From: Liz[SMTP:E.J.Andrew@SHEFFIELD.AC.UK] Sent: Monday, November 18, 1996 1:37 AM To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L Subject: Kings pawn (1/?) Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me, but TPTB at Forever Knight, no copyright infringement intended by this story. ______________ Kings Pawn (1/?) Nick screamed... An animalistic scream that tore from his throat as violently as the wood tearing through his back and chest. The action was totally involuntary, and he was barely aware that the sound was his. For a few moments confusion and anguish clawed wildly at his mind and senses until the darkness gripped the edges of his consciousness and he lost all awareness of time and place. All that remained was the fire in his chest. __________________ "Hmm.." "I'm serious Nightcrawler" the voice sobbed on oblivious to the patronising amusement in the others tone. "...that's all I am to them, I'm on display, theirs to show off. I jump through hoops but they never praise me never say any...." It trailed of with an angry sob. An amused grin twisted LaCroix's features, the red glow from the dim lighting colouring his pale face. How he loved mortals and their foolish ways. "And what would you have them say? You desire praise, laudation for your actions. Yet you claim they are but the result of another's wishes. How can anyone expect to be praised solely for performing, bending to the will of another? And yet, gentle listeners, do any of us really believe that our actions are our own? Who is it that controls you, who do you aim to please... your family, your love, your bosses, work mates, friends.. or is it your fate, your god, that you look to? This trap you have found yourself in is a cage of your own making. You tell me you cannot leave. I asked you do you really wish to?" "I don't understand Nightcrawler" LaCroix grunted in disdain, as he begin to get bored by this particular, pathetic creature, and his views on freedom, even though they did have an enticingly familiar ring to them. "No I don't suppose you do.. but then why would you..." He reached to switch to a commercial and cut off the whining mortal, when it hit him. Like a thousand volts of electricity it screamed through his head, through every cell and pore in his body and for one moment he was capable of only one thought... After a moment and a couple of long calming breaths he reached out mentally to his wayward son, trying to ascertain what trouble he'd got himself into. Instantly LaCroix was able to discern two things: The idiot was still alive, at least for the moment; secondly, though barely conscious, he was in a lot of pain. Instinct almost sent LaCroix through the nearest plate glass window to rescue Nicholas from whatever entanglement he had become embroiled this time. But his age and sensibilities stopped the action before it began. He leaned back, detachment in place and, concentrated on his link and the matter in hand. Nicholas wasn't dying yet, and was seemingly safe for the short term. More importantly he did seem to rant on a lot whenever LaCroix in his little imaginary mortal life, an intervention now would probably serve only to annoy Nicholas. Maybe it would be best to let him stew... ...for a little while at least. Maybe when he did chose to act Nicholas would be pleased to see him. That decided, LaCroix reached to switch his mic back on, ready for round two of delusion mortals verses omnipotent vampire. ________________ "Look, I'm desperate here Nat, do you know where he is?" Nat swung round finally to face him, annoyed. Sighing tiredly. "No Schanke, I do not know where Nick is. I. am. not. Nick's. keeper." She enunciated clearly, maybe one day someone would believe her. Maybe one day she would believe it herself. She turned back to the body in font of her, silently threatening Schanke with a full autopsy if he didn't get out from under her feet. Recently the two of them had been more out of sink than normal, if that was possible, and soon she thought she'd have to start cuffing them together at the beginning of their shifts, that is if Cohen didn't beat her to it. "Oh man, oh man Nat, Cohen is going to kill him, if he ever turns up that is. Hey, Cohen's going to kill me if I don't find him. Why does he always do this to me?" There was desperation in his voice, and when she turned she saw it echoed in his eyes. Her anger and frustration at being disrupted faded as quickly as it had arisen, after all Nick was the main perpetrator, Schanke just seem to take the heat. She smiled sympathetically, watching as her warmth reached him and reassured him. "Have you been to the loft?" "No, he's not answering his phone... or his mobile for that matter. I tried the Raven, but Janette said she hadn't seen him, and I got the feeling she didn't appreciate me asking. But I'm telling you Nat, she seemed really upset, something was wrong there." Nat tried not to think of Janette's reaction to Schanke's typical style, though the image was rather pleasing, maybe she should try to find more reasons for Schanke to visit the Raven. "Okay," she started her practical tone back in place "how about we start at the Loft and go on from there." She smiled again softening him further, and then turned to grab her coat and keys. One day she'd actually get them communicating. "Well, come on Schank, we'll find him." _________ By the time the Schanke pulled his car into the space in front of the Loft, Natalie was fuming again, but not at him. At Nick. Sure Nick was a vampire, sure he had problems, scratch that, Big problems, but Schanke was a good cop, he deserved better. Hell she deserved better. As they got into the lift Schanke turned to Nat, smiling confidently as if they had already found him. "You know Nat, one day he's going to get into serious trouble and no one will notice he's gone `cept us." That got a laugh from Nat as she was filled with his confidence. They shared a moment of happy camaraderie over their mutual problem, Nick. And Nat, not for the first time wished that she could truly discuss Nick, share him, vampire and all, with Schanke. The lift stopped and Schanke swung the door open... ...time stopped for Nat, as suddenly Schanke's fears became very real. Glass from the sky light and two of the windows covered the floor and furniture. The cold winter wind whipped in through the smashed frames and round the Loft making it seem even more desolate than normal. It wasn't that that froze Natalie, but the blood. The floor near the piano was covered as it pooled round the legs of the stool, and it ran across the room soaking the edge of the nearest rug. "Oh man... Nat!" Schanke reached to grab her as she rushed it to the room, before she could destroy the scene. Reaching for his phone he moved to call it in. __________________ End part 1 Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 10:45:42 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: Kings pawn (2/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L _______________ Kings pawn part 2 He was dragged out of his semi-conscious stupor by a sudden jolt. Fire soared up his back and through his chest, and Nick was dimly aware that the offending object was still in place. A wrenching cough confirmed this, and that a number of ribs were not. He coughed again and blood sprayed from his mouth, staining his lips and stirring the Hunger inside him. He concentrated on the hum of the engine and the sounds of the city at night, that he could hear dimly beyond the agony roaring in his ears. It helped clear his head, and bring him closer to full lucidity. He was lying on his side in a van? the boot of a car? He couldn't tell, his eyes were clenched shut tightly in pain, and wouldn't open, nor would his brain make his hands move. After a while he stopped struggling, the effort not worth the pain it caused, and lay there listening with his remaining strength to the traffic and the city trying to mark his route. Suddenly the vehicle pulled away and to the right, sending him across the floor. As he hit the side the wood was pushed further through his chest. He screamed, silently this time his ruined throat no longer capable of making noise, as his mind finally let go of all consciousness and he fell into blackness. __________________ The Raven was unusually busy tonight. The crowd, vampires and mortals alike seemed, to be feeding off some powerful invisible energy. The whole placed pulsed with the heat and the throb of the music. The combined smell of sweat and the blood scent was tangible, intoxicating to the vampires in club, but it only served to further annoy and frustrate the vampire resting at the end of the bar. Sensing her mood no one had approached her all night, instead keeping that region of the club at a respectable distance. Some one approached now though. She didn't look up or acknowledge LaCroix's arrival until he was standing close up behind her, one hand resting lightly on her shoulder the other reaching around to grip her right hand tightly. He leaned towards her and whispered quietly in her ear. "Is there something I should know about Janette?" She pulled away and turned part way round on her stool to face him. Anger shone in her eyes. "What have you done to him?" She shot back, not in the mood for his games. "I assure you Janette any trouble he has got himself into is entirely of his own making." He reached up to her chin and tilled it so she was looking directly into his cool blue eyes. " I don't suppose you know what trouble that may be, do you?" She glanced down, moving away from his hand, and then out across the dance floor, trying to feign interest in the mass of bodies writhing there. "He came in three days ago on a case, I didn't ask for details, but he was asking about a vampire." "Ahh..." LaCroix smiled a smile that set the hairs on her neck on end. "...and this vampire has a name I assume?" She turned her head to look in his eyes, using her indignation to try to gain some control in the conversation. " According to Nichola, he's in Toronto on business, I didn't ask or care what." She paused angry and unsure of LaCroix's mood. "His name was Jeff Goodman, or something like that." Most people, vampires, wouldn't have noticed his reaction but Janette felt it, and a stab of concern, and worry so uncharacteristic of LaCroix. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but still she instinctively reached out to him, then jerked back at the silent threat in his eyes. "Who is he?...LaCroix this concerns me, tell me." LaCroix's glare grew colder and he reached out and grasped her left hand tightly. "Janette...what else?" "LaCroix please, if Nicho..." the grip on her hand tightened painfully, abruptly stopping the question on her lips. She looked down and answered quietly. "He didn't tell me any thing else, and I haven't seen or heard of this vampire, no one here has." LaCroix moved her hand to his lips not bothering to hide the pleasure in his features. She jerked it away angrily as he released her. Then he was gone, sweeping regally out of the club as the patrons, vampire and mortal alike, cleared out his way. "Merde" swore Janette glaring angrily at her sore hand. A full glass appeared on the bar beside her, accompanied by Miklos's sincere face. She looked towards him accepting the glass, she smiled a self depreciating smile "Why do I feel like a performing poodle?" Miklos didn't answer wisely, and she rose sweeping up the bottle in her free hand. "No one is to disturb me." she commanded, then headed to the back rooms of the club with an air of grace that easily matched LaCroix's. ____________ As with every scene the loft swarmed with crime scene officers and equipment, but there was something missing here. The buzz of sick jokes and tension relieving banter wasn't there, and the silence, punctuated by the repeat of a camera flash, held a sober and eerie note that no one was willing or able to break. This wasn't another dead stranger, who for sanity's sake had to be confined to the realms of grotesque humour, this was one of them. The ultimate sacrilege, a cop. Weather Knight was missing or dead didn't matter, everyone at this scene, for this moment was facing they own mortality, a cold reality beyond the shield of the badge and the gun. The slam and crash of the phone being