Forever Knight nor its characters belong to me, they were created and 
are owned by Barney Cohen and Sony Tristar.  All comments about my stories 
are welcome. E-Mail Javieress at Pridenjoy02@AOL.com




                          The Clearing Fog                 









          Winter . . . 

     It could be such a dreadful and cruel season, the bitter coldness and 
loneliness it seemed to bring with it.  Still . . .  there was something 
about winter that Tracy Vetter loved.   There was a peace it brought to her, 
a quietness in the icy air that comforted her, and tonight, Tracy Vetter 
desperately needed to be comforted. 

     Tracy's Uncle Sonny had been rushed to the hospital in the early morning 
hours, suffering severe chest pains.  For a while now, Uncle Sonny had been 
struggling with a heart condition that was progressively getting worse.  

     Tracy had seen her family go through a roller coaster of emotions, 
trying to deal with what now seemed to be inevitable.  She had become numb to 
the pain that comes with watching someone you love die; or so she thought.  

     Tonight, at the hospital, when she walked into her Uncle's room she 
stopped dead in her tracks.  She saw her Aunt Linda sitting beside her Uncles 
bed, clutching his hand as if it were the most precious of treasures.

     Tracy admired her Aunt Linda, she had been so strong all these years, 
she'd had to be, the family looked to her to measure their own grief.  
Tonight though, when Tracy looked in her Aunt's eyes, she saw a woman 
defeated.  

     Tracy's Uncle had needed a transplant for years, but unfortunately so 
did an infinite number of other people.  It was no one's fault he was low on 
the list for a donor heart, life isn't fair and sometimes the good guys don't 
win.  Tracy loved her Uncle, she didn't want him to die, but tonight her 
heart broke for the one left behind, her Aunt.  She wondered how you go on 
after spending so much of your life with someone, loving them through good 
and bad times, only to watch them die, helpless to do anything.  

     " Tracy . . .  Trace . . .  you okay?"  Tracy looked up, hearing her 
partner's voice brought her back to the here and now.  She sighed deeply, 
"Sorry Nick, just thinking."

     "Tracy, why don't you go home and get some sleep.  I can handle the 
paperwork by myself."
Normally, Nick offering to even do paperwork, much less by himself would have 
caused her to fall out of her chair, but not tonight.  "No Nick, I need to 
work, to keep my mind occupied.  I'll be okay."

     Tracy felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Captain Joe Reese 
looking at her with sympathetic eyes.  "Tracy, your father's on the phone.  I 
think it's news about your Uncle."  
"Thanks Cap."  Tracy bit her lip to push back the tears that were on the 
verge of spilling out as she picked up the receiver.  "Yeah dad, it's me."  A 
tear slid down her cheek as she hung up the phone.  She breathed deep and 
swung her chair out.  "Cap., I need to . . .   " 
     
     "Go ahead, and Tracy . . .  I'm so sorry." 

     Tracy grabbed her coat and headed for the door.  She felt Nick put his 
hand on the small of her back as he guided her through the door.  "Tracy, do 
you want me to drive you to the hospital?"

     "No Nick, thanks, but I need to go alone."

     "Okay, just be careful Tracy.  I'm here if you need me."

     Tracy smiled weekly at her partner who seemed to slowly be becoming her 
friend.

     **********************************************************************

    Vachon watched the rise and fall of Tracy's chest, and thought that she 
looked exhausted, even in sleep.  

     She had come to the church tonight, just before sunrise, and without 
saying a word, fell in his arms.  He held her as she cried for what seemed 
like hours.

     He knew what had happened.  She didn't have to say.  He had known about 
her Uncle's condition, it wasn't that long ago when she had come to him 
looking for information about black market organ transplants.  He had seen a 
desperation in her that night, but tonight all he saw was sadness, the kind 
that comes only from loss.  

     Vachon had seen that same sadness in Tracy's eyes the night he had asked 
her to leave, instead of watching him die.  He'd come to her later that 
night, cured.  Looking at her now, so worn and tired, his mind drifted back 
to that night.

     
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))*((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((


     He touched her cheek, still wet with tears, and whispered, "Trace . . .  
" She stirred at the sound of his voice, but seemed unwilling, or too 
exhausted to wake from her sleep. "Trace . . .  "
     Suddenly, she sat up and looked at him in a daze.  "Vachon?"

     "Yeah, it's me Trace."

     She looked at him as if she were unsure she was actually awake.  "What . 
. .  I thought . . .  tonight when I left . . .  "

     He sat next to her on the bed, cupped her face in his hands, as if 
touching her would prove he were real, and ran a thumb along her chin.  
"Yeah, I thought I was a goner too, but we found a cure.  Looks like I'll be 
around a little longer after all."

     Tracy looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes, and threw her arms 
around his neck, her face landing in his soft hair.

     He held her then, as he had tonight, neither of them saying a word.

     
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))*(((((((((((((((((((((((((((

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((


     Vachon looked back at the woman lying on his bed, wishing he could take 
away her pain.

     Vachon had lost a lot of friends in his almost 500 years, he knew all to 
well the sting that losing someone you love can leave.  After awhile he got 
careful not to let too many people in, to not stay anywhere too long, and of 
course there was always the Inca to run from.

     Vachon smiled, thinking that running from his "brother" is what had led 
this mortal, this woman, who was now in his bed, to him.  

     He could still see her wide blue eyes looking at him in the twisted 
wreckage.

     Somehow this woman, this mortal, who had both fainted in his presence 
and chastised him for his irresponsibility the night they met, had made him 
stop running.  He laughed now, as he remembered her ordering him to "take her 
out of this sewer immediately",her a mere mortal, ordering him, a vampire.  
She was so bold sometimes and other times, like tonight so fragile.

     Vachon touched Tracy's cheek, and walked downstairs to fly into the 
night.

     *************************************************************************

     Tracy rolled over, opened her eyes and took a deep breath.  Smelling him 
in the air and on the pillow where her head had been, she realized she was in 
the church.  Tracy wondered if Vachon knew he had a scent too, to Tracy he 
smelled like the air before a storm, smoky and electric.  She smiled,  
thinking that Vachon must have carried her to the bed after she had fallen 
asleep on the sofa, in his arms.  She hugged herself, remembering what being 
in his arms had made her feel, . . . safe.

     Tracy stretched, got out of the bed reluctantly, and walked downstairs 
to what would be the living room if this were a "normal" house.  



     "Vachon?"

     Not receiving an answer, she figured he had gone out.

     Tracy sat down on the sofa, and looked around at the place that had 
become so familiar to her.  She had spent so much time here since the night 
they met.  

     She had come here to this place, to this man, first out of curiosity, 
after all she had never known any vampires.  Sometimes she came to probe him 
about the "vampire lifestyle," or to ask for his help on her latest "unusual" 
case.

     She realized as she watched the candlelight dance across one of the many 
stained glass windows, causing the panes to shimmer like the rarest of 
jewels, that eventually, now, she came just to be with him.  To see this man 
who had become her friend, who brought out so many different emotions in her, 
anger, frustration, happiness, even . . . love.

