Part Four

* * * * * * * *

Nicholas had just unlocked the Caddy when he realized that he had again
broken another appointment date with Natalie.  She was just going to have to
understand that something else had come up.  He could drive over to the
Morgue, but it was better that she not see him in his present mood.  He felt
dangerous now, and was in no mood to discuss any pie in the sky ideas right
at this time.  Time was needed to think.  Something did not seem right about
this case from the beginning.  It actually was too easy.  The clues had been
too obvious.  His instincts gave him the feeling that he was headed down the
wrong path.  He was close, but something was not adding up.  He just could
not put his finger on it.  He had wanted to stop by the Raven tonight, but
felt it would be more important if he could get home to his computer and
spend some more time looking at all the information, one more time.  His
family would have to wait a little longer.  There was not enough time.  This
case was too personal.

He got into his car and started it.  It was time to think, and driving
always helped him with that.  It was a warm summer night, and he thought
that no one would think it strange for him to have the convertible top down.
   Very little brought as much enjoyment as the breeze blowing at him as he
drove.  It was almost as pleasant as flying, he so enjoyed the feeling of
freedom. Driving allowed him the unrestricted range that he so desired with
all the other areas of his life.  If mortals only knew how close to flying
they really were when they drove.  The time in the car was his time alone,
and he felt the power of the freedom of driving surge through him as he
pulled the Caddy onto the highway.  After he had driven a few exits past his
ordinary route, he felt that his mind was clear enough to hear what lecture
LaCroix was delivering tonight.  Turning on the radio, he listened as
LaCroix's words soothingly poured out.

"Good evening gentle listeners.  There's something different in the air
tonight.  I know that you are looking for answers to calm and appease your
tormented soul.  You already know what you must do.  You'll have no peace
until you satisfy this loathing that you harbor.  Remember to take no
prisoners.  You must avenge or your wounds will never heal.  Do not doubt
your true feelings.  Trust in yourself and retaliate.  This is the only way
my friends.  There is no malevolence in forgiveness.  An eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth.  This is the absolution that you seek.  I know, for I
am the Nightcrawler reminding you to follow your true nature."

Nicholas was not surprised that LaCroix was again right on target about his
emotions.  It sounded as if LaCroix was quite aware of his latest
backsliding. He was sure that LaCroix was finding his dilemma to be a very
agreeable change of pace.  He was still uncertain about how to handle
matters no matter how enjoyable LaCroix was finding this.  Nicholas listened
to the Nightcrawlers special selection of music, and decided that he was too
distracted to go home and work on the case just yet.  Turning the Caddy
towards the off ramp, he sped to the next turn that led to the exit that
would take him to the main highway. There were no traffic lights there, and
he could fly with his car into the darkness of the night.

* * * * * * * *

Nicholas finally arrived back at the loft's garage.  He had spent the entire
evening driving aimlessly, and listening to the Nightcrawler's sermons.  He
rode the elevator to the loft, but as he got off he noticed how quiet
everything seemed.  He felt so alone, but the loft was exactly as he had
left it.  Except as the daylight approached, the emptiness crept into his
soul. Thoughts about Jenny, Myra, and Schank would not stop. What right did
anyone have to take this family apart?  What type of monster could be so
devoid of feelings as to only indulge in their own agenda.

Then it hit him, no wonder this had gotten to him so strongly.  He was
describing himself.  This was like his own past actions, his own lust for
blood.  It did not matter who suffered, as long as he satisfied the vampire.
Was he any better than the man he desired to tear to pieces?  It was not the
emptiness of the loft he felt, it was his own reflection of the man he
sought. His own lost and desperate soul.

Still, the anger in him rose as he dared to imagine Jenny's innocence being
defiled.  If this barbarian would so much as touch her, he would be grateful
to only be drained and his throat ripped out.  A menacing growl escaped as
Nicholas devoured the brute in his mind.  He closed his eyes tightly.

"No, ..... not now," he tried to appease the vampire.  "But this time I will
let you have your way with him."  It had been too long since he last fed.
Walking to the refrigerator, he helped himself to a bottle of bloodwine.
Bringing the bottle up towards the light, he smiled at its rich contents.

"This will have to do for now, but take solace my insensitive demon.  You
will be satiated, and I will have the justice that is due."