flung from the table broke the silence, and stopped the activity for a moment. Then it continued with renewed vigour. Natalie swore silently, frustrated to the point of despair. She needed to speak to Janette, had been trying for hours, but one of her bloodsucking lackeys was stonewalling her. She bent to pick up the phone and jumped as a hand touched her shoulder. "Hey Nat, how about I give you a lift home, let these guys deal with this." She forced a smile in Schanke's direction, shaking her head. "I should be here, they might miss something." It wasn't the first time the police had been through Nick's stuff but she felt some responsibility to him, to stop them digging further into his privacy. And then there was the blood to consider, she had to make sure that she did the work up or else there would be some very awkward questions. And she had to contact Janette, she would know if something serious had happened to Nick. she cried out silently. Amanda Cohen approached them shaking her head. "It doesn't look good I'm afraid, according to Mathers, if that is Detective Knight's blood then we're probably searching for a body." Nat's features jumped as fear crossed them, she had done a quick search of the loft and there was no ash. Nick was alive. Nick had to be alive. She turned her glare to the stand-in ME over on the other side of the room, he couldn't know that Nick could survive this much blood loss but his attitude filled her with rage anyway. "There always appears to be more blood than there actually is at scenes, you know that." She turned her anger on Cohen and Schanke as well, furious that the police, his friends would dismiss him so easily. "Natalie..." She headed off across the room leaving Schanke's objection behind her. "I ought to do the blood test, we wouldn't want any mistakes." She snatched the samples from Mathers, and then started to usher people from the loft. "If you've finished playing I am going to tidy up here!!" Schanke started towards Nat, ignoring the complaints of the crime scene officers, who looked to him for help, pleading silently as they were herded into the lift like sheep. He was held back by Cohen, who smiled sympathetically at him, then nodded towards Natalie with a knowing look. "We're done here anyway Detective. Stay with her and help her, and look around a bit more, it may do some good." "But Captain I should be out looking for Nick. I should be doing something." He called at her retreating form, sounding almost as lost as Natalie. Cohen stopped her journey to the stairs, and turned briefly, indicating Natalie. "You can Detective, you can make sure that that blood test gets done." And with that the Loft was quiet again. ______________ End part 2 Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 16:46:03 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's pawn (3/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L _______________ King's pawn part 3 By the time Schanke arrived back from the morgue with the lab results, Cohen had set everyone at the station to work on finding Nick. As he walked in people stopped and looked at him expectantly. This was their last hope, they looked to him with desperation, he would tell them it was a mistake, that the blood wasn't Nick's, that Nick was just of on another disappearing fit. Before he could muster up anything to say Cohen had pulled him into her office and closed the door and the blinds. "Detective?" She asked expectantly, though she didn't need to, the look on his face said it all. Schanke dropped into a chair across form her like a ton of lead, his distress and fatigue clear on his face. "It's Nick's." Was all he could manage to say. Cohen waited patiently watching the tide of emotions cross her detective's face. For all their arguing and mismatched moods, she, like everyone else knew how much this set of partners cared for each other, maybe more than most. If Nick Knight was dead the loss to them all would be high, the loss to Schanke immeasurable. Schanke shifted in his seat breaking out of his reverie. "Natalie thinks that he's alive though, she says that there wasn't enough and some of it may not be his." It was such a small ray of hope but it was all they had, and all they looked to be getting. Cohen stood taking the file out of his hands, and regarded him closely. She shouldn't let him near this really but she couldn't send him home, expect him to do nothing. Also he more than anyone was likely to know what knight may have got involved in. "Okay, I have people checking out his haunts, I want you to go over the cases you were working with Rosen and Franklin, look for anything he may of got mixed up in, and bring in anyone who you think maybe involved." Then she left him, let him have some time alone while she broke the news to the expectant precinct. _____________ Slowly he began to move. He had been aware for a bit, at least aware enough to note that his chest and ribs had begun to heal, although far too slowly. It was the Hunger that finally dragged him up to his knees, as it clawed through him, making him tremble, weak with the pain. His eyes shot open suddenly, gold almost red, and staring, as they searched his surroundings for blood. He was in some kind of cell, the walls built with heavy stone, reminiscent of the large dank wine cellars found in old Parisian houses. The only door was metal with thick hinges and no outward sign of a locking mechanism. It would have been a fight on a good day, but that wasn't what was stopping Nick's exit. Welded on to the door was a large gold altar cross, which was discomforting enough to the injured vampire to prevent him testing the door's true strength. It was an ingenious set up really he mused, the door swung inwards when open so the cross would face into the wall allowing any vampire clear access in and out of the cell without being even slightly troubled. Once the door was shut however, the only exit to cell became a less than appealing option. His beast raged inside, angry at his confinement, and driven into fury by the hunger. Taking long deep breaths, he tried to control his rage and master himself again. Nick's control was rarely matched by any of his kind when it came to mastering the Hunger, the lure of the blood, but captivity was one thing he couldn't tolerate, the fear and anger it produced was too powerful for him. After a while though he felt himself begin to calm, the vampire receding leaving behind a tired injured man. He managed to drag himself to the wall away from the door, and he slumped against it, eyes closed in pain, trying to workout who was responsible for his predicament. ********** The office was a very comfortable size, and the large windows looking out across the Toronto sky line, would make it seem all the more open and grand. But the effect was negated today because of the dozen cops and forensic officers that were slowly tearing the place apart. "Okay Schank, what have we got." Schanke eyed up the barely awake unshaven detective in front of him and raised an eyebrow. "Nice of you to get out of bed for us partner, or did we not get to bed?" At the look Nick sent him Schanke moved on fast. "Okay the deceased is one Gregory Bolland, American. Apparently he was the bigwig in some big drugs company, Heam-tech, or something like that. Eer...oh and the cause of death I'm guessing having the side of his head blown off, but we should wait for the experts' option." He indicated in the direction of the body and Natalie's approaching form. She slowed as she got close taking in Nick's dishevelled look, and taunt features. "Hey you, bad day?" He leaned into her and whispered. "Well I didn't sleep that well you know how it is" Nick winced dramatically as Schanke slapped him round the back, "I do believe that the permanent dark and that diet of yours are finally getting to you. Hey no buddy I'm serious, Myra was reading this article on this thing right, seasonal disorder or something. The lack of light causes all these mental and sleep problems and stuff. They have cures for it you know, you should look into it." "Schank please, I'm fine...Nat !" Nick turned to Nat in desperation and was alarmed to see her I've-got-a-great-new-idea-for-a-cure look creeping across her features. He coughed trying to look annoyed. "Nat, some info on the body would be nice." "Oh sorry" she said slipping easily into her business tone. "One shot, very close range to the back of the head. We've not found the bullet yet forensics are straining the mess, but I'd say high calibre hollow point may 357 or 44." Nick peered round Nat, and wrinkled his nose at the stale blood scent that filled the room. "Any thing else how about a time of death?" "Ball park I'd say six hours or so sometime round two or three this afternoon, I'll have more for you later. As for anything else, you're the detectives." She turned to exit patting Nick's arm in the process. Just as she moved to leave she felt Nick stiffen suddenly under her touch. Swinging back to face him she took a good look at his features. He stood ridged, his head cocked, eyes focused on some invisible point beyond the door. His concentration was tangible. "Nick?...Nick what's..." Her question was interrupted by raised voices at the door . "We had a meeting... could someone explain what is going on please." Two men had managed to push their way into the already over crowded room. The speaker was an unimpressive man in a dull brown suit, but Nick's gaze was fixed on the man next to him. Natalie took a good look at him, even though he was short he was a striking figure with piercing green eyes that stared out of hawk-like features. Those eyes directed towards Nick with an unrelenting intensity. Natalie leaned into Nick and whispered to him quietly. "An night type I assume." He didn't answer her, though his silence spoke volumes, as he walked over to them hand outstretched. "Detective Nicholas Knight." He said reaching for the vampires hand, trying to be as causal as possible under the circumstances. "Jeffrey Goodman." Replied the other, and Nick could tell he wasn't to happy with the situation either, this wasn't the place for introductions. He turned back to Schanke who was hovering. "How about you finish up here, I'll deal with this." Without waiting for a response he took the vampire and his companion out of the busy room to talk. ********** Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 13:35:30 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's pawn (4/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ______________ King's pawn (4/?) Schanke regarded the man seated across from him carefully. He was a striking man, and even though he wasn't very tall, he had a presence that put him instantly in command of his surroundings. His face was the centre of his power though. He had longish dark hair that contrasted perfectly with his pale, almost translucent skin, and extremely dark, black-brown eyes that shone out from piecing hawk like features. If Schanke had to guess at decent he would bet on Jewish, or Arab. But Goodman was English businessman through and through, his arrogance and obvious distaste of the proceedings filled the room and made Schanke and the uniform in the room with him shift uncomfortably. Schanke did not like this man one bit. Goodman was hiding something he knew that, he could tell a guilty man when he saw one. Nick had sworn that Goodman wasn't responsible for the Bolland murder. Typical Nick, no explanation just dismissed the idea instantly. Schanke had come to trust some of Nick's instincts over the years, but Goodman was instigating a hostile take over of Heamtech, Bolland's baby, and he had no alibi for the shooting. He was asleep at his hotel alone. Yeah right at 2:00 in the afternoon, a nightshift worker maybe, but a the owner and chairman of a prolific international company, in Toronto on business. No way. Goodman was guilty a sin, and now that Nick was missing Schanke was not prepared to go easy on him. That's why he'd dragged him into the station, to try and shake him up. So far though nothing was working. Goodman stared unflinchingly back across the interview room table at Schanke. "Look detective as I pointed out to your partner, I didn't kill Bolland, I had no need, Heamtech would have been mine by the end of the