Something... Opportune... Written July 2003 by Jarvinia This starts about three months after the end of Something Curious, and is the second in a series of four stories. It could possibly be read on its own, but would probably be better with the previous story. Also, just a mild warning, but bits of this are not entirely friendly to NNPackers of the die-hard variety. Disclaimer: Forever Knight isn't owned by me, I'm just borrowing the characters for a short bit and then...well, I'll probably borrow them again, but that'll be another story.... The two original characters, Cadeyrn and Frederick are, however, mine, and may not be used without permission. Nicky as presented is also mine. Please do not archive without permission. If you'd like to, please ask and I'll probably let you--I just like to know where it's going. Thanks to AmethystShells for beta-reading the original version way back last year when it was written. Since, I've attacked this thing so many times myself there's bound to be added in errors--which are solely mine. Again, much thanks to AmethystShells, who also re-betaed a bunch of the fixes I made to it early this year.... Feedback more than welcome at jarvinia@gmx.com or any other address you might have.... Thanks ahead of time for reading, and enjoy! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Something... Opportune... - (01/12) Arriving home, Tracy thought she heard noises from the bathroom. Not only that, but the window in her living room was open and she swore she could feel *something*. Setting her things carefully down and drawing her gun, she crept slowly toward the sounds. The bathroom door was open by just a sliver, light pouring into the dark hall. Approaching, she pushed the door quickly open and raised her gun...to find Vachon falling to the floor, a towel wrapped around his waist and her shaver in his hand. "Vachon! What...I...uh...Vachon!" "Would you please point that thing somewhere else? I'd really rather not be shot full of bullets right now." Lowering her gun, she looked at him more closely. He was extremely pale--his skin nearly alabaster, his eyes telling just how exhausted he was. Vachon looked like a corpse or a zombie than even a vampire. "What happened?" she instinctively asked, wondering why he had come back to Toronto. "You staked me, remember?" he stated off-hand as she stared at him. "I..." she started, her eyes widening. "I what?" "You staked me, and apparently buried me considering I had to dig my way out of the ground. I'm very thankful you didn't put me the whole six feet under." Vachon grabbed hold of the counter, pulling himself slowly up and standing on somewhat unsteady feet. "And you know what? That door did hurt." "I...." Tracy froze as Vachon looked back at her, and she flashed on him. For a second, she saw wounds along his neck and cheek, madness in his eyes. Divia. "Divia...she made you crazy, and...." She heard him scream, heard as he muttered thoughts that were barely formed. Then, she remembered him dying in her hands. But, she didn't really remember any of this...she remembered Vachon recovering and telling her he was finally leaving...or did she? These flashes were too realistic to be a dream, or could they be? "I...I remember coming over and finding you. That's the last thing I remember, really." "And I gave you a stake and flew onto it. Bad news--you took the stake out. Good news--I more or less died, so I only have flitting memories of that girl's memories." Tracy just continued to stare forward, barely hearing Vachon's words. Bits and pieces assaulted her. Flits of what happened. Then, as everything came back in one big chunk, she watched as her world went black. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Waking with a start, Tracy sat up to find herself lying in her bed, the comforter draped loosely over her. Turning, she found a pair of dark eyes staring at her. Vachon was sitting there, on the edge of her bed, one hand extending toward her face. "You okay?" he asked, pulling his hand back before reaching her skin. She turned away from Vachon for a moment, not entirely sure he was sitting there, alive, and then back to him. "Uh, yeah, I think so.... What happened?" "You fainted." "But, why?" she asked in a whisper, and then remembered what they'd been talking about. Vachon hadn't left Toronto on his own--she had buried him. Divia's attack hadn't simply injured him--it had made him mad. Then, she saw it--LaCroix. LaCroix had made her forget; he had taken away her memories and replaced them with lies carried along his silken voice. "Damn him," she said, getting out of the bed in a flash. Standing, she spun back at Vachon, angrily telling him, "I remember asking you if he was a vampire, and you said he wasn't!" She waited, but he just blinked at her. With the way he looked--like he'd just crawled out of the ground minus the dirt, which was exactly the state he was in--she couldn't blame him, but...still. "LaCroix' a vampire and you didn't think to say anything! He made me think you had left Toronto, that you'd moved away!" Still, all she got was a blink. "Say something, would you!" "That's not like him." Tracy calmed down somewhat at the answer. Of all the things he could say, he just answered 'That's not like him'. She was about to yell at him again, but instead simply and tiredly asked, "What?" "LaCroix would be more likely to kill you than make you forget," he replied, and then something hit him. Knight had probably requested it. If so, LaCroix might have, and apparently did, fulfil it. While Vachon spaced off, she felt some of what she now knew sink in. LaCroix was a vampire, as in, absolutely, positively a vampire. That meant that the golden flash she'd seen in LaCroix' eyes hadn't just been her imagination. That knowledge made her stomach feel like it had a brick in the bottom of it, a brick with the properties of an expanding balloon. "Oh God, Vachon.... If LaCroix is a vampire.... Oh, I feel sick," she said, thinking about Nicky. She knew the boy spent most of his time with LaCroix...spent every night at the Raven from what Nick had told her...and Nick didn't know what the other man was. She leaned forward, head in her hands. "What am I supposed to say to Nick?" she mumbled, her hands mostly obscuring her words. "Uh...Trace? I hate to be abrupt, but I need to go...." "No!" she said, sitting up and facing him. "I mean...damn." Vachon's eyes were glowing faintly golden at her, his hunger plainly visible. "I can come back after I've fed, okay? And whatever it is, don't say anything to Nick. I just...." She nodded. "I understand. But...you promise to come back before sunrise?" "I'll be back as soon as I can," Vachon told her, and then with a forced smile, he left the room, his steps slow but determined. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "So what's this about Nick and LaCroix?" Vachon asked as he sat on the couch just an arm's reach from Tracy, remembering her comment from earlier. "Uh...well, LaCroix *is* a vampire, right?" Vachon didn't say anything. "Well, he is from what I know, and then.... Okay, this boy was, well, he was left at the front door of the Raven and started clinging to LaCroix. Well, the boy--he's about five years old--would only let LaCroix near him for some reason. Nick volunteered to help, and LaCroix agreed to help too, and they took the boy to Nick's. The boy didn't seem to mind Nick much, either. And...after a few complications and a stack of paperwork, Nick ended up adopting the boy. This was about three months ago...a bit after you...ah...I...buried you." She paused and just watched Vachon stare blankly at her. "Uh...it's just that LaCroix takes care of Nicky-- that's the boy--while Nick's at work, and if LaCroix' a vampire...." She waited for Vachon to speak, but he didn't. "Come on, you've got to know something about LaCroix. Would he harm Nicky?" Vachon looked away. Why did she have to ask him questions he really couldn't answer? He knew LaCroix could be quite ruthless and had heard things he would never repeat in front of Tracy no matter the consequences, but knew that LaCroix could be just the opposite if it were in his interest, which brought up whole other concerns. "Vachon...?" "Look...Tracy...I don't know. You said your partner adopted the boy?" Getting a nod, he told her, "I don't think he'd harm the boy, not one that young, but...." "You really can't say, can you?" Vachon shook his head. "Not really. I can't give you an answer without knowing more. I just got back, remember?" He stood up. "I'll keep an eye on him, okay? I'll probably go by the Raven in the next couple of nights, and I'll check on the boy, okay?" Tracy nodded. "I'm just...I'm not sure what to tell Nick. I mean...the two seem to be friends on some level, or I don't think Nick would let LaCroix take care of Nicky. But...does Nick know LaCroix' a vampire?" "Look..." Vachon started, purposely avoiding the question, "I'll make sure Nicky's safe, okay? I'll even talk to LaCroix about it, if you'd like?" "Just...don't be too obvious about it, okay?" "I'll try," he answered, although knew that would surely be impossible. One didn't nose around in LaCroix' affairs indirectly--it would only cause more trouble than it was worth. Something... Opportune... - (02/12) Vachon watched the other vampire, LaCroix, who just entered the club from the back. He'd spent the last several nights at the Raven watching LaCroix, figuring there was no reason to say anything to Knight until he had a better idea of what was going on. He hadn't seen the boy yet; LaCroix kept the boy carefully out of the main part of the club, spending most of his time in the adjoining rooms. Tonight, he was aware, Knight was off from work--and as a result, the boy was not here and LaCroix was spending more time in the club. Watching as LaCroix settled in at the end of the bar, Vachon carefully approached. "Nicholas told me you were dead. Took you long enough to mention you were back." Vachon's gait faltered at LaCroix' words, but he continued up to the bar. "That's what I thought until I'd managed to dig my way out. You altered Tracy's memories. You made her think I was alive and had just left." "That was Nicholas' wish. He wished to...spare her the grief of your death." "She remembers now. And she remembers you, LaCroix." Vachon leaned a little closer. "She told me about the boy. I didn't know you could handle watching over a child. Even a crossbreed. Or perhaps, especially a crossbreed." LaCroix turned sharply toward Vachon at that. "I overheard it last night," Vachon clarified. "There are rumours about that, LaCroix. About that, and that you want the boy for your own. The boy *is* a crossbreed, isn't he?" "Yes. But...I do not want the boy for my own. He is Nicholas'." "He's more than that. I can see it, and so can the others. Besides, it's not like you to break the Code so severely. The others are tense. Afraid, even, of what the child's presence here will bring." Vachon watched as the other vampire turned away and looked straight ahead. "Something's gotten into you, LaCroix," he said, the statement somewhat daring. LaCroix gestured for the bartender to pour him a glass of blood-wine. After taking a sip from of the blood, and then, putting the glass down, he asked, "Does Nicholas know you have returned? If not, perhaps you might mention your concerns to him. I'm sure that mortal friend of yours is at least part of the reason for your visit, otherwise I cannot see you voicing your concern so directly." LaCroix sent a glare to the younger man. Once Vachon had stiffened and then left, he lifted his glass once more, this time stopping just before he took a sip, a hand preventing the ascent of his arm. "Lucius, you seem to be having some problems," the man said, a flash of amber disrupting the deep blue colour of his eyes. LaCroix didn't turn to the speaker, but did look to the hand on his forearm. It was released after a moment, at which he raised his glass to his lips and took a drink. "Lucius, you have been too lax in matters of the Code. And they will need to be dealt with. Especially the child." The man waited, but LaCroix refused to pay him any attention. "The child is a danger to us. We will not stand by and leave the matter be, Lucius!" LaCroix set his glass down and turned to the other vampire--dark blue eyes that peered from beneath brown, nearly burgundy unruly strands of hair. It was longer than his son's, and there was more of it, too. The man looked about the same age as Nicholas, but he knew this man was older than his son. He knew of this vampire, although not as much as he'd like. "The two mortals that know of us cannot be overlooked any longer, either. But the child...what were you thinking, Lucius? Even if the boy is a crossbreed--even if he is nearly one of us, in these modern times he could so easily reveal us." "The boy is under my protection, Cadeyrn," LaCroix stated, a hint of anger directed at the other. Cadeyrn grinned, his focus on the boy having the desired affect. Lucius was indeed taken by the child. "Your protection. That means nothing to me. As an Enforcer, I am only concerned that the boy could pose a danger to us. You know that better than most." "And just what are you going to do about it?" LaCroix demanded, his own eyes hinting at the anger within without actually changing. "Considering the danger the child could be to us, I am surprised you have not done anything and that you are wasting your time with idle chitchat. A bit out of character, isn't it?" "Nothing will be done for the moment. However, the boy *is* a danger. Once we have definitive proof of that, we will act. And he will slip, Lucius. Mark my words on that. He *will* slip. And, if he is, indeed, nearly vampire as the rumours in your club tell me..." Cadeyrn grinned and leaned slightly forward, using the bar to let him practically lean into LaCroix' face, then continued, "If he is, he will betray you very soon, I suspect. He will not be able to control the changes that will happen to him. He will make a mistake, and then we will act. You may not interfere. If you do, know that there will be repercussions. Even you have little influence when Enforcers are involved." LaCroix didn't react as Cadeyrn pushed off from the bar and disappeared into the club. He reached forward for his glass, staring into it before taking a large swallow of the blood. With another, the glass was empty. His eyes burned bright with his anger, and he reluctantly closed them, aware of the mortals around him. Now would not be the time to give Cadeyrn yet another reason to act. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "I don't want to go to school! I don't need to. It'll be boring, and, and..." Nicky protested, running away from Natalie. He ran until he was by the elevator, pleased when she didn't follow. "And I don't want my hair cut." Nicky jumped as the buzzer sounded, and he stepped away as Nick went over to the security camera. Switching it on, Nick stared into eyes, which he initially believed were those of a ghost. "Come on, Knight, I know you're up there." "You're..." Nick started, still stunned at the person staring back at him on the screen. "Yeah, I know, just...let me up and I'll explain." At that, Nick switched off the camera and let Vachon through. The elevator started up a moment later, at which Nicky moved further away, going to stand over by Nick. When the man inside stepped out, Nicky's first words out were, "See? He's got long hair, why can't I?" Vachon stared at the boy--the tips of his wet hair just reaching his shoulders. When dry, he knew the child's hair would be a light, nearly white-blond. The boy stared up at him, watching as he approached but not pulling away. No fear whatsoever was in the gaze that looked up at him. "Nicky, this is Vachon. He's actually a friend of Tracy's." "Hi there," Vachon said, giving the boy a smile. "Hi," Nicky said, and then turned his attention back to Natalie, who had a comb and scissors in her hands. "I don't want you to cut it." "How about I don't cut it a lot? I'll just trim it so it's closer to all being the same length and not as uneven at then ends, okay?" "Okay," Nicky said, and slowly went back to Natalie, looking back toward Vachon a few times as they went over to the kitchen. Vachon watched them go, and once Natalie had started trimming the boy's hair, he commented, "The boy is a crossbreed, isn't he? He could tell what I was." "Yes," Nick simply answered. Then, with a slight hint of coldness, he asked, "How about that explanation?" "As to why I'm alive...Tracy took the stake out, so she effectively buried me alive. Divia's madness seems to have worn off, mostly. Or I hope it has. Sleeping isn't very pleasant at the moment." He paused, glancing over to the boy. "As to why I'm here, Tracy has her memories back, and she knows LaCroix was the one that altered them. She's positive LaCroix' a vampire, and she's concerned about the boy being around him." "I either know or suspected most of that." "Knight, it's more than just that she knows. Something about her finding out for sure that LaCroix is a vampire triggered something...and she's considering talking to you about it, and I think that'll include vampires. If I tell her the boy's a crossbreed, I might be able to get her to not, but...she still might. You have to admit, LaCroix isn't a good example of a child's caretaker--even for one of our own." Vachon paused, waiting for the other to say something. When no response was given, he asked, "Why is LaCroix agreeing to take the boy while you're at work, anyway?" "He's...attached to Nicky. And I have an idea of why." "He wants the boy for himself." Nick nodded. Even though he knew Vachon had probably heard it at the club, it only added to his own suspicions of LaCroix' motives. "Tell Tracy what Nicky is, but don't tell her anything else. I don't want her to get any further mixed up into this than she is, especially with the way the Community is about this. Right now, LaCroix is the only real protection Nicky has." "And what if she doesn't take it? Unless Tracy's changed since she buried me, she's not going to like my answer." "I'll deal with it if I have to. I'll think of something to tell her just in case. Just try to keep her from talking to me, okay? Even if it's just for a few days. The later she knows, the less she'll hopefully find out." Vachon nodded, his attention turning to the boy. "He's not exactly what I expected...the boy. He seems almost mortal...almost, but not quite. The way he looked at me, it was strange. Other children would run off, scared if they sensed something...but he practically ignores me. If one of us is more frightened than the other, it certainly isn't him." Nick suppressed a laugh. "You should have seen him with LaCroix at first. Nicky wouldn't stop screaming unless he was around LaCroix or me. He's still wary of mortals even now, although he's doing better than he was." "Do you know what happened to him that would do that?" Watching Nicky for a few moments with Vachon, Nick then turned to the other vampire, and in a whisper told him, "The boy's father, one of us, was murdered by hunters. He saw it." Vachon froze at that, his eyes widening being his only physical reaction. "Whatever you tell Tracy, don't tell her about that. And don't tell anyone else, either. Nicky has a hard enough time dealing with it on his own. He typically avoids the topic." Vachon nodded and tore his eyes away from watching the boy. "I won't say anything. It's amazing that he allows your friend near him, considering that." He paused for a moment, and then said, "I should probably get going. Tracy's been asking about this every night at least twice. I'd better say something before she just comes and talks to you." Nick nodded and watched the other leave. Once only himself, Natalie, and Nicky remained, he turned back at Natalie and Nicky, amazed that they seemed to not care about Vachon coming over. But then, Natalie had met Vachon before, and her and Nicky couldn't hear what they were talking about, for which he was grateful. Something... Opportune... - (03/12) "He's a what?" Tracy exclaimed, listening to Vachon's explanation. "A crossbreed. He's half-mortal and half-vampire," he answered, aware that from what he heard Nicky didn't seem quite half and half. "And Nick doesn't know?" "I don't know about that," Vachon told her. "I didn't talk to him. And I didn't prod too deeply where LaCroix was concerned, either. But it's not news that just LaCroix knows. And as to if the boy is in danger from LaCroix...I don't think so. LaCroix is protecting him." "From what? Are you saying that there are those that want to harm Nicky?" "Trace--" "If Nicky's in danger, Nick should know," she said, cutting him off. "If Nicky's half-vampire and Nick is raising him, Nick should know." She stopped, and then looked Vachon right in the eyes. "Or does he already know and you're just not telling me? I know you've been keeping things from me, Vachon." "I don't know if he knows or not," he told her, which was true. He didn't think to ask what Plan B was going to be if Tracy didn't react as they'd hoped. "Like I said, I didn't ask, nor am I about to ask LaCroix that in the middle of the Raven!" he added, hoping that would help ease her mind a little. "It's best if this is just left alone. LaCroix is probably just making sure the boy is okay." "Or he's doing things behind Nick's back. I don't like that man, Vachon. I don't trust him--even if you say he's Nicky's protection." Vachon watched as Tracy grabbed her coat, at which he flew into her path for the door. "And just what are you going to tell your partner, anyway? If he doesn't know, do you think he's going to believe you?" Tracy turned around, walked back to the couch, and fell back onto the cushions. "I don't know. I just...I can't help but think that LaCroix is a danger to Nicky, and I just can't sit here and do nothing." "Please, Tracy, don't say anything to your partner about this. It could make things worse than they already are." Tracy looked over at him. He was keeping something from her again. "Why?" "Because I've seen a few Enforcers at the Raven, that's why. I think they're primarily watching LaCroix. And you telling Nick about vampires...." "It'll go against LaCroix?" she asked, unbelievingly. "Yes, it will. Not telling mortals about us is a very strict law. And if a mortal that knows reveals their secret to someone...you can imagine the repercussions." "But why would me telling Nick cause problems?" "Because LaCroix altered your memories instead of removing them or otherwise taking care of the problem. He broke a few rules. His action made him your protector of a sort, so he's somewhat responsible if you tell anyone about us." "You said Enforcers.... Nicky's the reason they're here, isn't it?" "Look, Tracy, I need to go, but...please, don't say anything to Nick, okay? I'll come by again tomorrow morning." Tracy watched as he left, laughing slightly to herself. Nicky was possibly in danger--something Nick very probably didn't even know--and Vachon wanted her to keep quiet? Considering it, she wondered if she could tell Nick anyway. Vachon didn't have to know. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Once they had left the precinct and Nick had pulled out onto the road, Tracy asked, "Could we pull over somewhere?" Nick just glanced over at her suspiciously. "Why?" "I want to talk to you about something...." "You can do that now." "....and I'd feel better if we weren't moving." Nick turned his attention fully on the road again, already having a general idea of what this would be about. "Just tell me," he said, not wanting to take the time to pull over. "Well, it has to do with Nicky. Specifically what Nicky is." Tracy waited, and then, not sure how else to say it, flat-out stated, "He's not entirely human, Nick." "I know," he stated, causing her to snap her attention back on him. "LaCroix told me." "You and LaCroix are pretty good friends, aren't you?" Tracy asked, now feeling pretty stupid. They had to be pretty good friends if Nick was going to let LaCroix stay at his home for several days and for LaCroix to actually accept...and for Nick to get LaCroix to watch Nicky while he was at work, for that matter. "You know what LaCroix is, then?" she asked, not daring to bring up what the 'it' was until Nick did. "Yes. I've known about that for a while," he said, which wasn't a complete lie. "Do you know that Nicky's in danger?" "I am aware of it, although I do not know first hand what the danger is," he answered, again, more or less the truth. He hadn't spent enough time at the Raven to know exactly what was going on, just enough to drop Nicky off before heading to work. "How do you know what LaCroix is?" Nick prodded, more as a test than anything else. "I figured it out on my own. LaCroix did something to me, several months ago, and when I saw his eyes flash gold one time when I was at your place...it just hit me." He could feel her heart racing, her words showing themselves as a lie. Nick nodded slightly, but told her, "If someone asks you that question in the future--don't lie." "It's more or less the truth!" "But not entirely." Tracy's eyes went wide. How could Nick know that? "How did you--" "LaCroix told me. He told me about Vachon, and that you knew about vampires." "I'm starting to feel a little sick," Tracy muttered, sliding down into her seat a little. "Don't. Just...don't say anything to anyone else, okay? I've...been told there are those in the city that would not take this well." "Do you think they'll go after us? Since we know about them and what's going on? I mean...I take it mortals aren't supposed to know about them." "Just...Tracy, don't say anything about this, okay? The less anyone knows, including your friend, Vachon, the better." "But you're going to tell LaCroix, aren't you? Tell him about this." Nick stiffened and nodded after a second. "Yeah, I'll tell him. He should know. But, if you want Vachon kept out of this--don't say anything more to him, okay?" Tracy nodded, wondering how Nick seemed to know so much about what was going on. "How much do you know about them?" "More than I should," he told her, hoping that would keep her quiet on the topic. And it did, as Tracy turned her focus out the window. Nick watched her, then assured, "LaCroix won't hurt Nicky. Imagine if he had been found by a mortal family. From what LaCroix has told me, Nicky would have probably died within a few weeks." "Like how he was weak at the Greniers?" she asked, turning toward her partner. Nick nodded. "LaCroix won't hurt him, not intentionally. I'm sure of it. Now, I think it would be best if we don't talk about this." Something... Opportune... - (04/12) [A month later:] Nicky shrunk back in the seat he was in, curling up as much as he could. "Can we go to your apartment?" Natalie looked back at him from the driver's seat, something she had done every few minutes. Some of the boys in Nicky's class had, apparently, been bothering Nicky. Nick had made sure he got in the same class that Tracy's cousin's son was in--which wasn't as difficult as she had expected. Nicky had been glad of it despite he was a year younger than everyone else. At first there had been no problems, and until today there hadn't been anything more than teasing for being younger and smaller than the others. Today, several of the other boys had dragged Nicky outside when he'd wanted to stay in--and Nicky had fought them. She knew he was favouring his left arm, his right presently being held close to him. It had been mentioned to her while she was at the school, but Nicky hadn't let anyone touch his arm yet, and he hadn't behaved well until she had gotten there, either. "Please, Natalie?" She again glanced back. "As long as you explain exactly what happened. I already heard what your teacher said, but I think it would be good to hear it from you, too." Nicky looked away and out the window at the passing cars and people. "Okay." For the rest of the ride back to her apartment, she continued to glance back at Nicky--but he just kept staring out the window. Pulling into a parking space at her apartment, she grabbed Nicky's things and helped him out of the car, which was met with an 'I'm fine' in a tone she'd heard from Nick on more than one occasion, something Nicky seemed to be picking up. Once they'd gotten inside to her apartment, she tried to take a look at Nicky's arm. "It's fine," he said, his voice becoming more of a hiss than the statement it was supposed to be. Natalie looked up at him, but other than seeing somewhat angry and pained eyes staring back at her, they were most definitely human. "Nicky, I can see that it hurts...please, tell me what happened." He turned away from her, not answering. "If you don't tell me, I'm sure Nick or LaCroix will get an answer." Nicky snapped his attention back at her. "No! No, I don't want them to know." "Well, that depends on what happened, doesn't it? Your teacher said you didn't do anything wrong. You're not in trouble, Nicky." He calmed somewhat at that, and then as Natalie again started looking at his arm, he started, "I...Brian and Kevin and Tom...I told them I didn't want to go outside, and they've been teasing me because of it. Today they tricked me and pulled me outside. I tried to get away, but...." "Why didn't you want to go outside? The sun isn't burning you, is it?" Nicky shook his head. "I...I just don't feel safe. We can stay inside if we want, so I did." He stopped and looked up at Natalie. "I didn't hurt any of them!" he exclaimed. "I just wanted to get away." Natalie gave up on looking at Nicky's arm. She could tell it was broken, probably not badly, but as he pulled it away from her, she saw him move his fingers. Already it was healing, and already she could see the toll the injury was taking on him. "We should go to Nick's. You--" "No! I want to stay here. Please, Natalie? I...I don't want to go back outside. Not until later." He looked up at her, keeping his distance from her all the while. "Please?" She looked at Nicky, and found she couldn't say no to his pleading eyes. He really didn't want to go back outside. "Okay. You can stay here for the day, all right?" She watched Nicky vigorously nod and then carefully lay down, avoiding putting too much pressure on his right arm. She watched him for several minutes, wondering what Nicky was thinking and feeling. His arm had been broken--not severely, but enough that it clearly hurt. Even with Nicky's ability to heal, she could see that he was being drained of his energy as a result. Natalie silently grabbed her medical bag and went to the kitchen, out of Nicky's sight. Several minutes later, she returned with a coffee mug in one hand. Setting it on the table, she urged, "Come on, Nicky, sit up for a few moments, okay?" After a few attempts and taking care not to put too much pressure on his right arm, she picked up the mug and held it out to him. "Here, drink this." Nicky took the mug, his hands able to feel the slight warmth inside it. He could smell what it was, and looked up at Natalie and shook his head. "No," he simply told her, holding the mug back out to her. "It's okay, Nicky, drink it." "But it...it's yours isn't it? The blood?" She managed a faint smile. "Yes, now drink it. I can't exactly put it back, and you need it. It won't do any harm, will it?" she asked, remembering his protests when she was going to give Nick her blood. Nicky shook his head and brought the mug closer. He stared down into the blood, but didn't drink any of it. "What's wrong, Nicky?" He looked over to where Natalie was now sitting next to him. Then, going back to the mug, he stated, "I've never had blood from someone I knew before." He stared at the blood, swirling the mug a little to make the surface of the liquid move. "It has stuff in it. Memories and life, my father said. I don't taste those, although I do get feelings sometimes." Nicky turned back to her, and asked, "Do you still want me to drink it?" Natalie wasn't entirely sure what to say now that she was aware she was giving him more than just her blood. Nicky