Subject: ADULT: Knightmares, 1 of 8 Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 11:46:42 EDT From: Rebecca Chessman To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu DISCLAIMERS: This is a continuation of "Forever Knight" from the end of "Last Knight." It seems to me to be one logical resolution if the powers that be should ever resume the show. As always, I must state that these characters do not belong to me, I've just borrowed them for a short while, and now return them in better condition than their inventors left them. I hope you enjoy this little sally. I know the Nick and Nat Packers will. All others should be warned by this. All comments to bdundee@aol.com. Permission to archive on fkfanfic.com, at the ftp site, and at the DarkNN website, is granted. All others please ask. Knightmares - part 1 of 8 by Rebecca L. Chessman LaCroix raised the twisted pike high above his head. Carefully, he aimed at the precise point of entry. The effect would be immediate. Nicholas' life would cease abruptly as his heart ruptured. LaCroix felt himself dissociating from the act that was to come. It was too painful for contemplation, too agonizing for completion! As the weapon descended, he marveled that he was capable even of this, the murder of his son. When the pike entered Nicholas' body, it seemed to do so in slow motion. Blood fountained from the wound, splattering Nicholas and Natalie Lambert, whose body lay before him. Nicholas toppled forward, the force of LaCroix's blow sent the shaft that penetrated Nick's body through Natalie's as well. LaCroix bolted up from the chair in his study, shaking his head to clear the images which had imprinted themselves upon the insides of his eyelids as he dozed. No! Nicholas would never insist upon an action so heinous! But deep inside himself, LaCroix knew his vision had had elements of truth within it. Nicholas did love Doctor Lambert that passionately. And Nicholas would truly die if he, or LaCroix himself, were the instrument of her destruction. "They are at a crossroads," he murmured to himself. "I must act. Nicholas has become too unsettled, too vulnerable. I must do something about his partner. I only hope I am not too late." He rose quickly and set out for the hospital. Detective Nicholas Knight stood at the bedside of his partner, Tracy Vetter, watching her struggle for life. It did not look as if she would make it this time. Natalie had abrogated his initial impulse to bring Tracy across. And now Nick found himself pondering the question Natalie had asked. "Why is it so easy to think about bringing her across and not me?!" Natalie had demanded before she stormed off to the morgue. Nick knew the easy answer. He loved Natalie, just as she was. He did not wish her to die or to be damned to this immortal hell which was his existence. She didn't understand how seductively powerful the desire for her was to him. He wanted to bring her across. He wanted her---desperately! He had tried to make his loved ones like himself, immortal, eternally his own, in the past. It had never worked the way he had wanted. And, Natalie was wrong, it wasn't easy to think about bringing Tracy across. He had done that very thing on several occasions in order to preserve a life that he had later had to take away for the good of all concerned. Certainly, Natalie herself must remember that, since her own brother was one who'd had to be destroyed. So why had he thought about bringing Tracy into this existence? Perhaps because Tracy, with her bubbly outlook on life, seemed so young, so unready to die. Tracy knew something of the life she would be entering if he did decide to act. She had admired Vachon, loved him. She had the ability to survive in the Community. She was tough, strong, capable. But then, so was Natalie. Unlike Tracy, however, Natalie had never been a killer. She was, in fact, the precise opposite of a killer. Natalie was a saver of life, a doctor. Natalie might argue that she only worked upon the dead, but he knew her dedication to her profession stemmed from a deep and abiding love for life and its preservation. He had always felt that he would destroy more than her physical life and her soul, as he understood it, if he made her a vampire. He would destroy the very construct of her personality, the essence of what made her Natalie, his Natalie. Nick thought Natalie probably understood this at the very base of herself, but perhaps he should have told her. Just as he should have told her how very desperately he loved and wanted her. She was very vulnerable just now. Her friend had died, committed suicide, and Natalie was beginning to question her own life choices in the face of her friend's failure to find joy and peace. Nick was terrified, after their confrontation in the morgue, and her comment at Tracy's bedside, of what she might demand of him when he returned to the loft. He knew he would find her there. What should he tell her? What should he do? LaCroix was pressuring him to move on once again. And LaCroix expected, had even ordered Nick to bring Natalie across once before, during that terrifying night at Azure last year. What should he do? Nick's reverie was interrupted by the shrieking of alarms from the monitors attached to Tracy. An immediate inrush of hospital personnel with a crash cart and all of its attendant paraphernalia pushed him out of the room. He retired to the hallway to listen to the frantic efforts to restore Tracy to life. As Nick waited in the hospital hallway, LaCroix touched down upon the roof of the hospital. He slipped quietly into a nearby roof access and descended the stairs. He entered the hospital and immediately found the doctors' locker room where he could avail himself of the proper clothing and equipment for his purpose. When he was properly dressed, he quickly located the room to which Nicholas' partner had been assigned. The place was in ordered chaos. LaCroix found it quite easy to insinuate himself into the medical team working over Tracy's body. But LaCroix noticed something none of the other workers could possibly have discovered. Tracy was not going to die. She was simply in transition. LaCroix had hoped this might be the case, especially when he had heard how she had been injured. The bullets that had embedded themselves in her body had first passed through Nicholas. The minute amount of vampire blood and tissue carried into her system would be enough to sustain her life, but it would not be sufficient to bring her across. It was dangerous, however. Tracy might become a hunter, but LaCroix did not think so. Usually humans affected in this way, and there had been several in his two thousand years of existence, simply lived longer, healthier lives after their near brush with death. They did, however, have an enhanced perception of vampires. Having ascertained that Tracy was in no real danger of death, LaCroix left the hospital room and paused next to his son who still waited in the hallway. "She will recover, Nicholas," LaCroix asserted quietly in Nick's ear. Nick jumped, then turned to LaCroix and asked, "How could you know that, and why should you be here, LaCroix?" Noticing LaCroix's attire, Nick continued, "Playing doctor again, I see. Did you run short of blood at the Raven and decide to raid the blood bank?" LaCroix ignored Nicholas' sarcastic barbs, as he usually did, and merely replied, "The bullets passed through you before they struck her. Your blood will help her to survive." Nick looked appalled for a moment and then opened his mouth to speak, but LaCroix interrupted him. "There is no need for concern! Rest easy, my son. She will be fine. I've seen this before. Go home. Rest. Take time to consider my previous offer. I will not be leaving for another week. By then you can assure yourself that your partner will live." "Why so suddenly compassionate, LaCroix? What aren't you telling me?" Nick demanded. He and LaCroix had come to an understanding over Divia's pyre, but Nick did not believe that LaCroix had changed his mind about Natalie. "Talk to your doctor friend. Ask her what she wants," LaCroix placed a special emphasis on this last part of his advice. He was sure that Natalie would be his greatest ally in keeping Nicholas by his side. He had overheard their earlier confrontation. "But, LaCroix, what about our agreement?" "Don't concern yourself. I will not retaliate. Not now. I do not wish to lose you, too. Losing Divia was enough." LaCroix watched as Nicholas' face reflected his bewilderment, disbelief, and fear. Then Nicholas' features relaxed into a hesitant gratitude. "Besides, I think the doctor is ready to move on with us. She would be an excellent addition to our entourage. Go ahead and ask her, Nicholas. I will abide by her decision. But, make sure it is her decision and not one of your immaterial fantasies!" LaCroix growled quietly. Perhaps he had been too harsh on Nicholas, LaCroix thought. There really was no way that his son and the doctor could succeed in their foolish quest for Nicholas' mortality. But there was always the possibility that Nicholas might eventually accede to the inevitability of bringing Natalie across. In LaCroix's estimation, Natalie was a strong and challenging woman. Quite magnificent, really! She would be a truly fine addition to their menage. LaCroix's musings were interrupted by the bustle of the medical team leaving Tracy's room. Their dejected appearance betrayed a sense of failure. "I thought you said there was no danger!" Nick raged at LaCroix. But the older vampire merely smiled enigmatically. "She is in transition. Wait, Nicholas, you will see......Wait," LaCroix held Nick back from reentering Tracy's room. "Let them discover the change for themselves," he hissed as a new team approached the room to begin preparing the body for the coroner. They waited, and true to LaCroix's assertions, within a few minutes, one of the technicians charged out of Tracy's door and raced down the hall toward the nurses' station. Then the two vampires watched as the original team with the crash cart returned. After a very short exercise, the resuscitation team exited the room with smiling faces, pushing their cart before them. Tracy, it seemed, was going to live. "I leave you to consider your future. I shall be gone as soon as the Raven has been sold. Let me know what she decides." LaCroix left Nick standing in the hospital hallway. Nick breathed a perplexed sigh of relief. He was very glad that Tracy would live, but he was still concerned about Natalie. LaCroix may have called a truce for now, but Nick was sure that his master would never truly stop manipulating his existence. What should he do about Natalie? Their relationship was at a turning point. Perhaps LaCroix was right, he should ask Natalie what she wanted. Nick thought he knew what Natalie wanted. They both wanted him to be able to cross back to being human. But there did not seem to be any easy way that could be done. Natalie had been close last year with the Lytoveuterine experiment. He had spent one glorious day in the sun, but in the end, it had been a false trail. Janette had found another way to humanity, but the risk to Natalie's life seemed far too great. And then, he and Natalie had had that one delicious night when he had forgotten he was a vampire. They had never discussed that time, but Nick had replayed it in his mind over and over. Now he knew what he wanted. He wanted Natalie. If he were human, the first thing he would do would be to propose marriage to Natalie. He never wanted to be without her again. He thought she wanted the same thing, but what if she did not? Nick started as he felt a firm hand grasp his upper arm. He turned and found the doctor who had been in charge of Tracy's treatment smiling gently at him. "Detective, we think your partner will pull through. She scared us there for a bit, we thought we'd lost her. But she's rallied, and she seems much stronger. Her vital signs have stabilized. Why don't you go home and get some rest. Tell the rest of her friends she's going to pull through." The doctor patted Nick on the shoulder and went off down the hallway to his next case. Nick turned and entered Tracy's room, just to reassure himself that what he had been told was true. He reached down and took Tracy's hand into his own and noted the steady beeping of the monitors that had been so erratic earlier. Her color was better, and there was a just perceptible trace of the vampire about her that Nick could feel if he extended his preternatural senses. LaCroix had not lied. Tracy would live. Nick could feel it. But that brought up an entirely new set of problems. Tracy had recognized what he was in the locker room that evening. He would have to confront her and make her realize that her knowledge of his condition would be very dangerous. She was a resistor, so there was little chance he could erase her memories. He knew he could count on her discretion. He just did not relish facing her disappointment in him. Nick sighed deeply and allowed Tracy's hand to rest beside her on the bed. He would return tomorrow, when she awoke. Now, it was time to meet Natalie. While Nick watched over Tracy's bedside, Natalie settled herself into the sofa in Nick's loft. Just as she had left the morgue, they had called her from the hospital. Tracy was dead. She had expected to find Nick here in the loft, grieving over the loss of yet another partner within the year, just as she grieved over the loss of her friend, Lora. She was ready to confront him about their relationship. Nick was getting ready to move on, as he had been when Schanke died. But this time Natalie would not allow Nick to go without her. No matter what it took, they would be together. That one blissful night when Nick had forgotten he was a vampire had shown Natalie the man she loved without all the baggage that came with Nick's tortured past and his vampire condition. God, he was glorious. They had never spoken of their lost intimacy, but Natalie had replayed that night in waking and sleeping dreams every day since. She knew with a frightening clarity that she could never live without Nick again. He was her entire life. Her existence was so intertwined with his own, that she could never separate herself from him, not without serious emotional damage. In spite of her knee jerk reaction earlier, she was not entirely sure she wished to be a vampire. Nick thought she had a naive view of what his world was like, but Natalie had watched him very closely. The incredibly massive self-control he exerted when he held her, even briefly, terrified her. Natalie was not frightened of what Nick might do to her. She was terrified at what he routinely, ruthlessly did to himself. She knew what intense stress did to human bodies. She could only surmise what might be happening to a vampire subjected to unending, overwhelming stress. Natalie was sure, no human had ever been capable of exerting such prolonged and rigorous control over their basic desires as that which Nicholas Knight used every night of his life, especially on his job as a homicide detective. And his desire for her was stretching that control to the limit. He was close to the breaking point. If he did not relieve some of the stress soon, she did not know what would happen. Nick's recent possession by a demon had not helped. He had nearly killed her, and if it had not been for his continual practice of iron-fisted control, Natalie was sure she would have died. Even after the demon had been exorcised, Nick had no choice but to begin drinking human blood, once again. Natalie at one time thought that not drinking the