To: fkarchiver@fkfanfic.com Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 14:52:22 -0700 From: KLTurner@sisna.com (Kevin & Beverly Turner) Subject: Re: Behind Blue Eyes Revised PT1/2 Disclaimer: #1 Some of the characters in this story are the property of , Sony/Tristar and all of TPTB. I am just borrowing them for my own amusement. The song belongs to Pete Townshend but if he will let others borrow it to butcher it, I am sure he won't mind me making a story out of it. #2 LAST KNIGHT SPOILERS, if you haven't seen it don't read this. #3 Any similarity to persons living, dead, or UNDEAD is merely a coincidence. #4 Any comments should be sent to Beverly Turner KLTurner@sisna.com Cousin's, please forgive any straying into light cousinhood or Nick and Nat packing. (I really didn't mean to.) Behind Blue Eyes (1/10 ) **************************************************************************** No one Knows what it's like to be the bad man,........ " Don't be foolish, Nicholas. Life is a gift, as sweet as the freshest peach, as precious as a gilded jewel. I have never been able to understand the logic in willfully surrendering such a treasure. What is there to gain? How dark can your existence be, when compared to an eternal void? Or, do you have faith that there is something beyond? What do you see from where you are? A bright light at the end of the tunnel? Is it a ray of hope, a glimmer of something better? Or will it burn you like the morning sun? Are the sounds you hear the trumpeting of St. Peter's angels, or the screams of Memnoch's tortured souls? You can't answer that, can you? Because you will never know the answer until after the deed is done. And is your faith really that strong? ....... And, so, in your eyes, I am the devil." " No. Not the devil, LaCroix." "What, then?" "You are my closest friend." "Damn you, Nicholas." LaCroix took the ornately carved wooden stake that Nick had handed him. He plunged into Nick's back. Nick took one gasping breath. Then his body went limp and fell on top of Natalie's. LaCroix's hands ached as he pulled Nick's lifeless body off of Natalie's, and turned it over. " Why did you ask this of me? Look what you have done to me, Nicholas. I am alone!" LaCroix whispered, as he feel onto his knees. to be the sad man, Behind Blue Eyes.......... LaCroix sat there for what seemed to him to be an eternity. In the silence he could hear Natalie's fluttering heart as it struggled to push the remaining blood through her system. He picked her head up, and looked into her eyes. He then dropped her head back to the floor, and screamed. "This is your fault, you have taken my Nicholas away from me!" He moved toward her, his fangs extended. "I will send you to hell for this, doctor Lambert!" he added. As he bent down he could hear another heart beating. It was weaker than Nat's, but it was beating, beating in a faltering, human, rhythm. He knew what this meant. Nick had found an end to his search. He had regained his mortality. No Mayan cups, or book of spells. Love was the key after all. He loved this frail human girl enough to die for her,with her. Now he was human and dying. LaCroix grabbed the two limp bodies, and dragged them under the skylight. He then dropped Natalie on the floor, and flew out of the skylight with Nick. He returned seconds later for Nat. Nick's car was in front of the garage. He took her to it and pushed her in next to Nick. He pushed the two limp bodies over, and got behind the wheel. "I hate this mode of transportation, Nicholas. Do you hear me? Stay with me, Nicholas!" He could still hear the faint heartbeats. They were still alive but not for long. He called the hospital on Nick's cell phone. He reported an accident that hadn't happened yet. Now the only thing he had to do was get them to where the ambulance would be, on time. Behind Blue Eyes (2/10) **************************************************************************** In Captain Reese's office the phone rang, he picked it up and said "Metro Homicide" in a commanding voice. The voice on the other end announced. " Reese,Mac Isaac here. There's been an accident! It's Knight, and doctor Lambert. They were in a car crash. They've taken them to the hospital but it doesn't look good, they've lost a lot of blood." The captain dropped the receiver on the floor. This was too much for him to handle. First Tracy, then Nick, and Natalie. It was like a nightmare that he couldn't wake up from. The voice on the phone brought him back to reality. " Captain, are you there?" - "Yes, I'm here, although I wish I weren't right now. I'll be down there right away. Find out if there were any witnesses to the accident." - "Already done sir, a woman was walking her dog. She saw the whole thing, although she sounds like a loon to me. She said their car hit a tree, but there's not a scratch on it." - " I don't care about the car, as long as she can tell me what happened." No one knows what it's like to be hated, to be fated to telling only lies..... LaCroix sat in the waiting room of the hospital. He could see the captain in the hallway pumping the poor woman he had hypnotized for more information. All she could say was that they ran off the road, and hit a tree, no other explanation. "Lady, the car was undamaged, not a scratch. Your