Title: Darkness Prevails
Category: Romance/ Dark Nick
Pairing: Nick/ Nat
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer: Forever Knight and its characters were created by Barney
Cohen and James D. Parriott and are copyright to Sony/Tristar. None
of the characters in this story belongs to me. I'm just borrowing
them temporarily. No infringement intended. No profit is being made.

Special thanks to Doris for beta reading.

Permission is granted to archive at the ftp site and fkfanfic site.
All others please ask first.

This is the last part of my “Dark Nick”-Trilogy which begins with
“Shadows from the Past” and continues with “Descent into Darkness”.
Those two stories can be found at www.come-undone.net. You should
read them first in order to be up to date with the plot.



Darkness Prevails (1/8)

by PJ

December 2004


A sharp pain in her stomach caused Natalie to wake up. She sat up in
bed, clutching her hands on her belly. Through a red haze she
perceived that a mug was shoved in front of her face, a delicious
aroma permeating from it.

She grabbed it with shaking hands and emptied it in a few gulps.

The liquid ran down her throat and calmed the pain in her stomach.
The mug was refilled several times before the pain had completely
abated.



Only then did she become aware of her surroundings. The red haze had
vanished and although the room was completely dark she could see
quite well.



Natalie stared from the dark liquid that was left in the mug to Nick
who sat on the bedside, watching her expectantly.

“Am I …?”, she asked, her own voice sounding strangely loud in her
ears.

“Yes, my love. Now you are as eternal as Paris”, he answered and
leaned forward to capture her mouth in a lingering kiss.

He reached for her mug and placed it on the nightstand.



When Natalie felt his tongue caressing her gums, she perceived an
odd tingling starting around her corner teeth. Then she gasped as
something seemed to give way.

Nick stopped in his actions and regarded her with a smug grin.

Natalie explored with her tongue and was a little surprised to
discover fangs protruding from the corners of her mouth.



She raised her hand to touch them and yelped in pain as she
accidentally cut her finger at the unexpected sharpness.

Nick chuckled lightly, reached for her hand and licked at the small
droplets of blood that had welled up from the tiny cut. Natalie was
amazed to find her finger completely healed afterwards.



“You are beautiful, Natalie”, he breathed and leaned forward again,
intent on continuing where he had left off.

“I believe I waited long enough to savour all of you. I can’t wait
another second.”

Before Natalie knew what was happening, he had pushed her back onto
the pillows, attending to every bit of skin with a passion that made
her senses reel.

She cherished the feel of his hands and lips on her bare skin and
noticed that the sensations he caused were magnified through her
sharpened senses.

Soon she was writhing under him as he continued to take her towards
her climax.



Then she noticed that something seemed to be wrong. While she felt
herself poised at the edge, she could not find release. Once again
the world around her had turned into a red haze. Desperately she
clawed onto Nick, trying to match his thrusts with her own.



“Nick!”, she rasped. “I can’t!”

“You have to bite me, Natalie”, he replied, his voice rough with
passion.

“What?”, she exclaimed.

“You need blood in order to finish, as do I.”

He urged her head towards his neck.

“But I don’t want to hurt you”, Nat objected.

“You won’t. Just do it!”

It was more a demand than a request.



Natalie bit down as gently as she could. The first taste of his
blood on her lips triggered a sudden hunger that caused her to suck
in his essence fiercely.

“Yes”, he hissed and sank his fangs into her shoulder. He gave one
more thrust that sent both of them over the edge.

Natalie moaned as her release shuddered through her. Still she
continued to drink from him until tiredness claimed her and she sank
into sleep.



* * *



Again she woke as her stomach went into painful cramps.

Sitting up she reached for the mug Nick held ready for her and
drained it in hasty swallows.

“How do you feel?”, Nick asked after he had refilled it a second time.

“I don’t know. Everything is so weird”, she replied, staring into
her mug.

“What is this?”, she asked, suddenly alarmed.”

“Can’t you taste it?”, Nick asked in return.

“I know it is blood. Is it cow?”

“Of course not”, Nick answered determinedly. “I don’t want my
daughter to become a carouche.”

Natalie was a little taken aback by the disgust she perceived in his
words.

“No, Natalie”, he continued more softly. “You will be raised on the
finest human vintage that can be procured. Freely donated, of course,
if that was your concern.”

Natalie breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“I don’t mind drinking blood, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt
because of me”, she stated.

“I wouldn’t want that either”, he said and kissed her brow.

“Once your senses are refined you will be able to distinguish
different impressions from the blood.”

“Nick, about last night”, she began hesitantly. “I had no idea it
would be like this. I mean you never elaborated much on what was
involved.”

He smiled knowingly.

“The physical part is considered as foreplay only”, he explained.
“It’s the sharing of blood that gives us the ultimate pleasure.”

“Uhu”, Nat mumbled, casting her eyes to the floor. “But the physical
part wasn’t bad either”, she admitted shyly.

“I had hoped you’d say that”, he whispered seductively and covered
her face with gentle kisses.

“Nick, don’t you think it is time for me to get up and learn some
things?” Nat asked, pushing him slightly away.

“The repeated sharing of blood between master and child is essential
to strengthen the bond before anything else is bound to happen. We
might as well enjoy the whole experience”, he explained and continued
his sensual attack. Natalie leaned back happily and gave herself to
his skilful caresses.

However, something in his speech had bothered her. The terms ‘master
and child’. Was this how he thought of their relationship now?

Soon she was distracted from this line of thought as a wave of
desire surged through her.



* * *



Nick carefully closed the bedroom door before descending the stairs
to meet his visitor.

“Good evening, Nicholas”, the smooth voice of his master greeted him.

“Lacroix”, Nick returned the greeting.

“I merely came to inquire how your protegée is doing.”

“Everything is going fine so far”, Nick assured him. “Why the sudden
interest?”

“She is a member of my family now. I want her properly trained.”

“Don’t worry. She will be”, Nick assured him.

Lacroix raised his gaze on the bedroom door.

“Don’t tell me she hasn’t even made it out of that room since she
was brought across.”

Nick regarded him a little embarrassed.

“I had planned to start her training soon after ---. But she tires
so easily.”

Lacroix let out a chuckle.

“Really, Nicholas. A little more restraint on your part might be in
order.”

“I have restrained myself around her for five years. I don’t want to
do that anymore.”

“Very well, then don’t”, Lacroix said with a shrug, causing Nick to
give him a confused look.

“Come to the Raven when she is able to socialize”, Lacroix added.
Then he vanished through the skylight.