blood would help Nick to regain his humanity, but she was beginning to wonder. Drinking human blood seemed to have a relaxing effect upon him. Nick and LaCroix had made their peace with one another after Divia's death, and Nick had seemed to relax further. When Nick held her after Lora's death, Natalie had not felt the terrible tension in his body that was present on so many other occasions. He was still bent upon regaining his mortality. Natalie hoped that once he did, he would wish to stay with her. But she had found no new avenues of research that seemed promising, and only one avenue they had not tried remained. There was another way across for him. Janette proved it. And Natalie was absolutely positive that Nick was capable of the kind of control that cure would require. She loved Nick deeply. She planned to ask him to make love to her. They had to do something. They could not continue as they were. Neither of them would survive this indecision much longer. Attempting Janette's cure might be their last chance for happiness together. Suddenly, Natalie noticed that the lift had been activated. She rose to greet Nick with the news of Tracy's death. The lift door opened and Nick walked toward her. Natalie greeted him with the announcement she had received over the phone just as she left the morgue. The simple announcement of the time of Tracy's death did not seem to shake the smile she saw upon Nick's face. "Nick, didn't you hear what I said? Tracy is dead!" "No, Nat, she's not. I just left the hospital. She rallied at the last moment. Her vital signs have stabilized. She's going to recover!" Then he gathered her rigid body into his arms and held her closely until he felt her relax against him. He pulled back just enough to watch her face as he said, "We need to talk." "Yes, we do," she replied. She began to back away to return to the couch, but he held her for a moment looking down into her eyes. Natalie gasped at the depth of love and concern she saw in his gaze. "We really need to talk," she managed before he bent his head and kissed her gently, full on the lips. He released her and held out his hand to lead her to the couch. She followed wonderingly. He wasn't going to leave! He was ready to talk! Maybe things could work out for them after all. They settled side by side, still holding hands. They sat gazing into each other's eyes, simply sharing the depth of feeling each had for the other. Then Natalie broke the silence, "Tracy's not dead." She paused, "You didn't?" she asked gently. "No, Nat, I didn't." "Then how? I saw her wounds. How could she survive that without some kind of help?" "She had help, Nat. But not the kind I usually offer. The bullets went through me first." Nick found himself staring at the backs of Natalie's hands as he drew invisible circles upon them with his thumbs. He couldn't look at her. He felt a kind of guilt for having even this much to do with Tracy's resuscitation. "And that tiny bit of tissue was enough to...to do what, Nick?" "Enough to help her regenerate. Not enough to bring her across. LaCroix says there won't be any side effects." "LaCroix! He was there?" "Yes, he came in while I was waiting in the hall for them to finish with the crash cart. He told me this had happened before. That she would be all right." Nick looked up at Natalie, "I know he told the truth, Nat. I can tell when he's lying. And later I went in to check on her. She will be O.K." Natalie heaved a sigh of relief. "What else did LaCroix say? I know you two have made peace. What would he think of us being here, together like this, now?" "He told me to go home, rest, and....to ask you what you want." Nick's eyes bored into Natalie's to emphasize his next point. "You know he wants me to move on, but this time he's willing for me to take you with us. But he wants me to bring you across. I won't, Nat. That's one thing I will not do! And it isn't that I don't want you. You know how very much I want you. I love you, Natalie Lambert, just as you are. It would kill me if I thought I had destroyed you. And bringing you across would destroy you. It would turn you into a killer like myself. You are no killer, Natalie. You were never meant to be. I cannot unmake you to make you immortal." Natalie stared up at him, admiring his resolution, his conviction, his dedication to his ideals. And when he declared his love for her and told her precisely what he thought she would lose if he brought her across, she thought her heart would burst with her love for him. "Oh, Nick!" She reached up and stroked his cheek softly. And suddenly she was in his arms, crushed to his chest, while he covered her face with passionate kisses. Then, just as suddenly, he thrust her from him, and she reeled as she tried to regain her equilibrium. Her heart sped from the sheer pleasure and excitement he had generated with his embrace. She could still feel the places he had caressed, the imprint of his mouth on her face. "I'm sorry. I hadn't expected to need you this much," Nick murmured. He was gazing at her, blue eyes burning with passion. His body trembled as he fought to keep himself from grabbing her and dragging her to his bed. "You have nothing to be sorry for, I really don't want to be brought across. I lost my temper in the hospital before. And the reason you gave me is a very valid one. We had some of this discussion once before...after the meteor scare. I told you then you were right not to bring me across. You still are. We simply have to find another way, Nick. And there is another way. I think we should try it." "Natalie, no! I want you too much. I want,...the vampire wants,...to bring you across. I don't think I have the kind of control required for Janette's cure." "But, Nick, I know you do have that kind of control. Look at what you've done over the past six years. Have you ever had a job that required so much close contact with humans, blood, and death as this one? And we have done this before. The night you lost your memory. You didn't lose control then. You were even relaxed." "But Nat, I didn't know what I was. And since then the demon has forced me back to drinking human blood just to exercise the smallest amount of control. It's still prompting the blood lust, more strongly than ever. I can't put you in that kind of danger, Natalie. I can't lose you." "Nick, I need to tell you. I think your drinking human blood is better, healthier, for you. You've been more relaxed, more in control since you've gone back to human blood. I've watched you. The more you abstain from human blood, the more stressed you become. When you drink the cow's blood, you're edgier, less able to cope with the slightest irritation. Lately your complexion is better, you don't strain constantly to be calm, you're quieter, more composed. You are healthier when you drink human blood. Your body is telling you to take what you need to be healthy." Nick was appalled. "But you told me that staying away from the blood was a way for me to come back across." "I told you wrong. I was treating you as if you were an addict. You're not an addict, Nick. You've simply got a different metabolism. Nowadays we can supply your needs without your being a killer. Before it was different. I think we need a different approach. After all, I don't think Janette ever shared the lifestyle you've been pursuing. And her way worked just fine. I think we need to continue to feed you human blood. I think we need some time to get you back to your full strength. I'm sure that will allow you to exercise the phenomenal control you've been building while you've been starving yourself over the past several years." "But Nat." "Don't 'but Nat' me. I know I'm right this time. Before I was relying on a theory that bought into your own conviction that what you were was evil, and we only had to counter it with good. It also operated on the premise that what was good for a human was good for a vampire. That, obviously, isn't true. And I have genetic tests, blood tests, every kind of test that I've run on you for nearly six years to tell me that vampires are a human mutation that works. You're not an evil, debased, addicted human, Nick. You're a malnourished vampire who's been subjected to repeated abuse and torture. And I regret to say that part of that abuse and torture was done by me." Natalie looked up at him with sad, repentant eyes. "Nat, rebuilding my vampire health, that might take a while." Nick said slowly. "I expect it will. We've been routinely starving you for six years now." Nick shook his head. "No, Nat, I've been drinking cow blood for nearly a hundred years. Do you really think I've been starving myself?" "My God, Nick. You've been at this for that long?!" "I told you, I couldn't kill anymore. I just couldn't." "But Nick, now there is freely donated blood. People actually sell their blood now. It's a reproducible product." "I know, and that's what I've been drinking lately. But only for the last month or so. How long do you think it will take to rebuild my health?" "I really have no idea, Nick. We'll just have to take it as it comes. But you must not go back to the cow, Nick. You need human. You must be completely healthy or Janette's cure will never work." Nick's face underwent a subtle change, and Natalie could not read his expression. "What is it, Nick?" she asked. "I was just thinking. LaCroix would be very pleased with you just now. Are you sure he hasn't been influencing your thinking?" he asked teasingly, and a wide smile spread across his face. "Well, if all he wants is a healthy son, then I'm willing to give it to him. But I have other, more nefarious designs on you," Natalie leered up at him. "I want you just as much as you want me. And I want you any way I can get you. If this is what it takes to have you, let's do it." Nick pulled her back into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately. She responded with fervor. Their passion was interrupted by the phone ringing and then the answering machine's response. It was Joe Reese, Nick's captain, letting him know that I.A. wanted to speak to him about the shooting that had resulted in Tracy's being injured. He was to be at the station at the beginning of his shift the next evening to make his statement. "Well, that should be easier, now that Tracy's going to recover," Natalie observed. "Being interviewed by I.A. is never easy, Nat. But you're right. With Tracy's testimony, I think they'll let us both off with a reprimand. What would you like to do now?" Nick asked Natalie with a suggestive look. "I don't think we should indulge our desires too thoroughly too soon, my love." She told him. "We still need to build up your strength." He hadn't released her from his arms, and she reached up and wrapped her own arms around his neck, bringing his head down for another deeply satisfying kiss. "Je t'adore, mon coeur, Natalie." Nick breathed in her ear as they parted. "Moi aussi, mon cher," she responded. He nibbled down her neck, inhaling her scent, and sucked gently at the skin just over her carotid artery. "Nick, isn't that a little dangerous," she murmured, then gasped, as an electric bolt of sensual desire shot from the spot he suckled to her very core. "Mmmm, and delicious," he murmured as he pulled back and looked into her eyes. His eyes flashed golden flecks. She watched, fascinated, as the vampire slowly emerged to revel in her desire for him. "Then I think we need to break this up and get you something to drink." She dared to kiss him once more, tasting his mouth deeply with her tongue. Then she pulled back and was gratified to find that his eyes had drifted to a copper hue. That indication of just how much she had aroused him pleased her, even as she fully understood she was playing with fire. She reached up, caressed his cheek, and kissed him briefly once again as she rose and went to the refrigerator. She lifted out a bottle with the Raven's private label on it, pulled the cork, and returned to the couch. "Here, you need this. Drink it all. I want you healthy." He looked up at her, his eyes once again blue and full of love. "Thank you, Natalie. For everything." He held out his hand to her, and she settled beside him. Then he tipped up the bottle and emptied it. Above their heads, LaCroix drifted just above the skylight. Having felt his son's passionate arousal, he had decided to find out just what Nicholas and his erstwhile lover would decide. He had arrived just in time to witness Natalie's latest prescription. He was inordinately pleased with himself. Things were going just the way he had hoped. The doctor had finally realized what he had been trying to tell them both. Nicholas must consume human blood. And when Nicholas was at his full strength once again, then he would bring that magnificent woman across on his own when they tried Janette's so-called 'cure.' LaCroix chortled silently. It was true, the old maxim, if you give someone enough rope, he will hang himself! He flew off, extremely pleased with developments. End part 1 of 8 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman All comments to bdundee@aol.com Subject: ADULT: Knightmares, 2 of 8 Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 11:46:34 EDT From: Rebecca Chessman To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Knightmares - part 2 of 8 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1 By Rebecca L. Chessman Nick smiled as he left the precinct the next evening. I.A. had conducted their usual brutally ruthless interview. When he had gone in that evening, they had already taken Tracy's statement in the hospital. They had raked Nick over the coals for having used so much force that he had broken Dawkins' neck when he had flung him against the wall. Nick was now on administrative leave without pay for the next month. That was just fine with him. It would give him time to follow Natalie's new prescription. And, just maybe, he could persuade her to take some time off to be with him. He headed straight for the morgue to tell her the news. When he arrived, he found only Grace in the morgue offices. "Where's Nat, Grace?" he asked the handsome black woman who was probably Natalie's best friend. "Good evening, Detective. She's at home. She resigned, you know," Grace replied. Nick's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Resigned!? When? Why?" He demanded. "Why don't you go ask her. She told me I should tell you to come by her place when you came in." "I will, Grace, thank you, but I just don't understand why she would resign. This job is everything to her. She loves her work." "Don't worry, Nick, they wouldn't accept it upstairs. They gave her an extended leave. She needs it. She never did take enough vacation, and this thing with her friend, Lora, took a lot out of her." Grace patted him on the shoulder. "Go on over and talk to her." Nick nodded and smiled, kissed Grace quickly on the cheek, and hurried down the hall to his car. He headed out of the morgue parking lot and drove directly to Natalie's apartment. What ever would have possessed her to resign? At least now they both had time off. Nick smiled as he thought of a number of things he might persuade Natalie to do during that time. Natalie sat on her couch petting the purring bundle of fur in her lap and wondering how soon I.A. would get through with Nick. She knew he'd be puzzled when he arrived. She'd actually resigned the night before and hadn't told him. She'd been ready to leave with him when he moved on after Tracy's death. She hadn't intended to be left behind. But when Tracy survived, and she and Nick reached an understanding about their future without