into either category, because you didn't
die of natural causes nor did I bring you across.  No matter what
happens, I am your father.  Out of your 46 chromosomes, 23 of those
you got from me.  I want you to remember that, and never forget it.
Understand me?"  Nick attacked her logic with his own hard, cold
facts.  He also wanted tell Nichole that 50% of her DNA came from him
also, and to stress that she is his no matter what. 
      Nichole nodded her head in understanding as Nick gave her a hug
and a kiss on the forehead.  She quickly finished off her bottle, and
flew up to her room.  Once there, she grabbed a pair of blue jeans, a
cute teddy bear tee shirt, and a pair of socks.  She also put on a
pair of black tennis shoes to wear for right now.  She turned to go
out the door, but was stopped by a tall shadow in front of her.  "Who
are you?  What do you want?"  She demanded of the stranger in her way.
      "I am your father, I'm the one who brought you across.  What I
want is you to come with me."  The man replied in a slightly German
accent, but he still stayed in the shadows.
      "What if I don't want to go with you?  My daddy is waiting for
me downstairs, and if I don't show up very soon he will come to get
me.  If you touch me, I will scream for him and he will come flying
through that door."  She spat back in her usual spirit.
      "I'll tell you what, I'll give you 24 hours to tell your
'father' that you will have to leave him forever.  After that, I will
come and collect what is mine."  The stranger told her in a way that
made her spine crawl with unease.  He started to move toward her, but
at the last minute he changed course and was gone.
      Still very shaken, Nichole ran downstairs and into Nick's arms. 
He just stood there for a moment to figure out what had just happened,
"Princess, what happened?  Are you okay?"  He patted her back, trying
to comfort her fears.  Whatever that maybe.
      "Daddy, it was horrible.  He was in my room just now, and no I
did not get a good look at him.  He said he was here to take me away
forever, and that I had 24 hours to tell you goodbye.  I just noticed
that he talked in a somewhat German accent."  Nichole replied to Nick
between body shakes.
      "It is all right, Princess.  I promise he won't lay a hand on
you.  If he does he will have to answer to me, understand?"  Nick
tries to ease Nichole's fears down to where they could leave.  She
didn't say anything, but she did manage to nod her head into his
shoulder.  Nick picked her up and carried her to his bedroom; "I'm
going to set you down now so that I can change my shirt.  Okay?"
Nichole nodded her head in understanding.  He sat her down and a
thought dawned on him, "Princess, do you mind if I try something?  I
want to taste your blood to see if I can find out who he is."
      Nichole nodded her approval, and held out her hand to her
father.  Nick took his daughter's wrist and placed it to his lips.  He
bit into her flesh and started to drink.  After three large mouthfuls,
he pulled away and kissed the wound he made, which was already
starting to heal.  He closed his eyes for a few moments to relinquish
her memories of the last 48 hours.  When her attacker came into focus,
Nick opened his eyes and hissed, "Archibald!"
      "Daddy, who is Archibald?"  Nichole watched Nick shed his
blooded shirt and pulls out a cotton T-shirt from a drawer.
      Nick turned around and looked at his daughter for a few moments
before replying.  He was unsure weather or not if he wanted her know. 
"Archibald is your vampiric uncle.  LaCroix brought him across in the
Thirty Years War."  He explained to her.
      "Okay, but why does he want to make you 'pay' by hurting me?"
Nichole asked of her father.
      Nick pulled his shirt over his head and down his torso before
answering her, "Archibald had a daughter before we found him dying on
the battlefield.  He didn't want to die, so LaCroix offered him
eternity and he took it.  For payment, LaCroix wanted his daughter.
When he realized this, he tried to smuggle her out of Germany.
LaCroix found out and sent me to stop him and bring her back with me. 
I succeeded, but what I did not know at the time was what LaCroix
wanted me to do to the child.  Archibald and LaCroix fought, and
LaCroix told me to kill her.  I did.  Archibald spat at me; 'Pay back
is a bitch!'  He then left, never to be heard from until today.