Darkness Prevails (2/8)

by PJ

December 2004





Again Natalie woke with a ravenous hunger. As she sat up she
perceived that she was alone in the bedroom. On the nightstand was a
mug filled with blood and a bottle. She reached for the mug and
drained it, feeling better after the third refill.



<“Natalie”>, a voice called her name.

It seemed to come from a place very near, but as she looked around
no one was there.

<“Natalie”>, the voice called again.

Now Nat perceived that the voice was inside her head. How was this
possible?

“Nick?”, she called aloud.

<“Come to me, Natalie”>, the voice demanded.

“Nick, where are you? I can hear you but I can’t see you”, Nat
answered confused.

<“Focus on the vibration, Natalie. It will lead you to me”>, the
voice in her head instructed.

Natalie closed her eyes, trying to find out what Nick meant.

As she did so, she could indeed feel an unmistakable pull towards him.

She rose from the bed and opened the door. Stepping out on the
gallery she still couldn’t see him. Again she tried to concentrate
and turned to descend the stairs. When she reached the bottom she
turned around and saw him beneath the stairwell, leaning against the
wall.



“Very good”, he said after she had approached him.

“That was fascinating, Nick. I could really sense where you were”,
Natalie said enthusiastically.

“That’s why it was essential to strengthen the bond first”, Nick
explained.

“Does it work on larger distances, too?”, Natalie wanted to know.

“Yes, it does. You will always know how to find me when you focus on
the bond and I will always be able to find you.”

The second part of the sentence was expressed with an odd
satisfaction in his voice.

Natalie nodded in understanding. Then she took in the loft, as this
was the first time she had ventured out of the bedroom after her
conversion.

“Nick, where’s Sidney?”, she asked all of a sudden, only now
realizing that her cat hadn’t come to greet her as usual.

“I thought it best not to have you distracted by a mortal heartbeat
before you have gained some control. So I have arranged for another
shelter temporarily.”

“You mean, I would have been able to hear Sidney’s heartbeat?”, Nat
asked in disbelief.

“Not only that. You probably would have gone after him.”

“Not Sidney”, Nat exclaimed upset.

“Nat, there’s nothing more tempting than a beating heart”, Nick
interrupted her protest. “Believe me, you wouldn’t even have been
aware what you were doing until you'd have held the drained corpse in
your hands.”

Natalie shivered slightly. Was he speaking out of experience here?

“But what can I do to prevent this when I face people on the street?
I can’t remain here for the rest of eternity, can I?”

“In time you will establish a certain control, but you should be
careful not to press it too hard. It is also essential that you feed
well; always drink your fill.”

He led her over to the refrigerator and opened it.

“These bottles on the lower shelf are for you. They contain uncut
blood. Don’t mix them up with mine on the upper shelf”, he instructed.

“Why, what’s the difference?”, Nat asked confused.

“I prefer it cut with wine. It wouldn’t agree with your stomach at
this age”, he explained after a short moment of hesitation.

“Uhu”, Nat mumbled. “Can I try that, too?”

“No! They are off limits for you!”, he thundered at her.

Nat jumped a step back.

“Hey, it was just a question, okay?”

Nick took a deep breath.

“I thought I just expressed myself clearly enough, when I told you
not to mix yours up with mine.”

“Okay, I’m sorry”, Nat apologized, annoyed.

“Good”, Nick replied softly. “Now, go get dressed. We have a few
more lessons to cover tonight.”

Natalie suppressed the urge to ask what those lessons contained and
complied with his demand, wondering what the hell was wrong with him
all of a sudden.



* * *



When she returned downstairs, she found him waiting for her in the
middle of the loft.

“Come here”, he said and took her by the hand.

He laid his other arm around her and rose from the floor through the
skylight. He landed on the roof where he remained standing close
behind her, never taking his hands from her shoulders.



Natalie stood entranced, taking in the different sounds and smells
from the night. She staggered slightly as the sensations were
becoming overwhelming, but Nick held her steady.



“Now open yourself to the night and tell me what you are
perceiving”, he said.

“It’s overwhelming”, Nat replied. “It’s a terrible noise, like lots
of drums.”

“Those drums are beating hearts”, he explained. “Try to focus and
tune them down.”

Nat tried to do so and was surprised to find the sounds lessening
until they were no more than a background noise.

“Very good”, Nick whispered in praise.

“Not letting these sensations overwhelm you is essential when you
are going to have mortal company.”

Nat nodded in understanding.

“When will you teach me to fly?”, she asked.

“Not before you have learned proper control over your senses. I
don’t want you to pick up a heartbeat and go after it by accident.”

“Uhu.”

“I want you to keep practising out here until your eyes no longer
change by the slightest approach of a heartbeat.”

“They changed?”, Nat asked in alarm, only now realizing that this
must be the reason why everything she looked at was dyed in a golden
hue.

“Don’t worry, you will learn proper control with time”, Nick soothed
her.




Darkness Prevails (3/8)

by PJ

December 2004



A few nights later, Nick surprised Natalie with the announcement
that they were going out.

“Where are we going?”, she asked excitedly.

Until now she had encountered mortals from the distance of the
rooftop only. She had yet to face a beating heart from close range.

“The Raven”, Nick answered.

Natalie had mixed feelings about that. Going to the Raven would most
certainly entail an encounter with Lacroix. And she was not sure if
she was up to that challenge yet.

Nick watched the emotions warring on her face.

“Don’t worry, you will do fine. Lacroix has assured me that there
were no mortals in the club tonight”, he stated and helped her into
her coat.

Then he laid his arms around her and left the ground.



After landing in a backalley, Nick led Natalie around the building
towards the front entrance. Giving her hand a slight squeeze, he
opened the door, pulling her after him into the club.

Nick stopped a moment on top of the stairs, surveying the club. Then
he descended the stairs, walking through the crowd, nodding here and
there to a familiar face. Natalie felt slightly uncomfortable as she
felt all eyes focused on her. Nick ushered her to a door that led to
the private quarters of the owner.



Natalie took a deep breath when the door closed behind them,
shunning her from the other patrons.

Then she became aware of a different sensation. A humming vibration,
similar to the one she always perceived from Nick, increased in
intensity with every step she took forward. And there was something
else. The unmistakable cadence of a beating heart.



She stopped abruptly at the entrance to a parlour. Her eyes fell on
Lacroix who was sitting at ease on his couch, a purring Sidney in his
lap. There was the slightest flash of gold in her eyes as her senses
focused briefly on Sidney’s heartbeat, but she regained her control
immediately.

But not soon enough for Lacroix not to notice her lapse in control.

“Way to go, Nicholas”, he remarked dryly.

Then he rose from his seat, carrying Sidney in his arms.