could sense emotions from the blood, something she was unaware of until now. She wondered what he'd seen in the blood he'd had, what he'd see in her blood when he drank it. "Go on," she told him, and she watched as he sipped at the blood. When he only took a couple of sips before again looking into the mug, she again asked what was wrong. Nicky turned back to her, and then back to the mug. "Nothing. It's just...it's still a bit warm. I'm not used to that. Although I...I like it a bit better warm, I think." As Nicky drank the rest of the blood, Natalie watched, the comment making her stiffen somewhat, reminding her just what the boy was. His instincts were there, even this young. Nicky probably didn't even realise the meaning of his statement. But she did, and so would Nick. Once the mug was empty, Natalie took it from Nicky and put it on the table. Sitting back, she found Nicky leaning over, not toward the couch like before, but toward her. He leaned against her side, his arms wrapping around her and grabbing hold of her blouse. "Brian...he.... He called me 'Vampire'. He hissed it in my ear," he told Natalie, glancing up at her. "I know they were just teasing, but...I could hear his hatred as he said it. He just started doing this a couple of weeks ago, but his hatred was as strong now as it was then. I could feel my anger at what he said, too. And...I don't like the way that made me feel. I wanted to hurt him for what he said, but I didn't. And I don't want to, either, and I just...I'm not sure what to feel." Now, Nicky pulled himself closer, half-stating, "LaCroix' going to be mad, isn't he?" as he buried his face into Natalie. She didn't, and couldn't answer. Would LaCroix be angry? She swallowed, expecting that he would, but at whom? She knew Nick had the coming night off, so at least they'd be able to talk to Nick about it first, but...LaCroix *would* learn what happened sometime. She pushed those thoughts away, instead focusing her energy on calming Nicky. Something... Opportune... - (05/12) Nicky shrank back into Natalie as LaCroix yelled at him. He didn't even hear the first part, as he'd screamed when LaCroix grabbed his arm. Even now, after nearly twenty hours, it still hurt some. His reaction only angered LaCroix, he knew, and he pulled even further away. Once LaCroix had released him, he heard Natalie explain what had happened that day as she held him away from LaCroix. "He didn't do anything wrong, LaCroix!" she finally stated, watching as LaCroix turned his back on them and stalked back toward Nick. Reaching his son, LaCroix turned at the younger and hissed, "Cadeyrn will be pleased at this, I'm sure. And yet you waited nearly a day to tell me, Nicholas. You should have told me immediately!" Nick ignored his sire's anger, telling the other, "Natalie's right, LaCroix. It's not Nicky's fault." LaCroix' eyes flashed amber. "*Not* the boy's fault?" Turning back to the two on the couch, he advanced. "And just what led to this little outburst from the other children? I seem to recall it being mentioned that you weren't going outside, Nicholas. And that you fought them. If you hadn't, there would have been no reason for our present conversation." LaCroix stared down on the boy, who was peeking out from behind Natalie's arm. "Does the sun burn you?" he demanded. When he didn't get an answer, he asked again, this time more forcefully. "Does it burn you?!" Nicky shook his head, unable to voice his answer. When LaCroix reached forward, he gripped Natalie as tight as he could, even when it made his arm hurt. LaCroix grabbed Nicky, pulling him away from Natalie and swatting her hands away as she tried to prevent his action. Finally having the boy held firmly in one arm, he reached down and grabbed the remote on the table with his other. "LaCroix, don't." LaCroix turned to his son, who had stepped nearer. "This must not happen again, Nicholas. It will not harm him." Hitting a button on the remote, one of the shutters started on its way up, and Nicky struggled further. "He has stated that he doesn't burn. If he does, that's his fault, not mine." Starting for the window, he turned and hissed at his son, who was following, "Do not interfere with this, Nicholas! He must learn to bear the unease he feels." With that, LaCroix marched over to the area now lit by sunlight, and now had to peel the boy's hands from around his neck. Once managed, however, he half-set and half-dropped Nicky into the light. When the boy started to scurry away, he let his eyes flash crimson. "Do not move. If you leave the sunlight before you are told, I will find a more fitting punishment." Nicky froze at that, not wanting to know what 'a more fitting punishment' would entail. He didn't think Nick would let LaCroix do anything permanent to him, but...Nick didn't seem to have much say in this. He trembled faintly, the feeling of the sun on his back frightening him almost as much as LaCroix. "Do you understand me?" Nicky nodded, his eyes wide in fright. He did not want to obey, but he sat still, even as LaCroix walked away and back toward the others. This was assuredly better than whatever punishment he would receive if he didn't stay put. "Was that really necessary?" Natalie asked, who was now standing by Nick, both blocking LaCroix' chosen path. "He must learn, Doctor. It is better if he learns now than later, after mortals become suspicious of him. And with Cadeyrn watching, no mistakes can be afforded." The last LaCroix said with a sense of hatred, but it wasn't directed toward anyone in the room. "Cadeyrn," Nick stated, the word getting LaCroix' attention. "That's the second time I've heard you mention that name today. Who is he?" "An Enforcer. He is taking advantage of the unease within the Community." "You've met him before, I take it?" Nick asked, but didn't get an answer. "This Cadeyrn...he's in town, isn't he?" "Yes. And yes on your first question as well...although I wouldn't say I know him." LaCroix walked past them and sat in Nick's recliner, taking a glance over at Nicky to make sure he had remained put. Satisfied the boy wasn't going to move, he explained. "I've met him a couple of times. He does not like those older than him. He feels threatened, knowing he, even as an Enforcer, is not invincible." "How old is he?" Natalie asked, curiously. "Somewhere around thirteen or fourteen hundred years. I'm not entirely sure as Enforcers have a habit of keeping personal information to themselves." Natalie considered that, and when Nick didn't say anything, she asked, "So he has it in for you because you're older than him?" "Partly. He doesn't like too much of a city's power in the hands of one vampire, particularly one that uses that position to his advantage, even minimally. There was a matter about a hundred years ago where he had let things get out of control in the city he was assigned to. Quite an interesting mess if I say so myself. That city had primarily been controlled by a single vampire, roughly my age. Cadeyrn was blamed for the situation, which had resulted in several hundred deaths in a short time. Cadeyrn and several other Enforcers covered the deaths up--many of which were mortals." LaCroix smiled a little, and then said, "I suppose you could say it's become an obsession of his...making sure his mistake doesn't repeat itself." "And why is he after you, LaCroix?" Nick asked, prodding his sire with his questions. "Why has he picked you?" "Ah...yes...Cadeyrn came here several months ago, just a few days after Divia's little...visit...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Five months earlier] Cadeyrn made his way through the mortals and vampires spread throughout the Raven, most of who backed out of his way without a word. He went straight for his target, which was sitting at the bar. Sitting down next to the vampire, he took the glass out of the other's hand and brought it to his nose. He smiled as he got a whiff of the tempting aroma. "As indulgent as always, Lucius." LaCroix glared at the other vampire, taking his glass back with force. "Do not play your careless games here, Cadeyrn. Besides, aren't you assigned to Las Angeles, Miami, or some other suitable location? Or perhaps you were somewhere further south...don't tell me all that sunlight has been getting to you." "Lucius, it is your 'games' that you should be concerned with. You aren't having a good year, now, are you?" Cadeyrn let out a laugh--a high-pitched noise that made several of those nearby glance at them before deciding they should put some distance between them. "Let's see...first a fever wipes out a good percentage of your Community, then there's your daughter who became mortal. She caused a bit of damage, didn't she? First committing a pitiful murder like the mortals do and then, after stirring the mortals up and causing trouble with them, she's brought back over by your son and commits a couple more murders that are, at least, a little more usual for us, although not very well hidden...." He grinned as he watched LaCroix begin to fume. "And then there was your mortal daughter...nasty little creature, that. She killed a few more before she was disabled, and not by you, of course. And you were awfully careless burning her body in such an open place. You know you shouldn't have done that...." "This city is my business, Cadeyrn. Leave it before I throw you out!" LaCroix hissed in a soft whisper, his eyes flashing gold for a split second. Cadeyrn didn't react to the outburst. Instead, standing and growing serious, he told the other vampire, "Watch it, Lucius. You are encouraging danger to come your way. You should know better than to break the Code. Between your son, his mortal friend, and then the other mortal that Spaniard told--and that you should have killed. You know, you have more pieces against you than for you. Do not slip any further, Lucius, or you will see me again. And this time, I will make sure you do something about it. One more, Lucius, that's all it will take...." LaCroix closed his eyes as the other vampire turned and left, pushing several people out of his way as he left the club. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick watched as LaCroix stared over at Nicky again, where the boy still sat as commanded. Turning back to LaCroix, he stated, "And now Cadeyrn has something else against you." LaCroix pulled his attention away from the boy. "Yes. It seems Cadeyrn is using this as his means to...attack, as it were." He then turned his attention back to Nicky. "You can move now, if you wish." Nicky hesitated, but stood up after a moment. Then, he made his way slowly across the room and stopped by Natalie. "This Enforcer wants to kill me?" he asked. "No," LaCroix sincerely stated, although there was more to say. Then, he explained, "No, Nicky, I do not believe he specifically wishes to kill you. However, he does see you as a danger to the Community, and I see his reasons. Whatever the fate of Cadeyrn's plan, we will leave this city once he is done." Nicky's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "No! No, I don't want to leave here." "Nicholas, we must leave once this is over. Both of you." "What about Natalie?" Nicky asked, looking back and up at her. "Her fate is yet to be determined." LaCroix stood and walked up to them. Reaching down to the boy, he put his hand on Nicholas' head, his fingers pushing back the fine strands of hair. "Come, Nicholas," he said as he put his hand behind the boy's head, "It is time for you to eat." Nicky's fingers grabbed whatever fabric he could manage, holding to Natalie. "I won't eat. Not until you promise that Natalie won't be harmed. Tracy either." "I cannot make such a promise." "Then I will not eat," Nicky replied, adamantly. "I will stay right here until you promise Cadeyrn will not kill them." LaCroix was tempted to tell they boy that they were mortals and would die anyway, but a quick glance at his son told him that would not go over well. "I cannot promise that." Watching the boy clutch to Natalie tighter, he said, "But I can try. Cadeyrn's target is myself, not those around me. He only uses them to get to me." "Then you'll do what you can so that they don't get hurt?" Nicky asked, his grip relaxing slightly, but only barely. LaCroix nearly found himself making the promise for the boy, but he could not. It was foolish to make such a promise when Enforcers were involved. He knew Cadeyrn would not act alone, if he were to, indeed, follow through with his threats. "I will try, but I cannot promise it," he finally told Nicky. "Now, come," LaCroix said, going toward the kitchen without waiting for the boy. Looking down, Natalie watched as Nicky turned his gaze up toward her. "You didn't have to do that, Nicky. But thank you." "You're welcome. And...I did have to. I don't want to see you get hurt either." Pulling away from Natalie, he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the kitchen. Something... Opportune... - (06/12) Nicky stared into the other boy's eyes. It had been three weeks since he'd broken his arm, three weeks since Brian, the boy he was again facing, hadn't let go of him. Although he'd been doing his best to stay outside during breaks with the other kids, this time he had no choice. Earlier that day, the back of his neck had burned enough he had to hide it from the teachers. And right now, he could feel the sun behind him, and it wasn't the unease he'd felt previously. He knew he'd burn again if he stayed out much longer. Before he'd caught it in time. Before Brian hadn't blocked his way back inside--and Brian was just big enough to do exactly that. "Why should I let you inside...Vampire," Brian teased, watching the other tense slightly. "If you want to get that name to stop, just stay out here and prove you're normal. I know there's something funny with you." "Just let him inside. He hasn't done anything to you," Ryan, another boy said, walking up behind Nicky. "Oh, I didn't know you had friends, Nicky. Just what kind of a name is Nicky, anyway? It sounds like a girl's name." "It's what my mother called me. My name's Nicholas." "And what kind of a name is that, for that matter? Nicholas de Brabant," Brian said, purposely doing all he could to butcher the pronunciation. "C'est de Brabant!" Nicky told him in French, his anger rising to the point that he didn't care. "Oh...scary...." Brian teased, making a face and leaning back slightly. And then he laughed. "Perhaps you should warn your friend here of what you are." "He's no different from us!" Ryan protested. "He hasn't done anything to you. So what if he wants to go inside." "I have a better suggestion. How about we find out if he's really your friend?" Brian said, and he and his two friends, Kevin and Tom, started after Ryan, who turned and ran. Ryan ran around the corner, followed closely by Brian and then Nicky. He found his arm in a tight grip, and Brian stopped, pulling Ryan to a halt as well. Nicky ran up and tried to pull Brian away, but it wasn't working. He wasn't strong enough to help Ryan. "Oh, looky, he can't do anything.... Kevin, remember what I told you before?" Nicky turned slightly to see Kevin coming at him with a little squirt gun. One squirt, and he could feel the liquid on his face, smell it. Garlic. It didn't burn, just tingled a little, but it was enough to make him lose control of his anger. Trying again to get Brian to let go, he bit hard into the other boy's arm when Brian wouldn't budge. The action let Ryan break away, and as the other boy ran, Nicky released his hold and looked up to see a tinge of horror on Brian's face. And then, just before the other fled, he caught sight of the two obviously deeper marks on the other boy's arm. In seconds he was alone. He knew teachers were coming, he could hear them. He felt his anger drain from him. He felt something else drain as well, just as a couple of teachers walked up. He swallowed. LaCroix was going to kill him this time. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Natalie finished cleaning up the garlic, asking, "Does it tingle anymore?" Nicky shook his head, not wanting to talk. After taking another look at what remained of the burn on the back of Nicky's neck--not much more than a sunburn, really--she asked him, "Do you want anything before we go?" Nicky looked up at her, knowing they were going to LaCroix' apartment. It was where he and Nick had stayed the last couple of weeks. LaCroix wanted them closer to him--and away from the Raven--because of Cadeyrn. Turning back to the floor, he shook his head. He didn't want anything right now. He felt too sick to eat or drink anything. Glancing around the morgue, he asked, "Is this where you work?" Natalie managed a smile. "Yes, this is where I work." "Will you stay with me at LaCroix'?" She nodded. "I will if I can, okay?" She took Nicky's hand and started for the door, but found he wasn't following. "Nicky, what's wrong?" "LaCroix...is he...would he kill me?" She did her best to give him another smile. "No, I don't think he'll do that." "But he'll be angry, won't he? Will he do like he did last time?" Her smile left at that. "You know, he probably is angry, but I think he has your best interests in mind, even if it doesn't seem that way. Come on, Nicky. We'll go find out, okay?" Nicky gave her a nod, and he let her lead him back out of the building. He didn't want to go to LaCroix', not now. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Nicky swallowed, LaCroix' glare almost too much. But, he didn't go hide behind Natalie this time. It wouldn't do him any good, anyway. He didn't relax as LaCroix turned away from him and stalked away before looking back. "Cadeyrn now has what he wants, or will once news of this reaches him." "What are you going to do to me?" Nicky asked, his voice trembling slightly, almost as much as his body was. Focusing on the boy, LaCroix closed his eyes for a moment, holding back his anger. Reopening them, he calmly answered, "Nothing. It would have been inevitable for something to eventually happen, and that's what Cadeyrn used on his side." He paused, and then turned toward his son. "Make preparations so that we may leave Toronto as quickly as possible." Receiving a nod and watching his son leave, LaCroix turned back to Natalie and Nicky. "As soon as this mess is through with, myself, Nicholas, and Nicky will be leaving the city." "Uncle Lucien..." Nicky started in protest, but the look he received in return silenced him. They were going to leave Toronto without Natalie. LaCroix crossed the room and pulled several ten-dollar bills out of a wallet. He then turned to Natalie and set the money on the table. "It is still day. Take the boy and make sure he eats." Natalie stared at the money on the table, but when she got up and led Nicky away, she left it where it sat, not caring what LaCroix' expression was. She might be mortal, but she was not poor. She cared for Nicky, and didn't mind using her own money for this. Once they were outside, Nicky asked, "Why didn't you take the money? Is it because you're not coming with us?" "Well, that's apparently not my choice, is it?" "I'd like you to come. I think Nicholas would, too." As he thought, his eyes started to twinkle. "Would you like to go with us? I can tell--" "No, don't do that. If Nick wants me to come, I'll come...but I'm not going to force it on him, okay?" "But--" "Please don't try to persuade Nick, okay? I want it to be his choice whether or not I can come with you." She reached out her hand to take him back down to the car, but he just stood there. "But...I like you. You're the closest thing I've ever had to a mother." Natalie was somewhat stunned by that. She hadn't really done that much for him. Yes, she'd taken him to and from school, she'd made a good portion of Nicky's meals, had offered her help with homework, but...she had never thought of herself as Nicky's mother. A friend, perhaps, but not his mother. "Nicholas likes you, too. I know he does," Nicky stated, still trying. She managed a faint smile before again leading him toward her car, which this time Nicky allowed. "Come on, let's get something to eat, okay?" Nicky nodded, his enthusiasm quickly retreating. The sun was still up, and although he knew he didn't and wouldn't burn immediately, he didn't feel safe outside. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Once Nick had made the arrangements, he came back to the other room where LaCroix was sitting alone. "I've done what I can considering we won't know when we'll be leaving until later." "Where will we be going?" "Edmonton--just for the next half-year or so. If Nicky really is changing, it will be a good place for us." "Did you make arrangements for your doctor friend?" Nick tensed. "No. I knew you meant just us." "You've disobeyed my instructions in the past," LaCroix pointed out. "Why didn't you include her?" "Because...because I'm not going to take her away from her life here," Nick told him. "She's mortal; she's not like us." A faint smile spread across LaCroix' lips. "Good. You've finally noticed that." Nick shook his head at the comment, for the most part ignoring it. "No, I've taken enough of her life from her. I'm not going to take any more of it if I can help it." "Are you really going to just leave her here?" LaCroix asked, somewhat incredulous. "If she comes with us.... With Nicky, I'm sure there will be more problems. I don't want her to have to deal with this. She's dealt with enough." "And what if Cadeyrn decides to take out some of his punishment on her? You know the Code, Nicholas. Mortals that know about us are to be made to forget, brought across, or killed." His words made his son stop cold in the doorway. "The first is out. I do not believe you would like the last to occur...that leaves the second." LaCroix approached his son, stopping just behind the younger. "While with us, she is less of a threat, but with what she knows about vampires...she knows more than our weaknesses, Nicholas. She knows our strengths and how to use them against us, and she's even seen our blood samples. Do you sincerely believe he'll let her walk away?" "I will take whatever punishment Cadeyrn wishes for Natalie. It's because of me that she knows about us." "He will make sure whatever punishment is given to me, Nicholas. Not you. I am his target. He will do what is necessary to ensure the Code is upheld. He is, after all, an Enforcer." Nick turned to face LaCroix. "You promised Nicky--" "That I would *try* to prevent any harm coming to her. You know perfectly well that one extra word paints a whole new picture." As LaCroix turned to leave, Nick grabbed the other's arm, preventing LaCroix from leaving. "I want to know something. Why, if you knew this Cadeyrn was so close to going after you, did you say nothing about it when Nicky showed up? Or even when I adopted him?" "Because...I did not. I knew the boy would be in no more harm than he already was. Crossbreeds are supposed to be handed over to an Enforcer, where nearly all of them die, Nicholas. No exceptions." "Then why protect him?" "I think you know that answer, Nicholas." Waiting a moment, LaCroix turned to leave. "Because you see him as a way to correct whatever went wrong with me." When LaCroix stopped, but didn't turn back, Nick knew he'd hit something. "That's why he bothers you so much. Because he's like me. He has my name and will eventually have to be brought over. I will not let you play with his life, LaCroix. And I will not be silent if Cadeyrn uses him against you." He waited, feeling LaCroix' barely controlled anger. "Perhaps I should invite Natalie to come with us. I'm sure Nicky would like that." LaCroix kept his eyes shut tight. Before his son could say anything more, he left the room, for once hoping for the mortal's return. Something... Opportune... - (07/12) After Nick had left for work the next night, Natalie glared back at LaCroix, who seemed to be trying to get her to leave. "Don't you have...work or something?" "I called in." At that, LaCroix couldn't think of anything to ask but, "Why...? You were told that I would be staying here with the boy for the night. He does not need you here, and neither do I." "I asked her to," Nicky said, stepping in front of Natalie as LaCroix approached. "I wanted her to stay." "She does not *need* to stay." Nicky didn't back off as LaCroix leaned down toward him. "I *wanted* her to stay," he repeated, his eyes flashing a half-gold half-blue colour. "Do not lose control, Nicholas. You've already done so once." "And nobody saw!" "You bit a mortal! And I take it your fangs have already made their appearance from what Natalie has told me. You are changing, and faster than you are aware. Increasingly faster, from what I can tell." LaCroix knelt down in front of the boy, taking Nicky's chin in his hand. "Take care or you will do far more damage. I do not believe you want to do that, do you?" The boy tried to pull away, but couldn't. "Do you?" Nicky shook his head. "No. No, I don't," he managed, at which LaCroix released him. Then, as he watched LaCroix stand and take a step back, his eyes widened upon seeing the figure standing across the room. "Well, well, well...needing to keep the boy in line, I see," Cadeyrn commented as he glided forward, stopping just behind LaCroix. He watched as the other vampire tensed, which brought a smile to his face. "No questions of how I got in? Or what I'm doing here?" He didn't get a comment at that. "Good. That means this will be simple." Cadeyrn stepped to LaCroix' side and focused on the boy. "My, but he is a prize to you, isn't he?" he whispered, just loud enough for only LaCroix to hear. "Come, Child," he said, holding his hand out to the boy. Nicky, however, didn't approach. Instead, he inched back into Natalie, letting her hands rest protectively on his shoulders. "Now, now...it won't be too bad. Come with me and I'll take care of you for a little while," he urged, taking a step toward the boy, and then a second. LaCroix gripped the man's arm, pulling Cadeyrn back as the Enforcer reached for Nicky. "Leave the child and go." "I suggest you release me," Cadeyrn said, glancing to the hand on his arm, "or I will have my friends here help." He then gestured in the direction he had come from, nodding to two men roughly his age with slicked back dark hair. "You didn't think I'd come alone, now did you?" As Nicky gripped her arms, Natalie stared across at the two vampires indicated. These two looked more like what she had expected an Enforcer to look like. Cadeyrn, with his loose, and nearly fluffy, burgundy hair didn't look like an Enforcer to her. In fact, he looked almost friendly. Until, that is, he changed. Once LaCroix had reluctantly released him, Cadeyrn turned back toward Nicky. "Release the boy, Mortal. He will not be harmed at this time. We just need assurance that you will all remain here in this city." Fully aware he stood no chance against three Enforcers, LaCroix told Natalie, "Unless you wish the Enforcers behind me to act, I suggest you do as he says." "But--" "Do as he says. Cadeyrn would not dare harm him until this matter has been solved. To do so sooner would damage your case, wouldn't it, Cadeyrn?" He smiled slightly as Cadeyrn tensed. Natalie also noticed the reaction, and did as told. Nicky didn't want to let go, and at that, Cadeyrn stepped forward and grabbed Nicky by the shoulder. She watched, seeing Nicky's eyes flash gold again. She nearly warned Cadeyrn as his other hand reached forward, but as she thought about it, Nicky bit the Enforcer hard in the hand, causing Cadeyrn to pull away and release him. Cadeyrn stared down at his hand, the bite not quite a normal vampire bite. Looking at the boy, his own eyes golden, he could see that the child's canines were a bit further down than they should be. Nearly fangs, but not quite. Sharp, though. "You don't like me, do you?" he asked, gesturing to the wound on the back of his hand. Nicky backed away as Cadeyrn flashed his fangs at him. He hissed when the vampire grabbed his arm, struggling to free himself. But, this time it didn't work and he found himself being lifted up. "Be silent, Child," Cadeyrn hissed into Nicky's ear. "If you be silent and stop fighting me, I'll overlook what you did to me. Do you understand?" Nicky swallowed, but nodded and did as asked. He could taste a hint of Cadeyrn's anger from having been bitten, the emotion strong and barely controlled. He didn't want to see that control gone. "Good boy." Cadeyrn then turned toward LaCroix with a grin. "I'll see you soon, Lucius. When I've set a time, you'll know." Natalie watched as LaCroix closed his eyes and Cadeyrn left, the two actions almost simultaneous. She watched Nicky stare back at her, his eyes more frightened than she had ever seen them. In a matter of seconds, they were gone, the two silent Enforcers leaving as well. Nearly a minute after they'd gone, LaCroix opened his eyes and glared at the only thing remaining--Natalie. "Cadeyrn will not harm Nicky. If he does, he will meet the true 'Lucius'," he hissed, still facing Natalie but not speaking directly to her. "Why did he call you that name? Lucius," she said, watching as LaCroix tensed at the name. Now, focusing more, he answered, "Because he wants to tweak my nerves, that's why." "And it's working. Is Lucius your mortal name?" "What does it matter to you?" "Curiosity. I'm fairly sure it is, or at the very least a name you've used. It is, isn't it?" LaCroix calmed slightly, and turning around and staring at where Cadeyrn had last stood, he told her, "Yes, it's my mortal name. Cadeyrn should not use it as freely as he does." "How long until Cadeyrn has 'set a time'?" "I do not know," LaCroix stated, turning back to her. "A few days, a week at the most. Any longer than that and he knows he's pushing it." Natalie watched LaCroix' anger surface again, not reacting. "I think we should go tell Nick. He might want to know about this." She went and grabbed her purse and came back, but LaCroix hadn't moved. "LaCroix?" "Tell him, then." She was about to say something in reply, but stopped when LaCroix turned and left the room. She waited a few moments longer, and then left. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Cadeyrn walked into the building he'd been living in for the past half year and carried Nicky up to his living quarters. He didn't put the boy down, however, until he reached the room he'd had specially prepared. With one hand, he opened the door and pushed it open. And then, he put Nicky down and gave him a slight push into the room. Nicky turned and looked up at the vampire. "What are you going to do to me?" he asked. Cadeyrn let out a quiet chuckle. "For now--leave you here. Make yourself comfortable and don't try to escape. The door will be locked and guarded." Looking down into the boy's wide blue eyes, he smiled. "You'd best get some sleep, little one...you'll want it." Nicky stood there as the vampire laughed again, and then shut the door. After listening to the lock click in place and footsteps fade away, Nicky turned and inspected the room. It was about the size of Nick's bedroom at LaCroix' apartment. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't small, either. In the room was a bed against the wall, and then there was a table in one corner with what looked like colouring books and a box of crayons on top of it. He turned away from them, looking at the rest of the room. There weren't any windows. There wasn't even a bathroom. Scanning the room and walking over toward the bed, he saw a plate of food on the table next to it. It was a sandwich and...he didn't know what the other thing was. It looked like it might have been some kind of fruit at some point. He reached for the sandwich, pulling the top piece of bread off. It had a slice of cheddar cheese and some ham on it. Putting the piece of bread back on, he sat on the bed, ignoring the food as he looked at the blank walls. Several minutes later, aware that Cadeyrn might not feed him again soon, he picked the sandwich up off the plate and ate it, but left the rest. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Reaching the precinct, Natalie slowed her pace as she entered the building. Heading for Nick's desk, she found Tracy's attention on her before Nick noticed she was approaching. "Nat, I thought you were sick or something?" "Uh, yeah...well, I really needed to talk to Nick." Nick turned around, a little surprised to see her there. But, her racing pulse told him more than he needed. "What happened?" "Ah, do you mind if we go outside? I *really* need to talk to you." Nick nodded, and shooting a glare at Tracy that told her to stay put, he went with Natalie outside. Once away from prying ears, he again asked, "What happened?" "Cadeyrn. He showed up at LaCroix' and took Nicky." He closed his eyes. He had wondered what Cadeyrn was going to do...now he knew. Gathering up his thoughts, he reopened his eyes. "Nat...either go back to LaCroix' or go in to work. There's nothing for us to do until Cadeyrn puts through whatever the next part of this plan of his is." "But Nick--" "People are already wondering what you're doing here, Nat. Please...do whichever you'd rather do. Go home to your apartment if you don't want to go in to work and want to avoid LaCroix." Natalie took that in. She really didn't want to just go to work like nothing had happened, like nothing was wrong. Neither did she really want to go back to LaCroix', considering the mood he was probably in. "I'll drop by the morgue for a few minutes, but I'll go back to LaCroix' afterward," she told him. Then, just as she was about to turn and leave, she asked, "Are you going to tell Tracy?" "I'll tell her something," he answered, aware he had to think of something soon. "Go on, I'll figure something out. I'll try to leave early, okay?" Nodding, Natalie turned and left. "Nick?" He spun, only to find Tracy starting his way. "Tracy...what are you doing?" "Just wanted to make sure you weren't going off somewhere without me." She nodded toward Natalie's retreating form. "What did Nat want to talk to you about?" "Matters you shouldn't nose around in," he said, preparing to head back inside. She stopped him, stepping in his way, "Come on, Nick, it's about...you know...right?" He looked away, and then momentarily closing his eyes, he told her, "Nicky's been taken. And that's all I know." Tracy's jaw loosened, her lips parting slightly. "He was...taken? By whom?" "All I know is it was another like LaCroix, someone who doesn't like him very much." "Then why don't you and LaCroix go after him?" "Because.... Because...." He couldn't think of something simple to say that would work, so eventually told her, his voice low, "Because the vampire that took Nicky is an Enforcer." He watched her stiffen, telling him that she knew exactly what the Enforcers were. "Nicky should be fine for the time being, but we need to be careful. I don't know what might happen next, but you might be involved." "Me? But I thought this was about Nicky." "It's about LaCroix. But it might involve you, probably because of what you know about...uh, vampires," he stumbled trying to find a good word. He'd almost said 'us', and then used 'the Community', but he'd wanted to use something generic. Tracy seemed to ignore his hesitation, though. "Look, don't think about it too much, okay? I'm just saying to watch yourself. And Trace? Don't leave Toronto for any reason...you might be being watched, and I don't think that would go over well." She silently nodded, and let Nick lead her inside, her mind going over what she'd just found out. Something... Opportune... - (08/12) "Vachon...tell me what's going on," Tracy said, watching as the other stood and started toward the exit. "You've been tense since you came by. I know something's up. And I know Nicky's been taken, too." Vachon calmly turned at that, not showing any other reaction. "Vachon...come on, tell me what's going on. Who's this Enforcer that's taken Nicky and why?" "It's none of your business, Tracy. Be glad your partner told you that much." "You knew he knew about Nicky from the start, didn't you?" she accused, crossing her arms. "At least Nick is being more truthful than you are. He just isn't...he knows more than he's telling me, and I want to know what that is." Vachon took a few steps closer. "Do you? Really? Cause you're right, it's not as simple as he's said." "Yes, I want to know. Starting with who this Enforcer is and why you don't want to tell me anything." "On the second...LaCroix told me not to and I know not to, anyway. This Enforcer's name is Cadeyrn. He's going after LaCroix, trying to beat him at whatever charges he's going to put on him. The less you know, the less Cadeyrn can use. LaCroix already told me I'm not involved in this--mainly himself and Knight are the targets. But you, Natalie, and Nicky are in there too. Is that enough of an answer for you?" Tracy watched as he walked by her and sat on her couch. She kept her attention ahead, caught on something Vachon said. 'Mainly himself and Knight are the targets.' She turned, asking, "Why is Nick a target? He's not a vampire, right? He's mortal?" "Tracy, when I said the less you know, the less Cadeyrn can use, I meant it." "So you're not going to answer my question?" He stared blankly at her, not even blinking. "This vampire...if he's targeting LaCroix, how do I factor in? At least answer that." "You know about vampires, and LaCroix knew you knew even before he altered your memories. He should have acted being...in the position he's in." Seeing that Tracy wasn't going to take no for an answer on this, and since it wouldn't spill too much new information, he told her, "LaCroix is the eldest in the city. Loosely, part of that means he's supposed to aid in making sure our laws are followed so that the Enforcers don't need to be called in. Especially in matters where he is directly a part of the situation. When he took away your memories, and worse, left knowledge of vampires, he should have at the very least, taken all of your memories away or, even better in the eyes of the Enforcers, killed you or brought you over." Tracy just stood there. LaCroix was eldest in the city? How old did that make him? Feeling the blood drain from her head, she abruptly asked, "Why didn't he kill me?" "I'm not certain. Possibly because your death would raise suspicion." "Then, if he was able to make me forget what happened to you, why didn't he just fix his problem? Tell me that?" Waiting, Tracy didn't get an answer. Vachon just stared up at her. "Fine. If I get a chance, I'll ask him myself." Watching Vachon's eyes go a little wide, she replied, "Besides, if this Cadey-what's-his-name is trying to make a case against LaCroix, I'm sure he's going to be questioned, so I might not even have to ask." *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Cadeyrn unlocked and opened the door to the room he'd kept Nicky in. Finding the light off, he scanned the room for the boy. Reaching the bed, he found two faintly glowing eyes staring back at him. The boy was hungry, he could see, hungry and frightened. For each of the past three days he'd made sure the boy received his fill of mortal food, but this is what he'd been waiting for. He wanted to see just how long it would take before the boy would need blood. Stepping into the room, he watched the boy try to move ever further into the corner, his knees pulled tightly against his chest. "Are you hungry, little one? Hungry for something a bit better tasting than the mortal's idea of food?" Nicky hissed at Cadeyrn, wanting the other to stay away from him. "Just leave me alone!" he exclaimed before hissing again. "My, my...you're a feral little creature, aren't you?" Cadeyrn said as he sat on the edge of the bed, not that far from Nicky. "How would you like to leave this room for a little while? Hmm? How do you like the sound of that?" Cadeyrn watched the boy's eyes drift to the open door and the bright hall. "And, if you behave, I'll give you what your body needs...I might even show you a few things." "You aren't going to hurt me?" Nicky asked, again focusing on the vampire. Cadeyrn smiled. "No. No, I'm not going to hurt you, and neither do I want to. Come with me for a little while. You can even watch some television if you want to." Nicky leaned forward somewhat, tempted, as he wanted to get out of the room. "But...but...." "I promise, you won't be harmed." Cadeyrn held out one hand toward the boy and smiled. His lips twisted into a grin as Nicky shifted slightly, and then started for the door. He caught Nicky when the child jumped from the bed and tried to sprint for the door, holding him in place. "Remember--behave. Which means you don't stray very far from me. Understood?" Getting a nod, he gently guided the boy to the door. Exiting the room, Cadeyrn watched the boy look up at the Enforcers that had been guarding his room. "If you stray, they will catch you." He heard the child's slow and steady heart rate increase at that, and he flashed another smile at Nicky as he led the boy down the hall to the right. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Nicky stared blankly at the television. It was news--which was only somewhat more interesting than the rest of what was available. He'd already asked Cadeyrn if he had any movies...and after getting a negative answer on that, he noticed there wasn't even a VCR to put a movie in. Cadeyrn only had a handful of channels on the TV, none of which were very interesting. Turning and watching Cadeyrn was better than anything he could watch on the TV screen. The vampire was somewhat frustrated with something. While staring at the Enforcer, Nicky's eyes went wide when Cadeyrn looked up at him. Cadeyrn saw the boy's eyes. While not amber and certainly not shining as they had earlier, he could see the child's hunger. "What?" he asked, seeing what the boy would do. Nicky turned back to the news for a few seconds before returning his gaze to Cadeyrn. "I'm hungry," he stated, holding the other's stare. Cadeyrn smiled slightly. "Hungry, are you? And just what would you like?" Nicky turned his attention to the bottle and the full glass sitting just to Cadeyrn's side and out of the vampire's way. "I'm hungry," he repeated. The Enforcer smiled, pleased with the reaction. "Then come here." He waited, but Nicky didn't move. "Come here and you can have some of it." "Really?" He gave a grin to the boy. "Really. Now, come here," he urged, holding his hand out and gesturing for Nicky to approach. He watched as the boy did just that, watched as Nicky stopped hungrily at the edge of his desk. "Go on. Take it. It's okay," he continued, leaning back somewhat. Nicky cautiously reached for the glass, half-expecting Cadeyrn to pull it away at the last minute. As his fingers wrapped around the wine glass, Nicky quickly pulled it toward him and backed up. As the Enforcer grinned at him, he stared into the blood in the glass, not sure if he should drink it or not. "Go on. It's what you want, isn't it? What you need?" Nicky glanced up at Cadeyrn, wondering why he didn't seem to mind him drinking the blood. He'd needed it since yesterday, but Cadeyrn didn't give him any until now. But, as his hunger overwhelmed him, Nicky raised the glass to his mouth, taking a sip of the blood. It wasn't warm, but it was fresh...fresher even than what LaCroix gave him. He looked back into the glass as he licked away the blood that clung to his lips. He could feel how the person had died--at the hands of a vampire. "Do you like it?" Cadeyrn asked. "It's a little different than you're used to, isn't it?" He didn't answer, merely taking another step back. He drank what he needed of the blood, and then a little more, unsure of when he would get more. Once he'd had all he could manage, he stared into the blood still sitting in the glass. He felt a surge of pure terror flow through him from the blood, and resignation that death was near. "Personally, it's one of my favourites. It carries the last few moments of the mortal's life it was taken from, just after they've realised they will die...." Cadeyrn trailed off, then flashing another smile, he asked, "What do you think of it?" "I don't like it," Nicky said, still staring into what remained of the glass. "Oh well, tastes differ, I suppose.... I think you'll like it a bit more once you're older and can appreciate the flavour." Nicky stared up at the vampire, and he was at once reminded of LaCroix. Carefully, he went to put the glass back on the table, but Cadeyrn abruptly leaned forward in his chair and took the glass from him. He jerked his hand back and took several steps back until he backed up into a wall as the vampire pulled the glass toward him and drank the remainder of the glass. Cadeyrn closed his eyes, letting what life lingered in the blood invigorate him...let the mortal's fear excite him. Once it faded slightly, he put the empty glass down on the table and started over at Nicky. He gestured to the bottle, commenting, "It's the closest to actually hunting a mortal, you know. An indulgence even for myself. Too bad you were born in this time...the past was so much nicer. Even with the Code you could kill almost anyone you wished." "What are you going to do to me?" Focusing on Nicky, Cadeyrn stated, "That is still to come. I hate the idea of killing you, even though that's what should be done. It's rare for one such as you to be born. And, for that matter, to survive, to live. You're nearly one of us as it is, I suspect. I wonder...." He stood and walked around his desk, keeping about three metres between them. "You've already begun to change, but how far do your abilities go...." Cadeyrn smiled, letting his fangs come down. His eyes turned gold, and then red, and then he flew at the boy. Cadeyrn listened to the boy's scream, but halting just where the boy was, he turned to find Nicky across the room in the corner. He watched the boy eye the door, which they both started for. He blocked Nicky's path, smiling down at the child. "You're quite unique, aren't you?" He listened to the boy's pulse beating quickly in his chest. "That's instinct, that's what that is." He knelt down and reached out, one hand on Nicky's shoulder and the other cupping his face. "Most like you die in their first year or sooner." "I know that," Nicky stated, trying to pull out of the touch. "Did you also know that most of those like you that live to adulthood never learn to fly? That most never become much more than the mortals, and that many choose, in turn, to hunt us for making them different?" "I will never become a hunter!" Nicky hissed, his eyes darkening but not changing. Cadeyrn smiled at the hatred shot at him. "Yes, and that hatred of the hunters is what will save you from death. You may be a child, may be nearly mortal, but you have our instinct and our blood. And you have our passion to survive. You'd like to kill those hunters, wouldn't you? For what they've done to you. To your father and to Nicholas." He listened and the boy's pulse calmed, but he could also see the fire in Nicky's eyes. A fire that would not die with time, he knew. "Yes, you'd like to see them destroyed, wouldn't you? And, I'll say this--hunters are some of the most satisfying mortals to hunt...the most challenging as well." "Have you hunted them?" Nicky asked curiously. The question made Cadeyrn's grin wider. This boy was indeed unique. Nicky had picked up on his delight of this topic. "Yes, I've hunted them. It's been a few years, though. Unfortunately, once you get to be as old as I am, you lose some of your freedom. I used to be an Enforcer...not what you see before you, but like those in the hall." Aware he had the boy's full attention, he commented, "You might consider it." "Consider what?" "Becoming an Enforcer. You can, you know. But not until you've grown. Think it over a little." Releasing his hold on Nicky and turning the boy around as he stood, he gently pushed the boy back inside the room. Pulling out one of the chairs off to the front side of his desk, he picked Nicky up and set the boy in the chair. As he went around to the other side of his desk and sat down, he asked, "Now, I'm sure you're hungry...what would