      Nichole sat there for a few moments digesting what her father
had just told her.  She knew that Nick had killed before, but it
didn't bother her much.  He had to in order to survive.  She got up
and hugged the vampire kneeling before her.  He wrapped his arms
tightly around her.  "Now let's go give Nat a visit, before we go to
the Raven.  I want to chew Janette out."  Nick whispered in his
daughter's ear.  She nodded her head.

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Archibald's Revenge
Part 3/4

      "Now remember what I told you, don't concentrate on anything but
the sound of our voices."  Nick reminded Nichole outside of the
morgue.  He waited until she nodded her head before going inside.
They were lucky enough not to run into anyone in the hallway, he
didn't think that she was ready to test her limits yet.  He knew that
Nat's heartbeat would be the first one Nichole has heard and been
around since last night, but there was no other way around this.  If
Nichole lost control, at least he will be there to stop anything from
happening.
      Stopping at the door to Nat's lab, Nick looked down at Nichole
to see her reaction to Nat's heartbeat.  So far so good, and no sign
of the hunger.  Opening the door, he called out, "Nat?  We're here.
Nichole needs a physical."
      "In here, Nick.  Just place her on the table and tell me what
happened."  Natalie called back while emerging from the cold room.
She walked over to the table and turned toward the duo waiting for
someone to explain why she is looking over a fledgling.  Which could
be VERY dangerous for her health, she knew.
      "Well, Nat.  I found out this evening that Nichole was raped
before being brought across.  I want to know if everything is okay,
before I do anything else."  Nick replied seething with anger over the
thought of such violence directed at his precious daughter.  Natalie
stood there with her mouth gapping open at the news for a few moments.
      "Okay, Nick.  I need you to step outside for a couple of
minutes while I do a vaginal exam."  Nat replied to Nick thinking of
Nichole's privacy.
      "No can do, Nat.  I mean that wouldn't be the brightest thing to
do at the moment.  Granted she has fed, but she hasn't killed yet.  I
don't want her to attack you."  Nick told Nat, who then paled as she
remembered what happened to Richard.  She nodded her understanding,
and began the exam.
      Once she was finished, Nick noticed that Nichole began to get
antsy.  "Everything looks fine, Nick.  Where are you going next?"
      "To the Raven.  I think we better go, now."  Nick answered just
as Nichole's eyes turned golden-red and her fangs dropped.  Before she
could launch herself at Nat, Nick had her tightly in his grip.
"Nichole, look at me!  Look at ME!"  He waited until his daughter
complied.  "Calm down.  Get a hold of it, clear your mind.  Listen to
my voice."  He saw her listening to him.  He tried to whammy her into
falling asleep.  "Listen to me.  You're tired. You want to take a
nap."
      "I'm tired.  I want to take a nap."  Nichole lisped before
falling asleep against Nick.  Nat looked on in awe.
      "Now, you know why I didn't want to follow your advice earlier. 
That could have happened while I was outside of the room, if we did it
your way."  Nick did a 'I told you so' towards Nat.
      "Nick, before you leave, I want to know what happened.  She
seemed fine."  Nat requested.
      "Your heartbeat, Nat.  She listened to it for too long, and
couldn't take it any more.  It was like torture for her."  Nick
answered her.  They said goodbye, and Nick let three important words
slip out.  I love you.  Nat immediately said them back.  Nick and
Nichole left the building, and he walked to the Caddie.
      Once the outside air hit them, Nichole awoke from Nick's
suggestion.  "Daddy, what happened?"  She wanted to know why is her
father carrying her to the car instead of her walking there on her
own.
      "You couldn't stand it any longer.  You almost attacked Nat."
Nick looked at Nichole and found he confused look.  "You couldn't
handle her heartbeat any more.  I was torturing you unconsciously.
I'm sorry, Princess.  I didn't mean to do it."
      "Its okay, Daddy.  You had to do what was best for me.  Don't
you dare beat yourself up over this, because I won't let you.