“Good evening, Natalie. How nice of you to drop by.”

Natalie felt more than uncomfortable by the familiar address and the
overwhelming presence she sensed from him.

“Lacroix”, she managed to acknowledge him. Then she turned to Nick.

“What is Sidney doing here? I thought Grace was taking care of him.”

“I didn’t say that”, Nick returned. “I said he has found shelter
elsewhere.”

“There’s no need to be concerned about your cat”, Lacroix stated and
handed the cat over to her. “You will find him quite well. Yet.”

Nat stared at the cat in her arms, noting the warmth of his body.
The beating heart became more and more perceptible until she could
focus on nothing else. With a gasp she felt her fangs dropping.



“I believe you are in need of a drink”, Lacroix observed, taking
Sidney back from her. He carried the cat out of the room, before
filling three goblets from a decanter on the sideboard.

Before he could pass the goblet to Natalie, Nick intercepted him,
inhaling the aroma.

“Don’t worry, Nicholas. I won’t spoil the innocent taste of your
daughter”, Lacroix remarked.

Nat accepted the glass from Nick and emptied it hastily.



Lacroix regarded her disapprovingly before refilling her glass.

“It seems a lesson in restraint might be in order, don’t you think,
Nicholas? Or are we dealing with a simple ignorance of manners here?”

“Sorry”, Natalie mumbled only now becoming aware of her faux-pas.



“Very well. To family then”, Lacroix said, raising his goblet.

Nick and Natalie joined in the toast and emptied their goblets.

“And now it is time to introduce our new family member to the
community”, Lacroix said and led them back into the club.



* * *



Lacroix watched from the bar as Nick led Natalie around, introducing
her to several members of the community.



“You have heard of Vachon”, Nick said as they passed the Spaniard.

Nat nodded, eying the dark haired man curiously.

“Tracy suspected this sooner or later”, Vachon remarked. “Since both
of you took a leave from work. Can I tell her?”

“Don’t encourage her to visit yet, Vachon”, Nick said darkly.

“Okay, okay, don’t worry”, he assured, retreating a few steps.



* * *



An hour later they were back at the loft. Natalie was hardly able to
stay awake any longer.



“Nick, what did Lacroix mean by ‘a lesson in restraint’?”, she asked
with a yawn.

“Sssh, don’t concern yourself with that now”, Nick soothed her. “We
will come to that tomorrow.”

“Uhu”, she mumbled and drifted into sleep.



* * *



After Nat had drunk her fill on the next evening, she was surprised
as Nick led her back upstairs.



“Not that I’m complaining, Nick, but aren’t we going to have a
lesson tonight?”, she asked.

“Don’t worry, we will, Nat”, he assured her and closed the bedroom
door with a sharp report.



Stepping close behind her, he helped her out of her robe.

“Just lie down on the bed and make yourself comfortable”, he said
smoothly.

Natalie did as she was told, suppressing an uneasy foreboding.



“Your arm, please”, Nick requested.

Natalie raised her left arm and yelped as Nick fastened a cuff
around her wrist. He pulled her arm upwards and cuffed it to the
headboard.

“The other one, please.”

Nat was too stunned to refuse.



“Nick? What are you doing?”, she asked alarmed, after Nick had
cuffed her right wrist to the headboard as well.

“Sssh”, he soothed her. “I’m just immobilizing you a little bit.”

“Why? Nick, I don’t think I’m going to like this.”

“Your thoughts are irrelevant right now”, he informed her in a low
voice. “As your master I can do with you as I please. And now we are
going to have a lesson in restraint.”

Natalie was speechless. How dare he talk to her like that?



Before she could utter any other word of objection, Nick had started
to caress her in a way that made all other thoughts impossible. She
wished to touch him as well but found herself restrained by the cuffs.

Soon she was in dire need of his blood, but her position prevented
her to reach any part of him with her mouth.

As she lay breathing heavily, he watched her with an unreadable
face. Leaning down towards her, he pulled back as soon as she raised
her head to meet him.

“Not yet, my love”, he said. “You can hold on a little bit longer.”

Natalie hissed at him in frustration.

“I want you to regain control, Natalie”, he said.

“I can’t! Nick, I need to bite you!”, Nat cried through extended
fangs.

“Yes, you can. Imagine me to be some mortal that you do not want to
kill.”

Natalie took a shuddering breath and tried to calm her nerves. After
what seemed an eternity the red retreated from her eyes and her fangs
retracted.



“Very good”, Nick breathed and brushed his lips along her cheek.



Then he began his arousing attack anew. It did not take long before
Natalie lay writhing under him.



“Try again”, he ordered.

Natalie’s brow was covered in blood from sheer exhaustion. Her limbs
were trembling as she fought the  urge to sink her fangs into
anything.

With the last of her will power she managed to calm down.



Again she was rewarded with a smile from Nick before he started
another attack on her senses.

“Please, Nick! I don’t think I can take anymore”, she begged.

“Just one more time, Nat. I am sure you will appreciate it.”

Natalie groaned as she found herself taken to the edge again. Then
Nick moved to give her access to his neck.

“Drink!”, he ordered.

Instantly Nat sank her fangs into him and moaned in ecstasy as a
release shuddered through her, sharper than any other before. She
sucked his soothing essence fiercely before she lost consciousness
from sheer exhaustion.



When Nick felt her going limp in his arms, he reached for the key on
the nightstand and undid the cuffs.

Then he slid back into the bed, hugging her tightly.




Darkness Prevails (4/8)

by PJ

December 2004



As Natalie woke up, the memory of the preceding night slowly returned.

She struggled out of Nick’s embrace, putting as much distance
between them as the bed allowed.

“Are you out of your mind?”, she hollered at him as soon as he
opened his eyes.

“Is something wrong?”, he asked, taken a little aback by her reaction.

“How dare you do this to me? I’m not your toy, Nick. You cannot tie
me to your bed for your own perverse pleasure.”

Nick watched as her eyes blazed with fury.

“Didn’t you receive any pleasure last night?”

Nat cast her eyes down in embarrassment. The memory of how he had
managed to arouse her caused her eyes to change immediately.

Nick reached for the bottle on the nightstand and poured a mug for
her.

“You needed to learn to restrain yourself, Nat. I chose this method
instead of locking you in with a mortal, as Lacroix did with me.”

She stared at him in shock. The thought had never occurred to her
how Nick might have learned all the things he taught her now. Some
lessons required a certain intimacy with the teacher and she wondered
how they had solved that problem.



Something else kept bothering her. Despite her objections to the
method Nick had employed, she couldn’t deny that it had excited her
to be under his complete control. And the thought frightened her
immensely.



