Part 12
 

The drive back from the Hospital had been quiet, more than quiet, the
silence had been deafening.  Now, as they moved upwards towards the loft,
the silence seemed to stretch out as Orah leaned heavily against the
elevator's side wall. As they came to a stop, the door glided open, and his
guest glanced out into the darkened room.  Silently admonishing himself for
forgetting to leave on some lights, he rushed to move ahead to add some
lighting for his mortal visitor.  As he went to turn on some light to help
her see her way, she continued to walk into the room.

"Let me get some light for you."

"For me Detective?  Don't you need the light?"

"Yes, I do, more than I think you know."

"But I do know.  You have very little light, yet your eyes burn with it.
You live in darkness, and your soul is drowning in its endless void."

Fascinated by her insight, he felt a sudden chill and instantly became
uncomfortable.  Without a further word about how effortlessly she had summed
up his condition, he went to help her remove her coat then motioned for her
to have a seat.  When he had turned on all the remaining lights and lit
several candles, he went to sit down on the black leather chair near the
sofa where she was now comfortably seated.  An awkward silence grew as he
felt she was waiting for him to respond to her last comments, and he felt an
urgency to divert her attention to something other than himself.

"Can I get something for you?  Some coffee?"

An unsettling "No," was her only response.  Trying to avoid her haunting
stare, he began to feel as if the room was closing in on him.  As hard as he
tried, he could not think of one word to say to her, and he turned his head
to concentrate on the snow that fell outside the loft's window.  While
watching the blowing snow streak across the glass, their lure gradually
faded into the background as the weight of the silence between them felt as
if it were crushing his soul.  Finally, unable to ignore his imagined
scrutiny from her, he abruptly stood up and began to cross the room.  With
his first step she called to him.

"You want to ask me something.  Go ahead, I will answer you with truth."

Her words stunned and stopped him, then compelled him to turn back towards
her.  Spellbound, he could no longer restrain his curiosity.

"What do you see when you look at me?  Is there only evil?"

"What I see is a conflict.  What I feel is a shadowy void and you are caught
there, a prisoner.  It is a cold and frightening place.  But, when I look
into your eyes, I see a soul that is struggling to survive."  Painfully, she
squinted her eyes and a single tear rolled down her cheek.  "I see your soul
Detective, but it is vague.  It is almost lost, and trying to escape even
though the darkness fights to obscure it."

"Orah, do you remember when the car almost hit you?  What happened when you
looked into my eyes?"

"I cannot remember, I am sorry.  No, wait, I do remember pain-your pain.
There was intense heat and then there was blackness.  Your eyes were on
fire! I hurt you!"

"I do not know what happened then, but I am fine now."

"Your eyes, of course.  The eyes are the windows to the soul.  When you
tried to reach in and capture my soul, there was an explosion.  Something
forceful and uncontrollable happened.  Please never attempt that again, it
is too dangerous."  Rising from the sofa, she reached out to him.  "You are
in great emotional pain.  Let me touch you.  Let me try to take away your
pain."

Defensively, he drew back.

"No!  Just as our eyes cannot meet again, so can we never touch.  I would
only contaminate you with my evil."

Not knowing how to help him, she patiently studied him.

"You are afraid, but not of me.  You are afraid of yourself, frightened that
you will not be able to control your desires.  Terrified that you will kill
me."

Finding her analysis of him to be getting too close, he wearily turned to
walk away, hoping that she would drop this dangerous conversation.

"I have some work to do.  I will not allow any harm to come to you.  There
is nothing more for us to discuss."

Making himself empty of any human emotion, he coldly hardened himself and
moved towards the kitchen until her next words struck him.

"I know what you are now."

Without turning to face her, he stopped as she continued.

"Inside you there struggles a creature that thrives on other's misfortunes.
It flourishes on blood."  Moving towards him, she walked around to face him,
then reached over and placed her arm on his.  The action caused her to fall
to the ground, but he was afraid to reach for her, fearful of what his touch
would do.  Shaking, she stood herself upright again, then returned her hand
to the same spot.  Breathing deeply, she tightly closed her eyes and threw
back her head.  After a moment, she backed a few steps away and looked at
him.

"Two of you are united in one body.  The animal that lives inside of you
fights to live as much as your soul thrives to grow.  I feel no evil, even
of the beast, it only wishes to survive, just as your human soul wants to
endure. It is not evil to wish to persist, it is natural for both the animal
and the human soul.  The animal has caused tremendous suffering, for its
acts of survival mean that the innocent must perish.  It has left darkness
in its path.  It is this darkness that your soul exists in.  The blackness
is great, it surrounds the soul and leaves it no escape.  It is cut off from
all means of release."

Turning away from her, he spoke harshly.

"Then there is not anything that you can do to remedy my condition."

Deliberately she reached out to him, her touch singed his cheek as she
guided his face towards her.

"I want to help you, to stop your suffering.  Let me try again."

"Save your gift for someone more deserving, it is too late for me."

"Then you believe that I can help you.  You have faith don't you?"

In one swift movement he twisted his head so that her hand fell free of his
face, and then permitted the wickedness of the beast to answer her.

"Yes, I believe you can help me out of this eternal nightmare, but it is not
your faith that I require."

Noticing the red silhouette scorch mark that her hand had deposited on his
cheek from her touch, she now comprehended the form her assistance would
have to take.

"No, it is not my faith, it is my blood.  You need my blood."

Perplexed by her calmness and intrigued by her courage, he allowed the
conversation to move forward.

"You do not seem frightened by this idea.  Why does your heart not pound
with fear?"

"I understand that I have been placed on this Earth for a reason, but I do
not know what that reason is.  If I have been given this gift of life and of
healing to help, then why can the help not be for you?"

Certain that she had no concept of the extent to which her life was in
danger, he made every effort to frighten her into reality by striking out
with an angry voice.

"WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR LIFE!"

Without even flinching, her statement to him was firm.

"Yes, my mortal life, not my eternal soul."

Holding back the depravity that presently wished to take advantage of her
willingness, he stepped closer to her.

"So you wish to sacrifice this life of yours for a killer?"

"No, I only wish to help.  I do not know what form my help will take."

Realizing that his attempts to have her change her resolve to help him had
failed, he pulled to regain the human part of himself.  Shaking his head in
disbelief of her offering to forgo her life, he gallantly placed a hand
around each of her arms.

"You will not die because of me.  I will have no part in taking your
goodness from this world."

Neither took a breath as they intently stared at each other, until the sound
of the elevator's door loudly opening broke the tension.  Both of their
attention shifted across the room as they watched Schanke walk in and throw
his coat down on a chair.  A wide grin flashed across Schanke's face as he
acknowledged the scene before him.

"Can't keep your hands off her, hey Knight."  Then lessening his smile, he
shifted his focus to Orah.  "Is this guy bothering you?"

With his partner moving towards him, Nick released his grip of the healer
and defended his actions.

"There was nothing going on Schanke"

"Okay, I'm not here to argue.  Captain Cohen said I'm supposed to relieve
you for a couple of hours.  So I'll hold down the fort so you can get some
real police business done."

Thinking about his newly arrived partner's offer, he acknowledged that there
was an important issue that had to be taken care of, and it had to be soon.

"There is something I need to do.  You will be all right here?"

"No problem.  One thing though before you leave.  We had a chance to talk
with the other body guard.  What's his name?"

Taking a step towards Schanke, she volunteered his name.  "Marty Gilbert."

"Yeah Gilbert, that's the name.  Anyway, he said about two weeks ago in
Buffalo there was this accident in front of the building where you were
performing.  A girl was killed when a car lost control, and crashed into the
crowd that was waiting to see you.  He said that in a lot of ways what
happened last night reminded him of that.  Also, he said it was about a week
ago that they started receiving the threats."

With her breathing rapidly increasing, Orah held an open hand to her mouth.

"What accident?  A child died?"

"Yeah, he said that they didn't tell you.  They didn't want to upset you
before the show.  So they really never told you, huh?"

"I could have helped."

Sorry that he had brought it up so casually after witnessing her reaction,
he tried to soften the blow.

"They did everything that could have been done, but she was too far gone and
died at the scene."

Looking as if she had just aged fifty years, Orah moved silently back to the
sofa, and Schanke looked apologetically at his partner.  The room grew
quieter, and Schanke eagerly grasped to change the subject while gesturing
for Nick to play along.

"So Knight, got any pretzels or popcorn?  I saw that there is a good western
playing on the late show.  You know one of those John Wayne ones?"

"I don't know, look in the cabinets.  Natalie might have left some popcorn
somewhere.  I'm going to go now, but I will leave my cell phone on."  Moving
towards the elevator, he picked up his coat on the way then turned back to
Schanke and in a hush tone whispered.  "I can trust you right?"

Irritated, he glared back.  "Yes, you can trust me.  Jeez Nick, I'm a
married man."

"And I want you to remain that way.  I'll be back soon."

After watching his partner hesitate by the door, Schanke threw Nick a short
annoyed wave good-bye, and pointed to the elevator.

"Good-bye Knight.  Go all ready.  Scram.  Vamoose!"

Smiling, Nick slid open the door then slipped inside.  While still holding
the door from closing, he forced his expression to become serious again.

"Remember, call me if anything happens."

"We will be fine" With another brief wave, Schanke turned to locate the
remote for the television but suddenly remembered something and twisted back
to his partner.  "Wait Nick!  If you pass that place where I always get
fries, pick up three bags.  Unless you guys want some too."  As Schanke
glanced over to Orah, she shook her head and he then directed his attention
back to Nick who also appeared disinterested.  Seeing the door start to
close Schanke rushed his words.  "Nick, don't forget the ketchup."  Nick
nodded, and Schanke retrieved the remote to turn on the TV as he mumbled out
loud.  "Can you believe that I had to ask for ketchup.  I never heard of a
house where there is not at least one bottle of that red stuff always in the
frig."