     Tracy would come just to sit in the quiet and watch  him restring his 
guitar, or listen to him talk about "the way things used to be," which wasn't 
all that often, he was still very careful about telling her too much about 
his past.  Lately though, ever since the fever, things between them were a 
little different.  Sometimes in the quiet their eyes would meet, and they 
wouldn't look away, giving a small acknowledgment to the fact that more than 
friendship existed between them now.  

     Tracy looked around the church, which in the beginning had been so dark 
and strange to her, just like Vachon.  She had teased him countless times 
about living here; it looked so much like your typical vampire movie set.  
But in time, this place, like Vachon, had claimed a part of her.  It's funny, 
she thought, what you get used to, even grow to like,  . . . and need.  She 
smiled to herself, wondering just when it was she stopped caring that a film 
of dust covered every inch of this place.


     Tracy had come to realize why Vachon liked this dusty old church so 
much, she could see it in his eyes.  Eyes that looked so youthful most of the 
time, sometimes they even seemed to sparkle, especially when he gave her that 
"cat that ate the mouse" grin.  Other times though, usually when he was here, 
in this church, she could see the years rise to the surface.  She saw a 
weariness in his eyes that were so tired of pretending, of trying to make 490 
years seem like only 25.  But here, in this place, surrounded by candlelight 
and old dust-covered statues, he didn't have to pretend.

     Noticing it was dark outside, and wondering just how long she had been 
here, Tracy looked at her watch.  Her eyes flew open as she jumped off the 
sofa and ran out the door, trying to think of a good excuse for being an hour 
and a half late for work.

     When Tracy arrived at the station, she saw her partner standing in the 
Captain's office.  She dropped her coat at her desk and walked into the 
Captains office.  Using her best "I'm only fashionably late voice, she said, 
"So, what's up?"



     When all she got were confused looks from the Captain and her partner, 
she thought "well, it didn't work," and began her excuse, "Look I know I'm 
late but . . . "

     Before she could finish her well-rehearsed excuse, the Captain cut her 
off.

     "Tracy, we weren't expecting you to come in tonight, considering what 
happened.  Your father called and said you might need some time."

     "Great! , (Imagine that, Tracy thought, daddy interfering again). Look, 
it's best if I keep busy Cap."

     "Okay.  Well, since you're here, a jogger found a body down by Johnson's 
Pier.  Natalie's already down there.  Don't know much except the victim is a 
woman."

     Nick looked at Tracy with concerned eyes.  "Well, we'd better go check 
it out."

     As Nick opened the caddy's door for Tracy, he put a hand on her 
shoulder, "You sure you're okay, Tracy?"

     "Yeah, Nick, I'll be fine, but thanks."

     "Okay, then we better go see if Natalie has found out anything."

     Natalie was making notes when Tracy and Nick arrived.  Tracy noticed 
Natalie give Nick a peculiar look as they got out of the car and headed 
toward the covered body.

     Natalie looked up from her clipboard, "Hey Trace, I didn't think you'd 
be on duty tonight."

     Tracy gave her best "tough as nails" look, "I'll manage Nat.  So, 
what've we got?"

     Natalie looked at Nick, her expression asking him if Tracy was really 
all right.  Tracy saw her partner give a slight nod as his answer.

     "Okay, then."  Natalie pulled back the starched white sheet, revealing a 
very beautiful, but remarkably pale woman.

     Natalie began her observations.  "She hasn't been dead long, maybe ten 
hours, at the most, no obvious signs of sexual assault, but I'll double check 
that when I get her back to the lab."

     Tracy interrupted, "She looks a little pale, even for being dead."

     Natalie looked at Nick, then hesitantly said, "Well, that would be from 
the lack of blood in her body.  It looks as if the killer drained her blood."

     



     
    

     Tracy glanced at Nick, trying to gauge his reaction to this bit of news. 
 Tracy had figured out Nick was a vampire four months ago.  She had started 
to notice that more and more, his behavior reminded her of Vachon's, never 
eating in front of her, only working the night shift, and the whole 
"phototropic" thing . . . , she was actually embarrassed that she hadn't 
figured it out sooner.

     Nick had no idea that she knew, no one did, not even Vachon, who she had 
figured out also knew what Nick was, and was keeping it from her.

     Tracy was waiting to see just how long, if ever, her partner would tell 
her the truth, although, she had to admit, a part of her really got a kick 
out of those excuses he came up with for his abnormal behavior.

     Nick noticed Tracy watching him and tried to act as casual as possible, 
"Drained of blood . . .  How?"

     Natalie looked at Tracy and Nick with a little apprehension, "Well, it 
seems the killer made two small incisions along the jugular."  Natalie moved 
the dead woman's head to the side revealing two small wounds.  "I'll know 
more after a thorough examination."

     Tracy saw her partners eyes widen and glance at Natalie.

     Tracy broke the tension, "Guess we'd better see if we can find out who 
she was."

     "Yeah" was all Nick said as they headed back to the car.  

     Nick felt a chill go through him, sensing another vampire nearby, as he 
opened the caddy's door for Tracy.

     As Nick and Tracy drove off, Natalie went back to detailing facts about 
the body, unaware she was being watched.

     **********************************************************************

     Natalie was rattling off her notes into a tape recorder when Nick and 
Tracy entered the room.  

    Tracy walked up to the cold steel table that was now home for the newly 
deceased victim. "So, have you finished the autopsy?"

     Natalie looked up and studied Nick's face, noticing all to well the far 
off a look in his eyes, before she answered Tracy. "Yeah, just finished.  Did 
you guys manage to get an ID?"

     "Yeah, her name is Judith Lansky. We got lucky, it seems her landlord 
reported her missing two days ago.  She doesn't have any living relatives, 
and lived alone.  The landlord is coming down later tonight to make a 
positive ID, but it's her."



     "Well then.  It seems Ms. Lansky was drained of about 80% of her blood, 
the only blood remaining being in the organs.  The cuts, as I said earlier, 
were made into the jugular, which let the blood flow freely.  Still . . . , 
it was very time consuming work, to wait for that much blood to drain from 
the body."  

     Nick looked at Natalie with a confused look on his face, "What about 
rape?"

     Natalie grabbed her clipboard and flipped the pages to find what she was 
looking for.  "A phosphorous test indicated no signs of semen, and there was 
no vaginal bruising that would indicate sexual assault.  However, a drug 
screen indicated chloroform in her system, as well as trace amounts around 
her mouth and throat.  She was probably out cold, but still alive when the 
cuts were made, which would account for the bruising around the wounds.  If 
she came to after the cuts were made she probably went into shock, and 
ultimately died of blood loss."

     Tracy was staring at the wounds on the woman's neck, "Nat?"

     "Yeah, Trace?"

      "You said the wounds were small slits.  Any idea what they were made 
with?"

     "Probably a surgical blade, the wounds were small but extremely deep."  
Natalie stole a quick glance at Nick before she continued. "Funny though, the 
size and the placement of the wounds suggest that the killer wanted it to 
look like the wounds were made by . . ."