telling me that it hit the tree, and only the passengers were damaged?" he asked impatiently. "I saw the car hit the tree, then the the ambulance came and took them to the hospital. It was as if they had already been called, and the man brought me here. He said you would want to talk to me."She repeated "What man, where is he?"Reese asked. "In the waiting room."She replied. Reese walked into the waiting room, and stood staring at LaCroix . LaCroix could see the anger welling up in Reese's face. His blood was rushing to his face. LaCroix just smiled at him. "Captain Reese, isn't it?" LC said in a slow melting tone. "Mr. LaCroix, if I find out that you have something to do with this. I will put you away until your flesh rots from your bones." Reese said to him with clenched teeth. "That would be a very long time indeed, captain. I can assure you that this accident was not of my doing." The lie seemed to almost stick in his throat. - "I don't think we need you here anymore LaCroix, You can go. We'll contact you for a statement."- LaCroix looked into Reese's eyes. He felt his heart racing, the blood coursing through his veins. Reese stared back. He felt light headed, but he held on to his senses. "I will go after I see Nicholas, and you will not stop me!" he said in a hypnotic tone. "Why would Nick want to see you?" Reese said. He shook his head to clear the influence of the vampire. "I will see him!" He shouted , "You can not stop me!"- "I can and I will!" Reese relied. At that Reese stormed out leaving LaCroix alone. It was daylight by then too late to leave even if he wanted to. He sat down in the chair and closed his eyes. He need to rest and think. Reese would be a problem. He was the first resister that had given LaCroix trouble. Perhaps it was just the tension. Behind Blue Eyes (3/10 ) But my dream's they aren't as empty, as my conscience seems to be. I have hours only lonely, my love is vengeance that's never free......... LaCroix dreamt of Fleur, as he slept. The beautiful angel who had haunted his dreams for over eight hundred years. He could still hear her voice, see her face. It was burned into his soul. His dream was always the same. She would confess her undying love. He would take her in his arms and drain the life from her. Nicholas would scream "NO!" . She would fall limp from his arms, and then he would wake. This time, as he awoke, he saw her again. She was there in the hospital. Standing over him. Looking into his face with such kindness and pity. It seemed like a cruel trick, or perhaps she was the Angel of death that he had heard so much about. " I am dead?" he commented in a confused tone. - "No, I came to tell you that Nicholas is coming out of his coma. He's going to be alright. Are you ok? You look as if you have seen a ghost!" she said, as she sat down next to him. "Fleur?" he said still confused. " That's my middle name, yes, but people call me Angel." LaCroix stood, and shook his head. He was determined to make this vision go away, and stop tormenting him. She didn't go away, in fact the longer he stood there the more real she became. He could hear her heart beat, feel the blood course through her veins. She was alive! She was real. He felt the vampire in him take control. The hunger forced him to change! He turned away from her but it was too late, she had seen all. " Are you alright, your eyes..... You need to feed don't you. Come with me I think we can take care of this, but we must be careful. She led him into a closet and then left. She returned shortly, with a bag of blood marked O positive. She stepped inside and handed him the bag. He took it from her carefully. She never showed any fear. She was curious but not afraid. She was never afraid of him. "I have to go, they need me, and will be coming to look for me soon. I will come back as soon as I can." she said. She shut the door quickly. He could here her hurried footsteps in the hall. He hesitated for a moment and then he bit into the bag and drained it of it's contents. Only after the bag was drained did he realize what had just happened. Fleur, or someone who looked talked, and behaved, just like her, had saved him. He would have soon reverted to instinct. He would have been discovered. She helped him without question. ****** Nick moaned, and shook his head. He could see bright white light, all around him. He felt no pain, and his body was heavy. He thought he must be dead. The next event assured him he was. He saw his beloved sister standing over him. She was smiling. She was the vision he had longed to see. She was the Angel that would see him on his way. "Fleur, Am I in heaven?" he said to her. "Not Yet, Nicholas." she replied. " Where am I then? Where is Natalie?" - "You are in the hospital. Your girl friend is just fine. So will you be soon, though your wound will take some time to heal, and you will have a nasty scar. Do you know you are the second person to call me Fleur, today? Your father did earlier and now you." - " He is here ?Where? I don't feel him!" He asked. " He is in the closet at the moment. He was hungry, and I thought it best to feed him discreetly." Nick stared wide eyed at her comment. She knew what LaCroix was, he could sense that. She didn't know he was one too. He was sure someone would have