From:         Charles S Randolph <randolph@TENET.EDU>
Subject:      DTD--an ending.

Julie Randolph


        Nick stared at the broken shards of glass that scattered across
his floor.  They sparkled in the effervesence of light that always
seemed to get in behind his shades no matter what he did.  It wouldn't be
long now...and he knew, without a doubt that she would come to him.  that
she would try to make some kind of reparation for what had happened.
What was he to do?  All he had wanted for them, everything he had dreamed
in the last few years had gone down the tubes in that night.  The buzz of
the elevator started him out of his mood and he hit the button to admit
hier, although he could not understand for the life of him _why_ she felt
the need to use the elevator, after all, she certainly didn't need it
anymore.  It stopped and the doors opened.  As she stood there, his mind
raced.  Could he change her back, could he make it better...how did he
fix it...but there was nothing.  He lifted the bottle to his lips and
sighed knowing that eventually he was going to have to say something.
        "Nat."  well, that was brilliant.  She was not smiling and he
couldn't blame her.  Her eyes had fixated on the bottle he was holding.
He stepped forward, "What is it?  Do you want some of this?  Are you
_HAPPY_ now that you have become a killer like me?  Is that what you
wanted???  I hope you're satisfied."
        For some reason she didn't look as she should.  She didn't seem
upset.  She took the bottle from him and took a swig, placing it back in
his hand, "I'm sorry that I had to turn to someone else Nick."
        Goddamnit, Nat, you shouldn't have turned to anyone at all."
        "I was afraid."
        And why did she seem to think that everything was alright because
she had been afraid, his mind threatened to explode on him, "We all get
afraid every now and then, Nat."
        "We are not always threatened with the end of the world, Nick."
        "No..." he shook his head, "That's true...but you should have
trusted me..you should have known that would never lead you astray.  This
is not a way to live."
        She motioned to the couch and then walked over to it
herself,"This arguments is really beside the point, isn't it?"
        He sighed, "Yes, it certainly was."  Nat reached out, took the
bottle from him and drank again, "I need your help, Nick."
        His voice was resigned, "To do what?"
        LaCroix has already been to see me today, offering to take
Spark's place as my master.  Nick roared to life, "that BASTARD."
        "No...Nick, he is right.  Someone has to take over that
position.  I was hoping it would be you."
        He turned to look at her.  They were the same eyes, the same ones
he had seen time and time again watching him as he moved.  She looked
innocent, as if this had never happened, but seething under the surface
was the rage that all vampires instinctively lived by.  It was a hunger
that bore through then every hour of every day of every year of their
endless existence.  Was it his fault, had he somehow doomed her to this
existence?  No...she had chosen, and he had reached her too late, now she
was giving him yet another chance to help her.
        "You do realize what you're asking me?"
        He sat back down, taking her hands in his own and she smiled...he
was going to do it, "Yes."
        "If you are to become my child, and I your master, we must share
a bloodbond." She leaned towards him, their lips met and for that instant
their souls were one, "I understand, Nick."  His tears were touching her
face even as his teeth sank into her neck.  This is what he had wanted to
avoid, this is the ending he had never wished on her...but what did it
matter now?  She had come across, he couldn't change that, but he could
help her in these  early stages, he could become one with her.  And as
her blood filled his mouth, and he felt long slender teeth touch his
neck, his passion overcame him and he was lost.

the end.