      Natalie stuttered to said out loud what both Nick and Tracy had been 
thinking silently since they found the body. Tracy finished Natalie's thought 
for her.  "Teeth?"

     Nick and Natalie both looked at Tracy, awe-struck at what to say.

     Natalie finally answered the not so naive Detective, "Yeah, it looks as 
if the killer wants us to think a  . . . vampire killed Ms. Lansky.  Looks 
like you guys have your work cut out for you."

     "Great . . . ," was all Tracy could manage to say, her mind still 
reeling with the thought of someone out there killing people " vampire style".

     Just as Nick was about to speak, the phone rang.

     "Lambert.  Yeah Captain, I'll tell them."

     Tracy and Nick looked at each other, knowing what was coming.  

     Natalie hung up the phone, "Seems they found another body, looks like 
the same situation, I won't be far behind you."

     Nick shot Natalie a "we need to talk" look as he and Tracy headed out of 
the Coroner's Office.




     **********************************************************************


     It was 4:10 a.m. by the time Tracy and Nick finished at the second crime 
scene and Natalie had taken the body to the lab.  The same MO as the last 
victim, two small incisions along the jugular, drained of blood.  

     Tracy quickly caught herself against the caddy, as she passed into a 
daze from exhaustion.  

     "Tracy, go home, we can't do anything else now anyway until we get the 
report from Natalie, and your exhausted."

     Tracy looked at her watch, realizing it was already 4:22 a.m., and 
wondered if she had enough time to get to the church before Vachon turned in 
for the day.  She needed to see him, about this case, and other things.

     "Yeah, Nick, I'm pretty whipped."

     Both partners were deep in thought as they headed back to the precinct.  

     As Tracy headed to see Vachon, Nick put in a call to Nat.

     "Lambert."

    "Nat, meet me at my place as soon as you can."

     Before Natalie could respond the dial tone clicked in her ear.  She 
grabbed her coat and headed for the loft.

     Nick turned as the elevator door was pulled open, and Nat walked in.  

     "So, I'm assuming you want to talk about the case."

     A far of look came across Nick's face "Who would do this, Nat?"

     "You're asking me?"

     "I felt the presence of another vampire at the first scene, distant, but 
there."

     "Nick, why would a vampire kill like this, risk the exposure?"

     "I don't think a vampire is doing the killing Nat, but I think one is 
watching, and knows who the killer is."

     Nick and Natalie looked at each other, a sense of dread coming over both 
as the realization of  real vampires being involved in murders that appeared 
to be done by someone pretending to be a vampire.

     ***********************************************************************

     Tracy walked up the stairs, following the beautiful but haunting melody 
that was being played by Vachon on his guitar.  Vachon smiled when her scent 
drifted across the room, and he could hear her heartbeat.

     At the top of the stairs, Tracy stopped to listen as he finished the 
song, and then settled herself on the edge of the sofa.  

     "That was beautiful."

     "Yeah.  So Trace, what's up?"  Vachon avoided eye contact, not knowing 
if Tracy wanted to talk about last night.

     "I need to talk to you about something."

     "The "vampire" killings?"

     "You know.  I guess news travels fast with the nonliving.  So, does 
anyone know anything?"

     "If they do, they're not saying, but it does have quite a few people on  
edge.  Even Lacroix seems concerned."

     Tracy shivered at the mention of his name.  She knew who Vachon was 
talking about, and she knew what he was.  Tracy had noticed him eyeing her 
several times when she would stop by The Raven to talk to Vachon.  Something 
about his eyes, the coldness, the distance in them, frightened her.  She also 
knew Nick was involved with him somehow, although in what capacity, and to 
what extent, she did not know.  Vachon had eluded all her attempts to 
question him about Lacroix, and although it frustrated Tracy, she let it go.

     "Well,  Nick almost crawled out of his skin earlier tonight, at the 
first crime scene.  And he and Natalie kept exchanging these concerned looks. 
 I'm sure they're together right now discussing the case."

     Tracy looked at Vachon, not knowing if she should bring up last night.  
Part of her didn't want to mention it for fear that memories would come 
flooding back.  Tracy's chest tightened at the remembrance of her Aunt's 
face.  She wondered how such a painful memory could also encompass one so 
beautiful,  falling asleep in Vachon's arms, and waking up in his bed, his 
scent all around her.

     "Well I guess I'd better go.  I pretty tired, and if tonight is anything 
like last night, I'll need all the sleep I can get."

     Tracy got up and headed for the stairs, but when she got to them she 
stopped and turned around.



     "Vachon?"

     "Umm?"

     Trying to keep her voice from shaking, Tracy turned to look at Vachon, 
who was idling playing with his guitar, refusing to look at her.

     "Thank You."

     Vachon heard the door shut silently, and whispered, "Anytime, Trace."

     His eyes glowed red in the darkness of the abandoned building across the 
street, as he watched the beautiful detective leave the Spaniard's church.  

     ***********************************************************************

     Tracy jumped out of the shower when she heard the phone ringing.

     "Vetter"

     "Tracy, it's Nick,  turn on the TV, channel 4."

     "Tracy grabbed the remote and flicked until she got to the correct 
channel.  Her eyes flew open and she dropped the phone when she saw, and 
heard, what the latest breaking story was."

     "This is Amanda Watson, reporting from Lincoln Pier, where the third 
body, in what seems to be an extremely bizarre serial murder case has been 
found.  The circumstances surrounding the death  . . . "

     Tracy finally came to when she heard her partner's voice screaming from 
the phone that lay on the floor.

     "Sorry Nick.  How the hell did the press find out about this?"

     "I don't know, but the Captain's irrate.  Whoever leaked this is going 
to be on meter maid duty for the next hundred years."

     "I'm on my way in Nick."

     ***********************************************************************

     When Tracy finally managed to get through the media parade in front of 
the station, she found Nick sitting at his desk, actually doing paperwork

     "Did I miss something, are you sick?"

     "I figured I'd keep my head down, you know , paperwork seemed a little 
safer than . . . "



     Just then the entire station got quiet as everyone heard Captain Reese 
slam down the phone.

     Tracy looked at her partner, they knew what was coming.

     "Knight, Vetter, in here now."

      Tracy and Nick entered the Captain's office with a little apprehension. 
 Tracy closed the door behind her and turned to look at Nick, waiting for the 
bomb to hit.

     "I just got off the phone with Commissioner Vetter.  The entire Police 
Commission is ready to fire everyone in this precinct.  When I find whoever 
leaked this . . .   Anyway, if it wasn't before this case is top priority 
now, I want everyone on this." 

     Tracy and Nick got up to leave.

     "You two get this crazy nut off my streets."

     "We're on it Cap."

     Tracy grabbed her coat, and she and Nick were out the door, headed for 
the sure to be press surrounded Lincoln Pier.

     **********************************************************************
    

     Natalie was busy dodging cameras, and microphones being shoved in her 
face when Nick came up behind her and led her through the circus.