Nicholas raised the bottle to his lips, and drank deeply.  Soon he would get
some much needed rest.  Soon there would be no safe place on earth for this
murderer to hide.  Smiling, he acknowledged that this evil would soon be
taking its last breaths, he then opened the refrigerator door again to
retrieve another bottle.

* * * * * * * *

Nicholas awoke to the smiling face of his father sitting on the chair in his
loft.  He was downstairs on his sofa.  Feeling a little stiff, he knew he
must have fallen asleep in his living room this morning.  There was one
empty bottle that had rolled under his table, and another near empty bottle
was still clutched in his hand.  Slowly sitting up, he placed the bottle he
had held all day as he slept on the table.  Rubbing at his temples, he did
not even look up as he grumbled.

"What are you doing here?"

LaCroix just grinned.

"You never were much of a morning person."

Nicholas shifted to a more comfortable position, and squinted at LaCroix.

"How would you know what kind of a person I was?"

LaCroix looked amused.

"You are quite right Nicholas.  It was only an expression.  Rather touchy
aren't we?"

LaCroix stood up, and walked across the room picking up papers that Nicholas
had left out about the case.  Nicholas distrustfully watched LaCroix's every
movement very closely.

"What do you want, LaCroix?  I'm busy."

LaCroix looked up from the crime information in his hand with a slight
smile.

"Yes, It appears so, but you're never too busy for your favorite father -
I'm sure.  You know Nicholas, I sometimes think you've forgotten one of your
past convictions.  Let's see, honor your father.  I do believe that to be
the fifth of your commandments.  Do I have to continually remind you that it
was I who gave you the gift of eternal life?  A gift so precious that you
can never repay your depth of gratitude."

Nicholas sighed, "Does not the father owe any respect for their child?
Doesn't the father owe his child the right to live his own life.  The right
to freedom?"

LaCroix put down the papers, and walked towards Nicholas's ornately carved
mantle.  He stroked at the carved beast that protruded its wooden head over
the center of the mantelpiece.

"Oh yes, This is again about you, and your feelings.  You think that I do
not understand your need for independence, your need to live your own life,
and you resent me.  But you're wrong, I do respect your right to choose.
Your right to choose as the vampire that you are.  You are not human
Nicholas, as much as you refuse to accept that fact.  I made you what you
are, and even if you believed my motivation to create you was less than
sincere, you should be forever expressing your thanks to me.  I am your
father, and you should be eternally grateful, even if I turn against you.
Although you believe I enslave you, you should not despise me, for I have
bestowed upon you the greatest kindness.  The kindness of bringing you into
this eternal world. Your honor, is the least you owe me."

LaCroix turned towards where Nicholas still sat, and walked over to the
empty bottle that he spotted on the table.  Picking up the bottle, he
sniffed at the aroma of its former contents.  He closed his eyes and shook
his head as a slight smile spread across his lips.

"Chacun a son gout" (everyone to his own taste)

Nicholas's anger was beginning to build from LaCroix's unexpected visit.

"So this is why you have come?  To critique my choice of menu."

"No my Nicholas, a critique of cuisine would first require something
worthwhile to critique.  But there *is* something in you lately that shall
we say has been......entertaining.  I have come to inquire to what I owe
this most pleasant diversion."

LaCroix walked back to the case reports that lay scattered near the
computer. He gently pet the papers with his long slender fingers as Nicholas
nervously watched.  LaCroix closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

"This bitterness that you exude...."  He released a long deep breath.  "I
feel your rage."  LaCroix opened his eyes and stared directly at Nicholas.

"My My, such venom.  And how do you plan to discharge these emotions,
Nicholas?"

Nicholas glared angrily at LaCroix for his invasion into his personal
turmoil. He had touched too closely to his suffering.  His perceptions were
well grounded.

LaCroix quickly noticed Nicholas's lack of protest regarding his
accusations.

"So I am correct.  You do plan to purge these sensations with violence."  He
took in another deep breath to relish the impact of Nicholas's passions.
"Yes, you are exquisite.  Like ambrosia."

His mood became serious as he approached his son, and his voice became
preaching.  "Savor this Nicholas.  *This* is what we are!  Remember what....
you..... are!"  LaCroix again changed his mood as he placed a finger against
his lips .

"I guess I did not do such a bad job in raising you after all."

Nicholas suddenly looked up at LaCroix, and bitterly hissed.