* * *



“Let’s test if your control has improved”, Nick announced. “We are
going out for a stroll after you have fed.”

“Among mortals?”, Nat asked nervously. “What if I can’t keep my eyes
from changing?”

“You will have to work on it. Or do you want to remain locked up
here for all eternity?”

Nick’s voice made it clear that there was no alternative.

“No”, Nat said, clearly taken aback.

“Well, then drink your fill and get dressed.”



* * *



Nick landed with Natalie in a secluded corner of Harbourfront Park.

He held her steady until Natalie had adapted to her surroundings.
Then he locked his arm with hers and escorted her across the Park.

Soon Natalie tensed as she detected an approaching heartbeat.

“Look to the ground and close your eyes if you can’t keep them from
changing”, Nick whispered.

A jogger came along their path, the elated heartbeat posing a luring
symphony to Nat, but she managed to stay in control and took a deep
breath after the jogger had passed them unaware of the danger he had
been in.

Nick squeezed her hand encouragingly as they continued to stroll
along the Park, passing several mortals without major defaults on
Natalie’s part.



* * *



“I'm very pleased with you tonight, Nat”, Nick stated when they had
returned to the loft.

“I think I have figured it out now”, Nat replied happily.

“But never cease to be careful. Always make sure that you are well
fed when you face a mortal”, Nick warned.

“I promise I will”, Nat said, wrapping her arms around Nick.

“So, when are you going to teach me to fly?”, she asked.

“Soon. Very soon”. Nick answered and flew them into the bedroom.



* * *



Natalie was just in the process of pouring her breakfast when the
doorbell rang. The sound of the running shower told her that Nick was
unable to answer the door.

She moved over to the monitor to see who was outside.

“Yes?”, she asked.

“It’s me, Tracy. Can I come up?”

“Sure, come on up”, Nat replied, happy to get an opportunity to talk
to someone else.

Ever since her conversion Nick had been constantly around her.
Although she enjoyed that very much, she just wasn’t used to it.
Sometimes she longed for the privacy of her own apartment.



“Hi, Nat”, Tracy greeted her as she stepped out of the elevator. “I
was curious how you were doing. So I just thought I’d drop by.”

Nat tried to ignore the heartbeat of her friend. Somehow it had been
easier in the Park yesterday.

“I’m glad to see you, Trace. I missed work”, she replied tensely.

“So, when are you and Nick coming back?”

“I don’t know, Tracy. There are still some things I need to learn.”

“Uhu. Nat is everything all right?”, Tracy asked concerned as Nat
started to tremble slightly.

She stepped closer and picked up one of her hands, amazed at the
coolness.

Natalie gasped as she felt the touch of Tracy’s warm hand on hers.

The heartbeat was suddenly pounding loud in her ears and her eyes
focused on the pulsing vein in Tracy’s wrist.



Tracy watched in alarm as Natalie’s eyes turned golden.

Then there was a sudden whoosh of displaced air as Nick appeared
behind Natalie, placing his hands on her shoulders in a restraining
manner.

“Tracy, go!”, he ordered.

Tracy was too stunned to comply immediately.

“Now!”, he hissed, waking her from her stupor.

“Sorry”, she mumbled and hurried into the lift.



After the door had closed, Nick whirled Natalie around.

“What did I tell you?”, he shouted angrily.

Nat stared at him, frightened.

“I thought it wouldn’t bother me after I had managed in the Park.”

“It wouldn’t have, had you fed first.”

“I wanted to, but then she rang the bell.”

“There still would have been plenty of time until the lift brought
her up. At least she had sense enough not to enter unannounced.”

“I’m sorry, Nick. I was just so glad to see her.”

“Instead you almost killed her”, he whispered, his eyes taking on a
haunted expression.

“I don’t want that”, Nat cried, blood tears running down her cheeks.

“No, we rarely want that”, Nick said with a far away voice.

“So, do as I say and feed well”, he added in a commanding tone.

Nat nodded mutely and moved to the kitchen table where she had left
her mug.



“Go back to sleep”, Nick suggested after she had emptied a bottle.
“I need to talk to Tracy.”

Nat ascended the stairs, glad to be left alone for a while.



* * *



Natalie woke with a start.

She was sure she had only taken a short nap. Nick couldn’t possibly
have returned already. And yet, there was an unmistakable presence in
the loft.



She pulled on her robe and stepped onto the gallery.

“Good evening, Natalie.”

Nat stared at the man who reclined in the armchair with a book in
his lap.

“Lacroix, what are you doing here?”

“I hope I did not disturb your sleep. Nicholas asked me to drop by
while he was away.”

“Why?”, Nat asked confused.

“Oh, it seems he is worried what might happen should you be left
alone. He probably does not wish to find drained visitors on his
doorstep when he returns.”

“He told you”, Nat stated.

“Of course he did. There are no secrets between master and child.”

Nat looked at him slightly confused, but chose not to comment on this.



“Can I offer you a drink?”, she asked after she had descended the
stairs.

“I see your manners have improved”, Lacroix remarked, rising from
his chair. “Yes, thank you.”

Nat retrieved two mugs from the board and opened the refrigerator.
She removed one of her bottles and pulled out the cork.

Lacroix intercepted her, inhaling the scent from the bottle.

“If you don’t mind, I will take one of those”, he said, pointing to
the bottles on the upper shelf.

Nat furrowed her brow.

“Why? What is wrong with mine?”

“Nothing, only that I favour a slightly stronger vintage.”

“I don’t understand”, Nat said.

“Nicholas hasn’t told you?”, Lacroix remarked.

“He said those were mixed with wine and not for me to touch.”

“I see”, Lacroix replied cryptically, smiling inwardly at Nicholas’
effort to shield his child from the darker parts of their nature.

He removed the cork, but hesitated to pour the liquid into the mug
in front of him. Instead he retrieved a goblet from the board and
filled it.

Natalie watched him, shaking her head. Then she followed him into
the living-room area.




Darkness Prevails (5/8)

by PJ

December 2004





“So, how does eternal life agree with you so far?”, Lacroix asked
after he had taken a sip from his goblet.

“Well, it takes a lot of time getting used to”, Nat replied shyly.
She had expected anything but making small talk with Lacroix.

He chuckled at her answer.

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem as time is what you have plenty now.”

Nat cursed herself for her silly reply.

“I mean there are so many impressions to take in”, she elaborated.

“Indeed, not to mention the history one is confronted with. It
certainly must be overwhelming for one so young.”

“Oh, Nick hasn’t told me much about that yet.”

“Told?”, Lacroix asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

Nat watched his reaction, confused.

