Return-Path: Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 00:48:29 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 01/14 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Author s note: While writing this story, which was before I joined the FORKNI-L, I thought Miklos was human. Now that I know his creator intended for him to be a vampire I am forced to reevaluate my assessment of him but, for this story, Miklos remains human. The characters and concept of Forever Knight belong to TPTB including Sony/TriStar, James Parriott, and Barney Cohen. I am grateful for the chance to manipulate them for my own amusement. All the information about the ROM and the T.T.Tusi Chinese art galleries was gleaned from the Internet and art books. All of the non-FK people are my own fabrications. Spoiler warnings for BMV. Permission is given to archive this story at Mel s place; if anyone else is interested, please, ask. I am grateful to Trinda, Jane, and Irene for their support and patience. Heartfelt thanks are extended to my beta readers, Marci and Wendy. The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 01/14 Foolish, foolish, Nicholas. My short-sighted, idiotic child. Vulture like, LaCroix perched upon the roof of the Royal Ontario Museum s main facade and observed as Nicholas parked his car in the municipal parking lot off Bedford Street. The silly child believed he would find his 'cure' in the mounds of pottery shards and faded inks preserved in the building beneath his feet. Without warning, a whiff of some ancient evil intruded upon him. Tendrils of mocking laughter, whirls of malice laced glee, and eager anticipation of vengeance swirled about his consciousness, blocking out every other sense the vampire master possessed. Then just as suddenly the taunting whispers faded. LaCroix whipped his head to one side, tracing the malignant presence in vain. Strange, the evil passage had evoked old memories of . . . no, it wasn t possible. He ceased listening for the presence when it failed to reassert itself. Shrugging away the distasteful remnants of unease, he turned his attention back to Nicholas. An entrapped spirit had probably been released from some museum relic and was escaping the mob of gawking peasants in horror. Nicholas was opening the car door for Natalie Lambert. Admiring the long, sleek exterior of the aqua-green Cadillac, LaCroix admitted Nicholas had good taste in automobiles even if he lacked good sense in choosing mortal companions over vampire ones. The woman, as was to be expected, was in love with his son. Unfortunately, Nicholas returned her affection. Insatiable desire for revenge ran unchecked through LaCroix s veins. Despite his son s attempts to deny it, LaCroix could read Nicholas love for the mortal woman in every gesture and repressed thought. LaCroix s lips curled in sadistic pleasure. LaCroix had seen to it Nicholas knew if he declared his love for her, LaCroix would kill her. This was the result of an ill-considered pact made between master and son almost 800 years ago. LaCroix had no doubt Nicholas knew he should leave her, but if he did, Nicholas would suffer another defeat in his quest for mortality. Natalie Lambert, a physician to the dead, was working to bring him back to his mortal state. LaCroix chuckled silently. It was worth a century of killing to watch Nicholas' torment. An uneasy thought disturbed him. What if the doctor succeeded in helping Nicholas escape from his control? What if her machinations enabled Nicholas to elude him? Impossible. Nothing could dissolve the blood tie of a vampire and his get: not the advances of technology, not the magic of legend, not the erosion of time. The blood bound them as irrevocably as the revolution of the moon about the earth. The bond certainly could not be severed by one fleetingly alive human, LaCroix thought savagely. He would see her dead first. The couple, vampire and mortal, joined the mass of humanity pressing into the museum. He could feel their frustrated desire for each other and the utter deliciousness of their self-denial. All because of him. No matter what Nicholas decides, LaCroix laughed to himself, I will win. End Part 1 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 17:45:13 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 02a/14 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 02a/14 "What makes you think you'll find a cure in the museum?" Natalie struggled to keep pace with Nick as they climbed the stairs to the Royal Ontario Museum. She was happy that Nick had invited her to the museum with him tonight, even if he was chasing moonbeams again. He had been so distant since last February. "Something I read in a recent article on the archaeological digs along the Yellow River." She puffed. "The Yellow River?" He reached for her hand and pulled her along. She never failed to mark how cool his skin was to her touch. "It snakes south and west of Peking. At least it did the last time I was there." He gave her a smile that could charm a stream from its bed. "It has changed course several times over the centuries." "What has that got to do with the Royal Ontario Museum?" He sighed in mock exasperation as he held the door open for her. "I've got to get you out of the morgue more often, Nat. The ROM houses one of the finest Chinese collections outside the Asian continent." "So?" "Many of the museum's artifacts come from the River of Sorrows." As Nick ushered her into the main entrance hall to the ROM, Nat was struck once again by the beauty of the interior. Her last visit, several years ago, had been professional in nature, concerning a death associated with the ceremonial jade cup from Altun Kanal. Nick had been interested in that cup as well as one of the museum's assistant curators. With an effort, Natalie pushed aside the jealous memory of a pretty, piquant face dominated by heavy eyebrows and appreciated anew the high ceiling tiled in cut Venetian glass. It glowed in warm welcoming shades of gold and yellow with bronze geometrical patterns and mosaic inserts that represented different cultures spanning time and history. Nick drew her past a large group of people queued in front of the reception desk and spoke directly to the myopic, gray-haired lady processing the patrons' entry. She broke into a delighted smile and ignored the next visitor to attend to Nick. "Mr. Knight! It is always so pleasant to see you." "Good evening, Dorothy. Looks like the museum is busy tonight." "Even more than usual, Mr. Knight. Between the usual crowds for the dinosaur exhibits and a special group coming in to see the Chinese art galleries, I've barely had time to breathe." "I've brought a guest with me tonight." The aged lady flashed Natalie an ivory smile. "Any friend of yours is a friend of the museum's. Go right on in. Oh, and make sure you see the new Ming exhibit. It's well preserved." "We'll make certain we see it, Dorothy." As they walked away from the desk, Natalie looked over her shoulder at the receptionist's gray head. "How does Detective Knight rate such preferential treatment?" He smiled down at her for a second before scanning ahead. Because he didn't continue to meet her eyes, she knew he was playing light and loose with the literal truth. "I happen to be a friend of one of the ROM's super patrons. It entitles me to certain perks." He tugged on her shoulder as he raised his voice. "Jon!" A tall, gawky youth in a white lab coat left off inspecting a display of Chinese pottery in an opened case. When the young man saw Nick, his eyes lit as bright as Natalie's autopsy lights. "Mr. Knight! I'm in the program! Thank you so much! It would have taken years to get anyone to notice me." "I doubt that, Jon. Talent such as yours gets rewarded." "Not without the scholarship. I didn't even know there was one available until you had Monsieur Chevalier arrange for it." Natalie looked sharply at Nick. Chevalier was French for Knight, an alias she knew he had used in the past. The twinkle in Nick's eyes acknowledged her tacit recognition. Well, at least it was better than de Brabant. Nick did not use his family name trivially or lightly. Nick took the opportunity to introduce the youth. "Natalie, this is Jon Calloway, a restoration intern with great potential. He was languishing away as a retail clerk when Monsieur Chevalier arranged for him to receive a scholarship to the University of Toronto. I knew he would become Restoration's main protege. Jon can piece pottery shards together as expertly as you can take people apart." The young man practically glowed under Nick's praise. "If it hadn't been for Mr. Knight's influence and Monsieur Chevalier's backing, I wouldn't be here. I owe everything to them." Nick asked, "Are those the keys to the display cases?" A sheepish but proud grin engulfed Jon's thin face. "Yes. I've been assigned to do the cleaning and repair work on some of the Shang pottery pieces." He indicated the large wad of keys in his hand. "Dr. Mathers entrusted me with the keys to both the White and Tsui Chinese Art Galleries so I could start work on them right away." "He couldn't have picked a better person." Nick patted the young man on the shoulder with genuine affection. "Speaking of the head curator, do you think you could find him for us? Dr. Mathers is supposed to meet me." The young man smacked his forehead in an exaggerated gesture of forgetfulness. Dr. Mathers is looking for you, too. He's excited about Monsieur Chevalier's last donation." Nat was jostled aside by a large group of people making their way to the stairwell. Nick steadied her as he replied, "Tell him we'll be in the Tsui galleries." Jon carefully relocked the pottery case and suggested, "While you're there, check out the new exhibit. It's a red silk Ming dynasty painting. The donor kept it in fantastic condition." "Dorothy told us about it. Tell Dr. Mathers I would like to see him as soon as possible." "Yes, sir, and thanks again." Nick waved him off. Natalie leaned into his shoulder. "So, Monsieur Chevalier is the super patron. Wonder how flustered that the boy would have been if he had known Monsieur Chevalier was there all along." Nick flashed a self-conscious grin. "So much that 'Monsieur Chevalier' will make sure he never does." They followed the group, that had passed them earlier, up the stairwell. Natalie listened to them chattering about one of the gigantic poles around which the broad stairs curved. Natalie was impressed with it herself. "I can't believe how tall the totem pole is." Nick corrected her. "It's actually a 'crest pole.' Each image represents a legend associated with the original owner of the pole." Natalie caught a glimpse of what looked like fangs on one of the carved heads. "I wonder if that is supposed to be a vampire. If it is, I wonder if he was as kind as the one who has befriended me?" Natalie felt Nick still and glanced up to see his troubled expression. She could see him fight the impulse to kiss her, a gesture he would have bestowed on her without a single thought several months earlier. Instead, he smiled quietly and said, "The difference between that vampire and this one, Nat, is this one will never harm you." Natalie felt the resolute intensity in his answer and knew it covered what was troubling him. Nick, however, forestalled any further conversation as he drew her up the stairs and towards the Tsui art galleries. End Part 2a Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 18:37:48 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 02b/14 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 02b/14 Natalie's contemplation of a Chinese landscape painting was interrupted by a rich male voice that boomed out in story telling fashion. "The Gold Dragon slashed at the Ebony Dragon's eyes, snatched the treasure, and flew into the moonlit sky. Half blinded by the blood, Ebony pursued Gold to retrieve the Heart of P'an Ku for it belonged to the People." Natalie, enchanted by the voice, rounded the corner of a partition that separated her from the speaker like a child drawn to candy. She saw the group of people they had been dodging gathered around a tall, middle-aged Chinese gentleman. The museum employee, since he was wearing a dark blazer with the ROM crest emblazoned on the chest pocket, was obviously giving a tour. He rested a hand on a glass case containing several jade dragons. "These carvings remind me of a certain Chinese legend about a duel between two great dragons." Several in the group encouraged him to continue, one entreating, "Dr. Shih, please, tell us the story." Apparently, this was all Dr. Shih needed. The Chinese gentleman smiled and resumed his narrative with the sing song quality common to storytellers. "All night they fought. They battled above the mountain peaks, they dueled over valleys, they warred over the wide plains. Miles and miles they flew, fighting for the possession of P'an Ku's present. P'an Ku, god of the earth, had honored the People of the Sorrows with a great gift. The red stone had come to them from the anger of the fire mountain and through the river. The People had carved its surface with images of P'an Ku and put it in the temple. There it stayed, more precious than jade, to heal and comfort the People. Until it caught the eyes of the dragons." Nat caught the flash of a small gold jade dragon on Dr. Shih's collar. Well, that might also be another reason why this legend was on his mind. "Gold was obsessed with the Heart of P'an Ku. Ebony argued with Gold for he knew the anger of P'an Ku would be visited on the People if his gift should be abused. Gold heeded not Black's warnings. Gold stole the treasure and the battle began. Viciously, they attacked each other. They bit with teeth of daggers, they clawed with talons of steel, they lashed with tails like scourges. Horrendous was the sound of their passing, their trumpeting heard at the Yangtzee. Their flesh ripped, scales sundered, and blood poured. Still, they fought." Nat felt Nick come up behind her but she was so mesmerized by the story she didn't turn away. Dr. Shih's voice rose. "P'an Ku beseeched the sky gods for vengeance. The spirits unleashed the power of their fury. Storms more terrible than man had ever beheld struck the land so all suffered for the dragon's greed. Hail pummeled the earth, lightening fired crops, and the Sorrows rose and covered the land in anger. Still the dragons fought. Ebony, older and wiser, laid a trap. He bucked and twisted as if in death agony. Below him lay a great forest with high pointed pines; all hidden by the heavy massed clouds of the storm. Gold circled Ebony warily. If he escaped with the Heart of P'an Ku now he would never be caught but the temptation to vanquish his enemy was too great. Gold plunged his teeth into the neck of Ebony, kenning with victory. Ebony entwined their snake bodies so they could no longer fly. Together they plummeted toward the earth. Ebony wrested the Heart of P'an Ku from Gold, and using wisdom and guile the younger did not possess, Ebony regained his flight above the lake of clouds. It was too late for Gold. The gold dragon impaled on one of the sharp trees so prized by P'an Ku. Gold's clarion of victory twisted into wails and lamentations." Natalie winced. Impaled upon a tree. Sounded a lot like staking a vampire to her. "P'an Ku appeared before Ebony in a great whirlwind. 'Child of the air, the fire, and the darkness you have recovered my gift to the People. For such courage you will be honored forever.' P'an Ku returned the treasure to his entrails where none might steal it again. The People mourned the loss of the Heart but the Ebony dragon was honored above all others save the Emperor." The group broke into applause as the story ended. Natalie joined in, looking up at Nick, enfused with pleasure over the masterful rendition of the story. Nick, however, was rubbing the side of his jaw thoughtfully. Her clapping faltered and she studied his eyes. They weren't unfocused enough for him to be caught in old memories. "What is it, Nick?" "That story is familiar . . . but I can't quite place the symbolism of the dragons." He smiled down at her. "Never mind. There are other things--more important things here I want you to see." She grinned and pivoted to leave with him when she accidentally made eye contact with a young Oriental man with a severe scar running down the side of his face. He quickly averted his gaze and strode from the room. There was a sense of repressed malice about him that made her cast a second glance on his retreating form. It was very obvious to Nat that Nick enjoyed showing her the treasures of the Tusi gallery. They passed through rooms filled with intricately carved ivory, enameled and lacquer ware in deep rich colors, delicately painted silks and scrolls, and deeply etched reliefs of ancient figures. Nick pointed out with enthusiasm pieces he had seen in the original artist's workshops. The area containing Neolithic tomb statuary was the least crowded. The primitively shaped figures weren't bright or shiny like the highly glazed pottery but there was something different in Nick's attitude as he lay his hands on top of a glass-covered display table. Like the objects within the case were as precious as jewels or gold or . . . or . . . a miracle cure. "This is it, isn't it, Nick?" she asked quietly. "Yes." The reply came as if he were removed from her by both time and distance. "One of the recently excavated Yellow River tombs was heaped with representational statues belonging to a healer. With the knowledge gleaned from this tomb the archivists retranslated some of the medical journals from the Shang dynasty." Natalie could see where this was headed. "Nick, many ancient medicinal cures are stories that encapsulate, at the best, a kernel of common sense." His fiercely determined eyes slowly rose to meet hers. It was an attitude she had slammed into before when he decided to discount everything logical and place his faith in the improbable. His aggressive voice would not countenance any rebuke. "I know, Nat, but what if this is the kernel that can bear fruit?" Natalie sighed inwardly. "All right. What is the legend, Nick?" Blonde threads through Nick's hair picked up pinpoints of light as he bent to concentrate on the figurines under the glass. He spread his hands wide so one of the statuettes was framed between his forefingers and thumbs. "It was said 'those who possessed an unnatural abhorrence of the sun and shunned all food, save the blood sacrifice made to P'an Ku, could only be cured through a special evocation of the god's mercy.'" He removed his hands from the glass in order to trace the triangular outline of the figurine. "A special clay doll was made by the priests. With proper chants and rituals the priests would bring the statuette to the victim's house of darkness. Then, preceded by incantations and evocations to the god of the earth, the doll was supposed to be ground into a mixture and consumed by the patient. Then the vampire would be no more." Natalie stared at him, hardly daring to believe Nick would give credence to this piece of superstition. She studied his face and the way he gazed upon the clay figures. He did believe it! She had to put a brake on his enthusiasm. Keeping her voice low so not to attract attention, she put all the sarcasm she could muster into her tone. "You want me to dress in some kind of open breasted garment, learn to chant Chinese, beat my chest, and beg this god--what did you call him? Pan? Pong? . . . to please, please take away your taste for fresh sacrifices? Then I mix a little instant miracle dirt doll into a cup for you to drink. Voila! You can sunbathe in Malibu without going up in a puff of smoke. This is what you are expecting?" He stared blankly at her for a few seconds. His solemnity faded into genuine mirth. "I don't think the Chinese sensibility includes open breasted garments, Natalie, although what you suggest is interesting. Performing an ancient ceremony was not my intent. I was thinking more along scientific lines. Do you think you can analyze the chemical makeup of the figurines and run some tests on my blood?" Relieved that Nick hadn't really believed in the mystic part of the ancient legend, Natalie would have agreed to anything humanly possible. "No problem. I can do the analysis in the lab at work." She had never seen such a jubilant smile on his face. "Thanks, Nat." "Are you going to the Yellow River to find the clay we need?" A corner of his lip quirked up and she suspected he was about to play a joke on her. "I don't think I have to travel half way around the world when I have exactly what I need under my fingertips." He tapped his nails on the glass provocatively. All thoughts of a joke flew out of her head. "No, surely you don't mean . . ." Nick glanced down at the figurines and trailed a finger across the top of the glass until it came to rest over the key lock. He smiled evilly at her. Natalie shook her head, sputtering, "No, Nick! You promised you wouldn't throw the rules out the window whenever there was something you wanted . . ." He grinned wider. "I knew that's what you would think." Before she could say anything else, Nick turned to acknowledge a gray-haired man bearing down on them. He held a small lacquer ware box prominently in his hands. "Dr. Mathers, you've chosen the perfect time to join us." The curator, older in appearance than Nick and dressed like a banker, was quite courteous. "I came as soon as I could." He hesitated a second. "I never know whether to call you Mr. or Detective Knight. I'm so sorry I wasn't there when you delivered the check from Monsieur Chevalier. I sent a letter last week thanking him for the generous contribution." Nick inclined his head graciously. "Monsieur Chevalier is most eager to learn if you were able to fulfill his request." Mathers lay the shiny box on the glass case and opened it to reveal two clay figurines. "This is such a small favor. We would have been happy to provide Monsieur Chevalier with something more unique and valuable." Nick said conversationally to Natalie, "Monsieur Chevalier would like to purchase several of the clay figurines found in the medical tomb on the Yellow River." "Uh huh." Natalie said dryly. "How fortunate he knew the right people to ask." She turned to Mathers and asked, "How can these be sold to private collectors? Shouldn't they stay at the ROM?" Mathers smiled condescendingly. "We purchased a number of the tomb statuettes from the Yellow River Archeological Association. It is museum policy to sell duplicate items to other museums and private collectors so it