Date: Mon, 29 Aug 1994 Comments and kindly criticism to idjmb@asuvm.inre.asu.edu (Jill) Missing "What the--" Nick muttered as his foot nudged an object in his doorway. He glanced down from the keypad to see an oblong box leaning against the door. He bent over, noticing his own name printed on the box. "Nicholas", he murmured to himself. "Now who--". Quickly he entered the code to open the door, but hesitated as he began to enter. Shrugging his shoulders, Nick bent over and picked up the box. Through the door to the loft Nick could hear a message being recorded on his machine. His impulse to hurry abated as he recognized Janette's annoyed tones. "Nicola, you promised to stop over tonight. Merde, you are so stubborn. We can at least discuss the matter with civility. I insist you come by after work this evening or I will have to come to your loft." He winced as he heard her receiver crash down. Still carrying the mysterious box, Nick walked into the loft and straight to the refrigerator. , he shuddered. . He pulled a bottle from the refrigerator, smiling at his rationalization. His strong, white teeth pulled the cork and held it as he poured the contents into a shotglass. As he replaced the cork and put the bottle back, Nick grew more curious about the box. Balancing the shotglass of blood in one hand and the box in the other, he moved over to the couch and sat down, sipping gingerly at the blood. He set it down absently, his full attention on the box. It was a rectangle constructed on fine dark wood, polished to a high gloss, perhaps four inches wide on each side and nearly 18 inches tall. He shook it gently but felt no movement within. As he turned it over in his hands, Nick noticed a small flaw in the bottom of the box--further examination revealed that the small crack was lined with something--"metal?" He dug into the crevice with his fingernail and was rewarded with a small "click". Slowly, the bottom of the box fell away to reveal a wad of cotton. "This is getting interesting," he murmured to himself. Nick set the box down and took a sip of the almost forgotten blood. He considered a moment. . He still had some guilt about refusing her. "Nicola, how often have I performed favors for you--even helped you in your silly detective job? Now I have such a small request and you, you are too selfish to indulge me. Do I not mean *anything* to you, Nicola?" Nick had been astounded to see the red shine of blood tears welling up in her blue eyes. Thankfully, his beeper had gone off at that moment. "I have to go, Janette. I'll stop by later and we'll talk about it." He had kissed her gently on the lips, tasting the blood tear that had slid down her cheek. Nick had almost run from the club. Now, as Nick thought of that scene, he could feel his eyes gleam golden remembering the taste of her blood. He shook off the memory and returned his attention to the box. Carefully he pulled at the cotton and felt something solid within the padding. As he lifted the box, the contents slipped out into his hand. Peeling away the rest of the cotton, his eyes widened. Nestled amidst the padding was a silver decanter sealed at the top with wax. He picked at the wax with a fingernail, peeling it away to reveal an aged cord. Nick was puzzled. Who would have left him such a gift? Janette's obvious irritation with him would seem to eliminate her, Natalie knew he couldn't drink wine, and Schanke would have neither a reason nor the funds to obtain such an antique. For an antique this clearly was--Nick recognized the artisanship as mid-15th century Italy. "Curioser and curiouser", he breathed. Gently he pulled at the cork to savor the aroma of this impressive relic. With a small pop! out came the cork. Nick bent his head to the opening, expecting the fruity smell of an old brandy or some exotic wine. Suddenly his eyes were molten gold and his fangs descended, long and sharp. He snarled with fury and some other emotion he couldn't even define. "LaCroix!" he howled. With a sweeping blow he cleared the table before him. Glass and blood, decanter and box went flying. As the antique bottle soared `nto the air, Nick leapt with inhuman speed to catch it before it fell. Snarling, Nick grabbed it and tilted it to swallow great gulps of the blood it held. He swallowed convulsively, not stopping, until the decanter was drained. Only then did Nick throw it as hard as he, with his great strength, could--straight at the great iron door of his loft. The silver decanter hit with the sound of a dying