No. 20 in the Nicky Series!



For Kimberlee and Michael...



Cowpats and Gumboots
By Knightraven




"I am not wearing those," Lacroix stated firmly, pointing toward the item placed 
seemingly absently, and with debatable innocence, at his feet.
"But they're black," Jordan argued, feigning confusion at his reluctance.
"In this instance, I do not believe that idle fact gives this situation any more 
credence, nor gives myself any greater desire to wear such distasteful attire."
"So you are going to wear your favourite handmade Italian shoes into the barn?"
"In this day and age, why would I have any need whatsoever to venture into a 
structure filled with filthy beasts?"
Jordan glanced through the open doorway into the kitchen beyond. Her mother and 
Nicky were finishing up the dishes. Then, so as not to be overheard, she leaned 
forward, close to her husband, and whispered softly against his ear.
Lacroix pulled back, staring at his wife in surprise. Then, a very small smile 
pulled at one corner of his full lips. Without a word he slipped out of his 
shoes and pulled on the black rubber boots.

"Nana? Where's Mama and Papa?"
Helene looked down to answer her youngest grandson.
"They have gone a for a walk," she told him. Though she knew full well her 
daughter and her husband had only walked as far as the barn.
"Can I go too?" he asked, his eyebrows rising with his plea.
"Not tonight, but you can come with me this afternoon when you wake up if you 
like," she said, hoping to distract his attention away from seeking out his 
parents, at least for a while longer.  


Jordan held her husband's hand as they entered the spacious structure. To his 
surprise, other than a few stalls which would hold the horses during bad 
weather, the barn was home to the horticultural side of the Walker's farm.
Crates of produce ready for the market and sacks of grain and various other 
seeds were piled high on the ground floor of the two-storied barn. He wondered 
at first if she was going to lead him into the horse stall, but the notion 
vanished as she pulled him toward a long ladder built into the hay loft above. 
His wife began the climb to the room above, and he was rewarded and encouraged 
to follow by the sight of her lovely bottom, tantalizingly close to his 
appreciative eye as they ascended.

Jordan turned at the top to meet the handsome vampire following close behind. He 
raised an eyebrow, and she moved between a high stack of hay bales, stacked in a 
maze-like fashion.
After a single turn and a half-dozen feet, a spacious, and cosy area layered 
with loose hay opened up before them. The small room, with walls of hay bales, 
was opened to the night sky by a large pair of doors which had been swung out to 
reveal the night and a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside.
"Michael and I spent most of our childhood in this loft. I love it here," she 
told him.
Lacroix came up behind her as she gazed out over the rolling hills to the dark 
mountain range beyond. Wrapping his arms about her, he swayed them gently as 
they gazed up at the stars.
"As much as I find myself enjoying this hideaway, I am dubious about the comfort 
ability of the bedding," he said, looking down at the hay cushioning the wooden 
floor.
"My thoughts exactly, which is why I brought this in earlier," Jordan announced, 
grinning as she pulled out of his arms and retrieved a large, thick blanket from 
a cubbyhole in one of the hay bale walls.
Lacroix smiled his approval as his wife unfolded the blanket with a flourish and 
laid it upon the floor. Removing her boots, she stepped into the center and 
began to slowly unbutton her blouse, lasciviously peeling it from her skin and 
letting it slide from her shoulders to reveal the blood-red lingerie beneath.
Lacroix parted his lips with anticipation of tasting the sweet, rounded breasts 
barely covered with the fine lace garment. The moon rode high in the sky, 
casting shadows and a soft, pale light over the lovers as they moved sensuously 
together, embracing, as they both strove to rid the other of their clothing as 
quickly as possible.
"As beautiful as ever, mon coeur," Lacroix breathed against her throat, his cool 
breath sending shivers down her spine, causing her to tip her head back and arch 
her back, pressing her breasts against his willing and welcoming body.
Jordan opened her eyes to the sight of her husband's pale skin, luminescent in 
the moonlight, his muscles taught and rippling, arousing her as he moved. She 
closed her eyes, shutting out the view beyond the barn as he began to slide down 
her body, tasting and nibbling his way south. 
Dipping his tongue into her navel, Lacroix slid his hands over her hips to 
caress her buttocks. Her moan of desire flooded over him, centering itself in 
his loins, pulsing steadily with wanton desire for his wife. Gently urging her 
legs further apart, he nuzzled her mound of dark hair and flicked out his tongue 
to taste the moistness of her aroused womanhood.
Jordan let out a small moan as he finally arrived at her much-awaited 
destination. Holding his head in her hands, she encouraged her husband to take 
her to heights of insurmountable pleasure as she knew he could.