questioned his lack of pulse by that time. He must have been dead, or almost he had to be dreaming. "Why? How? I am alive? he said. "Yes, you are going to live." She replied. "I am human?" he whispered. She walked closer to his bed and looked at him curiously. He didn't look like a vampire. He definitely didn't fit the description that she had always heard. He was lying unharmed in a sunlit room. " You mean you were like him? You were a vampire?" she exclaimed. - "I am human?" he said again only louder. " Where is Nat, I need to see her." he screeched. He began to rise and then he fell. The pain had begun. He was as human as humans could be, frail and weak. Nat's idea had worked. He was in a room flooded with sunlight, and he was alive. Behind Blue Eyes (4/10) **************************************************************************** If my fist clenches crack it open before I use it and lose my cool and if I smile tell me some bad news before I laugh and act like a fool....... Angel returned to the closet as soon as she could. She knew instinctively he would still be there. She opened the door carefully. She didn't fear him, but she did respect the danger that he exuded. " Mr. LaCroix?" she said softly. " He is awake and wants to see you." She whispered into the darkness. LaCroix followed her, watching her every move. He was still not sure that this wasn't some awful nightmare. She was haunting him, in his dreams. Now she haunted him in his waking moments also. He followed her to the door of Nick's room. The doctor stopped him there. " Only relatives!" he stated. " You are not his father, Captain Reese told me his parent's were dead." LaCroix's fists clenched. His first reaction was to throw this impotent upstart against the wall. He instead stared into the doctors eyes. He felt the blood surge through his body, at that moment he suggested. " I am going in! You will not stop me!". The doctor repeated his every word and then stepped aside to let him pass. LaCroix looked very pleased with himself, as he walked passed the mesmerized man. Natalie was sitting next to the bed in a wheel chair. She, and Nick, were whispering to each other when LaCroix walked in. "Nicholas I'm glad to see you are well. Dr. Lambert, well I am not so glad to see you fit." - "Why are you smiling, LaCroix?" Natalie said. " You have lost, he no longer belongs to you." she sneered. "Thankyou for saving us my friend. Why? I asked for death." Nick asked. " You didn't ask for anything, Nicholas. Call this an experiment, I heard your heart beat, and I wanted to see if modern medicine could revive you." "You didn't bring me back across? Why?" Nicholas, I have never brought across anyone who didn't want it. You will come to me again some day. When you are tired of the everyday life of a frail mortal." "He will never return to you, LaCroix." Natalie added. Angel walked into the room. LaCroix, and Nick, stared at her as if she were a phantom who had appeared out of nowhere. Natalie smiled at her questioningly. She didn't know why this beautiful woman was creating so much tension between the two men. She almost felt jealous that Nick was staring so much at the nurse. Angel walked over to the bed and began talking, as if she didn't realize that they were staring. " I have come to take your temperature, Nick. Natalie, I have been told to move you in to this room so that you will stay in bed. Mr. LaCroix. the sun is going down. I am going off duty soon and I can drive you somewhere." When she said this the whole room seemed to light up with laughter. Angel was the only one who didn't laugh. She looked from one person to the next, trying to see in their eyes the reason her comment provoked such an outburst. " Is someone going to clue me in or is this a private joke?" she said. LaCroix stood and walked over to her, as soon as he did his dream came back to haunt him. He flashed back to the dream. He would take Fleur into his arms. Nick would scream "No". He would bite down on her neck, and feel her life essence flow into him. She would then fall to the floor dead. He had to be alone with this vision. He had to take her somewhere, away from the confines of the hospital. He had to assure himself that she was truly real. He could see that Nicholas knew his intention. Nick yelled!."No!" LaCroix put his arm around her waist, and walked over to the window. He opened it and stepped out onto the ledge. He held his hand out to her. She grabbed it, and stepped out with him. He put his arm around her again and stepped off the ledge. They hung there for a moment, and then they were gone. Behind Blue Eyes (5/10) **************************************************************************** The Raven was unusually deserted that night. LaCroix walking in with a hot blooded, , girl made all of the patrons stop and stare. " Are we interrupting something?" he queried. His words seemed to change the whole atmosphere. At once everyone was back to normal, dancing, drinking, talking, as if nothing happened. He took Angel to a quiet table in the corner of the bar. A beautiful ebony woman walked up to them. She stared at Angel, as she addressed LaCroix. "Master, We thought you were gone for good. You were moving on." - "I see you didn't host a celebration, pity. I would have enjoyed that." - " We, we couldn't celebrate you leaving us, Master!" - "Come,come now, call me LaCroix. You are making my new friend uncomfortable." - "Yes Mas... LaCroix. Can I get you some thing to drink?" - " Tell Miklos I will have my usual. What will you have my dear?"