Understood?"  Nichole told Nick sternly.  He looked at her, knowing
that was what her mother would have done.  He smiled at the thought,
and climbed into the Caddie.  He reached over and buckled her up, and
then himself.  "You know, I just realized that you had human tonight
instead of bovine.  Why?"  She asked as he pulled away from the curb.
      "Because if I'm going to teach you everything you need to know
in order to survive, I'll need to be at my full strength.  Only human
can do that for us."  Nick answered his daughter's inquiry.  They rode
the rest of the way in silence.
      Nick parked the car a block and a half down the street from the
door of the Raven.  They got out and began to walk toward the door.
Halfway there, Nichole clamped both hands over her ears in effort to
lower the noise volume coming from the club.  He leaned closer to her
and told her, "I know it is loud.  Just try to listen to something
else.  Once we're inside, stay close to me."  She managed to nod her
head in understanding before they continued to make it the rest of the
way to the door.
      The vampire bouncer looked at Nick and nodded his 'go ahead'
before looking at Nichole.  He seemed unsure of what to do.  She is
underage, but yet is a vampire.  The bouncer began to shake his head,
but looked one last time at Nick.  The look he gave him told the
bouncer 'let her in or answer to me'.  He waved her through.
      Once inside, Nick took a moment to spot Janette at the bar in
her usual spot.  He began to move toward her and the crowd spilt to
let him by.  They immediately closed right back after him, separating
Nichole from him.  Halfway across the room, she lost sight of her
father.  After frantically trying to spot him, three boys just
slightly older than she appeared.  She could tell they were vampires,
"What do you want?"  She spat at them.
      "To have some fun little one.  Tell me are you lost?"  The one
in the center answered.  He must be the head honcho, because the other
two are standing slightly behind him.
      "Maybe, maybe not.  Depends on you."  Nichole backed up into a
corner.  She wished she knew where her father was.
      "Are you alone?  Where is your master?"
      "I don't have a master.  I have a father."
      "So, where is your father?"  They all were grinning like the
idiots they were.
      "Right here."  Nick replied from behind the trio, who must've
jumped a mile high at the unexpected reply.  They turned around and
gaped at the elder vampire.  "I suggest you leave my daughter alone." 
The trio nodded their heads in unison, and then took off.  Turning his
attention to his daughter, he sternly reprimanded, "Didn't I tell you
to stay close?  That was why I said that.  Now come on, Janette is
waiting."
      "Daddy, slow down!  I don't have long legs you know."  Nichole
shouted toward her father, who slowed his pace slightly.  To keep from
having a repeat, she slipped her hand into Nick's.  He automatically
closed his hand around her smaller one.
      Once they approached the bar, Nick demanded, "Where is he,
Janette?"
      "LaCroix is at the studio doing his show.  You should know that
Nicola, if you were listening to the radio."  Janette replied in her
usual cool manner.
      "Not LaCroix, although he might be interested in what happened
to his granddaughter.  I meant Archibald, where is he?"  Nick replied.
      Janette truly looked stunned.  "Nicola, what did happen to my
niece?  What does our prodigal brother have to do with it?"  She asked
surprised.
      "Archibald raped and turned Nichole.  I want to know where that
bastard is, so that I can stake him myself."  Nick replied with anger.
      "He what?!"  LaCroix bellowed from behind them, making Nichole
jump into Nick's arms.  LaCroix might be a sadistic tyrant, but he
loves his children and grandchild.  "Archibald is in this club at the
moment, Nicholas.  He won't be anywhere for long.  I suggest you do a
re-bonding with your daughter before the night is gone.  I am about to
dispatch my child to the afterlife for good.  Take Nichole and leave
the premises."  He instructed his two favorite children and his only
grandchild.
      "LaCroix, I thought you were doing your show at CERK."  Nick
replied, wondering why his father was here.