"Don't flatter yourself."

Unaffected by Nicholas's comment, LaCroix moved behind him and spoke softly.

"We shall see then.  The proof does lie in the act n'est pas?"

Before Nicholas could turn to respond, LaCroix was gone, but his words still
stung.  His words had been well founded, and Nicholas knew it.  LaCroix
could sense what he had coursing through his veins.  Old feelings stirred
up, but temporarily suppressed until the time was right.  And the time would
be right, he had promised the vampire.  This time the vampire would not be
denied.

* * * * * * * *

Natalie had waited in vain for Nicholas to return her call, and her patience
was wearing very thin.  She had even hoped that he would be by with Schanke
to pick up more of the autopsy results that were complete, but time had come
and gone and neither of them had dropped by.  Lately, there never seemed to
be the right time to discuss her plans with Nick.  "What was happening with
him?  Why was he avoiding her?' Tonight was his night off, so ready or not,
she was going to stop by and pay her favorite vampire a house call.  Since
there was never enough time, she was going to make the time.  "It's now or
never Nick," she announced as she picked up the telephone to call up work,
and schedule a day of vacation time for this evening.

After calling in at work and freeing herself for the evening, she went into
the kitchen to fix a light breakfast.  No need to skip any meals now, she
was going to need all her strength tonight to promote an extremely
unorthodox cure to Nicholas.

Over and over, she had gone through the various ways to present this to him,
and still no way seemed quite right.  She closed her eyes, and desperately
tried to think of the perfect proposal, but there was no way this was going
to be easy.  'What would be the best approach?' She could suggest that they
have a quiet evening just watching videos, and then when everything was calm
she could spring it on him.  That sounded good aside from the fact that it
would not be fair to Nick, and it also would be the chicken's way out.  No,
that was really not her style, she was too honest to do anything like that.
'Damn, why did she have to have so much integrity?' She had thought about
crying and begging, at least these emotions would be authentic.  However,
this was way too emotional, and not the way that it should be handled.  Then
there was the scientific approach.  This was definitely within her
expertise, but it was too cold.  Great, she had been thinking about this
conversation for almost a month now, and she still could not produce one
satisfying sentence that would help put this cure into motion.

So, she didn't know what she was going to do, it would just have to work
itself out when she got there.  What she had to do now was to get herself
over to Nick's, and get the proverbial ball rolling.  She had already
allowed for too much time to pass, and Nick was rapidly becoming
disillusioned. Hopefully, there was still time to recover any faith Nick had
lost in finding a cure.  No need to be negative now.  It was going to be a
rather eventful night, no matter which direction fate would take them.

Natalie removed her breakfast dishes from the table, and placed them in the
sink.  It was funny how even an insignificant act like clearing away the
dishes made her think of Nick and his return to mortality.  She closed her
eyes, and smiled at the thought of them sharing a meal together in their own
home.  When she reopened her eyes, there were only her own dirty dishes,
looking as lonely as she felt.  This was no time to start feeling sorry for
herself.  There was much to be accomplished.  So why was she delaying this
visit with destiny?  Quickly filling her lungs with a breath of air, she
released it before giving herself one final pep talk, and reaching for her
raincoat.  Looking around her apartment, she absorbed its contents as if it
were the last time she would be seeing it.  Her life was about to change. It
would be different.  The next time she would come back with the answers that
might change their lives forever.

She walked over to the table, and picked up her medical bag.  One quick look
inside, and she would be certain that she remembered to bring everything
that she would need with her.  Closing her bag, she realized that she was
ready to go.  A wave of fear swept through her, but she shook it off.  There
was no turning back now, for if she did then her dreams would be forever
lost.  She reached again to retrieve her medical bag, and this time
accomplished the act without the fear.  Good, that was much better, she had
the willpower to go through with it now.

She gave the telephone a quick glance, with thoughts of warning Nick about
her unscheduled visit to his loft, but that idea was quickly rejected.  The
way things were going lately, he would only find some excuse for not seeing
her.  Never again would she would have the courage that she had gathered at
this moment.  She would never be more ready, it had to be now, and Nick
would just have to adjust.  Walking over to her front door, she opened it
and walked out, while gently closing it behind her.  The lock clicked
securely into place, and she leaned back against the door for support.  This
door was closed now, as was any option of turning back.  Time to leave the
past, and to move forward.  There was no reason to fear the future, surely
Nick was meant to be part of her destiny.