With the door closed, Nick looked down at his watch, and concentrated on how
he would break the news of his decision to not kill Orah to his brother.
Taking in a long breath, he slowly let it out and directed his concentration
towards a family reunion at the Raven.

End Part 12

He moved in and out of the shadows of the darkened suburban streets until he
located the isolated motel off the highway.  It was not an old building, but
it had not been kept up over the past decade and it did not look as if there
had been any recent attempts to update its condition.  Moving faster than
the human eye could see, he arrived at his destination and knocked softly on
the weathered door.  Patiently, he waited for the shaky and timid voice to
respond through the flimsy wooden door.

"Who is there?"

Noting her nervousness, he couldn't help but smile at the thought that she
believed herself to be secure behind a door so fragile that he could have
effortlessly pushed it over in his mortal days.  The Master vampire took a
deep breath as he pushed himself against his nature to act kind towards this
lowly mortal that under any other circumstances would have been his meal.
Holding back the vampire's desire, he forced his voice to sound gentle.

"May I speak with you, Mrs. Stiller?"

He was amused as he listened to the sound of the door's small metal chain
latch scrape across the wood as she prepared to open the door only as much
as the chain would allow to view her visitor.  Enduringly, he sighed as she
carefully exposed only a few inch crack while she looked still feeling
secure in her illusion of being protected.  The small vertical opening sent
a bright stream of light from the interior of the room over his pale
features and darkened clothing, and he squinted as he felt as though a
spotlight had been directed at him.  Trying to ignore the light, he
continued to put forth a non-threatening demeanor as he again spoke.

"May I come in Mrs. Stiller?"

Immediately, the door re-closed as he stood motionless outside listening to
the sounds of the woman fumbling to remove the chain lock from its bracket
until finally the door was fully opened and revealed a small woman of middle
age.  Sizing up her disheveled appearance, he knew that this one would only
be a meal during the most trying of times.  A terry cloth robe hung loosely
around her small frame and touched the floor even though she had tied the
belt around her waist with several inches overlapping.  With her dark sunken
in eyes and unkempt straggly hair, he tried to not act repulsed as he was
sure he had seen many a corpse that had looked more alive.  As he began to
step in, she positioned herself to the side so that he could easily enter
the run down room.  After closing the door behind him, she got her first
good look at her benefactor in the light and she shuttered.  Her body
quivered as she scanned the pale figure that stood before her.  Breathing
deeply, she tried to quiet her pounding heart as she felt his cold blue eyes
penetrating her.  Before she spoke, she swallowed hard.

"I didn't think that I would see you again.  I thought that you would be
angry with me for messing up."  Tears began to roll down her tired face as
she fell into an anguished cry.  "I killed the wrong one, I can't believe I
killed the wrong one!"

Bothered by her show of what he deemed to be her misplaced emotions and
desiring to get on with his agenda, he searched the room for a tissue for
her seemingly endless tears.  Emotionlessly, he pulled a tissue from a box
that stood on the table near the head of the bed and turned to hand it to
her.

"Why would I be angry?  It was an honest mistake after all."

Short gasps of air could be heard as she tried to breathe through her sobs.
Immediately she grabbed at the tissue to dry her eyes, then suspiciously
glanced up at him.

"Then why have you come back?"

"I only wanted you to know that I understand.  It is not as if this
miscalculation cannot be remedied."

"Do you really think that I could still take care of this?"

"Without a doubt.  Why I have every confidence in you."

For a moment, she seemed strong and once more in control, but then tears
again began to cloud her eyes.

"But what about that man?  He wasn't supposed to die.  How can I live with
what I've done?"

"Think of your daughter!  Think of Sylvia!  You know that the person
responsible must pay, and you are the only one who can see to that now.  It
is her memory that you must live with."

With these words, she became flooded with visions of her sweet little girl;
remembering her as a baby, and then as a toddler, and then a young girl.
She would never see her grow up, never know her as a teenager or young
woman.  So many nights she had cried herself to sleep while praying that her
daughter may be granted a miracle and be able to lead a normal life.  Orah
was to be that miracle.  She was to have given her a new beginning, not been
a part of an ending.  Life was so empty now without her, and she now knew
that she would have traded anything even her own life to have been able to
spend a few more days with her daughter, disability and all.  As a wave of
dizziness passed over her, she stumbled to sit down on the bed.  All she
could feel was the void that Sylvia had left, and the pain that more tears
brought.  With pleading eyes she stared up at the only one who would listen.

"Why did this have to happen to my little girl?  Wasn't the Cerebral Palsy
enough?  I only wanted her to be healthy again, I only wanted her to be like
other children.  Orah could have cured her.  She could have made her whole."

"Yes, she could have, but now Sylvia is dead.  Gone from all those who have
loved her-gone forever.  And did Orah even say how terrible she felt for
your loss?  Was there any mention that she would have your suffering end if
she could?  No, she never even acknowledged that Sylvia ever existed.  She
displays no remorse."

Hearing the vampire's words made her realize what must be done.  Her heart
felt hard and cold as she came to terms with what needed to be done for her
to have peace.

"You are right, I am the only one who can honor my daughter's memory now.
They would all let her die without a word.  They would all forget."

"Her death means nothing to them, it means nothing to Orah.  Her death was
not even an inconvenience.  This time, you must not miss.  I have brought
you something."

Reaching deeply into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a small black gun.
His cold hand reached for hers, and he carefully placed the weapon in her
palm then closed her fingers around it.  Then dropping a tightly sealed
package onto the bed next to her, he soothingly spoke, "Inside is everything
that is needed to gain access to the next show."  He watched as she slowly
opened the package to see a ticket from the sold out performance, and a few
items to disguise her appearance.  Searching her eyes to make certain that
she would follow through with this plan, he lowered his voice to almost a
whisper to capture her attention.

"Tomorrow evening will be Orah's last show here in Toronto.  You have a
front row seat.  If you are careful, you will not miss."

"I never shot a gun before.  The car was one thing, but a gun?"

"The car caused you to kill the wrong person.  Do you wish for that to
happen again?"

"No, I don't want that."

"If you take care of this tomorrow, your pain will be over, and Sylvia will
have not died in vain."

"I will not miss again.  I need this to be finally over."

"You *are* doing the right thing Mrs. Stiller."

"Thank you for all of your help.  You are the only one who cares.  Will I
see you again?"

"No, this is our last meeting, but I will be watching.  The time has come
for us all to get what we want."

Even though most of her tears had dried, she turned to get another tissue
and closed her eyes as she blew her nose.  As she finished, she opened her
eyes, but he was gone.  A cold breeze began to blow through the opened door,
and she moved to close it.  Shaking her head to clear it, she was astonished
at how fast he had left.  As she closed the door, she pushed the chain latch
back into its place, then went back to examine the loaded gun and the
disguise that lay next to them.

End Part 13

After being outside driving with the glare from the snow, even his eyes had
some trouble adjusting to the dim lighting of his sister's club.  The
flashing colors of light that were flung on the dancers from above, was done
only to effect the mood of the club and distracted rather than added any
extra illumination.  The music's beat felt more exuberant almost savage
tonight, and the dancer's movements were uninhibitedly more erotic as he
moved through the crowded refuge for his kind.  A few stray mortals had
unknowingly wandered into the vampire haven tonight, but for the most part
the building's occupants were those who endlessly roamed the night.
Allowing his heightened senses to emerge, he instantly became bombarded with
scores of vibrations that linked the members of their society.  But even
surrounded by so many others who were the undead, he had no trouble
distinguishing the unique link that he shared with his brother, and he
allowed the blood tie that stood out, to direct him to the bar.  As he
approached the bar, he now had no trouble recognizing by sight this new or
rather old family member.  But Roland's bond was not the only sensation that
called out to his perceptions.  Although he could not see her, he knew from
years of experience that his sister was not far off.  While he was searching
for family members, he ventured to locate their Master, but felt nothing of
him.  Deciding to not totally trust his senses, he also did a quick visual
scan for the Master vampire, but even that turned up nothing. Knowing that
his Father was not nearby caused him to involuntarily sigh in relief, but he
should have realized that LaCroix had not been by, for he could sense no
tension from his siblings.  Sliding onto one of the unoccupied bar stools,
he motioned for his brother to come close, and waited for him to get near
before speaking.

"Where's Janette?"

Smiling, Roland shook his head.

"And I thought that all those unpleasant rumors about your lack of
socialization skills were untrue.  I'm doing quite well brother, and you?"

"I am not here for polite conversation Roland."

"That's obvious.  Okay, we'll do this your way.  Janette went downstairs to
bring up some more of my favorite drink.  She will be right back.  Can I get
you something?"

"I'm fine.  Are you working here?"

"Yes!  How do you like that?  In town for only a week, and already I'm
gainfully employed.  Actually, I suggested to Janette that we let that poor
tired Miklos have the night off.  I am after all well versed in the art of
mixing drinks.  Being in the political limelight, I've had many
opportunities to acquire a wide range of skills.  Although with the few
mortals that are here tonight, there really is little chance to show off my
talents."

"We need to talk."

A sudden rush of excitement at the thought of being so close to his cure,
caused Roland to knock over the drink that he was preparing at the bar, and
he began to sweep the broken pieces of glass along with the spilled blood
into his hand.  Still overwhelmed with emotions he looked over at his
brother.