      "Nicholas, I couldn't ignore such a strong emotion from you.  I
had to see what made you so angry."  LaCroix answered back.  He
reached over and took Nichole from Nick.  She went willingly, their
differences are in the past.  "I'll watch her, and I'll let you handle
Archibald the way you see fit."  Nichole's reaction was to lay her
head on her grandfather's aristocratic shoulder.  Nick started to turn
away before LaCroix called, "I suggest you don't let him live.  I'm
also happy to see you switched back to human, and I assume that will
be her diet as well."
      "You assumed correct, LaCroix.  I will also take care of the
body."  Nick replied back, and then went in search of his VERY dead
vampiric brother.
      "I'm going to make sure he doesn't destroy my club."  Janette
stated and started off in Nick's wake.
      "Grandfather, could Daddy just leave the body on the roof to
combust to ash at first light?"  Nichole asked the ancient vampire.
      "Why yes he could, mon Coeur.  Why don't you mention it when he
come back."  LaCroix answered his granddaughter's question.
      There was a loud crash, stopped everyone in their tracks.
Nichole looked toward the origin of the sound and saw her father
fighting with another vampire.  She couldn't see much due to the wood
flying around the room.  She screamed in pain as the pieces embedded
themselves into her skin.  Her grandfather rolled her over the bar and
to the floor behind it.  She stayed there until all was quiet and
calm.
      Nichole poked her head over the bar to watch Nick drag the other
vampire by the ear toward LaCroix.  She takes a closer look at the
vampire and notices that her shoulder was on fire.  The stake her
father had wielded in his hand earlier is now in the other's shoulder,
the one that is on fire.  If this is how it is between 'master' and
fledgling, she is afraid of what his death might bring for her.  She
shot from her hiding place and stood between her grandfather, who now
is wielding a stake in hand, and the injured vampire.  "Grandfather,
please don't.  When Daddy staked his shoulder, mine felt like fire.
What would happen to me if he was killed?"
      "Nicholas, take care of your daughter.  She caught some wood in
her back.  Check her shoulder, I believe she caught a fairly large
piece there."  LaCroix instructed Nick, who did as he was told.  As
soon as he had moved his daughter, LaCroix swiftly lowered the stake
into the vampire's heart.  The pain was so unbearable, that Nichole
has passed out where she stood.

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Archibald's Revenge
Part 4/4

      Nichole woke up on the couch in the loft, her shoulder no longer
on fire.  She felt as if something was missing, a part of her gone.
Sitting up, she looked around for her father.  He was at the baby
grand lightly running his fingers across the keys, as if he didn't
know what to play.  "Daddy, why don't you play some Mozart?"  She
asked him.
      "Princess, we need to talk."  Her father replied.  Nick turned
around on the bench to get up.  He walked over to his daughter and sat
down next to her on the couch.  "You are probably feeling empty now.
That is to be expected when a master is killed, and the fledgling
feels the emptiness.  You are too young to be without a 'master'.  You
couldn't survive the week without a teacher.  Therefore, we could do
what LaCroix suggested earlier.  This 'procedure' is designed to
rebond someone like you to another 'master' vampire when something
like this happens.
      "It is done like a crossing over, but without the possibility of
killing the person permanently.  It would be like it was before
Archibald brought you across and made you into a fledgling.  The only
difference is that we will have the same habits and diet.  I will be
your 'master' and teach you everything you need to know to survive
this way of life.  It will be a bit painful.  Do you wish to do it?"
Nick asked Nichole.  Her answer was a vigorous nod, and she climbed
into her father's lap.  He placed her securely into his embrace.
      "Daddy, when can we do it?  Tonight?  What about school?  Am I
going to be home schooled or go to night school?"  Nichole was cut off
before she could finish her questions.  Nick placed his right index
finger on her lips to quiet her.
      "First thing is first.  We can do it tonight if you wish.  As
far as your education goes, we can do one of four things.  One, we can
have you home schooled.  Two, you can go to night school.  Three, you
can get your GED.  Or four, I can have Aristotle make you a diploma.