you like to eat?" Nicky looked down, staring at the front of Cadeyrn's desk. He felt strange, the way he was being treated now. But, he wouldn't pass up the offer of food. "I can have anything I want?" "Anything." He considered for a moment, but only a moment. "Waffles with maple syrup and some chocolate milk." Cadeyrn was a little surprised at the choice of food, considering by the clock it was nearly nightfall. But then, he had been told that the boy had been awake more at night than during the day. He flashed another smile, and then hit a button on the phone to have someone make up what Nicky wanted. Something... Opportune... - (09/12) As Nicky finished his plate of food, Cadeyrn followed the child's every movement. The boy was surer of himself than most children his age. For that matter, he suspected no mortal child would be able to handle eating with him so close. He knew Nicky seemed to find comfort in being near vampires, but he'd hardly expected the boy to behave this well with him around, particularly considering their initial encounter. After drinking the last of his chocolate milk, Nicky put his glass down and looked over to Cadeyrn. "Why am I here?" "Because you're special to Lucius, that's why. He wouldn't have taken an interest in you otherwise." "You don't like him, do you?" "I don't like his kind. If it weren't that Lucius was as old as he is and believed himself invincible...I actually think we would be friends. Perhaps, anyway. We might be too alike to be friends." "What are you going to do to him?" "I want him to leave this city. I want him to realise he's no different from the rest of us. He's not as fearsome as he makes himself out to be, is he?" "Yes he is," Nicky calmly answered, staring over at the other. Cadeyrn had to tell himself not to react. He hadn't quite expected an answer, and certainly not that one. "Well, whatever the case may be, it is too dangerous to have so much of the Community's power in his hands. Those like him use their age too much to their advantage, and get away with more than they should be allowed to." "Are you going to kill him?" He let out a laugh at that. "No, no, I have no intentions of killing Lucius. To begin with, I'd never get away with it. Just...teach him a little lesson, of which you are one part." "What about Nicholas and Natalie? And Tracy, too?" "Lucius will watch them take their punishment for what they have done, or he will take it himself." He watched the boy's anger flow at that. "You care for them, don't you, even the mortals." "Natalie's nice. And she gave Nicholas blood when he needed it. Her blood. She didn't have to. And Tracy is Nick's partner." "Yes, I will admit Nicholas' friend is, shall you say...unusual as far as mortals are concerned, but she's still mortal." With a somewhat forced smile, he reached for his phone again. "Speaking of doctors, I think it's time for a little check-up." Hitting a button, he spoke, "Have Frederick come up in twenty minutes. I want him to look the boy over." Releasing the button, he looked to a very nervous Nicky. "Don't worry, he's not going to hurt you. But, first, before he gets here, I think it's time for a little bath, don't you?" Seeing that the boy was about to bolt again, he flew toward the open door just in time to block Nicky's escape. Once the boy had calmed, he picked Nicky up so that he would not have a chance to run off and headed down the hall. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. "You said his fangs have come in?" Fredrick, a tall, thin, and dark- haired vampire said as he walked down the hall with Cadeyrn. "And how old did you say he was?" "Five, possibly close to six if you go by appearances." "Amazing, I've never seen one start changing so young, and that's saying a lot. So, his eyes change, then?" Receiving a nod from Cadeyrn, he asked, "Anything else?" "He can get across a room as fast as I can." At that, Frederick froze, halting mid-step. "What did you say? That he can fly?" "Apparently. It's instinct for him. He can fly and he is quite quick, too." Reaching the room he'd prepared for Nicky, Cadeyrn warned, "He'll bite if you're not careful." "Don't worry about me, Cadeyrn. I hope he is as healthy and special as you say he is. I've killed too many of these crossbreeds; I would hate to have to destroy another one, whether that be now or in the future." Frederick walked over to Cadeyrn, and once the door was unlocked and the Enforcer reached for the doorknob, he gripped the other's arm. "I would prefer it if you were not present. If he is all that you have said, I would much rather deal with him without any interferences." Cadeyrn hesitated, but nodded. "Do not harm him unless it is necessary, and I want a full report on his health." Frederick watched as Cadeyrn stood and left down the hall. Once the Enforcer was gone, he turned the knob and pushed the door open. Entering, he gently pushed the door closed behind him. Before him sat a blond-haired boy that for all appearances looked mortal. But he knew differently. He could easily feel the boy, his senses trained over the course of centuries to be able to detect a crossbreed on sight. The strength of the boy's presence told him just how unique the boy was. Approaching, he was somewhat surprised when the boy did nothing but pull the sheet he was wrapped in a little closer. "Hi there, Nicky. My name's Frederick," he said, knelling his lanky form down right in front of the edge of the bed. He was close enough he could touch the boy, but he knew not to push it yet. Nicky stared at the vampire in front of him. The vampire was taller than LaCroix, but thin, almost sickly in build. The vampire's face was framed by stray strands of long hair reaching far past the shoulders. It was somewhat wavy, curling inward at the ends, and nearly black. The rest was pulled back and not visible. No smile rested on the vampire's features, but Nicky could see the excitement in the other's eyes. "Hi," he spoke, but didn't move, merely holding the vampire's gaze. "I'm a doctor...Cadeyrn wanted me to make sure you were healthy," Frederick stated, watching as Nicky tensed. "I'm fine." "Perhaps, but from what I hear you're quite special." "What does that matter?" "Not much, unless you're a doctor like me. Well, as far as the mortals are concerned I'm not a doctor, but in the Community I am. And I have a specialty, which is your kind. The mortality rate is quite high for crossbreeds--pardon the term--and I'm going to check and make sure there's nothing that might complicate matters." He stopped, and leaning slightly forward, he told Nicky, "For a start, I'd like to take a look at your teeth, and more specifically, your fangs, if you'll let me." Nicky backed away, his eyes filling with reflective gold flecks. Watching the reaction, Frederick stopped his approach. He'd rarely seen a child this young this close to being a vampire. It was both exciting and numbing. He'd seen a total of two like this--and both he'd had to kill. They hadn't been able to control the changes. "Please, if you cooperate, I'll give you this," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a chunk of chocolate. When Nicky's eyes slowly faded to their normal blue, he forced a smile to his lips. Chocolate, he had discovered, was something many of the crossbreeds liked. He didn't know why, but it was like gold. "Now, will you let me look at your teeth?" Nicky's eyes were still locked on the little piece of chocolate. When the vampire stuffed it back into his pocket, he turned back to the other, giving a faint nod. "Good. Now, just sit right there and open your mouth wide, okay? I just want to get a general look, and measure your canines, okay?" He got another slight nod, at which he reached forward, and did as he said he would. Pulling back, he found Nicky pulling back as well. "Now, let's see those little sharp critters of yours...." He again reached out, but this time Nicky wasn't cooperating. "Let me see them, and then I'll give you that piece of chocolate, okay?" he baited, at which he got the other to open his mouth again. He held Nicky's head in place with one hand, the other mostly free. When he could see no change, he increased his grip, purposely being a little rough. At that, he got a slice on his thumb on one of the boy's fangs as they descended. Quickly, he measured their length and released the boy. He watched Nicky pull back from him, going to huddle back against the wall. At first, Frederick just knelt there. There was a difference of nearly two millimetres...not much, but enough to show that the boy was, indeed, changing. Nicky's canines were already slightly larger than average, particularly considering they were technically still his baby teeth, but then, they'd probably never fall out. He pulled the chocolate out of his pocket, and held his hand out to the boy. Staring at it for a moment, Nicky hesitantly took the offering. The back of his neck hurt a little, and he wasn't sure what to make of this 'doctor' yet. He nibbled on a corner of the piece, ensuring it was what it looked like, and then took a larger bite. "That wasn't too bad, was it?" Frederick asked, hoping to calm the boy. But, it didn't seem to help much. "How about you come back over here?" Again, he got no reaction. Standing, he sat on the edge of the bed, and then moved a little closer to Nicky. "I know you don't want this...." He moved until he was sitting against the wall, practically next to Nicky. Locking across the room, he spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper, "You know, I was once a lot like you. I was born with vampire blood in me...and it nearly killed me." Nicky turned toward the vampire, his mouth dropping open a little. "You were like me?" "Somewhat. I didn't start showing signs of what I was until I was about fifteen...and that turned everything upside down. I was living with mortals at the time, and I was dubbed 'devil possessed' fairly quickly. I was lucky in that a vampire found me. I needed blood to live, just like you, and, thankfully, he realised that. Five years later, I was brought across." Nicky reached up to Frederick's cheek, running his fingers along the skin. "But...you look older than that...." Managing a faint smile, he looked over at Nicky. "It's because crossbreeds age faster once they start changing. In those five years, my body aged nearly ten. That in itself nearly killed me, because of how weak I was at first. And it's killed others. You've started to age faster, Nicky, and the healthier you are, the better chance you have of surviving." He watched as the boy started to understand what he was saying. "I don't like watching our kind die like this, and I do what I can to help those like ourselves. I decided that once I'd been brought across. I've been learning ever since." "So...you're not an Enforcer then?" Frederick managed a laugh at that. "No. No, I'm not an Enforcer. I just work with them a lot. Sometimes more than I'd like. They're pretty boring." He watched an almost laughing smile flash on Nicky's features as the other relaxed further. "Will you give me more chocolate if I do as you say?" A smile made its way across Frederick's lips. "Hmm, perhaps. I don't want to spoil you too much. Does that mean you'll let me?" Nicky looked away for a moment, across to the closed door. Then, he turned back up to the vampire and nodded. "Thank you, Nicky. It shouldn't take too long, but I will want to give you a full physical and get a sample of your blood." He watched the boy's eyes widen at that. "I know you don't want it taken. I know how it feels to have that very precious liquid taken from you, but I need it to make sure you're well. So will you let me?" Pulling the sheet around him tighter, Nicky did his best to keep his gaze even with the vampire's. After a moment, he nodded and slowly relaxed. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Cadeyrn glared across his desk at Frederick the following night. "What did you learn? I take it you finished with all of your testing? Is he healthy?" "Quite." Frederick passed several sheets of paper across to the Enforcer, which were taken quickly. Cadeyrn scanned them...height, weight, a bunch of details he didn't really understand...uncircumcised, which was more information than he wanted...but nothing stood out to him as being unusual. "Frederick, can you just explain what you have written here?" "He's about average height and weight for a mortal child of about six years old. His pulse, temperature, and blood pressure have been dropping from human normal for a while now, by my guess. His pulse is still up around 35-40 beats per minute, although that will continue to slow for a while more, I'll guess. As far as his body is concerned, he's perfectly normal, no defects that I could see. Considering he's starting to change and his growth has accelerated, I'll give him about six to seven years until he stops aging. He's going to have a rough few years, but he's healthy enough that I think he'll survive." "What's your recommendation?" "To let him live. Let him be taken care of by one of us. I'll nearly guarantee his survival if one of us takes care of him. I doubt he'll turn on us, either." Cadeyrn nodded. "Thank you, Frederick." He smiled to himself. Now all he had to do was give Lucius a little scare.... Glancing up, he found the other vampire still there. "Do you have something else to say?" "I'd like to give Nicky this," he responded, pulling out half a bar of dark chocolate. Cadeyrn eyed the piece of junk food in its wrapper, but nodded. "Put it on the table and I'll see that he gets it," he told the other. Then, once Frederick had left, he again looked at the sheets Frederick had given him, seeing if he could figure out anything else from them. Something... Opportune... - (10/12) Cadeyrn grinned as he stood in front of the door to LaCroix' home just before dawn--the sun already threatening to rise--a day and a half later and was greeted by Nicholas' appearance after knocking. "I'd like to speak with Lucius," he said, stepping in and pushing by the younger vampire. Not that far away he could see Nicholas' mortal friend staring over at him. He gave her a smile, and then entered further, calling out, "I know you're here, Lucius. I can sense you." Right at that, LaCroix entered the room. "State your reason for coming here, and leave." "Rudeness, Lucius.... I am here to tell you to find me tonight, and be there at midnight and no sooner. My Enforcers will not allow you to enter before midnight. Bring Nicholas and his friend...and I will make sure his partner is also brought." He paused, watching Nicholas stiffen. Then, he focused on LaCroix again. "I know you can find out where I am, because I told several of the Community a short time ago. All you have to do is ask. Now, I'll leave, since you seem intent on that." Cadeyrn turned and started for the door. "I do not want Nicholas' partner involved in this. She knows too much as it is." Cadeyrn stopped, but kept facing the door. "Knows too much...finally you realise that." "She doesn't know what I am," Nick explained, while stepping closer to LaCroix and Natalie and out of Cadeyrn's immediate line of sight. "We are to leave once this is over, and it would be best if she did not know what I am." Turning and facing Nick, Cadeyrn stated, "The questioning itself will be private. I will ensure that she does not learn that you are, indeed, a vampire. She will only be present for the part she is necessary for." He looked down a moment, nearly turned back to the door, and then spoke again, "I would suggest you put things in motion, if you are to leave. This will be over after tomorrow night." Before Cadeyrn again started for the door, LaCroix asked, "And the boy?" There was no reaction. "I would hope that he is unharmed." "He is unharmed." Cadeyrn glanced to LaCroix and gave a smile to the other. "In fact, I've had him looked over by another. The boy is, after all, a crossbreed, and you know how easily they die." With that, Cadeyrn left. As the door shut, LaCroix started for it only for Nicholas to step