year, with none of these endless hassles. Now the truth about the deal is out Heamtech will probably end up on the open market, shares will boom and I shall have to triple my offer to ward off other bids." He didn't move a muscle just stared at Schanke, and Schanke could almost feel the his words, they seemed to have substance, to reach out of their own will and curl round his thoughts. He shook off the feeling, trying to concentrate on Nick, on getting to Goodman. "I'm sorry if Mr Bollands murder has inconvenienced you, but we have reason believe that someone from your company is involved. Now weather it was you or someone sent by you doesn't matter either way you're looking at a long sentence." He paused for dramatic effect, "Especially if detective Knight's disappearance is related." Goodman was suitably unimpressed, and his gaze remained level. "I assume that you have evidence for these accusations detective Schanke." "Oh yes, forensic found some interesting things at Bollands office," He bluffed, Nick had been digging around in Goodman industries, even if not at Goodman himself, though again typical Nick, hadn't seen fit to tell Schanke or Nat or anyone, what if anything he had. Although the reaction was barely noticeable, the bluff worked. Goodman averted his gaze for a moment, then looked back too fast and too angry, though Schanke was sure it wasn't directed towards him. Then it was gone and Schanke again found himself on the end of Goodmans iron glare. "I assure you detective that if anyone from my company is involved it is not at my bidding." He was genuine. Schanke could see it clearly in his eyes, and feel it in the force of his words as they wrapped themselves around his mind. Goodman was very annoyed that one of his company would ruin his plans, and Schanke was beginning to trust him. Goodman had the demeanour of someone who would use anyone, manipulate anyone for his own end. But he wasn't involved in the Bolland shooting. "Look detective," Goodman conceded, "It's late and I'm tired, why don't you contact my assistant and he'll give you names and contact numbers of all my employes here and everyone who came to Toronto with me and I'm sure that they can all provide you with sufficient alibis, for Bollands murder." He rose and reached to shake Schanke's hand and then headed to the door. "At the door he turned again and fixed Schanke with his piercing gaze again, "I also have no idea where your detective friend is." He swept out the door leaving behind a very confused and flustered Schanke. Schanke rose slowly and left the room, heading towards his desk. Once there he sat resting his head in his hands, massaging his eyes, his mind wasn't working, wether it was fatigue or just the stress of Nick's disaperance he didn't know but he could stay focused anymore. As awful as it made him feel all he wanted to do was go home and rest, forget about Nick, just for a bit. "You released him!" Schanke jumped up, snapped out of his hase by the uncharacteristic anger in her words. He focused on her and instantly flinched at the look in her eyes. "Nat?" He asked, suddenly confused, wasn't he supposed to be at home. "Goodman, probably had Bolland killed, now your partner's out there somewhere, injured, bleeding to death and you just released the man responsible. Why?" "Because he's not responsible Nat. I spent almost two hours in there with him, Jeff Goodman is a dead end." His head was clearing, and he reached towards her sympathetically hoping to soothe her, but she jerked back in anger at his touch. "I know what you think of him Schanke. I know you'd rather be with a `normal' partner, but Nick would go to the end of the earth for you, for anyone here, and your all ready to give up on him!" She was shouting by the end and as she stormed out of the precinct every head in the building was turned to watch her. End part 4 Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 13:40:50 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's Pawn (5/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L _______________ King's pawn part 5 LaCroix strode out of the lift and into the centre of the penthouse room, waiting patiently for the other vampire to return. The suite's decor was fairly standard for a hotel, plush to the point of garishness, and excessive in every way. LaCroix mused to himself how any self respecting vampire, especially one as old and powerful as Jephunneh, could spend any amount of time here. Courtesy bottles of sprits were set out untidily on the top of the mini bar. He smiled to himself as he opened up the fridge compartment and noted the rows of unlabeled wine bottles pushed to the back, replacing them. "Feel free to help yourself." LaCroix turned, smiling, his eyebrows raised at the sudden appearance of his old acquaintance. "I actually brought something a little more appealing," He handed the bottle in his right hand to the other. The short vampire took the bottle smiling and turned away to open it. "So what do I owe this pleasure then, Lucius?" "Oh, it been so long, and it looks like you weren't going to come and visit while you were in town, so I thought I would do the honours." "Hmm...defensive of your domain Lucius, worried I might decide to stay here permanently, how very like you, or maybe...is there something else?" LaCroix smiled raising an eyebrow at the blatant fishing trip, and accepted the proffered glass. "I was maybe slightly curious what the great Jeffrey Goodman, of Goodman Industries wants with an insignificant company such as Heamtech." "You are remarkably well informed, as always." He paused until it was obvious Lacroix wasn't going to continue. "This is a remarkably good vintage, I never have been much of a connoisseur, sometimes I wish I had taken the time for such things." He watched LaCroix's guarded reaction to the complement as he settled himself back into his chair. They continued their verbal fencing through the remaining part of the night often lapsing into long silences as they shared memories of the past and the blood. As much as they disliked each other, were rival predators in the same territory, it was a rare pleasure to pass the night in the company of another. LaCroix mourned the old days when they would have hunted together, trying to out do each other with the skill of their feeding, and the beauty of their prize. But the past was the past and finally when they had worked their way through discussing all the intricacies of the modern mortal business world, the night began to come to an end. "Well Lucius this has been fun, and educational, but while your company is enjoyable I don't think either of us wish to spend the day together. And it has been a long night" Jephunneh was curt, and annoyed, LaCroix had a habit of steering discussions in his favour and had come remarkably close to revealing many things about his current plans best left in the dark. LaCroix laughed lightly "I suppose it has, police harassment can be so tiring. I apologise for Nicholas' behaviour, he can be so very persistent." Jephunneh laughed silently, he'd been wondering how long it would take for LaCroix to get to the point, not able to steer the conversation that way himself for fear that LaCroix would see through his facade. "Ah, so he was yours, I thought he seemed familiar when I met him." He smiled a very unpleasant smile. "The police were bugging me today, trying to find him, don't tell me you've mis-placed him as well. Oh how very careless of you Lacroix. He must be quite important, worth something, for you to go searching for him yourself." The challenge was there, clear, before he went back to his feigned innocence, his tone and expression taking on a very false, very sweet air. "I'll keep an eye open for you Lucien, if I find him, or hear anything while I'm in town I shall contact you immediately." He got the response he was aiming for. LaCroix's demeanour became very dark as he rose to leave. He moved close to Jephunneh, using every ounce of his imposing force. "I trust so Jephunneh, that one is very important to me and should he be harmed..." LaCroix paused, moving even closer, his lips near the other vampire's ear and spoke quietly. "I. would. take. revenge." Then he was gone into the receding night. Jephunneh sat back sighing as he waited patiently until the first light of dawn scrapped the horizon before moving. It was done, as long as the fledgling remained unharmed LaCroix would wait for the game to play itself out. His move again. Once he was sure he'd receive no further visits, he reached for his phone, speed dialling the number. "NuqneH!, Jeff...Boss." Came the remarkably cheery voice, on picking up. No vampire should be that happy at this time in the morning it was unnatural. Had they been face to face Jephunneh would have had to get violent, instead he endured it. "What's up I thought we had a meeting tomorrow night." Jephunneh sighed with a tired patience of one dealing with a two year old, that seemed to characterise the interactions of most ancient vampires and their fledglings, at least he'd switched to English there was nothing worse than trying to hold a conversation with some one who insisted on speaking only in Klingon. "The plans have changed. I have a very important job for you before then, if you can mange it of course." The sarcasm that dripped from his tone was wasted on the young, desperate to please vampire. "I'll do what ever you require." He would as well. That was one of the many differences between LaCroix and Jephunneh. He always demanded total obedience from his companions and chose the accordingly. Yes LaCroix's children were exquisite, the perfect challenge, but in Jephunneh's mind they were out of control, he would never tolerate that level of independence from his progeny. His children were his strength, LaCroix's were his weakness, at least that's what he was gambling on. He turned his mind back to the matter at hand. "What I require of you is to get the police of my back. It seems that they think someone from my company killed Bolland. If their right I want to know who, and have them delivered to the police, I think suicide would be best." "What if the police are wrong, and there's no one to find." Martin could be unbearably slow sometimes, often obedience came at the cost of intelligence. "You find someone responsible, I assure you. If not the police may come to you looking for Detective Knight, and with them his master. Understand." "Clear as crystal, sir." Came the subdued reply, much to Jephunneh's delight Martin had lost his inane cheerfulness. Jephunneh smiled content to see his fledgling in retreat. "Good then I hope that you will have pleasant news for me tomorrow." Suddenly a thought came unbidden into his mind. Many in the community agreed with his view on LaCroix wayward child, maybe it was time someone acted. "Oh and Martian, it seems that LaCroix has had difficulty making his child feed properly, I think he's in more of a condition to behave now, don't you?" It was a calculated risk but if LaCroix didn't come through for him one of the others may if he handled appropriately what was seen by many as a serious problem. "Yes Sir." Came the terse reply. Jephunneh hung up abruptly, and with that done turned his mind to sleep. _______________ End part 5 Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 18:55:19 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's Pawn (6/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ___________________ King's pawn Part 6 To say Schanke was stressed would be a major understatement. First his partner was missing, this time presumed dead, now Nat had stormed out on him, and in her present state of mind, who could tell where she'd gone? He dumped himself down into his seat and rubbed his eyes against the daylight streaming into the station. He needed sleep and food, but more than that he needed to find Nick, and yet the rational part of him knew it wasn't going to happen. He'd tried to talk to Natalie, help her deal with it, and explain why he had released Goodman, but she wouldn't listen, she had seemed as convinced of his guilt as Nick had been of his innocence. She was also convinced that Nick was alive, and her wild hope had somehow against his better judgement infected him. He ran though the paperwork and