“You have shared blood with Nicholas, haven’t you?”, he asked.

“Yes”, she stammered embarrassed, the memory causing her heart to
beat twice.

“And what did you gain from his blood?”, Lacroix prodded further.

“I --- I could feel his love for me.”

“And what else?”

“I don’t know. I usually pass out very soon.”

“I see”, Lacroix stated thoughtfully.

“Why? Is something wrong?”, Nat asked confused.

“No. Nothing to be concerned about”, he soothed her.



* * *



Tracy opened the door to find Nick standing in the hallway.

“Nick”, she greeted him, motioning him to enter. “Is Nat okay?”

“Yes, she is. Did Vachon encourage you to visit?”, Nick wanted to
know.

“No, I haven’t seen him for a while. You don’t know how busy the
precinct is right now. Johnson from Vice saw the two of you in the
Park. So I thought it would be okay to visit.”

“Not yet. Nat isn’t ready for mortal company yet”, Nick stated.

“Sorry, I didn’t know. Otherwise I wouldn’t have come.”

Nick nodded.

“So, when are you coming back? There’s an awful lot to do”, she
said, changing the subject.

“I can’t say, Trace. It depends on Nat’s progress.”



* * *



A short time later Nick returned to the loft.

Lacroix rose from his chair.

“Nicholas, on a word, s’il vous plait”, he said and ascended through
the skylight.

Nick followed him onto the roof.

“Do you think it is wise to keep your past from your child?”,
Lacroix asked in a serious tone.

“I fear that she might reject me when she finds out what I have done.”

“Nonsense, Nicholas. You are her master. She cannot just push you
away.”

“She already had a bad reaction when she found something out in
Venice.  I don’t want her to have nightmares because of me.”

“You cannot withhold it from her forever, Nicholas. And you will
lose her trust in you if you do not share all of what you are.”

Nick sighed in defeat.



* * *



While Nick and Lacroix were talking on the roof, Natalie stared at
the goblet Lacroix had left unfinished on the table. What was so
special about this blood, she wondered, that Nick did not want her to
drink it.



She walked over and picked up the goblet, inhaling the scent of the
fluid inside.

Hesitantly she dipped a finger inside.

As she was about to raise the finger to her mouth, her wrist was
suddenly caught in an iron grip, causing her to flinch.



“What the hell are you doing, Nat?”, Nick asked angrily.

“I was just curious how it might taste. I’m a scientist, Nick. It is
in my nature to be curious.”

“You are also my daughter. It should be in your nature to obey your
master!”

“Come on, Nick. We are not in the Middle Ages anymore. You can’t be
serious.”

“I am very serious, Nat. You are my responsibility and as your
master I demand obedience.”

“Or what?”, Nat asked enraged. “Are you going to kill me if I do not
comply?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time I killed a child”, Nick stated in a
calm voice.

Natalie gasped in terror. She couldn’t suppress a shiver as Nick
licked her coated finger clean while his features remained unreadable.

When he released her she bolted up the stairs and locked herself
into the bedroom.



* * *



Nick waited until her sobs had ceased. Then he ascended the stairs.

“Nat, you know it is futile to lock the door. You can either open it
and spare us the trouble of having to install a new lock or I can
force it open.”

There was a moment of silence, then the door was unlocked.

He entered to find Nat staring mutely at him from the bed.



He sat down beside her and picked up her hand.

“Nick, I don’t understand you anymore”, she said all of a sudden.
“One moment you are gentle and tender and the next you scare me to
death. What is wrong with you? Don’t you love me anymore?”, she
asked, a fearful expression on her face.

“Nothing is wrong. I still love you, Nat. Never doubt that. And
nothing would give me more pleasure than making love to you for the
rest of eternity. But I am also your master. And as such I am
responsible for your education. I take this task very seriously and
so should you. I want you properly trained, Nat. So that you will not
make the same mistakes I made.”

When she remained silent, he continued.

“I know how you revere life. I don’t want you to become a ruthless
killer like me. That’s why I’m feeding you on blood that has been
voluntarily donated. To keep the hunter inside you dormant.”

She swallowed as she understood what he was telling her.

“Nick, where does the blood in your bottles come from?”, she
ventured to ask.

“Nobody died for it, but the donation wasn’t exactly voluntary”, he
confessed after a moment of hesitation.

Nat stared at him in shock.

“Why are you drinking that, Nick?”, she asked alarmed.

“When you have hunted for your food for over 700 years, now and then
you yearn for something stronger than the bland taste of freely
donated blood, which lacks the elements of fear and desire that add a
special flavour to the blood.”

She looked at him doubtfully.

“So that was what Lacroix meant by my ‘innocent taste’. You should
have told me that right away, Nick. You can be sure that I will never
drink from those bottles.”

“I didn’t want you to feel disgusted.”

“Sorry, but I can’t help being a little shocked after a confession
like that.”

“Well, I have yet another to make”, Nick said.

“What else?”, Nat asked, alarmed.

“When we shared blood, I never let you see all of me.”

Nat furrowed her brows.

“Why? What else is there to see?”

“My past. The women I’ve been with, the mortals I have killed. Eight
centuries full of lust and hunger and pain.”

“I don’t think I want to know about that”, Nat stammered.

“I thought so. That’s why I withheld it from you. I couldn’t bear
the thought of being rejected by you because of what I did.”

“But Nick, that was in the past. I didn’t know you then. You are
different now. It doesn’t matter what you have done.”

Her words were balm to him.

“You are an amazing woman, Natalie Lambert”, he stated.

Then he raised his hand and sliced the vein in his neck open with
his nail.

“Drink”, he ordered. “And know all of who I am.”

Natalie stared a while in fascination at the wound. Then she
couldn’t resist his scent and closed her mouth over the wound.

As she took the first swallow, the images started. An endless parade
of women all dying in his arms, the joys of the hunt, different
cities at night, encounters with Janette and between all that,
Lacroix. Nat tried to concentrate on him as he seemed to be the only
beacon surfacing in a tumbling sea of surreal images.



Nick let her feed until she passed out from the sheer overload of
images. He gently pushed her back onto the pillows and wrapped his
arms around her in a tight embrace.





Darkness Prevails (6/8)

by PJ

December 2004





Nat woke with a scream. Her brow was covered in blood and she lay
trembling beneath the sheets.

She knew the nightmare had been caused by the images she had
received from Nick’s blood. Images that surpassed her wildest
imaginations by far. This couldn’t be the man she loved, could it?



She sat up in bed and reached for the mug on the nightstand, the
contents having a soothing effect on her frilled nerves.

She had to get out of here.