in his way. "He has not harmed Nicky, and you know that. He would not risk your reaction." When LaCroix attempted to go around him, Nick caught his sire's arm and again moved between LaCroix and the door. "LaCroix! This ends tomorrow night. Cadeyrn has said so himself. I think he knows he can't push you too hard." LaCroix pulled out of his son's grip, but instead of going after Cadeyrn, composed himself. However, his anger remained. Momentarily closing his eyes, he said, "Prepare to leave here, Nicholas. We will do so the night after tomorrow. Have you...prepared somewhere for us to stay?" "No, I only put things in motion." LaCroix nodded. "I will finish those matters. You will hand in your resignation tomorrow night. We will leave from here." He turned to go to the phone, but Natalie, who stood and went over to stand next to his son, caught his attention. "I...suggest you go to sleep, Natalie. And you may wish to go back to your apartment for some quiet. We will probably be up most of the day." Natalie stared at him, and saw that he wasn't going to let her stay. She knew LaCroix didn't like her involvement with his 'family', and she was fully aware he considered both Nick and Nicky exactly that. As far as LaCroix was concerned, she was simply 'Nicholas' mortal friend'. She also knew it was probably better if she wasn't here for the day. "I will return an hour before sunset," she told him. LaCroix started to protest, at which she added, "I have to go with you tomorrow night, anyway." Staring at the mortal, LaCroix shot a glare at her and then left the room. He needed to make a couple of phone calls, and he needed to make them before the night was fully over. Once he had left, Natalie stepped closer to Nick. "You're just going to up and leave," she stated, her tone even. "Yes. It's best." Nick watched as Natalie set her jaw, spun on her heal and started for the door. He caught her, putting his hands on her shoulders to hold her in place. "It really is for the best, Natalie. I want you to go back to living like you're supposed to." She bowed her head. "I thought I was, Nick. I really thought I was." She tried shrugging his touch off, but he wasn't letting her. "Nick, it's fine. I just...I really liked being around you, and around Nicky.... I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could go with you." Nick attempted to spin Natalie, but it only allowed her an opportunity to break free. He closed his eyes as she left. He knew she was upset, and although he wished it didn't have to be that way, he again told himself that it was for the best. He turned to find LaCroix standing and staring at him from the other side of the room. He faintly wondered how long his sire had been there, but he found he really didn't care. He was thankful that LaCroix had, at least, refrained from shooting a satisfied grin in his direction. And, as the other disappeared down the hall, Nick closed his eyes in relief. *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. Frederick stormed into Cadeyrn's office the next night. "Where is the boy?!" he hissed through his fangs. Cadeyrn looked up, and scowling, stated, "The boy is of no concern to you. I asked you to look in on Lucius. You did go by, didn't you?" Frederick tensed. "Yes, I went by. Both LaCroix and Nicholas are there, as well is Nicholas' friend, Dr. Lambert. They are waiting." "How did they seem?" "I did not knock on the door or invite myself in, Cadeyrn! I simply went and checked that they were there, and I could feel two vampires, both with a strong presence--more so than any of the other vampires in this city--and a mortal's heartbeat. They are still there, and are the only ones it could have possibly been." Frederick stopped and then approached Cadeyrn's desk. "Now, where did you take the boy? He is not in his room." "He is playing his part," Cadeyrn said, quickly averting his gaze to his desk. "Where is he?" Frederick hissed, leaning forward on the desk. "What have you done with him?" "He is playing his part. He is...on display, I guess you could say." Frederick's eyes widened. "How could you do that to him! He's just a child. He's going to be one of us!" "Perhaps, but for now, he is a crossbreed. As they are rare, I figured it would be interesting for the others to see exactly what one of them is like." Cadeyrn glanced to his watch, and then with a faint smile, told him, "It's nearly midnight. Go and retrieve the boy. Bring him back into my office. And, since you seem so concerned about him, perhaps he should remain with you for the remainder of the night. It would surely give my Enforcers a break." Frederick just stood in front of him, not moving. He pulled out a set of keys and tossed them on the desk. "Go before I change my mind and decide to leave him there the rest of the night." At that, Frederick straightened to his full height, gave a small, somewhat forced nod of acknowledgement, picked the keys up, and turned to leave. "And tell that Spaniard to bring his little friend over...I'm sure he's probably down there." Frederick halted for a second, and then without looking back, he left the room, heading for where he could sense several vampires in another part of the building. Although he didn't know precisely where he was going, he had a general idea and simply needed to follow the others' presence. Cadeyrn must have done this to let the Community, and therefore LaCroix, know where he was staying. Within minutes, he flew down a couple of flights of stairs and he came to a door. He could hear others in the room beyond. Opening it, he found himself in a large room, and in its centre was a large metal cage surrounded by several vampires, all of whom which were peering at what was inside. His anger flared at the sight, and he flew forward, pushing several vampires out of the way. "Leave now. This is over. The boy is going to be moved." At his words, a couple of the vampires left, but the majority required a shove toward the exit. Vachon, he noticed, was there, and the younger vampire was now helping getting rid of the others now that he had some authority to do so. Once they were the only ones left, he said, "Cadeyrn wants you to get your friend." He fumbled with the keys, trying several different ones on the lock. "Once I get Nicky out, you should go get her. I'm sure his Enforcers will have further instructions when you get back." He got the lock open, but before removing it, stared over to the other vampire. "Go, I'll be fine with this." Vachon nodded, and turned to Nicky, who was sitting roughly in the centre of the cage staring up at the other vampire. He didn't leave until the other entered and saw that Nicky wasn't afraid of the other. Once he saw that, he spun and headed for the exit on the opposite side of the room that the other had entered from. Nicky sat on the ground, even when Frederick urged that he get up. He hadn't liked the others staring at him...like he was some kind of creature. He hadn't liked it at all. He pulled back as Frederick tried to touch him, but couldn't and didn't speak. "Nicky...come. Cadeyrn wants--" "No! I don't want to see him again." He scooted back, putting some distance between them. "He left me here! He put me on display!" Frederick reached forward again, but Nicky hissed at him. And then, not even thinking of drawing back, he grabbed the boy only for sharp teeth to rip into his hand. He ignored the actions, stating, "I'm not going to hurt you, and I'm not going to let Cadeyrn hurt you. You can bite me if you want to bite me, but it won't help." Frederick knelt in front of the boy, loosening his grip. "You're quite healthy, but if you're going to survive, you can't bite everyone that you're angry with. Besides, biting other vampires is probably not a good idea--if anything, it'll only make you grow faster than you already will." Nicky calmed and let his jaw relax. He looked at the bite marks on Frederick's hand, which slowly stopped bleeding. Although tempted to lick the blood on his lips away, what Frederick said stopped him, and he wiped the blood off on his sleeve. He could taste a hint of Frederick's blood, and he wondered how much of a difference that would make. "Come on," Frederick said, holding his hand out for Nicky to take. He waited, but the boy eventually took it, at which he pulled Nicky to his feet. "Cadeyrn is probably waiting for us." Nicky tried stepping back at the Enforcer's name. "I don't want to see him again." "He won't hurt you, Nicky. In a short time, all of this will be over and you'll be able to leave here." "Will I? Really?" Managing a smile, Frederick nodded. "Yes, Cadeyrn has already decided that you'll go back to them; it's just a matter of everything else." He shifted so that he was behind Nicky, and guided him out of the cage and over to the door he came out of earlier. As they approached Cadeyrn's office, Nicky stopped, refusing to go any further. "I don't want to go in there." "He won't hurt you," Frederick assured. "I won't let him." Nicky looked up at the vampire. "What about Nicholas and Natalie? And LaCroix? What about them? I don't want any of them hurt. Not even Tracy." "I...I don't know what he has planned for them," he told the boy honestly. "I wish I could tell you something better." He smiled down on the boy. "Come on. In the end, I think everything will be all right. And the sooner we go in there, the sooner we can get this over with, okay?" Nicky nodded slightly and let the vampire lead him up to the door. As the door was opened, he stared at Cadeyrn, whose face had a nasty look to it...Cadeyrn was pleased with something, and he didn't like the manic grin directed at him. He looked away and entered the room, making sure Frederick came in with him. "Now what are you going to do?" Nicky asked, wondering just what would happen next. He knew LaCroix would have to be coming soon. He had to; otherwise he suspected Cadeyrn would have left him in the cage. "Wait until my Enforcers have notified me of your...friends' arrival. They should be here soon, it's nearly midnight." "And then what?" Cadeyrn glared at the boy. "And then we shall proceed." Nicky's eyes widened, Cadeyrn's expression becoming even more frightening to him. He moved, putting Frederick between them. He just wanted to go home with Nicholas, or LaCroix or Natalie...or even Tracy if he could get away from there. Something... Opportune... - (11/12) Cadeyrn glared at the bloodstains on Nicky's sleeve. Straightening the boy's clothes with resistance, he took the boy's face in his hands. "You understand what is expected of you?" he asked, waiting for a reply. He got a frightened nod, but it was not enough. "Speak! Tell me what you are to do." Nicky pulled back, but the vampire kept him in place. "I...I won't do anything. I won't speak, and I won't move. I will stay with Frederick until told to move." The Enforcer gave the boy a quick grin, then drew away and stood. "Good. And Frederick--make sure the boy behaves. I do not want to have to deal with him as I'll already have to make sure LaCroix keeps his calm." Starting for the door, he held it open. "Come, they have arrived and are waiting for us." *+.*+.*+.*+.*+. LaCroix paced the small white room, taking in every detail. It was a large rectangle and set up almost like an office. A table sat on the narrow end opposite the door, the large ornate chair behind it empty. Off to the right side sat three carved wooden chairs. Natalie was seated in the centre one, and his son was standing just behind the chair on the end closest to the door. Opposite, there were two chairs like the others; however, these were unoccupied. He stopped while facing the desk, and then glanced at his watch. It was eight minutes past midnight. Cadeyrn was making them wait. He spun as the door opened, admitting Cadeyrn into the room, his burgundy hair flying back as the Enforcer crossed the room to him and came to a stop next to him. "You will not approach the boy. You will remain in the centre of this room or my Enforcers will keep you there by force," he said, and then indicated behind him. LaCroix glanced to the door, seeing two Enforcers enter the room. "There are others just outside the door." Giving LaCroix a smile, he passed the vampire and went to the desk, completely ignoring the presence of Nick and Natalie. Once seated, he turned to the two. "My instructions will go for you as well." Once LaCroix' son was sitting, Cadeyrn looked back to the door and stated, "Frederick, you may now enter." LaCroix, his attention still focused on the door, watched as a tall dark-haired vampire guided the boy to the side opposite of his son. Nicky watched him, but did not speak and did not approach. Once they were sitting and the door shut with a slam, LaCroix turned to face Cadeyrn. "Let's get this over with." "As you wish." Cadeyrn pulled out a folder from his desk and then set it in front of him. He didn't open it or even glance at it, instead leaning back in his chair. "You are accused of using your position to break the Code and endanger the Community." "I have not endangered the Community!" LaCroix retorted, taking a step closer toward Cadeyrn and hissing. He nearly approached further, but knew the Enforcers by the door were ready to pounce on him, and stopped his approach. "You have and you know it, Lucius. First, you can't seem to control your son's want to involve the mortals. Second, not only is a mortal privy to what he is, she is also privy to you, and worse, the Community. You know she knows and have done nothing to rectify the problem. Third, your son's partner, who knew about vampires, had a...friend...that 'died', and Nicholas asked that you only take away the memory of his death and leave her with the knowledge of vampires, which you obliged. Finally, there is the matter of the crossbreed. These children are typically killed, and the child's existence should have been brought to me or another Enforcer immediately to resolve the issue of whether the boy should live or not." Cadeyrn stopped and waited for the other to think up some retort...but none came. He smiled at that. "I will overlook the last matter as it is the most trivial. I have had Frederick look the boy over, and he has assured that the boy's health is good and he sees no reason to destroy the child. However, the other matters will not be overlooked." LaCroix waited, half-expecting the other to continue...but nothing more was said. "Get on with this!" he hissed. "If that is what you wish." Cadeyrn nodded to the Enforcers at the door, at which one left the room. Several minutes later, the Enforcer returned, pushing Tracy in the general direction of the only empty chair in the room while keeping Vachon, who had accompanied her, in the hall. The door closed and Cadeyrn gestured toward her seat with a grin. "Sit, please, Detective Vetter." Tracy looked at the man behind the desk, hesitating somewhat. All she knew is that this must be the Enforcer that Nick had mentioned-- Cadeyrn. "Why am I here?" she asked, remaining near the back of the room. "Sit down, Detective, and you will find out. You will be privy to a small part of this...meeting of sorts." He glared at her, but she still did not obey. "Sit! Sit or I will have you removed and put in a cage until your fate is decided." At that, Tracy tensed somewhat, but did as asked considering that a cage was her other option and this vampire looked like he was crazy enough to carry through with his threat. "Good. Now, your answer.... You are here to answer questions for me. If you lie, I will know. Do you understand?" Getting a nod, he told her, "Stand up and approach my desk. Stand off to the side." He grinned at her frustration as she stood back up and approached as asked. "Now, how many vampires do you know of? As in those that you know for sure are vampires? Name them." Tracy's mouth unhinged and closed a few times, not sure what to say in answer. "Vachon. Javier Vachon...he's how I found out about vampires. I...I knew about Screed. Uh...I kind of figured out what LaCroix was, and--" "How did you figure it out?" "When..." she