Date: Sun, 21 Aug 1994 13:14:43 EDT The Unsinkable Nicolas Knight by January Tavel ------------------------------------------------------------ April 10, 1912 Dear Diary-- This morning, Papa, Mother and I bid farewell to South Hampton. We stopped to pick up other passengers in Cherbourg France and are now on our way to Queenstown, Ireland. There we will pick up still more guests and, then, finally, we'll be bound for New York. This is the fastest boat I have ever been on, although Papa says there are faster. This, however, _is_ the largest in the world, and it's like traveling in a floating hotel! Father tells me that this will be a 7 day voyage, and I'm sure it will be purely paradise! We couldn't have hoped for better weather for the cruise, and, besides, I have met a man! His eyes are bewitching, and his smile... Oh his smile! It is to _die_ for. Papa says that he is eccentric, and, I admit, his traveling companions are a bit strange, but... Oh, he really is _so_ wonderful! It was the evening before last, when we first met. It was just after sunset and still quite warm. It was, however, very breezy, and at one point the wind kicked up so much that I thought I had lost my hat! We were near the docks and I was sure it had fallen into the water below. He, however, was somehow able to retrieve it. It was _so_ gallant! He really is such a gentleman! We talked for a while, and he seemed to be not only a smarty, but awfully nice. He was very learned and quite polite. I told him of our trip and to both of our surprise he said he, too, was to take a trip on this very boat! I have not seen him as yet, but I'm sure I will see him at supper tonight. He is really the most saintly person I have ever met. I adore him! His name is Nicolas. ** Marie set down her pen. "Nicolas," she whispered. The name played on her tongue. "Oh, she sighed, "I want to spend eternity with him!" * * * * "Nicola? What are you doing?" Janette asked, peeking into Nick's cabin. Nick stood in front of the mirror. He had been looking himself over for a long time. He wanted to look _perfect_. How do I look?" he smiled at her. Janette slinked into the room, and brushed his hand across his right shoulder and then his left. "You look fine," she purred. "_Just_ fine?" he asked, a trifle concerned. Janette opened her mouth to respond, but before she could answer, LaCroix interrupted. "Nicolas, why do you play this silly game?" he asked from behind his book. "Why not just rip her throat out and be done with it?" Nick felt his eyes becoming golden. He would rip someone's throat out, all right, but it would not be Marie's. "Are you both ready to go?" Nick hissed. LaCroix put down his book and stretched lazily. "No," he yawned. "I don't think so," he added, glancing at Janette. The look told her that if she said "yes," she wouldn't live long enough to regret it. "No," she answered cautiously. "But why don't you go ahead without us." She wouldn't let LaCroix get away with telling _her_ what to do. Nick nodded curtly and left the cabin. He walked the decks toward the dining hall. He could hear the waves lapping against the side of the ship and could smell the salt in the air. He could hear people laughing. "So many people," Nick thought, "so many people..." Why, if there were so many people in the world, was he traveling with _them_? Or rather, with _him_. Yes, it was true, Janette was okay, but LaCroix... LaCroix, he hated. Sure, in the beginning he was content to tag along with them, but now? Now he felt trapped. Nick had tried to leave before, but they had found him. "Why does LaCroix care so much?" he mused. "Because he's my father and brother?!" Nick laughed ruefully. Why couldn't LaCroix let him be his own man? It had been four days since they had left South Hampton. The trio was headed for New York. "Maybe," Nick thought, "I can lose them there. America is a big place and..." "Nicolas!" A cheerful feminine voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Marie. Nick smiled as she took his arm. "It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" she said, smiling back. "Mmmmmm... a beautiful night," he nodded, "with a beautiful woman." Marie laughed and they walked arm in arm into the dining room. * * * * Dinner was almost over when LaCroix and Janette joined them. This was no surprise to Nick. Why should they come? He, himself, had had a difficult time making up an excuse for why he wasn't eating anything. And anyway, was he sure he even wanted them to come at all? LaCroix and Janette sat down and the night's conversation turned to politics, finances, fashions and other such things. All of this left much to be desired, thought Marie. She noticed Nick, too, was less than fascinated--even a little preoccupied. Damn him! Nick thought. LaCroix always has some kind of twisted plan floating around in that deranged mind of his! Why is he here? He isn't really interested in politics or money. Such things are trivial to _us_. What does he _really_ want from these people? "Nicolas," Marie