"I knew you would listen to reason, you only needed some time to think it
over to know that this is the only way.  I have acquired a second cup, and
everything will be ready as soon as I locate where your police friends have
hidden our savior.  You wouldn't be able to pull some strings would you?"

"Roland, we have to talk.....privately."

"Sorry brother, I did get carried away.  It has been so long, and to be so
close now...  Well, I guess I really don't have to explain this to you.  We
will talk.  We just have to wait until Janette returns.  In fact, I feel her
now."

Both looked to the side of the room as their sister glided behind the bar
carrying two dust covered bottles.  Smiling broadly, Roland withdrew one
from her hands and pulled the cork off to sniff its contents.

"Ah Janette, you do know what I like.  How have I made it through the years
without you?"

Following each of her movements, he watched as she placed the other bottle
on the bar, then leaned close to draw her near.  She offered no resistance
as he kissed her slowly and deeply.  An unexpected feeling of jealously
began to surface as he watched, and Nick turned away.  Feeling Nick's
emotions, the two parted and looked towards him.  With a satisfied grin, she
glanced at Nick then moved to place the other bottle under the bar.  Her
voice filled with sarcasm as she savored the taunted expression on his face.

"Bon Soir Nichola.  It has been so long since you last visited.  So I must
conjure up old family members in order to have the pleasure of your
company?"

Ignoring her attempts to criticize him, he rapidly changed the subject.

"Janette, is there a place where Roland and I can speak in private?"

Sighing, she pointed towards an area behind the bar.

"So it is true that even this visit is not for me.  Go and have your talk.
You should find it private enough back there."

Quite naturally, he leaned across the bar, and lightly kissed her lips.
"Thanks Janette."

Savoring his kiss, she licked her lips before raising her glass of bloodwine
for a sip.  Having her brothers showering her with attention was definitely
something she could get used to.  Turning, she watched as her brothers
disappeared through the crowded dance floor, and towards the Raven's back
room.

The difference in the level of volume of the music from the bar to the back
room of the same building was amazing.  Finding the door first, Nick reached
for the doorknob and walked in.  Since the room was unlighted, Nick ran his
hand near the door's frame until he felt the switch and turned on the
overhead lights.  Curiously, Roland watched Nick's actions as he closed the
door behind them.

"You can see in the dark, can't you Nichola?"

"I prefer to function as a mortal when I can."

"Good.  I didn't know how much LaCroix left out.  So tell me Nichola, do you
know where Orah is?"

"We cannot sacrifice her."

With his brother's words, anger ripped through him.  So much in his many
life times had surprised him, but this ethic code that his brother carried
did not make sense.  Trying to calm himself, he hoped that somehow he would
listen to reason.

"Nichola, do you know what you are saying?  Without her, we remain in this
immortal state forever.  I thought you wanted to be human.  I thought you
wanted your mortality back."

"I do want it back, but not at this cost."

"Cost?  Cost?  She is one mortal.  One mortal for two less vampires in the
world.  I would say the value in that far exceeds the cost."

"We gain nothing if we take another innocent life.  Our mortality would be
worthless.  It would be tainted."

"Our mortality would be worth everything!  It would mean the end of this
incessant hunger for blood, an end of existing in a world of darkness, and
an end to the killing.  A beating heart Nichola!  Do you remember what that
is like or has it been too long?  The sight and smell of food that does not
sicken.  To love a mortal woman without destroying her.  To dare to dream of
a family.  All this is within our reach.  How long have you dreamed of this
or dare I say prayed for this?  One drink of her sacrificed blood, and the
beast that has plagued us and all those who have been unfortunate to have
been near us, will be only a bad memory."

Squinting his eyes in pain, he knew that everything Roland had mentioned was
true.  He felt as if his brother had reached into his soul and easily read
his deepest desires.  This was not a decision that he had made in haste, it
was a difficult choice.  If there could be any other way, he would do it.
But he could not gain even this most precious of all treasures by destroying
another. As he looked into Roland's hurt eyes, he could feel his own heart
breaking at what he must continue to do.

"I cannot do this.  Her life is important too!"

"Then ask her!  That's right, I said to ask her.  Give her the facts.  Tell
her what she could do by offering her life to us.  She would not say
anything different than what I tell you now."

"I will not have her make such a choice."

Roland's eyes lit up, and he shook his head in amazement.

"She knows, doesn't she?  She has already offered to die for this cause.  It
is only you who holds us back.  Nichola, don't you see how wrong it would be
to let this opportunity evade us?  I know that you understand what I say to
be true.  Nichola......she knows too!"

"She knows nothing of what we are.  She only has good in her heart.  She
only wishes to help."

"Then let her!  Or do you know more than this holy one?  She will come to us
willingly.  Do not make this more difficult than it has to be.  Do not
Nichola!"

"I will not have any part of this murder.  That is what you propose.  It is
murder pure and simple, even with her consent."

"Can we at least speak with her?  Where is she Nichola?  You cannot hide her
forever.  Nothing will stop her performances."

"I will protect her from you and anyone else who wishes to harm her.  You
can not complete this ritual without me remember?"

"If I bring to you her blood in the cups, can you truly say that you would
not drink?  Would you let her death be without benefit?  So it is you who
now hides her.  My own brother is my worst enemy.  I will have her blood,
and you will drink or she will die in vain."

"You are not any better than LaCroix.  Life is meaningless to you."

"How dare you judge me!  You know nothing of me!  I was barely twenty years
old when I was brought across, how would I know of life?  How would you
know? Neither of us has had a life in centuries.  In all my years, I have
never witnessed any creature as pathetic as you.  You are a hypocrite,
professing to desire mortality then throwing it away out of some outdated
sense of righteousness."

The door burst open wide as Roland's last remark still hung in the air.
Their Master casually walked in glaring first at Roland than at Nicholas.
His voice almost hissed as he spoke.

"Yeeesss Nicholas, I quite agree that you do have an outdated sense of
righteousness!"

Contemptuously, Roland spoke up to grab his father's attention.

"Do not help me LaCroix!  I am not on your side!"

"Why Roland, you wound me."  In an instant his Master's fangs dropped into
place and his eyes burned red as he raced towards his first son and forced
him to collide into the wall.  "Now it is my turn to wound you!  This
conversation is finished!  You are finished!  I am about to make this
decision easy for you Nicholas!  With this one's death, there will no longer
exist this dilemma!"

Fearful to move, Nick called out.  "LaCroix, do not destroy him!"

"Isn't this what you wanted Nicholas?  I'm destroying evil!"

"You do not have to destroy him.  He is no threat to you!  I will not follow
him."

"Although you believe that all is about you Nicholas, you are mistaken!
This involves an old debt that is about to be repaid!  Stay out of this!
This is not of your concern!"

Not being far behind her Father after seeing him enter the Raven, Janette
was out of breath from anger and fear while following him to the back room.
As she stormed through the opened door her gaze was drawn to the horror of
LaCroix's violence towards Roland.  Angrily she crossed her arms and
shouted, "What is going on in my club?  I will not have this!  Let him down
LaCroix!"

Radiating hostility, her Master whirled to face her with her brother still
tightly clamped in his grip.  "He will be free of me soon enough!  He will
depart shortly!"

"LET HIM GO!  You will not hurt him in my place!  I have lived with the lie
that he was dead for all these centuries because of you.  You owe me
LaCroix! Let him down!"

She watched as her Father fought the impulse to destroy her older brother
before he finally let him fall heavily from his crushing hold.  A shudder,
from confronting LaCroix, shook her as she turned to Roland.

"Go, and do not ever return!"

While still choking and coughing, Roland looked at Janette with eyes filled
with sorrow, but she only turned away from him.  It hurt her to treat him
like this, but it was the only way she could save him from a certain death
at LaCroix's hands.  Every part of him shook as he regained his balance and
glanced over at Nick, and he saw that there was no reason to try and become
part of this group of vampires that was all he had of a family.  All of them
were against him.  It was only for Janette, that he remained alive.
Swallowing hard, he looked first at Janette and then at Nicholas before he
broke the silence of the room with his sarcastic tone.

"Well, this was a nice get together.  We should do this again.  Let's say in
another eight hundred years?"

With his head shaking from the pity of it all, he opened the door that led
back into the club and exited.  In an instant LaCroix moved to within inches
of Janette, his voice threatening and rising.  "NEVER TELL ME WHAT TO DO
AGAIN!  I OWE YOU NOTHING!  DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Taking a deep breath, she stepped back with her whispered voice shaking.

"Yes LaCroix."

With another step back, she again took a breath to calm herself, but did not
dare to look at him.  Composing himself, the Master vampire lowered his
voice to his daughter.  "Good, you can go back to your customers.  I will
speak with my son now."

Her eyes nervously shifted to Nicholas, who gave her a slight nod and a
reassuring smile.  Without a word she hurried from the room.  After watching
her close the door behind her, LaCroix turned to face his son and stood
silently studying him for several minutes before speaking.

"I cannot remember your sister being so insubordinate towards me.  Surely
Roland's short stay has produced her outrageous behavior.  I trust that I
will have no such outbursts from you.  I allowed her to live, I would not be
so generous with you."

"She only protected her brother."

"Yes, and if it were not so irritating, it would have been amusing.  And do
not refer to him as your brother again.  I disowned him almost eight hundred
years ago.  He is no son of mine."

"Why is it LaCroix that his existence has been withheld from me?"

"You had no need to know.  He only makes himself known at this time because
he needs you.  I will not have his bad influence on my children."

"He told me that my becoming a vampire was a result of him leaving you."

"Leaving me?  I allowed him his life in return for his guarantee to stay out
of my family's life forever.  When he returned, he gave up all claims to his
eternal life.  That would make you very important wouldn't it?  You were
worth risking his life for."