Casting out her senses she noticed that she was alone in the loft.
Nick probably had not suspected her to wake anytime soon.

She quickly dressed. Her internal clock told her that it was still
two hours until sunrise. After draining two bottles and taking a
third with her, she made her way down to the garage and started her
car.



Successfully shunning out any mortal heartbeat, she reached Tracy’s
apartment block.

Hurrying upstairs she knocked at the door.



“Nat!”, Tracy exclaimed in surprise.

“Can I come in?”, Nat asked.

“Sure. Is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Tracy. But I had to get away for a while.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“Have you noticed any changes in Nick?”, Nat asked Tracy.

“Well, I haven’t seen much of him lately, but yesterday he was just
as usual. Why?”

“I don’t know. When we are together, it’s incredible. But then he
suddenly gets this master attitude that drives me nuts. And I can’t
bear that he’s constantly around me. I haven’t had a private moment
since he brought me across.”

Tracy watched her friend concerned.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Nat. I thought everything was turning out
fine for the two of you. Is there anything I can do?”

“Can I stay here for a while? I needed to get away from him.”

“Sure. Perhaps I could talk to Reese to call Nick in for something.
We could really use his help at the precinct and it would give you
some private time”, Tracy suggested.

“Thanks, Tracy. But I don’t know. It frightens me to death when he’s
angry”, Nat stammered. Then she hid her face in her hands, unable to
suppress her tears any longer, while Tracy watched with growing
concern.

In shock Nat stared at her hands that were covered with the blood
from her tears.

“Oh god”, she exclaimed. “I need to use your bathroom, Tracy.”

Without waiting for a reply she vanished into the bathroom to wash
her face and hands.



* * *



Nick returned from a visit to the Raven shortly before dawn. He
dreaded the moment when he had to face Nat after what she had seen in
his blood. Despite her previous assurances he had sensed the shock in
her as he had confronted her with his past.

He became aware of Natalie’s absence as soon as he entered the loft.

His senses told him that dawn was near, bringing on a sudden fear at
the thought what might happen should she not come home before sunrise.

Paying no heed to the lightening sky he flew out of the skylight and
followed the vibration.



* * *



Tracy had just completed her task of drawing all the curtains in her
apartment when her balcony door was pushed open and a smoking Nick
appeared in her living-room.

“Where is she?”, he hissed, causing Tracy to jump back.

Nat stepped out of the bathroom, stopping dead in her tracks.

“Nick! What are you doing here?”

“The question is what are you doing here?”, he returned the question
with a dark undertone in his voice.

“I - I needed to get away for a while”, Nat replied evasively, not
wanting to tell him that the mere thought of what she had seen in his
blood tempted her to run from his presence.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find you here? I will always find
you, Natalie.”



“Hey, guys”, Tracy interrupted. “I didn’t mind having Nat stay here
for a while.”

Nick turned to face her.

“Really. That’s very hospitable of you, Tracy. Would you still think
so after she drained you during the day?”

“I wouldn’t do that”, Nat quipped in. “I have fed well before I left.”

“And she stored another bottle in the fridge”, Tracy supported her
friend.

“Nat, when you wake up hungry, you don’t think about making a detour
to the fridge. You opt for the first available source.”

Both women stared at him in disbelief.

Nick glanced towards the covered window.

“I’m afraid you have two houseguests for the day, Tracy”, he
announced.



Tracy nodded.

“I only have the couch here”, she pointed out in an apologizing
tone. “But the two of you can have the bedroom.”

“No, we are fine here”, Nick declined her offer. “Nat can take the
couch. I won’t be sleeping anyway.”

“As you wish”, Tracy shrugged and turned towards her room. “Good
night then.”

“Tracy”, Nick called after her. “Open the blinds in your room.”

When she looked at him questioningly, he added, “Just for safety
reasons.”



* * *



After Tracy had retreated into her bedroom Nat found herself alone
in the living-room with Nick.

"We will talk about this later", he announced. "You need your sleep
now."

"But what if I go after her without realizing it?", Nat asked,
suddenly very unsure of herself.

"I won't let that happen", Nick assured her.



Reluctantly she lay down on the couch while Nick settled himself in
a nearby armchair, popping his feet up on the couch.



* * *



"No!"



Tracy was startled awake by a terrified scream coming from her
living-room.



* * *



Nick had watched with growing concern as Natalie shifted restlessly
in her sleep. Soon her brow was covered with blood. She must be
having a nightmare, triggered by the images she saw in his blood, no
doubt, he thought gloomily.

What had possessed him to share all this with her?



When she woke up with a scream, he was instantly at her side,
wrapping his arms around her.

"Sssh", he soothed her. "It was just a dream, Nat. You are safe now."

He urged her head to his neck.

"Drink", he commanded.



Nat hesitated. She did not want to see any more horrible things in
his blood. But as she felt him nibbling at her own neck, she couldn't
resist the lure his blood presented to her.

With a low growl she bit into the vein.



* * *



Tracy carefully opened the door and peeked into her living-room.

What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks.



Nick and Natalie sat on her couch in a tight embrace. Nat's head was
poised at Nick's neck. The expression on Nick's face was one full of
bliss. He stared at her through golden eyes that made her breath
catch. There was something oddly seductive about him as he graced her
with a smile before he gently bit into Natalie's neck.



Natalie's moan pulled her out of her trance. Quickly she retreated
into her bedroom and closed the door, trying to calm the rapid
beating of her heart.

Never before had she thought about Nick in this way. He was her
partner and her friend. She found the thought of the feelings he had
evoked in her by a single glance disturbing.



* * *



Nick revelled in the taste of Natalie's blood as he completed the
circle. He concentrated on his love for her and tried to withhold
anything from his past.



When she let go of him, already half asleep, he gently licked across
her wounds. Then he snuggled close to her on the couch, hugging her
in a tight embrace.




Continued from part 6

Disclaimer and explanatory notes in part 1



Darkness Prevails (7/8)

by PJ

December 2004





Nat slept undisturbed through the remaining day.

As she stirred she found herself in Nick's arms. She relaxed against
him, feeling cherished and protected for the moment.

Then the memories of the preceding night returned and a slight fear
grabbed hold of her as she remembered Nick's announcement that they
would talk later about her venturing out on her own.



Nervously she sat up, realizing that Nick was watching her moves
expectantly.

She tapped into the kitchen and returned with a half filled bottle
of blood and a mug.

Nick could tell that she was still hungry after the bottle was empty.

She stepped to the window and peeked behind the curtain only to
discover that the brightness was still too intense for her to feel
comfortable. She started pacing like a caged cat.