whispered and motioned toward the door. She'd rescue them both from this endless boredom. As the pair moved toward the door, Janette glared at LaCroix. Was he going to do nothing? But LaCroix just smiled wickedly. Foolish Nicolas! He thought he could escape. Little did he know that he was playing right into LaCroix's hand. Every moment Nick spent with that woman, LaCroix laughed inwardly, the more temptation he felt. He couldn't control his instincts; he didn't have _that_ much willpower! Soon, LaCroix knew, he would have _his_ Nicolas again. All this nonsense about becoming mortal again would be over. * * * * "Nicolas? Are you all right?" Marie asked. She had known Nick only a short time but, still, she could tell that something was bothering him. Nick's brow creased. "Oh, it's nothing really." He turned toward the ocean and leaned on the metal guard rail. It was April 14, 1912, Sunday, about 10:00. The sky was clear and moonless but there were many stars. The ocean was calm but it was deep, dark and cold. A mirror of his soul. Nick turned to face Marie. Her long auburn hair was piled high on her head. She wore a long white gown, the kind that was in vogue at the time. She was elegant. She was young, innocent and full of hope-- everything Nicolas wished he could be, but knew he was not. Nick wanted to kiss her. He knew now that _she_ was the one he wanted to be with. But he had made the mistake of loving someone so perfect before... He knew he couldn't love her. He _wouldn't_ love her. It was too dangerous. For both of them. * * * * "LaCroix!" Janette hissed. They were alone, with the exception of a few other passengers. Most of the first class had gone to bed. "LaCroix, are you listening to me? What are you doing, letting Nicola parade around the ship with that mortal? You must know he is discontented! If you give him any reason, he will leave us." "Janette," LaCroix leaned close to her, his lips inches from her ear, "am I right in thinking that you are just a trifle jealous? Hummmm???" LaCroix snickered. Janette's eyebrows rose. "And you are not?" LaCroix leaned back on two legs of his chair. "Janette, Nicolas is alone with a mortal woman," he sighed, "he hasn't fed in hours. How long do you think he can last?" A smirk appeared on LaCroix's face. He was feeling rather pleased with himself. Janette was silent. Poor Nicola, she thought. LaCroix leaned back farther in his chair and began to laugh insanely. Had he read her thoughts? Janette wished she could push him over. * * * * "Nicolas, please," Marie moved closer. "What is the matter? Please, if I can, let me help you." She wrapped her arms around his waist. His back was turned to her. "No!" he hissed. He could feel the monster rising inside him. It needed to feed. Marie withdrew, frightened. "I'm sorry," she whispered and started for her cabin. Nick was sure she was crying. "Damn it!" he cursed himself. Why could it never work? If only he had known it would be like this! He would never have agreed, never have taken LaCroix up on his offer. Nicolas looked out over the ocean. It was getting cold. He knew they were somewhere in the North Atlantic and such weather was too be expected. He looked over the huge ship. She was beautiful; her four majestic smokestacks seemed to reach the sky. She was one of the fastest in the world and upon this, her maiden voyage, she was the biggest. Nick began to walk back toward his cabin but then he remembered that LaCroix would be there. He stopped and turned in the other direction. Suddenly there was a jolt. Not a huge one, but it was enough to knock Nick off balance. Something was wrong; the ship was stopping. He started, at a run, toward the bridge. On his way he saw a group of men--engineers at the look of it. They seemed wary and concerned. What was the matter? The men headed below deck. "What is going on?" Nicolas asked as he entered the bridge. Captain Smith turned toward him. "Wrong? What do you mean" he smiled. "There is nothing wrong." He was lying. "We've got everything under control," he added. "Captain," Nick said, looking him in the eyes. He could hear Smith's heart beating. "What is going on here?" Nicolas asked slowly, using his hypnotic powers. "What is..?" the captain looked bewildered. "The ship has collided with an iceberg. There is a gash in our hull. Water is flooding in faster than we can pump it out. We are sinking." "Sinking! What, are you not going to tell anyone?" Nick shouted. "Sir, there are thousands of people on this ship. I don't want a panic, and, yes, some are going to die," the captain said calmly. Nicolas couldn't help but admire his bravery. "Now, I _am_ going to make an announcement. I suggest you go to your cabin and wait there." Nick nodded and left the bridge. He couldn't believe what was happening. This was supposed to be the safest ship in the water-- unsinkable. Nicolas was in shock, but not for long. He couldn't be. He was immortal, but Marie was not. he had to find her, and quickly. * * * * Nick knocked sharply on the cabin door. "Where is Marie?" he asked as her father opened the door. "Marie? I thought she was with you," he said with disdain. Nick's senses reeled. "Get your things together," he said urgently. "This ship is sinking!" "Sinking!" Marie's father boomed. "Where is my daughter?!" "Don't worry; get your things together. The Captain will make an announcement. Do what he says. I will find Marie," Nicolas instructed. "But..." "No buts.." he said sternly and quickly walked down the hall. He _had_ to find her. Where could she be?" "Nicolas," he heard a voice call from behind him. It was LaCroix. "Did I hear that our ship is sinking?