Lacroix took her hardened nub between his lips and sucked it into his mouth.
"Ohhhh," Jordan moaned as a wave of pleasure assaulted her. She clutched at him 
as her knees weakened under his skilled mouth.
Lacroix pulled away from his task and encouraged his wife to lower herself down 
onto the blanket. Once reclined, he eagerly went back to work.
"Lucien..." 
Her moans, almost continuous now, encouraged him and urged him to keep up his 
oral bathing. He loved the taste of her sweet love honey. He could live on it 
alone, he was sure. As her breathing increased and the motion of her hips 
quickened, he applied more force and speed to his lips and tongue, drawing her 
closer and more surely to her explosive climax. 
"Oh. Yes, Lucien!"
He held onto her hips as she bucked beneath him as he took her clitoris into his 
mouth and sucked hard. As she tumbled down the other side of her journey into 
pleasure, he softened his attentions and gently licked and pulled at her labia 
and dipped his tongue down to lap at the juices running freely from her opening.
Jordan came back to  her senses and lowered her buttocks back to the floor. She 
ran her hands over his short hair as he softly continued to feast.
"Come here," she urged quietly.  His eyes climbed to meet hers, their soft, 
golden glow telling her of his heightened arousal. She moistened her lips as he 
rose to his hands and knees, and with the movements of a prowling feline, he 
moved up to cover her body with his own.
She moved her legs apart and around his hips, and as he took her lips in his, he 
thrust his hips, effortlessly sliding within her.
Jordan gasped against his mouth, and felt his fangs descend between their lips. 
She ran her tongue skillfully along the length of his extended canine, feeling 
his whole body tense and shiver as he was assaulted by sensual touch.
"Jordan," he breathed, staring into her eyes, darkened almost black by the dim 
light.
He brushed her face with his hand as he held still within her. It took a degree 
of willpower to not pump his hips and drive them quickly to their peak. Instead 
she let her inner muscles begin to squeeze and caress his invading phallus. He 
grunted softly as she pleasured him subtley, yet so fully. His loins felt ready 
to explode, and he hadn't even moved yet. She grabbed his buttocks tightly and 
held him firmly in place, refusing his silent plea to pummel himself within her. 
He closed his eyes and moaned, dropping his head to her shoulder as she 
continued to clench a dance around him, bringing him closer and closer to his 
release.
"Jordan, if you keep this up, I am not going to last much longer," he groaned.
"I don't want you to," she whispered in his ear, her own breathing ragged as she 
tightened and molded her sex around him. Squeezing harder, she could feel him 
begin to swell. He would need to bite her soon, or suffer the agony which came 
without release.
"Jordan," he gasped, his breath coming in ever-quickening pants.
"Don't hold back. Give it to me," she demanded, grunting as she applied as much 
pressure to his clenching muscles as she could.
Lacroix moaned and grunted as she took him over the edge. Wrapping himself 
around her, he lowered his mouth to her shoulder and gently pierced her fiery 
skin, his seed exploding into her womb as her blood launched across his tongue.
As his fangs penetrated, Jordan felt him release himself within her, which in 
turn triggered her own climax, wracking her body with convulsive pleasure.
He quickly withdrew his teeth, and lapped lovingly at her wound as it quickly 
closed. He looked down into his wife's face and watched as she came down from 
her climax once again and met his burning gaze. She smiled.
"Nice?" she asked him. He smiled in return.
"Very."
With that he gently lifted his hips and lowered them again.
"Oh...yes... again," Jordan gasped as he impaled her, his manhood still fully 
erect and more than willing. This time she pulled his hips toward her again, 
encouraging him to pump into her, his pace steadily increasing. Suddenly, he 
stopped, and Jordan moaned in disappointment as she neared her third orgasm of 
the night. When he withdrew from her, she opened her eyes and frowned.
"Turn over," he told her. Jordan smiled and quickly rolled onto her stomach. 
Strong hands lifted her hips, bringing her to her hands and knees.
"Since we are in the barn, it would be only fitting if I fucked you like an 
animal," he breathed into her ear as he rested his weight over her, his phallus 
teasingly hugged tightly between her buttocks. He continued to thrust against 
her, without reentering.
"Lucien...please." She thrust against him, begging him to enter her, to fill her 
once again.
With a single hard stroke he plunged into her and pulled her back toward him as 
he continued to rapidly pummel into her, cherishing the sight of her buttocks as 
they rippled with his every stroke. 
As he felt her climax around him, he refused to let up his relentless pounding. 
Jordan threw back her head as she came yet again. The ancient was determined to 
make her scream his name in pleasure before he let himself unleash his seed 
within her once again. Slowing his thrusts as she trembled beneath him, his wife 
lay her upper body against the ground, his firm grasp the only force keeping her 
hips in position. He reached forward and pulled her up to lay flush against his 
chest. He suckled at her throat, and clutched at her breasts, then slid one hand 
down her flat stomach and into her folds, grasping her throbbing nub in his 
fingers once again. He began to rub gently, flicking now and then, sending her 
bucking back against him, driving his throbbing member deeper.
"Lucien!" she cried out. His name was sweet music to his ears, and pure pleasure 
to his loins. Increasing his pace once more, both his hips and his fingers 
ruthlessly assaulted his wife, driving them both to a final, and earth-
shattering, peak.