casenotes in front of him, shuffling it around his desk angrily, so that he received sympathetic looks from the surrounding officers. Nothing. Not on Nick, and not on Bolland's murder. "Schanke, shouldn't you be at home now?" He had been deep in thought as to Nick's whereabouts, and so jumped at the voice. He turned to face his Captain, smiling wearily. "I just thought that I'd look over his case notes again, see if I've missed something." Cohen smiled and waited for him to continue. "I think Nick's disappearance is case related. The Bolland case, I'm sure." Cohen raised an eyebrow, "Schanke, Knight's a private man, you've admitted yourself that you don't really know him. Men with secrets have enemies." It was said but she hated doing it. Hated disturbing the life of her star detective. Knight was an enigma, and a brilliant, sensitive cop, and she'd come to respect his distance from them. She hoped that Schanke was right but... "I know," said Schanke, and Cohen was relieved that he didn't resent her accusation. "but he pushes people, puts them on the run once he's off on a hunch. I think he pushed too hard and someone got pissed." It made sense, it sounded like Knight. She leaned against the wall. "So who was he pushing?" "Goodman industries, I don't know who though. He was convinced that it wasn't Jeff Goodman, but..." Now he was no longer sure, after talking with Goodman he agreed with Nick, but he'd heard Nat and read the case notes, and some small part of Schanke's original fears about Goodman were beginning to take root again. "But what Schanke?" "Well, I agree with Nick, he didn't kill Bolland." He paused trying to sort out his puzzled suspicions. "But Goodman may have discovered who did and be protecting someone in his company." "You think that Goodman kidnapped or killed a cop to protect someone in his company." She didn't sound convinced. "Is there any evidence that anyone in Goodman industry was involved in the shooting?" Schanke, yawned, he was so tired. "Well, nothing solid, I'm checking out Goodman's lackeys now." "So what do we know?" She asked signaling Rosen and Franklin to join them, they could deal with the leg work during the day, after this Schanke was going home. He would be no further help without rest, though she doubted he would get sleep. __________ It was daytime, the sun high in the sky, he could sense it. Something had woken him. Blood. He move reflexively towards the scent, fangs bared, angry snarls issuing from his throat. The Hunger controlled him, and he was in no condition to fight it. A small terrified scream stopped him in his tracks and his eyes focused on a small human, a child, huddled by the door. Part of him, the vampire, cried out in despair, knowing he wouldn't feed now. He struggled shuddering, trying to force down his beast, and get a grip on the Hunger raging through him and for a moment he thought that he would lose the battle. After a few minutes though his breathing had slowed, and his eyes were back to their normal haunted blue. The Hunger was held back by the walls of disgust and self hatred that he had built over the centuries, so that this time when he shuddered it was not with the hunger but with the shame of knowing he had been about to take this mortals life. He spoke softly to the sobbing child. "Shh...It's okay don't be afraid," Then he reached out a hand towards her, but didn't move closer, couldn't as his senses were assaulted by her siren heartbeat. "Everything's going to be okay, I won't hurt you, I promise." It was a lie of course, even as he spoke the trembling of his body started anew with the effort of holding back the hunger. The lie worked though, and she uncurled relaxing a bit so that he could see her more clearly in the dim light. She was maybe 15 at the most, and filthy, he could smell the dirt of the street and sex on her, tainting the blood scent. A runaway. Typical vampire prey. Whoever was holding him was a hunter like him, a monster who knew the way to kill without leaving a trace, knew what they were doing. One thought flashed through his mind. In a few hours Nick would kill again and LaCroix would have his wish. She leaned towards him and he could smell her fear, as she whispered to him so quietly that had he been mortal he wouldn't have heard her. "I don't want to die, please don't kill me." His heart broke at the pleading tone in her voice and the knowledge that he probably would. He vowed at that moment to destroy painfully whoever was responsible for this. Slowly and deliberately he moved back against the far wall, his ribs and chest complaining at the movement, trying to put some distance between them. As he lowered himself to the ground thousands of reassuring phrases run through his mind but he couldn't bring himself to lie again. He fixed her gazed as clearly as he could, and focused on her heart beat, gently calming her bringing her under the spell of his control. "Sleep" he command in a low whisper, watching her carefully through gold silted eyes as she slumped closer to the floor. He wanted to cry, to scream out loud and tear the cell apart, but he didn't have the energy, nor, he suspected would his captors listen. So instead he leaned back in defeat, eyes shut, and tried desperately to ignore the hypnotising lull of her heart. ____________ The loft was cold, the blinds where open and the wind whipped through the smashed windows. The late morning sun also streamed in but refused to warm the place up. Natalie had spent the first part of the morning watching as the rays moved across of the floor, seeking out and frying the last remnants of Nick's dried blood, and trying desperately to maintain her belief that Nick was alive. She shivered at more than just the cold of the loft as she flicked through her notes on the Bolland case, as well as those of Nick's she'd found hidden here. The fact that the notes were here and not at the station, and that they were partially hidden lead Nat to believe that they were in some way private. Probably obtained by Nick's dubious version of legal methods. Her suspicions were confirmed as she flicked through the documents, they were of the work Heam-tech was doing for Goodman Industries before the take-over attempt had started. Some of the files where of fairly standard cell and blood work ups of various drug testing programs, most of which she didn't recognise as anything she'd seen before. It was the last few test documents that were very special and Nat knew instantly why Nick hadn't taken them into the station. It was all vampire blood and cells. Some of the samples were fairly similar to Nick's, although more pronounced, in some cases very much so, a couple though were downright weird. In Nicks cells the virus linked invariably to one particular section along the strand and occurred there regularly. In the latter samples she found though the virus was linked to several different places along the RNA strands. Also they showed the level of virus that the more prominent samples did. Someone at Heamtech was playing with vampire blood for Goodman Industries, the head of which is a vampire. Now the head of Heamtech was dead, and the primary cop on the case, who also happened to be a vampire, was missing, and she was willing to bet her life on the fact that Jeff Goodman was up to his bloodsucking fangs in it all. She couldn't go to Schanke with this, so who? Natalie suddenly felt another strong urge to go and see Janette, and this time she wasn't going to be put off by her vampire lackeys. ___________ End part 6 Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 17:52:56 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's pawn (7/?0 To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ______________ King's pawn (7/?) Fire burned through his chest and shoulder as the stake was driven through him. Screams. He could hear his screams in his ears. The force of the stake and the flames were pinning him back, consuming him, the burning hunger consuming him. He forced his eyes open to slits. LaCroix. LaCroix was there, laughing at him, saying something. The loft was burning. LaCroix was burning. He was burning. The flames, he couldn't move from them, no matter how far he ran they were with him, consuming him. The flames like the hunger consuming him. He had to stop it. Give in to it. Like before, the predator, the chase. He could smell the blood the fear. The lull of a heart beat rose in his senses to thunder pitch, like the hunger, an unbearable agonising tension. The Hunter sprang, one swift continuous action which brought the prey into his reaching arms, at that same moment his fangs embedded themselves into its neck. The flood broke. Blood flowed in to his mouth, images filled his senses, driving him wild with the ecstasy. He whimpered and swallowed greedily. A father with his beloved child. Beating him enslaving, trapping him in torment. LaCroix. Loving him with his fists and his belt. Loving him more than a father should. He was smothered by the pain, the need for family. Another image, the streets, so cold so alone. Nothing for him but desperation, the lure of home. More, this time from before. A child, children playing in the sun, their laughter and innocence infectious, intoxicating, so sweet in his mouth, filling his emptiness. Something was wrong, this wasn't his. Nick jerked back suddenly as if burned. His head was flung back in ecstasy, gold eyes silted. His breath came from his throat as low rapid growls. In his arms he cradled the limp form of the child he was imprisoned with. He glanced down at her and, as the instinct and manifestations produced by the vampire and the hunger receded, he felt something more human in him die. Years spent as a doctor on battle fields made him move. He removed the remnants of his shirt, shredded already from the staking, and tore it in to strips. Then with the gentleness of a loving mother, so totally contrary to the wild animal he'd been moments ago, he bound the ragged wounds on her neck tightly to prevent further blood loss. When he had done even that instinct left him, and he sat there weeping silently, without tears, totally and utterly alone and lost. _________________ Fleur called to him. It was her, her soft voice and feather like touch had reached out to him occasionally over the centuries, to mark her disapproval at his treatment of her beloved brother, or reassure him of his Nicholas' love. She would never leave the men she cared for. She loved them more than she did the god she'd died to join. LaCroix slumbered the light, restless sleep that came with the dreams of her, letting her take away the pain of his loneliness for awhile. She spoke to him silently through his wearied dreams, spoke of Nicholas's own pain and loneliness, one that equalled maybe surpassed his. Gently like a spider weaving a web, she pulled together the events of a century or so and showed him in his dreams the truth that he, in cold stubbornness refused to see. Always she shed light on the darkness of their situation, cut through to the heart of his stubbornness. Today there was a more serious note to the images, her urgings. There was a fear, a pain so tangible, so real it was outside of the realms of his dreams, and it pulled him awake. LaCroix sat up and instantly knew everything that had occurred in the small cell where Nicholas was confined. Opening up his link to his child his worst fears were confirmed. It was the reason LaCroix had never forced Nicholas to kill. The reason he had, seeing through Nicholas's pathetic bluff allowed his beloved doctor to live. It was the reason when returning from "the dead" he'd allowed Nicholas to keep his precious mortal life. His child's sanity revolved around his vow not to kill, his love of mortals and the niche he created for himself in their world. LaCroix played very dangerous game pushing gently, instantly at Nicholas's boundaries without sending him over the edge, and he played it well, with style. Now someone had interfered, and Nicholas was probably lost to them. LaCroix knew who was responsible, Jephnuneh. He knew that Jephnuneh had his son, he'd flaunted it in front of him, but LaCroix had been prepared to sit and play the game, find out what he wanted, knowing no serious harm would come to his son. Now though the rules had changed, he'd promised vengeance and it would be taken. He moved of his bed to wash and dress, then he would feed well and wait patiently for the sun to set. End part 7 __________ Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:52:08 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's pawn (8/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ______________ King's pawn (8/?) The smell of freshly brewed coffee woke Schanke. He looked around at his surroundings, disorientated. For some reason he was at home on the settee with a blanket draped over him. He sat up and noticed that he was clothed except for his shoes and his jacket, and his gun was wrapped in its holster and tucked neatly into his shoe. Dimly the memory of arriving home from work tired and stressed, came back to him. He recalled Myra greeting him and helping him settle down for a short doze before he went back in to help search for Nick. He'd forgotten. Oh God, how could he forget, how could he have gone to sleep! Suddenly fully aware he looked at his watch. 