"He wishes you no harm."

"You are wrong Nicholas.  He is capable of unlimited harm, and he will
destroy you along with himself."

"Why can you not just let us live our own lives?"

"First you must be capable of such actions, and second you do not have your
life- I have it.  You own nothing.  You will not have any more contact with
the one called Roland.  Janette's little display was successful in granting
him a pardon, but if I discover any interaction from him with you, what you
witnessed just now will seem pleasant in comparison."

As his father turned to leave, Nick called out.  "You believe in this cure,
don't you?"

"I believe only in myself."

"Why LaCroix are you so bitter?"

"You mean why do I not have faith?  Faith, my dear Nicholas, is for the
weak. It offers me no comfort.  What has faith brought you?"

"I need to believe that there is a reason for everything I have seen and
everything that has happened."

"And if there is a reason?  Then what does that tell you?  That all the pain
that you have caused and have witnessed over the centuries is acceptable?
Has faith take away your ability to reason?"

"Then it is lack of faith that helps you?"

"Faith has nothing to offer me.  I control what happens to me, and to you."

"You cannot control my faith; is that what really bothers you about my
beliefs?  You are not in control LaCroix, you only believe yourself to be."

"You are wrong Nicholas!  Whether you live or die depends upon my whims.
Tell me, has this faith of yours made you happy?  Content?  You should know
by now that there are no answers, no solutions.  Stop destroying yourself in
this worthless pursuit of the unattainable."

"I still believe, LaCroix."

His Master's voice exploded into anger.  "Follow what you believe to be
faith, and you will end up with nothing.  Faith is nothing more than an
empty bottle that you believe to be filled.  Dream all you wish for it to be
full, but that will not change what it contains.  Stop clinging to this
bottle, for it contains nothing."

This time he watched as his Father turned to leave, and said nothing.  He
wanted to believe, he needed to believe.  Maybe LaCroix was right, or maybe
not.  He only knew that for him there had to be something more than merely
surviving, and there would always be a part of him which held his faith.
There was little he knew of faith, but the one thing that he did know
certainly had to frighten his Master.  Nothing could destroy evil but faith.
With his Father gone and his decision finally resolved, he pulled a chair
close to him and sat down.  This was not the first conversation on faith
that he had held with his Father, and most likely it would not be the last.
Faith was an issue that seemed to attract LaCroix.  It was a game to him,
almost like playing with fire.  Each time that his Father won, he acted as
though it made him stronger.  One day he would lose to faith.  One day he
would not be able to go against such a strong tide.  The Raven's room was
quiet, and his thoughts kept drifting back to Los Angeles and his families
last encounter with the faithful.

End Part 14

****** Flashback ******

The large dilapidated wooden barn was packed with those believing the cure
for all of humanities illnesses were held in one's faith.  The woman who had
started this diversion from Christianity had long since died.  But in the
forty years since her passing, hundreds of small congregations had spread
her message across the United States.  With his gaze taking in his
surroundings, LaCroix felt his senses quickening.  There were so many
inviting choices, but he really was in the mood for something extraordinary,
almost exotic for dinner tonight.  The crowd's chanting grew louder as they
whipped themselves into a frenzy of overzealousness.  As he allowed his eyes
to glide over all the tempting selections, a slight grin began to
unconsciously emerge.  Tonight was quite special for they would thoughtfully
provide a show before dinner with all their wild excitement.  A simple but
sturdy stage made from old slats of wood had been hastily built, and LaCroix
scanned the few who perched themselves on top to be seen by the crowd.  Even
though the founder of this religion had been female, it was the males who
had now taken over the higher positions.  As the Master vampire bided his
time, the youngest of the men on the platform stage picked up a broken board
and began to pound it against the side of the base of the platform as he
raised his voice to gather all the follower's attention.  As each became
aware of the young man's voice, a hush slowly took over and all that soon
remained was the echo of his voice throughout the barn.  The fiery sermon
began, and LaCroix smiled as he listened to the preacher's word as he leaned
against the barn door's opening. Perhaps this one so full of passion would
be the main course on the menu tonight.  The evangelist's words rang out
into the night, and were answered by the cries and cheers of all those who
had gathered.  With fervent emotions like his, this trip out to the country
for a good meal would have been worth the effort.  The preacher's utterances
faded into the background as LaCroix envisioned the pleasures that this meal
held in store for him.  The gratifying thoughts of this preacher's blood
caused the vampire to stir strongly within him, and almost diverted him from
the change of mood in the crowd.  The holy group had changed into an aroused
mob, and had begun to swarm out through the barn doors on their mission.
>From what little had had gathered during the brief moments he had listened
to the impassioned preacher, he knew that they were on their way to help
some unfortunate mortal who believed their combined faith would save him.
Moving further back, he allowed the enthusiastic crowd to pass until he
found himself almost behind the slotted opened door.  In his lustful
daydreams of his targeted meal, he had lost track of his intended victim and
desperately searched out the one special heartbeat as the group exited.
They had moved out so suddenly and so compactly that he had missed out on
any opportunity to ensnare his intended one.  Frustrated, he moved to follow
the mob when his attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of another
heartbeat, one with a softer and calmer rhythm.  A young girl most likely
not more than seventeen in mortal years had strayed from the group and was
headed his way.  Standing still, he watched her approach.  Her complexion
was still red from the feverish prayer session.  A breeze crossed his face,
and he breathed in the scent of the blood that reddened her cheeks.
Naively, she confidently walked up to him.

"Will you be joining us to help the boy?"

In an instant all thoughts of the preacher shifted to this young one.  The
aroma of her essence was one of the sweetest he had come across in years,
and his passions, to have all of her, roared to life.  He ran his long
fingers thoughtfully across his lips as he spoke to her.

"I'm afraid that I am not one of your group.  I was merely observing."

"We could use your help.  If you immerse yourself, you will find the
experience of us to be unforgettable."

"Yes. The thought did cross my mind.  You are so young.  Are you here by
yourself?"

"I am alone.  I joined only a few months ago.  My parents never understood
me, not even my faith.  So I left, and neither of us wish to keep in touch."

"They must miss you?"

"No, they were glad that I left.  They always said that I attracted a bad
element.  I'm sure that they would not care, if I live or die, as long as I
don't bother them.  But, we will talk later, let's catch up with the rest of
the group for now."

Moving closer to her, his eyes began to flicker with fragments of light, and
he allowed his voice to soothe her while she unknowingly surrendered her
will to the stranger.

"It is dark, young one, will you show me the way?"

While his stare deeply penetrated her, she allowed the sound of her heart to
be trapped by him.  Lifting his arm, he captured her chin and forced their
eyes to meet.  Using his other hand, he sensually pet her long silken hair
while a twist of a smile crossed his lips and she fell into his arms and lay
powerlessly against him.

"On second thought, why don't I show you the way?"

Taking her hand, they disappeared quietly into the dark of night far from
the crowd that had long since left their sight.

****** Flashback continued ******

A cool late evening breeze whipped around both him and Janette, but went
unnoticed.  The temperature of the air was always comfortable, but the wind
pushed against them as they lovingly held hands while strolling under the
eternal stars.  The stars, how he cherished their shimmering lights.  They,
like him, were eternal, always his companion throughout time.  No matter how
lonely he felt, they were always present with their comforting glow.
Perhaps his admiration for these celestial objects stemmed from his mortal
sister's fascination of them.  In a way, he could feel her love and his past
mortality when he gazed at the stars.  Somehow he could believe that it was
her love of life that reflected in the stars, and that still showered the
darkened skies. It was her soul, that through these stars, adorned his way
throughout time. Inhaling a breath of the country air that surrounded him,
he let its refreshing sweetness calm him.  It was easy to feel that he and
Janette were the only two in the world out here.  Out here, although he
dared to even think it, he felt alive.  Full of life, a cursed life that had
caused too much pain in the world.  Renewed images of the countless number
of lives that he had cut short saturated his thoughts.  How did he have any
right to feel good?  He was not worthy of all this goodness.  The only thing
that he deserved was the eternal damnation that awaited him at the time of
his death.  Of his fate, he was certain.  In this he had faith.  A sound
from a distant home, distracted him from his self-recriminations, and he
stopped to listen carefully.  It was obvious that Janette had heard it also,
for she had paused as well but then pulled in the opposite direction.  In
the far off distance, he was able to catch a glimpse of a soft glow of a
light in a window.  Unclenching hands with Janette, he raced through the
plowed fields trying to discover the source of what sounded to be a child in
distress.  Feeling frustrated and defeated by her lover's loss of interest,
she reluctantly followed.  Arriving seconds before his unhappy partner, he
began to wander around the small wooded structure.  His senses led him to a
broken window in the rear of the house. Stepping closer to the glass, he saw
the form of a young boy rolling in pain on his bed.  An older woman tried to
place a wet rag on his forehead through his thrashing.  The child had a high
fever, and he easily recognized all the mortal symptoms.  By the time
Janette had re-joined him, he again hurried away towards the front door
despite his sister's strong protests.  Knocking frantically caused the frail
door to swing open into the oil lamp lit room. Only a few sparse pieces of
furniture and a thread bare carpet decorated the room, and his eyes
immediately fell on a worn out man of his own mortal age who sat silently
reading.  The frantic entrance of the two strangers, did not effect the
man's concentration.  The book that he was focused on had seized all of the
man's attention as he rocked his body and mouthed the words. Disregarding
the man's lack of reaction to them, Nicholas bolted to the room where the
boy lay moaning while Janette lingered at the praying man's side. As she
inspected him, an undeniable urge began to surface.  It was long past dinner
time.  Moving around in front of him, she easily found his heavy heart and
gingerly pulled the book from his hands as he stood up.  Stepping along side
of him, she took his hand and both silently disappeared through the door.