bell, then fell, twisted and broken, to the floor. * * * * "Nick?" Natalie pushed open the door to Nick's loft slowly, with a sense of foreboding. "It's me, Natalie. Are you home, Nick?" As the door swung wide, she gasped. Nick's place was usually neat, his furnishings spare and clean. Now, however, there was broken glass and broken furniture everywhere she turned. Natalie paled as she noticed splashes of blood here and there. She inched further into the room and heard a step on the stairs above her. "N-Nick? I was worried about you when you didn't show for our--" Her voice trailed away as she realized that is was not Nick staring at her from above. "Janette, what's going on here? What's happened? Where's Nick?" Instantly the lovely vampire was standing by her side. "I do not know, Natalie, but I fear something has happened to Nicola." Janette was visibly upset. "I came here to convince Nicola to--never mind, but when I arrived, the loft was as you see. There was no sign of him and worse--" Janette hesitated and gestured towards the blood on the floor. "That is not Nicola's blood, nor is it that disgusting stuff he drinks." Natalie could never have imagined the cool, aloof Janette as lost and frightened as she now appeared. "But most upsetting is the fact that I cannot *feel* him. Always there is the sense of each other in the background of our minds--and I do not feel him there." Natalie was horrified but pushed it aside. Nick would depend on her to help him. "We must find him. Do you have any idea where he would go if he were hurt or--" Janette was shaking her head. "He would come to *me*, as he always has." Her lip curled. "Or perhaps he would go to you, but apparently that is not the case." Natalie took a deep breath, knowing she had better keep her temper reined. "OK, let's think here. How do you know that blood is not Nick's? Did you *taste* it?" Janette smiled at Natalie's expression. "Mais non, cherie. I merely smelled it, you see. I do know that it is from a human. But there is also something not right about that blood. It has a-a taint I cannot identify." * * * * "I don't find anything too unusual." Natalie looked up from her microscope at Janette. "The usual components are there in the correct proportions. It appears to be perfectly normal human blood, except that some herbs or something similar have been added to it." Her exhaustion was beginning to show in her voice. They had worked together to clean up Nick's loft in case Schanke came looking for his missing partner and gathered up samples of the blood which had puzzled Janette to bring to the lab for further analysis. Not only was Natalie finding nothing useful in the evidence from the loft, but Janette was beginning to wear on her nerves. "I am sorry Natalie, but this is a waste of time. You will not find Nicola by looking at the blood! I think I should deal with this myself. It has a flavor of sorcery to it. My friends and I will search this city!" Natalie closed her eyes wearily, wishing she could talk sense into Janette. "Sorcery seems a little far-fetched, don't you think? Maybe I should let Schanke know that Nick's not home with the flu after all. He could put out an APB or something." "Eh bien," snapped Janette. "That silly man could not find his way out of a chateau with a map. How are we going to explain why we did not tell him sooner? Or what if he actually finds Nicola and Nicola has lost control, eh? Do you want to be responsible for Nick to kill his partner, then?" As Janette became more agitated, her English began to slip. "Far fetched, indeed. Au revoir, Natalie. A demain." Turning, she swiftly left the room. * * * * Nick opened his eyes blearily, wincing at the brightness of the lone bulb hanging overhead. As he stirred, he felt an uncomfortable weight on his wrists and ankles. He turned his head and almost cried out at the pain. He turned his head ever so slowly, trying to fathom what was happening. He was in a small cabin he thought, lying on a dirt floor. As he moved to try to ease his soreness, Nick realized with a sinking feeling that his arms and legs were shackled to the walls of the tiny room. Some sense warned that he was not alone. Before he could make another move, someone had grabbed his head, forcing his mouth open. Nick sputtered and choked as blood flowed into his mouth and down his throat. His last coherent thought was . Then bloodlust overtook him. *Gulp* Comments & Criticisms to idjmb@asuvm.inre.asu.edu "No, Schanke, I haven't talked to Nick today. I don't