is a pleasure to repay a small part of what we owe Monsieur Chevalier in this manner." Natalie wanted to shake Nick's smug smile right off his face. Mathers continued. "Usually collectors like Monsieur Chevalier prefer more colorful artifacts. If we had known he wanted these we could have aquired an enameled . . . " Nick forestalled him. "No, Dr. Mathers, this is what he wanted. Are you sure they are from the medical tomb? Yes, yes. I can see they are. They have all the right markings." Even before Mathers could answer, Nick pointed out to Natalie the line styles on the clay that identified the figurines from the tomb in question. Natalie noted his fingers shook a little as he touched them. It was obvious he had Olympic-sized hopes on the success of the figurine experiments. And on her. Visibly impressed by Nick's knowledge, Mathers said, "I see Monsieur Chevalier has chosen his dealer well. Have you heard of the legend associated with these statuettes?" Natalie's attention was riveted on the gray-haired man. Mathers smiled as he looked up at Nick's very still face. "There was a poem written in the late T'ang dynasty about a treasure from a volcano. Apparently, it was carved like one of the deities and placed in a temple along the Yellow River. Two dragons fought over it until a tornado blew them away or something like that." Natalie spoke first. "That sounds like the story we heard earlier this evening. We caught part of a tour." Dr. Mathers smiled knowingly. "That was Dr. Shih. I don't believe you've met him yet, Mr. Knight. Dr. Shih started last week as one of our newest registrars. He's doing a tour tonight for a group of his friends visiting Toronto." Nick, a slight frown creasing his brow, asked, "The story is T'ang? That is late 800's. Our figures are Neolithic." Dr. Mathers shrugged eloquently. "I don't see the connection but Dr. Shih is an expert in his field. It was good to meet you, Dr. Lambert." The curator apologized to Nick for leaving. "I do hope one day Monsieur Chevalier will take the time to visit us. Our entire staff would love to meet such a dedicated devotee to the museum." End Part 2b Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 20:24:31 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 03a/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 03a/14 * * * * * * * * * * * * The gold, embossed ribbon about Natalie's brow flashed brightly in the glow of the torch light as, sinuously, she began to swing her hips. The Minoan dress fit snugly about her waist, flaring into a full skirt that fell just short of her bejeweled ankles. The material, painted with red flowers, trembled and shook slowly at first then faster as Natalie's undulations gained momentum. Her hair cascaded in wild, elaborate ringlets over bare shoulders where the thin cloth of the open bodice melted into sleeves. She threw back her head and wild ululations poured imploringly from her throat. Her song was savage, primitively importuning, and beseeching. She was begging an unseen power for the granting of a favor. Not her request. His. She was entreating the gods for him. He followed the movements of her full bosom, shining where her perspiration ran uncaring down in rivulets. Her arms lifted and spun in rhythm with the undulations of her hips. His mouth dried. He lurched up from the pallet on the floor, feeling the restrictions of his silk tunic and pants. He craved to draw her close, kiss the heart-shaped lips, the creamy shoulders, and press his lips against her flawless neck. He knew his eyes were growing pale and red as the desire of the vampire encompassed him. Wildly, she crushed something in a mortar on a table. He stood and peered into the highly decorated bowl. One of the primitive Chinese figures was being pulverized under a long black pestle in Natalie's dust streaked hands. Her arms, her torso, her hips flailed up and down, rhythmically, hypnotically, as the eerie-pitched wails grew higher and higher. Vampire fast, he found himself at the table, hissing with desire. Abruptly the wailing ceased as she splashed water into the mixture. Stirring it with her fingers, she raised the rim of the bowl level with his lips. The table disappeared. Nothing but the bowl separated them. He sensed the accelerated beating of her heart, the coursing of the blood through her veins, and the heat of her humanity. Above all else, he was aware of her soul shining through her wide set eyes. Love, lust, compassion, and obsession were no longer bound by civilization and circumstance. They poured from her like blood from an open wound. She pressed the clay bowl against his lips. "Drink, my Nicholas, my love, drink and together we'll be as one . . . " * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Nick?" Natalie's voice, slightly impatient, broke his reverie. "Are you going to look at these?" Nick shook his head, reluctantly leaving his fantasy behind to focus on the beautiful woman in front of him. Natalie, leafing through a brochure, was comparing it to the art on display. His body thrumming, he ached to share something of himself with her. He wanted to hang on to his vision, even if the object of his desire had her hair pulled back in a severe bun instead of wild ringlets and wore a figure-hiding suit instead of a Minoan form revealing bodice. He slipped his arm around her waist and smiled down into her startled face. "I can tell you more about the jade than the catalogue. There's a beautiful piece in the back display case I think you'll enjoy." "By all means, show me." Her face glowed with a warm self-conscious grin, lighting her eyes and rounding her cheeks. She always responded to his overtures like a schoolgirl, inexperienced and shy, a sharp contrast to her confident professional manner as one of the city's medical examiners. Getting this close to her was dangerous. It wasn't good to give LaCroix reason to rethink his decision to let her live, but he didn't want to relinquish the sweet cautious way she leaned on his arm as he led her near one of the larger glass booths. He deliberately stopped several feet away from the case. "I can't get too close, Nat. It's a pi." "A bee! This time of year?" Natalie jerked back in alarm. Nick laughed at her. "A pi is pronounced like bee." He had her go to the glass and study the circular disk. It was made of red and black streaked jade, almost ten inches in diameter with a large hole in the middle. "A pi is the Eye of Heaven, a symbol of the god of light. It means as much to the Chinese as a cross does to Christians. This piece was made about 200 AD, during the Han dynasty." She turned back to him, raising a brow. "It affects you the same way as a cross?" "Never to the same extent. In the beginning, I was thoroughly repelled by its inherent goodness, but I could touch it now if I had to. I prefer to keep a courteous distance." He was distracted by a large glass case, set prominently on a dais, just beyond the pi. It enclosed a picture painted on a bright red cloth. This must be the Ming silk everyone mentioned. There was something oddly familiar about it. Skirting the Eye of Heaven case carefully, he was drawn to it as irresistibly as a carouche to a rat. As he made out the lone figure painted on a rich, throne-like chair all thoughts about Minoan dresses and the Han dynasty pi faded completely from his mind. Natalie, her voice sharp with concern, asked, "Nick? What is it?" He couldn't answer. All he could do was remember. Remember. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1490 AD Milan, Italy The Chinese vampire, dressed in expensively woven silk and embroideries, sat regally upon an elaborately carved chair. His hands on the armrests were stone still, yet the vitality of a warrior burned in his eyes. He imperiously faced down the tall, European vampire standing defiantly in front of him. LaCroix, the jewels on his elegant Italian doublet glittering in the candlelight, shouted angrily. "No, Wu Ti! You cannot have him! He is mine! My child! My son!" Wu Ti's words were as calm as LaCroix's impassioned. "Isn't the choice his, LaCroix? He is no longer a fledgling needing guidance. Let him go to make his own way in life." Nicholas de Brabant, confused, watched the two most important people in his life fight about him. He ached to go with Wu Ti, adored what he had seen Wu Ti do, and wanted to be like him. But . . . He looked at his master--his brother--his father. He was still attached to LaCroix no matter what he thought, no matter what he did. But if LaCroix released him willingly . . . "Why not let me go, LaCroix? There is nothing else you can teach me." Nicholas begged. The scorn in LaCroix's eyes would have scorched a mere human being into ashes. "You have never learned to see through anyone offering you your heart's desire until it was too late. I do not intend for you to suffer at the hands of this--this--sneak thief!" LaCroix's violence matched his voice. Nicholas watched helplessly as his master attacked the Chinese vampire. Wu Ti brushed LaCroix aside like an insect. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * He roused to Natalie's insistent shaking. "Nick, what is it! Is it the silk?" "Yes," he whispered hoarsely. "I know him. He is not a friend." The harsh tendrils of evil smote his vampiric senses abruptly. He pushed aside the old memories to tune in on approaching danger. Whirling, he confronted two Oriental figures as they closed in. He immediately identified the one with the gold-banded black hair as a vampire. He was young, only about a hundred. The menacing air about the scar-cheeked human told Nick he was as casual a killer as the vampire. A wicked smile split the face of the vampire. "I see you appreciate the portrait of my master. Monsieur de Brabant, am I right?" The stranger knew his name! Nick heard Natalie gasp, as shocked as he. Inserting himself between Nat and the vampire, he asked warily, "If I am?" To his amazement, the vampire withdrew a gun from his suit and aimed it at Nick. The glint in his black eyes acknowledged he knew the bullets would pass harmlessly through Nick to kill Nat. The vampire taunted Nick with a gloating growl and a glimpse of fangs. Responding instinctively, Nick snarled deep in his throat. He flew for the gun. Prepared, the vampire darted away from Nick but paused too close to the pi case. As a flash of fire momentarily engulfed the Chinese vampire, he howled in surprised pain. Before Nick could press his advantage, he heard Natalie scream. Scarface had seized Natalie, twisting her arms painfully behind her back, using her as a human shield. Nick savagely descended upon the man. He made no effort to hide his pale, opaque eyes and bared fangs. He pressed all his vampiric mesmerism into one line. "Let her go!" Scarface panicked. He blindly hurled Nat away from him, crashing her into a ceramics case. The glass smashed into thousands of flesh rendering edges. The man fumbled frantically in his pocket. Nick could feel the cross but didn't allow him to pull it from his clothes. He flung the mortal across the room, slamming him into the wall. The hanging displays fell and clattered like dissonant chimes. The Chinese vampire, recovering quickly, sped to a safer point. His mocking smile caused Nick to freeze. "My apologizes. I let my desire for play interfere with my duties. I must fulfill my master's request." He aimed his gun again. Not at Nick or Nat. At Scarface. The human assailant struggled up from the wall and protested his betrayal. "What are you doing, Chen Li? We were to kill de Brabant!" Chen Li maintained his mysterious smile on Nick, not even sparing a glance for his victim. "Ah, that is not what my master intended." Without mercy the vampire pulled the trigger twice, ending Scarface's life. "What a waste of blood. Don't you agree, Monsieur?" The vampire pocketed the weapon and inclined his head almost imperceptibly toward the silk. "My master sends his greetings." With a hissing of air the vampire was gone, leaving behind the crumpled, bleeding corpse. Confused museum patrons began to gather around them, nervously babbling and exclaiming in high pitched voices. Nick ignored them all and dropped to Natalie's side. "You okay?" She bled from a multitude of shallow cuts and her expression was dazed. "Nick, what was all that about?" Nick helped her rise. He could feel her trembling. "I think he was sent by someone with an old grudge against me." "How old?" "Centuries." He held her close against him as she sought to regain her balance on shaky legs. He attempted to pick the shards of glass out of her thick hair and brush away the blood on her cheek. A high pitched scream from someone who had discovered the dead body cut through them both. Time to go into professional mode. Natalie withdrew from him easily but he could see she was grateful for the extra second he took to ascertain how she really felt. "Are you up to examining the body, Nat?" She nodded shakily as Mathers pushed his way through a knot of gawkers. The head curator had no problem with Nick's title now. "Detective Knight, are you hurt? What happened?" Nick assured him of his safety. "A murder, the corpse is one of the assassins who threatened me." As Mathers wailed about the damage to the room, Nick observed Jon Calloway, his thin face pale as a Ming vase, as he stared mindlessly at the body in its pool of blood. "Jon, go find security and," producing a card, "take this number and call Detective Schanke. Tell him I've been involved in a murder and need him immediately." The youth fled to do his bidding. Nick brought some order to the frightened crowd, but between Mathers' persistent pestering and his own uneasy thoughts, time seemed to stand still until Schanke arrived. Nick could have kissed his round face. End Part 3a Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 20:50:49 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 03b/14 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 03b/14 Schanke, tan coat over his portly body, surveyed the room before complaining, "This better be good, Knight, to call me in on my day off. Myra and I had tickets to the Toronto Polka Festival." Before Nick could disengage from an overdressed and overwrought society lady, Natalie rose slowly from the dead body. Her bloodied, disheveled condition was enough to make a more hardened man than Schanke feel embarrassed by his grumbling. "We're sorry, Schank. Next time we'll arrange for someone to shoot at a more convenient time." Schanke swallowed visibly, striding to reach her as quickly as he could. "Natalie! Are you hurt? I thought it was Knight they were using for target practice." Nick shook off the lady and joined them. "Nobody was shot but one of the assassins. Thanks for coming, Schanke." There must have been something in his voice and pallor because Schanke turned the same worried expression on him as well. He jerked about on his heel and started bawling orders to the room in general. He commanded someone to bring chairs even as he ordered Nick to stay out of the way. He bullied Mathers into closing off the wing and quickly had half the uniformed police taking statements in a systematic order while the other half evicted rubber-neckers from the room. The atmosphere had a sense of perspective when Schanke returned to confer with them. Schanke squatted to eye level by the scavenged folding chairs where they sat near the corpse. "What is it, Knight? Place so dull you have to bring your own excitement? I've been hearing you fought off an entire squadron of Ninja warriors by yourself." "Nothing quite so dramatic, Schank." Nick quickly told him a vampireless story. Schanke caught on one important part. "The perps called you by name straight to your face? They called you Knight?" He would have to lie. De Brabant had to remain part of a different life. "He made certain who I was, then he shot his accomplice instead of me. Like he was trying to get my attention." Schanke snickered in disgust. "A corpse usually gets that. Are you sure you've never seen them before? You know the language better than the guy who runs Myra's favorite Chinese take out." Nick shook his head emphatically and with truth. "I have never seen either of the two assassins before." Schanke turned to the medical examiner. "Anything about the body, Natalie?" She told him the number and type of bullets in the body but suggested any other conclusions would have to wait until the autopsy. "No driver's license, no personal items. The scar on his cheek should help in the identification process back at the precinct. There were no other tattoos or markings I could see without removing his clothes. We'll run his fingerprints through the computers." Schanke ran a hand over the corpse's shoulder. "Good suit. Better shoes than my toes will ever dance in." "De--detective Knight?" Nick turned to see Jon Calloway standing differentially near them. "Yes, Jon?" "Could I start picking up the damaged pottery?" Nick followed his nervous gaze to the toppled case and the shattered ceramics. While the spectators had all been evicted, there were still many feet trampling on the shards of the broken antique vases. To someone like Jon, their loss would come close to equaling the death of a loved one. "Go ahead but make sure you don't cut yourself. Use those keys you're so proud of to get to the pots in the damaged cases." Jon mechanically brought out his keys and stared sightlessly at them. Nick clapped him on the back. "Rescue the pottery. We've already lost too much tonight." Mathers approached, more composed but still upset. "I did as you asked, Detective Schanke. This section is closed now. I hope the publicity doesn't adversely affect the museum." Sardonically, Schanke muttered. "I've never known murder to slow business at an ice cream stand. People will be streaming in here by the thousands when this gets out." Mathers wandered over by the case containing the painted silk. "I wish I had insisted on extra security to guard this new piece. Its value is astronomical." Nick's attention was riveted on the smug, mysterious face peering at him from the centuries old painting. His thoughts focused. "When did the museum acquire the silk?" "Sometime last week. I believe the donor was anonymous." Nick almost snarled as he traversed the distance between Mathers and himself in less time than he should have taken. "Who accepted it?" Schanke followed him. "Why, Nick? Does this have something to do with the murder?" "It might." Nick knew his voice was too savage. "The murderer asked if I appreciated the portrait of his employer. He might work for the person who donated it. I need to see the files. Who has them?" Mathers, quite intimidated, whispered. "Dr. Shih." Schanke, who obviously knew when it was best to humor Nick's crazy ideas, added his emphasis. "Get this Shih person up here. Now!" Mathers practically fled, almost running into the crew carrying in the stretcher and body bag for the corpse. Natalie supervised the removal. "I'll get him back to the morgue and see what else I can find." Nick thanked her. "Are you sure you weren't hurt by the glass?" Her cheeks rounded as she smiled up at him. "Only my dress. Thank goodness it wasn't my favorite. I hope you find some answers." Nick physically restrained himself from embracing her. Even cut and bloodied she was beautiful. His eyes followed her form as she accompanied the laden stretcher from the room. Before he could gather his thoughts, Mathers returned with the tall Chinese gentleman who had masterfully entertained them earlier. Understandably, his expression was marred with nervousness and uncertainty. Nick felt his eyes narrow as he noted the gold jade pin on the man's lapel. Its edges were white with age. Very old, very valuable and far beyond what an ordinary museum employee could afford. Mathers introduced Hyeng Shih to Nick and Schanke before taking the opportunity to flee. Dr. Shih shivered nervously. "I'm afraid I know nothing. Dr. Mathers said someone had been murdered in the Tsui gallery. My first thought was of all the irreplaceable artifacts." Nick thought belatedly of the figurines in his pocket. Perhaps he should have given them to Nat. "But this isn't about the jade, is it, Dr. Shih? Thanks to you, we have a new Ming exhibit. The fifteenth century silk of a nobleman." He tapped the top of the case containing the painting. Fear crossed the face of the registrar. "Yes. It is a recent gift to the museum." "Who is the donor?" "I'm sorry. I'm not at liberty to say." Schanke riled. "My partner is nearly killed and you're not at liberty? I think you need to set the bells of liberty ringing here and ding dong out the name." Nick synchronized Shih's heartbeats with his vampiric mesmerism to 'persuade' him to give them the information they needed. Nick commanded softly, "You will tell us what we need to know." "NO!" The answer blurted from the ROM registrar's mouth as if he were driven. Dr. Shih's face was a mask of conflicting emotions. Nick blinked in surprise. Dr. Shih was not a resister. It had been all too easy to pick up the flow of the man's heart and tune it in with his hypnotic powers. Maybe too easy. As Schanke broke into a full-fledged tirade about Shih's lack of cooperation, Nick examined the man's confused and tongue-tied silence. He was under another vampire's control! As the eddies and streams of the man's conscious became more apparent to him, Nick could feel the tampering the man's mind had endured. And not just any vampire. A master vampire. Only someone with the strength of LaCroix could have put him under this much control. Nick studied the gold dragon pin and remembered with sudden clarity the legend Shih had recited. LaCroix could have done it. Or Wu Ti. Stiffly, Dr. Shih said, "The donor offered it to the museum in exchange for complete anonymity. We were to receive other pieces depending on how successfully we fulfilled his requirements." Nick caught a glimpse of the greed the vampire's hypnotism was anchored to. Shih wanted the esteem and renown that would accompany the expanding Chinese collection. Renewing his own vampiric hypnotism with all the power he was capable of, Nick probed. "Who gave you the silk? Where does he live?" The conflicting powers completely silenced the man. Unsurprisingly, the previous conditioning held. Nick relented. Dr. Shih stuttered and shook his head groggily. "I'm sorry. I cannot give you the information." Nick hissed in irritation and stalked away. Schanke was fit to be tied. "We'll be back tomorrow with a warrant. No one is going to threaten my partner and get away with it. We'll have your records and leave you wishing you had never heard of silk worms or Moo goo gai pan." He caught up with Nick. "We'll get the name if I have to go through every piece of paper in this place." That forced a smile from Nick. "If it is any consolation, Schank, the assassin made it a point his partner was the intended victim, not me." "He might not have use for his partner but I do. No one sneezes in your direction without answering for it to me." Nick patted Schanke's back in genuine sincerity. "Thanks, partner." End Part 3b Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 05:43:07 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 04/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 04/14 "He called you de Brabant! They know who you are!" Natalie leaned over the body of the assassin, the bright lights of the autopsy room banishing all shadows. She had taken a quick shower and slathered antibacterial ointment on her cuts. Her ruined dress had been exchanged for loose scrubs and her hair, wet but glass free, was bound behind her neck in a scrungi. She had listened with growing amazement when Nick told her about Dr. Shih but she couldn't stop thinking about Chen Li. Nick lifted the sheet off the stripped corpse. "I know. The killing was to secure my attention. Anything from the body?" "Not yet. It will be tomorrow before we'll get anything from the fingerprints." She circled the table to his side. "To get your attention? Like the Chinese silk? You know something, don't you?" His voice came from far away. "Yes. We may be in a great deal of danger." Natalie wondered who the "we" were. He could mean the two of them but she didn't think so. It must mean the vampire community. "Tell me about the silk, Nick." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1490 AD Milan, Italy The thick wax candles lit the artist's studio as if it were day. Near the middle of the room, a table supported a battered palette, the once bright oils overworked and muddled into dull olives and umbers. Uncleaned brushes, pigments hardening on the bristles, had been carelessly tossed to the side. An easel supporting a large canvas was angled near it. The painting, obviously executed by an amateur, roughly reflected the flower-bedecked bed in front of it. The outlines of a beautiful reclining nude had been sketched over the pillows, while the real bed was indented as if it had been recently occupied. Nicholas slowly lowered the dead model to the floor. The blood from her body was still warm in his mouth as remorse set in. He had not been able to resist taking her. Her coloring vied with the pigments on his pallet: her hair, King's yellow; her eyes, powdered ultramarine; her lips, Venetian red. Her skin was pale as canvas linen and, when he had asked her to come to him, she had risen gracefully and confidently as an emerging Venus. He had taken her then and there, her life coursing into his, making him feel like a god. Tempted to prolong his ecstasy, he had consumed more and more of her life giving elixir. He had taken too much. Again. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, he bowed his head in despair over the girl's lifeless form. He felt the master vampire behind him. He waited for the familiar voice to taunt and jeer at him for failing. He lifted his head. "LaCroix, you don't have to say it." "I'm not your master, child." The low, strangely accented voice was compelling and comforting at the same time. Nicholas whirled around, dropping the dead body. The Chinese vampire, a light smile on his lips, bowed slightly. He was small, a few inches over five feet, but Nicholas could sense his power. He had dark, non-judgmental eyes under slanted folds of skin and a long pointed beard. He dressed in an exotically cut tunic and trousers made of gold tissue. A fine embroidered dragon decorated the breast cloth but it writhed in a circle like a snake, very different than wide-bodied European dragons. His heavily jeweled belt proclaimed great wealth. Nicholas had seen other Chinese before, but never this close. He had most certainly not conversed with one. Defiantly, Nicholas replied, "I'm not a child. I came across in 1228, when Louis the Pious ruled in France and the third Henry came of age in England." "You are still a child." The voice rippled with amusement. "I've seen what has passed since the Han emperors reigned in China." "Han?" The name meant nothing to Nicholas. "Such ignorance. Do you think nothing existed before your Crusades? I was made 300 years after your god was crucified on a stick and before Buddha infested my lands." He was far older than Nicholas was but LaCroix was still older by at least two hundred years. "My name is Wu Ti. I've come to see the great artworks for which this land is famous." Nicholas introduced himself and invited the Oriental vampire to come further into his studio. "I was so smitten by Da Vinci's Madonna on the Rocks, I decided to take up painting. I have engaged several of the masters in the city as tutors." As he gestured toward his easel, he saw the limp nude lying on the floor. The renewed guilt sobered his enthusiasm for the present discussion. Wu Ti inspected Nicholas' painting first. His lifted eyebrow acknowledged Nicholas' effort. "Perseverance can be substituted for talent. Perhaps, in another century or two you will make an artist." Then he concerned himself with the dead model. He stooped to brush long slender fingers against her wrist and throat. He looked up at Nicholas, his words more complimentary now than before. "Good incision with no excessive tearing of the skin. The blood was drawn expertly. What is the cause for your unhappiness?" So Wu Ti had noted Nicholas' grief. He adverted his face to regain his composure. "I did not mean to kill her." The Chinese vampire seemed to understand. "Your painting is unfinished. You should have only sipped the nectar from this flower until the bloom from her cheeks had been transposed to the canvas." Embarrassed, Nicholas said, "I could not stop my self." The ensuing silence ran so long and deep that Nicholas finally heeled about to face the small-boned vampire. Wu Ti smiled enigmatically. There was something of Nicholas' master in the curled lips. "Hasn't your master taught you to control your hunger?" "The fault is my own. The more I desire the mortal the less chance I have in ruling my thirst." "There are ways to discipline your blood lust. You need not fail." Nicholas stared at the slight figure, disbelief warring with hope. "Can you teach me? Would you teach me?" Wu Ti appeared to ponder the question, studying first Nicholas then the lovely corpse. "You are a beautiful young man with a strong spirit about you. I understand why your master chose you to join him in his eternal voyage." He considered further. "Yes, I could teach you to control your hunger . . . " "Show me! Please!" Suddenly the Oriental vampire's eyes burned like black coals within his white face. "Only if you leave your master and join me." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "So Wu Ti offered you what you wanted." Natalie said quietly, "Obviously you made the decision to stay with LaCroix. Why has he come back now?" Nick shook his head. "I have to find out before he kills anyone else." He pulled the lacquered box from his pocket. "At least it wasn't to take these away from me like LaCroix would have." He perched on the edge of Natalie's desk and laid the box on her paper work. As he set the highly lacquered lid aside, Natalie scooted her chair closer and adjusted the lamp to shine directly on the dull pink forms nestled in the tissue. Curiosity overcoming reverence toward their age, she gingerly picked up one of the statuettes. It was barely five inches long with a triangular shaped head and a cylindrical body. The expression crudely engraved on its face seemed to be imploring the gods for help. Several jagged lines were drawn on the arm indentations. Natalie wondered if this statuette was supposed to help heal an injured or broken limb. "It is hard to believe these were made three thousand years ago. Someone who lived and breathed actually formed these." Nick stroked the other figure with a long finger. It was similar to the one in Natalie's hand except the wound zig-zags were around the wedge-shaped head. "I find it harder to believe these bits of clay and mud may help me become human again." 'Human, so we can be together.' Natalie thought, watching the serious way his brows furrowed and lips thinned as he studied the artifacts. She scuttled the impulse to run her finger along the lines of his ear and down his neck. "Will you start work on it tonight?" She left her seat to stride to the refrigeration units. She said, "I can start the analysis of the statuette composition now but it will be tomorrow before I can begin the chemical breakdown of its effect on your blood." She removed a specially marked packet of blood from the back of the locker and gauged the low level in the plastic lining. "I'm going to need more of your blood for the cultures." Nick held out his wrist, his smile crinkling in pleasure. "Help yourself." Natalie replaced the packet in its corner. "But the figures, Nick, how am I to do an analysis without destroying them?" "You can't, Natalie. You'll have to crush them." She stared at him, aghast. "Crush them! They are history, Nick." "There are hundreds more like them, Nat. I made sure you learned that fact from the curator himself. These can be sacrificed. They might, just might, be my salvation." "I don't think I can destroy what nature has conspired to preserve for thousands of years." Nick didn't hesitate. He picked up a figurine, the one with the broken arm, and squeezed firmly. Natalie could hear the clay grind to bits under his greater than human strength. He opened his hand to expose the discolored granules of clay and dumped them on the table. She swallowed. The figure which had survived thousands of years had been destroyed as quickly and easily as a sand castle. It seemed as unfair as the death of a child. Nick reached for the other. She stopped him, laying a splayed hand on his. "Let me experiment with this one first. If I need it, I can always crush it later." She didn't understand the sensual mischievous smile that slid across Nick's face as he lifted her fingers to his lips. "Yes, I know you can smash with style." The cool touch of his mouth along her hand raised the cravings she had curbed. He released her. "I need to go, Nat." With vampiric swiftness he was gone. End Part 4 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 16:54:17 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 05/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 05/14 "Wu Ti! Are you certain, Nicola?" Janette asked, exquisite in a low necked gown and long jet earrings. She perched on her chair in front of the Raven's bar, sipping a snifter of her special vintage. "Yes." Nick's attention was distracted by a spotlighted sign above the potted roses at the end of the bar. He read, "Don't Touch the Roses." He looked askance at Janette. She merely smiled, her dark eyes twinkling mischievously. With perfect reverse psychology, Nick reached for one of the blood red blooms, but as his fingers entered the cone of light about the pot his skin sizzled and cracked. He snatched back in pain. Janette burst into laughter. "Oh, dear Nicola, even you cannot resist disobeying a sign that clearly says don't touch." She indicated her bar keep, who was unsuccessfully suppressing his mirth. "It was Miklos' idea. He convinced me to add some greenery to 'liven' up the place. The sunlamp solved their photosynthetic problem." "Photosynthesis." Nick corrected irritably. "Whatever. Miklos experimented with all the grow lamps on the market for our little friends." Her smile grew wider. "My customers can't understand why some of their companions think the sign isn't a joke." Nick glared up at the tall Hungarian behind the bar. "I hope you're pricked by the thorns every time you water them." Miklos smiled, deep dimples appearing in his swarthy skin. Nick had always thought Miklos, with his dark hair, high cheek bones, and sunken eyes, looked more like the modern media's image of a vampire than he did. Yet, in a few minutes the sun would be rising and Miklos could bask in its brightness while Nick would seek his dark bed. Miklos smoothly refilled Janette's snifter. "Would your guest desire a glass of the same?" Janette raised her brow in question, pressing the glass against her lips in graceful temptation. Nick subtly shook his head. "Perhaps not the same vintage, Miklos. Nick likes bovine with his Bordeaux. I don't keep any in stock." Nick waited until Miklos moved away. "I think Wu Ti is using me to get to LaCroix." Janette fingered the edge of her delicate glass. "Again." "Wu Ti's hypnotism on the registrar was so complete he couldn't give me the information on the silk portrait. Schanke and I will go back tonight with a warrant." Janette regarded Nick with disgust. "Bah. Such human sensibilities. I could have gotten it out of him." "You would have left him a vegetable." Exasperated, she exclaimed, "Who cares? Why were you there?" He hesitated, knowing what her reaction would be. "I have heard of another cure." She rolled her eyes. "Nichola, always looking for a cure." She paused, eyes narrowing seriously. "That is what caused your trouble with Wu Ti in the first place." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1490 AD Milan, Italy "I see you enjoy my treasures." Wu Ti observed as Nicholas flitted from one Chinese art work to another, fascinated as a child with a new toy. "Your home is filled with beautiful things. It is so . . . different." Nicholas had admired the tall bronzes, hanging silks and jade carvings in every room in Wu Ti's Italian palace. "The philosophy behind Eastern art is far different than the thought behind Western work." Drawn to the red silk hanging, Nicholas said, "This is a portrait of you. I recognize the chair, too." The dragon knobbed throne dominating the room was identical to the one painted on the silk. Wu Ti gazed in satisfaction at the picture of himself as a dignified Chinese aristocrat. "This was painted during the first century of the Ming dynasty. I was honored to be chosen by such a reputed scholar." Wu Ti inclined his head towards Nicholas. "I know masters who would welcome a willing student such as yourself." Nicholas caught the subtle stress on the word master. He picked up a brass tripod and ran his fingers over the ornate flower pattern. "I am tempted to come for that reason alone." The door opened and the most beautiful girl Nicholas had ever seen walked into the room. Nicholas had not seen a Chinese lady before. She was as exquisite as a porcelain doll, small as Wu Ti in stature. She wore a patterned silk kimono bound by a gold trimmed obi. Her dainty, pointed face and slender hands were ice white as a Ming vase. Her modestly averted eyes had been carefully kohled to accent their almond shape and her ebony hair was piled high under sparkling jade pins. Nicholas admired her as an art form. She softly set a tray of small cups and a long slender pitcher on a low table. With graceful movements she arranged the dishware in a precise pattern and poured an alcoholic and blood beverage. She rose and bowed deeply in great reverence, her eyes never meeting theirs. Nicholas looked up to see Wu Ti watching him with an amused smile. "Weng Sun is beautiful, is she not? The ladies of the Chinese court are as different from the women of your palaces as the studios of your artists are from our scholars." "She is most lovely," Nicholas agreed fervently, his eyes on the delicate girl. Wu Ti opened an elaborately carved chest and removed a small embroidered bag. "She is yours. Take her." Shock ran through Nicholas like ice water. Alarmed, he protested, "No! I would kill her." "Not necessarily, child." Wu Ti presented the colorful bag like a jewel. "This combination of herbs will help you." Nicholas circled, wary, not daring to believe. "How?" Wu Ti upended the bag over a plate on the low table and sifted long fingers through the green fibers. "Put these in your mouth before you break the skin. It does not interfere with the ingestion of blood, but after so long a time the punctures will heal rapidly and prevent you from taking more than is good for the mortal. There are those in my entourage who need it as well. That is why I developed it." Nicholas, feeling vampiric revulsion at the thought of taking something beside blood or alcohol into his body, sampled a grain. Instead of being sickened, he enjoyed the fresh mint-like tang. His expression must have betrayed his surprise to Wu Ti for the Chinese vampire laughed abruptly. He pressed more of the herb into Nicholas' hand and gestured toward the Chinese beauty. "Prove it to yourself." Nicholas hesitantly approached the girl and ran a finger down her cheek and under her chin. Resolutely, she kept her eyes focused on the floor. Nicholas exchanged glances with Wu Ti who smiled encouragingly and retired to his throne. Nicholas bent to kiss her brow, nearly having to bend double because of the great disparity in their heights. He slid to the floor to sit cross-legged. His face below the girl's now, he could see more of her pretty, piquant face, even though she still did not meet his eyes. He tugged gently on her kimono. Obediently, she gingerly perched on his knee but he pulled her closer to his doublet until she was settled as firmly as a doll in a child's lap. He had never held anything so delicate and fragile before. He could hear her swiftly beating heart and smell the blood flowing through the veins under the white skin. He pressed his lips against her cheek-bones, ran his fingers over her lips, and explored the length of her neck with his tongue. He noted a small mole on the side of her neck and nibbled around it. He could feel a response in the girl, even if it was not reflected on her stoically serene face. He loosened the fit of the kimono about her neck so her shoulders and the jut of her clavicle bones were exposed. Her closeness, her beauty, and her blood brought the vampire need into acute focus. His eyes began to glaze and he felt his fangs press forward. Pushed by lust and hunger, he resolved to believe in Wu Ti and crammed the rest of the herbs into his mouth. One hand pulled the girl's head to the side and the other grasped her shoulder firmly to expose her smooth neck in one long line from ear to shoulder, marred only by the mole. With a baring of fangs, Nicholas plunged into her neck and drank deep. He was intoxicated by the flow of her life into his. The texture of her spirit was foreign to him and he feasted on it freely, reveling in the novelty. He knew it was time to stop. Her heart began to protest a little and his ecstasy peaked. It was the point when nothing short of death itself could separate him from the fountain of his delight. The girl's blood flow slowed abruptly and ceased. The skin closed in turgid lumps. He righted his head, feeling dazed at the sudden arrest of pleasure. The girl. Was she . . . Alive! His lack of complete satisfaction was forgotten as he felt her heart beat firm and sure beneath his hands. Nicholas sought Wu Ti, wildly excited. "It worked! The herbs worked! How can I get more?" Wu Ti's eyes glittered like a predator who had his prey exactly where he wanted it. "Leave your master, Nicholas. Join me and you can have all of this herb mixture you want." Nicholas licked the last of the beauty's blood from his fingers, the strength of Wu Ti's offer warring with his loyalty to LaCroix. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Nick, becoming aware of the Raven's softly lit interior, licked his fingers and suddenly realized he was savoring Natalie's blood where he had cleaned her red smeared cheek earlier. In the warm glow, he remembered. "My blood." Janette smiled knowingly. "It is quite delicious. What makes you mention it now?" "Natalie needs it for the experiments." Janette made a piqued moue and Nick leaned forward and kissed the pursed lips lightly. Her eyes lit in delight. Nick unfastened the cuff of his dark shirt. "Got a plastic bag?" "Plastic?" Janette exclaimed in mock indignation. "Plastic is not allowed in my establishment." She turned to Miklos. "Empty and wash one of the smaller wine bottles. Let my uncouth friend use it as he will." The dark-eyed bar keep did as he was bid. Drying it off with a towel, he offered a small wine bottle to Nick. Nick brought his wrist up to nip the vein but Janette, playfully, placed a hand on his. She bit the exposed skin herself and held it so Nick's blood drained into the container. Smiling fondly, he said, "It's almost dawn. Do you have someone who could take this to Natalie?" She looked up at Miklos in question. With sorely tried patience, Miklos answered, "I'll deliver this to Dr. Lambert. Off to bed with both of you!!" Janette patted Miklos' arm. "Good help. It's so hard to find these days." She smiled up at the Hungarian. "So I appreciate it when I have it." End Part 5 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 17:20:08 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 06/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 06/14 BUZZZZZZZZZZ! BUZZZZZZZZZZ! Natalie awoke to her door bell's insistent shrilling. Groggily shifting into wakefulness, she noticed it was mid-morning. Much too early to be up. She threw a baggy bathrobe over her nightshirt and stumbled to open the apartment door to the safety chain's limit. For several seconds, she stared blankly at a dark gypsyish man. He was familiar but she couldn't place him. "Yes?" The tall man stated pleasantly, "Dr. Lambert." It wasn't a question. The voice and appearance fell into place. He worked at the Raven. Rays of sunlight filtered through her closed blinds; he wasn't a vampire. "Miklos, isn't it? Anything wrong with Janette?" "She was secure as a corpse in a coffin when I locked up." The man sounded amused. He raised a wrapped bottle he had in his hand to eye level. "I've something for you from Detective Knight." Within seconds Miklos was in her living room and she spluttered apologies for her appearance. "Dr. Lambert, please, I'm on my way to bed as well. I had to wait until the morning deliveries to the Raven were made before I could deliver this package." She stared at the paper swathed form in his hand. In her sleep muddled mind, she wondered why Nick would send her a bottle of wine. "Detective Knight seemed to think it was important you get this as soon as possible." For the first time he appeared unsure as he took in the continued blank look on Natalie's face. He stated baldly, "It's his blood." Realization dawned on her. "Oh, yes, yes. I need this to start the cultures he wants done. I forgot to draw it from Nick last night." Miklos laughed. "Amusing, isn't it, to get blood from a vampire instead of the other way around? I don't know of anyone but you who could say that, Dr. Lambert." Miklos' infectious smile encouraged Natalie to grin in response. "Call me Natalie, please. Between the shooting at the museum and this Wu Ti person it's no wonder I forgot." Abruptly she was far more alert. She couldn't keep the fear out of her voice. "If this vampire is after Nick and he is as strong as LaCroix . . ." Miklos reassured her, "Your Nicholas has survived everything, including LaCroix, for more years than either of us can count. He can survive this mystery vampire." She took the bottle out of the sack and agitated it, watching the red tinted liquid swirl up and coat the sides of the glass. More years than either of us can count . . . but Nick had destroyed the three thousand-year-old statuette as easily as a child could smash building blocks. She knew the lives of the vampires were fragile despite their seeming invulnerability. "I better get this in the fridge." "You keep blood in your refrigerator?" It was her turn to be amused. "You have it in your fridge at the Raven. I don't think Janette keeps just the champagne chilled." He smiled in acknowledgment as she led the way into her kitchen. She saw his eyes widen at the amount of lab equipment squeezed into the room. She had test tubes and a Bunsen burner where a blender would have been; a microscope took a toaster's place. Petri dishes were piled in the sink drain. A small incubator was wedged between cardboard boxes filled with research materials. "This looks like a fully equipped lab." "It has to share the same space as frozen dinners and cereal." She turned her back to him to put the blood into a special refrigeration unit. Her mind on squeezing the bottle between other specimen samples, she called over her shoulder, "I have been known to drink my orange juice from a test tube now and then but I've never mistaken a beaker of plasma for lemonade." "Lemonade isn't red." "Neither is plasma--Ouch!" The side of her neck suddenly stung and a small wadded ball of plastic bounced down the front of her robe. She spun to find Miklos holding a small hollow tube against his lips. "I'm sorry, Natalie." The dark gypsy eyes didn't appear the least apologetic. "It looked like a pea shooter. I couldn't resist the temptation." Dryly she asked, "Did you hit what you wanted?" "I usually do. Old bar games. What is this?" "It's a syringe package. I have plenty of sharp needles around to attack unsuspecting innocents when I need to draw their blood for a control group. If you ever shoot me again, you'll be my next victim." He grinned, his teeth white against his dark skin. "Who is the real vampire here? You or Detective Knight?" "When I'm elbow deep in someone's body, I wonder, too." She closed the refrigerator door as Miklos fingered a book on hematology lying on the kitchen table. "Do you do all your experiments here?" "As much as I can, especially the tedious, time consuming stuff. Much of it requires the more advanced equipment in the morgue." "You must love him very much." Natalie was shocked into silence. Others may have alluded to her relationship with Nick but none had ever accused her so bluntly. She averted her eyes and said, "I find him a medical challenge." Miklos burst into full-throated laughter, drawing her startled gaze. His mocking smile indicated she was fooling no one. "Right. And you will wipe out all respiratory diseases for your next triumph." Her face flamed as she jerked the medical tome from his lax hands. "What keeps you tied to the Raven?" Natalie lashed in rancor, desperate to embarrass him. "Janette?" Miklos chuckled all the more at her feeble attempt. "Janette and the danger she represents delights me. I always feel more alive in the presence of death. Where else can I walk on a blade's edge so freely than in a vampire's lair." He sobered and said gently. "Even if you became involved with him for altruistic reasons, it's not so now. Don't fool yourself. You know the risks, physically and emotionally. You and Detective Knight make a great team but time will pass and he will have to assume another life, leaving you behind. I suffer no illusions, Natalie. I hope you have a firm grasp on reality as well." End Part 6 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 07:22:15 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 07a/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 07a/14 After a swift glance verified no one in the precinct watched, Nick swooped behind a preoccupied Natalie with supernatural speed and grasped her shoulders. "How's it going?" He whispered. A stifled scream rewarded his action. "Nick! One of these days you're going to kill me!" She turned furiously on him as she slammed the opened manilla folder in her hands shut. He beamed his most charming, boyish grin at her and said disarmingly, "Perhaps, but it won't be on purpose." True. It would not be on purpose but if he ever kissed her with the passion he so carefully controlled . . . He indicated the manila folders in her hand and asked, "Are those the results of the statuette analysis?" "Nick, you are incorrigible. This is the work they actually pay me for. Some unfortunate who received a box of chocolate covered rat poison from a jilted lover. Remind me never to date anyone who works for a pesticide company." "I won't even let you out with an exterminator." He surprised both himself and her by the depth of emotion that came out in his tone. Natalie searched his face with wide, bewildered eyes. He could tell she was hoping to find something in his expression to confirm what his words implied. Instead of responding to her look like she deserved and his heart demanded, he tore himself away to find his desk. He blindly shuffled papers about, pulling himself back together, hoping Nat was, too. In a few minutes, she joined him. Her voice was strained, but composed, as she fished out a graph from a sheaf of papers. "Here are the results of the analysis. As you can see, most of the dirt composition is normal but . . ." she was warily delighted, "there was a substance unrecognizable to the computer. This may be what we're looking for." Nick grinned in excitement. "When are you starting the experiments?" "Already in the oven. I combined the Sorrows solution with the blood samples and put them in the morgue's incubator. I should have them out and analyzed before dawn." Nick gripped her hand, hoping rashly. "Maybe by this time tomorrow . . ." Nat's warm fingers tightened on his in a reality check. "Nick, it's only the first batch of tests. I'm going to analyze it from one end of the spectrum to the other before I let the Sorrows solution anywhere near the blood in your body." Reluctantly, Nick admitted she was right. "Sorrows solution?" "It sounded better than the Chinese or the Statuette solution. Silly to call something a dull pink in color the Yellow River solution. I thought Sorrows an appropriate name." Natalie put the report into her briefcase and stifled a yawn. "I'd like to blame my sleepiness on your delivery service but I know better. Miklos seems to know all about the vampire community." "Janette trusts him. He has quick wits and is a survivor." Natalie nodded in agreement and rubbed her neck. "And a good eye with a blow dart. Anything else on the murdered Chinese assassin?" Nick picked up another folder from his desk and flipped it open. "Nothing of pertinence. Small time hood, spent some time in prison. He came from a poor background. Schanke was right about the shoes. Someone was paying him a lot of money." He frowned thoughtfully, "It would be pennies to Wu Ti." "Hey! Partner!" Schanke bellowed cheerfully as he strode between the lined desks, drawing their attention. The bald top of his fringed head shone brightly under the fluorescent lights while he cracked his knuckles. "I've got the warrant to sift out that shifty Dr. Shih." "Good job, Schanke. Let's go." "That won't be necessary." Cohen commanded. Nick and the others swung toward the captain. Framed by the office doorway, Cohen held herself with extra assurance. Nick was suddenly struck by her Asian features as if something had recently made Cohen aware of her heritage. Schanke complained. "Why, Captain? We need Shih's files to find who donated the Ming silk." "We know who the donor is, Schanke. He graciously came to us." Nick jolted. Wu Ti was here! The master vampire unobscured his presence with the subtlety of a neon sign. Before Nick could say or do anything, Cohen stepped aside. Wu Ti, small and compact, expansive and majestic, sat on a chair in Cohen's office, a study in contrasts. His deeply hooded eyes glinted in maniacal satisfaction at Nick. Natalie gasped behind him. She recognized him as well. How not? Wu Ti had contrived to hold his body in the same angle as the painting. His face was smooth now with hair cut fashionably short but his bearing resembled a lord holding court. Nick suppressed the desire to order everyone to run and hide. Cohen introduced them. "This is Mr. Shen Chou, a business man who has recently taken up residence in Toronto." She indicated a file on her desk. "He has already filled out a missing property report for us." Wu Ti had Cohen completely mesmerized. Nick decided to go on the offensive first. He barked, "What brought you to us, Mr. Chou?" Cohen's head jerked up at the aggressiveness in his voice. Wu Ti replied in a pleasant, controlled voice. "Dr. Shih phoned me earlier today and explained the problem, Detective Knight." The master vampire emphasized his name with as much stress as Nick had placed on his. Wu Ti continued. "I apologize for the inconvenience, gentlemen, but withholding information from the authorities was not my intent." "Then why hide your trail?" He was chancing a reprimand from Cohen under her controlled state. "When I gave my instructions for complete anonymity with Dr. Shih I was protecting myself from opportunists. When I give to one worthy cause a hundred others, most less than legitimate, usually converge on me like rats." He spoke directly to Nick, goading him. "You know how annoying that can be." Nick waited, not rising to the bait. "I have a collection of Chinese artwork I value greatly. I wanted to share it with others so I contacted Dr. Shih at the ROM. The Ming silk was a trial. If my anonymity could be maintained I would lend other pieces from my collection." Schanke asserted, "Priceless property was destroyed at the ROM, Mr. Chou, but not half as valuable as my partner. What do you know about those two thugs that tried to ice him?" "I wasn't aware of an attempt on Detective Knight's life." Natalie, her voice strong and sure, stated, "They asked Nick how he liked the silk painting of their employer." "Ah, Dr. Lambert." Nick didn't like the way Wu Ti caressed Nat's name. "The medical examiner, trained to observe minutiae. It was mere coincidence the confrontation happened in front of my Ming silk. After all, Detective Knight, they addressed you by name." Wu Ti maintained his taunting eye contact with Nick a second longer. Cohen spoke up. "It sounds like Detective Knight was the intended target. I don't like my people threatened." "Captain Cohen, while I'm sure my treasures had nothing to do with this, I want to give the authorities every opportunity to see for themselves. I invite Detective Knight to my residence to search as thoroughly as he desires for any connection to the unfortunate incident." Schanke, irritably perky, said, "Great! Let's go, Knight." "No!" Nat's and Nick's voice blended together. Schanke, perplexed, glared at them. "Why not?" Nick met Natalie's eyes and read her apprehension. She knew how important it was to prevent Schanke from accompanying him. Wu Ti would devour the detective with as little thought as Schanke gave to eating sausages. Even now, Nick could feel Wu Ti's amusement as he fumbled for an excuse to keep Schanke away. "Since Mr. Chou is probably right about the coincidence, Schanke, why don't you take the forensic report and run down the dead man's last known associates. No reason why we should both be tied up on this lead." "But. . ." Nick could tell Schanke was going to give him one of those 'partners should stick together' speeches. Natalie intervened quickly. "Come on, Schanke, Nick's saving you from a couple of boring hours. You know him. If Mr. Chou . . ." she stumbled over the name, "has half the collection of artwork I think he has, Nick will extol the virtues and history of every piece. You'll beg to leave long before Nick admires everything." The idea of being stuck in an art lecture must have been enough to give Schanke second thoughts about the inseparability of partners. Schanke looked at Nat as if she had saved his life. Perhaps she had. "If you're sure you don't mind, Nick, I'd as soon skip all the dust and mold." With relief, Nick assured him, "No problem, Schank." Cohen cautioned severely, "Don't take too long, Detective Knight. You are not visiting an art gallery. Do your work quickly so Mr. Chou is inconvenienced as little as possible." Wu Ti stood and nodded at Cohen pleasantly. "There is no difficulty in accommodating Detective Knight. I'm sure we have many mutual interests." Nick caught the ominous undertones in his voice. As they left the captain's office, he glimpsed Nat's worried face through the partitioning glass walls. She had the report Wu Ti had filled out earlier in her hand, the cover opened where she had obviously already glanced at it. Surreptitiously she mouthed, "Be careful." He didn't need the reminder. End Part 7a Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 07:23:06 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 07b/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 07b/14 They traveled by limousine, chauffeured by a mortal. Most of the servants at Wu Ti's mansion were human as well but Nick counted five vampires, all but one fledglings. Nick recognized the eldest as the vampire assassin from the museum. Chen Li smiled maliciously and bowed them into the mansion. The ambiance of the mansion reminded Nick of the Italian palace. Many of the same bronzes and pottery adorned the rooms. Nick said, "I've learned something of Chinese culture over the centuries including the tradition of stuffing the tomb with representational sculptures from the deceased's life. Your sepulcher has changed little." The master vampire brushed the sarcasm off with a cynical smile. "I see LaCroix still controls and manipulates you, too, Nicholas de Brabant." Wu Ti insulted silkily. "Haven't you broken free of him yet, child? Haven't you grown up and out of this old loyalty?" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1490 AD Milan, Italy "Grow up and out of this useless loyalty you feel for your master." Wu Ti insisted, sitting like a grand lord on his dragon throne. "You've had a night to contemplate my offer. It is time to make a decision." Nicholas vacillated, a pendulum of conflicting emotion. LaCroix was his father, his teacher, his shelter. They were bound to each other. Yet, he wanted what Wu Ti offered. A way to satisfy his hunger without killing. Knowledge LaCroix refused to teach him. Nicholas made a decision. He would go with Wu Ti. He opened his mouth to speak and . . . The door shattered. LaCroix stood at the threshold, the personification of outraged anger. Faster than mortal eye could follow, he lunged for the Chinese vampire and threw him across the room into a display of brass castings. "Nicholas! You are like a child who is offered a honeyed sweet. You will do anything to obtain your desire without seeing what the temptation entails!" Wu Ti, eyes gleaming with distaste, regained his feet and stalked back to his dragon throne. The master vampires glowered at each other. LaCroix vented, "I see there are still no depths to which you will not sink to get what you want, Wu Ti, or whatever it is you're calling yourself now." LaCroix had known Wu Ti before? Wu Ti seemed almost peaceful in comparison. "Nicholas is an excellent pupil. If he were mine I would teach him much you have chosen not to." "You cannot have him," Lacroix spit, "he is mine! My child! My son!" "Isn't the choice his, LaCroix? He is no longer a fledgling needing guidance. Let him go to make his own way in life." Nicholas begged, too. "Why not let me go, LaCroix? There is nothing else you can teach me." LaCroix snarled. "Nicholas! You have never learned to see through anyone offering you your heart's desire until it was too late. I do not intend for you to suffer at the hands of this sneak thief!" He attacked Wu Ti again but the Chinese vampire was ready for him. He flipped LaCroix up and over his dragon throne, sending him skittering across the tiles. The European vampire, bleeding now, crumbled a priceless vase like a piece of paper, and then even swifter than Wu Ti could dodge, LaCroix pelted him with the dagger-like shards. The projectiles would have killed a human being. Wu Ti was only discomfited by the hundreds of ceramic slivers that pierced his face and hands like the quills of a porcupine. He raked them free of his face with a roar, leaving trails of dark, red blood over his face. They fought on, injuring each other but not lethally, reducing the art work in the room to shambles. Wu Ti taunted. "I'm taking your treasure, LaCroix, since you took mine." Lacroix's voice dripped sarcasm. "That red rock? You still suffer from delusions of grandeur!" Nicholas stood his ground, "I'm no one's treasure. I belong to me!" LaCroix cried savagely. "Then open your eyes, Nicholas!" "I see someone who is willing to teach me control over my desire for blood. I feasted, LaCroix, on an exquisite, intoxicating girl and she lived!" Lacroix's voice softened in the manner of a frustrated parent who has argued fruitlessly with a child who refuses to comprehend. "Nicholas! Ask to see the girl now. Observe the results of what this new master would teach you." Wu Ti didn't seem disturbed. "There is nothing to see, Nicholas. The girl is at her embroidery." Nicholas seethed with defiance. "I want to prove to LaCroix he is wrong. Bring her to us." "As you wish." Wu Ti did not seem in the least concerned. He called in his native tongue and a servant bowed at the splintered doorway. Receiving instructions, the young vampire flitted away to return a few minutes later with the Chinese beauty. The tiny figure trembled as she stepped across the rubble into the room. She held herself exactly the way she had the day before, head lowered and eyes focused on the floor. There were two visibly healed marks on her neck. Nicholas crowed triumphantly at LaCroix. "She is whole." LaCroix implored. "Are you certain, Nicholas? Be very sure before you enthrall yourself to this vampire whose very breath is deceit." Lacroix's tone compelled Nicholas more than the argument. He circled the terrified girl. Everything about her was the same as yesterday. The shape of her chin, the length of her nose, the angle of her neck . . .her neck? He swooped in and exposed the line of the girl's throat. Where was the mole that had brought him so much pleasure? The one flaw that had made her humanly perfect? His heart burned as if sun scalded. "She is not the girl!" Nicholas accused Wu Ti's impassive form hoarsely. LaCroix chortled, "I told you so, Nicholas." "What are you hiding, Wu Ti?" Nicholas demanded, almost blind with fury. "Where is the girl I drank from so freely?" "She is before you." For the first time, Wu Ti appeared disconcerted. "She is a twin!" Nicholas raged. "Her heart beats a different cadence and her spirit has never intertwined with mine!" He flung the woman aside. "I demand to see the girl." Wu Ti exchanged glances with LaCroix, the Chinese vampire clearly intimidated. Reluctantly, he motioned for them to follow. They passed from elegant rooms to lower floors until they entered a crypt. It was littered with the dead and dying. Nicholas' Chinese beauty slumped against the wall, a broken and discarded doll. He flew to cradle her in his arms, seeing the mole and the ravaging marks of his fangs. Her body was stiff and heavy. LaCroix spoke harshly. "You bit her with a drug that prevented you from draining her?" Nicholas nodded, unable to speak. This fragile porcelain beauty was as dead as the model for his painting. Both slaughtered by his hunger. Nicholas choked on guilt. "It is not unknown, Nicolas. The compound continues to spread through the human after it closes off the flesh. The blood slows and thickens untill it cannot flow. A horrible way to die, is it not? Better, perhaps, if she had died happily in your arms." Nicholas' eyes filled with self-righteous anger. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The eyes focused on Wu Ti now were similar in content. "Grown out of my loyalty to LaCroix? He is my master. I owe him much but I am still my own person. I belong to no one." Wu Ti bent to fumble with a long brightly enameled box. "Your master cherishes you. Why else would he chastise you so harshly?" There was a pregnant pause and Nick raised a brow in question. Wu Ti whirled to face Nick, gripping a large crucifix like a dagger. The vampire's hands billowed with smoke, his face contorted with pain. Nick barely winced. The redeeming presence of the cross caused so little discomfort he only put up a hand to protect himself from gazing directly on the symbol. Wu Ti, obviously stunned, dropped the cross and in vampiric speed, flew backwards and commanded. "Attack!" His fledglings obeyed immediately, converging on Nick in a quivering, snarling mass. Nick, although stronger than any individual assailant, was unable to fight off their combined onslaught. Wu Ti observed. "I had heard you were making progress in your efforts to become human again. I had not believed." An ampoule materialized in his grasp. "Chen Li, hold him still." Nick easily deflected the blows of three vampires before Chen Li seized his head and neck from behind. Nick flipped him over to spin him across the room. Chen Li, however, shifted his grip in mid flight and Nick could not shake him off. The momentum of the Chinese vampire's body forced Nick to his knees. Wu Ti ripped his sleeve away and slapped the exposed flesh with a vile smelling needle. The world blurred and slipped, but Nick hung onto consciousness. This also surprised the old one. "Perhaps I should have used curare. This Chinese poison is similar but more attuned to a vampire's nature. There is much about you I had not perceived." In his weakened state, the other vampires were able to stuff Nick in a transparent coffin. Chen Li chained and bolted it securely as he strained to feel his limbs. Wu Ti's face wavered in and out; his words echoed distantly. "Now LaCroix has lost his treasure." End Part 7b Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 11:41:06 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 08/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 8 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 08/14 "All right, fellas, you've baked long enough. Let's see what the miracle dirt doll did to you." Natalie chatted cheerfully to the opaque petri dishes as she opened the door to the morgue's incubator. Yesterday, she had smeared separate samples of blood from Nick, herself and, unknown to the volunteer, Schanke onto three small round culture dishes. She had crisscrossed the Sorrows solution in a 'tic-tac-toe' pattern across the top of the blood, placed them into the incubator, and set the controls at 'Nick normal', the usual temperature of Nick's blood. Now Natalie was ready to examine the results of the tests. She removed the dishes from the incubator and set them on the counter, making sure she didn't see the identifying marks taped on the bottom. Sometimes she wondered why she even bothered to use a control group since she knew the characteristics of what passed for Nick's blood by heart. The blind method helped, however, because it kept her powers of observation alert. Natalie chose one at random and removed the cover. She flipped on her recorder and began to take notes. "The Sorrows solution: initial analysis. Batch one. Sample one. Blood has thickened slightly, with some darkening, possibly due to the Sorrows solution. Everything seems normal." She paused the recorder to place a drop of the dull red liquid on a glass slide and slipped it under the microscope. Adjusting the lens, she continued. "Red blood cells normal, white count is . . . slightly elevated, to fight off the presence of the Sorrows solution." "The platelets appear to be standard. The Sorrows solution is present as oblong shaped structures, smaller than the red blood cells. It remains a foreign substance in the mixture, not bonding or attacking anything in the plasma. All in all, nothing unusual has occurred." The recording for the second petri dish was virtually identical to the first. This didn't look good for Nick. She felt hollow with disappointment. Despite all the cognitive arguments against it, she must have subconsciously hoped this was the answer, too. She started to rehearse what to say to Nick to let him down gently. She took the top off the third and last petri dish. Her brows furrowed in concern. Something horrible had occurred. The blood had coagulated in hard lumps on the bottom of the container. It looked like gravel instead of the blood she had put into the dish. She gently poked one dark mound with a metal probe. It flaked apart like layers of quartz rock. Quickly, she raised the dish above eye level. Nick's. Heart beating faster, she crushed a pea-sized crystal and placed a chip under the scope. The solution had bonded with the platelets, causing them to multiply out of control. It had killed the other components of Nick's blood. Natalie grabbed the unit of Nick's blood and poured a generous dollop into a clear culture dish. She added a drop of the Sorrows solution and agitated. The blood hardened and fossilized almost instantly. Natalie shook with fright. If Nick had tried this on his own he would have died along with his dreams and aspirations for humanity. What had he said? They drank and the vampire would be no more. That was an understatement. The vampire would have crystallized into a counterpart to the clay statuette. Her first impulse was to destroy it completely so it couldn't inadvertently kill Nick. She came close to dumping everything into the waste disposal before saner, more rational thought took hold. Getting rid of the Sorrows solution wouldn't solve anything. What wasn't understood tripled in horror while a threat whose parameters were known could be accounted for. She had to know exactly how much, how little, and to what degree the solution would affect Nick's system. Muscles still trembling, she set about her experiments. Several hours later she had used all the prepared Sorrows solution and most of Nick's blood as well. She analyzed the computer printout, the room illuminated only by the soft blue glow of the instrumentation and the single light perched above her desk. The Sorrows solution poisoned vampire systems even in minute amounts. It worked faster, of course, in larger doses but given time the end results were always the same. Suddenly she chilled in a cold draft more malignant in intensity than the cryogenic air in the morgue freezer. She lifted her head but didn't turn around. "Skulking in shadows again, LaCroix?" She didn't know where her brazenness came from. She should be trembling in abject terror. The creature behind her permitted his step to be heard as he slipped into a pool of blue light. She swiveled, paper still in hand, to face the monster. LaCroix was as pale as Thanatos, with intense light eyes and a mocking smile. "My dear, I never skulk. I am a predator who knows how to stalk my prey." He radiated patience. Why not? Eternity was his reality, even if losing Nick was his one fear. The paper accordioned onto her lap and she allowed her very real disappointment to cross her face and fill her voice. "Well, you can stop wondering. This isn't going to make Nick human again." She could read his relief despite his sarcastic words. "As I knew it wouldn't. Nicholas is a vampire and will remain one." He was baiting her. She bit her lips and pressed them taut. He toyed with the knob of a microscope and laughed at her. "Good, doctor, you see the validity of my words even if you will not cease pursuing this foolish quest." Natalie marveled she could keep her voice steady. "I think you'd be more concerned about the Ming silk in the museum." "Concerned about the leavings of worms and pigments? Come, my dear, nothing on this planet can harm me." With vampire swiftness, he abruptly stood by her desk, leaned forward, and captured one of her hands. His gleaming eyes forced her to acknowledge he knew her fears as he raised her palm to his mouth, near those terrible incisors, and pressed her warm flesh to his icy lips. "Where is Nicholas?" Natalie narrowed her eyes and studied Lacroix's expressionless gaze, perplexed. LaCroix always knew where Nick was. That meant Wu Ti was blurring his location--and Nick's--from him. She couldn't imagine the vampire coming to her for help under any circumstance unless, maybe . . . Nick was in a hideous amount of danger! She gave him the name and address Wu Ti had given the precinct on the missing property report. "That is all I know. Nick left with him hours ago." "Thank you, my dear." He gently loosened her hand and backed away to depart. "Wait." He lifted a mocking brow in question. She hesitated. "You be careful, too." He chuckled as if such a warning from a human was too humorous to be considered. "Always my intention, Dr. Lambert." A second later she was alone in the room, her hand and arm still aching. For once, she wished LaCroix success. End Part 8 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net. Return-Path: Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:47:00 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 09/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 09/14 Nick fogged into consciousness. He blinked his eyes, aware time had passed but not how much. Wu Ti stood before his cage, an enigmatic smile curling his lips. "My trap has worked. Your master is almost here. I knew if I made the path to you difficult he would follow all the sooner." Hard upon his words, the tall, white bristled vampire materialized behind him. Sarcasm dripped from Lacroix's words, "I sensed you at the museum but didn't believe you foolish enough to cross my path again. This is getting to be rather redundant, Wu Ti. Let Nicholas go and we shall settle this between ourselves." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1490 AD Milan, Italy Nicholas still knelt on the crypt's cold floor, cradling the body of the dead Chinese girl. Above him, Wu Ti and LaCroix glared at each other like two feral dragons. "I will have my revenge for losing the treasure!" "You superstitious fool! It was a mud-red rock. I don't know who was more gullible, you or those stupid peasants who thought it was a medicinal cure all!" "They were destroying it! It had already been half chipped away. I had to study it to harness its power." "You really believed a chunk of rock from the guts of the earth would have made you superior to all vampires alive?" "Yes!" LaCroix peered at him under hooded lids and sneered softly. "Whether the myth was true or not, your belief in it was exactly why I prevented you from possessing it. You were as easy to defeat as a fledgling!" Enraged, Wu Ti flew at the taunting vampire. LaCroix whipped out a wooden stake from inside his doublet and, unable to dodge, the Chinese vampire impaled himself. Wu Ti fell gasping to the ground, scrabbling feebly at the sharp ash pole in his chest. For long terrible seconds they stared at each other. Then LaCroix wrenched the bloody instrument from his body and tossed it aside. "You were my friend once, Wu Ti," he snarled. "I'll not end your existence." As the Chinese vampire mewed pitifully, LaCroix hoisted Nicholas to his feet. The dead girl dropped to the floor, forgotten. "We must leave quickly. At his age and, with the help of his fledglings, recovery will be swift." He paused to bark at the fallen figure. "Friendship or no, thus ends those who think they can control me!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * With difficulty, Nick focused on Wu Ti and LaCroix. LaCroix shook his head wearily. "I should have left the stake in. I thought you would grow wiser with the centuries." "I have. You've squandered your years indulging your vampiric senses in hedonistic pleasures. I've spent my time learning about them." "What is to learn? Our powers increase with time. I am older than you. I will always be older than you." Lacroix's voice lowered in greater intensity. "Therefore, I will always be more powerful." "I will be the victor in this confrontation, LaCroix. I already have your child under my control. Soon you will be, too." The physical change was abrupt. Wu Ti's eyes glazed bright red and he brandished his canines with a harsh intake of air. "I intend to gloat over you for centuries, LaCroix. I will dispatch your son shortly. After a millennium of torment, I'll let you join him in hell!" Lacroix's irises opaqued red. With superior strength he seized the smaller vampire. Wu Ti struck him with a prepared needle. Nick, with the last thread of consciousness, saw LaCroix double over and crumble to the floor. End Part 9 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net. Return-Path: Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:48:19 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 10/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 10/14 "No, Schanke, I still haven't heard from Nick . . . The music? I'm in front of the Raven. I want to ask Janette if she has seen him .. . . Yes, I'm that worried. Let me know the moment you hear anything and I'll do the same . . . Bye, Schank." 'What a lie,' Natalie thought as she put her cell phone away and faced the tall brick building. If she learned Nick had been killed by a vampire it wouldn't be something she could report, not even to Schanke. It was an hour until dawn and due to the nature of the club's principle clientele, the Raven was closing. Natalie edged her way past a flashy group hanging by the doors, their fad clothing and extreme make up diametrically opposed to her conservative business appearance. She eyed them carefully, not really afraid but uncomfortable. If they were denizens of the night she hoped they had fed well and wouldn't think her a tasty bedtime snack. Natalie paused at the top of the stairs to examine the room. Dark, it provided perfect anonymity for the patrons. A few bodies still writhed on the dance floor and a couple whom Natalie knew to be vampires slithered into the interior's shadowy recesses. She couldn't see any figures hiding behind the chains partitioning various parts of the room. Miklos' profile reflected clearly in the mirror behind the brightly lit bar as he polished and stacked glasses. Janette was nowhere in sight. Natalie took a deep breath, vacillating between relief and chagrin. Janette's reaction to her presence was never predictable. She seemed to respect Natalie's professional standing but could be quite sarcastic whenever Natalie approached her alone. She made it clear she considered Natalie's attempts to help Nick regain his mortality absurd. She never appeared to be jealous of Natalie's attraction to Nick, only amused. Over the centuries, Janette must have seen many like herself come and go while she remained eternal. Miklos laid his polishing cloth aside as Natalie slid onto the stool in front of him. The flippant attitude of yesterday morning was gone. Her anxiety doubled. "Where is Janette?" "I'll call her." There was no need. A slight vacuum tugged at her and she heard the subtle whoosh of air. She spun in her chair to see Janette's tall, slender form lightly settle to the floor. The vampire grasped her arms, the fingers like ice even through the long evening gloves. Janette searched her face as if she could read Natalie's soul. "I hoped you had news of LaCroix and Nichola." She said in concerned disappointment. "Did you know LaCroix came to me?" Janette nodded solemnly, taking the seat next to hers. "For Wu Ti's address. It is disconcerting we can't sense him directly." Janette nervously adjusted the gleaming silk of her long red dress over folded legs. "I thought LaCroix could do anything." The words came out more cynically than she intended. Janette regarded her critically before her blue eyes softened. "I thought so, too." A searing wave of fear coursed over Natalie. Janette's reluctant acknowledgment of LaCroix's limitations rattled her deeply. Unasked, Miklos brought Natalie a cup of coffee. "Have you started the experiments for Detective Knight, Dr. Lambert?" "Yes." Natalie collected herself. "Thank you for your delivery this morning." She turned to Janette and said, "Nick is going to be severely disappointed. The Chinese figurines did not contain the miracle cure he wanted." The beautiful vampire did not answer for several seconds. Finally, she said regretfully, "I cannot say I am upset with the results, Natalie, but I am sorry it will bring Nichola unhappiness. And for you as well." Natalie gulped her coffee, flustered. Sympathy from a vampire, especially Janette, was unexpected. She consulted her watch and decided her next move. Standing up, she said, "It's almost sunrise. I'm going to Wu Ti." "You are right." Janette slid off her stool. "Foolish, but right." She paused before she smiled, "I guess that makes us both fools." Stunned, Natalie asked, "You'll come with me?" "For Nichola and my master? Of course!" Natalie waited for Janette to change into something more suitable for travel than a silk evening gown. For a vampire with an agenda, scant seconds were wasted before Janette was back, issuing instructions to Miklos and handing him a piece of paper with a key. "What's this?" Miklos demanded, his brow furrowed distinctly. Natalie watched Janette bestow a friendly kiss on Miklos' forehead. Her words were light even if the message was dark. "If I don't come back the bar is yours. Here is the deed and the key to the safe. Invest my money wisely." Natalie could see how deeply the tall man was shaken by her words. He must be realizing for the first time Janette could be destroyed. They made their way to Wu Ti's mansion in Natalie's car. Natalie slowed to a stop in front of the wrought iron gates and stone walls enclosing the property's grounds. The yard beyond the gate was well lit and she could see the large stately house framed between tall pines and ornamental shrubs. Janette sighed and closed her eyes in concentration. "They're here. In the basement." "How do we get to them?" Janette opened her eyes and smiled wearily. "For me, it wouldn't be a problem. I could fly in directly." Natalie grimly looked up at the tall gate. "Which I can't . . . " She jumped as Janette cried, "They know we're here!" With supernatural swiftness two males were outside the car and Natalie saw two more approaching. Janette murmured. "These two are vampires, Natalie. I will do what I can to protect you." Despite being locked, the car door by Janette was forced open with ease. The interior lights illuminated a very familiar face. The museum assassin! He tipped his head at Natalie, his voice pleasantly malicious. "Good evening, ladies. I am Chen Li. Your presence is unexpected but not unwelcomed." Janette spat. "Insolent youngster. I could destroy you before you blinked.' Unintimidated, Chen Li replied, "You could, but de Brabant's pet would be dead before you could rescue her. I don't think you would want to face him knowing you were the cause of her death." His face darkened. "My master awaits you inside." The gates opened and Natalie complied with his orders to drive to the mansion's entrance. Swifter than the car, he was waiting for them on the steps by the time she parked. Despite his words to Janette, Natalie noticed Chen Li and the others paid close attention to the beautiful vampire as they were escorted inside. Wu Ti waited for them in a magnificent drawing room. Open and airy, it was lit by chandeliers and candles. The old one smiled at the captives. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting my old friend's daughter. Janette, isn't it? We've had a busy night. Your dear brother, Nicholas, came at my request. Then your father appeared. I wonder how he learned where I lived." Natalie quivered under the powerful force of his coal black eyes. "LaCroix was more resourceful than I expected. I thought he would waste precious time coercing the information from the museum fool. I overlooked the simple expedient of asking the one person present at both the museum and the police station. How bright of you to note my address." Janette spoke angrily, "That's enough, Wu Ti. I know LaCroix and Nichola are here. I can feel their presence." Wu Ti strolled past them toward the door. "So they are. Shall I take you to them?" It was a cat and mouse game and Natalie didn't appreciate being the mouse. Wu Ti didn't give them a chance to choose. Before Natalie knew it, she was shuffled through a maze of rooms and stairs until pressed into an enclosed space decorated like a monument receiving area. At opposite ends of the rooms were two large display cases containing what appeared to be mannequins, one of them broken. She peered closer at the one nearest her. It was Nick! Natalie stifled a scream as she realized he lay in a crumpled heap at the base of the glass booth, completely incapacitated and unconscious. A quick glance at the other case revealed an imprisoned LaCroix. The pale-haired vampire stood, wide awake and visibly in pain from the cross fastened to the front of his cage. Natalie read his concern over the presence of Janette. Cocky, the Chinese vampire strode to a massive, elaborately colored chair placed in the center of the room. It was the throne from the silk hanging. Wu Ti leaned lightly on the carved dragon heads, taunting, "Look who's here, LaCroix. Your daughter, come to see her papa. Well, child, take a good look. I'm sure you've never seen him like this before." With a cry of dismay, Janette flew to the transparent coffin only to be brought short by the cross. A wince of pain across LaCroix's brow told of his effort to stop her. Natalie stayed near the double doors. She managed to keep her voice level. "Why is LaCroix awake and not Nick?" Wu Ti appeared surprised and pleased at the question as he turned to her. Natalie felt, suddenly, very human. "Ever the scientist, Dr. Lambert. I believe you are responsible for Nicholas' resistance to my drug. I found an herb combination that can induce weakness in our systems. Nicholas had to be given three times the amount as it took to control LaCroix's. Why, Doctor?" Natalie answered him honestly. "We have been working to strengthen his tolerance to the vampire element in his blood." "That doesn't explain why the cross didn't incapacitate him like it binds LaCroix and physically restrains Janette." Natalie glanced down at Nick's face, relaxed and peaceful in the grip of the drug induced coma. She replied quietly, "I believe Nick's reviving mortality makes it possible for him to live in harmony with redemptive symbols." Janette whirled on Wu Ti, hissing in enraged vampire fury. With bright red eyes and viciously protruding canine teeth, she demanded, "Release them now!" Wu Ti simply said, "No." Superior in strength, he seized her arms and withstood her violent displeasure. The sight of his impressive resistance was not lost on his underlings as they scurried to set up a transparent coffin. With little effort on his part, he stuffed the writhing form into the case and fastened another large cross on the front. Wu Ti waved searing smoke away from his body. "It was good Nicholas didn't require a cross, LaCroix. My original intention did not include the capture of your daughter." LaCroix said nothing, his face frozen into remote impassivity. Janette's rage was barely muffled by the glass-like case. Chen Li whooshed beside Natalie, his eyes opaque with vampire lust and his teeth visible below his upper lip. "Shall I take care of the human?" Natalie froze, unable to think or breathe. Wu Ti gazed at her speculatively, almost with respect. She raised her head in defiance, trying not to disgrace herself. Wu Ti spoke to LaCroix. "I am letting the mortal go." "No!" Chen Li cried, but one quick reprimand from his master quelled the young vampire's rebellion instantly. Natalie's heart raced faster. She stole a glance at LaCroix. The vampire managed to look bored, as if he found the action tedious. "Killing her will do nothing to harm you. In fact, I believe it would give you pleasure. You have longed to see her eliminated because she separates your son from you. Pleasing you is not my intent. Chen Li, take her up and let her go. She