- "Wha... Oh, white wine if you have some." she replied stumbling over the words.- " We have everything here miss." the woman hissed. She walked off, in a huff, and returned instantly with their drinks. She then left them alone in their quiet corner. LaCroix was still gazing at his companion, as if he expected her to disappear. And if I swallow anything evil put your finger down my throat........ "Fleur?" He said as he looked into her eyes. "Angel!" "Please call me Fleur, if it pleases you. She must have been some woman to affect you, and Nick, so much. When did she die?" - "Over seven hundred years ago. Fleur deBrabant, Nicholas' sister." - " His sister? I would assume she was his lover, your lover. You both had the same reaction to me. Do I really look so much like her?" "You do look, behave, smell, feel and probably taste like her."He replied. She reached up to her lapel,removed the name tag she had been wearing, and poked the end of her finger. The blood oozed out slowly. She offered the finger, and he took it and placed the tip gingerly into his mouth. As soon as the blood touched his tongue he backed away with a look of horror on his face. It was Deja vu, he had done this before. She was the same, her thoughts were Fleur's thoughts. Her dreams, her passion, her essence, was the same as his lost loves. He backed away from her, almost falling from his chair. "What is it? Do I taste that bad?" she said. He looked deep into her eyes, her heart was pounding in his ears. He had to fight the urge to take her to make her his, finally. Being so close to her made him feel dizzy. "You must go! You must forget everything that happened here" he said in a deep hypnotic voice. After he said this, he put his arm around her waist, and led her to the street. In a matter of moments she was in her apartment, still trying to make sense of all that was going on. She could feel her memories leaving. She fought hard to keep control of her mind, but it was too late. She laid down on her bed and drifted off to sleep. She had dreams of stars and planets. She saw faces flash before her, people wearing strange clothing. Everyone spoke French and she understood it all. There was a man in her dream, she called him Nicola. She saw a boy, his name was Andre. Then she dreamt of the stars, white roses, books, and a man named Lucien. Behind Blue Eyes (6/10) **************************************************************************** When Angel woke the next morning she found a single, white, rosebud on her pillow. She couldn't remember anything that had happened the day before. She took the rose and put it in a vase, and then she dressed for work. She kept trying to remember something about the preceding day. She remembered going to work, and then the rest was blank. It was as if someone had erased her memory. When she arrived at the hospital everyone was staring at her. "Liz, what's wrong with everyone?" - "First you get real friendly with that strange man, then you disappear without checking out. You appear today asking me what's wrong with everyone! What's wrong with you? - "I don't understand. I don't remember any man!" " That cute detective has been asking for you also. He may have a Fiancee, but he sure is interested in you." - "What detective?" - "He's in there, go ask him your silly questions."she said in an impatient tone. Angel walked over to the door and looked inside. The patients were both sleeping. She opened the door wider, and walked inside. The man she had seen in her dreams, Nicola, was lying there sleeping soundly. She looked at the chart. The last name was different, but he was the one she dreamed of. He was sleeping soundly. She tried hard to force her memories back. The chart helped a little. "Nick Knight, Blood type AB negative." she whispered to herself. "Fleur, Sorry Angel, are you alright? Did he hurt you?" "No Nicola" she said without thinking. "I am fine, go back to sleep." "You are so like her, you know. He loved her! I don't think he ever loved anyone, but her." She didn't know what to say to him. He was talking to her as if they were both privy to some secret, but she had no idea what he was talking about. Who was this "He" that the detective was talking about. Who was this "Her", and why was he saying she looked like this person. She motioned for Nick to lay back down. She was certain that he was hallucinating. She left as soon as Nick laid back onto his pillow. Natalie was awake when Angel made her way back to the room. She was sitting in a chair, watching Nick sleep. She was still fighting an unusual infection and Angels nursing instincts took over, though she could see that Nat was worried about Nick. "Natalie you should be in bed you know. You lost a lot of blood." - "I always love watching him sleep, now especially. He asked me to marry him! I want you to be my maid of honor at my wedding Angel." she stated. "Natalie you only met me yesterday. You don't even know me. Shouldn't you ask one of your friends?" She replied. "I lost