     "What the hell is going on, Nick?"

     "Don't ask. The Captain is looking for a head to mount on his wall as we 
speak . . . Do we know anything yet, I mean,  that the press didn't announce 
on TV?"

     "No, I just got here. I haven't even seen the body, but if it looks like 
the others I'd say we have quite a serious problem on our hands."

     The press cloud cleared when six police cars threatened to drive over 
them. Megaphones and shouting could be heard for miles, but after about ten 
minutes and about a thousand threats of the press being blocked from the case 
permanently, the media got the message and reluctantly left.

     Tracy walked up beside Nick and Natalie, "Well, so much for a boring 
night."

     All three traded glances of reluctance as they walked over to the body.

     Natalie bent down and confirmed what no one wanted to hear. "Well guys, 
looks like for once the press was right, it's  your guy." She moved the 
victim's head to the side to let the two detectives see for themselves.

    "Great, well,  let's get to work"

     Nick looked at Tracy, and bent down to cover the body back up.

     Since it seemed everyone in the precinct had suddenly been assigned this 
case, there were already two detectives taking witness statements, so Nick 
and Tracy left, headed back to the station to try and get an ID on the latest 
victim.

     When they got back there was a fax laying on Tracy's desk. It contained 
information on similar crimes committed last year in the Alberta area. Tracy 
and Nick both looked around at who could've put the information on the desk. 
The station was empty except for the desk sergeant.

     "Hey, John, did you see who put this here."

     "Sorry Tracy, I've been busy answering the never-ending phone calls from 
the press coverage this evening."

     Nick and Tracy looked back at each other, "Well, let's check it out."

     Tracy punched  the information into the computer, cross checking similar 
crimes in the Alberta area.  She sat up straight when the information came 
through, "Nick, it's the same. Same MO, same victim profile, same everything."

     Just as they were headed to the door, the phone on Nick's desk rang. 
Nick looked at Tracy, "It might be Nat with information."  He reached down 
and answered it,  never expecting Lucien La Croix to the on the other end.

     Tracy could tell the minute Nick picked up the phone that, it was not 
good news on the other line.

     Nick hung up the phone and looked at Tracy, "I need to run an errand, 
I'll be back soon."

     Tracy was about to ask if everything was alright, but before she could 
get the words out, Nick was gone.

     ***********************************************************************


     When Nick arrived at The Raven, he was motioned by the bartender to a 
back room.  When Nick entered the room, he was keenly aware of the presence 
of two Enforcers, in addition to LaCroix, Vachon, and three other vampires 
who he recognized as some of LaCroix's basement guests.

     "Nicholas, please, join us."  




     LaCroix motioned for him to sit down and shot him a quick " now-is not- 
the- time-to-argue" glance.  Before sitting he shot a quick glance to Vachon, 
who seemed to be also aware that this was not a friendly visit.

     One of The Enforcers stepped forward, Nick didn't recognize him, but 
knew immediately he was very old, and not someone to underestimate, and that 
he had been the presence Nick felt at the first crime scene..  

     "It seems there are some increasingly bothersome problems we need to 
attend to.  We have of course become aware of the threat posed by the recent 
"unusual" killings.  Under normal circumstances, we would be satisfied with 
mortal justice handling the situation, and these "vampire" killings to be 
soon forgotten, but it seems the situation has escalated with the involvement 
of the media, not to mention some mortals who obviously know too much 
already."

     The Enforcer shot Nick and Vachon equally disturbing glances, which 
caused both of the vampires to stir uneasily in their seats.

     Just then, the Enforcer who had been sitting quietly in the back of the 
room put his hand on the shoulder his companion, apparently to let him know 
he would be taking over,  and began to speak

     "I know all of you in this room, although I am certain none of you know 
me, with the exception of Lucius."  He glanced at the Roman vampire, "In has 
been a long time my friend."

     The fact that the Enforcer called LaCroix by his given name let Nick 
know two things, that The Enforcer was as old, or older than his "father" , 
and that despite the first Enforcer's tone of voice and hostility, it was 
this one that was in charge.

     "My name is Amel, and my friend Stephan (motioning to the other 
Enforcer), is quite correct, we have a very dangerous situation that must be 
dealt with.  It is growing  harder for us to hide our existence, with the 
recurring interest of mortals in the occult, and the lack of restraint shown 
by some of our younger members to use the discretion that has become 
increasingly necessary."

     Nick knew that lately there had been several "young ones" to draw 
attention by not cleaning up after themselves.  It wasn't that long ago that 
he had crossed paths with the young one named Spark, who suffered from lack 
of discretion.  Luckily,  Spark would no longer be around to cause such 
problems. (He made the unwise choice of choosing the Natalie as one of his 
conquests)

     
     "We will stay until the matter of the "vampire" killings are  handled 
appropriately, as well as other . . . issues."

     Nick and Vachon looked at each other, knowing exactly what "issues" 
those were.

     "Lucius ( Amel turned in the direction of  Lacroix). . . , I trust you 
will see things are handled accordingly." And with that, both of The 
Enforcers left the room, as did LaCroix's three basement guests.

 


     Lacroix folded his hands in his signature way, and glared at Nick and 
Vachon, his ice blue eyes starring a whole into both of them.  A small smirk 
escaped his lips when he spoke, a hint of the evil that lay inside the man.  
"Nicholas . . .  , I do hope you realize the situation we find ourselves in.  
Amel is never involved in such matters unless it is absolutely necessary.  He 
is not someone to be dealt with lightly.  Understand this . . .  , both of 
you, (LaCroix looked directly at Nick and Vachon), he will make sure all 
matters are handled . . .  thoroughly."

     Nick was about to speak when his cell phone rang, "Knight."

     "Nick, it's Tracy, Nat has the report on the third victim."

     "Yeah, Trace, I'm on my way"

     Nick got up and headed for the door, giving Vachon a reassuring glance, 
"She'll be fine, I'll make sure she doesn't leave my side tonight."

     Vachon's face went blank with expression, except for the stare he gave 
Nick, a silent plea that he make sure nothing happened.

     ***********************************************************************

     Tracy was already talking to Natalie when Nick walked through the door.  
Both women noticed the concerned look on his face.

     "Everything okay, Nick?"

     Nick looked directly at Natalie, almost as if he were looking through 
her, and then looked at his partner, who was still waiting for an answer, 
"Yeah, Tracy, everything's fine."

     All three of the room's occupants knew that everything was not okay, but 
none of them knew just how their lives would be effected by that knowledge.

     Natalie finally spoke to break the silence that was growing 
unbearable,"Well. . . , this victim is the same as the others. So. . . , you 
guys find out anything new on your end?"

     Tracy shook herself out of her thoughts to answer Natalie, "Actually, 
yeah, there seems to be a connection with a series of killings that happened 
in Alberta last year, same MO."  Tracy looked at Nick before she finished, 
"I've been on the phone with the Alberta Chief of Police ever since you left. 
There were five victims, same wounds on the neck, drained of blood just like 
our three victims, but never any evidence to suggest who did it, which pretty 
much leaves us where we were before I made the call, nowhere."