The child's moaning was quieter now, but non-stop as Nick burst into the
narrow bedroom.  The moistened cloth fell from the woman's hand, and she
threw herself across her son's body shielding him from the stranger.  A look
of hurt passed over his face when he realized that she feared him.  Although
his intentions were to help, the woman had seen some of the glint of the
vampire that he had failed to hide in his haste.  Her eyes opened wide with
fear as he cautiously approached the mother and child.

"Let me look at your son.  I am a doctor, and he is very sick."

"He doesn't need a doctor.  My husband is praying for him and all the
members have gathered to make him well again."

"Listen to him suffer!  His fever is so high that he most likely does not
know who you are or even his own name."

"He will be cured.  If we all have faith then everything will work out for
the best."

"Please, let me look at him!  I will not administer any medicines."

Standing up, the woman moved to the side to retrieve a lantern at the far
end of the room and brought it near the bed.  Remembering to breathe, Nick
inhaled deeply then sat heavily on the bed.  Pushing past all the wet
linens, he found the boy face down gasping for air.  Rolling him onto his
back, he stiffened at the ghost-like pallor of a face twisted in agony.
Trying to push back the horror of the child's appearance, he reached to
touch his forehead.  Almost with pleasure the boy relished the touch of the
vampire's cold hand against his skin for a brief second.  Pulling back, Nick
began to slowly examine his body as the child writhed in agony.  Starting at
the young one's neck, he probed at every gland and organ that he suspected
might be affected.  Then suddenly, the mysterious affliction became very
apparent as he gently applied pressure to the child's lower right abdomen.
A scream exploded from the boy that even startled him, then the child began
to vomit and chock uncontrollably.  After a few more moments, the vomiting
stopped and Nick ran his hands down the boys face and tried to capture his
gaze.  The quivering child looked hard at him, but he was unsuccessful at
calming him through the hypnosis.  Turning his gaze to the boy's Mother, he
tried not to reflect his frustration in his voice.

"I know why your son is sick.  I have seen this before.  He can be helped,
but it would require surgery and it would need to be done now."

Twisting towards the dresser, she grabbed a book from the top and held it to
her chest as she spoke with tears in her eyes.

"This is what he needs!  Our faith will heal him!"

Rising slowly from the bed, he moved close to her and pulled the book from
her hands.  It was called the bible of Science and Health.  He had heard of
Mary Baker Eddy's work and how she believed that faith could heal because
disease was mental rather than physical.  But this case was different, the
boy had appendicitis that was about to burst and poison him.  Truthfully, he
was not even certain that at this point that it was not already too late.
But without surgical intervention, the boy's fate was sealed.  He would die
an agonizing death.  Holding the book out towards the Mother, his words
became strong and harsh.

"Your prayers will not save him!"

"The practitioner is on the way, and he brings all the others.  My reality,
my son's reality, and even yours are all spiritual.  No one truly exists on
only a physical plane!  Don't you understand?"

Although he understood probably better than anyone what life was like
existing without a soul in a purely physical state, he persisted in saving
her son.

"I understand that your son will die unless you let me help."

"Do you have faith?  Not everything is so simple to see.  Sometimes a person
must look beyond the obvious.  When I was a child, my Mother took me to hear
a magnificent musician.  Everyone who was there was captured by the melodies
wonders and pleasures.  None could resist dancing to the music's rhythm.
When everyone in the room was lost to the music's ecstasy, a deaf man
wandered in. I noticed that he could not see the musician who was surrounded
by the dancing people, and of course he could not hear the music.  I heard
him mumble that we were all insane because we danced wildly in the room, and
then he stormed away.  Since he could not experience the music, he felt it
not to exist.  I cannot prove to you how important it is to have faith and
to believe that there exists something in the beyond, but that doesn't mean
that it does not exist.  The deaf man could not hear the beautiful music,
but it did exist.  It is this faith that motivates us."

Feeling moved by her story, he stood silently as she slid the book from his
grasp and began to read.  Emotionally drained, he moved back to the moaning
boy.  Although he admired their faith, he could not accept it.  Their child
would die, a death that might have been preventable.  This was blind faith,
and a child would sacrifice his life tonight for it.  Staring into the boy's
glazed over eyes, he made one final attempt to at least hypnotize away the
intense pain.  There was no reason his faith had to mean that his life must
end in agony.  Summoning all of his vampire senses, he finally broke through
the boy's delirium, and the child drifted off into an undisturbed sleep.
Nicholas knew that this was a sleep from which he would never awaken.  At
least he would die in peace.

For the last time he wearily rose from the bed.  A rowdy crowd was
approaching.  They sang hymns as they entered and began to fill the house.
Backing towards the wall, he willed himself to look away as he quietly made
his way out.  Sadness swept over him when he reached the outside door.  He
felt lost in the depths of sorrow over the soon to be death of the boy and
over his own lack of faith.  Trying to gather some strength from the
Mother's story of the deaf man and the music, he jumped as his thoughts were
suddenly shattered by LaCroix's voice.

"Not paying attention Nicholas?  That is not wise for a vampire."

Quickly, Nicholas took in his surroundings.  He had already walked several
meters from the house and the crowds of the faithful ones.  Glancing over
his shoulder, Nick gave a grievous glance at what he left behind before
turning back to see Janette joining them.  A smirk crossed LaCroix's lips.

"They are all fools!"

Nicholas ignored his Master's comments and instead focused on his sister's
actions.  She looked almost intoxicated as she steadied herself against a
tree.  A satisfied half-laugh escaped her as she responded to her father's
comment.

"Fools they are, but they are delicious."

Sharply turning his head back towards the house, Nicholas realized that he
had left Janette with the boy's Father when he had rushed by him in his
haste to get to the child.  Without thinking he had left her alone with the
helpless man.  Turning his attention back to his sister, he cried out in
anger.

"NO!"

Enjoying his son's reaction, LaCroix moved close to him as he sarcastically
spoke.

"Well now Nicholas, it seems like you have your wish.  We have finally
undergone a truly fulfilling religious experience, and I for one am ready
for a long nap back in town."

Reaching for his daughter's hand, she graciously slid towards him then
reached out for her brother to join them, but he shook his head.  Seeing his
son's reaction, he allowed his gaze to penetrate him as he reminded his
offspring with a slight edge of a threat in his tone.

"You can stay for a while longer if you wish, but I will expect you to
return to us before sunrise.  Remember Nicholas, I can always find you."

Nicholas looked up as he watched LaCroix and Janette take off into the
darkened sky.  Their shadows moved across the path of the moon, but he
continued to stare at the large heavenly body, that did not burn him, long
after they passed.  Were these people fools to believe as LaCroix had
accused them?  Or was it more foolish to ridicule all hope?  Faith had great
power, of that he was certain.  If one day he had enough faith, then maybe
he would be able to attain his desire.  Pushing aside thoughts of what his
future would hold, his eyes shifted once again to the lighted house
surrounded by nothing but darkness.  Remembering his Father's words, he too
lifted himself into the sky.

End Part 15

As he waited for the door of his loft elevator to open, Nick was filled with
conflicting emotions.  Thoughts of what had just happened at the Raven and
his bygone memories of the others with faith consumed his thoughts, but he
had no time for such indulgences now, he had a beautiful faith healer to
protect. After he entered the elevator, he felt it rise and contentedly
listened to the two mortal heartbeats that beat safely in his loft.
Thankfully, Roland had not thought to look for Orah at his place, she was
safe for now.  But for how much longer?  There was no possibility of
protecting her forever, his brother was correct.  And if Roland would one
day locate her and ritualistically kill her for her blood, would he be
strong enough to resist his brother's offering for a mortal life?  To not
drink her blood after the deed was done, would really mean that she would
have died without any benefit or purpose.  It would not be what she would
want, she would desire that her death meant helping. Visions of his sibling
coming to him with the holy one's blood filling the two jade cups caused the
vampire to stir, and he was reminded that he had not yet fed tonight.  That
would have to be remedied soon, or he would be too much of a danger to his
guest.  What would become of her after he saw her safely out of Toronto?
Roland was still out there, and nothing except for LaCroix would stop him
from having his mortality.  Nothing would stop him from having Orah's blood.
  Shaking his head quickly, he tried to rid himself of the thoughts of what
would come after Orah's last show in the city.  Then with one final jolt,
the elevator came to a halt and the door slid open.  With his first step in,
a rush of panic and helplessness froze him in his tracks.  Hearing the
elevator door open, the two turned from their seats to look at him, then
Schanke began to rise and move towards him.

"You forgot the fries didn't you?"

Although his partner stood only a meter from him, his eyes were glued to the
other who rested comfortably on his sofa.  Unable to help but notice the
unblinking stare of his partner, Schanke moved behind Nick and slapped him
on the back.

"Nick, why didn't you ever tell me about your brother here?  You wouldn't
believe the stories that he has been telling me of the two of you growing
up."

"You are right Schank, I would not believe them."

Moving around to face Nick, he tried to break his partner's unwavering
piercing focus.

"You could have at least told me that you had relatives in town.  I always
though that you were alone."

Cautiously, Roland rose from the sofa and joined the two by the elevator.

"Please Donny, in all fairness to Nichola, he only recently found out I was
in town.  I'm afraid I'm a bit of an unexpected surprise."

As soon as Roland was within an arms distance away, Schanke moved between
the two brothers and placed an arm over each of their shoulders.  And with a
smile that stretched from ear to ear, he enthusiastically squeezed the three
of them together as he responded to Roland.