"Do you now comprehend how silly your behaviour was?", Nick asked.
"What are you going to do now? The only available source of blood is
in that room."

He pointed to the closed bedroom door.



Nat stared at the door, her eyes changing as she perceived the
alluring cadence of a mortal heartbeat.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd be so hungry."

"I told you not to underestimate the hunger", he said, approaching
her.

He took the mug from her, sliced his wrist with his fangs and filled
the mug with the blood from his wound.



Natalie watched, mesmerized, and accepted the mug gratefully.

She emptied it in hasty swallows, letting the rich essence sooth the
craving in her stomach.



"Thanks", she said, eyes cast to the floor.



Then their attention was drawn to Tracy who stepped hesitantly out
of the bedroom.

"Is it safe to pass you guys?" she asked. "I don't know about you
but I'm in terrible need of some coffee."

"We were just about to leave anyway", Nick answered. "I hope we did
not disturb you too much. Thanks for letting us stay here."

"Oh, anytime", Tracy said and watched as Nick opened the curtains to
reveal a now completely dark sky.

He stepped onto the balcony.

"Nat", he called, holding out his hand for her.

She quickly joined him and Tracy watched in fascination as they took
to the sky.



* * *



Natalie quickly made her way to the refrigerator as soon as they had
touched down in the loft.

Once she was sated her confidence returned.

Thus it was a little unexpected as she noticed that Nick had hardly
moved since placing her on the ground. Instead of joining her in the
kitchen he had retreated to the mantelpiece, watching her every
motion.

"Nick, what's the matter?", she asked.

"You don't expect me to continue with the daily routine just like
that, do you?", he asked in return.

She furrowed her brows, not catching his meaning.



"Come here", he demanded.

Hesitantly she stepped closer and stopped right in front of him.

He raised his hand and brushed his fingertips along her face.

"You have more than once disobeyed my instructions, Natalie", he
said in a dangerous soft voice. "Be careful not to do so again."

In shock Nat tried to pull back but the hand that had just touched
her face in a gentle caress now held her shoulder in an iron grip.

"You don't want me to discipline you, do you? And I assure you, I
can be very unpleasant."

Natalie was speechless.

"Nick, I'm a grown woman, not a child!"

"No, Natalie. In vampire terms you are a child, my child. And as
such I can discipline you as I see fit. And I will not hesitate to do
so, should you disobey me again."

Nat could not believe what he was telling her. How could he turn
from caring to being so mean in a matter of seconds? Tears began to
run down her face. She shivered as he leaned close and licked them
off. All she wanted was to push him away but she dared neither
breathe nor move.

"I see that you are accessible to reason", he stated after a while.

"Don't you dare touch me again", Nat replied tersely and bolted up
the stairs.

Nick suppressed the urge to follow her. He had hoped if he
threatened her enough she would comply with his wishes. He did not
really want to hurt her. Why was she making it so difficult?



His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing phone.

“Knight”, he answered it, surprised to hear his Captain on the other
end.

“Nick, this is Joe Reese. I know you have requested an unlimited
time of leave, but we seem to have a little emergency here. Do you
think you could come by for a couple of hours?”

“But Cap, I had a reason for taking this holiday. Is there nobody
else who can fill in?”

“I wouldn’t be bothering you if we had anyone else, Nick. But
there’s this flu going around and half the shift has booked off.”

Nick cast a look on the bedroom door. Perhaps it would help if he
left Nat alone for a while.

“Okay, Captain. I’ll be in as soon as I can. But I can’t stay for
long.”

“Thanks Nick. I appreciate this.”



Nick dialled another number.

“Could you come by? I need to go to the precinct for a while.”



A few minutes later his master glided smoothly through the skylight.

“I hope this isn’t becoming a habit, Nicholas.”

“No, it’s just for today. There seems to be an emergency at the
precinct. And I think, Nat needs to be alone for a while.”

“Is there a problem I should know about?”

“Nothing I can’t handle”, Nick stated and left for work.



Lacroix focused his senses on his grandchild and perceived her
silent sobs. He pulled a bottle out of the fridge and ascended the
stairs. He stepped quietly into the room and was astonished to see
her lying on the bed shaking, her face smeared with bloody tears.

He advanced and sat down on the bed. Without looking up, she turned
away immediately. Lacroix reached out and gently stroked her back in
a comforting manner.

“I told you not to touch me again!”, she sobbed.

Lacroix was appalled and stopped his ministrations.

“What has he done?”, he asked.

Nat froze, only now realizing that it was Lacroix who was sitting at
her side.

Her anger flared suddenly.

“This is all your doing, isn’t it? He’s treating me the same way as
you treated him.”

Lacroix stared at her, having no clue what she was talking about. As
another tear slid down her cheek he caught it with his fingertip and
licked it off.

He was taken aback by the desperation he tasted in her blood.



“May I ask what has prompted this latest disagreement?”

“I visited a friend without his consent”, Nat explained, not sure
why she did so. But it felt good to talk with someone apart from Nick.

“A mortal friend?”

Nat nodded.

“And this friend has survived your visit?”

Nat was stunned by the question.

“Of course”, she declared upset. Then in a quieter tone added,
“Thanks to Nick. He found me and stayed the day with me at her
apartment. I woke very hungry.”

“So he was right to be angry with you”, Lacroix stated to her
amazement.

“But he could have explained this to me”, Nat said. “I never would
have risked Tracy’s life had I known this could happen.”

“Did he not tell you to feed well before facing a mortal?”

“Yes”, Nat admitted.

“I don’t see why you are complaining then”, Lacroix remarked.

“I did not expect that it would be that strong after I woke up.”

“He certainly mentioned something about the constant lure a
heartbeat presents?”

“But I thought I could deal with it. He does not seem to have any
problems.”

“But, my dear, Nicholas is 800 years old. How many mortals, do you
think, he drained by accident during his first century?”

Natalie stared at him in shock. The images from Nick’s blood were
suddenly overwhelming her brain once more.

“I don’t want to know”, she whispered.

“Then suffice it to say that he knows what he is talking about when
he warns you about the constant danger. You should take him literally
and not question anything he says.”

Nat nodded mutely, noting that Lacroix’s words sounded much more
logical than Nick’s obscure remarks.



Darkness Prevails (8/8)

by PJ

December 2004





“Where’s Nick?”, she asked, suddenly realizing that he was not around.

“He was called to the precinct, some emergency.”

Nat had to smile.

“That was Tracy’s doing”, she said more to herself.

Lacroix raised his eyebrows.

“I mentioned to her that I needed to be alone on occasion. She
suggested to have the Captain call Nick in.”