started, and looked over toward LaCroix. She watched as he glanced at her, and then turned his attention to Cadeyrn. "LaCroix apparently took my memories away, and when Vachon showed up at my apartment, I remembered LaCroix taking them away, but--" "Thank you. You can--" "But I remember suspecting that LaCroix was a vampire before then. He just...felt wrong, and reminded me of Vachon." Cadeyrn raised his eyebrows at that. "Did he do anything to urge your suspicions on?" "Vachon told me LaCroix wasn't a vampire. But LaCroix...I remember being over at Nick's, one night when he didn't come in because of being sick, and LaCroix came in the room. After he asked me to leave, I swore I saw gold in his eyes, and I knew what it meant. I'd seen that colour before. This was before Vachon came back." Cadeyrn turned his attention to LaCroix. "I can hardly believe you would let your nature slip like that on purpose, Lucius." Opening the file in front of him, he turned it several pages in, turned toward Tracy, and asked, "Did you tell anyone else about vampires, Detective?" "I...I didn't specifically *tell* anyone, but I think I said a bit too much to my partner. He already knew, but...." "But it was not a topic you should have brought up." Turning to LaCroix' son, he considered what course of action he should take for this. As an idea came to him, he grinned and stated, "Nicholas, approach." Once the other stood in front of his desk, he related, "Detective Vetter, something you may not know is that your partner is a...well...trusted in a certain capacity with knowledge of our community. He is..." he hesitated, his smile broadening as he thought of something. "Nicholas is a thrall. He is LaCroix'. He is, more or less one of us, although he is also more or less human. As such, he was required to tell LaCroix of your conversation. I understand you spoke to him about things, including what Nicky is?" "Yes." "Have you spoken about that knowledge with anyone else?" "With Vachon, but I already knew what Nicky was before I spoke with my partner." "I see." Cadeyrn closed his file. "Sit down, please, Nicholas. And Detective...I ask that you leave the room and wait with your...friend." Once they had both done as asked and the door had once more been shut, he turned his attention to Natalie, who seemed to want to ask a question. "What are you going to do with Tracy?" Natalie asked, seeing that he was waiting for her to speak. He flashed the mortal a glare at the directness of her inquiry, but after a second answered, "I'm still trying to decide what action should be taken. I believe she is a particularly difficult resistor, correct, Lucius?" He received a nod, at which he continued, "Considering her...father...it's somewhat difficult to act. If he were not a prominent mortal, I would see that she be killed. However, that is not the best option at this time." Turning to Nicholas, he asked, "Is she trustworthy? I do not like leaving mortals around knowing what we are. However, with Vachon keeping a close eye on her, can she be trusted?" Nick glanced away. "I...I'm not entirely sure. I do not believe she would intentionally reveal anything about the Community. However, if she comes across a matter that involves vampires, she will not simply leave it alone. Our initial conversation was triggered by her concern for Nicky's welfare. I had Vachon tell her what Nicky was, hoping it would satisfy her curiosity, but it did not." "In other words, she posses no particular danger to us, merely herself?" Nick closed his eyes and nodded. "I'm not sure I would have put it that way, but yes. She is more likely to get herself killed than reveal what we are." Cadeyrn grinned at that. "Good. Then perhaps the best option is to just leave her and let her either destroy herself or carry her secret to her grave. Besides, it will give that Spaniard something to occupy himself with. And, if she does manage to create a problem for us in the future, she can always be killed or brought over without the nasty little problem of being linked to Nicholas leaving." He turned back to Natalie. "Now, there is the problem created by your knowledge...which is somewhat more complicated. Nicholas seems to enjoy your company, and it is his rejection of what he is and his father's wisdom that led him to you. As you have performed several services to the Community, I do not believe death should be your fate. However, neither do I believe you should be brought across. First of all, it is certainly not what Nicholas wants, is it? No...and I am also aware that Nicholas and Lucius plan to leave here tomorrow night, and without you, Doctor." Cadeyrn grinned and looked back to LaCroix. "I know exactly what punishment she will receive, one that will be fitting as Lucius' punishment." He gave a soft chuckle. "Lucius, I know you do not like this mortal, so a fitting punishment would be to deal with her presence. And, as I am aware Nicholas does not want to see her in any state other than mortal, this will be quite fitting, I think.... She will be made a thrall as I suggested Nicholas was to his partner. She will be your responsibility, Lucius, and she may not be killed. You may, of course, bring her across if you prefer...but I do not believe either of you wish to be bonded in quite that way." Cadeyrn leaned back into his chair, his hands meeting, one resting on the other in front of him. "There, your matters are settled." "That's it?" both Natalie and LaCroix asked at the same time. LaCroix kept his attention on Cadeyrn as the mortal looked his way, but ignored her. "Yes, that is all. The whole purpose of this was to make sure the Code is being followed...or that at least no danger is being done to the Community. Nicholas has stated that his partner will more likely destroy herself than reveal us. For now, she will remain as is. Doctor Lambert here is to be bonded to you, Lucius. The boy seems to be healthy, and as such will be returned to you so that you may leave. The only other condition is that you do not use your age to your advantage as you have in these matters. This is over, and I hope, very much, that I do not have to see you again under these circumstances as I will not be as lenient with my choices." Cadeyrn stood, and walked around his desk, but didn't approach LaCroix. "Cadeyrn?" Frederick said, standing. Cadeyrn turned to the vampire. "What is it?" "The boy...he is healthy now, but that doesn't mean he will survive the next several years. If I could, I would like to speak with Dr. Lambert and tell her what to expect as the child grows." He didn't get any indication of an answer. "Or at least let me check on the child's health in the future. She is a doctor, and one that knows a fair amount about vampire physiology...I can clear some things up for her, and make sure she knows what to expect." Looking over to the mortal, he stated, "Very well, but see that she learns nothing more than necessary." He turned back to Frederick and added, "Go with them to Lucius' and explain what you wish to explain." Nodding to one of the Enforcers at the door, he said, "Tell the mortal and her friend that they are free to go." One of the Enforcers left the room, closing the door behind him. Smiling in victory and at LaCroix' obvious frustration, he held the other vampire's stare firmly. "You can leave, you know...and I believe you have some packing to do.... Nicholas has, after all, already handed in his resignation, Dr. Lambert must now hand in hers, and you must all prepare for departure." "This is what you wanted, isn't it? You wanted me to leave this city." "Yes, that is primarily what I wanted. And now that you've put things in motion...you have to leave." Knowing that it was the only, and furthermore, the best choice, LaCroix didn't argue. Instead, he sent Cadeyrn a final glare, turned on his heel, and left the room with Nick, Natalie, Frederick, and Nicky closely following. Something... Opportune... - (12/12) Nick, smelling the scent of fresh blood, gave a glace to Natalie and Frederick as they continued talking on the couch. Following it, he halted when he discovered the source was LaCroix' blood flowing into a glass. He stared silently, and when the other rinsed blood off a knife, his eyes darted to the now very full glass of blood and he tensed. He knew without asking it was for Natalie. LaCroix wasn't wasting any time, that's for sure. "You're going to do this now? So soon? I figured you'd wait as long as you could." His sire said nothing. Looking back at the blood, he asked, "You aren't seriously going to give her that much, are you, LaCroix?" "She needs a fair amount to get into her system. It will be the only blood she will receive before we leave." "But LaCroix...." LaCroix turned and told his son matter-of-factly, "It is the only way to get a correct first dose of blood. Would you rather that she need to be brought across?" He let out a forced laugh, stating, "Thralls, as Cadeyrn calls them, are very high maintenance. Not only that, but they are not what you would be expecting, Nicholas. They are mortals that are bound to the Community. They often do not age nearly as fast as they would as mortals, but are otherwise very much like a crossbreed or a hunter in that they can usually sense vampires. And, if given enough of our blood, may attain some of our abilities." "And Natalie?" "She will merely be bonded to me and will only receive enough blood to keep the bond--if even that. I have no wish for the equivalent of another child." Watching LaCroix prepare to pick up the glass of blood, Nick stated, "Besides, you still have your sights set on Nicky, don't you?" LaCroix turned back and gave his son a grin, his eyes twinkling just a bit more than they should. "Of course. The boy *will* need to be brought across at some point. He will grow quickly, and that time may not be far away." "And when that time comes, it will be his choice who brings him over. I want your word that you will not force him to choose you." "Of course not," LaCroix answered, as if it were absurd that he would do such a thing. "And that you will not trick him into it in any way. I want your word on it, LaCroix." LaCroix sobered, stiffening slightly at the anger in his son's voice. "You have my word that it will be the boy's choice," he stated. Then, listening as Frederick left, he smiled, picked up the glass of blood, and left the room. He approached Natalie, who stood as he crossed the room. He handed her the glass and told her, "Drink this, and drink all of it. After doing so, you will not eat until it makes you sick." About to take the glass, Natalie retracted her hand. "Until it makes me sick...?" "It is the only way for your body to absorb the correct amount of blood. Once you have done so, you will throw the rest of it up. In a week from now, I will taste your blood and you will receive more of my blood." Seeing her hesitation, he told her, "Drink it or I will force you to. It would be much more pleasant if you were sick while here and on the ground instead of while travelling, wouldn't you agree?" She reflexively swallowed, then nodded and took the glass. Holding it in front of her, she again sat down. The glass was larger than a wine glass and completely full. The faint metallic aroma of the blood made her stomach flip with the thought that she had to drink it all. She looked up at Nick, but he merely turned away from her. LaCroix stared at her, waiting for her to drink the blood, and Nicky stood half- curious and half-frightened behind LaCroix. Closing her eyes for several seconds, she opened them and then drank from the glass. She took several large swallows, and stopped after drinking nearly three- fourths of the glass. "Finish it!" LaCroix hissed, watching the mortal pull away from the glass. "Drink it all." Again closing her eyes, this time Natalie did not open them until she had drank all of the blood. As she lowered the glass, LaCroix took it from her and she shifted her position on the couch, leaning further back and bringing her legs up in front of her, holding them to her. She felt sick just thinking about what she had just swallowed. LaCroix watched the mortal, then turned and glared at Nicky. The boy started around him, but he caught the boy's shoulder. "Leave her alone, Nicholas. You may either go to sleep, or you may help me. Pick one." Nicky looked over at Natalie, wanting to go over to her. "I...I'll help you," he answered, his eyes still not leaving her. Turning the boy around to face away from the others, he walked over to Nicholas and whispered, "See that she does not eat or drink anything, and watch over her. Comfort her, if you wish...for what good it will do." Nick watched LaCroix leave and lead Nicky into the kitchen. After a couple of minutes, he turned and looked at Natalie. She hadn't moved. On her face he could see her expression of disgust at the taste of the blood. Ever so slowly, he approached and sat next to her. "It'll get better, Nat, and later you won't have to drink nearly as much, either, nor as often." "What exactly will this mean, Nick? Being bonded to LaCroix or whatever..." she said, not wanting to use the term 'thrall', as she didn't like it. "He'll be able to catch the slightest lie, and he'll also be somewhat responsible for your actions. But...it won't change you much, not physically." "How can you be sure?" "Nat, he doesn't want to do this. You might not even be truly bonded to him. You won't be much--if any--different than you are now." He managed a smile before telling her, "For now, you should get some rest." Nick was about to stand up to go help LaCroix when Natalie leaned over and across his lap. He nearly pushed her away, glancing toward the kitchen where he could hear LaCroix on the phone, but he didn't. After a moment, Nick shifted slightly, trying to make Natalie more comfortable. A few minutes later, and she'd fallen asleep, which he knew was probably the best thing for her. Although he didn't particularly want Natalie to come with him, he knew she did want to come--because of both him and Nicky, and would have tried to even if it weren't for Cadeyrn's decision. Looking up, he saw Nicky standing just inside the doorway of the kitchen, staring at them. Nicky watched them for a moment, and then disappeared into the kitchen before returning a short while later, a wine glass full of blood carried carefully in his hands. He walked over to Nick, and after handing the glass to him, he got up on the couch and leaned against Nick. "Why couldn't she have just come with us?" "Because Cadeyrn wanted to get at LaCroix, that's why." Nick drank from his glass, his thoughts on anything and everything but the flavour of the blood. "Will she be like me?" "No," LaCroix said, entering the room. "No, she will not be like you. I will do as Cadeyrn wishes, but as you told her, Nicholas, she will be little different than she is now. I will not give him the satisfaction that he has inconvenienced me." He settled his gaze on Nicky, eyes sparkling once more. "Besides, there are more interesting matters for us to face." Nick tensed at the expression on LaCroix' face. "Remember, LaCroix. Your promise--I *will* hold you to it." Nicky watched as LaCroix turned his attention to the other vampire, glancing between them as they stared at one another. After a moment, he tugged gently on Nick's arm, the action breaking both of the vampires' stares and gaining him access to Nick's glass. He took it and took a sip of the liquid before handing it back to Nick. With the corner of his lip still quirked slightly up, LaCroix said, "Come, mon petit Nicolas...come and I'll get you your own glass." Nicky looked between the two vampires, and after getting a mouthed 'go' from Nick, he got off the couch and walked over to LaCroix, who gently guided him back into the kitchen with a smile. ~finis~ Well, okay, again, not the end.... Next is 'Something of Great Need'. Thank you for reading! Feedback is greatly appreciated. I hope you're enjoying the series so far--still two more stories to go. Jarvinia jarvinia@gmx.com http://gryffonslair.com @>--,---`---