the major argument she expected, she rethought her resignation. When Natalie's boss called her earlier that evening to reject her resignation, she accepted the leave of absence instead. But Natalie still thought that she and Nick would have to move on soon. If they managed to actually accomplish Janette's cure, they would have to attempt to escape from LaCroix. Natalie had tossed and turned after returning from the loft. When she slept at last, horrid visions of what Nick might do if the cure failed plagued her dreams. They must be very careful with this new regimen. Nick had a tendency to go overboard with things. She remembered, vividly, the irrational way he'd acted when she found him 're-vamping' himself at the Raven during his attempted 12-step cure. Their situation was littered with emotional minefields. She hoped there was a way to defuse the tremendously dangerous potential for them to kill each other inadvertently. A quiet knock sounded at her door. She lifted Sydney off her lap and went to answer it. The moment the door opened, Nick breezed in, lifted her off her feet, and whirled her around in a gleeful hug. Then he set her on the floor and kissed her deeply. When he released her slightly, she reached around him and shut the door. "We don't want the neighbors gossiping," she told him as she noticed Mrs. Gibbs, across the hall, smiling widely at them. "Why not? I love you, and I want everyone to know it," Nick replied. But he backed off a bit and merely took her hand and dragged her down onto the couch at his side. "What's this I hear about you resigning?" "I did that last night before I came to the loft when I thought Tracy was dead. I told you I was ready to go with you when you moved on," Natalie said. "But they wouldn't let you go, would they?" "No, but the leave of absence gives us time to think about where we want to go and what we want to do next." She smiled up into his face and watched as her use of the word 'we' registered on his sensibilities. Nick smiled widely and said, "I have a few suggestions." "Me, too," she told him. "I had a bad night last night, Nick,...nightmares." She shivered. "We need to take this very slowly. I don't want you racing off with the bit between your teeth on this new diet. I want to monitor your system and make sure we don't do this too fast. There's too much danger for both of us here." "I know. I know, Nat. But I also know that this time it will work. I already feel more in control around you. But you're right. I do get carried away. You need to be very observant. Let me know when you feel the least bit uncomfortable. I promise to back off." "That's not the only danger, Nick. We know we're going to have to confront or evade LaCroix eventually. Will we be able to do that?" Nick suddenly sobered. He looked at her closely for a moment, then, seemed to make up his mind about something. He said, "I've been planning my escape from LaCroix for centuries. I have a variety of contingency plans in place and an identity that I don't think he can crack. But we can't use any of it until the last possible moment. I don't want to give him a chance to read my hand until I play it." "That makes sense, Nick. Don't tell me anything about it. Then he can't get anything out of me if he tries." Nick frowned and then nodded at her assertion. He took a deep breath, and his face lightened to the joyful expression he had worn when he'd arrived. "What do you want to do now, Nat? I'm on administrative leave for the next month without pay. Excessive force was I.A.'s determination." "I see. Would you like to go somewhere together? I think we need some time out of this pressure cooker we call our lives to just relax and try out this new relationship." Natalie looked at him hopefully. And watched as an even wider grin covered his face. "Just what I was going to suggest, myself. Where would you like to go, Nat?" Natalie hesitated about what she was going to say next. She wasn't sure how he might take it. He hadn't really said anything about marriage, but his every action seemed to express his commitment to her. "Nick, I'd like to know more about you. Who were you before you met LaCroix? Where you were born? What was your family like? Does your home still exist? Could we go there? You've lived in my home country for the past six years, at least. I want to know more about the man who, most likely, will become my husband." She hadn't thought his smile could grow any wider, but the brief flash she caught, before he smothered her in kisses, looked as if it might cut his head in two. When Nick finally let Natalie go, his eyes had gone to a feral red, and he was trembling with the effort to keep from attacking her. He jumped up from the couch and disappeared into the kitchen. Natalie could hear the sound of the refrigerator opening and was very glad she had picked up a case of blood at the Raven the previous night on her way home. The place had not been open for normal business, but LaCroix had greeted her graciously before her hand had even touched the door handle, and had cheerfully sold her what Nick needed. When Nick returned to the couch, he was composed, even sober in his attitude. "That was close, Nat. I keep forgetting how very much you affect me." Then he smiled shyly at her and reached into his pocket. He fished out a small box and handed it to her. "Go ahead, open it," he encouraged her quietly. Natalie lifted the box from his hand and opened it. Inside she found a magnificent marquis cut ruby ringed with diamonds. The ruby was not overly large, perhaps half a carat, but its deep, red clarity was flawless. Natalie looked up at Nick and smiled as he reached into the box, lifted out the ring, and placed it upon the ring finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly. "It's my promise to you," Nick said quietly. "If we can control this terrible desire I have for your blood,...enough to make Janette's cure work,...I want you to be my wife." He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "But I have no desire to tie you to a hopeless quest, my love. If you do not wish to attempt this, I will understand." Then he waited, tensely, for her answer. "Nick, I want very much to marry you and live with you for the rest of our lives. I would marry you even if you were not human, if you would have me." Natalie told him sincerely. Nick's lips met hers in a tender, gentle kiss and he smiled at her through the tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes. She reached up and wiped them away with her fingers before they could fall, and he kissed her fingertips. They sat together gazing into one another's eyes for a long time. Natalie finally roused herself and asked, "Well, where do we want to go?" "My home is no longer there, in Brabant. But the countryside in the Netherlands and Belgium is beautiful. If you really want to see where I was born, we can go there. Have you ever seen Paris? It's a beautiful city. They say it's for lovers. I spent much of my life in that place. It's where LaCroix found me, but there are also many happy memories there. I've lived just about everywhere around the globe, Natalie. I could show you anyplace you'd like to see." "Let's go to Brabant. I want to see the countryside. No big cities, Nick, no matter how romantic. I need peace and quiet just now. Is that all right with you?" "Of course it is, my love. Anywhere you want to be is where I want to be." "Could we just rent a car somewhere in the low countries and drive where we want to go, Nick?" "Sure, no problem. Let me make the travel arrangements. When do you want to leave?" "As soon as you can organize things. I don't want to waste any of our time off. When we get back we can decide what we want to do next. I may still decide I want to resign. And you might want to think about where you'd like to go next," Natalie urged him. Nick looked closely at her. "Nat, are you sure you want this? Your profession is very important to you. I don't want to be the reason for you to give up your life." "Nick, I'm not giving anything up, I'm just thinking over possibilities for change. This job I have now is just fine, but I could do research. I'd like that. And I think, Mr. Knight, that you might know how I could set up a laboratory to do just that, most anywhere we wanted. Am I right?" Nick grinned at her and nodded. "Yeah, I do. I just don't want to force you into anything you don't really want, Natalie." "You don't really know me very well do you?" Natalie asked. Nick looked puzzled. "Don't you understand yet, you big lug. I love you. You are my life. When people marry, they make these kinds of changes voluntarily. This is what I want, Nick. I want whatever it takes to keep us together." Nick just looked at her and shook his head. She reached up and kissed him sweetly, then wrapped her arms around his neck and devoured him. When she pulled back, he just stared at her with his mouth open. Then he grinned at her. "Well, I'd better go make those travel arrangements. You get packed, and I'll pick you up tomorrow evening just after sundown. Let's plan on traveling for about two weeks. Then we'll come home and see what we want to do next." Natalie nodded, rose and followed him to the door. He pulled her into his arms again for a goodbye kiss. Then he was gone. Natalie relaxed against the door for a moment, then she went to the phone to call Grace. "Natalie!" Grace answered the phone in the morgue, "What are you up to, girl? You've sure got that blonde detective worried about you." "Just keeping him on his toes, Grace. Say, would you look after Sydney for me for the next few weeks? I'm going to take advantage of this leave of absence to take a vacation." "I'd be more than happy to, Natalie. Where are you planning on going? And is there anything I should know?" "Belgium. And what do you think you should know, Grace?" Natalie asked innocently. "Give, girl. There's something going on between you and that detective. I want to know just how far it's gone. You know you can't keep secrets from me, Dr. Lambert!" Natalie knew that Grace would needle her until she got every scrap of gossip possible, so she decided to provide the edited version for public consumption. She and Nick would have to cut their ties with Toronto sooner or later, and she thought she should begin to pave the way. "Well, Grace, we're going to vacation together. We've decided to find out if there's a future for a real relationship. But that's as far as things have gone, honest." "Well, it's about time! I don't know if you realize just how many people have been rooting for you two to get together. It was beginning to look like you would never realize what we all know. You and Nick were meant for each other. Don't come back without a ring on your finger!" Grace admonished. Natalie giggled, "Are you in the pool, too, Grace?" "Natalie!" Grace was scandalized. "How did you know about the pool?" "Schanke let it drop. And if it helps any, I have a ring." "Good for you, girl! What's it like?" "Why don't you drop over after your shift, and I'll show you. And you can get reacquainted with Syd." "Listen, Natalie, don't worry about Sydney, he and I get along just fine. But I am dying to see that ring. I'll be over as soon as I can. I won't be disturbing you will I?" "No, Grace, he's not here. He's making travel arrangements and letting me have time to pack. You won't be interrupting anything. We're not leaving until tomorrow evening. Why don't you stop in, and I'll fix you breakfast." "Done, see you soon." Grace hung up and immediately dialed her friend at Toronto Metro. Hanging up the phone at home, Natalie knew the grapevine would be buzzing. While Natalie talked to Grace, Nick was heading for the hospital. He knew he would have to let Tracy confront him. He didn't want to leave that loose end dangling in case he and Natalie decided not to return from their trip. He pulled up into the hospital parking lot, rehearsing in his head all the reasons he had not confided in Tracy. By the time he'd gotten to her room, he thought he had a well-thought-out answer for anything she might ask him. "Well, it's about time!" Tracy greeted him. She sat up straight in bed and leaned toward him eagerly. "About time for what, Trace?" Nick asked, wondering why she wasn't angry. "I wondered when you would get around to asking Natalie to marry you. But how could you!?" Tracy exploded. Nick was completely floored. How did Tracy find out? He just stood and stared at her. "Well, are you going to explain or what?" Tracy demanded. "How did you find out about Nat and I?" Nick was amazed! "Grace called me....Well, how can you? I know what you are, Nick Knight. How could you not tell me?" Avid curiosity and intense excitement seemed to dominate Tracy's entire demeanor, colored with just a trace of anger. "Tracy, just calm down. I'll try to explain. That's why I came. I am glad to see you're feeling better. You were in pretty rotten shape last night. We thought we'd lost you for a while." "Come on, Nick, give!!" "Why aren't you more angry with me? You seemed so disappointed in me last night when you realized what I hadn't told you." "LaCroix came by earlier." "LaCroix!?" Nick nearly choked on the name. "I think he wanted to make sure I could keep a secret. He explained why I'm still alive. And he told me what your relationship is to him. God, Nick, I'd hate to be tied to him for life! It seems to me that's enough punishment without my being angry with you. How can you and Natalie be together with him around? I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him." "We're not absolutely sure we can be together, but we're working on it. You know how hard it is. You and Vachon were close friends." "Yeah, we were," Tracy brooded quietly for a moment. Then she looked up at Nick. "I hope you and Natalie have a better chance at happiness than Vachon and I had." Nick reached over and patted her on the shoulder. "Just exactly what did LaCroix tell you?" "He told me that when the bullets went through you, they carried some of your blood and tissue into me. Whatever makes you what you are, healed my wounds. He told me that I would always be able to identify creatures like yourself and him. He warned me that there was a remote possibility that I might become a hunter. But because you and I had respect for one another, and there didn't seem to be that much tissue exchange involved, he didn't think I would be. He said that I might live longer than average, and I'd always be very healthy. Sounds like a nice trade off. I owe you my life, Nick. Thank you." Nick waved away her thanks. "I'm just glad I didn't have an adverse effect on you, Trace. What will you do now? Will you stay with the force?" "Yeah, I think I will. I'm going to try to do what you and Natalie have done, be an interface for the Community. I hope you two know what you're doing. And I hope it works out for you both." Nick leaned down and gave Tracy a big hug. "Thanks, Trace. We'll try to be careful. We'll be back after our vacation. If we decide to move on, we'll let you know." "You'd better, partner. No more secrets, O.K.?" "O.K., Trace. So long." Nick left Tracy's room speculating on just what LaCroix had wanted to achieve by visiting Tracy. If he had wanted to develop a friendly source of information about Natalie and himself, Nick thought, Tracy wasn't going to be as cooperative as LaCroix might have imagined. Nick smiled to himself. Then he decided to head for the Raven to talk to LaCroix. If he appeared to be open and told LaCroix their current plans, it might buy them some quiet time. Within half an hour Nick pulled up in front