     Nick and Tracy left Natalie's office not knowing where to go next.



     "So, what do we do now,  wait until he kills more women, and hope he 
makes a mistake so we can catch him?", Tracy starred at her partner waiting 
for an answer, "Nick. . . Nick?"

     "Sorry, Tracy, I'm just a little out of it.  Let's go back to the 
station, I guess well go through everything from the beginning, see if we 
missed anything."

     "Yeah"

     **********************************************************************

     After three hours of sifting through the files on the three victims in 
Toronto, and the information she had gathered on the Alberta victims, the 
only new thing Tracy had was a headache and a desperate need for coffee.

     "Nick, I'm gonna grab some coffee, you want anything?"

     "No , thanks Tracy"

     Nick heard the crash as the glass shattered against the floor, and ran 
into the break room.

     "Tracy, you okay?" He saw the coffee pot in a million pieces on the 
floor, and his partner holding her hand under the sink.  The smell of blood 
assaulted him, and he closed his eyes to gain composure before walking over 
to see if  Tracy was okay.

     "Yeah, I'm fine.  Some idiot left the coffee pot on with no coffee in 
it, and it burned me when I picked it up.  I was just trying to clean up the 
mess, and a piece of glass got stuck in my hand, it went in pretty deep.  
Talk about waking you up."

     "You want me to get Nat to look at it?"

     "No, I'm fine."  

     Tracy was watching the blood swirl down the drain when it came to her.  
"Nick. . . where's the blood?'

     Nick looked at Tracy, confused.

     ". . . The blood from the victims, where is it?  There wasn't any at the 
crime scenes and three bodies worth of blood isn't something you can get rid 
of without someone noticing, so where is it?"

     Tracy was out the door before Nick could answer.  

     Tracy picked up the phone and dialed Alberta Metro Police Headquarters, 
"Hi, this is Detective Tracy Vetter, with Toronto Metro, Homicide, can I 
speak to Chief Gordon?"

     "Chief Gordon, Tracy Vetter again.  Listen, in the case we spoke of 
earlier, where the victims

were drained of blood, did you ever find it. . . the blood?"

     Tracy hung up the phone and looked at her partner, "No blood, they never 
found it." 

     Captain Reese walked up with the broken coffee pot handle in his hand, 
"Dammit, I guess now I'll have to take donations for a new coffee pot."

     Tracy looked up from her desk, "What did you say Cap.?"

     "Donations. . . for the coffee pot."

     Tracy and Nick looked at each other, suddenly realizing what they hadn't 
even seen.  "I'll call all the local blood banks, you start on the 
hospitals."  Tracy's fingers were dialing numbers before Nick even finished 
the sentence.

     Captain Reese stood in amazement, and thought, "when those two actually 
work together, their pretty good."

     Tracy slammed down the phone,"I think I've got something!,  The 
Littleton Blood Donation Center on Eighth, two employees, both there just 
under a year, . . . A John Robertson and Carter Reed."

     "Let's go"
     

     **********************************************************************

      Nick turned to look at his partner as they pulled onto the parking lot 
at the donation center, "Tracy, . . . If one of these is our guy and he runs, 
I need you to stay with me, okay, no separating."

     "Nick. . . look, I don't know what's been going on with you since we got 
this case but I can take care of myself, I'm a cop too ya know, you don't 
have. . . "

     "TRACY, PLEASE, this isn't about you being a cop, just promise me!"

     Tracy had seen Nick mad, but she'd never seen him like this, and as 
frustrated as he got at her sometimes, he certainly had never spoken to her 
like this before.  She looked at him and saw a glimpse of what he tried so 
desperately to hide from her all the time as his eyes flashed from liquid 
blue to burning sulphur in an instant, "Okay, Nick, I promise."

     Nick and Tracy had discovered from Ms. Louise Sheridan,  the Staff 
Supervisor of the Center, that John Robertson had been working during the 
presumed time frame of the first two murders, which left Carter Reed, who had 
been off two of the three dates in question, and hadn't shown up for work in 
the past four days.

     ************************************************************************

     As they pulled up to the address that Ms. Sheridan had given them for 
Carter Reed, Nick sensed another of his kind nearby.  As he turned his 
attention in the direction of the vibration, he saw Javier Vachon hiding in 
the shadows across the street. The two vampires gave a nod of recognition to 
each other.

     The house was completely dark, which either meant no one was home, or 
someone was most definitely expecting them.  Nick and Tracy looked at each 
other before Nick knocked on the door, "Carter Red, Metro Police, open up."  
Receiving no response Nick kicked the door open and swept his gun around the 
room before motioning Tracy in.

     "God, it's freezing in here."  Tracy shook as the chill went up her 
spine, although she didn't know if it was the cold or the creepiness of  the 
house that did it.

     Noticing there were stairs leading up to a second floor, Tracy 
volunteered, "I'll check upstairs, you keep going down here."  But before she 
could ascend the first step, Nick grabbed her arm, "No, I told you, no 
separating, we'll both go up." 

     Tracy furrowed her brow, but knew better than to argue, she knew he was 
serious.

     There were three rooms upstairs, two bedrooms, one living area, all 
looked normal, almost too normal, like no one ever lived in them.  They went 
back down the stairs, and were about to call for back-up to do an area 
search, when Tracy noticed a sliver of light coming from underneath what they 
thought to be a pantry door in the kitchen.  She touched Nick's shoulder, and 
looked at him, not wanting to speak in case someone was listening.  It was 
then that Tracy realized they had been navigating the house in total 
blackness;  she reached to flip on  kitchen light switch and when nothing 
happened, she looked up to see that there wasn't a bulb in the fixture.  In 
fact a quick survey told them that there were no bulbs in any of the fixtures 
anywhere in the house and that the light that was seeping through the door 
must be  moonlight, coming from a window, which meant there was a room behind 
the door. 

     Nick slowly opened the door, sweeping with his senses as well as his 
gun.  Tracy felt the temperature difference immediately, the house was 
freezing, but the air that escaped this room was beyond any coldness she had 
ever felt.  As her eyes adjusted to the blackness, she could see that stairs 
descended into the darkness.  She followed Nick down into the blackness, 
until they reached the hint of light that had crept from under the door.  

      Moonlight was streaming through a huge picture window, that overlooked 
a four-poster bed covered in black satin sheets, the icy air was coming from 
a small air condition unit in the corner of the room.  Tracy looked at Nick, 
shaking from the chill, "He keeps the room this cold on purpose."  Nick's 
only answer was a stare that went right through her.  

     Tracy noticed a small table beside the bed, draped  with the same black 
satin that covered the bed..  She removed the satin, and her breath caught in 
her throat, "Nick,. . . look at this."

     Underneath the satin were three surgical blades, along with a small 
bottle of what Tracy presumed was chloroform.  "It's him, Nick."  

