From:         Mechelle Crosby <shasta@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      DTD


   This was the end, and he knew it.  There was no way out.  How could he
have been so stupid?  And now he would pay the price.
   He heard the elevator as it ascended.  His heart was pounding, racing at
least two beats a minute, from fright.  He gripped the top of the chair,
imprinting his fingers in the metal  Then he felt his master, and gave a
sigh of relief.  LaCroix.  Maybe LaCroix had come to help...
   "Nicola, how could you do this?", cried the ancient vampire as he slowly
intered the room.  "Have you learned nothing in the past 800 years?  Why
this, why now?"
   Nick just stood there, with his head down.  He looked as if he had
already been beaten, the horror of the facts beginnning to sink in.
  "I... I forgot," whispered Nick, like a little boy caught in shame.
   "I cannot help you now, but please, drink these quickly.  You'll need as
much as you can drink."  The father then handed two bottles to the son.
Nick recognized them as LaCroix's special blend.  He seemed to come to life
as he grabbed one of them, ripped out the cork with his teeth, and downed
the contents.  Strength flooded his body, his mind, but he knew it wouldn't
be enough.
  LaCroix continued to speak, the sorrow heavily weighting his words.  "You
knew how much this meant to her.  There hasn't been a ball of this magnitude
in over two centuries. She had purchased a new gown, new jewely trinkets, to
look perfect for the dancing.  All of the community was there, everyone to
see her shame.  She waited outside the door for two hours for you before..."
   "She comes!"
   And with that, LaCroix fled back to the elevator.  He wanted to be out of
site (and hopefully out of mind) when she entered.  Even he couldn't have
held her back and he knew it.  He didn't want to be anywhere near the range
of fire.
   Nick began trembling.  The time was here, and he wasn't ready yet!  He'd
never be ready!
   Then, shattered glass rained all around him.  He looked up to see
Jeannette floating down from the skylight.  Her eyes were red, her fangs
decended, and the fury that eminated from her began to beat upon his mind.
He had stood her up, and it was time to face the music, for hell hath no
fury like a woman scorned!
  Nick screamed...