of the Raven, parked the caddy, and headed for the door. It opened before he could reach the handle. LaCroix greeted him and ushered Nick into the office where LaCroix pulled out two wine glasses and a bottle. LaCroix poured out a glassful of blood wine for each of them and settled into the large leather chair behind the desk, leaving the easy chair for Nick. "How is your partner this evening?" "Feeling very much better. She said you visited and explained what had happened to her." Nick observed. "Yes, she was rather angry with you at first. But I believe she was truly grateful to you for her life." LaCroix smiled. "It's just a shame her friend, Vachon, didn't survive Divia's assault." "Yes. What have you decided, Nicholas? Will you be leaving with me at the end of this week?" "No, LaCroix. Natalie and I have decided to move on together. We're announcing our engagement, and going on vacation together tomorrow evening." "Your engagement? To a mortal?" LaCroix's eyebrows rose in query. "You tried that once before. It didn't work." "I know, LaCroix. I won't try that again, but we have to tell her friends something. I still wish to pursue my quest for a way back, LaCroix." "What does your doctor want, Nicholas?" "She wants us to be together. She says she doesn't care what I am. She wants me to continue drinking human blood. She says it's unhealthy for me to drink the cow blood. She thinks it will be easier for us to be together if I'm not starving myself. Have you been influencing her, LaCroix?" Nick suddenly and forcefully demanded. LaCroix chuckled. "No, Nicholas, I have not been influencing her. She's just realized the facts. You and she are different kinds of being. Your superior nature requires a very refined food. You should bring her across, Nicholas. She is a very intelligent woman. She would be a great improvement to the general tenor of our Community." "You will not interfere with us, LaCroix!" Nick insisted. "No, I will not interfere, Nicholas. You will bring her across on your own eventually. I would not dream of inhibiting your desires in this matter." LaCroix smiled again. "Let me know when you return from your little sojourn. Aristotle knows where I am relocating. Enjoy your trip home." "How did you know where we were going?" "Oh, Nicholas, really, you are so predictable. Every young man takes the woman he intends to marry home to meet the family. Your original family no longer exists, but you do still have ties to the land. Show her your new home. She will be suitably impressed." Nick sat and looked at LaCroix for a long moment assessing his master's mood and truthfulness. He finally satisfied himself that LaCroix was telling the truth, but he still knew that the ancient vampire would expect Natalie to be brought across. They would have to be very careful when they decided to genuinely move on without LaCroix's knowledge. Nick finished his drink and rose to depart. "I will let you know when we return," Nick said, "But I expect that you will use your own resources and will know before we do." Nick smiled faintly. "Indeed. Enjoy your time with Dr. Lambert while you can. I will not interfere." "Thank you, LaCroix," Nick left. Nick shook himself as he slipped into the driver's seat of the caddy. Now he could set about making their travel arrangements. He headed back to the loft and began making phone calls. When he finished his calls, he packed some of what he thought he would need on their trip. Then he downed a full bottle of blood before settling himself to sleep through the day. Hours later, Nick bolted upright in bed, he was sweating profusely, and his breath came in painful pants. The nightmare began as a beautiful dream of his and Natalie's marriage. Although, now that he was awake, Nick realized it was a replay of his marriage to Alyssa. The nightmare began when he drained Natalie just as he had Alyssa. The taste and scent of Natalie's blood was so exquisitely intoxicating! He had not been able to stop until he consumed her completely. There was never any hope of bringing her across. Then, in his dream, he had gone to the window and opened it. He lay with his bride until the sun rose and burned him to ashes. No, Nick resolved to himself, it will not happen that way. I will not kill Natalie. We shall be together. He got up from the bed. Glancing at the clock he noticed it was only noon. He went downstairs where he consumed two full bottles of blood. Then he returned to the bedroom suite, showered, changed his pajamas, and went back to bed. He slept the rest of the day peacefully. When he awoke at his normal hour, Nick rose and finished packing for their trip. In addition to his toiletries and nourishment, he included a bulky package which was wrapped as a gift in his attache case. As he placed it in the bag, a wistful look came over his face as he speculated what Natalie's reaction would be to this present. Just as Nick completed his packing, the door video buzzed. The car he had ordered to carry himself and Natalie to the airport had arrived. Natalie and Grace spent a satisfying morning admiring Natalie's new ring and discussing the joys and disappointments of courtship. Both ladies had had their share of relationships that had failed. "The first timeI saw you and Nick together, I knew you two were meant for each other," Grace said "Grace you've said that about everyone I've dated!" Natalie exclaimed. "This time it will work, Natalie. Believe me!" Grace assured her. "He's right for you." Natalie had her reservations about a relationship with Nick while he was still a vampire, but she couldn't imagine being with anyone else. Of course she couldn't tell Grace that, so she simply complained mildly about his occasional inattentiveness. Grace agreed that Nick hadn't always been the most attentive of lovers. Grace thought to herself. "But I could always tell how much he cared about you. It's the way he looks at you when he doesn't think you'll notice," Grace asserted. It was late when Grace left, and Natalie finally went to bed. She'd managed to oversleep, and now she was in a rush. Natalie raced about her apartment gathering up her cosmetics and toiletries and throwing them in her overnight bag. She was very glad she had packed everything else before Grace had arrived. She took one last glance around to be sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Sydney wandered into the room to check out Natalie's bags. She picked him up to hug him one last time, to his immense disgust. When she released him, he bounced across the room, then curled up and began to re-groom himself where Natalie had disturbed the arrangement of his fur. Just then Natalie heard a soft knock on her door. She raced to open it, and found Nick smiling widely on the other side. He gathered her into his arms for an enthusiastic kiss, then scooped up her bags and whisked her out the door. "You didn't even give me time to tell Sydney to be a good kitty," she complained gently as Nick led her down the hall. "You already said goodbye to him. He was still rearranging his fur. I noticed." Nick told her with a mischievous grin. Natalie returned his grin and slipped her arm through his as they continued down the hall. "Wow, a limo!" Natalie exclaimed as they neared the curb where the large black car was waiting. "I had to make some special arrangements. Apparently all the regular transportation is booked for the next week or so. People seem to be having conventions this time of year, and I didn't want to disappoint you." "Well, I guess I'll just have to get used to luxury," Natalie commented as the driver came around to the passenger side, seated his passengers, shut the door, and loaded the bags in the trunk on his way back to the driver's seat. The drive to the airport was uneventful, but when they arrived at the bustling complex, the driver passed the main terminal and continued on to the small civil aviation airport adjoining the commercial airlines property. "What next, Nick? Are we flying a Lear jet to Europe?" Natalie joked. "Sort of," Nick answered with another charming smile. "It's actually a Gulfstream V. It belongs to the Foundation, but they let me use it when I'm on business for them. And we do have some business to do in Brussels." Natalie was speechless for a moment, she'd known about the Foundation and the immensity of his wealth. But it just hadn't sunk into her consciousness until the moment that she saw the beautiful executive jet imprinted with the deBrabant Foundation logo standing in front of the hangar. Floodlights illumined the bustling mechanics obviously making last minute checks on the aircraft. She breathed a huge sigh and inwardly adjusted her perception of Nick to include the worldly businessman he obviously was, in addition to the very competent detective and the anguished vampire with whom she was much more familiar and comfortable. End part 2 of 8 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman All Comments to bdundee@aol.com Subject: ADULT: Knightmares, 3 of 8 Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 11:46:49 EDT From: Rebecca Chessman To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Knightmares - part 3 of 8 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1 by Rebecca L. Chessman The limo driver stopped his vehicle at the bottom of the steps leading to the open door of the plane. A uniformed stewardess appeared at the top of the stairs. Nick led Natalie to the foot of the stairway and gestured for her to ascend. When she reached the top of the stairs, the stewardess ushered Natalie to a comfortable easy chair next to the window on the far side of the plane. A second chair faced hers across a table. A second, similar setup, filled the rest of the passenger cabin on the same wall. An attractively efficient teakwood galley/wet bar graced the opposite side of the cabin. A three-seat couch, placed next to the galley, filled the remainder of the cabin. A central opening in a teakwood bulkhead led to a second cabin at the rear of the plane. Nick and the chauffeur loaded the bags they had taken from the trunk of the limo into the baggage compartment in the belly of the plane. Nick reserved his attache case and Natalie's medical case and overnight bag, which he carried up the steps after paying for the limo and tipping the chauffeur generously in cash. "Good evening, Mr. Knight," the stewardess greeted him as he stowed his briefcase under the easy chair across from Natalie's. "Hello,...Angela Fredericks, isn't it? Please call me Nick." "Yes, sir,... Nick, it's nice to see you again. George and Tom are your pilots tonight, and Luke is our navigator. I hear we're headed for Brussels this time," Angela replied. "Yes, we are. I'd like you to meet Dr. Natalie Lambert, my fiancee," Nick told the stewardess. "Good evening, Dr. Lambert. It's a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations to you both!" She smiled as she shook Natalie's hand. "I'm going to check and be sure all the food was delivered properly. I'll be back to serve as soon as George tells me it's stable enough." She moved briskly to the rear of the plane. "Do you travel this way often?" Natalie asked Nick as he handed her her bags which she stowed in the space beneath her chair, as she had seen him do with his own. "No, not really. I check on the Foundation's work about once a year through the lawyer, mostly. But this past year we've had some heavier demands due to crises in food supplies to some areas we've been aiding, and I had to do some personal intervention at least twice. I try not to do too much traveling. They have a tendency to pamper me," he grinned as he settled into the chair next to Natalie's, "and I don't really deserve it." Natalie settled more deeply into her chair and tried to relax. Her eyes darted about the cabin as she took in the understated elegance of their surroundings. The overall color of the interior of the plane was a creamy beige, but the cushions in the furnishings were a deep burgundy with a small deBrabant logo worked in gold and black repeated throughout the tough, woven fabric. The full logo was emblazoned on the front of the galley. The usual shades were apparent in the plane's windows, but, in addition, beige blackout curtains were tied back to either side of each window. The floor was covered in burgundy indoor/outdoor carpet. The beige, burgundy, and gold, and the obviously fine workmanship of each detail of the cabin's furnishings, conveyed a feeling of quiet, confident, privilege. Nick interrupted Natalie's perusal of the cabin to advise her to strap herself in, and showed her where her seat belt was hidden in the depths of the chair. They both prepared themselves for take off. Angela passed through their area to the crew cabin. She returned very shortly, "George says we're ready to take off." She moved to the outer door and secured it, smiled at them, and disappeared into the crew cabin once again. "Is she going to stay in the cockpit?" Natalie asked Nick. "Yes, I had the plane modified to allow the entire crew to remain together if they chose. Sometimes they only fly cargo, and it gets lonely for someone stuck back here by themselves. "Cargo!? Where could you possibly put cargo amidst all this elegance?" Natalie asked. "Mostly in the belly of the plane, but in the cabin behind this one we can load a good deal more. I'll show you once we're airborne," Nick replied. The plane began its taxi out to the runway. Natalie and Nick settled in, Natalie peered out at the airport lights as the plane moved. Nick sat watching Natalie, delighting in her obvious excitement. Natalie had always enjoyed flying, but had never flown in an executive jet before. She had had to put up with small deHavillands on short hops, occasionally, but this plane seemed very much larger and was infinitely more comfortable. She felt the same exhilaration she always did when the plane lifted from the ground. And she eagerly gazed at the lights of Toronto as the city spread before them while the plane circled gently to rise to its appointed altitude. Soon the entire metropolitan area was spread before her. She was glad it was a clear night. She'd rarely had the opportunity to see so far. Then the plane passed into some high cloud cover, and she lost her view of the ground. Natalie sighed deeply at the lost beauty and turned to Nick. "How long will the flight take?" "About eight hours, we have about 4,000 miles to cover. This plane's range is 6,500 miles. It will carry people and supplies nearly anywhere. We also have a small medical setup in the second cabin near the lavatory. The Foundation had a Gulfstream IV, but I found it really didn't carry enough fuel or cargo. When you're flying rescue missions, things can often go wrong. So when this model became available, we upgraded. I hate losing good people to bad planning." "I've noticed that," Natalie smiled at him. "What do we do with all that time? You don't provide a movie on the flight do you?" "Not usually, but I had them bring along some of your favorites. I also have a little something else I think will help to pass the time." Nick replied. At that moment Angela appeared through the cockpit doorway and announced, "George says we're at cruising altitude, if you'd like to get up and move around. He doesn't think we'll have much rough air, and the jet stream is with us. It should be a good flight. How soon would you like supper?" "Natalie, when would you like to eat?" Nick asked her. "Not for another hour or so, would that be all right?" "Just fine, Dr. Lambert." "Please, just call me Natalie." "Very well, Natalie, I'll serve supper in about