Subject: Legacy of Evil: Revelations for posting at ftp site and website Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 10:41:31 EST From: BDUNDEE@aol.com To: fkfic@fkvoyage.win.net Attached please find story for posting. Yours aye, Becky Chessman bdundee@aol.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGACY OF EVIL: Revelations--An ADULT-- "Forever Knight" fan fiction story by Rebecca L. Chessman DISCLAIMERS: The characters from the television series "Forever Knight" belong to James Parriott and Barney Cohen. No infringement of their original copyright or ownership of the characters or series by Sony Television is intended. This is an exercise in admiration for TPTB who are the original creators of the characters and situations previously presented on television. Permission to post at fkfanfic's ftp site, fkfanfic.com, and the jadfe website is granted. All other please ask. I have created some new characters and taken liberties with the originals to continue from where the series left off at the end of season three. I am an unrepentant Nick and Nat Packer, and a Dark Knightie. I believe they belong together, but I set myself the task of finding a way they could be together without violating the essential integrity of their characters. I have tried to include real places and historic events and persons where they fit, but I did not use real modern people. This is my first attempt at fan fiction. I hope its readers enjoy the adventure. I enjoyed writing it. I have posted this on adult lists as I feel the sexual content and the level of violence might be offensive to some readers. If you do not enjoy consenting sex between adult MF persons or violence directed at or around children, please avoid this story. I have used Nicholas, Nick, and the French spelling, Nicolas, to refer to the character of Nick Knight. The spelling changes as each character uses the pronunciation most familiar to them. I own a great deal of thanks to Judy Freudenthal for beta reading, and to Valerie Meachum for advice about medieval jewelry. Legacy of Evil: Revelations by Rebecca L. Chessman Chapter 1 As the plane touched down on the runway at Heathrow in London, Natalie turned to Nick, "We're finally here! I knew airplane trips were annoying cross-country, but this is a marathon. Just the sheer noise for the entire time!" "I hate flying," Nick said. "Unless it's under my own power." "Speaking of that, we need to do that more often," Natalie told him. Nick smiled and squeezed her hand. They deplaned uneventfully, waiting until the bulk of the passengers had passed them before digging out their own small bags and coats. They had figured that London might be wet, so they were prepared with rainwear. It was, in fact, a clear morning. Too late for them to leave the airport until that evening. Nick had arranged for a room at Heathrow. He'd told Natalie that he needed to conduct some Foundation business in town, which was part of the reason for their stop in London. London was also the most direct route to Europe from Toronto provided by the major airlines, within the darker hours of the day. "What now, Nick?" "Let's claim our bags, check in to our room, and see what we feel like." They followed the signs to baggage claim and picked up their belongings. They went on through customs and passed through the formalities smoothly. They found the Executive Club and checked into their room. Once there, Natalie wilted rapidly. "It's the jet lag, Nat." Nick told her. "I wouldn't be surprised if it might also be my pregnancy, Nick." "Oh, Nat, I didn't think, are you all right? Are you hungry?" "I'm fine, just tired. And no, I'm not hungry. They fed us too much on the plane. I've heard that the best cure for jet lag is to finish out your day just as you would if the current time were your own. Right now is when we'd usually be going to bed. I'm for that. How about you?" "Any excuse to crawl into bed with you, my love!" Natalie giggled, pulled him down onto the bed on top of her, and ran her fingers through his hair. "Were we just too obviously newlywed on the plane? I think I overheard some of the stewards making comments. And I could feel their reactions to us." "Definitely, but then we are newlyweds. Do you mind?" "No, I'm proud of my new husband, I want everyone to know he's mine." "Mmmm, just hold that thought. That felt especially nice." "You mean this one?" She began to unbutton his shirt and slide her hands inside. "The very one." He nuzzled her neck, pulled her earlobe between his lips, and started a line of kisses along her jaw until he reached her mouth. There the pressure of his lips and tongue opened her mouth to his insistent exploration. His hands were busy as well. He opened her blouse, and his fingers toyed with her breasts. Soon they had removed each other's clothing and were passionately exploring one another's bodies. He reached into their emotional link. When she joined him, they gasped and drew back from each other abruptly. The intensity and depth of their mutual desire was overpowering! Their eyes grew wide with wonder, but their hesitation was only momentary. Nick was the first to pull Natalie even closer and kiss her deeply. She joined his kiss with alacrity and slid her hands back into his hair, then stroked down his back, over his hips, then reached between them. She pulled her face away from his to watch his reaction as she helped him enter her. Their joining was electric! Each reveled in the sheer physical thrill of their union and experienced their own and the other's sensual pleasure. Natalie slid her fingers into the soft, golden hair that curled at the base of his neck. Nick buried his hands in the masses of her auburn glory. She watched as the golden light of passion grew in his eyes. He gasped as hers, in turn, brightened and shone green-gold with her desire. Their lips met again. They began to move together in the ancient, rhythmic dance that all lovers perform. As their passion built to a white heat, he sank his fangs into her neck. As he drank, their spirits, joined through their burgeoning link, melded and fused into one. What humankind had desired through the ages was theirs. An eternal joining, never to be severed by earthly forces, became their new reality. Never would either be alone, unloved, deserted, so long as the other lived. But they still dwelt in the physical world. Such complete abandonment to ecstasy could not last. They spiraled up to new heights of rapture, climaxed together, and collapsed in each other's arms, still joined, physically and emotionally. So overwhelming was their new experience, added to the sheer exhaustion of jet lag, that they drifted almost immediately into sleep. Nick just managed to pull the bedclothes over them as they drifted off. Late in the day Natalie awoke and found she was still wrapped tightly in his arms. She was slightly chilled, as they had kicked the covers off during their sleep. She arose, reluctantly, to use the bathroom, and decided to take her shower while she was there. A few minutes later she heard Nick enter the bathroom. He slipped into the shower stall next to her, took the soap from her hands and began to scrub her back very expertly. "Good evening, my love. Did you sleep well?" she inquired. "Extremely well, love," he replied. "My turn," she told him as she reappropriated the soap and reached to lather his back. She explored and massaged each muscle as she scrubbed. He sighed blissfully then took the soap back and finished his shower. She continued to lean against his back, simply to feel his nearness. He turned off the water and reached for two large, warm towels. He handed her one and began drying her with the other. She toweled him. They stepped together out of the shower wrapped in their towels. He handed her yet another towel which she wound about her head. They walked together to the bed where they lay down next to each other. At first neither felt the need to do more than caress each other's faces. Nick pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She responded willingly. The restful ease they felt in one another's company was blessedly peaceful and thoroughly satisfying. "Where do we go from here?" Natalie asked. "We check into our hotel, pick up our theater tickets, and look for dinner." Nick informed her. "It's lovely just being here with you." "Mmmm," he agreed as he nuzzled her neck, enjoying her scent and her nearness. "What play will we see?" "I reserved tickets for three plays, ÔHamlet', ÔPhantom of the Opera', and ÔBeauty and the Beast.' They all have good reviews. I considered ÔCats,' but the reviewers say it's getting tired after so many years." "'Beauty and the Beast?'" She giggled at him. "I remember a time when you would have been very touchy about that." "That was before my Beauty developed a bit of her own beastliness," he teased back. "And just what do you mean by that, sir," she huffed at him playfully. "You've developed quite a gleam in your eye, and a thoroughly unladylike gusto for your husband's attentions," he informed her complacently. "You haven't lost any of your beastly tendencies!" she asserted. "And you love it, don't you?" He began tickling her, and pulled the towel off her body and threw it to the floor as he bent his head and suckled one lovely breast. "I do, indeed," she said as she removed the towel from his waist and stroked his growing erection. They tussled with each other, petting and pleasuring each other joyfully. "We're going to have to quit this if we want to do anything else tonight," he finally told her, breathlessly. "I know. It's just so wonderful to be able to be with you without any fear, and to know our child is growing inside me." "Yes," was all he said as he held her body against his and kissed her. When they parted, they gazed deeply into one another's eyes and rose together to dress. They took a taxi into town. Nick had booked them into the Selfridge Hotel in the West End near the theaters. The Selfridge was a new, quite luxurious hotel, moderately expensive, with all of the amenities one expected in a large, cosmopolitan city. Natalie was suitably impressed, and grew even more so when she saw the affectionate deference with which her husband was treated. The staff were especially attentive when they learned that she was Nick's new wife. "So glad to have you with us Mrs. Knight! Mr. Knight has been a welcome guest over the years. It's gratifying to see him so happily wed. We hope your stay will be a pleasant one," the desk clerk told them. "Mr. Knight, Mrs. Knight, so happy to have you with us again, sir. So pleased to meet you Mrs. Knight," the bellboy said, as he ushered them to their suite. "If there's anything you need, sir, just let us know." He opened the drapes and the French doors. "It's a lovely evening, sir. Would you and Mrs. Knight like a drink on the balcony?" "Yes, thank you, Terrence. A bottle of non-alcoholic champagne, if you would, please." Nick slipped him a sizable tip. "I'll send room service up with it right away, sir. Good evening, Mrs. Knight." "Well, I see you make friends everywhere you go." "It never hurts to be kind to people," Nick replied. "It's more than that, love. You genuinely care for people, and it shows. It's one of the reasons I love you so much." Natalie reached up and kissed him gently. Then she turned and began to unpack the bags the bellboy had placed on the luggage racks. "How long will we be in London?" "Four days. We go on to Edinburgh on Wednesday evening. We'll have a house to ourselves there. We're going to Sotheby's for an auction on Tuesday. I thought we'd do our chores for Jules at the British Museum on Monday. Tonight is a free night. We go to ÔBeauty and the Beast' tomorrow night, ÔHamlet' on Monday, and ÔThe Phantom' on Tuesday." "Whew, we're going to be busy! Do I get Nick Knight's evening tour of London tonight?" "The short version, at least." A knock sounded at the door, "Room service," a voice announced. "That must be the champagne." When Nick opened the door, however, there was more than champagne on the cart which the waiter wheeled into the room and out to the balcony. A beautiful spread of fresh fruits, cheeses, breads, and hors d'oeuvres was laid out on a silver platter together with a magnum of non-alcoholic champagne, perfectly chilled, in a matching silver bucket. "Compliments of the management, sir. Congratulations on your marriage!" "How lovely!" Natalie exclaimed. The waiter held a chair for Natalie then seated Nick opposite her as he popped the cork on the champagne and poured each of them a glassful. He replaced the bottle in the bucket of ice. "Have a pleasant evening." Nick tipped the waiter generously. "Please tell everyone how very pleased we are. This was extremely thoughtful." The waiter beamed and bowed himself out of the door. "This is just delightful!" Natalie exclaimed. The evening was beautiful, just beginning to be a bit chilly. Nick went inside and brought out one of Natalie's light jackets for her. They relaxed, drank their champagne, nibbled at the food, and indulged in light, pleasant conversation. Later they dressed for a night on the town and went out for dinner, dancing, night clubbing, and sight-seeing. It was early morning before they returned and dropped, exhausted, into the bed. The next few days were spent in a whirlwind of celebration broken only by the two pieces of business Nick had told Natalie they needed to accomplish. Each night they attended a play, dined at an elegant restaurant, danced, or toured London by air or hansom cab. Every activity they shared was spiced with their heady enjoyment of each other's company. As Nick and Natalie celebrated in London, Jules and Janette were deftly spying on the competition in Toronto. From Nick's rooftop they had established their own observation platform. Janette had contacted LaCroix, and several other old friends, and acquired a very thorough and intimidating array of automated electronic surveillance equipment. They had let the experts set up and camouflage the equipment, which provided a direct cable feed to Nick's entertainment center. Nick's couch provided a comfortable vantage point from which they could relax and watch or tape the antics of the competition. "What's the point in wasting our time staring at them when we can find far more interesting ways to spend our time," Janette had commented to Jules. She had rifled Nick's CD collection for just the right music. Jules had ordered a very special vintage from Jean-Claude, and they were thoroughly engrossed in each other, when they heard simultaneous attempts to enter the loft at the main door on the street and the roof access. "They must be terminally stupid to try to break in to a vampire's home with sheer brute force." Janette observed as she rose and headed for the roof while Jules descended in the lift. Both attempts at breaking and entering abruptly ceased before either Jules or Janette could reach their destination. Each returned to the couch. "They must just be feeling us out," Jules noted. "Indeed," Janette agreed, "But it is terribly inconvenient." "Terribly," Jules commented as he gathered her into his arms for another kiss. Across the street two vampires rendezvoused in the observation post. "It's confirmed," one of them spoke into a cell phone. "There are two vampires in Knight's loft." "Good," came the reply. "He must have brought her across. I didn't think Knight would be able to resist. Follow them to the airport when they leave for their flight Monday