Lacroix collapsed against her for a moment before rolling to the floor and 
pulling her down on top of him. Both were panting. A fine sheen of moisture lay 
aglow over his wife's naked body, her chest and face flushed as her delicious 
blood raced through her veins.

"I believe your father mentioned something about a hot tub?" Lacroix murmured, 
continuing to stroke her back and buttocks as she lay along his body. He loved 
to feel the weight of her resting on him. They had fallen asleep many a time 
like this, waking to find her staring down at him through those magnificently 
expressive eyes of jade fire.
"Hmm, yes. It's on the other side of the house," she replied, wriggling against 
him in a show to make herself more comfortable upon her newly acquired bed.
Lacroix chuckled as he felt her focus her attention at his loins.  As a renewed 
spark of arousal began its luscious journey through his body, he rolled them 
over to pin her to the floor.
"Would you care to join me, Lady Lacroix?"
"I certainly would, my husband," Jordan replied with a smile.
Scooping together their clothes, he handed the bundle, plus the now infamous 
gumboots, and took him in her arms. Slowly he lifted them into the air and flew 
out the loft doors and higher into the sky.

The hot tub sat a good fifty feet from the rear of the house, amongst a garden 
of high hedges, thick and luscious, keeping prying eyes, or unexpected visitors, 
from view. A brick path led from the wooden gate, to the steaming pool of water 
in the center of the wonderfully landscaped area. The tub itself had the 
appearance of a very large wine barrel, cut in two and filled with relaxing 
water. And on such a summer night as this, it was truly an appealing and 
relaxing place to be. Lacroix set them down on the pathway and let his wife 
place their clothes upon a bench and led the way into the steaming water. They 
both groaned in pleasure as they sank to their necks, sitting on the bench 
lining the inside of the pool.
"Do you think your father can be persuaded to build us one of these?" he asked 
his wife as she leaned back against the tub and closed her eyes, her arms 
floating at her sides.
"Are you kidding? He'd be there in a flash. He loves building stuff. He built 
just about everything here, the landscaping, even the barn," she told him.
"Nicholas is rather good with his hands. I think he obtains a certain 
satisfaction from creating articles from scratch. I could never see the 
attraction myself; however, I do appreciate good workmanship," he said.
Suddenly the soft garden lights, scattered about the area, came to life.
"I think we are about to have company," Jordan smiled. "I believe that's 
Mother's way of warning us," she added. A moment later there was a knock on the 
high wooden gate.
"Yes?" Jordan asked, wondering which child had come to say goodnight. The iron 
latch lifted and the gate swung open. Liam poked his head around the corner. 
When he saw his parents sitting in the spa, he smiled.
"Nana said to knock," he said, stepping nearer. Neither Lacroix nor Jordan made 
any move to cover their nakedness. There was nothing new or insidious about 
being naked in front of the children. Jordan had grown up in a household where 
nudity was commonplace, and basically, thought nothing of it. Anna's counseling 
session on the subject threw away any inhibitions on Liam's account to be 
cautious. He was now fully comfortable being around naked bodies, including his 
own, now realizing that just because he had no clothes on didn't automatically 
mean something bad was going to happen.
Liam was in his pyjamas and beginning to get droopy-eyed. It had been a long 