an hour. In the meantime I'll make some fresh coffee, and you can help yourselves to the bar. I'm sure Nick wants to show you around the plane. I won't spoil his tour." She turned to the galley and began assembling a pot of coffee. Nick turned to Natalie and asked, "Would you like the grand tour?" "Of course!" He led her through the passage to the rear cabin, and Natalie was amazed to find a fully equipped medical suite complete with an examination table which could function as an operating theater. The lavatory came equipped with a small shower as well as the usual toilet and sink, and behind these facilities was an open area equipped with cargo nets and tie-downs. A mound of boxes labeled 'medical supplies' occupied the center of this area. "What's with the medical supplies, Nick?" Natalie asked. "That's our business in Brussels," Nick replied. "We're meeting a medical team who will take the plane to deliver these supplies and their services to the Balkans. There is a very great need in that area just now. The Foundation is only one of the groups sending aid." "I see," Natalie commented. "I've been tempted to volunteer on one of those teams myself. But I daresay they'd rather have pediatricians and internists." "They need good pathologists too," Nick told her. "Dr. Moya has told me that he prefers to have someone examine the dead as well as the living anytime he's called into a new area. He says he needs to know everything the people suffer from, not just what's been most recently visited upon them. He insists it helps in proper diagnosis and treatment." "That does make good medical sense, especially when you're dealing with a transient population. I'd like to meet this Dr. Moya," Natalie said. "You will. He's leading this team. He's put together a group from all over Europe. He regularly flies to Mexico and other parts of Latin America each year to volunteer in primitive areas where they don't have and can't afford regular doctors. The Foundation also funds similar efforts in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia." "I'm impressed." "Not with me, I hope. The Foundation simply does very necessary work." "Work that wouldn't be done if you didn't direct it properly, Nick. Don't sell yourself short," Natalie huffed at him. Nick just took her hand and led her back toward their original seats. "Never mind that, Nat. I have something else I'd like to share, if you don't mind." Natalie could tell he was uncomfortable accepting any praise for his charitable efforts. She still was extremely proud of him. It took knowledge and financial ability to make the kind of operation Nick had described work well and deliver the help it was intended to give. Many other charitable organizations had been unable to deliver on their promises of aid when their funds had been embezzled or supplies had been stolen. Nick had investigated a murder involving one of those organizations two years before. She knew no slips would be made in the deBrabant Foundation or Nick would know and correct them immediately. She shivered a bit at the thought of just what he might do to anyone who diverted help he had intended for those who needed it. And she pondered her own feeling of satisfaction that he had the necessary power and could and would use it, ruthlessly and effectively, if it were required. Nick interrupted her thoughts deliciously by slipping an arm around her and hugging her to his side as he led her back to the main passenger cabin. He settled her on the couch next to the galley and left her, momentarily, to retrieve the present he had left in his attache case. He carried the package to where Natalie now sat and handed it to her. She looked up at him and commented, "You'll spoil me with so many gifts." "Good," was Nick's only response as he settled at her side. Natalie quickly removed the festive bow, unwrapped the lovely paper, and looked questioningly up into Nick's eyes as she opened the front cover of one of the two albums she held in her lap. "You said you wanted to know more about me," Nick said. "LaCroix had me make the first album when he was helping me regain my memory. He expects me to destroy it. And I will. We can't leave evidence like this lying around. The Enforcers would hear of it, and you and I would be dead. But I wanted to share it with you before I do destroy it. The second album is one I have kept of things you and I have shared. That one is yours to keep and add to if you wish. It has nothing of the vampire in it." Natalie nodded, speechless at the trust he was placing in her, and very moved by the simple existence of the second album. "These first pictures, they're very old. They're miniatures?" Nick nodded, "When I first learned to paint, I set myself the task of making portraits of my family as I remembered them. I painted a miniature of each of them. This is my uncle, Henri, the Duke deBrabant. These are my father and mother, my sister, Fleur, and her son, Andre. These on the next page are my older brothers and older sister. This one became the duke, eventually, when my cousins died without issue." Nick pointed at one of the dark haired young men who looked very much like Nick's father. "You took after your mother, didn't you," Natalie noted, turning back to the first page to gaze again into the faded portrait of a lovely blonde woman. "What was her name?" "Clara, we were very close. I was the youngest son. When I was a boy, she would take me with her when she visited the people on the estate who needed medical help. She was the closest thing we had to a doctor in those days. Her mother had taught her herbal cures. She taught me to find and prepare the proper ingredients to brew some of the concoctions she used. Some of them have come back into use now in a much more precise and consistent form." Natalie nodded, "Now they call the old herbal cures homeopathic medicine. And many have become standardized prescription medicines." Nick met her eyes and acknowledged her observation, then he continued his story. "Fleur and I grew up in very nearly a separate family from my brothers and my older sister. My brothers were all settled on their own lands, or in the monastery, and my older sister married, before I was seven. Fleur was four years younger than I. Soon after she was born, I was fostered to another family to learn the proper way to be a knight and run an estate." "I had just won my spurs when Father was killed in battle. But I stayed on with my lord DelaBarre until I was sent to the Crusades. Mother kept the estate for me while I was in the Holy Land. It was the least of my father's possessions. The best land went to the oldest son. I was lucky Father had many holdings, and one of my brothers became a monk, or I would not have had this bit. The church paid my family well when I went on Crusade, so Mother could afford to keep up the estate." "I gave part of the land to Fleur for her dowry when she married. When Mother died, I closed the castle. It fell into ruin over the centuries. I kept the land for many years, but eventually, I had to sell it. Recently, I found some land which reminds me of the place where I was born. I bought it and built a house there. That's where we'll be staying. It's no castle, but it's comfortable. It's on the coast, so you can hear the ocean. The architectural style offers thorough protection from the sun, but one can swim and sunbathe beside the pool in complete privacy." Natalie smiled up at him. "It sounds lovely, Nick. But won't it be a bit cool for swimming and sunbathing this time of year?" "It would be if the deck were outdoors, but I had it roofed and enclosed in glass. It doubles as a conservatory," Nick told her. "I'm looking forward to seeing it. Are you truly going to destroy these little paintings? Can't you just disassemble the album?" "I could. If you wish, you can keep the things you want. Just don't keep them together like this." "I won't. But I can't bear to part with these. They're wonderful paintings." "They're very delicate. I really should put them back into storage with the other art work I own." "Please do, Nick," Natalie smiled sweetly at him. He reached to gently caress her cheek, then added a firm, delectable kiss which was interrupted by Angela entering the cabin bearing trays of food. Nick looked up as she placed the trays on the table between the two chairs he and Natalie had occupied earlier. Natalie closed the album in her lap and said, "Oh, that smells wonderful. Thank you so much, Angela." "You're very welcome, Natalie." Angela smiled at them knowingly and said, "I'm quite sure you two don't mind eating alone. I'm going to eat with the crew in the cockpit." Then she left them alone. Natalie rose from her seat and walked back to settle in front of her dinner. It was a deliciously broiled filet mignon with small, white parslied potatoes and a colorful selection of fresh vegetables. "Oh, this looks wonderful, Nick. What a shame you don't care for such lovely food." "I'll find something I can tolerate," Nick replied as he settled into his seat. He reached under his seat and brought out his attache case again. He withdrew a slim green bottle with the Raven's label and filled the wine glass which sat upon his tray. He ignored the food laid out on his plate and quietly savored his chosen repast. Natalie meanwhile attacked her plate with relish. She filled her glass from the tiny bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon which had been provided with her dinner and sipped delightedly at it. When she finished, Nick offered her his dinner, "Would you like more wine with that?" Nick asked. "Yes, I would, thank you." She paused for a moment, then traded plates with him and ate a bit more. Nick rose from his chair and went to the galley and found a second bottle of wine for Natalie. When she was full, she settled back in her chair and eyed Nick as he sat at his ease watching her over the rim of his glass. He had enjoyed watching her eat. He liked watching her do anything, he reflected. She was so radiantly alive! "A penny for your thoughts," Natalie teased him. "I was just thinking how much I like watching you. You're truly beautiful, Natalie." Natalie blushed at the compliment and saw his slight smile widen appreciatively, which only made her blush more furiously. Nick finished the liquid in his glass, replaced the cork in the bottle, and stowed it back under his seat. Then he leaned forward to take her hand and lead her back to the couch. She followed him cheerfully, but she teased as they walked, "Don't you serve dessert on this airline?" "Of course, milady. But we allow dinner to settle first." He eyed her suggestively then remarked, "I'm going to wait until we land before I have mine." Natalie caught her breath as his meaning penetrated her understanding, and blushed a third time. Nick pulled her down onto the couch, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her thoroughly. She gasped for air, and his eyes sparkled a brilliant gold when he released her. He drew back and picked up the album from where she had left it and placed it into her hands. "I think we'd better go back to the past for a while." Natalie smiled up into his eyes which were slowly regaining their blue color and said, "Perhaps that's wisest." Nick slipped one arm around her shoulders, and they bent once again over the album which told his life story. He reminisced quietly, retelling her some parts of his life he had only half-shared with her in the past, and startling her with brilliantly colorful anecdotes about each picture or bit of memorabilia he had placed in the album. In addition to the portraits he had made, there were also letters, pressed flowers, delicately embroidered handkerchiefs, bits of fabric, lace, stamps, small coins, theater and opera programs, calling cards, an occasional bank note, melted wax seals bearing the imprint of various signet rings, and, later in the book, faded photographs, deeds, newspaper clippings, business cards, dozens of items denoting the many incarnations Nick had experienced during his centuries-long life. When Natalie turned to yet another portrait of a lovely, young, blond woman, Nick named her. "Alyssa, she was my wife." He now, finally, told her the full story of his lost wife. "And Natalie, I dreamed I killed you, too. But I won't let it happen this time. I can control myself. And I will." His eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and Natalie could feel his resolution emanating from him like a solid wall of resistance. "Nick, I know you have that much control. I trust you." "I'm still afraid, Natalie. The only thing in my life I cannot live without is right here next to me. I love you, Natalie. Nothing, and no one else, in my life has meant so much to me as you do." He kissed her cheek gently. Natalie remained staring up at him for a timeless moment. Then she said, "That's completely unbelievable to me, Nick. Why? Why me?" Nick gazed into her eyes and answered, "You've always known my secret. Yet, you've never been afraid of me, of what I am. You care for me, even though you know I've killed hundreds of thousands. You've never betrayed my trust. You've borne my neglect of you, and your needs, without a whimper. And you are a very admirable, intelligent, and interesting human being. How could I not love you with every atom of my being?" Natalie just shook her head. "I still don't understand it. You have so many talents, so much experience of the world. You've known such fascinating people, lived so many intriguing lives, traveled so many places. I'd think I'd be boring to you." "Never boring. I never know quite how you will react to things. Your view of life is as unique as anyone I've known. You keep surprising me. Never boring, my dearest, delectable, Natalie." And he punctuated each of his last words with a soft nibble upon her lips. Then he gathered her up for another deeply passionate embrace. In the midst of this delightful interlude, Natalie could hear someone nervously clearing her throat. Then, as Nick released her, she heard Angela ask if they would like dessert. Natalie began to giggle uncontrollably. And when she looked at Nick, she thought she had never seen him look quite so guilty as he looked at that moment. She was sure the slightly pink tinge his face was manifesting was the vampire equivalent of a furious blush. Natalie finally managed to control her laughter, and asked, "What do we have for dessert, Angela?" Angela grinned and said, "Chocolate mousse. Nick said chocolate was your favorite." "Oh yes, I definitely want dessert. Nick says he's waiting until we land for his." Natalie grinned evilly at Nick, whose face flushed an even brighter pink. She laughed at his discomfiture. And Angela joined in her laughter, although Natalie knew she didn't fully understand the joke. Then Angela reached into the tiny refrigerator tucked into the galley and handed Natalie a parfait glass, generously filled with mousse, and a spoon. Angela also placed four other desserts on a tray and asked, "Are you sure you don't want any, Nick?" "Quite sure, thank you, Angela. But I might feed it to Nat later," he grinned. Angela took the tray into the cockpit and left Nick and Natalie to themselves again. Nick took the album from her lap so she could concentrate on her dessert. After the first mouthful Natalie exclaimed, "It's simply marvelous! It has bits of chocolate blended into the mousse that just melt in your mouth. And it's so rich." "It's Belgian chocolate. I'm told it's specially designed to satisfy the most discerning chocoholic. I believe you belong to that eminent society," Nick winked