Part Six
 

Mark paced the lab with enthusiastic anticipation, only three days before he
and Natalie would be husband and wife.  The thought of her being with him
forever made him beam with pride.  The only obstacle was Natalie's condition.
He had spent last night checking and re-checking his results of her blood over
the last year.  There was no doubt about it, her one original unique
nucleotide had divided several times, and they in turn were reproducing
themselves.  At the rate they were developing, it was possible that she could
have the same number of foreign cells as his Jane Doe that still lied lifeless
in his back room.  Calculating the rate of cell division, he estimated that in
less than four years Natalie and the Jane Doe would have a genetic strand that
was identical.  However, there was no time to dwell on the future now.  The
last few days he had spent gathering information on Nick Knight's
short-recorded Toronto career.  He had spoken to the information officer and
had learned that there had only been records for him dating back to 1992, and
that mysteriously an entire lifetime of records showed up in her files a short
time later.  Mark picked up the top card from a pile of blank index cards and
wrote 'NO RECORDS BEFORE 1992.' When he had visited with Captain Stonetree at
Knight's first precinct he had mentioned how Knight had not only asked to work
solo, but to only work at night because of a skin condition.  Another card was
pulled from the pile and he wrote, 'NIGHT SHIFT DUE TO CONDITION.' There were
so many details to sift through about Knight.  Others at his old precinct
laughed as they told stories of how the perks would say that knight had
swooped down on them from the sky.  There were many reports from those who saw
him in action of how he seemed fearless in the heat of gunfire.  Two more
cards left the blank pile and on them he wrote, 'SWOOP DOWN- (FLY)' and
'INVINCIBLE-NO FEAR OF BULLETS.'

Later when he had gone to the 96th precinct there were many stories about how
Knight had been falsely accused of murder, and how the M.E. had accidentally
made matters worse when she switched Knight's sample with the killer's sample.
Then everyone wanted to tell him the story about when he was charged how they
had searched his apartment and found bottles of cow's blood in his
refrigerator.  Picking up yet another two cards he scrolled the words 'COW
BLOOD' on one, and 'FALSIFYING DNA RESULTS FOR KNIGHT' on the other.  He
thought about all his conversations and recalled the reports of his incredible
strength and speed.  In addition, there was the joke that circulated around
the precinct that he never ate not even the stereotypical donuts.  Three more
cards were retrieved and he wrote, 'SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH,' 'UNCANNY SPEED,'
and 'NEVER SEEN EATING.' But of all the stories that had been related to him,
the most intriguing was the one that Captain Reese had told him.  Joe Reese
had still never gotten over the shock he had the time Knight had been
pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot in the head.  Then
miraculously, after Natalie had insisted on seeing him, he made a complete
recovery.  Removing one last card he wrote, RESURRECT FROM THE DEAD.

Gathering all the cards he had laid haphazardly over his worktable, he picked
up a box of thumbtacks and began to place the cards in a vertical line on his
bulletin board.  Stepping back, he looked over the list and read the words out
loud.

1.  NO RECORDS BEFORE 1992,

2.  NIGHTSHIFT DUE TO CONDITION,

3.  SWOOP DOWN (FLY),

4.  INVINCIBLE-NO FEAR OF BULLETS,

5.  COW BLOOD,

6.  FALSIFYING DNA RESULTS FOR KNIGHT,

7.  SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH,

8.  UNCANNY SPEED,

9.  NEVER SEEN EATING,

10.  RESURRECT FROM THE DEAD.

Mark read the list and laughed out loud.  The clues looked as if he were
reading about a vampire.  Suddenly he recalled the two holes on the side of
Natalie's neck, and the Jane Doe that lay untouched by time or elements in his
back room.  He thought of Natalie's unnatural fear of the light, and his
skeptical smile faded.  Vampires!  He was dealing with vampires.  Desperately
he searched the board again, trying to find some other explanation.  There had
to be another possibility.  Vampires didn't exist they were only a myth, and
he was a respected scientist in the community.  Overwhelmed by these new
unprecedented invading thoughts, he paced his floor and rubbed at his head.
Again he went back to the board and looked at the clues he had pinned up.
Repeatedly he read them then re-read them.  "Fear of light, bottles of blood,
flying, supernatural speed and strength, resurrection from the dead!  NO!"  He
could never accept this, it would mean an end to everything he knew to be
principled, systematized, and factual.  Years of study and dedication he had
spent to only accept facts, not mythological creatures that drank blood and
roamed the night.  He had taken an oath to be professional, and this was
insane.  He stopped his pacing.  Wasn't it more crazy to deny what he saw?  A
body with a genetic structure that matches no other human on Earth except for
what Nick Knight once had and what Natalie was surely becoming.  This is what
cannot be denied!  These were facts, not fantasy.  Sometimes even a scientist
must open his mind to possibilities outside the realm of the laws of nature.
This was one of those times.  A vampire lay in his lab, Knight was one too but
now is not, and his wife to be was taking on their characteristics.  He moved
into his back room to view what he now knew had to be a vampire.  With an
unending supply of samples from her, he could work for a cure for his fiancée.
Through science, he would save her, just as she had saved Knight.  This would
be his eternal gift to her, proof of his undying love.  No matter what it
would take, he would rid her of this demonic possession.  Self consciously, he
looked over his shoulder, then moved back to the board, and ripped the index
cards from their places.  Carrying them to the small metal wastebasket near
his sink, he picked up a Bunsen burner and let its flame touch the rumpled
paper cards.  In only a second, the fire went from blazing hot to a smoldering
pile of black ash.