* * * * * * * *

Although Nicholas had planned on visiting his family, the thought now
sounded rather unappealing.  LaCroix's wake up call was a good reminder of
what he hated about his father, and what he hated about himself.  As much as
he would of liked to blame his current mood on LaCroix, he couldn't.  The
truth was that he was loosing control, and LaCroix knew it.  Revenge was now
more desired than the blood that sustained him.  The will to avenge the
young girl's deaths was consuming him.  The thought of Daniel's young
mutilated victim in the sand flashed across his mind.  In his thoughts he
could hear himself screaming out to Daniel, to this murderer -- 'WHY?' "What
possesses you to wipe away the innocent?"  At least Daniel killed to feed.
He could almost understand the power that drove him to kill ones as young as
himself. Through his own death he lost his ability to comprehend the
devastation in taking a life so young.  By devaluing Daniel's life, he had
in return showed no value for other children.  Life, all life, had become
meaningless to him.

He walked over and grabbed the first CD he could find from his shelf, and
thrust it into the CD player.  His hand went immediately to the volume
control, and pushed it to its limits.  The rock music blasted into the room,
as everything in the room began to vibrate from the loudness.  If only he
could make it loud enough to block out all the painful memories.  If only it
would drown out the thoughts of the danger Jenny was in.

His thoughts drifted back to his partners reaction to having his daughter
threatened.  There was a fear in him that he had only witnessed in those who
faced death.  Schanke had looked as if he were watching an accident take
place in slow motion, and being totally helpless to do a thing about it.
Thankfully, Schanke also had this evening off.  He knew that he would feel
better being with his family, even though a patrol car was stationed outside
their home 24 hours a day.  He was confident that Schanke would be able to
handle any mortal situation, as long as he did not let his emotions get in
the way.  When they last spoke, it had sounded as if Jenny was handling the
stress better than her adult parents.  She had thought that it was cool that
she could miss a few days of school without being sick or going to visit
some out of town relative.  Myra had been to the video store, and had rented
nearly half the videos so that Jenny would remain entertained enough to not
desire to leave the house.  He was more concerned that Schanke was going to
burn out. Although he tried to hide it, he had sounded terrible when they
last spoke. Nicholas was not sure that Schanke had gotten any sleep since
that threatening call at the precinct.  Every time that he offered to help,
Schanke would change the subject or say that everything was under control.
How was Schanke going to handle his first day back at work tomorrow?  He was
going to have to leave Myra and Jenny with just the surveillance that Cohen
had set up.  Jenny could not be protected forever, this crime needed to be
solved soon.  Again came the gripping the feeling that something was not
right.  Something was missing.  Somewhere they had overlooked evidence that
would lead to an arrest.

Thoughts of Sarrison burned in his mind.  If only he knew what the vampire
had in store for him, then he would surely beg to be in custody now.  It
would be much better for Sarrison's health if the police would catch him
before Nicholas's willpower caved into the vampire.  What were the
connections that were keeping them from putting this guy away?  How many
bodies would it take until they had enough proof to convict him?  Would
Jenny become part of the statistics?

Nicholas's eyes began to glow, and his fangs descended.  His thoughts became
focused on Sarrison's depravity.  The hunger tore at him demanding to be set
free.  This problem could be taken care of right now, and Jenny would sleep
safely tonight.  It was within his power to make this misery go away.  He
could make Sarrison disappear.  No one would ever find his body. One less
trial, one less prisoner.

The hunger now viciously burned at him, and he knew that he had to ease the
pain.   Rushing to the kitchen with vampiric speed, he nearly pulled the
refrigerator's door from its hinges in search for blood.  He reached for one
of the green bottles, but stopped.  His hand moved down towards the freezer
compartment, and picked up one of the frozen bags of plasma that he saved
for emergencies.  It was human blood, and he needed human now.  Rushing to
the microwave, he placed the desired contents on high for a few minutes. The
minutes seemed like hours as he watched the plastic bag with its precious
contents turning and warming.  Soon the aroma was more than he could stand,
he stopped the oven and pulled out its heated treasure.  He tore off the top
of the bag with his teeth, and felt his fangs ease into the warm red liquid.
  The sensation filled him completely.  The liquid exploded with pleasure in
his head and stomach at the same time.  There could be nothing more intense.
  He had forgotten how much he denied himself by remaining on a diet of
cow's blood.  In a moment the bag was drained.  It was not enough, he needed
more. Returning to the refrigerator, he looked for more comfort.  Grabbing
at the bottles of cow's blood, he removed three at the same time.  In his
mind he divided them, two to drink and one to paint with.