at her. "I do, and it is that good," Natalie replied as she relished yet another bite. When she had finished her treat, Nick asked her if she wanted his. At her vehement affirmation, he rose, took her empty dish and spoon, and fetched the last dessert from the refrigerator. She reached for the glass, but Nick kept it. "No, you don't. I'll feed it to you. I want to enjoy it with you." Then he proceeded to feed her the mousse, stealing a kiss before each bite, tasting the residue of chocolate which remained in her mouth, together with her own heady flavor. When they finished the dessert, her breath came quickly, and his eyes glowed. He rose and placed the empty glass and spoon on the galley's counter. When he returned to his place at her side, her breathing had calmed, and his eyes had once again become blue. Nick replaced the album in her lap, but then the crew cabin door opened and a tall, handsome man came into the cabin. "George," Nick exclaimed, "I want you to meet my fiancee, Dr. Natalie Lambert. Natalie this is our pilot, George Fredericks. He's also Angela's husband." "Hello, Dr. Lambert. I've heard very nice things about you from Angela. I'm glad Nick's finally going to have someone to take care of him. He doesn't do very well on his own," their pilot said with a smile. "Call me Natalie, George. You're right. He does need someone to watch out for him. He gets into terrible scrapes on his own." Nick humphed at them, but they both ignored him. "Would you like to see the cockpit, Natalie? I'll introduce you to the rest of the crew. We still have several hours of flight time. I hope Nick brought something along to entertain you. He's prone to working, reading, and brooding when he flies alone." "I'd love to see the cockpit and meet the crew. This time he did bring some entertainment along. Thank you for asking." Natalie followed George into the cockpit and met Tom, the co-pilot, and Luke, the navigator. She had expected the crew's cabin to be Spartan, but it was as well-appointed, if smaller, than the passenger cabin. The crew were a cheerfully efficient team. Natalie enjoyed her brief sojourn with them. George explained each crew position to her and showed her some of the instruments. She returned to the couch in the main cabin to share her impressions with Nick. "Nick, you have a wonderful crew on this plane," Natalie enthused. "They're not my crew, they're employed by the Foundation," Nick corrected her, gently. "Well, the Foundation certainly knows how to find excellent personnel. I'm glad it believes in nepotism." Nick smiled at her, then responded, "You wouldn't want it to split up a good team would you?" "Never!" she responded. "Would you like to watch a movie for a while?" Nick asked her. "Yes, I think I'd like that." Natalie thought to herself. "The tapes are behind that door," Nick told her, indicating one of the storage areas mounted on the bulkhead between the passenger and crew cabins. "Choose what you'd like to see." While Natalie selected a tape, Nick lowered the screen mounted in the ceiling of the plane. When she returned to her seat, he loaded one of the two tapes she handed him and activated the projector which was placed at the back of the passenger cabin. They settled onto the couch, Nick's arms encircling Natalie, and watched two of Natalie's favorite comedies. They fell asleep in each other's arms, stretched out on the couch, close to the end of the second film. End part 3 of 8 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman All comments to bdundee@aol.com Subject: ADULT: Knightmares, renumbered pt. 4 = 5 of 11 Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:57:20 EDT From: Rebecca Chessman To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Knightmares - part 5 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1 by Rebecca L. Chessman Several hours later Nick awoke. Natalie still slept, wrapped in his embrace. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, and she smiled in her sleep. She was so warm, soft, inviting. He kissed her again, and this time she stirred, her eyes opened, and she looked up at him. "I like waking up in your arms," Natalie said quietly. "Maybe we can make it a regular event, soon," Nick murmured as he brushed his nose against hers. "Mmmmm....I'm counting on it," Natalie returned as she reached up and stroked his cheek. Then she pulled his head down for a proper kiss. "You know, you need a shave," Natalie remarked as she stroked his cheek. "You don't care for the bearded look?" Nick asked. "I like you anyway you're comfortable, Nick." "The beard itches," he replied. "I'd like a shower. May I?" Natalie asked. "Of course, help yourself. Ladies first," Nick told her. Natalie rose and retrieved her overnight case, then she went into the rear cabin and used the lavatory and shower facilities. When she was finished, she exited the shower and could hear Nick humming in the adjoining lavatory. She returned to the passenger cabin and found that the screen had been raised and a breakfast was waiting for herself and Nick on the table where they had eaten dinner. Natalie dug into the omelet and croissant, reserving the fruit for dessert. She finished her repast with a steaming cup of coffee, French roast, she observed to herself. Just then Nick came into the cabin, exuding the scent of fresh aftershave. His hair was still damp, and he looked refreshed and happy. Natalie thought to herself that he had never looked so well. She savored that for just a moment. "The breakfast is delicious. Would you like yours, or can I have some of it?" "You can eat the whole thing if you like. I'm going to have my usual," Nick replied as he settled across from her and pulled his bottle from his case. He picked up the cup from his tray and filled it from the bottle and took a deep drink. Natalie exchanged plates with him and worked slowly on his omelet and croissant. "What do you do to make them think you've eaten when you travel alone?" Natalie asked conversationally. "Mostly, I tell them I'm not hungry. I hate to waste food. But sometimes I just put it in the rubbish bin when no one is looking." "Nick, does the food make you feel ill, or does it just taste badly?" Natalie asked curiously. "You've never asked me that before," Nick commented before answering. "The food smells delicious, but it all tastes flat, bland. When it goes down, it wants to come up again, immediately. It makes me sick, Nat." "You once told me that you could experience a person's life by drinking their blood. What is the bottled blood like? Does it have the same effect?" "Not quite. I can still tell what the person is like, experience their thoughts when they were donating the blood. But, really, taking it from a living being is very different. It's sensual, erotic, intoxicating. It's more than just the blood, Nat. It's the sum of the person's existence. And the thrill of the chase, the hunt, the seduction of the victim is unparalleled in any human experience I've ever had. Every sense is tuned to its highest pitch, each minute nuance of scent, touch, taste is magnified, enhanced, deeply savored." "It sounds like sex, Nick." "It is," Nick reached across the table and stroked her cheek as his eyes gleamed goldly at her. "It is." Abruptly he dropped his hand and closed his eyes as he took a deep drink from his cup. Then he looked up at her tiredly and asked, "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Natalie?" "Yes, I'm very sure. I want to make love with you, intoxicate you, make you want no other." "You've already done that, my love. I could never be satisfied with any other," Nick told her vehemently. "Then we have no choice, Nick. I need you. You need me." She smiled at him. He sighed deeply. "I'm still terrified that I'll wind up killing you, Natalie." "You won't." "But what if I brought you across? That would be worse. It would destroy you, Nat." "It might. But Nick, then we would be together. Forever." "You'd tire of me eventually, and then you'd be stuck in this existence. You'd never be able to eat your chocolate again," his eyes sparkled mockingly. "You'd hate me for that!" He smiled at her then rapidly sobered, "I don't think I could bear it, if you grew to hate me." "Nick, stop agonizing over what hasn't happened. We'll deal with problems as they arise. And, somehow, I don't think I could ever tire of you. You're a fascinating and charming man, Nicholas Knight." Natalie reached across the table and grasped his free hand in her own and squeezed it tightly. Nick smiled at her and returned her caress. She released his hand and returned to her breakfast. He thoughtfully poured himself another cupful of blood and drank it down. The bottle was nearly empty, he finished it, then rose, rinsed it out in the sink, and dumped it into the disposal bin in the galley. Angela entered the cabin as Nick returned to his seat. "Well, I see traveling with you has given Nick an appetite for a change. I approve, Natalie. Would you two like anything else?" "No, thank you. How soon do we land?" Natalie asked. "George says we'll be circling Brussels in about half an hour. You had a nice nap after the movies. That should help with your jet lag." "We're going to spend the day at the Sheraton at the airport. We have to meet Dr. Moya there later this morning. He and his team will board tomorrow morning for the flight to the Balkans," Nick told Angela. "Good, at least we'll get plenty of sleep before we take the next leg. I hope we've treated you well this trip," Angela said. "I've had a lovely flight, thank you, Angela," Natalie told her. "Please thank the rest of the crew for me." "I will, and you're very welcome. It was nice to have someone to wait on for a change," Angela replied. "Thank you, Angela. I'm glad you were headed the same way we were," Nick said. "You're always welcome to fly with us, Nick. I hope we see more of both of you." Angela picked up their dishes, tidied the galley and returned to the crew cabin. "We're spending the day in Brussels?" Natalie queried. "Not really, we'll meet Dr. Moya and his team at the hotel. By that time I think you'll be ready to really sleep, not just nap. The jet lag catches up with everyone, even vampires. Tomorrow, I thought we'd drive home. We can sightsee on the way." "How're we going to manage that without burning you alive, Nick?" "I have a car with heavily tinted windows and a chauffeur waiting to drive us. That way we can travel in comfort, and you can still see the sights. It'll be fun to see the countryside through your eyes." "How far is it to your home?" "Only a hour and a half northwest of Brussels on the Flanders coast. The closest large city is Bruges. I thought perhaps you'd like a drive through part of the area where the Brabant I knew used to be. Nowadays what was Brabant is shared between Belgium and the Netherlands." "Your foundation's logo is very close to Belgium's coat of arms," Natalie noted. "My original coat of arms was differenced from my father's and my brothers' by featuring a griffin, rather than the rampant lion. I've kept the colors and the griffin for the Foundation's logo." "You use those colors in your interior decoration at the loft, also. I used to think the red and black were just your oblique reference to your vampirism, but they're your livery colors, aren't they?" Natalie mused. Nick looked at Natalie curiously for a moment, then he said, "Yes, I suppose both your observations are true. They are my livery colors, and I suppose they fit my essential nature as well. I never really thought about it. I've just always used what I liked." They could both feel the plane's angle shift at that moment. It was becoming obvious that the pilot was making a course correction. "We'll be landing soon, Natalie. The car will meet us at the hangar and take us to the hotel." "What about customs?" "They'll meet us at the hangar, also. It's a little different from the regular passenger terminal. But this flight has been scheduled for some time now, and the customs officials are expecting us. The deBrabant Foundation has a special representative who handles the paperwork, and I am a dual citizen." "You are?" "I am." "Interesting." Nick waited for the rest of the comment he was sure would come, but Natalie chose to take the question of his citizenship no further. Within an hour the plane landed. Nick and Natalie passed the probing of the local customs authorities, were transported to their hotel, and ushered to their rooms. Nick generously tipped both the chauffeur and the bell boy who had brought their luggage to the suite. He was now on the phone to the lobby making arrangements with Dr. Moya for a brief meeting in the hotel bar. Natalie was beginning to feel a bit tired, but was anticipating a congenial visit with the doctor. When he rang off, Nick turned to her and smiled. "Dr. Moya will meet us downstairs in the bar in an hour. What would you like to do in the meantime?" "It's nearly lunchtime. Could we go downstairs and have a sandwich or something?" Natalie asked. "There is also a nice shop in the hotel lobby. Would you like to shop a little bit?" "Yes, I would, thank you." They left the room arm in arm and examined the hotel shops. Natalie noticed an attractive swimwear set on display. She tried it on, and it fit beautifully. Nick persuaded her to purchase it. She hadn't packed anything to wear for swimming. When Natalie completed her purchase, Nick asked that it be delivered to their suite. The clerk was very happy to comply with his request. Nick and Natalie left the store and headed for the hotel cafe. There Natalie enjoyed a snack and dessert while Nick sipped a glass of red wine. When it was time, they wandered into the bar to meet Dr. Moya. Dr. Ernest Moya was a tall, thin, dark-haired, bespectacled, and rather serious person. His earnest enthusiasm for the project he was pursuing for the Foundation lit his normally somber features. Natalie and Ernest, they were quickly on a first name basis, had a challenging and vigorous discussion about what pathologists could accomplish on rescue missions. Nick sat back and enjoyed the exchange of their professional views. At the end of their visit each doctor promised that one day they would work together. Nick quietly suggested that the Foundation would gladly fund any project on which they cared to collaborate. Both doctors walked away from their encounter with a thorough respect for one another. "It would be a very great honor to work with Ernest," Natalie told Nick when they got back to their suite. "Well, then, I'll just have to make sure you are on the next team the Foundation puts together, won't I." "I'd really love that, Nick." "Good. Then that's settled. Are you sure you don't want to fly out tomorrow?" he teased. "Nick, not this time! This is our vacation, remember?" Natalie protested. "I wasn't sure you still needed a vacation, Nat. As a matter of fact, I'm not entirely sure I shouldn't be very jealous of Ernest just now," Nick asserted. "You needn't be concerned. I love you, Nick." Natalie reached up and kissed his cheek. "I know. But sometimes I think I should have made you forget me. Things would be easier for you, certainly safer." He told her as he gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. "Nick, don't say that. I wouldn't be the same person without you. I'd be empty, wishing for something I could never find, the way I was when I met you. I don't even want to think of life without you, again." "I feel the same way about you. I guess we're stuck with each other." Natalie slid her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. When they parted, she