If not him, then we can have Merlin or Felix do it.  It is your
choice, Princess."  Nick replied to his loving daughter.
      "I want to be home schooled, Daddy.  Can we do that rebond
thingy now?  I don't want to feel like this anymore."  She replied to
him.  He nodded his head and got up to prepare for this 'procedure'.
He got out four of his daughter's bottles of blood and placed them
near the coffee table.  He turned around and picked up his daughter
and stretched her out on the table.
      "Be very, very still.  This shouldn't take too long."  Nick told
her what she had to do in order for this to work correctly.  Nichole
nodded her head in understanding just before her father vamped out.
She watched him pull aside her head to expose her neck, and she felt
him strike.  The slight prick in her neck is the only thing she feels.
      As he drained her, she felt frighten and scared.  Her 'fight or
flight' response kicked in, and she began to fight her father.
Without stopping, he effectively pinned her down.  With his free hand,
he gently stroked her hair to calm her down.  If he had his strong
link with her, he would've prevented her thrashing and calmed her
fears.
      When all of a sudden, something told him that was enough and
Nick pulled back.  He looked down at Nichole, who was looking
peaceful, before continuing with the 'procedure'.  He lifted his wrist
to his mouth and bit down, hard.  He suckled it to get a good, heavy
blood flow, and then placed his wrist over her slightly, opened lips. 
He watched as his precious lifeblood flowed heavily into his precious
daughter.
      With his other hand, Nick managed to open two of her bottles
when Nichole grabbed his wrist and 'manacled' it to her lips.  He
looked over at her and saw her looking at him through her golden eyes.
The same voice that told him to stop before is now telling him to do
it again.  He pulled, no yanked his wrist away and listened to his
daughter's angry, answering growl.  He placed an open bottle in her
hand, and watched her devour it no time flat.
      As she handed him the empty bottle, Nichole ordered "More.  I
want more."  Nick nodded his head as he took the empty one and
replaced it with a full one.  This time she drained it a little bit
slower, but it was still fast.  He had already opened the other two
bottles by now, and was ready to give her a full bottle in exchange
for her empty one.  The third one, she emptied it in five gulps, and
before the bottle left her lips a full one was there.
      This time she sipped it and watched Nick compose himself before
continuing with his daughter.  He patiently told Nichole, "Now that
buzzing in the back of your mind will not go away as long we both
live, but it will increase and decrease with distance.  That is lesson
number one in Vampire 101.  Lessons 2-10 are to be learnt tomorrow.
It is almost sunrise, and you need to rest for those lessons.  I will
get Jeanette to teach you how to hunt, but I don't think you will need
it in this time and age.  Any questions, Princess?"
      "Yes, Daddy.  Can I have another bottle?  I'm still hungry."
Nichole replied.  She couldn't wait for lessons 2-10 in Vampire 101.
She is curious on how Nick did things, she knew it will definitely
different from LaCroix's way.
      Nick just threw his head back and laughed a deep laugh.  When
Nichole asked why he was laughing, he replied, "It is 1982 all over
again.  When you were a baby, you wanted to be fed every two hours.
Until I could recognize your cries, I would change your diaper, try to
burp you, or see if you wanted your bottle.  Eight times out of ten,
that was what you wanted.  When your mother wasn't looking, I would
prick my finger and give you a few drops of my blood in your bottle.
The only difference this time I don't have to guess what you need."
      He got up and retrieved her a bottle.  Nichole followed her
father up the stairs and to his bedroom to sleep for the day.  She
finished the bottle and placed it on the nightstand.  The sun peaked
over the horizon and she collapsed in the sleeping slumber on the
floor.  Nick picked her up and carefully placed her in the bed as the
shutters closed them in the dark.  As he climbed into bed, he leaned
over his sleeping daughter and gave her a fatherly kiss on the cheek. 
He fell into a dreamless sleep as he laid down next to her in the bed.

€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Fini €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€
Send flames, comments, non-wooden stakes, and pleadings for a sequel
to cadisiere@academicplanet.com.