The music continued to thunder as he stumbled towards his half finished
painting with his bottles clutched in his arms.  Staring at his recent
attempt at art he opened the first bottle, and drank its bitter contents
dry. His eyes never left the painting as the empty bottle slid from his
grasp to the floor.  The second bottle was half drained before he donated
some of it to his paint.  He was drawn to the color red, and he liberally
mixed in the cow's blood.  Searching through his brushes, he picked up a
wide one and overfilled it with the red paint.  Holding the brush in his
hand in front of the painting, he watched as it dripped one drop at a time
to the floor.  The hand holding the brush began to shake.  It looked so much
like blood.  He needed more to drink.

There wasn't much left in the second bottle, and it only took a couple of
swallows to deplete it, and have it join the other empty bottle lying on the
floor.  Now he had the last bottle in one hand, and his red blood laden
paintbrush in the other.  Scanning the painting before him, he was disgusted
by the bright yellows and oranges that he had previously applied to the
canvas.  His hand tightened around the brush's handle as he drew nearer to
the painting.  When he was close, he struck out at the colors over and over
with the red brush until the brush no longer left its color because of its
dryness.  Throwing the unproductive paintbrush to the side, he laughed as he
opened the remaining bottle, and poured its contents over the ruined
artwork. When the bottle no longer put forth any liquid, he sat beneath the
painting and watched the final drops of blood drip from the edge of the
canvas.  The music pounded as he lay down on the floor, and stared at the
ceiling.  Where had his morality gone?  The same morality that he had
confronted Janette with when Daniel had been part of their lives a half of
century ago.

* * * Flashback * * *

"Do not bring your pathetic sense of morality to me Nichola.  Daniel is
doing quite well.  He is one of us now.  It is done.  Just leave him alone."

Janette stormed to the other side of her bedroom, and picked up a crystal
glass filled with the glimmering rich nectar which sustained mortal life.
She was not happy to see that Nicholas felt it to be his right to barge into
her private room whenever the mood struck him.  She was still a woman, and
he should respect her right to privacy.  Why must he always be so over
dramatic? He was always the knight fighting his cause.  She pretended not to
look at him as he crossed the room to stand in front of her.

"Leave him alone!  Is that your idea of solving this problem?  He is going
to expose us, and get himself killed in the process."

Janette casually replaced her now empty glass onto the tray on the dresser,
and rolled her eyes.

"Nichola, why do you always blame me when you are unhappy?  You are
overreacting.  Daniel is just, how do they say?......Testing his new wings."

Janette turned and checked herself in the dresser's mirror.  Nicholas stood
behind her, and again tried to have Janette realize the importance of
controlling this fledgling.

"You do not understand how dangerous he is Janette.  He is flagrantly
killing children, and not covering his tracks.  He needs to be taught, and I
can not do this alone.  I can not chase after him indefinitely."

Janette spun around to angrily confront Nicholas.

"Then don't!  He would do well to learn without your interference!"

Nicholas returned Janette's anger with a look of disbelief.

"Then what would you suggest?  Daniel must be kept under control.  What is
wrong with you?  Did you have him brought across only to watch him die?  Why
Janette?  Why were you a party to this?"

Janette was not in the mood to argue with him.  There was something more.
Something that he would never understand.  Why fight about this, when there
were so many better ways to spend eternity.  His words were becoming too
harsh, and she wished to calm him.  She held a finger to his lips, and
gently slid it across his mouth.  Reflexively he parted his lips and closed
his eyes at her touch.  It had been a while since he had felt her sweet
caress, and he almost forgot his reason for being there.  He would not let
her distract him again.  He clasped his hand around her wrist as she
attempted to make a second pass at his lips.  Holding her hand only inches
from his face.

"This is important, Janette.  Our security, and many young lives are at
stake."

Frustrated and disappointed, she stared at where he was holding her hand
captive.