3.30pm. He'd been asleep for hours, most of the day. Standing, he hurried into the kitchen following the scent of coffee and the sound of Myra bustling. As he entered she turned to face him, concern showing openly in her expression, as she poured him a coffee and put it in his hands. "Try to eat something before you go back." She said sympathetically as she pecked him lightly on the cheek. Before he could respond, thank her for caring she was gone, leaving him to struggle with the issue of food. For once he didn't want to eat, but he knew the tone of Myra's voice well, this wasn't an option but an order. Complying he sat and started to force some cereal down. _____________ Half an hour later Schanke was pulling into the car park at the precinct. He was still fuming at himself for sleeping, but he felt better, more alert and capable of cracking this and finding Nick. He sensed the change the second he entered the station. The sombre lull was gone and in it's place was a buzz, the sense, the feel, that came at the closing of a big case. He glanced around at the bustle almost ready to believe that he'd dreamed last night the change was so pronounced. Rosen and Franklin caught his eye and signalled him over. Schanke moved towards their desk quietly, glancing warily at Cohen's office, he wasn't supposed to be here till dusk. Rosen grinned at him and piped up, "Don't worry, She's not here, she's gone to see the Commissioner." Schanke frowned at that, and Rosen caught his look. "She's begging for him to help swing a warrant." It was as if someone had thrown him a rope, he had hope again. "A warrant, for who? are we that close?..." Seeing Schanke's reaction Franklin moved out of his chair to let him sit, then indicated back to a man who'd been hovering in the background. "Meet Paul Evans from fraud." Evans spoke up at Schanke's confusion. "Not really fraud, though I do work with them. Really though I'm more of a watchdog for research institutes, I make sure their behaving." "And?" Prompted Schanke, nothing was making sense, "What does this have to do with Nick?" After a silence Rosen spoke up. "After you left we got Paul in to go over the files that you and Nick had managed to get from Heam-tech and Goodman industries, and you were right. Apparently there's more going on there than just a hush hush take-over. "Like what?" Said Schanke looking back at Evans, there was hope. "Before starting out every company, and research project has to be approved, ethically, and for safety, it's a legal requirement. Excluding your top secret X-files type government and military projects, everything must have some stamp of approval before it can get off the ground. Afterwards, when a company is up and running it can be subjected to regular checks, the only restriction on which is the obvious issue of secrecy, we don't want to make industrial espionage easier of course." "Of course" Echoed Schanke beginning to see where this was heading. "And the projects that Heam-tech were running for Goodman industries had not been approved." He guessed. Evans smiled, "Oh the documentation's all there, and in perfect order, it's just from what it can tell, the research that was detailed in the ethics approval and okayed is not the research being done, not even close. Moreover, all of the information Bolland had on the research i.e. all of the stuff we have access to is also wrong, as if he was being lied to as well." Schanke stood anxiously, "So Nick stumbled on this and..." He trailed off his thought unfinished, things didn't add up well, why kidnap Nick why not just kill him. The hope that had been building was suddenly crushed, it had been almost 24 hours since Nick had gone missing. He realised Evans was talking again. "Look this is all very tenuous, very, very thin. Knight would have had to be a bloody genius to figure it out without the information I got this afternoon from my department." Rosen jumped in again before Schanke could respond. "We're trying to get a warrant for everything Heam-Tech and Goodman industries own," He paused for a moment, "normally with this much evidence no chance if we were wrong they'd scream blue murder and the department would get sued for everything, but there's a cop involved so who knows." That's why Cohen had gone to the commissioner, to get some strings pulled. But it didn't matter, not now, Nick was dead Schanke was sure of it now. He bowed his head, so close and yet...worse still he was asleep through it all. End part 8 Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 10:37:10 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's Pawn (9/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L _______________ King's pawn part 9 Seconds before the sun dipped below the horizon, Natalie was hammering on the door of the Raven. After a few minutes the door opened suddenly and the pale figure standing before her almost received the full force of her swinging fist directly in his nose. He ducked nimbly and grabbed her flailing limb swiftly and lightly. "Where is she!" Natalie demanded angrily. He didn't reply, just sighed loudly as he moved aside to let her in, and pointed to the backroom. Natalie pushed past him and headed straight there summoning all the determination and mental strength that she could. She strode into the backroom with the false confidence, and strength that she used around vampires. `Never left them see that your afraid' was becoming her motto, though once she saw the state that Janette was in it no longer seemed to matter. Sure Janette didn't have the bags under her eyes that Natalie did, and as always her hair, dress and poise were impeccable, there were plus points to being dead. But Natalie had over three years of experience dealing with emotionally drained vampires and to her it was obvious that Janette was as concerned as Natalie about Nick. Fear stabbed through her heart, for Janette to be this concerned was not good, not good at all. A flash of deep understanding passed between them before they both retreated into their self imposed facades. Janette spoke first, over nine centuries practice making her lie fit more easily. "Can I help you Doctor?" "I think you know why I'm here." Natalie stated defensively. She paused returning Janette's glare, then she backed off a bit knowing that they weren't going to get anywhere as rivals. "Is he okay? I mean alive." There was still a challenge to her statement but underneath it no one could fail to see her desperation. Janette relented to then, an air of understanding and sympathy about her that shocked Natalie because she could tell that it was definitely genuine. "Yes, he's alive..." there was a long pause before Janette continued, her walls going back up again. "As for the rest, he is definitely not okay." There was silence for a moment as her words sank in. "Is there anything else I can help you with doctor?" Natalie sighed silently, Janette was clearly going to make her do all the work. "I've found something, something to do with the case that Nick was working on that I think, no I know, involves vampires. I think it's why he's been taken." Janette didn't answer just raised her eyebrows waiting for her to continue. Natalie was getting irate, she didn't come here to play vampire games this evening while Nick was being `not-all right' somewhere. She took out the wedge of files and handed them to Janette, who received them graciously and started to flick through them disinterestedly. After a while she handed them back with the electron microscope photos on top and smiled at Natalie, "Very pretty, but what is it?, and what does it have to do with Nicholas?" Natalie didn't take the files back just pointed to the prints on top. "That is vampire blood, and that is what Heam-tech is working on." Janette's interest and concern peaked instantly, Natalie had her undivided attention now, as Janette motioned her to sit at a table so they could talk in comfort. Half an hour later Natatlie had described everything in the files using Nick's data as a comparison, the weird strains of vampire virus in the blood, the excessive level of contamination, everything. She realised that, probably out of irrational jealousy she'd mis-judged Janette, passed her off as decorative fluff placed between the two combative vampires to complete the picture. She was wrong, Janette listened well and worked to understand everything completely, she knew exactly what questions to ask, Nick was never as attentive to her technical discussions, just took her word as bible, then proceeded to go against everything she suggested. When Natalie finished, Janette turned to her not bothering to hide the concern etched deeply on her face, "What your telling me is that this vampire, Jeff Goodman, is employing Heam-tech to try and create some sort of super vampire." Natalie nodded slowly, it was the first time it had been put into words, and the seriousness of the situation began to hit her. She couldn't begin to guess at the implications for the vampire community, although Janette's tension, and expression pointed her in the general direction. It was bad. "Are these all the files you have?" Janette asked. Natalie nodded slowly still mulling over the revelation. Janette grabbed her chin roughly pulling so they were eye to eye, she wasn't trying to hypnotise her, but Janette's tone was serious, almost threatening as she continued, "This is important Natalie, it has to be stopped which means bringing in certain..." There was a long pause as Janette carefully chose her words. "Extremist, members of our community. They will eradicate all evidence, all of this, so if you have kept back anything, anything at all, I suggest you don't have it by the time I make the phone call." Natalie felt a stab of fear run through her, though she understood that Janette wasn't doing this just to scare her, whatever was about to happen would be big and messy. But some of her notes on Nick were in that pile, and part of her mourned as she knew they were lost. Though if that was the price of Nick's return it was one that she would pay willingly. ______________ LaCroix was at the Raven swiftly barely giving Janette time to complete the tasks he'd given her. Once they were in a quiet corner of the club she filled him in fully on the information Natalie had given her, all the time regarding him closely. There were times when he held everything from her, kept her in isolation away from the pain and anger she knew he often felt, on rare occasions though like this, LaCroix allowed himself to take strength from her. The simple act of being depended upon served to refresh their much neglected bond and massage her damaged ego, though she'd never admit it. Throughout her account LaCroix nodded the pieces clearly falling into place for him. "...I had one of the youngsters contact them as you asked, but they already knew, I'm sure of it. I don't understand LaCroix, why would he try to quiet Nicholas, if already knew." He didn't responded, just looked at her, trusting in her intelligence to make the connection, and sure enough she did. "You, he wanted to use Nicholas to force your hand, gain your attention long enough to gain your support...against them, and you were going to let him play his little game without a thought for your favourite child." She couldn't conceal her anger now, she had always accepted willingly, although begrudgingly, the role of pawn, but history had shown that for Nicholas that role, that path lead only to fighting and the pain of separation. "What will you do LaCroix? Will you play along with him until you can gain the upper hand...let him destroy any sanity Nicholas has left..." His glare stopped her tirade. Her anger had only served to reinstate the divisions between them, she bowed her head in defeat. "A vampire from Goodman Industries, hired two of the youngsters from here to instigate a suicide at Heam-tech in half an hour." She handed him the address and turned away upset, and angry for feeling that way. His hand touched her shoulder lightly, in apology? or maybe truce. "Janette, I return him to you safely." She turned back to him to see his eyes, seek out the warm promised in his tone, in his cold blue eyes, but he was gone, his retreating form barely visible through the throng of mortals dancing in the darkness. If she could have she would of cried, but the years of enduring a cold heart prevented it, she could no longer remain the pawn, trapped, torn between the men she loved. As she looked around the Raven she began to realise her time here was almost done, and the sadness, despair burned through her deeply, seeking out and reaching her long dead soul. End part 9 Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 14:12:49 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's Pawn (10/?) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ________________ King's Pawn Part 10 The Heam-tech building was a large dark looking warehouse, lit only by a small sign at the side of the drive, and the few internal lights still on. A couple of cars still remained sat in the parking spaces in front of the building. LaCroix could sense that there where a few mortals left in the building working late. Ideally he would have waited, just for a couple of hours to allow most to leave, to make his task easier, cleaner. Also Jephunneh wasn't here yet, and LaCroix wanted to get to him first. But he was aware of the Others nearby, if he didn't move soon then Nicholas would get swept up in their clean up job, the Enforcers were not renowned for staying their hand. He shifted impatiently trying not to get caught up in the chill of the night and the thrill of impending vengeance. As he prepared, listening to the night's task he sensed someone else arriving. Vampires. There were three of them, fledglings, and they clearly hadn't sensed him yet. He moved back into the shadows so he could watch their approach. These were obviously the little squad the Janette had told him about, he recognised two of them as regulars at the Raven, young irresponsible vampires, with no right to be here. The third was obviously Jephunneh's fledgling. LaCroix smiled . Like a flash he was in front of them, the focus of his energy pinned roughly against the wall of the building. The other two vampires instantly backed off and took their places behind LaCroix in a show of allegiance that saved their miserable unlifes. "Go." He snarled not even turning to look at them, as he heard their hurried retreat. Now they where alone LaCroix remained still for awhile, his pale eyes borering their way down in to the mind of the fledgling, his will imposing itself on him. After a while he loosened his grip slightly on the fledgling's neck and smiled at him. "I believe you have something of mine and I would like it back, please." His tone was light and almost joking but the look in his eyes and the signals he was giving out told a different story. The fledgling under his hands began to tremble, his face was paler than any vampire LaCroix had ever met. Suddenly a stream of unconnected random words and sentences, most of them unrecognisable, started to pour out of his mouth. LaCroix tightened his grip again and slammed the fledgling's head back into the wall to shut him up. "Let me guess your master asked you to take him." There was a very slight nod, as much movement as LaCroix's grip would allow. "And you're extremely sorry. And now you would like to help me?" Another nod, this time accompanied by a whimper. "Good" Said LaCroix loosening his grip further allowing the other vampire to breathe. "Do you have a name?" "Martin." He gasped rubbing at his neck and throat vigorously. "Was that entirely necessary?" "Yes" LaCroix replied curtly. He no longer though of killing Jephunneh's child. Jephunneh would die this night knowing that he'd been betrayed by one of his obedient slaves, the victory would be total. He looked down at the fledgling. "You were going to pin a murder on someone I believe." It wasn't a question. "Up until you tried to behead me with me with your bare hands and scared away my help." Martin replied back regaining some of his humour. If your going to die you might as well try and be happy about it that was his motto. Along with never try to feed on students but that was another story. "Hmm...Can you pin it and Nicholas's kidnapping on anyone?" LaCroix asked thoughtfully, ignoring the other's irritating change in mood. The fledgling reached into his pocket and pulled out two disks, a self triumphant smirk on his face. "Just dump these on the system computer and change a few names and the police will have enough motive and circumstantial to keep them happy for decades, of course we were going to finish the job with a suicide." "Of course" said LaCroix. He indicated the building with a absent hand gesture. "We should go then." Then he raised up swiftly to the roof and yanked off the door to the fire escape. Jephunneh's fledgling following closely behind. "I have a key you know," Martin said lightly as they made their way down the stairs. "I do work here." He paused thinking about want was going on, "I suppose that should be did work here." LaCroix ignored him, his back straightening suddenly aware that something was wrong. He tensed allowing his senses to roam, though he knew already knew what he'd missed. The Enforcers. He'd allowed himself to get caught up in controlling the fledgling he'd failed to notice them act. He launched himself into the dark of the fire escape stairs. They were narrow and long with another door at the bottom this one already torn from its hinges. Through the door was a long corridor, which glowed eerily under the night time lighting, and on the ground in front of them lay the smashed up door and a body. LaCroix knelt next to it to take a closer look. It was a male, his head pulled back at an awkward angle, the neck broken quickly and cleanly. There was no expression of surprise or pain of the mans face, he probably didn't even know he was being attacked, LaCroix mused. "Shit," exclaimed his companion in surprise. "Who the hell did that?" "Enforcers." He replied rising and heading urgently onwards. His companion remained behind a moment longer eyes fixed on the body. "Well, there's no way I'm going to be able to fake your suicide." He glanced up at LaCroix and saw that he was some distance down the corridor quickly he followed not wanting to be alone went they ran into the Enforcers. When he reached LaCroix he was standing still, unmoving with his head cocked to one side, as if listening. Martin coughed cautiously trying to gain his attention, without disturbing him. LaCroix turned slightly his look dark, and questioning. "I can dump the files in any on the computers in these offices." He indicated the open doors nearby, with his hand. Hopefully LaCroix would agree and they wouldn't have to travel any further down towards Enforcers. LaCroix nodded slowly, still seemingly distracted, by some unseen event. "Go ahead, I need to find Nicholas." He replied distantly, and started to move away. "Hang on," Cried Martin before he'd gone totally. "Who exactly am I supposed to be framing?" "Jeffrey Goodman of course." Came the only answer, as LaCroix disappeared. "Oh of course, frame my Master. Destroy his empire. How could I be so stupid not to think of it myself?" He went into the nearest office, continuing to rant, sarcasm dripping from his voice, and switched on the terminal there. "He won't mind I'm sure, and he won't really tear me limb from limb when he finds out." He sat down and thought about it for a moment, LaCroix had left, he could run, Jephunneh would be here soon let them sort it out between then. Yeah right in the mean time his was stuck in this building, and for that matter in Toronto, with a bunch of Enforcers, his only protection one of the most feared vampires around, and he was thinking of pissing LaCroix off. Feeling a slight twinge of regret at betraying his master, Martin started to down load the disk contents. ____________ End part 10 Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 16:36:47 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's pawn (11/14) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ________________ King's pawn part 11 Schanke stopped his inscenant pacing for a moment and lowered himself to sit on his desk, Nick's desk to be more exact, lost in thought. Waiting was always the worse, everyone was briefed, everyone tense and ready and now they had to wait. He fidgeted a little, tapping his foot against Nicks chair, oblivious to the irritated looks he raised from the others. He didn't hear some one offer to shoot him. The sound of the phone made everyone in the station jump. "Thank god" called out someone as Franklin rose urgently and went to answer it. Silence prevailed through the waiting ranks as they tried to listen in. This had to be it. "Yes...Yes...okay then we'll see you there then Captain." Franklin hung up and nodded to Schanke. "That's it, we're on." Schanke cheered mentally as everyone started to move out to their cars. This would be fast text book stuff, he decided. If they were right and Goodman and his workers at Heam-Tech had Nick they would suffer. He didn't want to, couldn't think about what he'd do if Nick was dead. He grabbed his jacket and hurried to catch up with the others. Ten minutes, that's all. He could wait. _________________ Once he'd left behind the fledgling LaCroix speed up, heading urgently towards the sense of his son. Something was up, seriously up. The quiet brooding that LaCroix had been witnessing across their link since he'd awoken was gone, replaced by indescribable rage, a madness that LaCroix always feared would take over his emotional child. Maybe Nicholas was just sensing the presence of the Enforcers and himself, he was prone to rages especially when trapped, maybe he wanted out, to take vengeance. He hoped that was all. As he travelled LaCroix steeled himself to endure the storm, Nicholas would take some calming down once in this state, and there was no telling what he might do to himself or LaCroix in the mean time. As he reached the ground level he saw his was wrong, Nicholas was no longer confined. In fact he was well and truly free, and holding one of the Enforcers tightly by the neck, his fangs inches away from a vein. He was growling like an animal, his normally blue eyes a fiery red, no semblance of sanity within them. Even as LaCroix moved to intervene, a second Enforcer appeared grabbing Nick by the hair and clothes, dragging him off his companion. As Nick was pulled back the Enforcer snaked an arm round his neck and applied a quick firm jerk. There was a sickening crunch of bones snapping and Nick dropped to the floor unconscious. LaCroix moved forward again, cautiously, working at placing himself in between his fallen child and the angered Enforcers, trying to stop their approach. "Was that necessary?" He asked not expecting a reply, as he bent to straighten his child's broken neck. One of the Enforcers raised a stake and snarled angrily. His clothes and pale skin were shredded, some of the wounds still trickling blood. It seemed that LaCroix had missed most of the action. He could sympathise with them though, he to had been known to under-estimate the power of Nicholas's rages, and suffered the consequences. The question now was how to placate them, Enforcers didn't take well to being attacked, and that one was well and truly shredded. "He has no part in this," He stated plainly listening their moods gauging the effect of his words, "He is