"Don't worry about it Roland.  I'm sure Nick here is thrilled to see you
after all these years.  How long did you say it's been?"

Feeling uncomfortably close to both Schanke and his brother, Nick pulled
away taking Schanke with him.  Understanding his brother's reaction, Roland
moved back to sit on the sofa as his brother whispered across the room to
his partner.

"Where's Orah?"

"She's fine Nick.  Take it easy.  She was tired, so I suggested that she go
up to your bedroom and get some rest."

"Don't you think that letting a stranger in here while we are watching
someone who is in protective custody is a poor idea?"

"Jeez Nick, we are talking about your brother!"

"I do not care who it is.  Another person knowing of Orah's whereabouts is a
threat to her security."

"Sorry Nick.  I didn't think that you would mind.  Anyway, he didn't see
her, she went upstairs before he came.  But he does know that she's here."

"I'm aware that he knows."

"Don't you trust him Nick?  Do you think that he had something to do with
that car that tried to kill Orah last night?"

"No, he was not involved with that, but I still have reservations about
him."

Ignoring Nick's suspicions, he gave his partner a slight push towards the
sofa and began to move towards Roland hoping his words would break their
tension.

"Boy Nick, to hear your brother here talk, you two sounded as if you had the
greatest time."

Distrustful of Roland's sudden friendship with his partner, Nick cautiously
moved towards them while glaring at Roland.

"Well that was a very long time ago, and sometimes things change.  Sometimes
even brothers do not see things the same way."

Nick took the chair near the sofa while his partner sat opposite Roland on
the sofa.  Schanke's eyes anxiously shifted from one brother to the other as
their silence stretched out.  And in his desperation to break their silence,
Schanke spoke up, hoping that at least one of them would answer a question
that had been nagging him since he met Roland.

"You know, you two look nothing alike.  It is hard to see the family
resemblance."

His partner's words caused him to break his penetrating glare of his brother
and turn his head towards Schanke.

"We were adopted."

"Wow!  Both of you huh?  Must have been some nice guy to have taken both of
you in."

Almost before he had finished his sentence he had two incredulous
expressions from both brothers staring at him.  "What!  What did I say?"

A tense laugh suddenly escaped from Roland, and he relaxed.

"It is quite a long story Donny.  One I'm sure that Nichola here will be
most happy to tell you one day.  Maybe during one of those long boring
stakeouts."

Schanke's eyes lit up.  "You call him Nichola too.  Just like Janette down
at the Raven."

"Yes, well, we are from the same part of the world."  Shifting his attention
back towards his brother, he continued.  "So Nichola, Donny here was telling
me of all the people you have saved.  And I must say that I am quite
impressed with all the good work that my brother is doing."

"Yes, that is my job.  I protect and help people to live."

"An extremely honorable profession.  It must be incredibly satisfying to
bring killers to justice.  Yes, certainly a tremendously *redeeming*
experience. You are quite the hero, brother.  Unselfishly putting yourself
in mortal danger, performing one humane act after another, and now
protecting the life of such an exquisite creature.  An honorable knight you
truly are indeed."

Listening to all of Roland's praises of Nick stirred a bit of jealousy in
Schanke, and he interrupted.

"Well you know Roland, I was there for all those arrests too.  I helped
bring down my fair share of scumbags.  We are a team."

"Of course Donny!  I didn't mean to slight you.  I'm afraid I was just
gloating over my younger brother's accomplishments.  I am extremely aware of
the importance of a team.  So many times nothing can be accomplished without
the cooperation of both partners or brothers."

"Yeah, you are so right Roland!  Do you know that last year Nick and I got
the partner's of the month award?"

"And why not?  There cannot be a finer tuned pair.  I'm sure that the two of
you could work out the most difficult of situations."  Turning to face Nick,
he smiled slightly then looked back at Schanke.  "I bet you could have
helped in the last Country I was in.  They had a most difficult problem, and
could not easily solve it.  It seemed that the entire Country could not
bring to justice two very ruthless killers.  They would kill over and over
again, yet each time escape.  There was only one person who could put an end
to their killing, but to do so would mean sacrificing her life.  She knew
that only she was in the proper position to save countless others.  However,
it was a moral dilemma that many felt uncomfortable dealing with.  The
decision to sacrifice one life to save many, not an easy one to make is it?"

"Was this that case about the two bombers and that lady bomb expert?"

"Yes, it was about her.  Only she could stop the bomb from exploding, but it
would mean her life.  She could not save herself and all the others too.
Some dilemma is it not detective?  One life or thousands?  Which would you
pick?"

Throwing himself back against the sofa, Schanke shook his head.  "Whoa!
That's a tough one.  I guess I would have to say save the thousands, but it
is not a decision that I would like to make.  So what happened?"

"She did it Donny!  She knew that it was a greater good to forfeit her one
life to save the many and destroy the two killers forever."

In an instant Nick joined the not so theoretical scenario.  "Was she certain
that there would be more deaths from these two killers?  There are always
other ways for bombs to be defused.  Sometimes no one needs to be hurt."

"There was no other way brother.  The very nature of these two killers would
have never ceased until what compelled them was destroyed.  Being a police
detective, you should know that sometimes the situation demands that drastic
measures must be taken.  In some of us, the criminal characteristic can
understand no less than complete annihilation.  As for the bomb, I'm afraid
that it was just too unstable to have been left unattended.  It was
necessary for it to be brought to its logical conclusion."

Fascinated, Schanke sat back up and leaned impatiently towards Roland.

"So she died while trying to stop the death of the others.  Man O Man, now
that was an admirable act of courage!"

"Yes it was, wasn't it?  An offering of lasting value."

Suddenly, Nick stood up angrily, glaring at his brother, and challenging his
judgment of the stories outcome.

"No!  What good is this lasting value if it is eternally stained with
innocent blood!"

Confused by Nick's violent reaction, Schanke stood up and confronted his
partner.  "Nick?  Why are you yelling at Roland?  He was just telling us a
story."

Having brought his point across, Roland stood up to join the others and
tried to smooth things over by apologizing.  "I'm sorry if my topic
disturbed you brother.  I'll leave now, and let the two of you get back to
your work.  Take care of that sleeping beauty up there.  I'm sorry that I
didn't get a chance to meet her.  Perhaps some other time, how about
tomorrow night?"

Jumping in before Nick had time to reply, Schanke blurted out their plans.
"No Nick can't see you then, we'll be protecting Orah while she does her
last show here."

"Oh well, that does pose a bit of a problem.  It seems that circumstances
have made it such that I will not be able to stay in town much longer.  I
guess this means that this is good-bye brother.  Tomorrow night will be my
last night in town as well."

Nick smiled and nodded just as his partner lit up with excitement.  "Hey, I
have an idea.  Roland can come with us.  It will give us an extra pair of
eyes and the two of you a chance to talk about old times."

Smiling broadly, Roland looked elated.  "What a splendid idea Donny, and I
can even get to see Orah as well!"

Harshly, Nick's words destroyed all the enthusiasm that had been generated
by the two of them.  "No, I'll be too busy.  Roland and I can say our
good-byes now."

"What's wrong with you Nick?  Your brother is here whom you have not seen in
how long?  And he only wants a chance to spend a little time with you."

Throwing an annoyed glance at his partner, Nick concentrated on trying to
speak calmly.  "It is not a good idea.  Trust me Schanke."

Not allowing the subject to drop, Roland eagerly chimed in.  "I will not get
in the way brother.  I would love to see the two partners of the month in
action."

"Come on Nick, he's a good guy."

Feeling his resolve weakening he turned to his partner.  "Schanke, you have
no idea what he is like, but I would rather know where he is than guess."

Roland flashed a contented smile.  "Good, then it is settled.  I'll meet the
two of you tomorrow night at the show.  It was nice meeting you Detective
Schanke, and Nichola I do hope that we could be on better terms.  Brothers
really should appreciate their unique relationship."

Picking up his trench coat, Roland slid open the elevator's door and stepped
inside.  The two partners stood side by side as they watched the door close
and heard the mechanical sounds that lowered the lift down the shaft towards
the ground floor.  After a long moment of silence, Nick turned and walked
towards the kitchen with Schanke right on his heels.  Thinking that his
partner was way over the line with how inconsiderately he treated his
brother, Schanke, in frustration, spoke up.

"What is with the two of you?  What am I missing?  He seems like he is
trying Nick.  Why don't you give him a chance?"

"You wouldn't understand Schanke.  Some differences cannot be resolved.
Some things never change."

"Not if you don't let them, and I think that you are wrong.  He seems like a
real nice guy to me."

"Then I guess that things are not always what they seem, now are they?  Not
everyone is what they seem to be."

The glare from Nick's eyes and the implied meaning of his last statement of
really not knowing anyone, made Schanke feel uncomfortable.  He turned to
leave, but Nick reached out to stop him.  Nervously, Schanke looked over at
his partner.

"I was just going to check on Orah before I went back to the precinct."

Sighing heavily, Nick realized that Schanke would never understand his
reasoning and he softened his tone.

"I'm sorry Schanke if I made you feel uneasy.  In my family, we have our own
ways of relating.  Come here and look at this."  Pulling a folded sheet from
his coat pocket, he opened it and placed it on the counter.  "I stopped by
the precinct.  The owner of the car rental agency gave a description of the
woman who rented the car that killed Barrett.  This is her.  She used an
alias and paid in cash.  Luckily the other body guard, Marty Gilbert,
recognized her from the picture.  She is the woman whose child was killed in
that accident in Buffalo a couple of weeks ago."

They both looked over towards the stairs as a soft voice interrupted them.

"Please, may I see the picture?"