     Something above Tracy sparkled in the moonlight, and she looked up to 
see two chains hanging from the ceiling with leather cuffs attached.  As the 
realization of what it was hit her she
looked at Nick, " Oh my God, . . . he hangs them from the chains to drain the 
blood, while he lays in bed and watches them."

     "Come on Tracy, lets go call for back-up," Nick guided Tracy by the arm 
back to the stairs.

     "I don't think I can let you do that," Tracy and Nick looked up to see a 
man standing on the stairs holding a gun.  

     "Carter Reed I presume", Nick did his best to focus his voice and eyes 
directly at the man,  "Put the gun down."

     The man laughed, soft, and calculating, "I don't think so.  But I will 
take your pretty partner," he narrowed his eyes on Tracy, "I bet you taste 
like heaven."

     Tracy cocked her gun and aimed it firmly at the man in front of her.

     "Strong , and beautiful,. . .  heaven indeed." The man took a step 
forward.

     In a flash of movement Carter Reed hit the floor, his gun sliding across 
the room.  Tracy grabbed the gun, and looked up just in time to see her 
partner with his hands wrapped around Carter Reed's neck.

     "Nick,. . . ?"

    Nick turned to look at Tracy, yellow eyes faded into blue and he released 
his hold on Carter Reed's neck, only to snap the mans wrist's behind his back 
and lead him up the stairs.

     Tracy radioed for a unit to pick up Carter Reed as well as a forensics 
team to secure the area, and collect all physical evidence.

     ***********************************************************************

     An hour later, Nick and Tracy sat in the car, both silent and unsure of 
what to say.

     "Look Tracy, about. . . "

     "Nick, . . . I'm too tired to play games, I know, I've known for a while 
now, I just want to know why.  No more lies, and more secrets.  I'm your 
partner, Nick, you could've trusted me, you should've. "

     Nick stared at Tracy, seeing in her more than the idealistic, young, 
naive girl he once thought her to be.  "Alright, no more secrets, Trace. . ."

     For the second time in six years, Nick Knight told his life's story, all 
of it, complete and uncut.  When he finished he looked at his partner, and 
waited for the tears, the yelling, the stake through the heart, but none of 
it ever came.  Tracy's only answer was a simple, solitary word,  "Okay."

     "Okay?, that's it?"

     "Yeah.  What do you want me to say, that I'm hurt, angry, that you're 
some kind of horrible creature.  I am hurt and angry, because you should've 
trusted me, but do I think you're a monster?  I think you're the same man you 
were before I knew any of this.  I think your Nick Knight, my partner, 
granted there are now some additional details to who Nick Knight, I mean 
Nicholas Chevalier,...I mean Nicholas DeBrabant......"  Tracy shot Nick a 
smirk.

     Nicks eyebrows went up and his familiar boyish grin graced his face, 
"Okay, Button, I get it."

     Tracy looked down, the lightness of the moment fading, and when she 
spoke it was a whisper.  "I guess I'm hurt more than anything. You knew about 
Vachon, when he got sick, I felt so alone, you could've......."  Tracy looked 
up at Nick, tears threatening to come out.

     Nick grabbed her hand, "I know, Tracy, I'm sorry, no more lies."

     Tracy smiled at him, that strong little girl smile,  and placed her 
other hand over his, "Okay, partner."

     Nick started the car and pulled out onto the street, headed back to the 
station.  

     ************************************************************************

     The media was already surrounding the station when Nick and Tracy pulled 
up, "Maybe we should go around back, Nick."

     "Yeah."  Nick pulled the caddy to the rear parking lot, and they got 
out.  Nick came around the car as Tracy was getting out, and they walked 
together to the rear door of the station.  Nick pulled the door open for 
Tracy, but before she went in she turned, "Nick, thank you, for helping 
Vachon, ...for the cure,... "

     Nick didn't answer, he just smiled and put his hand on her back, guiding 
her through the door.

     When they went inside they heard Captain Reese giving the press a 
statement.  When he was finished he walked over to Tracy, and Nick, who were 
now seated at their desks, filling out the appropriate paperwork, "Good work, 
Detectives.  I think maybe you two are finally turning into partners."  Tracy 
and Nick smiled at each other, as the Captain walked away.

     Tracy and Nick finished their reports on Mr. Carter Reed, a.k.a. The 
Vampire Killer, who was now in lock-up downstairs, awaiting transfer to a 
maximum security prison tomorrow.  After questioning him, along with two 
Psychologists, and Captain Reese present, Tracy and Nick learned that Mr. 
Reed had drank some of the blood of all of his victims, and by doing so he 
had "taken their life, their energy, into himself". When he said it, Tracy 
and Nick looked at each other, Vachon had once described the experience of 
drinking blood to Tracy the exact same way.

     The blood that Carter Reed didn't ingest, he bagged and brought to the 
Donation Center, no one ever the wiser that the blood was from victims, and 
not willing donors.

      Sitting back at their desks, Tracy and Nick soon became aware of just 
how tired they both were.  "Tracy, let me give you a lift home, you look 
exhausted, and there is something we need to talk about."  Nick wasn't quite 
sure how to tell Tracy about The Enforcers, but knew he had to tell her, her 
life was in the danger now that he had always feared it would be with her 
knowledge.

     "Okay, Nick, but can we make a stop first, there's something I need to 
do."

     Nick knew the stop she wanted to make was to see Vachon, and under the 
circumstances he thought it might not be a bad idea to have as many vampires 
around Tracy as possible, to protect her from The Enforcers, or plead her 
case to them, assuming that there would be a chance to do either.  LaCroix 
had made it quite clear they meant business.

     "Okay, Tracy, lets go."  

     ***********************************************************************

     When they entered the church, Nick knew something wasn't right.

     "Vachon, Vachon...are you here?"

     Nick stepped in front of Tracy when no one answered, and they climbed 
the stairs.

     The usual candles were burning when they reached the "living room", 
"Vachon, are you here?, I swear if you're trying to scare me I'll......"

     Tracy's breath caught when she stepped further into the room and noticed 
that the sofa was over- turned and broken bottles littered the floor, and 
what looked like blood was splattered on the floor, although whether it was 
from the broken bottles or from another source, Tracy wasn't sure.

     "Oh my God Nick, Vachon...Vachon?"     Tracy turned to Nick with a 
terrified look on her face.

     "Come on Tracy, lets get out of here."

     "Nick, what's going on?"

     As they turned toward the stairs to go, Tracy slammed right into a tall 
man dressed in black, Nick recognized him immediately as Stephan.

     "What's going on Detective Vetter is business being taken care of."

     Nick stepped in front of Tracy, his eyes the color of fire, "Don't touch 
her."

     "This isn't your affair Knight, I'd suggest you move out of my way."

     Before Nick could counter the Enforcer, Tracy stepped from behind him, 
"Who are you? Where is Vachon?

     The vampires laugh was full of hatred, and when he looked at Tracy to 
give his answer it was with eyes as red as blood, "How charming, ...you are 
concerned for the stupid Spaniard.  He has been taken by my associate, and my 
guess is that right about now he is having a stake driven through his still 
heart fro being so irresponsible."