just to be sure." "Will do, boss." "Well, we still have until Monday to finish this stake out. I don't think it will go on much longer. The boss figures he brought her across." His companion nodded and returned to his telescope. The two figures in the loft were indulging in typical newlywed vampire behavior. At least he wouldn't be bored. [End Chapter 1 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations] Chapter 2 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations On Monday, in the early evening, Nick rented a car. He and Natalie drove to the British Museum where they had an appointment with the night curator. Later they were to attend ÔHamlet,' then finish their night with a late supper. The museum was constructing several new galleries, and the Egyptian display was being radically changed. Several items were being sold by the museum. It was this that had attracted Jules' interest. There were several pieces of jewelry and items of occult significance which were being eliminated from the London collection. In addition, Jules had discovered that a sarcophagus, identified as that of an obscure priest named Ka-Ha, was up for sale. Several other artifacts from the same tomb, which had recently been disturbed by tomb robbers, had appeared on the market. The British Museum, while not directly interested, was brokering the sale for the government of Egypt. The notoriety of the recent discovery of the head of one of the tomb robbers in a local Toronto nightclub had convinced the Royal Ontario Museum's board of directors that acquiring these artifacts might draw more public interest to the museum. Any increase in the number of visitors to the Egyptian exhibit would generate needed funds for the museum. The deBrabant Foundation had offered to purchase these artifacts to place in the museum's Egyptian collection. The Board was delighted to accept the Foundation's offer. "Cyril! How nice to see you again." Nick greeted the night curator like an old friend. "It's been a while since we worked on that dig together, Nick. It's good to see you. Who is this lovely young lady?" "Cyril, this is Natalie, my wife." Natalie extended her hand and Cyril shook it. "Your wife!? This is indeed an honor, milady." A strange expression passed over his face as he released Natalie's hand. "Thank you, Cyril. Just call me Natalie." Natalie was not surprised to find that the London curator was also a vampire. But she was surprised that she liked him on sight. He was a small, wiry, keen-eyed person, quite unlike other friends of Nick's she had met. She extended her new senses and decided she not only liked Cyril, he could be trusted. Cyril was having similar thoughts about Natalie as he shook her hand. He was a bit surprised to find that Nick's lady was human. But when he touched her, he experienced a connection with her that was quite different from the usual. < Nick's wife is truly unique!> "Nick, I think you'll be pleased at the collection we've been able to put together for the Royal Ontario Museum." Cyril continued smoothly. "Come look at what we'll be shipping. We're just getting it all properly packed." He extolled the virtues of the variety of artifacts he was preparing, as he led them into an exhibit storage and preparation area. He paused before a bench where a variety of jewelry, statuary, and canopic jars were assembled ready to be packed into waiting cases, marked with the Toronto address of the museum. Tomb furniture stood adjacent to the workbench. Natalie gasped and exclaimed, "Nick, do you see that necklace? It's glowing!" Nick turned to her questioningly, "What do you mean, Nat?" "That large necklace in the center of the layout," Natalie pointed at a large scapular collar. "It's glowing." "I can't see that." Nick reached for the necklace, but Natalie pushed his hand out of the way. "No, Nick, don't touch it. It's poisonous! Do you have a pair of rubber gloves?" she asked Cyril. Cyril just stared at her, curiously, for a moment, then he turned and handed her a box of surgical gloves he had obviously been using to prepare the exhibit. Natalie pushed the box at Nick and said, "Here, use these. I know you're not used to being vulnerable to poison, but this stuff is lethal. Don't ask how I know. I just do." "She's right," Cyril asserted. "We don't know what the substance coating this necklace is, but it is lethal. We've had one accident already. It killed one of the other curator's cats. It's from the Ka-Ha tomb. It was found in an empty sarcophagus next to the one we're sending to Toronto. The empty sarcophagus contained only this scapular, no mummy, but it has an exquisite design on the inside of the lid, the symbol of Ra. Although it's a particularly fine piece, we hadn't planned to send it to Toronto." Nick gasped as his eyes met Natalie's, "That sounds like Divia's!" "LaCroix would be the only one who would know for sure, wouldn't he?" "Yes. Analyzing this substance might help us understand what happened to make Divia what she was, if this was hers. May we take this with us, Cyril?" "You're the buyer, Nick. You can take anything you want. Do you want us to catalog this for the museum, or will you keep it?" "I think I'd better keep it. It's too dangerous to leave unguarded. Thanks, Cyril." Cyril packed the necklace securely and handed the box to Nick. Both were careful to use the gloves Natalie had insisted upon. "Cyril, instead of my taking this out of here, could you mail it to this address?" Natalie's eyebrows rose as she looked a question at Nick. "I'm sending it to Jules. He'll know what to do with it." Nick began to write a short note, but Natalie stopped him. "No, Nick. Don't send it to Jules. Let me ship it to Angus at Edinburgh. We could work on it together." Nick hesitated, and Natalie plunged on, "Please, Nick, I'm dying to analyze this thing!" "All right, Nat. It's your call." "Natalie, when you said you would send it to Angus at Edinburgh, did you mean Dr. Angus Beaton?" Cyril asked. "Yes, do you know him?" "I've never actually met him. But we send a lot of our oddball discoveries up to him when we're really stumped. He's one of the most gifted forensic pathologists in the United Kingdom. I'm impressed that you work with him. I'd be very pleased to send this to him. I'll send it up with a note to expect you." Nick beamed proudly at Natalie. "Natalie is a very gifted pathologist herself, Cyril. Back home she has a truly excellent professional reputation." "What was your maiden name, Natalie?" Cyril asked. "Lambert." "You're Dr. Natalie Lambert!? I should have known. Thank you for your work on that plague. Although we didn't have an large outbreak here, it was a near thing. Travel nowadays is too easy, and disease travels fast. We were extremely grateful a cure was found so quickly." Cyril told her. "I didn't realize it had reached here!" Nick exclaimed. "It did. But that's old news. And I have a bit more ancient history to share with you." Cyril set the package with the necklace aside and led them into an adjoining area where a sarcophagus was standing. "This is Ka-Ha, a priest, but we're not sure which god he worshipped." As they approached the mummy case, Natalie drew back in alarm and disgust. "My God, Cyril, that thing is evil, disgusting, malevolent! Someone should destroy it." Nick was taken aback by Natalie's vehement assertion, and by the reek he had noticed upon entering the room. It seemed to be the same dismal smell he had associated with Divia and the victims of Harris Lash. He gestured at the sarcophagus. "Has anyone had a reason to open this case?" he asked. "No, and for my part, I'd just as soon not open it." Cyril told him. "Natalie's right. That thing gives me the willies. Someone went to a lot of trouble, a long time ago, to seal it shut. It has multiple lead seals. We X-rayed it. There are, as usual, a series of nested boxes around the mummy. Not one of them is simply fitted together. They're all sealed tightly. The mummy has the usual amount of fetishes and talismans wrapped in the linen, but the head has been placed at its feet. Someone really wanted to make sure he wouldn't resurrect. Nick, was he a vampire?" "We think so. LaCroix believes he was the one responsible for bringing Divia, LaCroix's daughter, across." "Well, someone evidently objected to his existence. He's well and truly dead now, I should think." "Let's all hope so." "Divia managed to resurrect after being decapitated. She caused major destruction in the Toronto Community," Natalie observed. "Nat's right. You never want to meet anything like Divia, Cyril!" Nick continued vehemently. "The hieroglyphics around Ka-Ha's cartouche contain a warning not to disturb the burial. And it's far more dire in its content than the usual. Try to convince your people on the other side of the pond not to examine the mummy with more than X-ray. I know it isn't fashionable to put stock in the beliefs of ancient religions, but we all know there's more truth in the occult than the average human would believe. " "Let's get him packed and shipped. The sooner the better. We don't want to provide an opportunity for anyone to waylay him. There are those who'd prefer to see him revived." Nick asserted. Cyril shivered and commented, "There are some things that shouldn't see the light of day, or night, again." "Nick, do you have to keep it intact? Didn't you and LaCroix finally have to burn Divia's remains to be sure she didn't revive? Do you really want to risk having Ka-Ha regenerate? Isn't there some other sarcophagus you could acquire for the museum?" Natalie asked. "We have the empty sarcophagus you think might have been Divia's," Cyril noted. "And we do have other priests' mummies from an adjoining burial of the same period." "You could do a switch, Nick. I'd feel a lot safer. This thing is evil. It's dangerous. And it feels simply.... filthy, vile, obscene." Natalie shivered as she spoke. "The museum would get the same quality for their exhibit," Cyril insisted. "My only concern is that the museum should get what the Foundation is paying for. But letting this thing continue to exist seems wrong to me, too. All right then, I'll certainly feel better about it. But how do we get rid of Ka-Ha safely?" "We have a large incinerator in the basement that's used for artifact disposal when something is too damaged to exhibit. We can use that, and we can do it right now," Cyril suggested. "Okay, let's do it." The two vampires maneuvered a dolly under the sarcophagus and between them began to wheel it down the hall to the freight elevator. Natalie trailed them, nervously peering into every dark corner. They made it into the freight elevator and rode down to the basement uneventfully. Within an hour they had reduced Ka-Ha and his sarcophagus to fine ash in the British Museum's very efficient incinerator. "Well, that's done!" Nick exclaimed. "That was a very expensive bonfire." "It's only money, Nick. I sure feel better," Natalie asserted forcefully. "How about you, Cyril?" "I'm thoroughly satisfied. That thing made me very nervous. Now let's go upstairs and put together a really good exhibit for the Royal Ontario Museum!" "They want something that will bring in lots of visitors. What could we do to create a really dramatic display?" Nick asked as they made their way back to the exhibit preparation area. Cyril had some ideas about special lighting for some of the artifacts. And he suggested a multi-media show to explain the period and the significance of each of the displayed items. After placing another priest's mummy in the replacement sarcophagus, Nick declared himself satisfied with Cyril's exhibit. He signed the necessary papers to complete the sale for the Foundation, and he and Natalie left to finish their evening as planned. As they drove toward the Barbicon Theatre, Nick slipped his arm around Natalie and cuddled her close. "I knew you were an impressive lady, Nat. But I didn't realize you had an international reputation. I'm proud of you." "I'm glad you're impressed. You should be," she teased. "There's just one problem," Nick told her. He glanced at her and very soberly said. "This is supposed to be our honeymoon. You're turning this trip into a busman's holiday." "Hey, you! You're the one who set me up to visit with Angus. And you planned that tour of the police lab, and those medical lectures during the science festival. Don't grump at me about busman's holidays!" Nick grinned hugely at his successful needling. Natalie just punched him in the arm, then snuggled up to him again. The rest of their evening was spent enjoying ÔHamlet' and a late supper. But after they settled back into their suite at the Selfridge, Nick asked Natalie to join him on the couch. "Let's just sit and talk for awhile, Nat. I need to ask you something." His very serious manner concerned her. "What's wrong, Nick?" "Can you tell me what you felt at the museum this evening? I didn't see the malevolence or the poison that you did. I did notice a rotten smell, and I felt a sense of despair. It's disturbing to have these feelings coming at you. I thought we should share our impressions." "Well," Natalie paused to gather her thoughts. Her newest sensory ability disturbed her, too. She'd hoped that he hadn't noticed just how much it bothered her. "It was just as I described to you and Cyril. When I looked at that necklace, I could see it glowing. It was a greenish color. It almost smoked. It also made me feel, sense, something poisonous. I just knew no one should touch it. I didn't know if it would affect a vampire, but I wasn't willing to take a chance with your life. I'm assuming this is one of the new senses that Jules told me I might develop. Can vampires sense such things?" Nick tried to be very calm and completely honest in his answer. He knew she was upset. She'd been unable to completely relax during their evening. He wanted very much to allay her fears, but her new sense was beyond his own very broad experience. And he knew she would resent it deeply if he tried to protect her by not telling her the entire truth. "I've never experienced anything like what you describe. Vampires can sense each other. We can tell if another has been in a room before us. We can see across a far wider spectrum. Our hearing is very acute. The normal human senses, all of them, are enhanced. When we take another's blood, we experience, vicariously, their entire life. While we're under the influence of the blood, we relive that life completely, intensely. But the encounter is brief and fades quickly. Now that I am changing, I can sense others' intentions and feelings, as you can. And we both experience each other very intimately through our new link. But what you saw and felt tonight is not an ability I am familiar with. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful." "I don't know what it is either, Nick. But it sure would be useful in my profession. It would make it a lot easier to narrow down the lethal agent in a body or a crime scene. Maybe it's a combination of enhanced senses and my training in forensic pathology. When I see something unusual, I analyze it. I look for patterns of evidence. And when I saw Ka-Ha's sarcophagus," Natalie shivered. "What did you see when you looked at it, Nat?" "It radiated a dim, misty light. It was gray, dismal. And the mist writhed. The mist had an oily consistency and a feeling of evil. If it hadn't felt so very wrong, I would have wanted to investigate it. And there were certain places both inside and outside the sarcophagus that seemed to be the focus points for the light it emanated. I would have taken samples from those places." She shivered again. "To me, it smelled rotten, like old mildew and rank meat. I felt and smelled something similar when I was on that last case. When I got near that building where the demonologist was holding those children, I smelled and felt the same thing. But it was just a general impression, nothing so detailed as what you're describing." "I'm very glad we destroyed that thing." "Me too," Nick said. "Are you keeping a journal as Jules suggested?" "Yes, I have been. I plan a detailed entry on this. Come on, Nick. Let's forget about this for a while and just enjoy being together. It's nearly dawn." Nick didn't have to be asked twice. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. He could feel her relaxing as he held her. He was very glad he had acted on his concern and spoken to Natalie. They didn't worry about anything else for the rest of the day. [End Chapter 2 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations] Chapter 3 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations In Toronto, as Nick and Natalie enjoyed their late supper, Jules and Janette were parking Nick's caddy at the airport. It was chilly in Toronto, and they had driven to the airport with the convertible top up. They crossed the parking lot, entered the terminal, and headed for the British Airlines counter. They canceled Nick and Natalie's previous reservations and returned to the car to head back to the loft. They had made sure that they were followed. They were interested to see what would happen next. They didn't have long to wait. As Jules drove in a leisurely fashion out of the parking lot and paid the attendant, Janette kept a watch out the rear window. She and Jules were pretty sure that, only after they had walked across the lot to the terminal and back, had their watchers gotten a good look at them and found that they were not, after all, Nick and Natalie. Janette chuckled as she watched their two observers frantically racing to their car from opposite directions, comparing notes, grabbing for a cell phone, and jumping into their car to follow the caddy back to the loft. "What's so funny, Janette?" Jules asked. "Our pursuers. They just realized who we weren't. You would not believe the gyrations they are performing. It's really extremely entertaining." "Good. Wearing those wigs was really uncomfortable, but it sure kept them happy through the weekend." "I rather enjoyed our little theatrical adventure," Janette commented. "Do you suppose there'll be repercussions for their inattention to detail?" "I'm sure of it. Yves isn't tolerant of mistakes. But I wouldn't waste any time worrying over them. He has plenty of henchmen to replace them." "I assumed as much. What do you think we should do next?" "I think Yves will be regrouping for a while. He's going to have to retrace Nick and Natalie's trail. We may have visitors later. This time they'll try to break into the loft in earnest. We'll probably need those reinforcements. LaCroix and the others will be waiting for us at the loft." "Then let's get there as soon as possible." "Just what I had planned," Jules answered as he increased his speed and began a series of maneuvers designed to lose those tailing them. His strategy worked well, and they were soon back at the loft. As they stepped out of the lift, LaCroix, the Inca, and the Inca's friends were there to greet them. "Anything new while we were gone?" Jules asked LaCroix. "They're scurrying about like very busy little worker bees, but they don't seem to be getting anywhere. They've been reviewing their video tapes. Several phone calls have flown back and forth between them and their headquarters. They've decided that they've been deceived. They're very upset about it." LaCroix smiled. "Have they found out where Nicolas and Natalie are?" Janette asked. "Not yet. They think they are still here, and that they have simply canceled their trip. What they don't understand is how Nicholas discovered their surveillance. I believe they've forgotten that he's not only a vampire, but an excellent detective. The whole idea of spying on him was ridiculous in the first place." "It looks as though they've decided to stage an assault," the Inca asserted from his position in front of the television. "Indeed it does," LaCroix agreed as he turned toward the picture on the large television screen in Nick's entertainment center. Caught by the rooftop surveillance equipment, several pairs of men, some of them vampires, had fanned out from the entrance and the roof of the building across the street and were approaching the warehouse building from different directions. "Let's take up the positions we rehearsed earlier. Janette, please guard the lift door here. Jules, would you man the street entrance? We have the rest of the access points covered." Janette and Jules took up their posts as LaCroix and the others left to confront the advancing interlopers. Within a very few minutes the attempted invasion was quashed quietly and efficiently. Each of the would-be invaders had been collected and brought to the main entrance of Nick's building. LaCroix held one very cowed vampire tightly by the throat and informed him, "My family is not to be trifled with nor harassed by the likes of you. Your boss," LaCroix sneered, "must find some other form of entertainment, if he wishes to continue his current existence undisturbed." When LaCroix released his captive, all of Yves' minions scurried away, seemingly sufficiently cowed. "That will give us a bit of time. But they'll be back. Yves is not the sort to give up easily." Jules noted. "I've observed his actions for years." "So I understand. Ever since he engineered the death of your master," LaCroix observed. "Yes, ever since then," Jules agreed. "Yves killed your master?!," Janette gasped, "Why haven't the Enforcers taken care of him?" "He did not kill him directly. He implied his guilt to a tribunal bent on witch hunting. You know what that was like. He didn't die easily. They burnt him," Jules told her bitterly. Everyone present shuddered. "He will not choose an open confrontation again. We must anticipate other strategies," LaCroix rejoined. "I believe that this time he's confronted a force he shouldn't have," Jules asserted. He looked significantly at LaCroix. "Let's get back upstairs. We need to find out what they're planning next." LaCroix said as he led their reentry into the loft where they resumed their counter surveillance of Yves' team. As the morning advanced in Toronto, it was late afternoon in London. Nick awoke first. He arose quietly, called and confirmed their appointment with Sotheby's, showered, dressed, and had a light snack waiting when Natalie finally awakened an hour later. She stretched sleepily and reached for Nick. When she didn't find him, she started up, only to discover him hovering above her with a bed table in his hands. "What's this?" Natalie demanded. "Your breakfast. We have an auction to attend before the play tonight. I didn't want you to get too hungry before supper." He placed the table over her lap then reached behind her to arrange her pillows comfortably. He stole a quick kiss before allowing her to begin to eat. "Now hurry up. We don't want to be late to the auction." "What are you buying this time?" "Oh, just some antiques." "What kind of antiques, Nick?" "It's called the Sinclair collection. It includes several items from the period of the Crusades which were owned by a knight named Sinclair." "You knew him, didn't you?" "Actually, we rescued him, Jules, Yves, and I." Natalie urged him to continue his story while she ate. "He was being attacked by a troop of Saracens. He had been sent by his commander to the Templar commandery with a warning about enemy activity in the area, and, apparently, he and they had converged upon the enemy. Several of the Templars had already been killed when we rode up. They had been ambushed. We intervened and managed to help them kill or drive off the remaining Saracens. In the skirmish my sword and Sinclair's were mixed up. We rode off to our respective garrisons, each with the other's sword in our scabbards. We intended to exchange them, but never managed to meet again before he was called home." "I'd always thought my sword was lost. But Sotheby's notified the Foundation a few weeks ago that they had found a sword in the Sinclair collection with the de Brabant family crest embossed on the hilt. They were setting up an auction for the Sinclair estate. They asked if the Foundation would like to bid on the sword. I still have Sinclair's sword. I thought, when we went up to Scotland, I would donate it to Rosslyn Chapel. His family transferred his remains there after it was built. It would have pleased him. He was a devout knight." "What a romantic story!" Natalie exclaimed. "At least this time you'll be able to buy what you want, and you won't have to resort to theft." Natalie said, remembering the events surrounding Nick's acquisition of the Celtic harp. "I may buy it, but, I'm not sure I can even touch that sword. It has a holy relic embedded inside the hilt," Nick told her. "We'll see," Natalie smiled at him. "You've changed, too, you know." It had taken some soul searching, but she had accepted her new senses. Now she used them to analyze Nick. She reviewed her memories and realized that she had been able to sense Nick's mental and emotional state from the first time he had bitten her. Each time they made love and he took her blood, that sense had intensified. She could see huge changes in him, especially since his confession about Marburg's death. She understood now what LaCroix had meant when he referred to the guilt surrounding Nick. Natalie could sense that guilt was almost completely erased. And she could not find the evil with which Nick insisted he was infested. "Perhaps," Nick's slight smile suddenly drooped. "Come on, Nick, don't go angsty on me now! Take this table away, so I can get up and get dressed." Nick did so, and Natalie sprang out of bed. An hour later they arrived at Sotheby's. Nick presented his invitation, was issued his bidding number, and they were ushered into one of the smaller salons. A tense air of hushed expectancy hovered over the room. Natalie had watched episodes of ÔLovejoy' and had wondered just how faithful they were to the world of antique dealing. Judging by this room, the settings and the look of the crowd had been accurately portrayed. Most of the people in the room wore elegant, fashionable clothing in quietly understated colors. Nick had told her that most of those present were dealers for the upscale antique salons or secretaries to nobility. "And what do they think you are?" Natalie had asked him. "Just a business representative for the Foundation," he had answered. Nick chose seats for them toward the back of the room. He quietly explained the auction procedure to her. Natalie was impressed once again at the immense knowledge and experience he had managed to acquire over his lifetime. She would forever be in awe of his many and varied abilities. It was continually intriguing and often intimidating. But his calm and confident manner, and perfectly sincere enjoyment of whatever experience he was sharing, disarmed her. He enjoyed being able to share his knowledge with her. Having Natalie as a friend and confidante had been a unique experience for him. No other human had learned as much about him and his life as she had. And when their friendship had begun to ripen into love, he had feared that they would lose the companionship they had developed. Indeed he had been terrified that he would lose Natalie to his deepest desire, to possess her completely. To have her here with him now, sharing yet another thing he had found fascinating in his lifetime, was fulfilling in a way he had never imagined. He reached out to her through their link as he reached for her hand. She was there to meet him! She smiled at him, and he thought his heart would jump out of his chest. The auctioneer entered the room and began his introduction, which interrupted their mutual admiration. The Sinclair collection contained far more than the sword that was Nick's major focus. A great deal of silver, several paintings, a few objets d' art, and some jewelry were among the items the family had decided to put up for auction. Nick had explained to Natalie that modern nobility often had to part with treasures from earlier ages to meet their tax obligations. It was a constant battle for survival. Many families had been reduced to selling their entire estates in order to pay the amounts due to the government upon the demise of the head of the family. This was the ultimate sacrifice, as titles were often connected to land once granted to the family by the crown, and the titles had to be sold along with the property. Lucky was the noble family whose elder child held a job lucrative enough to allow him or her to hold onto family lands and titles. Nick's family had long ago lost that battle. The bidding was lively, and Nick bid on several items other than the sword. He purchased a portrait of a nineteenth century Sinclair chief in full highland regalia. When the sword, itself, came up for auction, Natalie felt his excitement soar. But she noticed his face betrayed the same quiet interest with which he had bid all evening. He had some stiff competition from one woman on the other side of the room who, Nick had told her, collected antique weaponry. He managed to acquire the sword for an amount Natalie found rather outrageous. But, she reflected, he really didn't have to worry about his budget. The auctioneer moved on to other items, and Natalie felt Nick relax beside her. Several pieces later, Nick tensed. He had recognized two brooches he had never expected were still in existence. Beside him, he felt Natalie's interest rise. He turned his head and saw her eyes were fixed on the brooches; they fairly gleamed with anticipation. He caught her eye and nodded toward the auctioneer's table. She nodded eagerly. Nick bid a modest amount, as did some others in the room, and he wound up acquiring them for less than the auctioneer, obviously, thought they were worth. A short while later the auction ended. Nick concluded the sale with the auction house's representative. Natalie carried the two brooches as they walked back to the car. Nick had asked Sotheby's to ship both the sword and the painting to the deBrabant Foundation office in Edinburgh. "What attracted you to those brooches?" Nick asked Natalie when they returned to the car and settled in the front seat. "They're beautiful, and they have an aura of peace about them," she answered. "They should. They were blessed by our family priest." "Your family's priest!?" Natalie exclaimed. "How did Sinclair get them?" "I had them made for his wedding. That was why he was called home. His father was forging an important alliance with another family. I wanted him to have a remembrance of his time in the Holy Land. I wasn't even sure he had ever received them. Communications were very poor at the time. I never actually saw the brooches. I commissioned them. When I returned home to visit my sister, she showed me a drawing of the finished work the jeweler had made. She had made all the arrangements for me." "And you're sure these are the same brooches? They're certainly in wonderful condition." "I imagine the family had them repaired over time. Open the box. Let's see