is not to be hurt." "But what if she tells others . . ." Wu Ti hissed in irritation. "Who would believe her? One lone human to fight the collective disbelief of thousands? We will be leaving tomorrow night in any case and no human has the ability to trace us." Natalie's heart skipped a beat. Gone by tomorrow night. Nick vanished without a hope to find him. She pushed down the whimpers threatening to erupt from her throat. Wu Ti finished his instructions. "Heed my warning, Chen Li. If anyone harms her, vampire or human, they will die." The disgruntled vampire tugged at her elbow. "Come!" The coldness of Chen Li's fingers broke her paralysis. She glanced at Janette's trembling form and LaCroix's obstinately aloof expression, but her gaze lingered on Nick's face before she scurried out of the room ahead of the vampire. It might be the last time she would ever see him. Chen Li escorted her to the car and Natalie heard him pass along his master's threat. Wu Ti's staff didn't seem to approve their master's decision any more than Chen Li did. She drove as quickly as she could from the grounds and into the main city streets as dawn struggled to break through the tall buildings. Only when engulfed in blinding rays did she feel safe from the reaches of Wu Ti and his minions. She swerved onto the road to return to the Raven. She had to tell Miklos. But what should she do after that? She couldn't go to Schanke or Cohen. Even if they could be persuaded to believe in vampires, they wouldn't know how to fight them. How could she do battle with a vampire, much less a master vampire? She thought of the way the Sorrows solution had transformed Nick's blood into gravel. Too bad she couldn't give Wu Ti a box of tainted chocolates like the poor unfortunate she had autopsied the night before. Suddenly, the image of Miklos and his blow darts burned itself in her mind. What if . . .! End Part 10 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net. Return-Path: Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 18:06:09 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 11/14 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 11/14 "Lady, you're crazy." The tall Hungarian stared at Natalie as if she had tried to do an autopsy without cutting open the corpse. "I don't intend to commit suicide." "You waited to see if Janette was safe. You care about her." "I've sent get well cards to hospitalized smuggling friends, too, but I didn't fish them out of enemy turf." "There's a difference?" "Yeah, I believe the vampires would finish me off quicker and cleaner than the smugglers." He paused with exasperation. "Natalie, what you are suggesting is certain death." Natalie paced the length of the bar, seeing but not comprehending the roses under the sun lamp. Solemnly, she faced him. "I have a way to kill the vampires." "I don't think they will let us get close enough to use a stake." "I have a poison that can kill them instantly." His eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Right. And Janette keeps a rosary with her at all times." She slid onto a stool and studied her clasped hands, composing a convincing argument. "The Sorrows solution was a complete failure in the sense it could not make Nick human again. It does, however, affect the vampire system. It causes the platelets in the vampire's blood to overproduce rapidly, crystallizing the blood flow, and crippling the victim immediately. Death is assured. I was not going to reveal this to LaCroix or Janette for fear of their reaction. I was waiting to explain my findings to Nick." Miklos moved closer to her. "Are you serious?" "I tested it on the blood you brought from Nick. It crystallized every time. It will kill the vampires before they can kill us." "Natalie, you are naive or a fool! Even with a poison it doesn't mean you can get to them first." She swiveled in her chair, bringing her eyes up slowly to meet his. "Yes, we can. Miklos, how far can you blow darts?" He blanched with disbelief and shook his head emphatically. "No. Oh, no. That isn't possible." Natalie leaned forward eagerly. "Yes, it is. You can blow poison darts and I can use a tranquilizer gun." He stalked off. The ceiling spotlights accented his strong aquiline profile and glinted on the silvering sideburns. Tension bowed his shoulders as he paced blindly through the chains. When he returned, his eyes glowed in anger. Natalie couldn't decide whether it was directed at himself or her. "We couldn't get close enough. They can smell us a mile off." "Wu Ti has mortal servants. They wouldn't know the difference." Natalie sat up straighter, her hopes ascending skyward. He had said 'we'! "We can take the usual precautions like crosses and stakes, too, if you want." Once again, he strode away and back. "You know the layout of this place? You can lead us directly to Janette?" "Yes! They were so certain I could do nothing they didn't attempt to hide their location. That's our biggest advantage, Miklos. Surprise will be on our side." Miklos sat down beside her, tapping long thick fingers against the bar top nervously. Like curse words, he spit, "Vampire pheromones! I want to see Janette restored to the Raven, sitting superiorly on her chair and sipping her enriched snifter of Bordeaux. I don't know if it's my own reaction or the result of the charismatic allure they cast on all mortals." He searched Natalie's face. Earnestly, he asked, "You really think we can pull this off? You aren't throwing away your life for a lover you can never hope to obtain?" Natalie answered simply. "With your special abilities and the Sorrows solution from the Chinese statuettes, I think we have a chance." He glowered at her. "I don't entertain high hopes of success but I have to do something to help them." He reached for a coaster and flipped the Raven logo over to expose the plain back side. He ordered, "Draw the layout of the grounds and the house the best you can remember." They discussed when to stage the rescue. Miklos first argued for a daytime raid but reconsidered almost immediately. "Wu Ti can't move them before nightfall. Going in at dusk might be better, Natalie. If we want to stay alive in the future we need to flush out and destroy all Wu Ti's vampires." Natalie agreed. "A lair could easily be missed during the day. Nick and Janette can't protect us all the time." Miklos tapped the bar top for a second, his thick brows knitting together. "I need a crossbow." In a small voice, Natalie said, "I have one." Miklos' astonished attention focused solidly on her. "Crazy lady! You amaze me more than Janette. Why do you have a crossbow?" Reluctantly, she explained, "In an uninspired fit of fear, I bought a small hand held one from some hunting shop soon after I met Nick. It's hidden under my bed in the box it came in. I'm afraid I don't know how to use it." His smile revealed deep dimples. "I'm sure I can help." His attention snagged on something beyond her. She swiveled to follow the direction of his gaze but only saw the pot of red roses in a circle of light. For the first time, she noticed the sign. She relaxed enough to chuckle. "You call me crazy. I'm sure more people bother your roses now than ever." Miklos' met her eyes. "The mortals constantly defy the sign and prick their fingers on the thorns. The vampires never do it more than once." Natalie raised a brow as she realized what he was saying. Once in her kitchen, Natalie was glad of every test tube in her improvised lab despite the many times she had cursed the equipment for the room it occupied. Grabbing a mortar and pestle, she ground the second statuette without a single reverent thought for its age. How ironic. She had been reluctant to destroy it when it might have made Nick human, but to insure his continued existence as a vampire she pulverized it enthusiastically. Reducing it to dust in seconds, she began the process to separate the Sorrows element from the common dirt. Mid-morning she left to run errands. She stopped by the Coroner's Building to pick up a few supplies and dodge the questions of her concerned co-workers curious about her haggard features. Then, using the phone book as a guide, she found a store specializing in large animal equipment to purchase a tranquilizer pistol and darts. Heavy fatigue tugged at her when she returned to her apartment. There was a message from Schanke on her machine, asking if she knew anything about Nick and to please call him. What could she tell him? Hi, Schank, Nick is being held hostage by a seventeen hundred-year-old vampire and Janette's barkeeper and I are planning a rescue mission. Let you know how it turns out. She decided to ignore him, swallowed a sleeping pill, and lay down for several hours of uninterrupted sleep. She was up and working on the Sorrows solution when Miklos banged on her door. Letting him in, she couldn't see his face for the mound of bundles in his arms. He dumped it on her living room floor with a clang. "What's this?" "The means to transverse the rock wall. We can't knock at the gate and ask to come in." He studied her sweatshirt and jeans clothed form speculatively. "Can you climb a rope?" Natalie thought how she ran short of breath walking up the steps to the ROM. She stuttered apprehensively. "No-no-noooo. Are we doomed from the beginning?" He shook his dark curls. "Not at all. I rather thought you couldn't." He tsked at her, a teasing twinkle in his eye. "This rope and grappling hook will get us over. I found a larger crossbow at the same hunting store you bought yours. I told them Natalie sent me." "You didn't!" "No," He grinned. "I wouldn't ruin the reputation of the city's finest medical examiner. You have to work with enough stiffs." He picked up several long sticks, the blunt end fletched with feathers. "I removed the metal tips from the quarrels and honed them into wooden stakes." Natalie touched the sharp points gingerly. "I have more to fit your cross bow. Here's my favorite blowgun, all I need is the poison to fill the darts. How's it coming?" "It's soup. I tried a drop on the last of Nick's blood. Potent as the first batch." Distracted by a sliver of shiny metal, she pushed back the coiled rope with her sneaker to expose a curious object. She wrinkled her brow in question. With a proud flourish Miklos brought up a crazy light fixture. "This is our surprise element. I hooked a Gro Light to a shoulder harness. The trigger and batteries fit on the belt." Impressed, Natalie said, "This is marvelous. The light will cause their photo-sensitive cells to implode." He cautioned, "There are limitations. It isn't potent enough, even at full strength, to cause more than momentary annoyance. We will only have two flashes a piece before they burn out." "Why can't we take more bulbs?" "They're too bulky and fragile to travel well." "What about crosses?" "Got them." He rummaged in a sack and brought out two handfuls of small silver crosses. He set them on the coffee table before handing Natalie a pistol with an attached muzzle. "Here." "A gun won't be of use on the vamps." "The humans will be dangerous, too. You said the vampire poison won't work on humans. This will." She stared at the gun. "Don't know why I hesitate. All right. Show me how it works." After a crash course with the pistol and its sound muffling attachment, Natalie brought out the Sorrows solution. She set the glass beaker in front of him. "Try not to spill any. The supply is limited with no way to make more." "I'm an old hand at this." It wasn't bravado. With expertise, Miklos filled each of the tiny darts. "We'll have to make each one count. We don't know how many vampires Wu Ti has with him." Miklos tested a few blank darts through his blowgun, sending them thunking into the wall. It was harder for Natalie to ignore the needles penetrating the wall paper than the grappling hook gouges in the carpet or the holes poked in the couch. She bit her tongue and said nothing. If they were successful, this was a small price to pay. If they weren't, who cared? She offered Miklos coffee and a sandwich. Accepting, he wolfed the bread and meat as if he hadn't eaten all day. His hunger reminded her. "We need something from the Raven." Mouth muffled with food, Miklos asked, "What?" "Several bottles of Janette's private stock. No telling how hungry they'll be. I'd rather not test their willpower in a weak moment." He agreed, "I'll bring a carton." He paused, thinking. "By the time we get everything assembled, there will be too much equipment for a car. I think I'll rent a van." At the word rent, Natalie regarded him critically. "I was going to give you my credit card. How have you been paying for this?" Miklos grinned. "Janette gave me the key to the safe, remember, and said to invest her money wisely? I believe spending it on rescue equipment is something of which she would approve." Natalie sobered and sank onto the couch. "I forgot about that. She gave you the Raven. You are not only chancing your life but a secure future." "What is the Raven without Janette holding court? Where is the medical challenge without your Nicholas?" His dark brown eyes twinkled in mischievous good humor. She pushed irritably at a drop of water suspiciously close to her eye. "I wish you would stop calling him 'my Nicholas'. He isn't my anything." "Crazy Lady! He worships you. Think, Natalie, whose sword retains Nicholas' respect? Startled, she met his eyes. "LaCroix?" He didn't disagree with her, letting her draw her own conclusions. Softly she said, "I had a dream some time ago . . ." Anger flooded her. "Then I WAS hypnotized! I thought so! LaCroix said he would kill me if Nick truly loved me." "I would keep that in mind when rescuing your Nicholas and Janette." Miklos straightened and stood. "I'll be back with a van and the bottled blood. We'll run through a few scenarios while we get ready." Natalie barely heard him, her mind distracted by this new revelation. Bits and pieces of Nick's behavior fell into place, from the passion he let slip to the cold response to her subtle invitations. Of course, he would protect her from LaCroix's malevolent designs. But why would LaCroix pick on her? Nick had a love every quarter of a century. Unless she really was his true . . . To distract herself, she mentally reviewed everything Miklos had taught her and what they planned to do. There had to be something else. Some other ace she could pull out of the hole. Inspiration hit her. With trembling fingers she reached for the phone and called information to connect her to the ROM. After several misleads, she finally had Jon Calloway on the other end. "Jon? This is Natalie Lambert, Detective Knight's friend. Do you remember me the night of the killing at the museum? . . . Yes, that was me. Now, Jon, listen very carefully. Detective Knight is in danger and you can help him . . . I know you would do anything for him. That's why I'm counting on you. Do you still have the keys to the display cases in the Tsui wing? . . . Great! This is what you can do to help Nick . . . " End Part 11 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net. Return-Path: Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 18:07:02 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 12/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 12/14 Dusk had almost faded into full night when Miklos parked the rented van down the street from the iron gate. They mobilized immediately, reasoning the vampires would not question the presence of their human blood from the rest of humanity as long as they didn't loiter. Natalie checked and rechecked the filled pockets of her combat fatigues and the weapons, hanging from her belt, to make sure nothing had come loose before she slipped the Gro Light mechanism and another long flat bag over her back. She held the van door for Miklos as he emerged, similarly garbed, and carrying a looped rope with the grappling hook. He grimly nodded at her and they set off. The dark Hungarian chose a stretch of wall near a tree to provide cover for their movement. He twirled and pitched the hook over the wall; it landed with a muffled clank. Natalie held the tranquilizer gun, ready to shoot. At the lack of reaction from the mansion, Miklos jerked the rope taut and swung himself up to the top of the wall. Perched precariously on the squared rock, he quickly dropped the rope to Natalie who hooked her body onto the prepared loop and let herself be hauled up. Miklos didn't let her pause at the apex but pushed her off the other side and caught her weight to lower her slowly to the ground. She landed with a thud, and before she could scramble to her feet, a vampire was upon her. The braiding of silver crosses about her neck saved her life. She thanked every tedious second it had taken to weave the fist full of crosses into chokers. The vampire bounced back in pain when his teeth scrapped the holy symbols, sending up a puff of smoke. She lifted her tranquilizer gun, but before she could fire she heard the high hum of a swift projectile as it skimmed by her ears, plummeting with pinpoint accuracy into the face of the vampire. The supernatural creature fell with a pitiful whine. She chanced a glance upward to see Miklos' silhouetted figure lower his blowgun. A noisy thumping and jiggling flashlight betrayed the approach of a human guard. She whirled to face it, unsnapping and pulling out the pistol Miklos had given her. She trained it on the bobbing light and squeezed the trigger. Two muffled shots later, the flashlight lay discarded on the ground. She was still frozen in place when Miklos touched her arm and whispered, "You okay?" "Yes." Natalie's insides were jelly. Miklos picked up the fallen flashlight. "Might as well make use of this. Anyone watching from the house will think it's their colleague. They probably cannot conceive of anyone surviving a vampire attack." He directed the lamp's beam on the destroyed vampire. Natalie winced. The face was hideously distorted, the skin distended in large red lumps under the eyes, mouth, and especially around the neck. Natalie resisted the temptation to strip him and examine him further. She slipped the pistol back into its pouch and, with the confiscated light, they strode boldly across the meticulously groomed grounds. They made for the lighted garage where a moving van waited with open doors and an extended ramp. Miklos paused outside the pool of light, restraining Natalie with a cautionary gesture. She whispered, "We need to rescue them now. We will never be able to stop the truck." Miklos agreed, "I see two figures standing guard at the entrance. Can't tell whether they're human or not." They were vampires. Apparently they had heard Natalie's and Miklos' soft conversation and twisted toward them with eyes red in vampire hunger. Natalie flashed her Gro Light. The rays from the sun lamp sent the young vampires into intense agony, their skin cracking and tearing. Natalie aimed and fired her tranquilizer gun at the nearest vampire. He fell with a choked scream. His skin transformed hideously, twitching and distorting under the pressures of his coagulating blood. Miklos released a quarrel, skewering the other's chest. The momentum threw the vampire against the side of the wide flung truck doors. The poisoned vampire died almost instantly but the crossbow victim contorted and gobbled in pain, clutching feebly at the wooden arrow through his breast. Miklos scooped up a second stake and pinned him through the throat, bringing a quicker end to his suffering. Natalie gasped for air, staring blankly at the carnage on the ground. This was worse than her first cranial exploration. Miklos grasped her arm, offering support. "You'll be all right. There's a difference between viewing the victims of someone else's violence and your own. Remember, this is to save your Nicholas. You do want him back, don't you?" She nodded, swallowing her bile. "Reload your tranquilizer gun." Miklos fit a long wooden stake into place on his crossbow. Prodded by his competent manner, Natalie rearmed and they entered the house. Natalie quickly recognized the way to the hostages. They proceeded cautiously but were still startled when, turning a corner, they surprised a tall male. Natalie shot him with the tranquilizer gun without thinking. The man clawed at the dart penetrating his clothing and skin. Not slowed in the least, he went for a gun inside his coat. Human! She had wasted a precious dart and the man was still a danger. Miklos was in his element, however. A swift upward kick knocked the gun across the room and the heel of his hand slammed the man into the wall with a resounding thud. Wu Ti's minion slumped unconscious to the floor. Tying the man with a length of twine, Miklos muttered, "It would be better if we killed him. He could be trouble later." Natalie peered into the next room as she put one of her last darts into the gun. "It will do as long as he stays out of our way until we rescue Nick." She looked over her shoulder to see Miklos resettle his Gro Light on his back. "The door to the stairwell is in this hallway. Are we . . . . " She never completed her question. Her head was jerked harshly to the side, exposing her vulnerable neck under the thin layering of crosses. The stench of stale blood soured in her nostrils and teeth gnashed impotently above her ears. Her choker burned and a cloud of steam momentarily obscured her vision before she was forcibly propelled across the room. A pillowed couch broke her momentum. Her wrenched neck throbbed with pain as she lifted herself to see Miklos in earnest hand to hand combat. His opponent had to be human since Miklos was holding his own despite being hampered by the Gro Light on his shoulders. She fumbled for her tranquilizer gun and, to her horror, found it had tumbled to the ground. The vampire, eyes bright red with rage, lunged at her. She flashed the Gro Light, realizing with a sinking feeling it was the last. While the vampire clawed at his eyes, she swung the small crossbow from her belt loop. She released the trigger, but the vampire jerked at the last moment. The wooden stake buried itself harmlessly in his arm. She threw the weapon down and dived for the tranquilizer gun. Her fingers missed it by inches. As she scrabbled toward it, a vise-like grip of ice encircled her leg. She could feel his breath on her ankle and the sharp points of his fangs as they penetrated her skin, searching for blood. Her fingers closed on the stock of the tranquilizer gun. With every ounce of strength, she whirled up, pressed the muzzle directly against the vampire's forehead and jerked the trigger. The exploding projectile blew