     "WHAT!  Nick, what is he talking about?  Tracy was screaming, tears 
streaming down her cheeks.  "WHO ARE YOU?"

     Nick grabbed both of Tracy's shoulders from behind, although at the 
moment he wasn't sure if he was protecting her from Stephan, or holding her 
back from him.  "He is an Enforcer."

     "A what?" Tracy looked at Nick, and then back at the Enforcer.

     "I was called in to deal with the threat of your knowledge, Ms. Vetter.  
Surely you know it is not our custom to let mortals learn of our existence,. 
. . and live.  The Spaniard failed in his duty, as did your partner, to 
eliminate your knowledge, so I will take care of what they should've."

     ". . . But if I'm the threat, why are you going to kill Vachon?"

     Before the Enforcer could answer, Nick turned Tracy to look at him, 
"Tracy, most mortals can be hypnotized into forgetting about our existence, 
but the ones that can't be are supposed to be killed, or "brought across".  
When Vachon found out you were a "resistor", he should've killed you.  By not 
doing so, he put the community in danger, as well as his own life."

     Nick looked directly into the Enforcers eyes, "You know as well as I do 
, it isn't totally Vachon's fault, he wanted to leave, I made him stay to 
watch over Tracy, to protect her."

     Nick looked at Tracy, who looked like someone had just punched her in 
the stomach.

     "Yes, I am aware of the situation, and if it were up to me you would pay 
for you indiscretion also, as well as your lady doctor, but unfortunately 
your Master is an elder, which places you above such reproach, and we are all 
aware of Dr. Lamberts assistance during our community's recent brush with 
mortality."

    All of a sudden Nick was pushed out of the way and Tracy lunged at the 
Enforcer, "Listen to me, you son-of-a-bitch, you cannot kill him.  He tried 
to warn me, he told me not to go looking for him, you can't punish him for my 
curiosity."

     Stephan grabbed Tracy around the throat and pushed her up against the 
wall, "NO, you listen to me, you foolish mortal, I. . . ."

     Tracy hit the floor hard as Stephan's grip on her throat loosened, and 
she looked up to see the Enforcer being pinned to the opposite wall by 
another vampire dressed in black.

     "Enough!" Nick recognized the voice as being the eldest Enforcer's, Amel.

     Amel subdued Stephan and turned to face Nick and Tracy, who was 
struggling to her feet with Nick's help.

     Amel walked toward Tracy and Nick, and Tracy noticed he possessed a 
grace that the other vampire did not.  He stopped an arms length from Tracy, 
and regarded her as if she were something he had never encountered before.  
"You are willing to give your life for a vampire, a cold hearted killer,. . . 
why?"

     When Tracy spoke it was with a sureness that surprised all three 
vampires in the room as well as herself, "I will not let you punish him for 
my actions, for my curiosity."

     A smile of surprise more than evil crossed the Enforcers face, "You will 
not let me?  Surely you realize you cannot stop me from doing anything, or do 
you possess some special power that has yet to be seen?"

     "No special power, just the truth.  He only stayed because he was forced 
to by Nick, and he never betrayed your community, he tried to keep me from 
knowing as little as possible."

     "If I choose to spare one of you, you are willing to pay the price." He 
starred at 
Tracy with an intensity that shook her.

     "The night I met him, he saved my life, I owe him."  

     "And you are willing to pay the debt with your life, to give up all you 
have worked for, your family and friends, . . . for a creature of evil?"

     "I don't want to die, especially if I'm killed by some maniac that's 
watched to many Godfather movies (Tracy shot a quick glance at Stephan, who 
had been sulking in the shadows since he had been slammed against the wall), 
but I will if. . ."

     "I see now, . . . you love him?"  

     "More than anything you and your pathetic "helper" could ever take away 
from me."  Tracy knew it was true the minute the words came out.

     Amel stepped closer to Tracy, causing Nick to grip her arm more firmly, 
"I have seen many things in my long life, wonders and evils alike, not many 
things surprise me anymore, but every now and then. . ."

     Amel turned and headed toward the stairs causing Tracy and Nick to look 
at each other with confusion, "Where are you going, I thought. . ."

     Amel turned to look at Tracy, "Yes, I thought so too.  My intention in 
coming here tonight was in killing you, but I think I will rather enjoy 
watching the story unfold between you and the Spaniard.  Go home, Ms. Vetter, 
go home with your knowledge. . .  and your life."

     "Vachon?"

     "He will be sparred as well."

      And with that the two Enforcers walked out of the church, and flew into 
the darkness.

     Tracy ran down the stairs, "Wait, where is he?', but there was no one 
there, only the howl of the icy wind answered her.

     She felt a hand on her shoulder, "Tracy, I think I know where Vachon is, 
I will find him, lets get you home, it's almost sunrise."

     "No, Nick, I need to find him, what if they go after him anyway."

     "Trust me Tracy, they won't be back, and Vachon is fine.  You need some 
rest, come on."

     "Nick. . . ."

     "Tracy, lets go, I'll take care of it, the sun will be up soon, he won't 
be going anywhere."

     Nick led Tracy reluctantly to the car, and took her to her apartment. 

      On his way out of the door Nick turned to look at his partner, after 
tonight she would never look the same to him again, he had seen a conviction 
in her that he had seen in few people in his eight-hundred years.  "Tracy, 
about Vachon staying because I. . ."

       "It doesn't matter Nick, just make sure he's okay."

      "Try to get some rest, Tracy."

     ***********************************************************************

     Tracy took two showers and practically paced a hole in her carpet before 
she decided she had to go somewhere before she went crazy.

     She got out of her car at the waterfront and walked to a near-by bench; 
it had been a long couple of weeks, hell,. . . a long year.  So many emotions 
had been tied into her since the last night she'd come here, to the water, 
the night Vachon got sick.

     So many things since then had happened, Vachon recovering from the virus 
that had infected him, her Uncle Sonny dying, this last "strange" case that 
hit a little to close to home and then earlier the "visit" from the 
Enforcers, which seemed to clear the fog, and bring everything that happened 
in the last year into focus.

     She sat down in the bench, her body almost liquid from exhaustion, and 
closed her eyes, breathing deep and smelling the pine that permeated the air 
from the near-by tree lot.  She had almost forgotten how close it was to 
Christmas, with everything that had happened.

     She sat in silence, watching the water, watching the sun slip down to 
melt behind the trees, leaving in it's place shades of yellow, orange, pink, 
and purple that could never be duplicated on paper or film.  Sunsets had 
never lost their magic for her, but she smiled as she watched the 
indescribable colors fade into what had become her favorite color, midnight 
blue.  She watched the stars slowly sprinkle the sky and the moon rise from 
where the sun had made it's descent, casting a glow upon the water, over the 
stillness.

     A slight wind whispered across the surface, sending ripples to the 
shoreline.