what we've bought." Natalie opened the box. "Oh," she gasped, "they're even lovelier than I'd thought." She looked down at the two silver brooches nestled in their cotton packing. Both were circular in design with a cross spanning the center. The arms of the cross flared as they met the circular perimeter, and a geometric bas relief design embellished the surface. One cabochon garnet rested at the junction of each cross. The design was simple and graceful. One brooch was twice the size of the other. "The larger brooch was intended for him and the smaller for his bride," Nick told her. "Would you like to wear one?" Natalie looked down at the burgundy colored suit she was wearing. "You know, it would look good on this outfit!" Nick held out the box to her. But Natalie said, "You pin it on. I want it on the lapel." "Nat, I'm not sure I can." "Nick, I know you can, and I'm going to prove it to you. Now, hand me the box. I'll hold it while you fasten the brooch." Slowly and reluctantly Nick reached for the smaller brooch. He thoroughly expected to have his fingers singed. But when he picked it up, he felt only the cool metal. He looked up at Nat with a huge smile on his face. Then he turned over the brooch, freed the pin from the simple catch and fastened it securely to Natalie's lapel. "There now, that wasn't so bad was it?" Natalie grinned at him. "I was sure it would burn me, especially now I've been feeding on human blood again." "But that isn't the only thing you eat now. And you haven't complained about craving blood for some time. You're changing Nick. Both of us are." "I didn't know I'd changed that much." "I bet you'll be able to hold your family sword after all. Holy relic and all." "I'm looking forward to trying." Nick grinned as he started the car and headed for Her Majesty's Theatre and what the critics were calling an outstanding performance of ÔPhantom of the Opera.' When they returned to the hotel after the play and supper, a message was waiting for them at the front desk. "It's from Cyril. He wants us to call him at the museum, immediately," Nick told Natalie. "Uh oh, I sure hope it isn't bad news." Nick placed the call to Cyril as soon as they reached their room. Natalie couldn't tell from Nick's end of the conversation what had happened, except that it was not good news. Cyril did most of the talking. As soon as Nick rang off, Natalie begged him to tell her what had happened. "There was a break-in at the museum. They trashed the entire exhibition that was to have been sent to Toronto. They stole the mummy. Cyril will have to refurbish and repack everything. It will be at least a week before he can attempt redelivery." "What about Divia's necklace? Did they get that?" "Luckily, he'd already sent that to Edinburgh. Nothing seems to be missing, except the mummy. Cyril has another to replace it. There were several anonymous priests buried in that other tomb. Nat, do you suppose whoever did this thinks they have Ka-Ha and will try to reanimate him?" "Seems like a reasonable assumption to me. I'm sure glad we got rid of him." "Me too, Divia was enough to cope with. I'd sure hate to meet her master. And I'm beginning to think I'm very glad that only we and Cyril know we destroyed Ka-Ha's mummy." Natalie shivered as Nick continued, "LaCroix said that Divia complained about the symbol of Ra in the top of her sarcophagus burning her. Maybe, if they can't revive that mummy, they'll attribute their failure to Ra." "I sure hope so. They hate us already. Giving them another reason to hate us seems like overkill," Natalie said. "I'm dying to find out what the coating is on that necklace." "You'll be able to soon. We leave for Edinburgh tomorrow evening." "I'll call Angus as soon as we get there and get settled." "Are you planning on spending the rest of our honeymoon analyzing Divia's necklace?" "Not the entire honeymoon." "But a good deal of it, if I know you," Nick chuckled in her ear as he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. Neither of them concerned themselves about museum break-ins, missing mummies, or poisoned necklaces for several hours. [End Chapter 3 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations] Chapter 4 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations The next evening Nick and Natalie repacked their bags, checked out of the hotel, and drove to Heathrow, where they returned the rental car before boarding their flight. Within the hour they were on the ground in Edinburgh, picked up their luggage and another rental car, and headed for Newbank House. The self-catering house Nick had arranged for them was an 1840's coachhouse with three bedrooms, a private garden, and private parking. It was located near the old Leith harbor within a mile of Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Castle, north of the city center. They checked in with the manager at an adjacent hotel and picked up the keys. They were greeted with pleasant, quiet courtesy, and shown where to park, then led to the house. The manager assured them that they would have complete privacy, and wished them a pleasant stay. They were to be sure and see him if anything was not to their satisfaction, or if they needed help finding anything in Edinburgh. As soon as the manager had taken his leave, Natalie rifled her overnight bag for her personal phone directory and placed her call to Angus. She was dying to find out if he had received the necklace in good condition, and wanted to meet with him as soon as possible. While Natalie was on the phone, Nick carried the bags up to the bedroom, unpacked the luggage, then checked the kitchen to be sure the supplies he had ordered had arrived. The management supplied linens and kitchen equipment, but food was the responsibility of the tenant. Everything he had ordered had been placed in the refrigerator or pantry. Sitting in the center of the pantry there was a large refrigerated crate marked "medical supplies" which Nick knew contained his own refreshment. The pantry's shelves were stocked with the food staples that needed no refrigeration. He decided to unpack the crate and place the bottles in the refrigerator. When he finished, he made a plate of sandwiches and took them, two bottles, and two glasses into the living room and settled himself onto the couch. When Natalie entered the room a few minutes later, he was relaxing and listening to quiet music emanating from a stereo system in one corner. "Angus says he got the necklace OK. He hasn't started work on it. He knew I'd want to be involved when he got Cyril's note. He says we should come to the lab tonight. He's working late, and he wants to meet you. I'm not tired, and we don't have anywhere else to be." "And you can't leave a mystery unsolved! Would you like something to eat before we leave." "Maybe a quick sandwich." Natalie noticed the plate of food sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch. "You've already made some! Thank you, Nick." "I knew you wouldn't want to wait to get to work, and I was getting hungry, so I figured you would be too. Would you like a glass of wine to wash it down?" "Wine?" Natalie asked. "Non-alcoholic of course," Nick replied. "Yes, thank you. It shouldn't take long to make up the samples from the necklace. I think we'll know something about the substance before we come home." Natalie observed between bites of sandwich. "What will we do tomorrow evening?" "I thought we'd take a walking tour of Edinburgh Castle by night. It's not the standard tourist fare, but then, we're not the standard tourists." "That sounds like fun! What about the Science Festival?" "All the lectures and tours I booked are for next week. We have the weekend to wander around the countryside or hang out with Angus if you want. After the whirlwind in London, I thought you might enjoy some quiet time." "You were right, I am glad to have some quiet time. Angus asked if we'd like to meet his family. He asked us to dinner on Saturday. I said Ôyes,' is that all right with you?" "Of course it is. I can eat enough now to pass for normal at a dinner party, I think. And I'd love to get to know more of your friends. You know, Natalie, I don't really know very much about your personal life. You know more about me, I think." "I didn't have a very exciting personal life, until I met you. I think that's kind of par for the course for a doctor. Work always seems to intrude on obligations to friends and family. Most of my friends are coworkers." "But that wasn't always true, was it?" Nick asked shrewdly, trying to give her an opening to talk about herself. She was an extremely private person, as he had, perforce, become to cope with his lifestyle. He wondered why his sweet, loving, passionate wife was so reluctant to discuss her past. "No, but things change when you graduate from medical school." She refused to comment further, and Nick knew he would get no more from her. Through their link he felt a tense hesitancy that warned him to tread softly. They finished their supper, cleaned up the dishes, and headed for the university's forensic pathology lab. Dr. Angus Beaton was hunched over a microscope when they arrived. He was quite average in height, slightly built, with a tousled mop of curly black hair, slightly thinning on top, and a full, bushy black beard. He was concentrating so fiercely that Natalie had to tap him on the shoulder to arouse him. But when he turned and recognized her, his face was transfigured from a solemn expression to one of unadulterated joy. His brown eyes crinkled up with glee and his round cherry cheeks and wide smile made him look like a black-haired Santa Claus. "Natalie Lambert! What a pleasure to see you again! You haven't changed a bit. You're still that beautiful young girl I never would have imagined would be such a talented and tenacious investigator." "Angus, you old flatterer, it's been, what, ten years. I'm afraid I've changed a lot in that amount of time." "Never. And this must be Nick Knight, the man who's finally managed to capture the elusive Dr. Lambert. Congratulations, Nick. Watch out, she can be a real handful!" "Dr. Beaton, I'm so glad to meet you." Nick held his hand out to the doctor and found it consumed in a vigorous handshake. "Angus, call me Angus. Did Natalie tell you, you're on call for Saturday night supper?" Nick nodded. "Mairi and the kids are dying to meet you both. I've bragged so much about my protege, they want to see if she can live up to her reputation. And they want to know, if she's such a paragon, who would she pick for a husband? I think they'll be pleasantly surprised." "We're looking forward to it," Nick told him with a huge smile on his face. Natalie was amazed, watching Nick, at the sheer pleasure she could see and feel emanating from him at this genuine and effusive welcome he was receiving from her old teacher. She was pleased that the two men she admired most appeared to be getting along so well. "Well, Angus, I know Natalie is dying to get to work on that necklace. She says it arrived safely." Nick put in. "Ah, yes, that necklace. Cyril wrote me that they'd lost a cat to the poisoned coating. I locked it up." Angus crossed the room to a locked cabinet on the wall and took out the box Nick and Natalie had watched Cyril pack. He passed out surgical gloves to both of them and donned a pair, himself, before he opened the package. Natalie held her breath. She didn't want to betray her new senses to Angus, or worry him unduly. She wasn't sure what her second view of the necklace would reveal. When Angus pulled it out, Natalie noticed that the greenish glow was still as intense as it had been the first time she had seen it. But she could see smudges where the necklace had been handled. She reached for it and said, "Let's put it under the microscope and see if the coating is contiguous or if it has some breaks in it." "I knew she'd take over the minute I got it out of the box." Angus winked at Nick and continued, "She's the very embodiment of Pandora, can't stand not to know." "I know, believe me, I know." Nick agreed in an affectionate tone. "You just have to let her do it her way. I think that's what makes her so damn good at what she does." "Absolutely." Angus concurred. "Oh, stop it, you two!" Natalie spluttered. But she took the necklace and began to examine it thoroughly under the microscope Angus had been using, after carefully removing and storing the slide he had been viewing. "The coating isn't completely uniform. It looks as if it had been dipped quickly into a pot of the stuff. Whatever this substance is, it must have had a fairly thick and sticky consistency when it was applied. It's a bit thicker towards one side of the necklace, as if it were dipped from this end. This end, near the clasp, has none of the substance on it." "Why don't you scrape some of it off from different locations, if you can, and we'll prepare some samples and test them in various solutions to see what this coating is." Angus told her. While Natalie scraped samples, Angus handed her a series of petrie dishes, test tubes, and slides on which to deposit them. The structural forms she usually observed under the microscope guided her to the sites from which she removed the samples. In addition, she utilized her new sight and followed the variable fluorescence she observed threaded throughout the surface of the necklace to find places she would have ignored with her ordinary vision. Areas of brightness, which appeared to be nodes for the lines of color she could see, might be indicators for properties normally undetectable by humans. She hoped the samples from these areas might help her discover just what her new sense allowed her to perceive. Then Natalie and Angus selected a variety of reagents and introduced them into the test tubes. The petrie dishes were set into a cross-section of environments to allow whatever culture might grow on each medium a chance to develop. Angus and Natalie took turns preparing and viewing slides to see if they could detect anything obvious. Nick mostly observed the two working together, occasionally handing one of them a chemical or tool or filling out labels for the samples as requested. After an hour of intense work, and several significant grunts and hushed conversations between the two doctors, they stopped, apparently satisfied with their work. "We're just going to have to wait for some of these cultures to mature," Angus said. "It looks like we have a rather complex mixture here. It's not particularly refined. You said the necklace was found in an Egyptian tomb?" "Yes," Nick answered. "It dated to about 100 A.D., according to Cyril." "Well, then it would definitely have to be a combination of naturally available elements from the local area. It looks like we have some plant toxins mixed in with a venom of some kind. The venom could be from a reptile or an insect. We'll need to wait to see if there are any bacterial or viral substances present." "Mightn't there also have been some enzymatic action from the venom?" Natalie asked. "Possibly, especially, if it happens to be a circulatory toxin. But this has been in that tomb for a very long time. What's left of the original substances may have degraded significantly," Angus replied. "Enzymatic action?" Nick asked quickly. "I'm thinking this might be the key to our problem, Nick." Natalie told him. "Just what is this problem we're working on, Natalie?" Angus asked her. Nick looked significantly at Nat and tried to reach her through their link to caution