away half the creature's head. The poison spread into his system, immediately causing the thick red liquid pouring on Natalie's fatigues to crystallize into fine granules. She wrenched herself loose and scrambled to her feet toward Miklos. The Hungarian appeared to be overwhelmed by his attacker. Nose bleeding, his dark face was marred with multiple contusions. They struggled closer and closer to the open stairwell. Natalie froze, wanting to help but not knowing how. Suddenly, she saw the glint of a gun barrel. It exploded with the subtlety of a cannon in church. Pieces of Wu Ti's henchman flew down the hallway. He was quite dead. Miklos fell backwards into the stairwell and tumbled down the long wooden flight of stairs. His body skittered across the concrete floor to bang against the double doors of the room where Nick was caged. Miklos lay there, no movement or moan to indicate whether he still lived or not. Natalie feared the worst. She scooped up her tranquilizer gun and crossbow but only made it halfway down the stairs when the doors behind Miklos' prone form opened. She froze. Chen Li, dark eyes gleaming in eager anticipation, emerged. He ignored Miklos completely, stepping over the body to focus solely on Nat. She felt like a sitting duck with her unloaded tranquilizer gun and expended crossbow. He bared his teeth in a smile that made her skin crawl. "I knew my master was wrong to let you go." Natalie stalled for time."So why did you?" "Because he is my master." There was something familiar in Chen Li's tone as he said those words. Natalie had often heard the same unwavering belief in Nick's voice when he referred to LaCroix. If Chen Li could be angered enough by insulting his loyalty to his master maybe she could find a way to defend herself. "You let me go because you know Wu Ti could break you like a child snaps a twig." Natalie deliberately sneered. Chen Li replied defiantly. "He is my master! He would never hurt me." Natalie could see the irritation on Chen Li's face. She pressed, "He would destroy your life without a single thought. You know your master can make bad decisions. He let me go, didn't he?" She could see the dark eyes flicker bright red. He growled, "I'll rectify that!" "But then he'll kill you for disobeying him!" Natalie could tell she had hit home; Chen Li's face was a mask of ambivalent frustration. She wondered how much more prodding was needed to make him reckless. "Letting me go proves he doesn't care about your safety. He knows I am no threat to him, but I have proved to be death to you young ones." "We are immortal!" "You can and do die! Think, if you can, for yourself!" The furor on Chen Li's face reflected the raging battle inside the young vampire. Natalie knew his enraged desire to kill was colliding against his master's dictum not to harm her. "By Wu Ti's own order, he allowed me to return and slay your companions. How else could I have made it so far?" She saw the slight glazing in his eyes that told of his efforts to find Wu Ti's other vampires. He resembled a sun ready to nova as he realized his brothers had been slain. This was it. She permeated every syllable with all the malice and derision she could muster. "Just like I shall destroy you!" "You can do nothing to me!" Chen Li bellowed in rage and flew straight at her, his eyes crimson gouache and his hands extended like claws. Natalie was prepared. She tucked and deliberately rolled down the stairs, counting on Chen Li's overconfidence to lead him into error. She scrambled for Miklos' prone body. Just as Chen Li attacked again, she tripped Miklos' Gro Light to send the vampire recoiling in pain. She cast the tranquilizer gun aside since there was no time to reload. Instead, she dove for the pocket containing Miklos' supply of poison darts. Grabbing several, she swiveled to face the vampire. Chen Li recovered faster than the other vampires from the faux sunlight. Furiously, he roared, "I should have killed you at the museum. I will feast on your blood and leave your body to rot in the sun!" He bore down on her with ferocious intensity and wrenched her head back. Natalie cried out in agony. Flash fire singed her neck as he, oblivious to the pain, ripped off the choker of crosses, scoring her neck with long red gashes. He threw back his head, the long tusks bared to their fullest, and howled. Natalie, cringing from the pain encircling her neck, plunged the three darts into his stomach with all the power her adrenaline enhanced body was capable of, burying them deep within his flesh. The poison acted swiftly. She felt him jerk upright in rock formation hardness even as his teeth skimmed the surface of her vulnerable neck. He fell backwards like an unbalanced stone. Natalie lay still, breathing hard. She couldn't believe she was still alive! Perspiration dripped liberally from every portion of her body, staining the front of her fatigues and plastering her hair in ringlets about her face. She was so stiff with fear and exertion she could barely move. "Good job, Nat." Miklos' voice was so low Natalie almost missed it. "I knew you could do it." He lived! Joy mingled with relief as she twisted to sit up. His eyes, clouded with pain, were open and focused on her. "Miklos, where are you hurt?" "My leg mostly, but I ache everywhere." Her knowing hands quickly found the unnatural contortion in his lower right tibia. "It's broken. You're lucky you didn't break your neck." "My leg is the least of our troubles." He grimaced as a spasm took him. "I'm sorry I can't help you face the last trial." She made him as comfortable as she could before reloading the tranquilizer gun with her last and most potent poison dart. It took all her strength to crank the small crossbow and reset it with a wooden arrow. Miklos struggled to remove his cross choker for her but she restrained him. "It won't matter, Miklos. Wu Ti is too old. The presence of the cross may hinder him but it won't stop him." "What about the Gro Light? It has one flash left." Natalie gently eased the mechanism from his back but upon examination they found the trigger had been hyper-extended. Natalie shook her head. "I must have broken it when I used it on Chen Li." She paused, "I'm going to have to face him using only my wits." Miklos grinned, his teeth white against his dark skin. "Then do it, crazy lady. Go save Janette--and your Nicholas." End Part 12 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net. Return-Path: Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 10:30:11 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 13/14 To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 13/14 Beneath his perfectly stoic exterior, LaCroix seethed and bubbled like a volcano on the edge of erupting. He would not, however, let a hint of his true emotions show. Wu Ti would not derive a bit of satisfaction from seeing him discomfited, much less beg for mercy. He ignored the scuffle outside the door. Probably Wu Ti's workmen preparing the transport equipment. Once away from the vampire community, Wu Ti could carry out his threats to kill his children and torture him for a millennium. He regretted not being able to save Janette and Nicholas. He could feel Janette's distress as she writhed in pain from the cross. It made him weak as well, boring into his chest with increasing intensity. Nicholas' continued unconsciousness worried him. If kept under this strange sedation much longer the child would die and the first part of Wu Ti's vengeful agenda would be completed. Reluctantly, LaCroix admitted to himself Nicholas was a treasure he cared about losing. Abruptly, one of the doors to the room whipped opened. The slight figure framed in the doorway almost caused him to express astonishment. It was Natalie Lambert, disheveled and perspiring as if she had transversed purgatory to stand on the cusp of hell. LaCroix was annoyed. He thought he had seen the last of her and her interference. He glanced at Wu Ti, who had come out of his ridiculous chair. The Chinese vampire was obviously as surprised about her sudden appearance as he. The woman strode boldly into the room, unmistakably toward Nicholas' cage. Wu Ti purred, unthreatened. "So the slave is trying to rescue her master. I rather thought you might." His head slanted toward the open door way, his eyes sparkling like a scavenger. "Who is with you? Another pet? He feels injured. He will not suffer long." Natalie remained quiet but LaCroix could see her hand trembling around a small object she carried before her. Wu Ti circled her. "You intrigue me, doctor. I didn't think you would make it this far." LaCroix's interest was piqued as well. How did a mere mortal, even one as resourceful as Natalie Lambert, make it through Wu Ti's vampire guard? In fact, exerting himself now, he couldn't even feel any immortal but Wu Ti and the two captives. Natalie said confidently, "I mean to rescue Nick." "I'm impressed with your ability but you can not thwart me like the others." The Oriental's smile taunted her. "However, I would like to see you try." At his invitation, Natalie tossed the object she had been fingering into the middle of the room. It exploded softly, doing no physical damage but filling the air with smoke and the horrible stinging stench of garlic. Wu Ti doubled over in mocking laughter. LaCroix was enraged. Stupid, stupid female!! Did she think this was a movie? It would be a matter of minutes, probably seconds, before she would be reduced to a mass of bloodless tissue and bones. Then LaCroix caught Natalie's expression. She wasn't surprised the vampire wasn't incapacitated by the garlic bomb. Instead, she took advantage of Wu Ti's choking laughter to scan the room. He saw her nod at Janette before she met his eyes. He was struck by her determination. The bomb had been a ruse. Wu Ti's chuckles trailed off. "Come, doctor, I expected better of you. What's in your pouches? Wooden stakes? A blow torch? Now, now, girl. You've lost. Let me finish you so I can be on my way." LaCroix saw her attention focus solely on the Oriental vampire. She slowly unhooked the small crossbow and pointed it unwaveringly at the vampire's chest. "Try it. The wood will not discommode me." Natalie fired. The wooden stake hit him square in the chest. An involuntary 'oomph' escaped him but he jerked it out of his flesh like a splinter. Once again, LaCroix could see Natalie wasn't disconcerted. "What next? The sun lamp? I'm sorry to inform you I can withstand a great deal more light than the young ones." Natalie didn't respond to his taunting. She calmly discarded the crossbow as the Oriental vampire strutted a few steps closer. "I'm surprised you don't have a cross. You seem to have come prepared with everything else." Natalie said softly, "I have a redemptive symbol." LaCroix noticed the narrowing of her eyes and sighed inwardly. If she was counting on the enemy to be hurt by a cross, they were as lost as they were before she came. Slowly, Natalie unbuckled one of the front fasteners on her fatigues and brought out a large pouch. She flipped it so her bottom hand went under the leather to support the base of the object inside and her other hand gathered the material at the top. Suddenly, she whisked the cover off to reveal a large, red and black hollow circle of jade. The Eye of Heaven! LaCroix squinted and jerked his head aside, repelled by the sanctified image. It was a pi, the ancient Chinese holy emblem. Wu Ti reacted more violently, searing away in acute pain. The sanctified disk brought him writhing and cringing to his knees, doing what Natalie's other 'errors' had not. Quickly, Natalie laid the pi directly in front of the vampire and swung up a strange gun. What was she doing now? She knew a mere weapon was harmless to vampires. He saw how her hands shook as she carefully took aim and pulled the trigger. The metal dart lodged deep in Wu Ti's chest. The vampire, already on his knees, staggered. A strange, horrified expression paralyzed his face. He swayed, off balance, and fell prone on the floor. LaCroix was stunned and totally confused. What could do that to a vampire? Any vampire? Especially one as old and hardy as Wu Ti. Odd splotches mottled Wu Ti's face and hands and, even as he watched in fascinated revulsion, the vampire's skin corrugated roughly, like a topographical globe. LaCroix's flesh shuddered in empathy. Whatever Natalie had done was killing Wu Ti. Natalie rushed to open Nick's coffin. She dragged his unconscious body out then immediately sprang to Janette's cage and tore off the cross. Janette tumbled forward in a heap. Natalie made for his booth but as she grasped the cross binding cord he felt her jolt in fear at the sound of Wu Ti's gasping voice. "Natalie . . . Lambert . . ." The fallen vampire had managed to prop himself up on an elbow, his flesh above the torn business suit a piebald abhorrence. "I can feel your poison doing its work, doctor, paralyzing my blood flow, freezing my limbs, distorting my thoughts . . . but I will survive." LaCroix could see Natalie's worried profile clearly as she faced the convulsing vampire. She was truly terrified now. Wu Ti struggled to overcome an encumbrance in his throat. "I hadn't realized the depth of your resources, doctor, but don't you see what we both desire will be satisfied if you leave now? "You can have your lover. Nicholas will finally be freed of his oppressive master . . . and all I have ever wanted was to be revenged upon LaCroix." Cold reality washed over LaCroix. He heard the strength of the master vampire's hypnotic powers despite the weakness of the voice. It would augment what he knew to be the mortal's deep-seated desire. He was certain what Natalie would choose. It was what he himself would decide--had decided--in similar circumstances. Revenge. First and foremost. Eight hundred years ago, Nicholas had forced him to give up Fleur, the young girl who had unaccountably stolen his heart. In return, he had compelled Nicholas to promise to give up his true love whenever time bestowed it upon him. This wisp of a girl had become Nicholas' load stone and, with a raw wound unhealed by the centuries, LaCroix had kept them apart upon pain of her death. If vengeance had been his goal for losing his treasure, he expected no less from the human who stood, weak limbed and shaking, by his side. Especially when a vampire was convincing her what she most wished for was within her grasp. At least Janette and Nicholas would be free. "No." Natalie's voice rang strong in the tomb-like silence. "I will not do as you say." Her words stunned LaCroix. Wu Ti's sentences came in syncopated gasps. "You can search for Nicholas' cure without fearing LaCroix will snatch it away at the first sign of success." "LaCroix is Nick's friend. It makes no difference that he is not mine. Anything that hurts him, hurts Nick." "Even knowing he stands between your love and you?" "Yes." Wu Ti cried savagely, "Then die with him!" With surprising swiftness, a pistol appeared in the mutilated hands of the dying vampire, bringing the muzzle to bear on her. What irony! To survive all the vampires only to be killed by such mundane means. In the same instant, a small dart whizzed with almost supernatural speed to lodge, swift and sure, in Wu Ti's eye. The vampire screamed and dropped the gun to tear at the new agony. A familiar man, crouching on the floor in the doorway, lowered a blowgun. Miklos! Natalie sprinted across the room, knocked the gun far out of reach and grabbed a sharp edged weapon from the flat bag on her back. An amputating saw! With no hesitation she severed the writhing head from the body and kicked it across the room in triumph. Wu Ti was dead. LaCroix felt a lightness he hadn't felt for centuries. He saw Natalie exchange glances with the mortal at the door. Miklos struggled with a leg injury to enter the room, but instead of going to help him, she turned on her heel and strode to LaCroix's cage, the saw still in her hand. LaCroix didn't move, holding himself impassive. Despite the words she had used with Wu Ti, he didn't trust what she meant to do. She met his eyes squarely, not revealing an ounce of fear or misgiving, as she brought up the bloody saw and-- --cut the cords that bound the cross to the coffin. She tossed both saw and cross away as she jerked the door open and levered her body under his to cushion his fall to the floor. The internal fight against Wu Ti's drug and the position of the cross had left him weaker than he wanted to admit in front of a mere mortal. "Why? Why did you save me?' His voice, barely above a whisper, grated hoarsely. 'Everything Wu Ti said was true. You could have had Nicholas all to yourself." She met his eyes evenly. "You are his father and his friend. Nick is, in part, what you have made him. You force him to reevaluate his hypocrisies and keep him from stagnating. Your loss would have created a huge void in his life and I want Nick--my Nicholas, your Nicholas--to be whole." LaCroix suddenly doubled as a convulsion in his middle shook him. She immediately probed one of her pockets and brought out several packets of whole blood. He could smell the delicious aroma even through the plastic. "Not what you prefer," she said, slightly apologetically, "But your bottled blood wouldn't have traveled well. You'll find some of Janette's finest vintages in the van." LaCroix didn't bother to suppress his eagerness as he swallowed the healing liquid, soothing the hunger that knotted his internal organs and restoring his vitality. Across the room, Nicholas groaned and LaCroix saw her face grow concerned. She left him quickly, stopping only to toss a couple of blood packets to Miklos who had made it to Janette. He watched as Natalie unstopped one of the blood pouches and held it under Nicholas' nose. The vampire jerked and startled awake, greedily grabbing for the packaged blood, gobbling it down with great intensity. Then, his hunger slaked, he lifted his eyes to the mortal woman who cradled his head in her lap. With the thirst of a vampire for first kill, Nicholas swept Natalie into a tight embrace, kissing her as if eternity existed only for them. LaCroix, swallowing the last of the blood in its sanitized plastic container, resigned himself to his conclusion because . . . . . . because no matter what he decided he would lose. End Part 13 Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net. Return-Path: Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 10:43:23 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 14a/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 14a/14 "Dr. Lambert, that is the most ridiculous story I've ever heard." Cohen glared angrily at Natalie and Nick. Schanke, pacing angrily back and forth behind the precinct captain, glowered at them. Apprehension shot through Natalie. In this evening of facing one life-threatening situation after another, confronting Cohen with a version of the truth seemed like the least of her problems. Yet, if the police captain didn't accept the tale, Natalie didn't think she had the resources to ad lib. "Captain, I think Natalie has been through enough tonight." Nick came to her rescue. She detected a tad of vampire mesmerism in his voice. "Shen Chou's mansion was my last known location. She went there to look for me." Schanke's words burst forth as if he no longer had the power to contain them. "I went there first thing yesterday morning. I talked to Chou's butler, or secretary, or whatever you call him. He told me you had come and gone the evening before. When I asked to speak to Chou, he said his employer had left for business appointments and, no, he didn't know how to get in touch with him. I knew I should have searched the place." "On what grounds, Schanke? I hadn't even been gone for twenty-four hours." "And you do have a tendency to run off without telling people where you will be." Cohen reprimanded Nick dryly. "I want to know why someone like Shen Chou kidnapped you." Natalie was amazed Nick only had to tweak the truth to fit the facts. "A friend of mine prevented Shen Chou from acquiring a very valuable treasure. He wanted to avenge his loss upon me." Schanke pressed. "Why did they want Natalie?" "She recognized the assailant from the museum among his men, so they attempted to take her, too. I was lucky enough to use her as a distraction to break away from my imprisonment and effect our rescue. Unfortunately, Chou and his other men escaped while I fought the perp from the ROM. I had to kill him in self defense." "IA will look into it but I'm sure there won't be any problem." Cohen assured Nick mechanically but she obviously hadn't forgotten her irritation with Natalie. "Dr. Lambert, if you had a clue Detective Knight was in danger why didn't you come to me?" Natalie tried to appear sincere. "At the meeting yesterday, Mr. Chou appeared to be an upstanding member of the community. I didn't have anything particular with which to accuse him. I went to his house based on a feeling." Schanke bellowed at her. "You should have taken me with you. I understand about hunches. Nick's my partner!" His voice softened. "Maybe it would have saved you a rope necklace." Natalie could see how much the burly detective had been rattled by the abrasions about her neck. She touched the burn gingerly. They still ached despite the medicinal ointment she had slathered on them. She replied gently. "Next time it happens, I'll let you take your chances." Cohen closed the case folder on her desk. "You can do the paperwork on this tomorrow. Take the rest of the night off. Go. Split. Dr. Lambert, you may want to wash again. There's still some blood on your face." She touched a spot near her mouth to mirror the splotch on Natalie's skin. Natalie blushed hotly. The blood had come from Nick's mouth when they embraced in the rubble of Wu Ti's basement. She must have missed it in her quick efforts to clean up before the police unit Nick called arrived. Nick had provided her with a silk blouse and dress pants from someplace so she would look more like the story he had concocted for the precinct. Janette had taken her discarded, blood stained fatigues when she left to take Miklos to the hospital in the van. Dismissed, Natalie rose to leave. Nick smiled encouragingly at her as he waited for her to precede him from the room. Maybe the nightmare was over now. All she wanted was to be alone with Nick, and redeem the gifts his eyes were promising her. For a second, Nick leaned closer, his lips almost touching -- Schanke's urgent voice interrupted. "Wait up, Knight." Nick jerked back as Schanke barreled up to them. The balding detective stopped