                                   --------

"Love is no more than a game, gentle listeners.  A child's game of hide and
seek of the heart.  We close our eyes counting down to the moment when it will
be time to turn around and face the world.  Then blindly, with our eyes wide
open, we search out our heart's desire.  Leave the game to the children.  Love
is an illusion; it is not out there to be found.  Unless you can find love in
an illusion, you will never obtain what you are looking for.  If you foolishly
believe that you will be different and that you can capture this illusive of
feelings, then you will suffer the additional agony of watching your mirage
dissolve within your grasp.

Nothing weakens us more than love; it makes pathetic fools of us.  It is time
that we start celebrating anniversaries of time spent without love.  Now this
would be a milestone worth commemorating.  And as each year without love
passes, we would observe the date with festivities.

Do not seek out love, leave the amusing pastime for the children.  Cling to
what is real and lasting.  Love is only a dream that rapidly fades when
reality brings us to our senses.

If it were love that you sought, wouldn't you have obtained it after all these
years?  Let go of these ancient stirrings within you.  Free yourself from this
prison you run to possess, and take your place among the Gods."

Nick turned off the radio as he pulled the Caddy into the hotel's driveway,
then got out to hand his keys to the valet parking attendant.  Over and over
he had debated to himself about coming to Nat's wedding.  However, this was
too important to miss.  This was one more step on her way back to a normal
mortal life.  This was what he had traded away his mortality for.  But a doubt
still nagged at him.  How mortal was she?  He may have been overly sensitive,
but he found it strange that the entire ceremony and reception was being held
at the hotel instead of a church.  Shaking his head, he tried to dismiss the
notion that she might subconsciously be avoiding holy places with sacred
objects.  There was no telling how affected she was from there near fatal
encounter.  The light sensitivity could be all there was to it, or she could
be as affected as a vampire hunter and be unaware of it.

Finding the hotel's elevator, he pressed the button to go up and pulled a
small box from his pocket that contained a gold cross.  He had purchased it
for Nat during her recovery, but had later decided against visiting.  If she
would accept it as something new for her to wear at her ceremony, he could
access how deeply consumed she was with the vampire virus.

After getting off on the proper floor, and inquiring about the bride's
location, he walked to a small room that was off to the side.  As he was about
to knock on the door, a young lady of teenage years dressed in a long formal
gown rushed out of the door and into him.  He had to move quickly to keep her
from falling, and as soon as she caught her breath, she looked up at him.

"I know you.  You were at the hospital when my Dad was dying."

Smiling, he took her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss.  "I remember you
too, Amy. You have grown up so much since then.  You are a young woman
already."  As she blushed, he pointed towards the bride's dressing room "Is
your Aunt Natalie in there?"

"Yeah, she's in there, but she's kinda nervous.  She's all dressed and
everything so you can go in and see her if you want to."

"Thank you Amy. I'll see you later.  Will you save a dance for me?"

Blushing an even darker shade of red, she giggled.  "I don't know how to do
the dances at weddings.  Anyway you're too old for me."

Nick's smile increased as he placed his hands over his heart.  "You would not
hurt my feelings by having the prettiest girl at this place turn me down?"

Almost taking his act seriously, she began to think of what to say.  "No, I
wouldn't want to do that.  Anyway, it might not be too bad to dance with you.
Aunt Natalie used to say that you were cute and kinda cool too.  Ok, I'll see
you later for that dance."

