From: Katherine King From Dark to Dawn: A "Hollywood" Ending LaCroix was going to kill him. There was no way he was going to let things continue on their present course. A course that had been charted by nothing more that fortuitous coincidence. Nick's eyes took on that glazed look that is so familiar to everyone who knows him well. His mind slipped back to the events of earlier that evening when the whole confusing situation had begun. Natalie came rushing into the squad room grinning ear to ear. As soon as she saw Nick she made a bee-line for him. With a quick glance around to make sure that no one was close enough to overhear she blurted out, "Nick! You'll never guess what just happened!" "Well, don't keep me in suspense." "Do you remember Carline, my friend from medical school?" When Nick shook his head, she continued, "It doesn't matter. What does matter is that her husband is a history professor who specializes in ancient rituals, especially magic. "When I had dinner with them this evening he was talking about an incredible new find that he and his associate made. They found the Abarat, Nick! The Abarat!" "But LaCroix burned it in Germany..." "Maybe not, or maybe that wasn't the only copy but he dated it and it is authentic. I asked him what was written in it and he told me about some of it. I managed to get him to read me the cure for vampirism. I know how to cure you." The thump of the elevator stopping jarred Nick back to the present. He stiffened and dropped the remains of the wine bottle as he realized that there was a mortal heartbeat pounding in the elevator. He turned to face to open elevator as LaCroix stepped out pulling Natalie behind him. 'Too late.' thought Nick, 'Why didn't we just grab the Abarat and run? Why? ... Too late ...' He gathered up his courage and growled "Let her go LaCroix!" "Nicholas, Nicholas, Nicholas... such awful manners. What ever happened to 'Come in, LaCroix.' , 'How are you?' or simply 'Hello'? Especially when I have just gone out of my way to bring the lovely doctor for a visit." "What do you want, LaCroix?" "I should really have taught you more manners, Nicholas. First you try to return the great gift that I have given you and now you can't even find it within yourself to be civil to me. Do you know how much it hurts me that you, my first son, wants to reject me and my gift? Do you care? Do you ever think about anyone but yourself - about anything but what you want? Now, when you are so close to giving up everything..." "So close? Since when do you believe that there is a cure?" " I have never said that there was no cure, only that there was no cure for you. The good doctor's science can't cure you but the Abarat can." "You destroyed the Abarat in Germany in 1966." Nick said flatly. He stole a glance toward Natalie who was being uncharacteristically quiet. She was looking around for something that she could use as a weapon if it cam down to that. "Don't try to play me for a fool, Nicholas! I know that you have it and I want it. I am willing to trade you doctor friend for it." La Croix took a step closer to Natalie and allowed his fangs to descend. "NO! I don't know where the Abarat is. Look into my thoughts. You know I'm telling you the truth." Natalie spoke up as she pulled her arm free of LaCroix's grasp, "I didn't tell Nick where it is so that you couldn't read it from his mind. Oh, don't worry, I made arrangements so that Nick will get the Abarat in the event of my death so killing me won't keep Nick from regaining his mortality." "But it would be a measure of retribution." "NO!" screamed Nick as he lunged at LaCroix knocking him away from Natalie and onto a small wooden end table, shattering it. The two vampires rolled on the floor locked in combat. As they moved away from the remains of the table Natalie grabbed one of the broken legs in the hope that she could use it to defend herself and Nick. The small measure of strength that Nick had gotten from the human blood was rapidly fading allowing LaCroix to pin him to the floor. Natalie saw her chance. While LaCroix was preoccupied with Nick and his uncustomary strength, she plunged her makeshift stake into LaCroix's back and through the center of his heart. Nick threw the corpse off his chest and looked down at it. "The last time he was staked he came back, this time I won't have a chance against him." "I also got some other information from the Abarat. To truly kill a vampire, you have to burn the corpse in the sun and spread the ashes on the wind." Nick and Natalie are standing on the roof of the warehouse, their hair blowing in the stiff wind off of the lake. The sun is high in the sky and floating in the air are the sounds of the city in the daytime. They sound unfamiliar but welcoming to Nick. Natalie gave him a supportive hug and looked down at the container in his hands. Nick followed her gaze and slowly opened the container. "Goodbye Lacroix...Goodbye Father." he whispered as he tossed the ashes into the air. After a few moments, Nick took Nat's hand and said, "Come on, Nat. Let's go enjoy my first day in the sun in 800 years on our way to City Hall." "Why are we going to City Hall?" Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewel box. As he opened it, he dropped to one knee. "Because that's where we get the marriage license... Will you marry me Nat?" "Of course I will!"