     Funny, she thought, just looking at the surface, you forget that there 
is busy life beneath it.  She realized that was how she used to take things, 
at face value, with the naivete of a child, and how with the horrific tragedy 
of a plane blowing up in the sky all that had changed.  That night OZ pulled 
back the curtain and Dorothy stepped in, only to find more than she had 
bargained for.

     That night forever changed her, he had changed her.  Everything had 
always been black and white to her, but Vachon had played against every 
concept of good and evil, not killing her when he should have, killing Vudu 
right in front of her.  She now knew there was a shading of grey to 
everything.

     She laughed at how trivial it all seemed now,  after the Enforcers 
"visit".  She had known since the last night she was here that she cared for 
Vachon, was starting to love him, but when the Enforcers threatened his life, 
for her knowledge, her curiosity, it suddenly didn't matter that he had 
killed before, and enjoyed it, because she saw who he was as well as what he 
was.  

     She saw the countless times he saved her, first from himself, and then 
Vudu, and times when he had watched over her, even though he did so with a 
wariness of not showing too much concern.  She saw the tenderness he showed 
Screed when he was sick, as well as the way he had wanted to give Urs a 
better life, as much as suck one from her.  She saw the goodness he couldn't 
hide, she saw Vachon.

     She realized she loved both the smoldering, depth less brown eyes that 
stole her breath away, as well as the yellow, piercing eyes of the predator 
that lay beneath them, because they both belonged to him, the curiosity that 
became a friend,. . . that became a love.

     *************************************************************************

     She entered the church, Nick hadn't called her, but she was sure that 
Vachon would come back to the church eventually.  She walked up the stairs 
and looked around, before deciding that she would clean up the mess to keep 
her mind occupied.  She picked up a handful of the wine bottles up off the 
floor and turned, only to drop them again when she ran into Vachon.

     "Where have you been, Trace?"  Tracy had seen Vachon look deep in 
thought before, and she had even seen him look sad, when Screed died, but he 
looked really scarred as he reached up to touch her face.

     When he reached up, she saw his hand had fading burn marks on them, and 
when she looked at his face, she saw them there as well.  "Vachon, what 
happened, did those other. . . ?"

     "No, Tracy, it's from the sun."

     "The sun, why were you out in the sun?"

     "When the Enforcers came here, they brought me to The Raven, Nick found 
me and told me everything, the sun wasn't down when I left.  Tracy,. . . what 
were you thinking, do you have any idea what they could've done to you?"

     "They threatened to kill you Vachon, did you just expect me to let them 
kill you for me finding out about vampires, when it wasn't your fault, you 
told me that night not to go looking for you, and I did anyway, my knowledge 
of what you are is my fault, I couldn't let you pay for it.  Although I'm 
thinking I should've let them stake you, you certainly don't sound very 
grateful."

     Tracy turned to walk away when Vachon caught her around the waist, 
"Trace, Nick told me everything, he told me what you said, everything you 
said, did you mean it?"  He turned her around in his arms and lifted her chin 
with his hand, "Trace. . . ?"

     Well,  she thought, might as well go for broke, if he leaves at least 
I'll know.  She looked into his eyes and said the words she had wanted to say 
so many times before, "Yes, Vachon, I love you."

     "Why?"

     "I don't know, I'm crazy I guess, I figured since the last guy who asked 
me out was a serial bomber , vampires weren't that big of a leap. What 
difference does it make, I'm not in any danger now with the Enforcers, and I 
know about Nick too, so you can leave now, you don't have to protect the 
little mortal girl anymore."

     Vachon gave her that grin that nailed her every time, "Trace. . .do you 
really think Knight could've made me stay.  Granted,  he's older and 
stronger, but if I would've left, he wouldn't have come after me.  I stayed 
because he was right, you can't run forever,. . .  and besides I like it 
here, they have great restaurants."

     Tracy punched him in the arm, "Do you ever quit?"

     Vachon raised his eyebrows, "Quit what, being so charming?"

     "No, being such a smart-ass."  Tracy did her best to avoid looking at 
him, tried to play the "I'm really mad at you " game a while longer, of 
course she would lose, she always did, he got her every time, even if she 
didn't let him know it.

     The minute Vachon touched her face, she knew she had lost the battle, 
she melted into him, and let out a sigh before she could stop herself.  
"Tracy Vetter, what the hell have you done to me?"

     "Me?"

     "You know you shouldn't go around trusting vampires, much less love one, 
you know you're playing with fire." 

     Before Tracy could answer,  Vachon put his hand on the small of her back 
and pressed her against him, whispering "Of course it's too late to put it 
out now."  He looked at her, or more like into her, and kissed her so deeply 
she felt it down to her toes.

     Vachon released her, and Tracy stepped back and unbuttoned her blouse 
and let it slip from her shoulders.  When she looked at Vachon, his eyes were 
flecked with gold, just a hint of desire awakened in the vampire.  He stepped 
closer to her and kissed the hollow of her throat, running his hand down her 
back to unfasten her bra and slipping the straps from her shoulders.

     Tracy wasn't a prude but she was always a little modest about her body. 
She drew her hands up as a reflex, and Vachon grabbed her wrists, looking at 
her, "No, Don't, I want to look at you.  You're the most beautiful thing I've 
ever seen, Tracy."

     Tracy pulled him to her, and kissed him as the tears poured out, 
unbidden.

     She melted against him as he lifted her up a little and wrapped  her 
legs around his waist.  He walked to the bed, and laid her down, sitting up 
to remove his own shirt. 

     Vachon pulled the shirt over his head and felt Tracy's hands on his 
chest, her lips trailing kisses to his neck, where she nipped at him with her 
teeth, and then drew back a gave him an innocent smile.

     His voice was raspy when he spoke, "Tracy, do you have any idea what 
you're doing?"

     Tracy's answer was to lay back on the bed pulling Vachon with her, "Make 
love to me, Javier."

     "Say it again,. . .  my name"

     Tracy leaned into his hair as his hands removed her pants and underwear 
in one movement, and came back to rest on her stomach, she moved her hands 
down to unbutton his jeans, and whispered, "Javier".

     Vachon pressed himself against her, bringing his eyes to meet hers, 
their noses touching, their breath becoming each other's , "I love you Tracy."

     Tracy arched her back as Vachon awakened senses she didn't even know she 
had.  She felt his fangs scrape lightly down her neck, and felt him draw 
back, unsure.

     Tracy laced her fingers through his hair, around the back of his neck , 
and brought his mouth back to her neck.  She kissed his earlobe as she 
whispered, "Yes,. . .  Javier."

     She felt Vachon kiss her neck softly and then press his fangs into her 
neck, as he laced his fingers with hers, their bodies moving in one fluid 
movement together.

     ************************************************************************

     Tracy and Vachon lay together, fingers still intertwined, legs wrapped 
around each other, oblivious to the "visitor" watching them sleep  from the 
window.

     Amel smiled at the couple sleeping, two halves of the same soul, and 
thought,. . . "there might just be a happily ever after, after all", and flew 
into the night.  


                                                                THE END