everyone close to me except Grace, and she is superstitious about it.. You and the doctors helped make this possible, as much as LaCroix did. Nick won't get married in a church because of him. Do you know that Nick thinks you are his sister, reincarnate? "I'm not at all sure that I'm not, Natalie. I have been told that I lived a past life, by my therapist. I had a dream last night. I have them often, but this one was more vivid than usual. In it Nick spoke French, and wore antique clothing. This morning I couldn't remember what happened yesterday, but when Nick started telling me LaCroix loved Fleur. I remembered it all." - "He hypnotized you!"I thought for sure he would kill you, but Nick said not to worry." - " Lucien believes me to be Fleur also. He told me I resembled her in every way, even taste." She showed Natalie the pricked finger. Natalie stared at the finger. "Did he change at all, when he tasted your blood?" No, he didn't "vamp out" if that's what you mean. He just stared at me with those blue eyes. It was like he was looking into my soul." Natalie stared in disbelief. She wasn't one to believe in reincarnation, but before Nick she didn't believe in vampires either. Angel had allowed LaCroix to taste her blood. Did she know what that meant to them. Natalie told Nick a shortened version when he woke. He seemed to take the conversation much better than she did. When Angel walked in they were still talking of the incident. Nick's only advise was for Angel to stay far away from LaCroix. "He is dangerous, Angel. He is a killer." The words rang in her mind for the rest of the day. She felt something for this "Killer". She wanted to know more. Her natural curiosity wouldn't let her drop the subject. Nick didn't know her. She was a stranger to him. He was acting like Andrew, her big brother. They even looked similar. Perhaps the therapist was right. She was Fleur deBrabant and Nick was her brother. She was not prepared to deal with two overprotective big brothers. Behind Blue Eyes (7/10) **************************************************************************** If I shiver please give me a blanket keep me warm let me wear you coat........ The hospital seemed deserted when LaCroix arrived. He had to tell Nicholas everything before he left, he owed him that much. He had gotten passed the guard on the door, and into the room very quickly. He didn't notice Angel sitting in the chair by the door, she was sleeping. He walked over to the bed and gently shook Nick. "Nicholas! Wake up. he whispered ." - "LaCroix, it's good to see you again. I wasn't sleeping! I still can't seem to sleep at night. Seven centuries is a long time." - "Nicholas, I must leave before the fates play tricks with me again. She your sister! I didn't believe you about Francesca, not truly. I am a believer now! I must leave her again now." - "She just looks like her! Fleur is dead, we buried her!"Nick answered. "She lives, and she is the same. Her thought's, her feelings, her love, all the same." LaCroix seemed to shiver as he spoke. He looked as if he had seen a ghost. Nick could tell he hadn't had any nourishment since the day before. He actually believed what he said. It was actually true, Angel was Nick's beloved sister, returning from the grave. No one noticed Angel waking up, and walking over to LaCroix, until she put the blanket she had been using around his shoulders. She saw him shivering. Her instincts told her that he was cold. "Please stay away from me!" He said to her. "You don't know what I am, who I am. I am death incarnate! I will kill you." "I know what you are. I know who you are, and I am not afraid to die. You wont kill me. I want to know who I am. What I am! Why your cold heart melts for me." LaCroix stood and looked into her eyes. His cold heart had melted. The feelings came rushing in again. He put his arm around her waist. He felt her warm body shiver with anticipation. He looked into her eyes. His Fleur was reflected in those eyes. If the eyes are truly the mirror of the soul, then Angel had Fleur's soul inside her. He wanted to push her away. He decided to take her away again, before Nicholas could protest. He hesitated for a moment, and then they were gone. "LaCroix,NO, don't !" Nick shouted. - It was too late! They were both gone, and Nick was still to weak to go after them. He nearly fell out of bed trying to stop them. The shouting had awaken Natalie. She was staring out the open window with him. They both were worried. LaCroix was more dangerous to Angel, than any other human. Nick knew what the plan would be, LaCroix wouldn't lose her again. ******* The I.A. hearing was held three days later. Reese was worried about Nick's allergy to the sun, but the doctor had cleared him for a late morning hearing. He had somehow miraculously recovered. Tracy's father wasn't at the courtroom. His heart had softened, a bit, because of the accident and time. He didn't blame Nick anymore, he blamed himself. The review board gave nick a slap on the hand for unnecessary roughness toward the shooter. He received a month riding a desk, which he would have had to do anyway, after the accident. If his partner hadn't been shot by the man he probably would have been suspended for killing him. Nick had been in the hospital during Tracy's