Watching her leave to join the others in the wedding procession, he smiled.
Not only because of the wonderful way in which Amy had matured, but also
because of how good he felt inside.  Nat had actually told others how she had
felt about him.  Why had he taken her feelings for him for granted?  With
Amy's disappearance into the group of other regally dressed guests, he turned
to knock lightly on the door.

A muffled voice drifted through the closed door.  "Come in."

Turning the brass knob, he pulled open the door and saw her standing before a
full-length tri-fold mirror.  Now, with this vision, he was sure that he had
seen an angel.  With her veil on, white lace flowed from the top of her dark
wavy hair to the floor.  Her cheeks were blushed bright red with excitement,
and she took in several breaths to calm herself.  Seeing his reflection, she
smiled and turned to greet him.

"I'm so glad you could make it!"  She took in another nervous breath.  "Do I
look okay?"

Looking into her waiting eyes so full of hope, he was speechless for a moment.
And when his voice came back to him, he could not hold back his thoughts.
"There has never existed a more beautiful woman in all of time that could hold
a candle to your radiance."

"You make it sound as if you were actually there to bear witness to all the
beautiful woman in time.  Thank you, I may never get my head out of the clouds
again."

Trying to pull his thoughts from her dazzling splendor, he changed the
subject.

"It is acceptable that I am in here?  It's not bad luck or anything to see the
bride before the wedding is it?"

She smiled, "Only if you're the groom."

"I just saw Amy on my way in here.  She looks so grown up."

"I didn't know that that you ever met my niece.  Yes, Sarah's done very well
raising her all alone."  Tears began to fill her eyes and threatened to
overflow as she continued.  "I wish Richard could have been here now to see
her."

"Your brother was a good man.  I know that he watches over her every day, and
he's here with you now.  You know he wouldn't miss his big sister's special
day."

Grabbing a tissue, she sniffed as she dabbed at her eyes so as not to smear
her make-up then looked back at him.  "Did I tell you how happy I am that you
came?"

He nodded then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box,
which he held out to her.  "This is for you.  It is something new for you to
wear on your wedding day."

Moving to within a half meter of him, she gently slid the box from his hand
and opened the velvet lid.  "It's beautiful, but you shouldn't have gone to
this expense especially after your generous gift."

"This is just for you on your special day.  Let me help you put it on."
Removing the golden religious symbol from the box, he opened the clasp and
moved behind her.  Gently, he placed the delicate chain around her neck.  But
as she moved her hair to assist him, his eyes immediately became drawn to the
two round scars on the side of her neck.  Anguish over his past threatened to
flood him, but he was able to continue without faltering.  After she felt the
clasp lock into place, she turned back towards him with the sounds of her
full-length gown sweeping around her.  "What do you think?"

"I think that your brilliance outshines the gold."

Excitement enveloped her, and she enthusiastically hugged then kissed him on
the cheek.  Realizing that she may have been overzealous, she looked down
embarrassed.  Seeing her reaction, he gently placed his hand under her chin
and guided her face back up.  Then he tenderly smiled as their eyes met, and
leaned towards her as she closed her eyes and waited for their lips to meet.
With the first brush of their lips, a knock on the door startled them apart.
And as if waking from a spell, Nat left him disappointed as she went to open
the door.  The florist nodded to Nick as he handed Nat a rose filled bouquet,
and then reminded her that she had to be ready in five minutes.  Seeing the
florist leave, he also moved to leave, catching the door before she had a
chance to re-close it.  "Have a wonderful life doctor."

Nat called out after him, "Thank you...thank you for everything."  He stopped,
silently nodded to her, then walked into the hall where the bridesmaids and
ushers were lining up for their walk down the aisle.

Slowly Nat closed the door as she watched him disappear into the room where
the wedding would soon take place.  Moving to the other side of the room, she
took one final glance at herself in the mirror.  Everything was perfect,
everything was ready-except her.  If she only had a bit more courage, she
would be racing for the door to catch the first taxi home.  But Mark would be
so hurt.  How could she ever disappoint him after all he had done for her?
And she did love him; there was just this one part of her that still remained
somewhere else.  This was the part that would not allow Mark in.  She knew of
this place.  It was the place where true love existed.  How sad that she would
never be there to experience it.  Looking into the mirror, she watched the
golden cross glimmer against her white gown with each breath that she took.
It was beautiful, but it felt like a ten-ton weight choking at her neck.
Reaching up, she firmly grasped the chain, ripped it off her neck, and threw
it across the room.  She breathed out a sigh of relief as she happily released
herself from its burning pressure.  Then not even realizing her own actions,
she headed out the door.
 

End Part Six

Back to Part Five! / Onto Part Seven!