Both Schanke and Nick looked at each other then back to Orah who was
descending the stairs.  Shrugging, Schanke picked up the composite, and met
her at the bottom of the stairs.

"Do you recognize her?"

"No. I've never seen her before."  Sadly, she ran her fingers over the
artists sketch, then glanced across the room to see Nick coming towards her.
  "It was her daughter that died at my show?"

Reaching over, Nick gently pulled the paper from her hands.  "It's not your
fault.  There was an accident.  She was waiting outside with her daughter
who was confined to a wheelchair to see your show.  Her daughter was born
with Cerebral Palsy, she had never walked.  A car lost control on the icy
roads, and plowed into the crowd.  Her daughter's wheel chair was caught,
and the girl was crushed underneath the vehicle."

Heavily she allowed the weight of her body to collapse to a sitting position
on the bottom step.  Through her tears, she tried to speak.  "I didn't know.
I might have been able to help.  That poor woman.  It is too much tragedy
for one person to bear."

Stunned by the faith healer's reaction, Schanke interrupted.  "That poor
woman is trying to kill you!"

Looking up through her tears, her words like sobs broke through her cries.
"She is trying to find peace.  She suffers now because of my work."

Taking her arm, Nick helped to lift her back into a standing position.  "Do
not blame yourself.  There was nothing you could have done for her."

Turning sharply to face him directly, she inhaled deeply and glared at him.
"I could have been there.  At least, I could have been there.  Of all
people, you should know how painful it is for her to live each day with
conflict- never finding rest or harmony."

Backing away a few steps, Nick let her push past him and move towards the
darkened glass of the window while his partner gave both of them a strange
look.  Moving closer to his partner, Schanke whispered to him.  "What is she
talking about Nick?"

"She sees what others do not, and feels what others cannot feel.  We have to
give her some time to reconcile all her thoughts and emotions."

Skeptically, Schanke looked across the room at her.  "Fine, but I still
think that this whole faith healing thing is a scam.  But I can tell you one
thing that is real.  There's a woman out there looking for revenge, and she
has followed her here.  Don't you think that she will try again?"

"If she doesn't, then she will have come a long way for nothing, and done a
lot of unnecessary acts with no resolution.  We will be ready for tomorrow's
show.  You should be getting back to the precinct to make the arrangements
for increased security.  I will make sure that Orah gets safely to the
show."

Crossing the room, Schanke picked up his coat and began to prepare for the
frigid temperatures that awaited him outside.  With a final glance at Orah,
who was still staring out into the night, he decided against saying good
night.  Instead, he turned to give Nick a short wave indicating that he was
leaving.

"So, I'll see you later Nick.  Try to get her to get some more rest, and you
should get some too."

"Thanks Schank, I will later.  Orah might want to talk before sleeping
again."

Schanke turned to leave, but Nick's voice stopped him.  "And Schanke, if I
ever go away and leave you here again, do not let anyone in, even if they
say they are my Mother."

An apologetic smile flashed across Schanke's lips as he turned to take the
elevator to the ground floor.

End Part 16

Again the snow had begun to fall on the already whitened city, but his full
attention was on the courageous faith healer that he was escorting into the
building for her final Toronto performance.  The cold white flakes clung
lightly to her dark hair, and were a pleasant contrast.  Sunset had been
almost three hours ago, but even during the sunlit hours he had not slept.
He was too afraid to let his deep vampire slumber take over and allow her to
fall into harm's path.  There was no safe place or time for her.  In danger
by day by a mortal stalker, and by night by both mortal and immortal alike.
Bracing himself for whatever the night would hold, he pulled her close as
they pushed through the crowds and crossed the pavement that led to the
front entrance. Flashing his badge, the officer at the door waved him in
with his precious cargo, and he quickly scanned his surroundings.  As Orah
removed her Winter clothing, he once more tried to appeal to her sense of
caution.

"Orah, let me take you back to my place until we catch this woman.  This is
only one show.  We are talking about your life."

"Thank you for you offer Nicholas.  I know that you mean well, but if I
cannot help others then I do not have any reason to live."

With a hurt look in his eyes, he took her hand in his even though her touch
burned him, and again pleaded to her.

"Orah, I cannot protect you from my own kind.  Even if this woman is caught,
you are in far more danger because of me."

Smiling lovingly at him, she slipped her hand from his and stepped closer to
lightly kiss him on the cheek.  He swallowed hard as he tried to not show
the pain of even this gentle act of her kindness.

"I know Nicholas what you deny yourself by protecting me from harm.  You
have chosen to spurn an eternal desire because of your convictions, because
of your faith."

"I am without a soul.  I cannot afford the luxury of faith."

"But you do have it, don't you?  You believe!  Your belief is proof that you
are not damned.  You have faith, hope, and love.  All of these are
supernatural gifts.  All of these gifts will lead you to the light.  You
would not be here persisting for so many years if your faith were not
strong.  What do you call this longing for the light?  This intense feeling
is your faith Nicholas."

Detaching a small gold pin from her dress, she opened it wide and plunged in
deeply into her finger.  Immediately a small red dome of blood formed at the
site of the self-inflicted wound.  Bewildered by her actions, he still could
not tear his gaze from the sight of the fresh blood as it pooled in the palm
of her upturned hand.  Without hesitating, she extended her hand and offered
a taste to him.  Indecision gnawed at him, as he grabbed her hand by the
wrist and nervously glanced around them.

"What are you doing?"

"Taste and you will understand why I must be here tonight.  Taste what I am,
what drives me.  Taste the faith and know what I see and what I feel."

"This will not help me, it will only make the hunger stronger."

"No, you are wrong.  This taste is for your soul, not for your physical
body. Drink and you will be satiated."

Searching her eyes deeply, he then closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.
All that he had suppressed became awakened as he cupped his hand under hers
and slowly raised her delicate blood filled hand to his mouth.  With his
first sip, his eyes clenched closed even tighter as he felt intoxicated with
her wonders.  The feeling could only be described as floating on clouds
while being bathed by the warmth of the sun.  All emotion came to life as
joy, love ,and warmth all wrapped themselves around him in a blanket of
absolute freedom.  Then came the waves of strength, power like he never
felt- new and renewed vigor.  All of this was within only a few drops of
this holy one's blood.  If there was ever any doubt that her blood could
cure vampirism, there was none now.  Never had he been a part of such
profound powers.  His eyes re-opened to her and revealed the intensity of
the vampire's desire, yet the compulsion to kill was gone.  Both man and
beast stood content as he lowered her arm to her side.

"I can see your path Nicholas.  It is bright and full of life.  Though you
now live in darkness, you must continue to have faith and hope.  For it is
in this darkness that G-d protects the soul.  Do not ever give up.  One day,
you will be ready, and darkness will run from you."

Reaching out towards her again he called her name, but his voice trailed
off.

"Orah........"

"Whatever happens Nicholas.  I am not afraid.  When my time comes, it will
be to help another.  My mission will be complete, and I will go in peace."

Pulling away from him, she crossed the room to the back stage door and
locked it behind her.  Standing stunned, in amazement, he could not speak.
Without a doubt, he had been in the presence of true goodness, and she had
found something redeemable in him.  Deeply he inhaled, filling his lungs
with the lingering remnants of her fragrance.  As he continued to stare at
the closed door, a hand crashed down on his shoulder from behind.  Startled
he spun around to see his partner.

"Where's our psychic?"

Stiffening at the sound of his partner's voice, he took in a breath.

"She is a faith healer Schanke, and she is getting ready in the back.  How
is everything here?"

"Everything is secure.  There is no way that anything is going down tonight.
Hey, come into the main room.  Roland has been entertaining the uniforms.
The guy's a scream.  Are you sure you two are related?"

"We are from different families.  I guess you could say that we are more
like blood-brothers."

Grimacing, Schanke acted out the motions of sticking his finger.  "You mean
you did that mixing of blood ritual?"

"We were young Schank."

"Speaking of young, Roland keeps saying that he is your older brother, but
he looks at least ten years younger than you."

"He is younger, but he was adopted first, so he claims to be my older
brother. Now if you are through interrogating me Detective, I would like to
take a look around for myself."

"Adopted first, yeah that makes sense."

Inhaling sharply, Nicholas tried to steel himself for yet another encounter
with his brother.  If his partner had not mentioned that Roland was in the
adjoining room, he would never had known that he had already arrived.  The
elder vampire was a professional at hiding his presence when he so desired.
It unquestionably gave Roland the advantage in the vampire community.  It
was clearly a skill that would have proven invaluable on numerous occasions.
Though after seeing how his Father and Brother got along, it was apparent
why LaCroix had withheld those instructions with his second try for an
obedient son.  Peering into the room, he was immediately snared by Roland,
who placed a brotherly arm around his shoulders as he escorted him into the
room.

"Nichola, you never told me what a great bunch of guys you work with.  I can
not thank you enough for inviting me here tonight."

Stiffening, Nick flashed an uncomfortable smile at everyone.  "Yeah....
Roland I am happy that you are enjoying yourself, but these men have a job
to do and so do I."

With Nick's words, the other officers began to disperse.  Each took turns
shaking hands with Roland or patting him on the back.  It was easy to see
that he certainly was well liked.  When all had returned to their various
positions throughout the room, Roland turned to throw an annoyed and
disappointed gaze at Nick.

"Party pooper.  You really do know how to kill everyone's fun."

"This is not a party Roland!  We are here to protect a woman's life."

With a self confident smile, he slid closer to his brother and whispered.
"You are here for that.  I, on the other hand, have a different agenda."

Maintaining the whispered sound level, Nick angrily sneered at his brother.
"I will not allow you to harm her.  You will have to kill me to get to her.
I......"