yawned. "Oops, I'm sorry, Nick. I didn't mean to yawn in your face. I guess the jet lag has caught up to me." "Not only does she wish she were going off with another man, now I'm boring her!" Nick exclaimed to the ceiling. Natalie slapped his arm playfully and said, "Oh, shut up, you! Come on, let's go to bed. I'm tired." Nick picked her up and carried her into the bedroom where he'd had the bell boy place her bags. He sat down on the side of the bed with Natalie in his lap. Then he lowered his head and kissed her deeply, passionately. After a long while he raised his head. His eyes glowed as he whispered, "Shall I sleep with you this time? Or should I let you rest now?" He dropped little kisses across her forehead and onto each cheek as he awaited her answer. He could hear her heart racing. Her breathing became ragged as he continued to kiss her. She returned his kisses, but did not answer him as she pushed him back into a reclining position upon the bed. He pulled her down on top of his body and held her close. He could feel her hands sliding into the front of his shirt, caressing his chest, his back. She was so warm. The curves of her body were so firm, soft, delicious. Suddenly he rolled her beneath him. Her body burned with passion. His face seemed aflame when he nuzzled her in the hollow between her breasts. When had they undressed each other? he wondered briefly. Her legs spread wide to receive him. Her breasts were soft and delicate against his chest. She smelt of sun, flowers, rainy skies, all the clean, beautiful things he had always loved. His head spun with the scent of her. And then her intensely warm moistness surrounded him, and he slid into the depths of paradise. She was thrilling, her thighs enclosed his waist, he pressed against her, into her, as deeply as he could. She pushed back against him, impaling herself upon him, mating with him. The soft noises she made deep in her throat were sounds of pleasure and desire. He had never felt so completely at one with anyone in his life. She was everything he had ever wanted. He tasted her skin, felt her sweet, soft hands sliding over his body, caressing him. He pulled her against him again and again, urgently desiring to remain within her forever, so close, so warm, so delicious. And then, as her body began to contract around him, he shuddered and gasped as he felt the desperate hunger rise to taste her more deeply. His fangs descended abruptly, his eyes had been burning with his hunger since he had kissed her the first time. She was grasping him even more tightly as she rode the crest of her own need. He raised his head from her delicious lips and looked at her. Her eyes were closed. She would not have to see his eyes go red. Through a ruby haze he watched her, he needed to taste her. He lowered his head toward her neck, but at the last moment, he altered his angle and bit into her breast. He heard her gasp as his fangs sank home. He continued to plunge into her and began to feed upon her lifeblood. She was drowning in his desire for her. Each time he kissed her, he was harder to resist. He was so strong, so powerful, so firm. His body against hers was hard, lean, and supple. And when he entered her, she thought she would die of pleasure. His hands caressed her deftly, thrillingly, gently, surely. She wondered yet again at the intensity of feeling he generated with his slightest touch, and now he was filling her, claiming her as he had done only once before, but never so completely as now. She could feel his needs as well as her own. The vampire with whom she mated was more than the man who had loved her the night he had lost his memory. This mating was more vivid than any she had ever experienced. She wrapped her legs tightly around him, urging him to enter her more deeply. Her fingers slid into his silky hair and stroked down his wide shoulders and across his back. Then she felt him pull away slightly. She didn't want to separate from him. She pulled against him drawing him into her. She thrust against him, yearned to get closer to him. Then she felt his fangs enter her breast, and he was suckling her. As he drank from her, Natalie felt her consciousness opening, accepting Nick's feelings, thoughts, needs. She could feel herself spiraling down into a deep, warm, dark place, a place filled with his love, his desire, his need of her. A place where she would be cherished, caressed, cared for, treasured, forever. Then she sensed she was in the presence of a powerful, immutable force which acknowledged her and accepted her presence. It was as if someone had knelt to her and promised to preserve her life as he did his own. Then she felt a lightening of the pressure against her breast, and she began to sob as she felt their closeness diminishing. She reached for Nick and wrapped her arms around him and held him closely. Then she rested. Nick heard Natalie's sobs as he released her breast and stopped drinking from her. He drew back to be sure he had not hurt her. But she pulled him against her tightly and only relaxed when he lay quietly beside her. He lifted his hand from the pillow beside her head and gently touched her face. "Are you all right, Natalie?" he asked in a whisper. He knew he had not killed her, but he was concerned that biting her had been painful. In a voice trembling with emotion Natalie answered, "I've never been so loved in my life." "Did I hurt you?" "Hurt me!" her eyes flew open, and she gazed up at him with longing in her eyes, "On the contrary, I don't know if you could ever please me so much again, my love. Oh God, that was beautiful!" "Yes," he said, and pulled her closer to him. She snuggled into his embrace and lay quietly savoring the feel of him, the scent of him so close to her. "Nick?" "Yes, love," he answered softly as he caressed her shoulder. "You just promised to love and protect me forever, didn't you?" "Yes." "Do you have any idea how very much I love you?" "Yes. I know." He stroked her face, her hair, her lips. She shifted in his arms and reached up to be kissed once again. He possessed her mouth, tasting every crevice. She could feel him beginning to fill her again. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him into her. He pressed into her warmth. They moved together into that place of their mutual security, touching, warming one another, feasting on their joining. She could not believe he could move her, claim her so completely, yet again. He could not believe she could embrace him so fully, desire even the vampire. They rode their mutual need to the apex of their love and collapsed, exhausted and sated, into a deeply satisfying slumber. End part 5 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman All comments to bdundee@aol.com Subject: ADULT: Knightmares renumbered pt. 5 = 6 of 11 Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:57:07 EDT From: Rebecca Chessman To: FKFIC-L@LISTS.PSU.EDU Knightmares - part 6 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1 by Rebecca L. Chessman Half an hour later Nick woke to a raging hunger. Natalie still slept, snuggled against his chest. He looked down at her and admired the way her hair framed her face. Oddly enough, the sight of her did not cause his hunger to rouse further. In his mind's eye he could see the bottle he desired nestled at the bottom of his luggage in the other room. It was one of Janette's favorite vintages, and it had not been donated freely. He extricated himself gently from Natalie's embrace, hoping he would not awaken her. He padded into the next room and quickly located what he so desperately needed. He hesitated just a moment before he popped the cork and drained the bottle, chugging it, as he made his way to the bathroom. He knew he would need this powerful drink if he were not to kill Natalie. Just the possession of the bottle in his luggage had given him pause. He knew he would regret drinking it, but his overwhelming desire for Natalie drove him to select this vintage. It would feed the one hunger he could never sate with his beloved Natalie...the lust for the hunt! He savored the after effects of the deeply disturbing draught as he satisfied his body's non-lethal needs. Then he rinsed out the bottle and set it, quietly, into the bathroom trash receptacle, and rinsed out his mouth with mouthwash. He hoped he had not disturbed Natalie. He felt slightly restless, as he always did, when he traveled and had to sleep in a strange bed. And the blood he had drunk added to that sense of restlessness. Guiltily, Nick returned to the other room, having insured that Natalie, at least, would not be drained as the unfortunate, whose blood he had just consumed, had been. Natalie had turned over and was facing the other direction when he slipped back into bed. She had also pulled up the blanket and spread. Nick worried that his cooler body temperature bothered her. He hesitated about curling up against her. He did not remember the last time he'd spent an entire night with a mortal woman. Usually he was primarily concerned with satisfying his hunger. And when he learned to sip, as he had from Amalia, he never allowed himself the luxury of spending the night in her bed, for fear of being caught by the sun in the morning. Amalia, she had been sweet. He'd drawn her life out nearly a month. But in the end all his resolutions were nothing in the face of his hunger and her desire for him. Would he and Natalie end in the same way? How would he survive if he killed the one woman who made him feel so complete, so human? "Nick," Natalie's voice shook him out of his contemplation, "Nick, get over here and snuggle with me. I missed you!" He grinned to himself before he answered, "Are you sure, Nat? I know my body temperature might be a bit too cool..." "Shut up and get over here, mister, right this minute. I need you." Natalie ordered. Nick spooned himself against her backside with alacrity. "There, is that better?" "Much." "But aren't I too cold?" "Deliciously so." Natalie wiggled her backside against his groin provocatively. Nick responded by settling her more tightly against himself. They relaxed for a moment. Then Nick let one hand, that had rested over the other against her stomach, slide up her arm to her shoulder caressingly. He pulled her hair back, away from her neck, and kissed her just at the carotid pulse point. As he did so, he inhaled deeply of her fragrance. Then he murmured in her ear, "Delicious is what you are, my love, or rather, delectable." He kissed her again in the same fashion. Natalie turned over and faced him. She reached up and stroked his cheek and grinned at him. "So, I taste good, do I?" "Ummm, yes," Nick replied. "What do I taste like?" Natalie asked curiously. "Like Natalie Lambert." "Oh, come on, Nick, you can do better than that!" "Honestly, you taste like yourself. Each person has their own unique flavor. I don't know how to describe it in food terms for you. But to me you taste spicy, vibrant, passionate, shy, strong, vulnerable, compassionate, and above all, curious to a fault." "That sounds like a horoscope description!" Natalie punched him playfully in the ribs. "I can't help it if you taste like your horoscope." Nick tickled her in the ribs until she was breathless from laughter. Then he gathered her into a bear hug that prohibited her from reaching any part of his anatomy with her hands. When her giggles subsided, he kissed her deeply, then released her enough to roll her over on her side and pull her back against his chest, her backside resting against his groin. He kept her hands covered with his own until she seemed to relax. Then he released them. She lay quietly against him. Then she said, "I think that experiment went very well, don't you? I knew you had the right kind of control." "This is only the first time I've taken your blood, Nat. We don't know how this is affecting either of us, yet. There is an addictive element to taking someone's blood. I know from past experience that it is possible to sip for a time, but, inevitably, the desire for more of the victim's blood arises. And the victim begs to be taken. There is a very real danger, that we are just repeating an old pattern of behavior." "You've done this before, Nick?" "Not precisely, Natalie. I've never loved anyone the way I love you." "I'm very well aware of that. I meant, you have 'sipped,' as you put it, before?" "Yes." "Tell me about it." Natalie demanded. Nick hesitated, he wasn't sure he wanted to discuss any other woman while he was in bed with Natalie. "I think I need to know the possibilities, Nick." Natalie insisted. Nick sighed deeply, "I told you you were curious to a fault,....very well, then," Nick explained to Natalie what his relationship had been with Amalia, and every other young woman upon whom he had fed during that period in his life when Janette had first left him. When he finished, he commented, "You can see why I'm worried about addiction. As the feeding cycle progressed, the need to increase the amount of blood taken grew. Amalia died. I kept her alive for nearly a month, but then I killed her. My need, and hers, killed her. She kept coming back to me, begging me to take her blood." "It was pleasurable to her." "Yes, but she still died. I still killed her, and many others. This so-called relationship of ours could be the death of you." "But, Nick, you haven't killed anyone like that in over a hundred years. And you have an alternative source of food now, that you could not have had then." Nick began to shake his head, but Natalie stopped him. "Wait, stop a minute and think, Nick. Was Amalia a resistor? Or was her desire for you a part of your hypnotic control over her?" "No, she wasn't a resistor. None of the women I chose then were resistors. And, as I remember, I did control her rather tightly. She had a very strict father who didn't approve of me as a suitor. I had to choose another town when she disappeared. He was suspicious." "There's a very real difference between us, then. I am a resistor. My desire for you has nothing to do with any hypnotic hold you have over me. Even LaCroix didn't control me at Azure without drugging the champagne." "He drugged the champagne!?" Nick shouted. "Shhh, hush, Nick! You'll have hotel security in here in a minute! Yes, he drugged the champagne. When I woke up the next morning, I recognized the symptoms and the aftertaste." "You recognized the symptoms and the aftertaste!? Natalie, what aren't you telling me?" Nick demanded. "Nothing important. We tried a lot of crazy things in med school, Nick. And one of them was trying to concoct an aphrodisiac. Most of the guys assumed it had to involve alcohol. Another med student tried out the formula LaCroix used on me once. It was a long time ago, Nick. And I wasn't hurt. It wasn't an aphrodisiac either. Don't worry, I got even with him later," Natalie grinned at Nick evilly. Nick looked at her carefully to be certain there was nothing more to her story, then resumed. "Well, if you remember that much, then you must have heard our conversation. You've known about our agreement." Nick asserted. "Yes. I figured you'd tell me, or find a loophole, eventually. But this on and off relationship we've had lately has been truly hard to bear. I'm very glad you two decided on a truce." "Natalie Lambert, you are full of surprises." Nick declared, then he added, "How could I ever get bored with you around!?" He turned her towards him, pulled her into a comprehensive embrace, and kissed her until she was breathless. She pushed him away vigorously and exclaimed, "Just calm down, Nick. I am only human. You could break a rib!" She grinned up at