From: LAREMY Subject: DTD: Say a Prayer OK here's my obligatory introduction: This is my first post to FKFIC, and I thought I'd start with something simple. The ever inspirational Susan Garrett gave me a push with this challenge. I warn you it's a rather "paint-by- numbers tragedy." I began the story as a way to deal with grief, and came to the conclusion that hope is a miraculous thing. For this story I am also indebted to Valerie Meachum, who's "Further to Fall" has stayed with me always. (I hope she doesn't mind.) "Say a Prayer" by Leslie Remencus Nick listened as the elevator lumbered its way to the loft. It couldn't be LaCroix. He would have felt his master's...his father's presence. Wouldn't he? Perhaps not. LaCroix had managed to enter the loft before unnoticed, but then Nick hadn't been himself, the drug saw to that. Besides, the sun now hung in the sky. He sighed uneasily as he caught the scent of mortal blood. It was not the sweet scent of life; instead, the hint of decay clung to its edges. The elevator stopped, and the door slid open half way. Nick walked cautiously to the door. He had to face what was behind that door. Nothing...No one could prevent the unfolding of events. He slid the elevator door back, and his heart fell at the sight of Natalie lying pale and motionless on the floor, blood visible at her open collar. Nick knelt beside her. "Natalie," he whispered, the emotion caught in his throat. He heard the faintest murmur of her strong heart fighting against the tide of death sweeping through her. "Oh God, Nat." Nick took Natalie into his arms and cradled her gently to his chest. "I can't lose you. I need you. I...love you.... I've been such a fool." "Yes...you have." Natalie stirred in his arms, and her eyelids flickered open for a brief moment and then closed. Nick nearly smiled at her and lightly kissed her cheek. She was so cold, even to his immortal touch. His beautiful, warm Natalie was dying. He lowered his head as spasm of sorrow traveled through him. He'd be sobbing if he had the tears. Natalie convulsed in a cough, pulling her knees close to her chest, and summoning what he was sure was the last of her strength, she slowly opened those expressive eyes and said, "We both knew this would happen eventually. One of us would be saying good bye." She struggled to breath every word. "Shh...Nat, please." They looked at each other for what seemed an eternity, and Nick struggled not to ask, not to give in to his own selfishness. "I don't want to lose you, Natalie." "I know, but we both know we can't change...what's done." Her shallow breathing became only a whisper, "I love you." With these words on her lips, she died. Nick pulled Natalie tightly to his chest and began to rock her in his arms. His eyes danced with an amber glow, and the emotion trapped in his throat finally came rushing out in a fierce growl of anger and despair. The cry reverberated through him, and his father heard it. The anger, the pain, the unbearable sorrow. ******* For the first time since his loss of Fleur, LaCroix knew that sorrow again. He picked up the phone. ******* Nick let the phone ring until the answering machine picked up. He heard the low, almost raspy voice of LaCroix as he slowly carried Natalie to the sofa. "Your debt is paid, Nicholas. You see, ransom for you was never an option with the good doctor." Nick turned to the machine, ready to throw it across the room. "You bast...," he began, but the rage coursing through him was silenced as he looked back at Natalie. The sorrow too deep for tears. "I knew only her death would avenge the loss of Fleur for me. Now, Nicholas, you know the sorrow, and through time you will know the same longing." Before LaCroix spoke his last words, Nick knew what he had to do. Without Natalie, he had no more dreams of mortality. Wasn't that exactly what LaCroix wanted? Mechanically, he opened the blinds, revealing the full splendor of the dawn. As he walked into the light, Nick hoped he'd done enough; he hoped he'd be forgiven. "Natalie, say a prayer for me." Finis