funeral. It was a long day for him. He couldn't say good bye. He didn't want to say it. He had told Nat he would give his humanity to have Tracy alive again. Nat had gotten mad at first but she soon got over it. She knew he was only grieving for his partner. but her biggest fear was that he would do what LaCroix had said. He would go back. She felt partly responsible. He was going to bring Tracy across. She had stopped him. Tracy would be here today if he had. Going home was not as easy as Nick thought it would be. Nat had already moved in and was in the process of redecorating. The happenings of the weeks earlier had weighed heavy on him. He kept hearing LaCroix words to him, "You will come back Nicholas. I know you will." He was worried about Angel. She didn't know that she was playing with fire. Nick had come to believe she really was his sister. She needed protection from the evil that was in his former master. "Nick are you all-right?" Nat interrupted. "I am just adjusting Nat." He said in a sad tone. "You are worried about Angel! Aren't you?She's a big girl, Nick, and she doesn't need a big brother to protect her. If she did, she has one already." "She is the only family I have. She is my sister, and I can't help feeling that he will hurt her." "You said he loved Fleur, and he believes, as you do, that Angel is Fleur. He wont hurt her if he loves her Nick." Behind Blue Eyes (8/10) **************************************************************************** No one knows what it's like to feel these feelings, like I do, and I blame you............... The more time LaCroix spent with Angel, the more convinced he was that she was really Fleur. He told himself that he would stay away, and leave her alone. When he tried she would seek him out. Her face haunted him in his dreams, and even more when he was awake. It had been three weeks since that day in the hospital, and she still haunted him. His promise to Nicholas haunted him also. He had promised to take the life of his one true love, instead he had saved her. Was he being rewarded for that act? Did Fleur return to him because of a broken promise? He watched her, when she was at home. He was drawn to her, and she seem drawn to him. For the first time in his life, LaCroix had refused to drink blood. He didn't want to taste anything but her blood. He looked at the invitation on the table. Nick was marrying Natalie in two months. She had taken his Nicholas away, and he had helped her do it. Now to add to the insult he was to stand beside Nick, and watch him perform a barbaric ritual to bind him to her, for the rest of his short life. *** "And what will your beloved Captain think of me standing there Nicholas? Have you even considered that I may not be welcome, at such an affair?" "You are my best friend, my savior. I owe you my life, and Natalie's life also. I need you there!" " Do you remember my promise to you, Nicholas?" Nick repeated word for word what his master had said to him so many years ago. "One day, when you have fallen in love. I will take from you what you have taken from me now. I remember, LaCroix." " I will stand beside you, Nicholas. I will kiss the bride. I will wish you well, and then I will leave you alone. I have learned over these weeks that you were right, about Fleur." "I am sorry my friend." Nick expressed, before leaving his former master alone. *** Angel disturbed the trance LaCroix was in as she walked into the small office. She was carrying an ornate wine glass filled with red liquid. She decided that the only way to get his attention was to tease. She was very good at teasing. He hadn't touched her other than to fly her around the city. She longed to feel him near her. His eyes drew her in, as if they were a great blue vortex. She had fallen in love with this "monster", and she wanted him to feel the same. "I brought you something special." she whispered provocatively. LaCroix knew before she spoke that she had brought him her own blood. He could smell her sweetness in it, before she even entered the room. He was both aroused and angry at her. Part of him wanted to bring her across, and make her his own. Another part wanted to believe what Nicholas had said, that he loved her for her innocence. Still another part of him wanted to kill her. She was not so innocent ! She taunted him as if she were a demon, trying to steal his soul, if he had a soul. "Angel? or devil come to steal my soul?" he said to her as he took the cup from her hand, and sniffed the contents. "I wanted you to need me! You haven't even touched me in all this time. Lucien I want to feel you arms around me. I want you to...." she stopped herself, before she said the words that always seemed to invoke his sarcastic side. He had told her many time that a vampires heart was to cold for love, but her heart was human. She did love him. "I don't need! I desire, I take, I kill! I don't love anyone." "I love you Lucien! I can't help that. I have tried to see you as the monster you tell me you are, but I can't." "Drink to me only with thine eyes." He slightly misquoted to her. He then proceeded to drink all of the contents of the cup in one gulp. She walked out in a huff. She saw that the staff of the Raven were all staring at her. She knew they all whispered about