him to soften her words. Nick released her slightly, but nuzzled her cheek and strung a line of tiny kisses down her neck until she shivered in delight. When he reached her shoulder, he stopped and looked up at her. Natalie suddenly yawned widely, then covered her face with her hands and blushed. Nick chuckled at her, "We haven't had much sleep. Would you rather continue this later?" Natalie peered at him between her fingers, "Would you mind very much, Nick?" "Not at all. I'm kind of tired too." "That's why you needed the blood," Natalie remarked. She'd heard him moving around in the other room and had surmised that he might need additional nourishment, since he was denying himself the fulfillment of draining her. "How did you...? Never mind, you're too clever for me, Nat. And, yes, that's why I needed the blood," Nick replied. They settled back down into the bed spooned together once again. After a short while, both fell comfortably asleep. Several hours later Natalie awoke. She needed the bathroom, but she was still held tightly in Nick's arms. Natalie unwound his grasp upon her waist and slipped out of the bed. She pulled the covers up over him again, hoping that her trapped warmth would keep Nick asleep while she was gone. When she returned, he seemed deeply asleep. She slipped back under the covers, lifted one of his arms over her waist, and snuggled her face into his chest, blowing at the chest hairs that tickled her nose. "Welcome back," he rumbled in her ear as he pulled her hips into his. Natalie responded by nibbling at the place where his neck met his shoulder, then tasting the skin of his throat with her tongue. The world suddenly tilted, and she found herself trapped beneath his body, while he devoured her mouth. He pulled back slightly, every muscle in his body trembling with the effort he exerted to stay away from her. "Remind me not to play with that particular trigger point unless I really mean for you to make love to me instantly!" Natalie exclaimed. "Do you?" Nick growled. "Yes," she barely had time to reply before he had covered her mouth and her body with his once more. She opened to him. When he entered her, he found she had told the simple truth. She was more than ready for him. Natalie was again overwhelmed with the rapturous fervor of Nick's passionate attentions. Natalie thought to herself. Nick was a skillful lover. Even under the influence of the intense hunger she unwittingly invoked with her attentions to his neck, he was proving to be a tender and considerate partner. And when, at the zenith of their arousal, he bit her, he was still able to take only a fraction of the blood she assumed he would need. And yet, the vampiric link he had described to her a few weeks before was becoming more intense. The images of his life, which flashed behind her eyelids as he drank, became clearer each time he took her blood. And what he betrayed to her was amazing and disconcerting. His warning about becoming addicted to his attentions was reinforced by the revelation of his past experiences. Natalie was beginning to truly understand what he'd explained about his addiction to Amalia. What was foremost in his mind in the present seemed to trigger the memories Natalie relived from his past. She saw Amalia's seduction from Nick's point of view. It was unnerving to say the least. And it was connected in his mind with his own seduction by Janette into the vampire life. Nick's original, passionate encounter with Janette devolved into the oddly clinical, but no less arousing scene, of LaCroix's actual conversion of Nick. Natalie found herself learning for the first time just how compelling the vampire's need for blood was. She marveled again at the massive control Nick must exert to keep from killing her. She had hoped that making love to him would relieve some of the stress they both had been feeling. But by not allowing himself to drain her blood, he had created yet another kind of tension. Natalie wondered if any relationship they could have would be less stressful. Was this helping Nick at all, or was she selfishly indulging her desire for him to his detriment? "Yes, you have helped me, Natalie," Nick answered her silent musing. "You've become the keystone of my life." He stroked her lips with his fingers gently. "I cherish every moment you have shared with me." He clasped her protectively and kissed her forehead. She raised her lips to him for a more passionate expression of his devotion, and he obliged her readily. They lay peacefully together, exchanging tender caresses, for boundless moments. "It's getting late, love." Nick said. "Time to get up?" Natalie asked. "Mmmm, yes," he murmured into her ear as he nuzzled it. "Time to go home." "Where ever you are is home," Natalie said nosing the hollow of his throat. "Are you sure you're entirely immune to my vampiric influence?" Nick asked. "I'm not sure I want to be immune from you. You're entirely too desirable, my love," Natalie replied. "Well then, it's definitely time to get up. You're losing all your perspective, Dr. Lambert." Nick sat up, and pulling the covers off of Natalie, he swatted her playfully on the bottom. "Nick! You bully!" "Time to get up! No more lazing around in bed, milady," his eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaped from the bed and evaded Natalie's attempts at retaliation with inhuman ease. When she chased him to the bathroom door, he turned suddenly and captured her in a delightful hug. He looked down into her eyes and asked, "Ready for your shower?" "You could join me, and we could share," Natalie offered coquettishly. "That might be just a bit too distracting. The car will be here to pick us up soon," Nick returned. "Maybe we can try that this evening." "I'll hold you to that promise," Natalie smiled as she slipped from his arms and into the bathroom. Nick walked into the second bedroom to use the other bathing facilities. Within half an hour they were both dressed and nearly ready to go. Room service delivered a light breakfast of croissants, coffee, and fruit, which Natalie made short work of, while Nick drank yet another bottle of blood with the Raven's label. While Natalie was packing to leave, she discovered something was missing. She made Nick check under the bed, while she combed the bedclothes, for a piece of lingerie they had carelessly discarded the afternoon before. She finally found it stuffed under one pillow. "How it got there, I'll never know," Natalie mumbled to herself. Nick came out from under the bed, chuckling, when he heard her comment. He came up with yet another undergarment which neither of them had missed. "I still don't remember getting undressed," he commented, "so don't ask me." Natalie giggled and said, "Neither do I. I think we were too busy worrying about other things at the time." Just then the phone rang. Nick answered. It was the front desk. The car had arrived. The chauffeur was waiting in the hotel lobby. Nick asked for a bellboy to be sent up for their luggage and for their bill to be prepared. Natalie threw her lingerie into her bag and closed it. Nick set their bags beside the door. He held Natalie's coat for her, then donned his own plus gloves and a scarf. He held a hat with a rather large brim in his hands. "If I move quickly enough, maybe I won't surprise our driver by smoking in public," he observed. "There's a decent-sized overhang over the lobby entrance, if the car is under that, you should be all right," Natalie said. "That's what I'm hoping," Nick replied. "And if it's overcast, as usual, that will also help." When the bellboy rang, they left the room and headed for the hotel desk. Nick paid the bill while Natalie gazed around the large, elegant lobby. She noticed a uniformed chauffeur conversing with the hotel employees around the bell station. "Nick, I think that may be our driver," Natalie tapped him on the shoulder, as he turned from the desk, replacing his wallet in his jacket pocket. He looked at the person Natalie indicated and started. "Well, he's decided to have us followed," Nick observed quietly in Natalie's ear. "Who, Nick? LaCroix?" she returned in an equally quiet voice. "Who else, Nat? Yes, LaCroix. He probably wants to know how things are going. I think he will be very surprised. Don't let on we know this driver is one of his," Nick instructed in a low tone that only Natalie could hear over the general conversation in the huge lobby. "One of his? Do you mean he's a....?" Natalie shot back quietly. "Yes," Nick returned in a whisper. "He is a vampire. Well, at least that relieves my mind about the wisdom of taking a limo with smoked glass windows. If he can drive it, I can certainly ride in it." "You mean you hadn't tried this kind of travel before?" Natalie demanded, still keeping her voice down. "No, I haven't had a need to travel in daylight for some time. Come on," Nick urged quietly. "Let's go see the sights. Now I'm excited. I haven't seen Belgium in daylight for centuries." End part 6 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman All comments to bdundee@aol.com Subject: ADULT: Knightmares renumbered pt. 6 =7 of 11 Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 16:57:13 EDT From: Rebecca Chessman To: FKFIC-L@lists.psu.edu Knightmares - part 7 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1 by Rebecca L. Chessman As they crossed the hotel lobby arm in arm, they saw their bellboy push the cart containing their luggage out the door. The chauffeur followed him and together the two placed the luggage into the trunk of the large limousine which was pulled completely under the shade of the overhang in front of the hotel. It was a drizzly day, and Nick had no trouble with the sun. He ushered Natalie into her seat then settled next to her. The chauffeur closed their door, assumed his seat, and pulled away from the hotel. Within a very few minutes both Nick and Natalie had shed their coats, as the driver had set the temperature in the back seat to a high setting. Nick had sent a set of detailed instructions to the rental company explaining the route for their trip, and the driver followed the directions to the letter. Natalie enjoyed the side trip into downtown Brussels where Nick identified the well-maintained buildings with their ancient architecture by their original function and their current tenants. He provided an entertaining and informative narration of their travels. Brussels was now the center for the European Economic Community and had long been a prosperous trading center. Natalie admired both the beauty and the enterprise which characterized the bustling city. Then they followed a main highway out of town towards the northwest. Nick had told her they were heading into Flanders which had not been a part of his family's holdings. Brabant had stretched mostly north and east of Brussels in the time Nick had first lived there. The place they were heading, near Bruges, was a seaside resort area which reminded him of the area around one of the seacoast castles which he, himself, had owned at one time. Although, he had told her, his castle had been on a narrow peninsula, and this house was on a low hill overlooking the North Sea. The land they traveled across was very green with low rolling hills. The road skirted the city of Ghent within an hour, and they continued their westward journey. Nick pointed out places where he had traveled or lived at some point in his past. He showed Natalie the remains of a village which had been in the area they were just passing. It had been devastated by the two armies contesting its possession and had ceased to exist through their earnest attentions. "And LaCroix and I put the last of its inhabitants out of their misery. I suppose vampires are simply another of nature's scavengers." Nick observed gloomily. "Nick, stop it. Didn't you ever have any fun with LaCroix? As close as you two are, I have to imagine there were times when you were friends," Natalie remarked. Nick looked at her for a moment, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "As a matter of fact, there was a time once, in England during the Renaissance. We had a brothel we ran. The girls were lovely and delightful bait for our prey. They had a better life with us than they had had with their previous owner. And we could protect them better than the usual pimp." Natalie stared at him for a moment, aghast. She was sure he was testing her tolerance, and wondered just for a moment if he could be teasing. But she quickly pushed that thought away and looked at him carefully. He was telling the truth. He had enjoyed that time with LaCroix. And thinking back on the history she knew, and what she had just learned about his relationship with Janette, she merely asked, "What did Janette think of that?" "She didn't know at the time. She had a new lover in Paris and didn't want to be bothered with us. When we told her later, she was extremely angry with us, until she thought it over. Just as you have. Those girls needed a home and an income. We gave that to them. It was all we could give them." "Nicholas Knight, sometimes I don't understand why I love you." Nick slid closer to her and wrapped her in his arms, "I'm glad you do," he whispered in her ear. "You have been such things!" Natalie shivered. "I still am," he observed. Natalie reached up and caressed his cheek, "Yes, you are," she kissed him gently, then again, deeply. "Show me some more sights," Natalie said brightly as she moved away from him. Nick obliged. As they traveled further west the land grew flatter. They passed the outskirts of Bruges and went on toward Ostende. Just as they approached Ostende, they turned north and followed a road which paralleled the coast. There were occasional narrow lanes leading inland from the road, and the driver turned into one marked only by a number. Within half a mile they turned into a wide, curving driveway which approached a large house sided with natural stone which appeared to be built directly into the hill which backed it. The front of the house was comprised almost entirely of expanses of window which looked down over a slightly sloping approach to the sea. The driveway directly before the door was protected from the sun by an expansive overhang. The chauffeur parked the car in front of the door. He left his seat and headed to the trunk where he unloaded their suitcases and placed them on the walkway in front of the door. Nick ushered Natalie to the front door and unlocked and opened it. Nick returned to the driver who was waiting beside the bags, "Thank you for the very efficient service. Please tell Mr. LaCroix that we have arrived safely." He handed the man a generous tip, and smiled at the surprised expression which appeared upon his face. Then Nick said, "Just leave the bags here. I'll carry them in, thank you." The driver recovered his composure, touched his cap, closed the trunk lid, got back in the car, and drove off. "Very nicely done, Mr. Knight." Natalie commented. "I can carry some of my own bags," she said as she picked up her overnight case and medical bag in one hand and one suitcase in the other. "Just leave the big suitcases here for a moment, Nat. I'll show you to our rooms, and you can get settled while I bring the other things in," Nick said. Natalie set the suitcase down and transferred her medical bag to her right hand as she followed Nick, who carried his attache case, into the house. "Our rooms?" Natalie queried as she walked. "Yes, we have adjoining suites. I've learned over the years that people need their space. If we each have a place of our own to retreat to, sometimes quarrels are mende