know, you know how these flu bugs can linger. Yes, of course, I'll let him know." Natalie carefully placed the receiver in its cradle and burst into tears. Sidney meowed and jumped up on her lap, licking her damp cheeks. "Oh, Sidney, this isn't doing any good...but I don't know what else to do!" She let herself cry a few moments longer, then tried to pull her self together. "I guess I'll check with Janette at the Raven--maybe she knows something." Natalie walked to the bathroom, wondering when this nightmare would end. She washed the tear tracks from her face and gathered up her purse and keys. As she opened the door of her apartment, Natalie stifled a scream--there stood Janette, enveloped in a black cloak. After a moment, she finally spoke. "Hello, Natalie, may I come in?" "Of course, Janette, please do," Natalie blurted. Then, "Janette, all the evidence from Nick's loft is missing from the lab. Have you anything to do with that?" Janette was subdued. "No, I would not have reason to take those things. It has been three days, Natalie. I am beginning to think Nicola is--" "No!" Janette looked surprised at Natalie's vehemence. "I will NOT believe that Nick is dead." She faced Janette, pale but determined. "Let's go back to the loft. Maybe we missed something there." Janette seemed ready to argue, then shrugged. "Very well, *cherie*. What can it hurt? You will have to drive though--I didn't." * * * * Nick floated slowly towards consciousness, but could not bring himself to open his eyes. He felt peculiar, so weak, yet also *sated*. He vaguely realized he was being carried by two men, one supporting his shoulders, and the other, his legs. . The men carrying him stopped with a jolt. A voice came from the darkness, a voice he should remember. A voice he feared. "Excellent. Lay him down here. Your reward is in the truck. Leave. *Now*." The two men let Nick drop to the ground, then were running through the night. Faintly he heard the sound of a truck door slam. Moments later, the truck was roaring away in the distance. "A pity to let them go, but their tribe has been useful and may be again. They were surprisingly efficient in retrieving my tools from your friend's laboratory. And now, my young Nicholas..." The voice came closer and Nick forced his eyes open so that he would see the face approaching his own. "You will not remember, Nicholas..." Unaccountably, as he felt his eyes close and darkness fall, he thought he heard triumphant laughter. * * * * The moon was rising as the two women found themselves once again outside the door to Nick's loft. Natalie began to punch in the numbers which would unlock the door when Janette grabbed her arm tightly. Her blue eyes were wide. "Natalie, *un moment*. I feel something--I am sure it is Nicola! I-I think he is in there!" Quickly they ran up the steps to the inside door. "It's locked," Natalie was gritting her teeth in frustration. "*Non*" Janette forced the door open with brute strength accompanied by the sound of the breaking doorframe. Both women paused, then, "Oh, Nick" and "Nicola, mon cher." Nick was sprawled out on the sofa, grimy and covered with blood. Janette was at his side in an instant, kneeling on the floor, cradling his head in her arms. She was whispering into Nick's ear, in rapid French, so quietly that Natalie could not make out more than an occasional endearment. "Let me check him out--I am a doctor, after all." She waited impatiently for Janette to move aside. Janette smoothed Nick's hair with one slender hand and slowly rose. "He is alive, at least. He appears to be in great pain and I know how to ease him. He needs blood--good blood, not that *cow* swill. I will go to the Raven and return quickly." With a flourish, Janette was gone. "Oh, Nick, what's happened to you?" Natalie felt tears coming to her eyes. Nick was so pale and still. He seemed *dead*. she thought hysterically. . "Come on doctor, do your stuff," she told herself sternly. She ran to the kitchen, grabbing a towel that lay on the counter and began to run water over it. Frantically opening drawers, Natalie found a sharp knife. With knife and towel, she hurried back to the couch. Tenderly she began to wipe the dirt and crusted blood off his face. Nick didn't move a muscle--even the touch of the cold cloth didn't rouse him. As she cleaned his face, Natalie noted scratches and bruises. "These must be fairly fresh or they would have healed by now," she muttered. Working carefully, Natalie began to cut off this shirt with the knife. Once