innocent." While he sensed that he was reaching the second Enforcer, the other seemed more bent on revenge. At that moment he sensed the approach of another vampire. Perfect timing. The Enforcers had sensed it to and looked at LaCroix expectantly. "I will punish him accordingly for his actions. His death is of no value to you, I'll take him from under your feet and leave you and Jephunneh to discuss the more important issues alone." He had wanted to exact revenge himself, and maybe salvage some of Jephunneh's little project, however the sacrifice would have to be made if he was going to take Nicholas from here with him. As the Enforcers stepped back to show their agreement LaCroix heard a noise behind him. Jephunneh's fledgling came barrelling into the room. "He's here, if he sees me I'm dead." He exclaimed then stopped as he saw the Enforcers, his breathe caught in his throat. "Oh shit!." LaCroix threw a glance at him, then returned his gaze to the Enforcers. "Is it done?" He asked. "Err, Yes." Martin replied, nervously. Suddenly he wished that he was else where. The Enforcers both took a step in his direction the one holding the stake raising it slightly in a silent threat. Frozen in terror Martin glanced at LaCroix desperately. For a moment he got no response, and he thought that LaCroix would go, leaving him to them. Then LaCroix turned slightly to face him again. "Tell them where the research is." Martin shuddered slightly, he was becoming the ultimate Judas the betrayer of one who'd protected him for so long. "Everything is here, either on files in the top floor offices, or the hard drive files of the research computers in the labs." "And the evidence against Jephunneh?" LaCroix prompted, and suddenly Martin understood what LaCroix was getting at. "I put that on the office hard drive. If you burn and destroy everything except one of the office computers, they should be able to recover those, but not the research info." He was trembling by the time he'd finished, but the Enforcers looked pleased. They nodded to him, it was an obvious dismissal, and he found he could almost breath again. He looked at LaCroix to take his leave but LaCroix nodded to the smashed, twisted door of the cell that had held his son, and the failing heartbeat that could be heard within. "Go and fetch the child." He commanded. As Martin obeyed woodenly, aware that the Enforcer's unblinking eyes tracked his path across the room, LaCroix bent to lift up Nicholas. He cradled his battered child in his arms and headed out the building with Martin trailing behind. Before they'd left the room LaCroix stopped, approaching was Jephunneh. They stood without movement for a moment like statues, eyes fixed on each other. Jephunneh broke the gaze first his eyes flickering to the Enforcers waiting patiently across the room, and to his fledgling standing at LaCroix's side. A look of understanding and respect crossed his face and he bowed his head to LaCroix, he'd gambled and lost, it was as simple as that, without LaCroix's support he was dead. LaCroix nodded in return and left. Martin started after him, but Jephunneh moved suddenly to block path of his fledgling's exit. It was time to put an end to everything. He moved forward a few steps to place himself in directly front of his betrayer, face to face. Smiling he bowed his head down planting a restrained kiss on his son's cheek, and felt him shiver in response. Martin shivered he was cold inside, empty for the first time in his life as a vampire. Jephunneh's message was not lost, he'd betrayed his Master, and friend, he was no more than Judas, a pawn for both sides. Taking a deep breath he returned the kiss, then walked away following LaCroix's exit. He didn't look back, didn't stop not even when he heard the Enforcers strike, and felt his Master's surge of pain. It was done. _______________ End part 11 Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 10:58:28 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: Knig's pawn (12/14) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ________________ Kings Pawn part 12 Once they'd put some distance between themselves and Heamtech LaCroix stopped, landing lightly and shifting his burden in his arms slightly. Martin touched down beside him. "What will they do to him?" He asked curiously, but needlessly. LaCroix didn't answer but the look on his face told him want he knew already his Master was a dead man. Martin wasn't sure how to feel about that, they'd spent twenty years together, Jeff had been his father his friend and his lover. His life. Now he was alone, he had nothing, no where to, no one to go with. It was down to him, his betrayal. For once he couldn't think of anything to brighten his mood. "How is she?" LaCroix's voice broke through his thoughts. He looked down at the child in his arms. "She seems okay, I don't think she'll suffer from the normal problems associated with extreme blood loss. He could have taken that much, a couple of pints at the most." He looked at LaCroix tightening his grip on the girl. "you don't want to...?" He didn't finish his question suddenly realising how stupid it sounded. He was the one that put her in there to be killed, it shouldn't matter, not to him. LaCroix maintained his stoic expression except for a slight raising of his eyebrows, this vampire amused him somewhat. There were thoughts, doubts, and ideas beginning to blossom in his mind, a power that followed naturally his new-found independence. He had potential. "Take her to a hospital outside central Toronto then return to the Raven." He command. For a moment Martin though of disobeying, he'd always been totally loyal to Jeff, followed commands easily, he realised now though that something had changed inside, he didn't want to obey another, not now not ever. The thought passed quickly, he'd only just got his freedom it would be stupid to ruin it so soon, and anyway what he did would be for the child not LaCroix. He nodded his assent and took off heading out of town. LaCroix watched him leave with interest. He had potential, Jephunneh had smothered his independence and now it was rising with a vengeance. It was a shame that he wasn't one of his. As he stood lost in his mussing the warehouse next to him exploded in to flames. LaCroix tuned to face it smiling, eyebrows raised at the Enforcers idea of a subtle clean up. The smell of smoke and flames reached his nostrils bringing with them memories of the nights hunting with his children among the fires of mortals. For a moment he just stood there with his child in his arms watching the flames crackle and devour the building, lost in the past. The sound of approaching sirens, and distant voices broke him out of his trance. Gathering his child tighter in his arms he took to the air. _________________ Schanke leapt out the car as they pulled up conflicting emotions raging across his face. They had seen the flames go up from a way away, and he'd hoped prayed that it wasn't their destination. More cars pulled up and cop's began to mill around the area, but Schanke was oblivious to it all, in his mind he saw Nick frozen in terror at the flames. Nick burning to death because they were to late. "Hey Schanke ever get the feeling you've been wasting your time," Rosen shouted to him above the roar of the burning building. When Schanke didn't respond Rosen looked over, then seeing him moved to stand next to him, realisation dawning. "You don't think?...Schanke, he wasn't in there okay, he wasn't..." Rosen voice trailed off knowing how pointless his words were, five minutes ago they were counting on Nick being held here, now they were counting on him not being here. It didn't matter where they willed Nick to be in reality they didn't know and more and more it was looking like he was dead and they were chasing windmills. He placed his hand on Schanke's shoulder in reassurance for a moment then left, went to help the arriving fire crews, there was nothing more he could do here. ______________ The waiting was the worst. Once upon a time she would have gone as well, she'd always been there when they rescued Nicholas. Now though she wasn't welcome, couldn't interfere in LaCroix's games not even to help save the one she loved. So she paced, her mind filling in the satisfaction she'd get from tearing this Goodman limb from limb. She heard LaCroix before she sensed either of them, his commanding tone ordering one of her employees to fetch blood. She turned to look at him as her entered her room. He stood before her, concern, maybe even fear etched on his pale features. Unconscious, cradled gently in his arms lay Nicholas. LaCroix pushed passed her before she could speak and with a tenderness that had been absent for centuries, he lay his son's limp form on to the nearby sofa, stroking his grimy blond curls back from his forehead. Janette stood patiently watching the interaction, aware that LaCroix wouldn't stand for her interruption. From where she was standing she could see no serious physical injuries, a myriad of small slowly healing scratches, and a lot of grime but nothing serious. Still she wasn't suppressed when LaCroix bit into his wrist and placed it over Nicholas's mouth, their Masters blood was balm to them, it would heal him physically and provide him the strength and connection to sort out the rest. But as she watched Nicholas moaned and turned his head away. Confused she met LaCroix's eyes and realised from his look that this wasn't the first attempt at feeding. Before she could speak offer reassurance Alma came to the door carrying several bottles of pure house special and a couple of bottles of cow blood. Janette took the bottles from Alma ushering her out the room quickly before her fledging attitude could get to LaCroix. Then she turned back to LaCroix nodding her approval, this was no time to start arguing about Nicholas's diet. Putting down all the bottles except one containing cow, she move towards Nick, and was surprised when LaCroix moved out of her way. Kneeling beside her lover she began to stroke his hair, whispering quietly in French to him, always offering the blood. After a while Nick relented and reached for it, drinking half before he closed his eyes and fell back into a healing slumber. Janette felt LaCroix's hand on her shoulder and turned to face him. "What happened?" "They came and dealt with the matter as efficiently as always." He paused, knowing he hadn't answered her question. His gaze moved beyond her to the slumbering form of his son. His rage was gone, instead there was despair and self-hatred, but he would live. LaCroix glanced back at Janette conveying to her the depths of his concern before leaving. His sudden departure surprised her, here was the perfect opportunity to drive Nicholas out of his mortal life, force him out of Toronto and LaCroix was walking away. She looked down at Nicholas again, then moved and kissed his lips lightly, if LaCroix could wait for his return then so could she. End part 12 Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 11:09:28 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's Pawn (13/14) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L ______________ King's Pawn part 13 Schanke had stood there watching the flames for ages feeling lost and alone, until they started to bring the bodies out. There were six in all four males a females and a probably female all burnt beyond recognition. Suddenly he had a mission, though it wasn't his job, he wanted id's back on the men immediately. Nick wasn't among them he couldn't be, he chanted over and over for the next hour or so as he took charge, ordering people around, phoning dentists for records. No one stopped him, they all need to know as much as him. It was the arrival of Natalie which finally put an end to his frantic actions. She pulled up in her car but didn't leave it she just stared at the fire terror gripping her soul. Janette had said he was alive, but vampires could burn, and Nick's fear of fire easily equalled hers. She trembled smelling the flames, it didn't take a genius to see that this was the clean up she'd been warned about. She heard someone tapping on the window of the car and looked up to she Schanke's concerned face. She opened the door and got out, her arms hugging her chest. "Hey" she managed