her. But Natalie blocked his efforts and turned squarely to Angus and said, "Angus, Nick and I are working on a case which started in Toronto with the death of one of the tomb robbers who found this necklace. Nick's family administers a foundation which is endowing the Royal Ontario Museum with the contents of the tomb along with some other artifacts. I've been working in an advisory capacity for the same foundation off and on for the past six years. We are trying to ensure the safety of those who will visit the exhibit. We want to be sure that there is nothing contagious on any of the artifacts." "And, you're just plain curious," Angus finished for her. "That's about it," Nick told him as he breathed a surreptitious sigh of relief at Natalie's very agile and believable half-truths. "You've got a very personal stake in this, too, if I'm still good at hunches," Angus continued. Nick looked at him sharply. Waves of reassurance and friendly concern radiated from Angus' cherubic face. "I don't know what it is exactly, and it's none of my business, but I hope you two find what you need to know." Angus paused, "Listen, why don't we go get a pint or a late night snack. I know a little pub which should still be open." "Great," Natalie and Nick agreed. They stored all of their samples, locked up the necklace, and tidied up the work area. Then the three trooped off to the Ôgreatest little pub in town' where Angus promised good food, good beer, and local color. Deacon Brodie's Tavern, named for the man who inspired Stevenson's ÔThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' lived up to its billing. Nick and Natalie spent another delightful hour with Angus enjoying a local brew and the excellent pub food. Natalie was hungry again, and Nick was busy sampling things he hadn't been able to enjoy in nearly 800 years. He especially relished the ale on tap. "This ale is certainly an improvement over the usual fare offered in bars at home," he told Angus as they savored their second pint. "Your husband has good taste," Angus told Natalie. "Younger's is one of my favorites. Maybe we should get together for a pint or two every evening while you're here. There's no place to get to know folks better than over a good pint." "I'd like that, Angus, " Nick said. "We could try a different brand each night!" "Just as long as I can get haggis, it's fine with me!" Natalie exclaimed. "I never knew you had a fondness for haggis, Natalie. Most folks don't even want to try it when they find out what it's made of," Angus told her. "I know. Sheep's guts, onions, and oats boiled in a sack never appealed to me before, but it's delicious, and the more pepper in it, the better." "Well, you certainly had your fill tonight!" Nick observed. Natalie had polished off three plates of the Scottish delicacy. "Are you developing cravings already?" "Maybe." "Cravings? Natalie, are you and Nick expecting?" Angus asked. "Yes, we are, as a matter of fact." Natalie beamed at Angus as he congratulated them and ordered a third pint for himself and Nick, who was finding it hard to suppress a huge grin that seemed to grow with each pint of ale he consumed. Nat thought wonderingly as Nick and Angus toasted each other, then began on a round of toasts to everything they thought was important in life, beginning with their wives. She joined them in their toasts with her soda. "You know, Natalie's a great drinking buddy," Angus confided to Nick. "I remember a time once when I was missing Mairi. She took me to this place in Toronto, and we spent the entire evening toasting to each muscle in the body. If she weren't pregnant, she'd be drinking us under the table." "Oh, really, I've never had the opportunity to see that side of her, Angus. She's always been the consummate professional. She has that mask she puts on, you know the one. It's only since we've been married that she's really let me get to know her." "She wasn't always that way..." "Now, Angus, let's not get maudlin and go over old times best forgotten," Natalie interrupted him. "Hey, Nat, let Angus finish his story," Nick told her. "Sorry, Angus, she's usually very polite." "Naw, that's OK, Nick. It was a sad story anyway. No use spoiling a great evening." Just then the publican announced, ÔTime.' "Time to drink up anyway. The pub's closing. We can share war stories another time." They finished their drinks and went their separate ways. Angus promised to meet Nick at the pub the next evening for another round of ale sharing and Nat for haggis, if she still craved it. It was around midnight when Nick and Natalie returned to Newbank House and settled down on the couch together. "So, we don't have anywhere to be right now. That's lovely." She reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. His arms went around her and pulled her close as the kiss deepened into a passionate embrace. He released her only to readjust their positions so that she was lying full length on top of him. But then they simply relaxed quietly together as he stroked her hair and she explored the bones of his face with her fingers. He traced the outline of her lips with one finger, sighed deeply and said, "I love you, Natalie Lambert Knight. I never thought I could love anyone so very much." "I know that, my love. I feel it every hour of every day." "It's nice to hear it said, isn't it?" "Yes. It is." "No regrets?" "None. What about you? Your quest for mortality? We've very effectively sabotaged that, haven't we?" Nick smiled contentedly at her and kissed the top of her head as he hugged her gently. "No regrets. I have what I really wanted," he paused for a moment and then finished, "you." "Now Nick, you know it's more than that. That's just sheer flattery." "Well, the end of the incessant craving to bite someone in the throat is also a plus. I'm not sure why I've lost the blood lust, but it seems to have been replaced by another lust." "Oh?" Natalie questioned coyly. "And that would be...?" "Natalie lust," he told her seriously before beginning to tickle her furiously. They wrestled on the couch until both rolled giggling and breathless onto the floor, nearly overturning the coffee table. "Maybe we should take this upstairs," Nick panted when he could capture her hands and stop her tickling him. "Any excuse to get me into bed!" Natalie exclaimed. "Well, this is our honeymoon, after all," Nick told her. "Yeah, but you started this before we even got married!" "You're just too irresistible, my love." "You resisted just fine for nearly six years, you oaf!" "I'm making up for lost time." "All six years worth on one honeymoon, I think." "Natalie, what a wonderful idea!" "You're positively incorrigible." "I love you." He kissed her thoroughly and passionately. "I love you." She kissed him back. He picked her up and flew them up the narrow stairs to the bedroom. There they proceeded to show each other how very much in love they were. Later, they relaxed in each other's arms, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. "You don't feel blood lust anymore, do you, Nick?" Natalie observed. "You told me that earlier, but at the time, I thought you were just teasing. You were serious." "Yes, I was. I could live with this condition as it is now. I'm just a little worried about how much longer we'll continue to mutate. Where is the end of this reaction? What will it mean for our son? That really concerns me." "I know. I worry about that, too. When we get home after this trip, it will be time to go see Jules again for a checkup. Maybe he'll have run his own tests and have more answers for us." "Humph, that'll just mean he'll want more samples to see where we are now. I wonder what is going on at home right now?" Nick mused. [End Chapter 4 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations] Chapter 5 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations Back home in Toronto, in the corporate offices of KH Medical, Yves was losing his temper. He seldom raised his voice. In fact, his entire staff understood that if he spoke above a quiet murmur, he was truly incensed. And if he went completely silent, and his eyes turned amber, someone would die. His control over his emotions was legendary. But now he fairly shouted, and his normally storm gray eyes snapped with golden sparks. "What do you mean they're in Europe? How could you let them slip through your fingers? I've had Knight under surveillance for years, and he never knew it. You lost him after only a few weeks!" "I'm sorry, boss. I guess we got a little careless. He must've spotted our post across from the warehouse. They took an earlier flight. He must've got lucky. We checked, all the previous flights were fully booked. The only way he could've gotten out was with a cancellation." The vampire, who had been using the telescope to spy on Jules and Janette, trembled as he faced the young man sitting behind the desk. No one who saw Yves in public would ever credit the sheer terror his gaze could generate. He was deceptively mild-mannered, deferential in his treatment of people. His conventionally handsome features belied the utter animosity to humanity that his politely quiet demeanor concealed. "On top of losing him, you've also provided false intelligence to this organization," Yves said more quietly. "We do not know if Knight's wife is still mortal. That is very dangerous. The only reason I will not have you killed is that you did manage to put together a team to recover that mummy. It should be in our hands by tomorrow night. Now you must locate them, and find out if she's still a danger to us. Get out of here, Soames, now, before I change my mind," Yves ordered firmly and quietly. Soames hurried out the door, thanking his lucky stars that he'd been given another chance. Not many had escaped Yves' displeasure, and he knew this would be his last chance to redeem himself. He'd already made arrangements to find the Knights. He knew they were either in London or Edinburgh. He'd already set up teams to cover both cities, but he still needed to cover Brussels. He'd managed to acquire Knight's itinerary, as he wasn't using the normal vampire travel agent. He, apparently, wasn't concerned about hiding his movements. More fool, he, thought Soames as he rushed down the hall. In the office, Yves quietly fumed. His square jaw rippled as the muscles clenched. He was surrounded by incompetents. He supposed that was what he got for recruiting from the local police force. But it had been so convenient to keep tabs on Knight through his coworkers. When he'd first begun to follow Nicolas' career, he had done it out of simple curiosity. Yves reached into his top left hand desk drawer and removed a thick dossier. It was the result of years of observation and research. Every incarnation of Nicolas deBrabant, now known as Nick Knight, was carefully preserved in the file before him. Nicolas, Yves mused, as he laid the file on the desk and leafed through its contents, was his oldest friend and dearest enemy. Yves was sure Nicolas was unaware of his continuing interest in his existence. He had been very careful to conceal his operations from the object of his surveillance. He remembered how he had rejoiced to find that Nicolas had also been brought across. Bertrand, Yves' master, had told him that Nicolas had chosen the vampire life. Nicolas' master was a marvelously ruthless Roman general, who had taken the name ÔLaCroix.' He was a singularly successful and merciless vampire. By virtue of his survival skills, he was now an ancient in the Community. Yves had hoped that someday Nicolas and himself might renew their old friendship. Then Nicolas and his very powerful master might even be persuaded to join his and Bertrand's search for the Hunter. What a grand alliance that would have been! He hadn't realized at the time that his dear old friend, Nicolas, might become the focal point of his quest for the Hunter. Nicolas had foolishly repented his vampire existence and was bent on regaining his humanity. Utter folly and anathema! He had actually married a human, for the second time, and there lay the danger! For the very being Yves desired most to find should only be born to the most ruthless. That was the only way vampires would come into their rightful prominence on this earth, in fulfillment of the true prophecy. Nicolas deBrabant was the last person on earth who should sire the Hunter. Everything would be ruined. The alternate prophecy would prevail. And Yves' greatest enemy, Jules deVilliers, would have won. This could not be allowed to happen. Nicolas must be forced to bring his woman across, if he had not already done so. Yves sincerely hoped that what he feared most would not come to pass. As Yves continued to flip through the file, he rediscovered a pawn he had held in abeyance. He held up an 8 x 10 glossy, black and white photo of the one person who might be able to influence the fate of Nick Knight. He would never suspect this one of being a traitor! Yves knew all the proper buttons to push to make anyone dance to his tune. He hadn't specialized in mind control and behavior modification all these years for nothing. And it didn't hurt that he had a worldwide organization to back him up. Yves smiled to himself as he reviewed his steady progress toward the future prophesied by the legend of the Hunter. Yes, he could succeed. He would succeed! By the coming of the millennium, vampires would rule the earth. While Yves reviewed his options, across town LaCroix, Janette, and Jules met in Jules' lab. "Are you sure of your results?" LaCroix asked. "Yes, everything I've found confirms Natalie's earlier tests. And this series of samples indicates that their mutation is even farther along that it was when she completed hers. There's no doubt that they are no longer either fully vampire or human. And in these samples the reaction is still active. I'm not sure how much more they will change before they come home." "Nicholas said at one point that he and she might become a danger to the Community. Do you think that this might become true?" LaCroix queried tensely. "I genuinely do not know, Lucien," Jules replied. "I have no idea what these chromosomal changes will do to their physical bodies. I've never seen this kind of reaction before. When they left, they merely seemed to be acquiring enhancements to their normal senses. But there is no way to tell, short of observing them. And I can't make any kind of guess about how it's affecting their child. If Yves and his group had any idea at all that Natalie was pregnant and that she and Nick were mutating in this way, he'd be dead meat. If they found her, they'd lock her up until the child came, then kill her. I'd hate to see them hunted, not only by Yves, but also by the Enforcers. Neither of them have done anything to warrant that action." "Cyril tells me that he trusts Natalie. They accomplished the successful destruction of Ka-Ha's mummy at her suggestion. And she's investigating a substance she discovered on the scapular Divia was wearing that might lead to some explanation of how and why she survived her decapitation," LaCroix informed them. "Cyril is a very astute and trustworthy person," Janette asserted. "I really believe that we need to wait until Nick and Natalie return before we make any decisions about notifying the Enforcers," Jules told them. "By that time the mutation may have run its course. Then we may have a better idea of what they, and we, will be dealing with." "I agree," LaCroix said. "I have never believed in involving Them