“My dear, you are in no condition to be left alone. At least not
until your control has improved.”

“But he is driving me crazy when he is constantly around. I’m not
used to it.”

“Then you better get used to it. You love him, don’t you?”, Lacroix
probed.

Nat hesitated a moment.

“I thought so, yes. But now I’m not sure anymore.”

“And why is that?”

“Because of the way he is treating me and ---“, she broke off.

“And?”, Lacroix inquired.

“He let me see his past”, Nat mumbled, starting to shake suddenly.

“But you knew all along what Nicholas is. Don’t tell me you are
shocked now.”

“I --- I guess I just did not believe him when he said he was evil.”

“Nicholas has a habit of dramatizing things. I would hardly call him
evil. He simply enjoyed revelling in his nature. There’s noting wrong
with that.”

“Are you kidding?”, Nat exclaimed upset. “How can you render his
deeds harmless? He killed thousands of people.”

“Of course he did. The alternative back then would have been a slow
death by starvation. Is that what you prefer for him?”

“No”, Nat admitted. “But ---“

“The true question is what is really bothering you, Natalie?”,
Lacroix interrupted her.

She stared at him questioningly.

“It’s not so much the fact to get to know Nicholas’ past intimately.
It’s the realization that you are getting excited to see him commit
to his so called dark side, isn’t it?”

Natalie stared at him open-mouthed.

“And this emotion is what your conscience is fighting so vehemently
because it opposes anything your mortal morals have taught you. Oh
yes, I know how arousing Nicholas can be when he succumbs to his
nature. You are not the first to feel the attraction of his dark
charms.”

Natalie shivered slightly as she perceived flecks of gold in
Lacroix’s eyes. But as soon as they appeared they vanished again.

Nevertheless, what Lacroix told her, caused her to analyse her
feelings. She could not deny that she had felt terribly excited when
she had gotten a glimpse of the vampire. It had aroused her to no
end, but she had always denied it for fear he might be repulsed by
her attraction to this part of him.



Lacroix smiled at her indulgently, seeing that he had successfully
caused her to reconsider her judgement of Nicholas. He stood from the
bed and moved to the door.



“When you feel the urge again to visit, come to the Raven. At least
there you will be catered for.”

Nat nodded.

“Thank you”, she mouthed.



* * *



When Nick returned from the precinct, Lacroix took him aside.

“You seem to be having a problem with your child”, he observed.

Nick sighed.

“Yes, she does not follow my instructions and when I admonish her
for it she starts to cry.

"It is always a problem to bring a lover across. The requirements of
a master usually do not agree with those of a lover. Janette knew
this. That's why she did not bring you across herself."

Nick stared at him.

"What are you saying?"

"I am merely hinting at the possibility that your child might have a
problem with the continuation of your love affair should you continue
to treat her this way."

"But haven't you always said that obedience is required towards
one's master."

"Of course. An unfortunate dilemma, isn't it, Nicholas?"

"I can't lose her, Lacroix", Nick stated.

Lacroix observed the desperation in his child’s voice with concern.

"You might want to reconsider your mode of education, Nicholas."

"It's strange to hear you say this. Aren't you the one who enforced
strict obedience?"

"It was the only kind of education you knew, Nicholas. Natalie is
from a different time. People do not beat education into their
children anymore. They favour the exchange of knowledge and reason. I
am sure when you explain everything to her she will act according to
your wishes if she considers them reasonable."

 “As simple as that?”, Nick asked puzzled. It had never occurred to
him to teach her any other way than he had been educated himself.

“Nothing is ever simple”, his master informed him. “It requires a
certain degree of skill to explain everything in a way that her
scientific mind accepts it without questioning. An intriguing
challenge, I would say.”

Nick considered his advice. Then he frowned.

“I wish you had tried this kind of education with me instead of
insisting to force your will on me, Lacroix. Perhaps then you
wouldn’t have lost me.”

“I beg to differ”, Lacroix pointed out. “I never lost you. In fact,
recent events have even brought you closer to me. All that was
required was to find the right lure. Imagine my surprise when I found
it in the doctor who tried so hard to cure you from your predicament.
The hint at any possible danger she might be in was enough to trigger
your true nature.”

“What do you mean with possible danger? Of course she was in danger
in Venice. You said yourself that the Enforcers won’t allow someone
with ---“, Nick stopped in midsentence, realization sinking in.

“There was no real threat, was there?”

“No, at least not an immediate one.”

Nick regarded him dumbfounded.

“You set me up!”, he exclaimed outraged.

“I merely enhanced your awareness of a possible danger. And you
responded like any vampire master should in order to protect his
property. And don’t tell me that you didn’t enjoy it.”

Nick looked to the floor.

As much as he despised the way he had been tricked into this,
Lacroix was right. For the first time in so very long he was at ease
with himself, accepting his nature and simply enjoying what life had
to offer.

“I’m proud of you, mon fils”, Lacroix said and vanished through the
skylight.



Nick couldn’t hold back a smile at the rare compliment.

It did not really matter that Lacroix had instigated anything. In
the end it had been his own decision to bring Nat across. Once he had
tasted her blood he had known that there would be no turning back. He
had wanted her completely, not just in a mortal way.



And he would do everything to keep her by his side. He would be
patient with her and try to educate her with reasoning as Lacroix had
suggested.



Having set his mind he ascended the stairs and opened the bedroom
door carefully.

“Nat?”, he asked, not sure if his presence was welcome.

Natalie sat in the middle of his bed, hugging her legs tightly.

“I should not have threatened you like that. Can you forgive me?”,
he asked, hesitantly stepping closer.

“You’ve scared me, Nick”, Natalie whispered in response. “You know,
before, when I was mortal, I was never afraid of you, but now I am.”

Nick regarded her with anguish in his eyes.

“I’ve seen a side of you that I wasn’t aware of before”, she
continued. “And despite any rational thoughts that scream otherwise,
I can’t help being attracted to it. Lacroix said the reason why I was
so upset was because my conscience was fighting against it. I guess
that makes sense.”

Nick said down on the bed beside her, watching her expectantly.

“I want to get to know all of you, Nick”, she said, laying her arms
around his neck. “Don’t hold anything back when you share blood with
me.”

She kissed his lips tentatively and Nick responded eagerly, sending
a wave of gratitude across his link towards his master.



* * *



Lacroix smiled and raised his glass in a silent salute.

“Welcome back, mon fils”, he whispered.



FIN



* * *



I hope you liked it.

The entire story will be archived at www.come-undone.net.

Comments are welcome at blue_Twingo772@yahoo.de.



* * *

PJ

blue_Twingo772@yahoo.de