weakly, before she sagged against him. Schanke took her into his arms and held her. He'd seen how she looked, the darks rings round her eyes very prominent, and her exhaustion evident. "Natalie he wasn't there, we're almost positive now, it was just a few night workers, he wasn't there." His words were as much for him as they where for her, he still had no idea where Nick was or if he was alive but... Natalie couldn't raise her head to face him, of course the bodies weren't Nick if he was in there they wouldn't find a body. She tried to turn away from that thought, to convince herself Janette would have found him, but it wouldn't go. Schanke leaned back a bit so he could see her face and wipe a tear from her cheek. "We'll find him soon, you'll see." "I'd say a lot sooner than you think Detective." Came Cohen's voice from behind them. They both pulled apart suddenly and spun round to face her desperate hope etched on their faces. Nat was the first to speak. "You found him, where.." Cohen held up a hand to stop her, and then continued. "We just received a phone call from the Raven saying that someone had taken him there. Apparently his okay, and refusing to go to a hospital, so they've taken him home. I was just heading over there now do either of you.." Natalie was already sat in the drivers seat of her car trying to get the engine started. "Are you coming Schanke" she aimed over her shoulder as she put her seat belt on. Cohen and Schanke exchanged amused glances before Schanke went to join her. "We'll meet you there Captain" He was laughing now. His partner was alive. Nick was alive. _____________ When they arrived, at the loft they were instantly greeted out of the lift by Janette and a young man Natalie had never seen before. "Doctor Martin Shaw" said the stranger sticking his hand in Natalie's direction. Before she could respond Schanke put himself directly in front of the man obviously seething. "Your one of Goodman Industries' employees" He accused, shot the man with a suspicious glare. "Yes, Detective Schanke isn't it?" he responded unaffected by Schankes anger. When Schanke nodded he continued. "I was heading towards the lab when I ran into him collapsed on the side of the road." "And you didn't think to take him to a hospital, being a doctor." Schanke's anger was clearly growing. Natalie moved close to him and stroked his shoulder, while his protectiviness of his partner was touching she didn't think that this man deserved to be the focus of his frustration. The Doctor continued, trying to explain his actions, "He was barely conscious, but asked to be taken to Janette. I gave him a transfusion of my blood, I'm O-neg.," The excuse was lousy, Natalie was sure that Schanke and Cohen wouldn't buy it for an instant, but when she risked a glance back at them she saw that they both seemed to accept it, almost entranced. Natalie suddenly picked up on the game, noticing the pallor of the other's skin the cockiness in his stance, and the power of his gaze. She sent a questioning look to Janette who smiled and nodded. "He's been stabbed" the continued. "although not seriously, just a shoulder wound. When I found him he was drugged, so he's going to be sleeping a lot but he's fine really. You can see him if you want." They all moved upstairs, and into Nick's bed room. He lay on the bed asleep and unmoving, his face pale and drawn. Natalie went instantly to his side and started to check him out. He had a bandage round his shoulder for show, but he was fine, she knew that. As she finished her perfunctory, and also totally unnecessary examination of him he began to stir. His head turned towards her and she placed a warm hand on his cool cheek as he opened his eyes. "Hey" he said wearily forcing a smile. "Hey yourself" Replied Natalie lightly, though her eyes betrayed her concern. "You look like death warmed up" she joked trying to brighten his stressed features. There was something missing from those normally bright, blue eyes, and in its place was a despair she'd never seen before. He didn't responded, he couldn't, though he didn't pull away from her stroking hand. What could he say to her? How could he even face her in the light of what he'd done. Instead he moved his gaze up and looked into Schanke's grinning face. "Howdy partner" he quipped, "you don't know how good it is to see you, do you want you've put us through?" Nick smiled at that and not for the first time realised how glad he was to have a mortal uncomplicated friend like Schanke. "I have to keep you on you toes," he replied his voice weak, and tired. He closed his eyes again, and let himself relax as Natalie's hand continue to stroke his cheek, giving him warmth, and sending him back into sleep. Natalie looked up into the expectant eyes of Schanke and Cohen, and tried to shrug off her worry. "He'll be fine, he just needs rest and time to heal." She confirmed. Her hand continued to stroke him, not wanting to leave him just yet, he wasn't objecting but he wasn't responding to her either. For a moment she'd caught a hint of emotion in his eyes, though it wasn't his normal half smile but a deeper despair. Shrugging it of for the moment she rose, "Let's let him get some sleep" she suggested, as she manoeuvred them out the room, and downstairs. Once downstairs Schanke turned to face the doctor the unforgiving look back on his face, "We're going to have to bring you in and take a statement doctor." Janette glanced up quickly, "Not tonight Detective, it's been a long night, I'll make sure he comes to see you tomorrow." Schanke started to object but Natalie piped up, "I think he deserves some sleep, after all he did find Nick." She looked at Cohen hoping she'd agree. Cohen smiled "I think we all need some sleep, tomorrow will be fine." She said to Janette while making sure with a quick glance that Schanke had understood the message. They all needed someone to blame, someone to string up after seeing the weary look on Knight's face but now wasn't the time or the place. She turned to Natalie, "Are you sure he doesn't need to go to Hospital?" Natalie shook her head lightly, "He'll be fine, I'll stay here with him until he's recovered some more, but his not the type to benefit from a hospital really." That drew knowing smiles form everyone although for different reasons. Janette looked at Natalie in silent thanks, and then whispered, "Take care of him, Doctor." Natalie noted the concern under the request, Janette was worried to. After seeing the haunted look, the pain in his eyes Natalie had no intention of leaving Nick alone until she knew he was 100%, or at least back to what counted as okay for him. "Of course," She smiled and moved to settle herself in as they left. End part 13 ____________ Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 11:35:33 +0000 Reply-to: Liz From: Liz Subject: King's Pawn (14/14) To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L _________________ King's Pawn Epilogue Nick sat at the piano his hands roaming over the keys lightly, unenthusiastically. Normally the music would come to him with his mood, the perfect pieces would just float to the surface of his 800 year old memory. Today though he had no strength for the music, no strength for anything and the only sound floating on the surface of his memory was the voice of the girl he'd killed. It had been four days, and nights and he was trapped in the loft, having to dash into bed at the first hint of visitor, of which there'd been many. He wasn't allowed out at night in case someone saw him and couldn't go out during the day. Natalie was staying with him, it had been that or have the issue of hospital forced upon him. Normally he would rejoice, although not openly, at the idea of any opportunity to spend time with her, now was different though, now he couldn't face her, couldn't even bare the touch of her warm hands on his cold dead flesh. He had proven that he was the monster that he'd always said he was, and her company served only to enforce the point. He wasn't worthy of her, but he could tell her why, couldn't endure the look of disgust that would cross her face. They'd argued tonight before she'd left for work, she wanted him to talk, to trust her, and because he refused, couldn't do as she asked he'd managed to anger and isolate her. As he sat lost in thought he felt the presence of his master, touch at the back of his mind. Sadly he allowed the last strains of the tune he'd been toying with to die gently before turning, he'd have no peace tonight. LaCroix stood in the centre of the loft, his features and stance absent of their normal superiority. There was as long moment of silence, and it became clear to LaCroix that Nicholas wasn't going to speak, or do much to acknowledge his presence. He sighed steeling himself against the coming storm that was his child's emotions. Then with some trepidation he moved forward to touch Nicholas's shoulder lightly, and was surprised when the move met no resistance. For a moment LaCroix felt his creation lean physically and mentally into his touch, before he closed himself off, all their arguments of the centuries providing ample barrier. Accepting Nicholas's silence for the moment, LaCroix moved to the kitchen and retrieved two wine glasses and a bottle of cow blood from the fridge, tonight was not the time for that particular argument. He filled both glasses and returned, placing one on the piano in front of Nick, then he lowered himself on to the couch and sipped at his own drink. "Please, continue." He indicated to the piano with a stray hand, his whole demeanour a vision of relaxation. "What no lecture LaCroix. No declaration of joy at my return to the fold." Nick hissed turning on the stool so he could fix LaCroix with a gold tinged glare. LaCroix smiled prepared for this, as long as Nicholas still maintained some of his fight things would be fine. "Assuming you had returned to us, I would take no pleasure from your pain." "Why not, You always have before." Came the instant snarl. Then Nick stopped his head tilted, considering LaCroix's statement properly. "What do you mean ?" "I will not consider you truly again until you return to the kill." "But the girl...in the..." "The child lives," Nick's mouth opened in question but LaCroix stopped him with a casual flick of his hand. "You will return to us in time, but it will be when you come to realise the truth for yourself, not when it is forced upon you. I saw no benefit in letting her die." Nick's eyes betrayed his guilt and pain as his mouth worked silently trying to convey his confusion. "Where?" was all he managed to get out when the words eventually came. "A hospital out of the city, she remembers nothing of her attack, an anonymous benefactor brought her in and will soon take over the payment of the medical bills and such, unless?" The question didn't really need asking, the light in his son's eyes was returning, and he would jump at the opportunity to start to make things right. "The foundation will take care of her" he stated matter of factly. "Good." Replied LaCroix smiling at his child's predictability, "Sarah will be a worthwhile cause I think, she's strong and defiant, reminds me of someone I know." "Sarah?" Nick said slowly, testing the name, trying to answer the million questions that entered his mind. "She needed a social worker and I was around, I've had some time on my hands recently." LaCroix replied matter of factly, almost grinning at the shocked look that crossed Nick's face, he supposed that it was a stretch imagining himself in such a profession. Sobering slightly he fixed his child with a gaze that went through to his inner-most self, Nicholas would still torture himself for attacking the girl, harming her, but the force of the burden that had weighed on his heart, had lessened. As had the threat of suicide, one of his child's more destructive obsessions LaCroix relaxed then wondering if he could enjoy this moment, the completeness of Nicholas's gratitude without the usual consequences. He leaned forward to speak almost afraid of the rejection that might come. Before the movement was compete, the words out, Nicholas's hands had moved to the piano, and he began to play. With his surprise buried deeply LaCroix leaned back eyes closed and listened truly content. The End _________