"You do know that their lives mean nothing to me, but you Nichola are
obsessed with them.  I do sometimes believe this to be a sickness with you."

Nicholas rapidly discarded her hand from his grip.

Janette angrily glared at Nicholas.  She rubbed at the spot on her wrist
where the redness from his hold was rapidly disappearing.  She turned to
refill her glass, and finish another drink.

"I will help you with Daniel, I do not wish him to die.  After he is
trained, then he must leave.  I wanted a child.  I do not want him.  He is
not mine. You would never understand how much LaCroix's little experiment
has hurt me. You are like him.  You are a man."

Nicholas watched as Janette's face reflected the pain that she had held to
herself for so long.

"Then tell me.  Tell me why, after one thousand years, did you allow this
drama to play out?  What was it that you lacked that permitted this charade
of a family to take place?  Is this gift of LaCroix's, all you had hoped
for?"

Janette felt her anger begin to rise, and she turned away so that he would
not see the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"No!  No!  I wanted to have a child of my own.  I wanted to feel the new
life growing inside of me.  I wanted a baby to hold and to rock.  I wanted
to sing songs, and watch it grow.  I wished to hear my child call me Mama. I
wanted to hold my baby.  I wanted to hold a baby that I can never have."

She folded her arms across her chest, and threw back her head.  She closed
her eyes and took a deep breath.  Nicholas's treatment of her, had hurt her
more than she thought possible.  Her last words still hung in the air of the
silenced room.  He had made no attempt to comfort her.  A tear escaped and
slid down her cheek.  She made no attempt to catch the fleeing tear.  She
knew that if she raised her hand towards her face that he would know of her
weakness.  The last thing she wanted now was Nichola's pity.

Nicholas stood stunned behind her.  She was hurt and angry, but he was not
sure how to approach her.  He had pushed her too far.  Sometimes he could
treat Janette so thoughtlessly.  It was as if he had a double standard. One
very lenient set of rules for mortals, and one for his vampire family.  He
was always judging his vampire family much harsher.  To him mortality meant
purity, and their mistakes were easily justified.  Finding qualities
redeeming in vampires was a mission he found to be impossible.  Eternity had
become a very simple game to score.  Mortals were always good and vampires
were always evil.  But it really wasn't that black and white.  It was never
really that simple, yet he persisted in always reducing vampires into neat
little evil packages.  How could he not allow Janette the same consideration
he would a mortal stranger.  Beautiful Janette.  Eternally beautiful.  His
sister to protect, not to ridicule.  His lover for endless centuries.  His
comforter, when the entire world including LaCroix seemed to toss him aside.
   He could always count on her to hold him and be with him, even when it
displeased LaCroix.

His thoughts shifted back to the pleasant thought of her gentle hand on his
face, and the warm feeling that he had inside knowing that she cared
forever. His eyes followed as she walked towards the large door that led out
to the balcony.  A breeze pushed at her skirt as she walked out into the
night.  He moved quickly to be near her, fearing that she might take flight
without allowing him the opportunity to apologize for acting like a fool and
not remembering how special she was to him.  As he approached the balcony's
door, he could see the dark sky before him.  Every star glittered, each
seemingly competing with each other to be the brightest.  Silence filled the
air, but neither of them attempted to speak.  Maybe there were no perfect
words.  Maybe it was enough to know that they were together.  That they
shared a bond so special that not even time could dampen their love.  Surely
there were no words for their love.  What mortal would ever dare to write a
poem or express through music the uniqueness of a undying bond.  Janette was
still not facing him, she looked towards the full moon.  Nicholas stood
behind her, sensing her anguish.  How could he have been so insensitive?  He
longed to hold her, and make everything between them all right.

Getting closer to her, he put his arms around her waist as they both gazed
at the moon.  Tonight the moon was a comfort, not a reminder of his darkness
prison.  He longed for the words to comfort her, but he knew there were
none. Janette also knew that Nicholas could not take away her pain by mere
words, but his closeness made her feel secure.  They both wished for this
moment to never end.  She let the weight of her body press against him as
she leaned back with the secure knowledge that he was there for her
mentally, spiritually, and physically.  A wonderful feeling of tranquillity
swept over her entire body, and she smiled as she remembered her first
encounter with her eternal lover.  Yes, she had chosen wisely with LaCroix.
A decision that she had never in the past several centuries regretted.