Suddenly, Roland looked up, interrupted his brother's warnings, and loudly
called out.  "DONNY!  Nichola has been telling me of some of your fine
work."

"Yeah, sure, Roland.  I haven't seen the two of you go one sentence without
fighting."

Turning to Nick, Roland smiled.  "He knows us too well brother.  I guess we
will just have to kill him."

With eyes wide in panic, Nick stared at his brother.

"That was a joke brother, don't go giving yourself a nervous breakdown."

A short laugh escaped Schanke, as he turned to his partner.  "Yeah Knight,
loosen up a bit."

Throwing his brother a distrustful glare, Nick then turned to Schanke.  "I
will loosen up as soon as this case is over."

Walking behind Schanke, Roland slapped the mortal detective on the back.  "I
wouldn't bet on that if I were you."  Both of their laughter filled the room
as Nick looked away.  Then, becoming even more serious, he pulled Schanke
off to the side.

"Tell me what precautions have been taken.  How secure are we?"

"Well, let's see.  There are men posted in front and out back.  Every window
has been sealed closed.  We had the bomb squad with their dogs here about
ten minutes before you arrived."

"What about the people who will be seeing the show?"

"We have the list of every ticket holder.  Only ticket holders will be
allowed in for tonight's show.  We investigated every name, and they all
checked out. Only old and sick people, no one dangerous or matching our
suspect's description."

"Good" Rubbing at his eyes and forehead, he calmed a bit before talking to
his partner again.  "You have no idea Schanke, how much I want this night to
be over."

"Calm down Nick, this is a piece of cake.  Tomorrow Orah will be someone
else's problem."

As Schanke crossed the room to talk to the other officers, Nick stood
silently against the wall only moving his eyes as he carefully began to
scrutinize the layout of the room.  Re-playing Schanke's words, he sighed.
Hopefully Orah will be alive to be someone else's problem tomorrow.  Somehow
he knew that if the perp did not get her, his brother, or LaCroix would.  He
could feel it. Even though everything appeared to be under control, he knew
that this was only the calm before the storm.

Sharpening his senses, Nick looked up as the first of the ticketed guests
began to cross through the entrance.  Checking the clock on the wall, he saw
that the show was to begin in ten minutes.  The room was beginning to become
loud with conversation, and with the moving of chairs.  He felt Roland move
to his side as one by one he tried to listen to each heartbeat.  Searching
for any indication of nervousness that would give her away.  His partner had
been correct, most of the crowd consisted of elderly people who were wrapped
in layers of clothes many who wore thick glasses and heavy winter hats.
There was no way he could see many of their features, and now with over two
hundred in the filled room, he could not distinguish one heartbeat from
another.  The anxiety level had risen throughout the room as the time for
Orah's appearance approached.  Suddenly a hush fell across the room as the
light began to dim and the long heavy curtains began to open.  One bright
ray of light shone down on the woman in the center of the stage, as the
standard faith healer introduction was read.  In a matter of minutes, Orah
stood and announced that she was ready to begin.  As the lights in the room
were slowly brightened, the spell binding lady glided down the stairs, and
towards the center of the room. A grateful cry escaped a young woman as
Orah's hand touched her head.  Hanging on every word, Nick absorbed the
woman's story of depression and attempted suicides.  Carefully watching
Orah's treatment of the woman, he would have sworn that he saw the darkness
that made her soul heavy depart from her body. Mesmerized, he watched as the
faith healer seemed to float to the next person only a few seats away.
Another case of blindness that was explosively cured by hands and the chants
of all those in attendance.  The evening wore on as dozens of followers
begged for Orah's divine attention.  Orah began to look fatigued, and Nick
could see how each successful cure diminished her energy. Although he wished
to intercede, he knew that she would not stop until her body would not let
her stand.  Moving back towards the stage, she suddenly stopped, and stood
curiously before an elderly woman who was draped in rags. And, although,
many reached out to pull her towards them, she could not help but be drawn
to this soul.  Standing before the old woman, she placed both hands on her
shoulders.  The action caused her to fold in pain, but she rapidly recovered
causing Nick to remain in his position on the other side of the room.
Feeling extremely uncomfortable now, Nick turned anxiously towards Roland
who quietly stood a meter from him.  A strange feeling gripped him, and he
began to make a quick glance around the entire room.  His eyes rested on
every person for a few seconds until they stopped at the back of the room.
Officer Claymon was not at his post, he was gone.  But in his place stood a
familiar one dressed in police attire who nodded his recognition.  LaCroix!
Shock paralyzed him for an instant, but then he frantically turned his
attention back towards Orah, just in time to view the old woman slowly rise
with her gun pointed at the faith healer.  All the officer's ran towards the
hostage scene, but the distraught woman screamed out.

"GO AWAY!  Everyone go away!"  Turning towards Orah she became consumed in
tears as the gun shook in her hand.

"You caused my little girl to die!  She was all I had in the world.  I only
wanted for her to have a chance to be like other children, but she died and
now you are going to die too."

Without moving, Orah spoke softly.  "I know how much you miss your child.  I
can feel your pain.  I am sorry for all the suffering that I have caused
you. If my death will ease your pain, then I gladly accept your decision."

"You are trying to trick me, to confuse me.  Don't you understand that I can
not go on like this?  Don't you understand that my life is over?"  The gun
shook uncontrollably as Orah moved closer to the woman and embraced her.
Violently the woman pushed her away, then smiled at Orah.

"Thank you, Orah.  Thank you for your help.  Now, I know what I must do."

At that moment Nick pushed his way through the crowd only to hear the gun go
off, and to see both women fall to the ground.  As he pulled them apart he
yelled out.

"Call the paramedics!"

He could see that the child's mother had turned the gun on herself at the
last moment, and had given herself a fatal wound.  As she gasped for her
final breaths, Orah screamed for everyone to move back.  Sitting herself up,
Orah pulled the woman into her arms.  Then, carefully, she placed her hands
over the bleeding gunshot hole.  Closing her eyes, she seemed as if she were
summoning all the powers in Heaven and Earth.  Clenching her eyes and her
mouth, she began to sway until she suddenly screamed out and fell backwards
to the ground.  Kneeling down beside her, Nick gathered her into his arms.
The elderly woman was unconscious but fully healed.  While Orah lay dying
from a gunshot wound that she had transferred to herself.  Devastated, he
touched the spot where the last of her blood escaped, and he sadly looked
into her pain filled eyes.

"Why Orah?..........Why?"

"She needed my help Nicholas.  That is why."

"But you will die now."

"It is my time.  I have completed my destination, but you have not.  Never
give up on your faith Nicholas, for it is that faith that will lead you to
that which you seek."

As she finished speaking her words of encouragement to Nick, she fell
lifelessly against him.  The last beat of her heart was still resounding in
his ears as his partner looked down at them.

"How in Hell are we going to explain this?"

"Simple Schanke.  She fulfilled her purpose, and it was her time."

Feeling as though he were caught in a world in which everything began to
move in slow motion, he gently laid her body on the floor and stood up to
face Schanke.

"Take care of things here, I have to speak with my brother."

After pushing through the onlookers, he searched the back of the room for
his Master, but he was gone.  Moving out into the hall, he stepped aside, as
the paramedics came rushing through.  A familiar vibration surrounded him,
and he twisted to see his brother sitting on a marble set of stairs that led
up to the second floor of the old building.  With a dispirited heart, he sat
next to his brother.

"You allowed me to feel that you were still here."

"Well, I figured why not, we are brothers you know."

"She is dead Roland."

"Yes, I know and her blood has been defiled.  She is no longer ritually
pure."

"You may not believe this Roland, but I am sorry"

Reaching around his brother, Roland put his arm over his shoulders.  "There
is always next time."  He smiled.

"You do know Roland that LaCroix was behind this?"

"Of course!  It's part of the game.  The old boy wouldn't have it any other
way!"  Standing up, he walked down the couple of steps and headed for the
door.  Glancing up, Nick called after him.  "Roland!"

Stopping in his tracks, he turned back to face Nick.  "Roland, I would not
have changed my mind about killing her."

A smile lit up the elder brother's features.

"Neither would I"

Again he turned to move towards the now quiet entrance, but stopped and
looked back.

"You're not rid of me yet you know?  I'll be back, and when I do come back,
I have a few little tricks to teach you that Daddy somehow left out.  Give
my love to Janette, and take care of that partner of yours."

Nick nodded and a smile crossed his face as he watched his brother leave and
he felt a renewed respect for him.  Then, in an instant, Roland had vanished
into the night.  Nick dropped his gaze to the floor, and sat with his hands
clasped in front of him.

Several minutes passed until he was awaken from his thoughts by Natalie's
voice and soft touch as she placed her hand on his.

"Nick, Nick are you all right?"

Looking up at her through half closed eyes, he softly whispered.  "I'm fine
Nat."

"I'm sorry to hear about Orah, I know that you believed that she really
could have been the answer.  I've been called in to explain her death, and I
am really going to need your help on this one.  The reports that have come
in say that she willed the bullet out of the suspect's body and placed it in
her own."

"That is what happened."

"Are you telling me that this is not a murder, but a suicide?"

"Not a suicide Nat, an act of kindness.  An act of faith!"

Taking her hand, he lovingly squeezed it between his.  "Nat, her death
helped me to believe in myself.  She proved to me that no matter what the
prize, that my convictions would prevail.  I could not take her life, even
in exchange for my most cherished desire.  I did everything in my power to
save her, and now I am positive that I have just taken one of those small
steps in regaining my humanity."

The End
 

Back to Parts Six - Eleven!