awkwardly, his face flushed. His eyes held more than a trace of sadness and Natalie's heart went out to him. She could read his sense of betrayal in every line of his body. Nick didn't hesitate. He clapped Schanke's shoulder and apologized. "I didn't mean to worry you, Schanke. If I had known it was anything besides a routine check, I would have wanted my partner beside me. After all, he's the best." Natalie wished there was some way to reassure Schanke. He deserved to know he was trusted despite their need to keep Nick's secret from him. Schanke's voice wasn't any less troubled. "It should have been me rescuing you, not . . ." To Natalie's amazement, Nick encircled her shoulders possessively and pulled her roughly to his side. The room's chattering died abruptly and Natalie felt the weight of every set of eyes on the arm that curled tightly about her. Schanke's shocked but pleased expression was a direct reflection of the feelings that permeated the air. Nick replied, "Maybe it was for the best, Schanke. It clarified certain situations for me." A huge grin spread across Schanke's face. "About time, Knight. You might have been stir-fried by Shen Chow and his egg rolls, especially without me to pluck your bamboo sprouts out of the soy sauce, but you came back with the Pearl of Great Price." Nick met her eyes, radiating pride and love. His tone resolute, he said, "Schanke, you have never been more correct. Natalie is definitely my Pearl of Great Price. I would sell everything I possess to know she is mine." Nat grinned wildly into Nick's cherishing smile. Schanke's overjoyed words drew their attention back to him. "I can't wait to tell Myra. She'll have your love story typed, printed, and off to the editor for city wide publication so fast even Nick's head will spin. That is, if this group doesn't break the grapevine sound barrier spreading this over the lower half of Canada." His expansive hand movement took in the watching and grinning police force in the precinct's bullpen. Natalie knew her face was turning bright red but she enjoyed the congratulatory smiles from her friends and working companions. Schanke's voice dropped soberly. "If this is what it took to get the two of you together, I can get over it. Next time, give me the chance to protect your keyster, okay, Nick?" Nick solemnly agreed. Schanke punched Nick's arm and winked at Nat. "I better call Myra right now before she hears about it from one of these jokers. See you late tomorrow!" Once in the caddie, Natalie relaxed completely for the first time in two days. "I'm glad that's over!" Nick slipped the key into the ignition. "The statement should go smoother. Everything they find in Wu Ti's mansion will corroborate our story." "Thanks to you and the others. I'm afraid I wasn't in condition to do much afterwards." The car left the precinct's lot and moved onto the highway. "When LaCroix took all the vampire bodies to burn in the morning sun, I didn't think he would ever pick up Wu Ti's head." "They were friends once upon a time. I don't think what happened today can obscure those memories for him." He allowed a few seconds of silence to fall before he continued, changing the subject. "I' glad Janette called to say Miklos' leg will recover completely." "I'll have to remember to return the van tomorrow. What about the pi? Jon must be pacing a trench in the ground, wondering if he is going to spend the rest of his life in prison for stealing." "Janette was on her way to help him return it to the display case. She'll make certain its disappearance will remain unnoticed and unremembered, even by Jon. I had the pi wrapped securely in a cloth and she complained she could still feel it." He grinned as he maneuvered in traffic. "I've heard her curse before but she used words that would have put a sailor to shame." Natalie chuckled. "Her system is hypersensitive after being exposed to the cross for so long. You'll have to--Monsieur Chevalier--will have to do something extra special for Jon." "I'm already planning it. He's always dreamed of working on site in China. He'll have a research grant with the Yellow River Archeology Association as soon as he graduates." He slowed for a stoplight. "What made you think of an Eye of Heaven, Nat? Wu Ti could have been as immune to them as I am to crosses." "He suffered too much from a holy symbol that wasn't even part of his own culture. I figured a pi made during the time he came across would be the most potent. The Han pi in the museum was the nearest." She shifted in her seat. "Aside from the body we left to close the murder case, what became of the human corpses?" "LaCroix took care of those, too. I didn't ask how." "Miklos left one tied up in the sitting room." Nick glanced quickly at her, apprehensive. "LaCroix killed him. He couldn't wait for the bottles in the van." Remembering the deadly expertise with which the victim had attacked Miklos, Natalie could feel no regret. "I can't say I'm sorry." "Neither can I. I found your rope and the grappling hook on the wall and picked up all the paraphernalia the two of you dropped throughout the house." He chided, good naturedly. "Messy children. The Gro Light mechanism was ingenious. Who would have thought one of Miklos' practical jokes would have such practical applications?" "Including his ability to use a blowgun. I owe my life to him, Nick. If he hadn't shot Wu Ti when he did . . ." "But he did and you're safe. Janette will see to his reward." His face took on a teasing cast. "So you finally had a chance to use the crossbow." "You knew I had it?!" She stared at his amused profile in astonishment. "Fraid so. I wasn't worried. I know how good your aim is." He pulled in front of the loft. "If I had it right now, I'd shoot you! My accuracy wasn't so bad tonight!" "No accounting for luck. Open the garage door, will you?" She pushed the open button on the remote clipped to the sun visor. After the door opened, Nick parked the Cadillac in the ground level garage. Natalie placed a hand on his. "I am sorry about the Sorrows solution. I know how much you--we--wanted it to be a success." He gripped her wrist firmly, his face solemn. "It still saved my life. The herb with which Wu Ti tempted me coagulated the blood of the victims to keep me from draining them. How ironic the solution derived from the Chinese statuettes caused basically the same reaction in his body." "LaCroix was most insistent on ascertaining whether any more of the vampire poison still existed. I'm glad Miklos only had a few darts left. I'm sure LaCroix is examining my home and the morgue to see if we were telling the truth." She paused. "Do you think the statuettes were formed from the ancient Chinese treasure they fought over?" "Maybe. We'll never know for certain. A tornado wrested it away from LaCroix and sent it who knows where. If that was the rock, Wu Ti was right. The power to cause instant death in vampires would have given him an unbearable supremacy over the others." His expression softened and he tugged on her hand. "Come upstairs and let me wash off the blood stain Cohen noticed." She grinned and joined him in the elevator. "Cohen is not so easy to fool. Do you really think she'll believe the man Miklos killed in the mansion to be the assassin from the museum?" "We both identified the body as the murderer. He obviously died from close combat; I just took the blame instead of dragging Miklos into this. I left enough evidence in the basement to support my captivity story. I think the book can be closed on the museum homicide." Natalie shuddered. "Chen Li has certainly been brought to justice. He believed in Wu Ti, Nick, no matter what I said to rattle him. He genuinely cared for his master." Nick ran a finger over her chin. "Thank you for saving mine. Janette told me what you said. My relationship with LaCroix is so complicated I didn't think it could be put in such simple terms." "Your tie to LaCroix would give the Gordian Knot competition, but your love for him is quite straightforward." Her skin tingled under the trail of his touch. End Part 14a Please, send comments to ccbarnes@pcsystems.net Return-Path: Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 10:47:14 -0800 Reply-To: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Sender: Forever Knight TV show stories From: "Cheryl C. Barnes" Subject: The Sorrows Solution 14b/14 To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Disclaimers are in Part 1 The Sorrows Solution By Cheryl Barnes 14b/14 The elevator settled into place with a slight clank. He opened the doors and pulled her into the room. His eyes, clear as the dawn of a new day, shone with unrepressed love and tenderness as he placed his hands possessively on her shoulders. His words, resonating with veracity, enveloped her as he stated simply but with finality, "I love you, Natalie." Simple words but powerful enough to change her entire life. She felt as if they had been purified in a crucible of fear, the dross in their lives burned away by their trials and sacrifice. They could stand before each other open, vulnerable, and most of all, with honesty. Carefully, Natalie's lips formed the words she had left unspoken for so long. "I love you, Nick." The happiness that infused his face was overpowering. Acting like nothing had ever restrained his emotions, he drew her into his arms. Natalie closed her eyes, opening herself body and spirit to Nick's care. This was where she belonged, secure in the knowledge he loved her. Soft, feathery kisses explored her brow and the bridge of her nose, awakening ripples of need that reached to the core of her being. The pleasure his fingers caused as he brushed back her hair from her temples preceded the sensual flow of his moist lips as he followed the outline of her cheek, the thrust of her chin, and the curve of her throat. A slight tug and a cool breeze on her collarbones let her know he had loosened buttons on her blouse. His fingers invoked trills of delight as he, taking care not to aggravate her burns, stroked her neck and the exposed skin of her shoulders. But nothing prepared her for the onslaught of passion that rose as his mouth pressed itself directly on hers. She dovetailed her desires to his need, giving freely to his demands, intertwining her spirit indefinably with his. Her pulse sped as his mouth grew tenser and the grip on her shoulders tighter. He trailed his lips down her chin, found the hollow beneath the base of her ear, his tongue promised joy along the arch of her neck and. . . . . . the vertigo of flying through the air and the crack of severe pain as her skull slammed into the wall. She struggled up, eyes blinking open to see Nick dive for the refrigerator. He jerked out a dark green bottle with shaking hands. Turning his back on her, she saw the edge of his opaque eyes as he devoured the contents of the glass container like a starving man. Suddenly, she realized how close she had been to death in his arms--and how much she shook with interrupted passion. Part of her wished he had not stopped, that it was her blood he was consuming now, binding them together as nothing else could. The bottle clattered to the floor, followed shortly by another. At the completion of the third, Nick finally faced her. Wiping his mouth with the back of one hand, he didn't succeed in removing all the red liquid spilled across his lips and chin. He stumbled toward the couch, placing the empty bottle on the end table. He buried his face in his hands. After several long minutes, he raised his head, his expression composed, and held up a hand for her to join him. Tentatively she grasped his fingers, sitting beside him. She began apologetically, "We should have waited until you weren't so hungry. After all, LaCroix was compelled to take the man we had tied up and I know Janette downed a number of bottles in the van." Nick shook his head as he eased closer to her. He leaned over to kiss her nose. "My hunger was part of it, but the rest was the same old problem. I want you, Nat. I want to make love with you. That means partaking of your life force, your spirit, your blood. I want to feel your essence inside me and know you as intimately as the flow of your life." Natalie, mesmerized by his words, murmured, "Yes, I want that, too." He took her squarely by the shoulders. "Natalie, you know my limitations. I can't stop. If I make love to you, I will kill you." She stared at him, reacting more to the distress in his tone than what he was saying. He wasn't telling her anything she hadn't known from the beginning. With a sigh, he drew her onto his chest and kissed the top of her head. Her hair muffled his voice. "It would be fine thanks to repay all you've done by taking your life." A familiar, mocking voice disturbed them. "You're certainly right, Nicholas. Killing the lady out of love, after she's risked what precious little mortal time allowed to her, is unthinkable." From the shadows of the book lined recess came LaCroix, impeccably clothed and groomed. They sprang to their feet. Nick wedged his body protectively in front of her, his hands spread warily. Natalie's fears were back full force. This was one enemy from whom she had no defenses. Nick pleaded, passionately, "No, LaCroix! You cannot kill her! She saved you, Janette, me! Surely that means something." LaCroix's lips curled in his usual scornful style. "A pact is a pact, Nicholas. Over seven hundred years ago, you promised to give up your true love if I gave up mine. Do you deny she is dearer to you than your own existence?" "No. I love her, LaCroix, which is why I'll not allow you to take her." LaCroix moved coyly to one side, Nick spun, keeping himself between Natalie and the master vampire. "Is she the alignment of your stars, the crystalline strata of your planet, the definition of your universe?" The words were spoken cynically. "Is she all to you?" "Of course she is. You know it." LaCroix swiveled and lowered his head, his eyes bearing in on Nick. "Is she the beating of a heart, your hunger, the soul you used to possess?" "Yes." Nick answered as intensely as LaCroix. LaCroix paused pointedly before he said with deliberation, "Then she is worthy of any sacrifice. Move aside, Nicholas." He held out his hand. "Join me, Natalie." Trepidatiously, she looked at Nick but he only had eyes for LaCroix. "Natalie, come." LaCroix's voice was soft, sweetly compelling. Before she realized it, she had stepped forward. Strange, she had not noticed earlier how blue his eyes were. LaCroix gently placed his hands on her arms. She could feel the coolness through the thin silk. "You are the equal to my Fleur. Nicholas would be a fool not to love you." His fingers traced a path over her shoulders and neck, the movement as deadly sensual as the swaying of a charmed cobra. He raised her eyes to his and for a second she read intense pain, distilled through centuries of memories. Fascinated, she saw them glaze white and watched the tips of his fangs jut slightly over his lower lip. All of her fear slipped away, she was aware only of the beating of her heart and how it matched the rhythm of his fingers along her jugular veins. Involuntarily, she arched her neck. LaCroix swept her hair to one side, shifting her so her back was against his breast. She could feel the moisture of his breath on her nape, the sharp bristles of his hair against her cheek. This was wrong. Severe uneasiness agitated the contentment blanketing her emotions. She struggled against the cocoon of hedonistic inertia to open her heavy lidded eyes. Her cloudy vision focused on Nick, seeing him through a hazy veil. Nick seemed as mesmerized as she was. She strove to reach for him, not knowing whether her limbs would obey the directions of her befuddled mind. Silently, she begged him to help her. LaCroix's harsh laughter broke the spell. The room came sharply into focus and she found herself thrust into Nick's arms. They curled protectively around her and she was grateful for their possessiveness. For a second, she breathed into the dark stuff of his shirt, reveling that her senses where her own again. Never leaving the safety of Nick's arms, she turned to face the chuckling master vampire. LaCroix's eyes were blue again, tainted with their normal derisive sneer. "I release you from your promise, Nicholas. She is yours to love and honor whatever number of days she has left in her life." Nick's arms about her relaxed in relief but then, convulsively, they tightened into a choke-like hold. Belatedly, she realized their relationship had been both approved and blessed by the most constant person in Nick's life. His chin was hard against her temple as he hugged her close. LaCroix inspected and sniffed with disdain the bottle of steer's blood. Replacing the bottle on the table, he said, "I have a present for the two of you." He taunted them with an enigmatic smile. "Nicholas, you can love her without the fear of taking her life." Nick's arms stilled in disbelief as the master vampire perched on the back edge of the couch. "It can't be done. If I--love--her in that way she will die." LaCroix spread his hands in mock exasperation. "Such little faith in me. If I say it can be done, it can be done." He leaned forward, his bright blue eyes alive with cynical mischief. "There were always . . . certain lessons . . . I kept from you, Nicholas. Most of them involve skills that other vampires develop, in time, on their own. You, however, did not." LaCroix stood up and pressed both palms against the protesting leather of the couch. "I believe now is the time to teach you one of them. Then, while Natalie sleeps away the effects of today's trials, I will show you how to discipline your beast as it surges for blood." "Discipline!" Nick exploded. The anger in his chest vibrated against Natalie's shoulders. "I've become quite adept at disciplining the beast over the last hundred years." LaCroix laughed lightly, only a bit of scorn souring its edges. "That type of discipline always failed when true need overwhelmed it." His voice intensified into sober directness. "If that wasn't so you could have left me years ago, secure in your own mastery and self-control." Natalie could feel the disbelief in every tension strained muscle in Nick's body. LaCroix bowed his head for a second then looked at Nick. He held his hand out, palm up in supplication. "Come, my son." Natalie twisted to meet Nick's eyes. She read fear of being betrayed yet again in their anguished depths. Still, Nick carefully kissed her lips and she trembled at the intensity of care and affection he transferred to her in the simple gesture. She allowed him to set her aside but slipped to where she could watch both their faces as he knelt on the seat of the couch before the master vampire. Nat barely heard his whispered, "Father?" LaCroix splayed a hand along the side of Nick's face. For a second, the long fingers lay gently upon Nick's temples before they slipped to lay on his shoulder. LaCroix spoke softly, but not in any words she could understand. Nick, however, didn't seem to have any problems following or answering him in the same tongue. A few syllables, insistently spoken, were vaguely familiar. It occurred to her they were speaking the language Nick had used as a boy and when he had been brought across. The language that, perhaps, could instruct him best since it would reach him on primary and unconscious levels the current language, her language, could not. LaCroix's words were earnest and persistent yet gentle. Nick's tone indicated his lack of comprehension and he closed his eyes, an obvious effort to concentrate better. More instructions flowed from LaCroix, harsher, more demanding, countering Nick's distressed murmurs. Nick's mouth tightened with pain and stress lines encircled his tightly clinched eyelids. Over and over, LaCroix whispered the same set of emphatic instructions, coaxing with brilliant and vibrating expectancy that would not take any of Nick's negative replies for an answer. Suddenly, Nick's posture relaxed. He opened his eyes in pure joy and said in wonder, "So . . . so, that's how it's done." LaCroix's eyes and smile for Nick were intimately gentle. Nick reached up and grasped the hand that still lay on his shoulder as if he was loathe to let the contact break. Natalie instinctively knew father and son had only felt this much at peace with each other for a handful of times in their turbulent, centuries old history. LaCroix nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow, I will help you master it." As LaCroix released his hold upon Nick, the younger vampire turned to Natalie, his face lit with unfathomable delight. "Nat . . ... " he faltered in his efforts to find the right words. "Nat, it can be done. I can LOVE you." Natalie looked beyond him at LaCroix. His face had resumed its sardonic facade. She raised an eyebrow in question, trying to ascertain the truth. As if reading her mind, LaCroix laughed shortly. "Yes, my dear doctor, it is true. I do pay my debts, and this one is for you." He moved off with a taunting air. "Nicholas, I will join you at sunrise. Natalie, until next time." He was gone through the skylight, the air resettling about them with a whoosh. Nick was the one trembling now. "Nat, I . . " Natalie forestalled him. "You have your freedom now, Nick. No longer will you be a slave to the beast's lust for blood, and if I understood correctly, LaCroix freed you from him as well." Speechless, he nodded. She slipped her arms about his neck and pressed her lips on his. He smelled deliciously of aftershave and blood. His hands caressed her back. She whispered, "You really love me all those ways LaCroix described?" He murmured, "Yes." "My gratitude for LaCroix's gift not withstanding, I believe we would have found some way to surmount your 'problem.' I will NOT forgo someone who thinks I'm a heartbeat," she pecked his nose, "his hunger," she kissed his chin, "and his lost soul." She could see the reflection of her smiling face in his blue eyes as she closed to mold her mouth on his. When Nick allowed her to come up for air, he held her forehead to forehead, noses touching before nuzzling her cheek. He purred against her throat. "About tomorrow night. I know what you could wear." She hummed a contented sigh. "Umm, yes?" "Do you, by any chance, have a Minoan snake priestess blouse?" She leaned back to see his bright mischievous face. "What? Of course not." "Neither did the snake priestess!" With a delighted gasp she hit him. End Part 14b and the End of the story Thank you for reading The Sorrows Solution. Any and all comments are welcome at ccbarnes@pcsystems.net.