before it was absolutely necessary. You do have a very secure storage place for these samples and reports, don't you, Jules?" "Absolutely. And this office and lab are regularly monitored to detect any kind of surveillance. Yves has had me followed and watched for centuries. I've learned how to avoid his little traps, otherwise I would not have survived." "That I have learned very thoroughly in these past few days," LaCroix rejoined. "I'm very glad to have you as an ally, Jules." "Thank you, Lucien." "Cyril also reports that they managed to divert Yves' attention by putting a replacement mummy in Divia's casket. Yves' people took the bait and stole the mummy. Nicholas assumes that Yves will attempt to reanimate it, thinking it is Ka-Ha." "Then let us watch for indications that they have attempted this reanimation," Jules suggested. "I already have someone monitoring Yves' activities. I am concerned that he might become extremely incensed at Nicholas when he finds he has the wrong mummy." "Do you expect to hear from Nick while he is gone?" "No, I don't. But I have friends who are keeping an eye on things. If anyone threatens him or Dr. Lambert, I will be notified." "Then you expect Yves to make a move against them?" "Yes, I do. He could hardly pass up the opportunity to try and strike at them when they are at their most vulnerable, away from home, and engrossed in each other as they must be." "I agree." "Can't we warn them in some way?" Janette asked. "Yes, I think we could. Didn't Cyril mention another doctor Natalie was visiting? We could address the information we have to him. We can include a cautionary statement in that. And at the same time I can confirm her theory for her. Janette, you have the address of the place they're staying, don't you?" Janette nodded. "Then let's decide how to phrase this in a subtle way that would sound like an ordinary medical communique, just in case it's intercepted." Several hours later Nick startled awake to the ringing of the phone beside the bed. "Hello? Angus!" he cried into the phone as Natalie rolled over and glowered at him. She just wasn't ready to be awake. She was feeling a bit grouchy, and she bleakly wondered why she should feel grumpy. Nick had been nothing if not considerate, and he had made love to her exquisitely last night. Nick winked at her then said, "No, we're awake." He paused for some minutes. "Yes, I'm sure she'll be thrilled. I have to do some family business today. Why don't I let you talk to her and set things up for your tour, and I'll meet you both later. Great!" Nick handed the phone to Natalie, "It's Angus. He'd like to take you on a tour of the university labs." With an effort Natalie's frown turned to a large smile as she took the phone. Nick jumped out of bed and left her to make plans while he used the bathroom and showered. When he was finished, he wandered back into the bedroom and began to dress. "So, when are you going to meet Angus?" he asked Natalie, who was just sitting up in bed, stretching. Her earlier grouchy spell had dissipated during her conversation with Angus, and she was now ready for the day. "At three o'clock. What's this about family business?" "I have a solicitor here in Edinburgh who handles the deBrabant Foundation business. He happens to be a mortal I can trust. I wanted to make a will, now that we're married. I want to be sure you and our son are provided for in case anything happens to me. It's not the kind of thing I can entrust to or discuss with my associates in the Community. I made an appointment with him just after we got married. He's going to show me what he's drafted today. When it's been approved, then we can go in for the official signing." "A will?" "There's a lot of business connected with the Foundation, and I own a considerable amount of property. My life being what it is, I have a lot of bolt holes," he said sheepishly. "Nick, I knew you were wealthy, but I never thought about what might be involved." "It's time you did know. After all, it all belongs to you too, now." Natalie just stared at him for a moment, overwhelmed. "Hey, Nat, like you said, it's only money! When I get through with the solicitor, I'll meet you at Deacon Brodie's. How long do you think your tour will be?" "Angus says a couple of hours. He's made arrangements with several of his colleagues at the University. They specialize in cancer research and genetic studies here. It sounds like I'll get a preliminary taste of some of the lectures you booked for us next week. Although this tour may be even better, because I can ask questions of the researchers who're actually doing the work! I plan to ask some hard questions about genetic engineering." "It sounds like you're going to have a great afternoon. How about some lunch?" "I'm starved!" "Why don't I fix us something while you get your shower." Nick leaned over to kiss her, but Natalie grabbed him around the neck and pulled him down onto the bed. She hugged him closely and kissed him passionately. He responded enthusiastically, then he pulled her arms away from his neck and sat up. "We won't get anything done if we keep this up! I thought you were hungry." "I am, hungry for you." She wrapped her arms around his neck again and kissed him deeply. When she finally released him, he gasped, "I think you just removed my tonsils!" "Don't worry, they'll grow back," she chuckled. "It's a damned good thing I'm a vampire, or they wouldn't." "Even if you were human, you wouldn't need them!" Natalie punched him playfully, jumped up, and ran into the bathroom. Nick rolled out of the bed, with a huge smile on his face, and went downstairs to fix some lunch. An hour later Nick and Natalie were cleaning up the kitchen after their meal. There was a knock at the front door, Natalie went to answer it. She returned to the kitchen almost immediately. "Who was it?" Nick asked. "A telegram for ÔDr. Angus Beaton''from Jules. But it's addressed here, to Newbank House. It says, ÔLab confirms all tests positive. Follow up consultation April 6, 8 p.m. Continue regimen as discussed. Rigorous application of prophylactic routine is highly recommended.' Now that's a coded message if I ever saw one!" "What do you think it means, Nat?" "I think it means he's confirmed my findings and wants to be sure I stick to my diet, and we continue the status quo." "What's that Ôprophylactic routine'?" "Double talk for protective measures. Do you suppose he means that we could be threatened over here?" "That's almost a given, don't you think?" "Yeah, I guess so, but we've had a perfectly lovely honeymoon so far." "They must have tracked us down." Natalie handed the message to Nick. He looked at it a moment and did a double take. "Nat, now I know it's a warning. Look at the names of the consulting physicians!" Natalie grabbed the telegram from Nick's hand, and discovered Drs. L. LaCroix and J. duCharme listed in the lower left hand corner as laboratory consultants. "Oh God Nick, they must think someone might even intercept our mail!" "Nat, be very careful when you're out with Angus today. I know your senses will help you, but stick close to Angus. I'll finish my business as fast as I can, I don't want to leave you alone, but you know I can't get out in the sun." "I know, I'll be careful. You be careful, too." At three o'clock Natalie met Angus at his lab and they began a walking tour of the University of Edinburgh Pathology Department's research facilities. Natalie was extremely impressed with the quality both of the research which had been accomplished and the people who were performing it. By the time she and Angus headed for Deacon Brodie's to meet Nick, Natalie's head was spinning with the information she had managed to gain. "You know, Angus, I've seldom had such a thoroughly stimulating afternoon. Thank you." "You're very welcome, Natalie. I hope you don't mind all the walking. I find it's the only way I can stay fit doing what we do. It's one of the reasons I stay here. Everything on the job is within walking distance." "I really enjoyed the walking. And, I need to stay fit, especially with the appetite I've developed." "Are you looking forward to more of that haggis?" "I don't know. I'm thinking a cottage pie is more to my taste this evening." Natalie laughed, then shivered suddenly. "Let's get moving, Angus. I'm getting really hungry." She told him. Someone was watching her! The feeling seemed to be emanating from the shop front they were passing. And someone ahead of them, off to the left, meant her harm. Angus laughed at her comment, but sobered quickly as he quickened his pace to keep up with her. He glanced toward the building they were passing. He noticed a quiet figure quickly turn toward the shop display and an ominous black sedan idling at the curb in the next block. "Natalie, let's make a quick right turn at the next corner. I know a back way to the pub. We can get that cottage pie faster that way." Natalie glanced at Angus and noticed the intent look on his face. She turned with him at the next street where he broke into a trot. She increased her speed to keep up with him and found herself completely confused by the number of twists and turns he took through the wynds and closes of the medieval burgh. Within a very few minutes they arrived at the pub, and, slowing to a fast walk, they entered and found a table. As soon as he had ordered a pint for himself and a soft drink for Natalie, Angus turned to her, "I think it's time you told me what's going on, Natalie. I know you and Nick are in trouble. I can help." "Oh, Angus, I don't know if you'd believe me if I could tell you!" Natalie exclaimed. "What wouldn't Angus believe, Natalie?" Nick asked as he joined them at the table. "Hi, Nick. Natalie and I just had quite a workout. Someone was following her. She spotted him about the same time I did. Does it have something to do with that necklace we were analyzing?" "You forgot to tell me we were visiting Sherlock Holmes, Nat," Nick commented dryly." "Angus has offered to help us, Nick. He got me away from that observer very handily. How did you know we were being followed, Angus?" "Observation, and a little intuition. I've continued using Dr. Bell's theories, and, I think, I've improved on them a bit," Angus grinned at Natalie. Then he turned to Nick and said, "You know Joseph Bell was the doctor on whom Conan Doyle based Holmes, don't you?" "Yes. I didn't know that there was still an expert practitioner in existence, though. Especially not one who has a psychic edge," Nick noted. "Ah, you spotted my little secret," Angus beamed at Nick. "We highlanders call it Ôsecond sight.' There is a very excellent parapsychology department at the university. They've used me as a test subject on occasion. I've found that practice has sharpened my senses. You ought to go in and be tested. They'd be very interested in you two," Angus said shrewdly. "Now, let's have some supper and you can fill me in." Natalie looked at Nick, their eyes met, and they exchanged worried glances. "You don't have to give me all the details, just the general outline. I'll figure out the rest," Angus told them. Nick's eyebrows rose, and Natalie rolled her eyes. "Oh, I give up," Natalie finally said. "Nick, you tell him." Nick turned to Angus. He sat and assessed the doctor through every sense available to him, then sighed hugely. "I really hate to involve you in this. It could be dangerous, not only to you, but to your family as well. Are you sure you want to risk that?" "I don't like risking my family. But Natalie and I have been seen together by some pretty scary people. I think they were planning on kidnapping her. I spotted a suspicious looking car down the block. That's why we turned when we did, Natalie." Natalie nodded. She realized what a close call she had had. "I think I need to know enough to know how to protect myself and my family." "You're absolutely right about that, Angus. We've been noticed by a group of fanatical millenarians searching for a child who is the key to their prophecy. For some reason they believe Natalie and I are candidates to produce this harbinger of their new age. They aren't willing for us to simply produce and raise the child. They want to control it, train it in their philosophy." "You're well equipped to keep your family safe. Natalie tells me you're a homicide detective. And both of you have a psychic edge of your own. I can feel it." Angus broke off suddenly as he gazed across the room, "Here's the waitress. Let's get some more ale over here. And Natalie needs a cottage pie. How about you, Nick, anything to eat?" Nick grinned at Angus, admiring his quickness, and said, "No, just an ale. What brand tonight, Angus?" "Tennent's Velvet, please, two pints, and a cottage pie for the lady." When the waitress left, Angus turned back to them. "Millenarians, eh? Interesting turn of phrase, you mean those religious fanatics searching for a messiah who always seem to materialize at the turn of a century?" "I'm not sure these people are precisely religious fanatics, but, yes, that kind of zealot." Nick acknowledged. "Do they want that necklace?" Angus inquired. "Actually, I don't think they even know it exists. It's really more of a link in a chain of evidence. We discovered it only because of my connection to the foundation that's purchasing the artifacts for the Royal Ontario Museum," Nick told him. "Then, what they really want is you, Natalie, and the baby." "All they really want is the baby, and so far as we know, they don't know it exists yet. They're still tracking potential parents. Once the baby arrives, we're both expendable," Natalie informed him. Angus was deeply immersed in thought for a moment. Then he looked up and said, "Nick, this may be a red herring, but I keep thinking about a case Natalie and I were working on when we first met, a series of murders that were never solved. At first glance they looked like nothing more than brutal muggings, but I always wondered. There was so much fury in the murderer's M.O., that I thought at the time there had to be more behind it than the usual motives. It was as though the murderer were trying to prove something, make a statement," Angus said. "Did they ever solve that case, Natalie?" "No, they didn't," Natalie said shortly, then she began to fidget in her seat. "I always wondered about that case. It was obviously a serial killer. All the victims were young university students, all male. You knew some of the victims didn't you, Natalie?" "Yes." "They were all beaten, viciously, their throats cut, the blood drained, and the bodies were all laid out the same way, in a ritual pattern." Nick's head snapped to attention, and his eyes widened. "When was this, Angus?" "Just about ten years ago. I was working in Toronto on an exchange fellowship at the time. Natalie was trying to decide on a specialty. If it hadn't been for that case, I don't think she'd have gone into pathology. The medical profession would have lost one of its stars. She'd have been a good pediatrician, I suppose, but she's truly outstanding as a forensic pathologist." "What made you think of that case just now, Angus?" Nick asked. "I'm not sure, your story, suddenly, brought it back to me. Maybe it was the notion of fanaticism. That's what that murderer's M.O. was like, ritualistic fanaticism." Natalie was staring at her hands as Angus talked. Nick glanced at her, she'd quietly closed their link, but it was obvious that she was upset. Just then, the waitress arrived bringing their drinks and Natalie's