She turned to face him while still in his strong embrace.  She gently
wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck.  Her thumb rested on his
cheek as she pulled his face towards hers.  Her lips slightly parted as she
pressed his lips to hers.  Her breath felt warm against his lips as he
eagerly kissed her in return.  His arm slipped behind her, and he pulled her
closer.  Savoring the scent of her blood, he could almost taste her already.
The anticipation of her awakening the fire inside, and the beast reminding
him of who he was and the needs that Janette could meet.  He longed for her
familiar taste.  A taste that only improved through the years like a fine
vintage of wine.  Her voice caressed his ear, "Come Nicholas, we are eternal
lovers."  Her voice became breathless as she kissed his neck teasing and
thrilling him.  "We will always share this passion."  Nicholas's breaths
were also becoming more rapid as he kissed Janette again and again only
releasing the kiss to find a new position in which to kiss her more deeply.
His hands began to explore her, to caress her, to draw her even closer. With
his passion for her rekindled, each kiss's intensity grew.  Their love
transcended time and mortality.  They became immersed in each other as he
knelt down and pulled Janette down on top of him.  She gasped in pleasure as
he pulled back her blouse, and tenderly licked her neck.  She hungrily
kissed him in return, as he rolled her onto her back and positioned himself
above her.  He could feel the urgency in Janette as she ravishingly plunged
her fangs into his neck.  The rapture was overwhelming as she drank of his
blood.  His fangs longed to pierce her neck, and he turned her head to the
side and immersed himself in the sweetness of the drawn out blood.  He could
not remember a greater satisfaction as he reveled in her pleasure and
rapture.  No mortal woman had ever allowed for such ecstasy, such bliss.
Their love for each other intertwined in their eternal dance.  He held her
near, savoring her closeness as he had just savored her blood.  Saturated by
her essence, he felt complete, and in the hush of the room they both drifted
off to sleep embraced in each others arms.

They were awaken abruptly by the air raid sirens, and Daniel standing over
them crying.

"I want to grow up, Nicky!"

Nicholas and Janette looked up from the bedroom floor.  They had only been
asleep for a few minutes, and it was still early in the evening.  Nicholas
slid his arm out from underneath Janette, and began to sit up and straighten
his clothes.  He watched as Janette struggled to wake from her brief
peaceful sleep.  Turning to his lover, he could see that the fang marks he
had left on her from their love making had already healed.  Still groggy, he
tried to understand what Daniel was telling them.

"I saw what the two of you did.  I was here, and I saw you."

Nicholas looked up at Daniel, but did not know what to tell him.

"I'm sorry Daniel, this was not meant for your eyes.  There are many things
that we must discuss, and of course this will be included."

Daniel's eyes began to glow, and his voice became frantic.

"Why do the two of you do this?  I will never understand will I?  I will
never understand because I will never grow up ...will I?  I will remain a
child forever.  The years will go by, but I will still be exactly as I am
now. There is no one like me.  I can have no friends.  Mortal children are
asleep when I can play, and there are no other vampire children.  I am the
only one of our kind.  I am the only one.  I am a freak."

Daniel began to cry heavily.  Both Nicholas and Janette were sitting up by
now.  Nicholas knew that everything Daniel had said was true.  He was truly
alone.  Daniel looked up suddenly from his tears, and pointed his finger at
Nicholas.

"Why did you let him do this to me?"

Nicholas stood up, and tried to reach out to Daniel.

"I did not want this to happen, Daniel."

Daniel began to scream.

"YOU KNEW.....  YOU COULD HAVE STOPPED HIM!"

Daniel raced over to the balcony to avoid Nick's reach.  Nicholas held back
so as not to scare Daniel away.  He did not want to force him to stay.  He
wanted to treat him gently, for he knew of Daniel's inner pain.  He looked
with pleading eyes at Daniel.

"I did everything I could.  I'm so sorry, Daniel."

The air raid sirens blasted again, and Daniel began to smile.

"You had your pleasure, and now I will have mine.  I am going to have my own
party.  I am going to have my own feast."

Daniel flew out the door of the balcony.  Nicholas turned to Janette.

"Let's go, we have to find him and explain before he does something to hurt
us or himself."

Janette looked sadly at Nicholas, and gently touched his arm.

"And when we find him Nichola.  What is it that we are going to tell him?"

End Part Four
 

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