the shirt was completely removed, she began to gently wash his upper body. Under the grime and dried blood, Nick appeared to be unhurt. A sound at the door made Natalie glance up. Janette was rushing in, her hair windblown, carrying a satchel. "I have what he needs," she announced. Before Natalie could demur, Janette had lifted Nick's head and was pouring a small stream of liquid into his mouth. Nick's reaction was immediate. He sat up, eyes gold, and his fangs protruding. "No more!" he croaked, snarling weakly at Janette. "No more blood!" "Don't be ridiculous, Nicola. This is what you need. You are almost at the verge of death. The blood will strengthen you." Now that Nick was recovering, Janette was again her cool, imperious self. "Wait, Janette," Natalie ordered. "He may know what is best." She was biting her lip at the site of Nick in full vampire mode. He looked over at her, sensing her fear. She was awed to see him fight down the beast within and within seconds return to the Nick Knight she knew. "Thanks, Nat. I'm sorry I scared you. Janette, my love, I know you are trying to help, but I am telling you, I cannot and will not drink any more blood." Nick's strength appeared to be coming back quickly now. His face was puzzled as he looked from one to the other, then down at himself. "Why are you here, together? Has somethimg happened? Damn, I've got to get to work!" As he began to struggle to his feet, Janette and Natalie exchanged glances. "Do you know what day it is, Nick?" Natalie tried to sound offhand, but at the question, Nick sank back onto the couch. "Heck, I'm lucky if I know what century it is sometimes," he laughed weakly. Natalie was not sidetracked. "Nick, you've been missing for three days. Where were you? What happened to you? You look pretty beat up." "Nicola, you were beyond the range of my mind. That is not something to be taken lightly. I was very worried that my knight had finally met his match," Janette purred. Nick shook his head. "I don't know. The last thing I remember for sure is leaving the precinct after my shift." He closed his eyes and frowned. "I seem to remember some nightmares, blood and screaming, but it's slipping away. Maybe I was dreaming about my past, I do that sometimes. But three days? I don't know what to think. Nat, could I have some kind of spot-amnesia?" Natalie shook her head. "I'm no expert on that type of problems, Nick. I guess if an event was traumatic enough, the brain could take steps to forget it. Do you think we should do something to investigate this more closely--we should try to find out where you've been!" Nick considered. "I don't think so, Nat. I'm back, safe and sound. I have no lasting injuries...in fact I have the strangest feeling that I should just forget about it. Now if it became a habit," he grinned, "then I guess we would have to check it out." He turned to look at his door. "Janette, why did you rip my door off? You could have called from downstairs, you know." Janette's face was thunderous. "Nicola, you, you, are the most irritating beast! I see you have recovered, so I shall return to the Raven where I am needed. I expect you will stop in tomorrow night to explain this in more detail. We can plan our trip then, as well." As Nick started to speak, she held up one hand. "*Non*, there will be no excuses accepted. You will escort me. Who knows, you may actually enjoy it." She was smiling as she left. "What trip is that?" Natalie tried to sound casual. Nick sighed. "She is determined to attend some gathering in Boston. It's called Dead of Winter, I think. I've tried to get out of it, but she doesn't give up easily. It looks like I'm going after all. Right now, though, I need some rest. I feel like death warmed over." His eyes crinkled as Natalie groaned and rolled her eyes. * * * * Epilogue Police Report, Point Barrow, Alaska Investigators have no leads in the mass murder and mutilation deaths of seventeen fishermen found Tuesday on a derelict boat. The lack of gunshot wounds indicates six to eight perpetrators would have been needed to overpower the entire crew. The sole survivor has been hospitalized. Although doctors believe that he will recover physically, the man will need psychiatric care. His first reports were of a "blond young man, who flew onto the ship and grew fangs". According to the witness, this person then killed everyone on board and drank their blood. He then flew away, but was joined by another monster in the air. File under Homicide, open. idjmb@asuvm.inre.asu.edu