cottage pie. Nick decided to change the subject. "Here're our refreshments," Nick said. "Nat, after you eat, let's go for our tour of the castle. I promised her an evening tour of the castle tonight, Angus. Would you like to join us?" "No, I'm headed home to Mairi and the kids after this. They're really looking forward to meeting you two. Say, I'd better give you directions to the house. We live in Peebles, just a half hour south of here." "Isn't Rosslyn Chapel on the same road?" Nick asked. "Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. Why, Nick? Were you thinking of taking a tour? The Sinclairs have certainly promoted it lately." "Natalie and I attended an auction at Sotheby's earlier this week and bought some things from the Sinclair estate for the Foundation. I heard about Rosslyn Chapel when the Foundation investigated the Sinclair collection." "Oh yes, Natalie mentioned that your family was associated with a foundation. Which one is it?" "The deBrabant Foundation." "That's a group that funds some of the research the university is doing. I understand from some of the researchers that they're very easy to deal with and very generous in their endowments." "I act as their agent from time to time. I'm glad to hear they do good work. They bought a sword from the Sinclair collection. They also own a sword from a Sinclair ancestor which they're planning to donate to Rosslyn Chapel. I'm to deliver it for them. We could combine business with pleasure, deliver the sword and visit you on the same trip." "Efficient, Scottish thinking, Nick! Here, I'll draw you a map on this napkin. I don't think you'll have much trouble finding us." "Thanks, Angus." While Angus and Nick were exchanging travel information, Natalie seemed to thaw a bit. She had begun to eat her supper, and to follow the conversation. "Thank you, Angus. We're really looking forward to meeting your family," she said. "How's your pie, Nat?" Nick asked her quietly. She'd withdrawn when Angus had begun discussing their first case. Angus had also noticed Natalie's upset. "It's good, really good." Natalie smiled for the first time in several minutes, and both men breathed a sigh of relief. When Natalie had finished her supper, she excused herself to go to the ladies' room. Nick turned to Angus as he asked, "Why is Natalie so upset, Angus?" "It must be that case we worked on. I'd forgotten. Her friend, his name was Craig, was one of the victims. I always got the feeling that she blamed herself for leaving that one unsolved. None of us were able to solve that case. There just wasn't enough evidence. The only connection between the victims seemed to be that they were all medical students, but they didn't even share the same specialty. And the one time the police thought they were close, the murderer just seemed to melt into thin air. Then the murders stopped. I also think that she wasn't entirely honest with me about her relationship with Craig. I think they were a lot closer than just friends." "That would explain a lot," Nick said. He knew from what he had learned from taking Natalie's blood that Angus' guess was very near the truth. "A lot more than just about the case?" Angus asked. "Yes, a lot more than that." he wondered to himself. "I suspect she needs to tell you what's bothering her. Be sure you let her." "Thanks, Angus, I intend to. Here she comes. What time do you want us Saturday?" "Dinner won't be until eight, but you're welcome anytime after six. Be careful, you two." "We will, Angus. You be careful, too," Natalie told him as she stopped in front of the table. "Come on, Nick. You owe me that tour of the castle." They settled their tab and left the pub. Once outside the door, Nick pulled Natalie into the nearest dark doorway. "How would you like an aerial overview first?" "Really, Nick!? I'd love it." "Hold on tight," Nick said as he lifted her into his arms, and, looking around carefully, he launched them both into the air. "This was a wonderful idea, Nick. What a spectacular view! The moon is so bright, it's almost like daylight. Even with the city lights you can see the constellations." "Nat, the moon's not even full. Your night vision has improved." "Oh," Natalie exclaimed, "You're right! How amazing!" The next two hours were spent alternately flying and walking the environs of Edinburgh Castle. Nick knew one of the night shift guardians of the castle and had arranged a private tour of the major areas of the interior. When they finally returned home, Natalie had thoroughly relaxed. They settled on the couch in each others' arms. "Nat, it's time to share what was bothering you at the pub tonight. You should know by now that we don't have secrets from each other, love," he began. "I know, Nick. I just didn't want to deal with this on our honeymoon." "Our honeymoon is the best time to deal with this. We have time now to get all our skeletons out and rattle them. Then we can get on with our lives together without a lot of baggage from the past. You've insisted on knowing the very worst about me. You can't possibly have anything that horrific in your past. I know you've never killed anyone." "Maybe not, but I feel as if I contributed to his death." "Whose death, Nat? Tell me." "Craig's. It was my fault he died, Nick. If we hadn't.....quarreled, he might not have been killed." "Nat, what happened?" During the next hour, Natalie hesitantly shared the one part of her life she had ruthlessly suppressed from herself. "Craig and I weren't merely friends, we were lovers." She watched Nick's face carefully, afraid that what she had to tell him would cause him jealousy and pain. But when the only emotion she felt through their link, or observed on his face was his unwavering love for her, she relaxed into his embrace and shared her deepest regret. "We moved in together after we graduated from medical school. We each still had three to five years before we finished all our training. We were on limited budgets. Living together was a good, practical arrangement. And," Natalie sighed as she remembered, "we were very much in love. We planned to marry after we finished our specialty training and established our practices." "I was debating between surgery and pediatrics. My mother had been a pediatrician. I was tempted to follow in her footsteps. But my surgical rotation had been exciting and fulfilling. I thought maybe I could combine my interests by specializing in pediatric surgery." "Craig was well on his way to becoming a fine cardiac surgeon. It was the one thing he had always wanted to do. We decided that Toronto could provide excellent opportunities for both of us, no matter what specialty I finally chose." "One evening I came home and found Craig in a clinch with one of the other students from his study group. Claire was a spectacular brunette with a statuesque figure. I had always envied her ease with men and that gorgeous figure." Natalie blushed, "I could never compete with her. I was tempted just to turn around and walk out. But it was my home, and Craig, I thought, was mine. I threw Claire out. Craig at first had the good grace to look ashamed of himself, but when I called Claire a predatory bitch, he tried to defend her and our discussion turned into a ferocious shouting match. He left to stay with friends." "He came back the next night. I met him at the door with his packed suitcases. I couldn't forgive him. He kept saying his kissing Claire was a mistake. He loved me. He begged me for another chance. I refused. He left for Fred and Joyce's place, the friends with whom he'd spent the previous night. I never saw him again, at least, not alive. They called me down to the morgue to identify his body two days later." Suddenly Natalie found herself unable to continue. A spate of tears surprised her, and she caught her breath and held it, trying to regain her composure. Nick pulled her gently into his arms and stroked her shoulders comfortingly. He waited silently and patiently for Natalie's sobs to abate. After a short while she heaved a great sigh, pulled away from him, wiping her eyes, and continued. "After that I couldn't rest or sleep. Before he was killed we'd discussed the deaths of the other students at the university. We'd cautioned each other about walking around campus alone at night. In spite of that I sent him out, alone, into the night, with nothing but his suitcases. I simply couldn't forgive myself for being so thoughtless, so selfish. I hid in our apartment for weeks after his death. Finally, Fred and Joyce, our friends, made me start going to classes again." "Angus was one of my instructors. I'd thought pathology was mildly gross, but I was intrigued with the detective work involved in discovering why someone had died. Angus and I were both huge Sherlock Holmes fans, and it was easy to strike up a friendship with him. You've seen that," Nick nodded and Natalie continued her story. "When I found out, during a visit with Angus over coffee, that he'd been called in as a consultant on the case involving Craig, I begged to be his graduate assistant. Angus was pleased to find anyone interested in his specialty. We worked on the later victims in the case, but never found enough evidence to provide the police with a viable suspect." "The killings eventually stopped. But I kept feeling there was something I had missed. I should've been able to solve that case." Natalie sighed deeply again. "I guess that was just wishful thinking. If Angus couldn't solve it, no one could. The school year was over by then, but without work there was just a huge empty space inside me. I was sure I'd recovered from the worst of my grief over Craig's death. I applied myself to my studies. I did extra research during that summer term, and the next, and finished my pathology studies early. I did my residency at the city morgue, and was hired as an M.E. directly from residency. I let my job replace the empty space Craig had left in my heart. I just never made time to have another relationship like the one I'd had with Craig." Natalie sat quietly for a while, just staring at her hands as they twisted in her lap. Then she raised her head and looked at Nick with a glimmer of a smile. "Then you sat up on my table. My job suddenly had a new, more exciting, focus, a new puzzle to solve." She reached up and traced the line of his jaw tenderly, "I never imagined you'd become my life." Natalie suddenly realized that the grief she'd carried alone for years was shared. The emptiness was gone. He stroked her cheek softly and said, "And I never expected you." He tilted her chin up and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Why didn't I just tell you before?" She asked him as she snuggled under his chin. "We all need encouragement to break old habits. It's especially hard to do when grief and guilt have gone too long without release. You taught me that, my love." He kissed her again, sighed deeply, then said, "There is something about this that worries me, Nat." "You think vampires were involved in those killings, don't you, Nick?" "I wonder. Do you remember if anything would indicate that?" "At the time it looked as if the victims were drained at another location and then dumped. I don't really know," Natalie said. "Maybe we should reexamine those files. I don't recall any puncture marks. The throats were slashed, all with a similar instrument." "That's a good way to camouflage a vampire attack," Nick reminded her. "I know. You've taught me that very well. Why does this case worry you now?" "I don't know, there's just something about the lack of evidence pointing to the perpetrator combined with the missing blood. It bothers me. And Angus' reaction is unnerving. He's very intuitive. There's something going on here we're not recognizing." "Nick, we can't do anything about it right now. Tell me about your day. Did the solicitor do his work well?" "Yes, as a matter of fact, we have an appointment with him tomorrow to go over the papers and sign them. Would you like to do the ghost tour of Edinburgh tomorrow evening?" "Ghost tour?" "Yes, there's a regular tour you can take that starts at the Witchery at the Castle. It's a restaurant now, but it has a long history of witchcraft and hauntings. The tour is led by university students with a taste for the macabre. They take you around and tell you the history of the city and show you where all the skeletons are buried," Nick told her. "That sounds like fun. Do you suppose they'll show us where Burke and Hare waylaid people?" "They do. They even take you to the pub where Robert Louis Stevenson set part of the ÔBody Snatchers.' By the way, how was your lab tour today? You never told me." "It was very impressive. They've made great strides in the treatment of cancer with the genetic research they're doing. They've identified genetic markers that both prevent and allow particular types of cancer to manifest in a person. They've also developed some very effective treatments for some of the cancers they've studied. I heard that the deBrabant Foundation has endowed some of the research. You're already involved in medical research. No wonder you could put my lab together so quickly!"Natalie exclaimed. "I just happen to know a lot of very talented people," Nick said modestly. "Come on, Nat. Let's go to bed." Nick nuzzled her ear and nibbled at her neck. "We need our rest." Natalie stood and pulled him up off the couch. "Come on, lover, let's go satisfy your libido before you go into withdrawal!" Then she raced up the stairs. "My libido!" He shouted as he cheerfully followed her, "Who was the one sucking tonsils this morning?" [End Chapter 5 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations] Chapter 6 - Legacy of Evil: Revelations As Nick and Natalie ascended the stairs, Yves, at his office in Toronto, listened quietly as Soames reported on his teams' progress. "They spotted her up in Edinburgh. She's visiting a Dr. Angus Beaton. He's on the faculty at Edinburgh University's Pathology Department. He's a canny old bird. He spotted our man on stake out. We had a car ready to grab her if we had a good opportunity, but there just wasn't an opening." "What time of day was it when they spotted her?" "About 4:30 p.m. We had the car ready by 5:30." "Was it still light?" "Yeah, she has to still be human. We haven't actually spotted Knight, yet. It's only a matter of time, though. We're still trying to locate the place where they're staying now. Knight's not using any of the hotels he normally does. We have a team ready to go in Brussels. We know where they'll be staying. If we miss them in Edinburgh, we can easily grab them on the Continent." "Yes, and I have a little backup plan in place in Brussels. Thank you, Soames. Much better work this time. Have you been able to find out what Dr. Devereaux and his friends are up to?" "No, he's got that lab of his buttoned up like a CIA outpost. Did he ever work for them?" "Not for them, but for another excellent organization. His security has been one of my most difficult challenges. If you can break through his security screen, I will be extremely impressed. You and any team who can deliver Devereaux can expect a sizable bonus." Soames eyes betrayed an avariciousness that was pleasing to Yves. He knew how to control greedy people. They were easy to satisfy. What worried him were those whose appetites were less mundane. He dismissed Soames and pulled another dossier from his desk. Jules deVilliers, alias Dr. Jules Devereaux, was definitely posing problems again. He kept popping