her. They all wanted her dead, for his sake. They couldn't understand why she was still alive. If it weren't for Lucien she would be on the menu. Behind Blue Eyes (9/10) **************************************************************************** No one bites back as hard on their anger, none of my pain ,and woe, can show through....... LaCroix sat in his booth preparing his monologue for the airwaves. He hadn't been the Nightcrawler for some time now. He could no longer feel Nick. He couldn't use him as a subject anymore. For the first time, in two thousand years, he didn't know what to say. He could only feel his own tortured soul. His love was right at his fingertips, and yet she was so far away. He missed teasing Nicholas also. It was much more fun to goad him into that Knight in shining Armour personality of his. Bonsoir Mes Ami's, tonight subject is desire. It is a devil that taunts you, and steals your soul. You say you love her. You need her, so you take her. You have quenched your thirst, but have you quenched the desire? No, It is there ever taunting, ever seizing your every breath. You would say to the Nightcrawler, just stay away from temptation. Wouldn't you Nicholas," Go, leave her," you would say, but I did leave her Nicholas, and she came after me , to send my soul to hell. Perhaps I shall send her there first, perhaps I shall end this torment forever. The lines are open. Do call in............ Nick knew exactly what his old friend was saying he grabbed his coat and keys and ran to the door. Natalie stopped him there. "What is it Nick?" Natalie asked. "He's going to do it Nat. He's going to kill her!" "He said so? I thought he loved her." "He loves her and he will kill her or bring her across. I must stop him either way." Natalie kissed him on the cheek and shoved him toward the door. She knew he would always save the damsel in distress, it was the code of chivalry and he would always be the Knight in shining armor. It was what she loved about him. Angel waited for Lucien to finish. She heard every word he had said. Tonight was the night she had been waiting for all of her life. He was going to take her, if Nick didn't stop him. It was a challenge. He was using her to taunt Nick. She didn't care about Nick. Tonight her love would take her in his arms, and she would be free from the pain of life. She quickly ran to the mirror the dress was perfect, her hair was perfect, her makeup..... She applied some lipstick to her lips with shaking hands. For the first time since she met him she feared him. How often had he told her that he was death, incarnate, and she should stay away. She didn't fear death or the other possibility. Nick had told her that the bite was the pleasure to vampires. It was the only way they could be together, and it would mean her death. Natalie had also told her of the pleasures of being bitten. His thoughts would become hers, and his feelings. That,s what she had said. LaCroix walked into his office with a sly smile on his face. Nick would come! He couldn't resist. It would be like old times. The gallant Knight would ride up in his Cadillac, and save the maiden in distress. He snickered at the thought. He had no plans to do anything but wait. He had still not decided the fate of his "precious flower". Angel opened the office door, and peeked through. She knew he could feel her, but he never acknowledged her when she spied on him. He sat with his back to the door. She could tell he was well pleased with himself. He was getting Nick to come to him, to beg him for her life. She knew she had to work fast, before Nick arrived, "Thank God he is human" whispered to herself. "Lucien? I heard what you said. Do you mean it? Are you just using me as a pawn ,in your silly game with Nick." "I never play games! I always keep my promises." "Then do it now take me in you arms, and drink before he gets here! Prove to me that I am not just a pawn." "YOU do not tell me what to do girl! You tease like a virgin. You taunt me with your blood. YOU ARE NOT FLEUR! You are a demon come to take my soul to hell." "I am who I have always been! I have always loved you. I want you to take me, and drink from me. I want to die in your arms tonight." LaCroix stood and move toward her. She could see his eyes glowing in the darkened room, his fangs reflecting the light from outside the room. She stiffened slightly. She shouldn't have made him so angry. He hissed at he! She could feel the blood pumping harder in her neck. Her first urge was to run like a scared rabbit, but she stood her ground, and gave him a defiant stare. He grabbed her and spun her around holding tightly to her waist. She could feel his fangs brush up against her skin over and over. He was kissing her neck, her shoulder! He spun her around again and began kissing her hard on the mouth. She yielded to his every movement. His hands moved up and down her body caressing every inch. The feeling of his cold skin gave her chills. The excitement made her shiver. "He does love me" she said in her mind. He moved slowly behind her kissing her neck, again. Then she felt a sharp pain. His thoughts were at once her thoughts. She saw flashes of thousands of people being killed. She could taste there blood in her mouth. She could see Nick and many others, rising