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Where is your ladyfriend?" he said pointedly. Nick scowled. "If you have done anything to her.." "No. No," LaCroix smiled. He found all of this amusing. "But Nicolas, you'd better find her soon, after all..." he clicked his tongue, "...well, it would be a shame." Nick hissed venomously. "Nicolas," LaCroix said harshly, "forget the mortal! Come with us." Janette appeared at the other end of the hall. She beckoned to him. "No! No more!" he said, angrily and brushed past LaCroix. "I don't need you and I don't want you!" * * * * "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" Marie whispered as she looked around for a way out. She had seen the engineers and her incurable curiosity peaked. She had followed them down, deep into the heart of the ship and had lost her way amongst the many pipes and valves. She cursed herself. The water was rushing in very quickly and if she didn't get out she'd drown! It was such a stupid thing to do! Then her arm brushed against something cold and hard. Metal. It was a ladder. Perhaps it would lead out of here or at least to somewhere drier. "Good!" she thought and began her assent. * * * * The first and second class passengers had already begun to gather on the deck. It was nearly 12:30 now, and water rushed even fasted into the ship. "I have _got_ to find her!" Nick thought frantically. "Where is she?" He became quiet and listened ever so carefully. ...There! There it was! Her heart... he could hear it. Perhaps being a vampire wasn't so bad... "Don't worry," he said, determination shining in his eyes, "I'll save you." * * * * Marie sighed. There was no way out. She had climbed the ladder and taken the long catwalk it was connected to, but to no avail. It seemed to just go on forever. All the rooms in engineering looked the same--just a bunch of metal and pipes. "I'm going to die," she whispered. Then she heard footsteps! "Help!" she screamed. "Please help me!" "Marie?" a voice called back. "Marie?!" It was Nick. "Nicolas!" she smiled as he emerged from the shadows. "I knew you would rescue me!" Nick had almost reached her when he felt another presence, behind him. He whirled around. "LaCroix!" "Nicolas..." his eyes shown yellow and his fangs gleamed white when he spoke. "Forget the woman and come with me. We can escape together!" "Marie, run in the other direction!" Nick hissed, motioning down the catwalk in the direction from which she had come. "Nick, there's no way out down there," she protested. "I know--just go! He'll kill you if you don't!" "But Nick, what about you?" "Damn it, go!" he yelled, his eyes now yellow too. Marie obeyed and ran in the opposite direction. "Nicolas, if you don't come with me, like a good son, I'll have to take you by force." LaCroix tried to smile but it looked evil and warped as his fangs dug into his lower lip. "Just try," Nick hissed. He too had a twisted smile on his face. LaCroix came at Nick, tearing into the flesh of his pale right wrist. As they both struggled, the catwalk began to weave and sway. Then they heard a loud scream and a splash. "No!" Nick yelled as he threw LaCroix against a bulkhead. He ran to the spot where Marie had been standing. "Marie!" he called as he searched the water below. The engine room was almost entirely filled with water now. "No," he whispered, as he tore off his black dinner jacket. "Nicolas," LaCroix hissed. A river of blood streamed from his lip. "Don't do it!" "Go to Hell, LaCroix!" Nick shouted as he dove into the deep black water. * * * * Nick sighed. He was cold and wet, but Marie was alive. They were both safely in a lifeboat and they watched as the grand ship sank. Nicolas hadn't seen LaCroix since he had made the dive into the water. He didn't much care. Yes, he was sure of it now. He would continue on to New York and, with luck, never see LaCroix again. He was free. But there were many others who were not. The ship was almost completely submerged now and practically vertical. Most of the passengers and crew did not get off in time. There were too few life boats. This would be their watery grave, and in this grave Nick wished to bury more than a lifetime or torment. He watched sadly as the last bit of the ship sank into the ocean. On its bow in bold yellow lettering was the name: "Titanic." ------------------------- The End.