up just as Yves had things under control. There must be a weakness somewhere. He would go over the data again. He couldn't afford another setback like the one they had suffered with the stolen mummy. Yves pursed his lips and bitterly recalled his failure to reanimate the mummy Soames' team had managed to liberate from the British Museum. Not one of the rituals provided by Bertrand had had any effect at all. Reviewing Jules' file, Yves suddenly noticed a pattern in some of Jules' movements. Decoys! Jules and Marcus had employed decoys frequently in order to attempt to throw off his own and Bertrand's pursuit. Perhaps that mummy had been yet one more decoy. He would have to check the Royal Ontario Museum and see if another mummy would be sent in the sarcophagus when the new shipment arrived. And it might be a good idea to watch Jules to see if he would attempt to pawn off a decoy for Knight and his wife. Yves would teach him not to trifle with his desires! "Damn," said LaCroix. "They've closed up shop. Now we need to find a new vantage point." He was sitting on the couch in Nick's loft, watching the surveillance video. The last of the equipment which had been used to spy on the loft was being removed from the building across the street. Janette approached him with a full wine glass and sat down in the chair to his right, sipping from the other glass she carried. "They've finally established that Nicolas and Natalie are no longer at home," she replied. "But we need information about what they might do next. Has Jules managed to locate the platform they're using to observe his movements?" "Not when I spoke to him last." "He thinks we'd be better off spying on Yves' offices. But there is a major problem. Yves owns the entire building, and there is no other structure in the area which overlooks it. The building also has a very thorough and efficient security system. A vampire could circumvent it, but would be cut off from any immediate aid. And I don't relish the chances of anyone surviving an attempt on Yves' property. We'll have to get someone sympathetic on the inside of his operation, or try to capture one of his people and forcibly debrief them," LaCroix smiled. "Perhaps we should just wait to see what they do next," Janette remarked. "No," LaCroix took another sip from his glass, "I'm enjoying this exercise." "The general emerges from retirement, eh?" "Precisely, even hunting Nicholas was never this much fun." "Well, I imagine Nicolas isn't enjoying being hunted by Yves any more than he did being hunted by you." "True, but I've trained him well, haven't I? I don't worry about Nicholas. He's learned to be cleverly elusive. But I do worry about Natalie." "You do!?" Janette exclaimed. "I never would have thought you could ever concern yourself about a mortal." "Perhaps not, but I worry about what would happen to Nicholas if anyone should harm her. And more particularly, if someone should harm his child. I do not believe he would survive if he lost them. I sincerely hope they took our warning seriously." Nicholas and Natalie had taken the warning seriously, but at that very moment they were still sleeping. Nick was not resting quietly. It was mid-afternoon when he bolted up in bed. He'd had a disturbing dream. He'd been strolling hand in hand with Natalie through a moonlit garden. They arrived at a hedge maze and were just entering, when something struck him from behind. He had regained consciousness in the center of the maze, alone. He could hear Natalie calling to him, but he could not find her. He ran through the maze, frantically calling her name. Suddenly, he stumbled over a mound of bodies, all with their throats cut, drained of blood. He had searched through the dead, hoping against hope, he would not find her among them. Then he had heard her calling his name. Just as he rose to follow her voice, he awoke. His sudden movement woke Natalie. "Nick, what's wrong!" she cried. "I, uh, nothing. I just had a bad dream. Go back to sleep, Nat," he told her as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "I'm not sleepy, love," she murmured as she wrapped her arms about his waist. "You're not? Well, then, I guess that means you're ready to get up." He turned to her and bent to kiss her cheek. "Nope, not ready to get up, yet." She pulled him down next to her and snuggled into his chest. She kissed the closest part of him she could reach, which happened to be his breast bone. "Mmmm, I think I just want to stay here for awhile. ÔS comfortable." Nick caressed her back and pulled her closer. He kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair away from her face. Then he began to trail a finger across her eyebrows, her cheekbones, the line of her jaw, her lips. He slid further down into the bed and began to kiss her. He rained kisses upon her eyelids, her cheeks, her nose, her mouth. And while he kissed her, his hands explored each curve and softness, finally pulling her hips into his, spreading her thighs, stroking her moist center, and entering her. She gasped as she felt him fill her completely. It was deliciously thrilling. As he began to move inside her, her heart sped, her breath came in short pants, the pleasure grew and grew until she wasn't sure she could contain it. Oh, God, how could she have imagined she had a life before Nick. She found his mouth again and returned his kisses with fervor. Then his lips moved down her throat, and she felt his fangs penetrate her, too. His lips and tongue nursed at her vein as he exploded inside her. She could feel her muscles contracting tightly around him, deep inside her core, as he sealed the wound in her neck with his tongue and kissed her again. She could taste her own blood in his mouth. He was so delectable! She held him close, her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck. "Oh, Nick. That was wonderful!" "You're wonderful, Natalie." She continued to hold him tightly as she snuggled into his neck. She felt she never wanted to let him go. His lovemaking had been so desperate, as if he were afraid to lose her. She wanted to let him know that she would never, could never, leave him. She reached into their link more deeply than before, carrying her loving devotion. He met her with an overwhelming flood of tender passion. They trembled in each others' arms with the force of their emotion. And when their lips met yet again they experienced a rapturous delight beyond anything they had felt with one another before. They lay together shivering, caressing each other gently, reassuring each other of their love. Finally, they began to relax. Natalie burrowed her head once again into his chest and lay quietly against him. "You feel warmer today," she told him. "I do? It's just your imagination." "Doesn't matter, you're just right for snuggling, warm, and comfortable, and solid." "Well, I don't think I've ever been a liquid." "Oh, you silly man. I don't mean solid in that way." "Mmmm. In what way then?" "Oh, never mind. Just hush and hold me tighter." "If I hold you any tighter you'll break." "Never. Not in your arms." "You know we have to get up, don't you." "I never want to get out of this bed. I just want to stay here with you, forever." "I know. Me too." He kissed the top of her head, then he tilted her face up and kissed her profoundly. She returned his passion. When they stopped for breath, she smiled at him fondly and caressed his cheek. "So, today I get all your money, too!" "Yes, Mrs. Knight. And I get all of yours. It works both ways, you know." "Well, then, let's get going so I can be a rich woman. Sorry you won't be as lucky." "Oh no, I'm far luckier. I've got you." He kissed her again, more sedately this time. "Silly man. Some people would say I'm more trouble than I'm worth." "They don't understand what you have to offer," he remarked as he stroked, then pinched, her buttocks and leapt out of bed. "Ouch, you stinker!" she shouted as she chased him into the bathroom. He caught her at the door, pulled her into another embrace, and kissed her until her knees collapsed. He held her close and didn't let her fall as he continued to devour her mouth with his own. When he finally released her, she was panting with desire once again. Her arms slid around his neck, and she pulled his head down for another kiss. He could not resist her. He carried her back to the bed, and they made love yet again. It was as intensely satisfying the second time. Natalie awoke first. One of Nick's arms lay heavily across her middle, her bottom rested snugly against his stomach. She rolled over to face him as his eyes opened. One hand slid up over her hip and cupped her breast. While the other slipped under her waist and pulled her against him. "Hello, love," he murmured, then he kissed her. She slid her fingers into his hair and kissed him back then replied, "It's late, what time was our appointment?" "Lots of time. Six o'clock." "It's four now." He kissed her again. "Lots of time." "I'm hungry." "Oh, all right. One more kiss?" he begged. She kissed him passionately, deeply, and felt his body responding to her yet again. It was amazingly gratifying to have a man want you so very much, she reflected. But she was so very hungry! "I'm starved." She told him. "So am I, for you." He said and kissed her again. "Who's doing the tonsil sucking today?" "You don't enjoy it?" "I adore it, but I need food!" "I forgot! You're eating for two." Nick exclaimed and jumped out of bed to usher her regally into the shower. "I shall allow milady to bathe while I prepare her a suitable repast." He grabbed up his bathrobe and disappeared down the stairs. When Natalie finished her shower, she could smell delicious aromas rising from the kitchen. She finished dressing as Nick reappeared and entered the shower himself. She could hear him humming tunelessly as she descended the stairs. He had made coffee and bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches. The Scottish bacon he had used was exceptionally lean and thoroughly delicious. Soon he joined her at the table. "I really do like bacon." He told her as he helped himself to one of the sandwiches. "This is even better than the stuff we get at home." "You seem to have a bigger appetite lately." "It's getting easier to swallow solid food. I still enjoy the blood, especially when it's yours." "I still enjoy having you take it. It's exciting!" He reached for her hand across the table. "Living with you is exciting." "I love you." "I know." They lost themselves in each other's eyes as he caressed her hand with his thumb. He said, "Time to clean this up and get going." They quickly cleaned up the kitchen, locked the house and walked down the alley toward the town. As they disappeared into the distance, a large black sedan pulled up in front of the house and two men got out. They approached the house and knocked at the front door. When there was no answer, one of them disappeared around one side of the house while the other headed in the opposite direction. Within a few seconds the manager of Newbank House approached from the adjoining hotel, as the two men returned to the front porch. The manager walked directly to the two strangers. "Can I help you gentlemen? If you'd like to rent the house, why don't you come into the office, and we can get you on the calendar." "No, we were looking for the young couple who are staying here now. We need to speak to Mr. Knight. It's very important." "I'm sorry you gentlemen have been inconvenienced. No one by that name is staying here now. We have a Mr. and Mrs. Cowan from Glasgow staying with us this week. Mr. Knight had to cancel his reservation at the last minute as his travel plans were changed." "I'm sorry to hear that. We had some very good news for Mr. Knight regarding an inheritance." "Well, I think he told me he was going to be staying with friends in Linlithgow. The name was Sinclair, I believe, William Sinclair. Perhaps you should check with him." "Thank you very much. We'll do that. You don't happen to have an address or a phone number, do you?" "No, I don't. I do hope you can find Mr. Knight. Your news sounds important." The manager told them. "If I hear from Mr. Knight, would you like to leave a message about where he can reach you?" "No, thank you. He wouldn't recognize the name of the firm." The two men returned to the sedan. The manager watched them drive away. Then he returned to the hotel office, wrote a quick note, and placed it in an envelope in the message box marked ÔNewbank House' behind the front desk. Meanwhile Nick and Natalie approached the small suite of deBrabant Foundation offices in the Clydesdale Bank Building on George Street in the New Town. Mr. Baird, Nick's solicitor, greeted them cordially and offered them tea which Natalie accepted with alacrity. She had learned from Nick during their walk that Mr. Baird, his secretary, and an accountant comprised the entire executive staff of this particular branch of the Foundation. Nick believed in maintaining a low overhead so that the interest earned by the Foundation, derived from the investment of its assets, could be expended on the charitable projects it supported. His personal fortune supported the costs of running each operation and maintaining any real estate. The office was elegantly and tastefully furnished. Natalie noticed the portrait of the Sinclair chief and the deBrabant sword decorating one wall to the right of where she was sitting, facing Mr. Baird, a sober, precise man with a shock of bright white hair and intense blue eyes. He lost no time in explaining the provisions Nick had made for his family. Nick and Natalie would be the two parties in a joint trust. All their personal assets would be held in common during their lifetimes. Upon the death of either of the partners, the entire estate would become the property of the surviving partner. In the event of the birth or adoption of children, trusts would be devised for each heir until the age of twenty-five. At that time the trust would revert to the heir's control. Upon the demise of both parents, the entire estate would be divided equally among the surviving heirs. If no heirs were to survive, the estate would devolve upon the deBrabant Foundation to continue its work according to its existing charter. There were, in addition, some special bequests in varying amounts to specific persons. Mr. Baird asked Natalie to carefully review the special bequests, and add to the list if she wished. Natalie was touched that Nick had already provided a trust for her sister-in-law and Myra Schanke. Their daughters, Amy and Jenny, also had educational trust funds, payable to them, upon their graduation from high school. Many of the items Nick owned that were of an historical significance, he had willed to various museums. As she read over the very lengthy list, she was awed and amazed at his thoroughness and generosity. "Nick, I can't think of anything more to add, right now. This looks like a very reasonable will to me." Natalie told him. "Good. We can change things or add bequests as we need to, can't we, John?" Nick asked. "Of course, Nick. A will is a living instrument, you need to update it from time to time to accommodate changes in your life." "Well, Nat, are you ready to sign it?" "Yes. I don't see any reason not to." They each signed their names in the spaces provided, and Mr. Baird provided each of them with their own copy. "You'll want to place those in a safe deposit box as soon as you have the opportunity. The originals will remain here in the office