to a living death. Nick ran through the door of the Raven as fast as mortal legs could carry him. He would lose his sister again tonight, if he didn't hurry. He threw the office door open, and saw to his horror that he was too late. All he could do was to scream "NO!" ,before the lifeless body of his sister crumpled to the floor. "Too late Nicholas! See what your humanity has done. You were to late to save her!" He wiped the blood from his lip with his index finger, and smeared it on Nicks terror stricken face. "BRING HER ACROSS LACROIX!" he screamed, as he wiped the blood with his shirt sleeve. " You Nicholas, you want me to bring her across, against her wishes? She asked to die in my arms. I did what she asked! I am surprised that you would want to subject her to the unending torture that you strove to escape."He stated sarcastically. "I can't loose her again LaCroix! You can't loose her again. You once told me you loved her.." "I loved Fleur. This is not Fleur! This is an Angel of darkness. She is not your sister." Nick looked at the lifeless body of Angel. She was his sister, as much as anyone could be. He turned and walked to the door, he could not bring her across, and LaCroix would not. He turned again to face his former master. He was about to do what LaCroix had wanted. He would give up his humanity for his sister's life. He couldn't bring the words to the surface. Not after all that He and Nat had been through. It was no guarantee that LaCroix would do what he asked, or that he could. Nick had no idea how far gone his sister was. He couldn't feel her. "Why LaCroix, why now? I should have watched her more closely. I didn't realize that she was so in love." "Nicholas, give up this humanity that has stricken you. Come back to me and I will bring her across. We will be together forever." "I can't, I want to try to live a normal life. Do you remember what it was like to walk in the sun? I have felt the sun at my back. I have stood in it, and felt it warm my whole being." "You would trade her life for your humanity, for the sun on your back? You are not as human as you believe yourself to be." "You have taken her! I can"t change that. Only you can decide whether she lives, or dies. Bring her across, please." After that one final plea Nick walked away leaving LaCroix forever. **************************************************************************** Behind Blue Eyes (10/10) **************************************************************************** But my dream's they aren't as empty, as my conscience seems to be. I have hours only lonely, my love is vengeance that's never free......... LaCroix woke with a start. His dream had come back to haunt him. He had heard Fleur confessing undying love for him. He took her in his arms and drained the life from her. Nicholas screamed "NO!" , she fell limp from his arms and then he woke. He jumped from his bed, and flew to the room he had given her. She was the first human to sleep in the club since Janette left. He opened the door and looked inside. She was sleeping soundly. The bottle he had given her was drained of all it's contents. He walked over and picked up her hand. Her skin was like that of a porcelain doll, pale and cold. She looked the same, but her heart no longer taunted him with it's steady beats. The contact of master and daughter was almost as intoxicating though. She would be easy to train, and her love for him had not died with her humanity, as Nicholas had thought. He would take her away tonight. Nicholas would have to find someone else to stand for him. He would never forgive his old master, even though it was his idea, to bring her across..... Epilogue: Nick sat on the roof looking at the sunset. It had been a week since that night in the Raven. He hadn't seen his friend since. He found out what had happened when "Fleur" had called Nat to tell her she couldn't stand as he maid of honor. She had told them not to hold a grudge. She was happy and they could call her Fleur from now on. "Nick, would you please come down here. What if you fall? I have something to say to you." Nick was at her side so quickly that she almost wondered if he really was human. "Please, don't scare me like that. You shouldn't be out there you know. You could get pneumonia! You are experiencing your first cold in over seven hundred years you know." "Natalie, I am fine. I was just hoping....." "He's not coming back you know. He doesn't need you anymore." "I know, I just never got to say good bye, that's all." "I am going to take some time off work , Nick." "Why, I thought you loved seeing me every day. " "I hope I will still see you everyday. Nick I have been sick for three weeks, and I can't keep barfing on the stiffs." "Your flu is still bothering you?" "It's not flu,Nick. Do you like the Name, Tracy, or Fleur, for a girl or maybe Angel, she doesn't seem to be using that name anymore?" " What do you mean Nat? "I was thinking Nicholas, for a boy although I like Robert too." Nick stood staring at Natalie, for a long time. He couldn't believe what she was saying to him. She was pregnant, he was actually going to be a father after all......... B.J.Turner bjturner@geocities.com Diviant, CotK, Closet FoD, with Dark Knightie tendancies http://www.geocities.com/Area51/6820/