day, starting with a flight from Toronto, then a long drive from Billings, to 
her parent's Montana farm. They had arrived well after dark, her husband driving 
the remainder of the journey once night fell and could move to the front of the 
darkened 4x4.
"Can I go shopping with Nana tomorrow?" he asked, leaning against the side of 
the  tub and dipping his fingers into the hot water.
"Yes, you may. Is Nicky going, too?" Jordan asked.
Liam nodded.
"Okay, you tell him he has to go to bed now, too, if he wants to go." The last 
thing she needed when she woke was two tired, grumpy children.
"Okay," Liam replied.
"Okay, give me and Papa a kiss good night, and we'll see you tomorrow," she said 
with a smile, beckoning the child around to her side of the tub, and she leant 
over the side and he stretched up to kissed her. Liam ran around to Lacroix and 
did the same. Without a word the small boy ran from the section, pulling the 
door shut behind him.
"Nicky, they weren't doing anything!" they heard him yell from beyond the 
hedges.
They both chuckled and Lacroix made a mental note to talk with his grandson 
about what he was and was not to talk about with his younger son.
Relaxing once again, facing each other, Jordan smiled as she felt her husband's 
feet make their way to sit under her buttocks as he stretched out his legs. They 
sat quietly for a long moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Lucien, I want to tell them," Jordan said quietly.
"Do you think that wise?" he asked.
"I know we can trust them, and I think they can handle it. I just don't want to 
lose them."
"You will have to leave them behind once you come across," he told her gently.
"Why?" she asked him. "I have no ties to my mortal life other than them and 
Michael. Why not keep them in our lives?"
"They will grow old, and die, and you will be left behind. It is difficult, 
Jordan..."
"Any more difficult than just turning your back and leaving? I don't think so."
He remained silent--she had a point. 
"They live in the middle of nowhere, they are about as open-minded as they come, 
and I have spent my whole life making the mistake of shutting out and running 
from my family. Without good cause, I don't think I can do that again." Lacroix 
sighed and moved to pull her into his arms as she quietly wiped the tears from 
her eyes.
"We can trust them, Lucien. Don't make me leave them behind, not while they are 
still living," she whispered quietly.
"Let me think on it, mon coeur," he said.
"Thank you," she said, kissing his chest as she lay her head upon his broad 
shoulder.

End part 1

Part 2

Jordan watched as Nicky and Liam amused themselves with one of her brother's 
model gliders, her mother's whippet, Devo, bouncing around their gumboot-clad 
feet.
 The contraption was huge with a wing span of three metres which dwarfed the 
boys as they stood holding it's feather-light weight in hand. She remembered 
when Michael had first brought the thing home. They were home from college, 
before she had met Jack; the pair of them had spent hours watching it take to 
the air like a giant eagle, and chasing it like a couple of kids, all over the 
farm. It was the last happy time she experienced with her family before her 
world had changed dramaticlly for the worst.
 She watched as Nicky launched the plane into the air again, and smiled as both 
boys began to run after the glider as it soared higher into the sky. She turned 
back inside and joined her mother watching the pair of robust boys from the 
kitchen window while peeling tomatoes into the sink.
"Let me give you a hand, Ma."
"Thanks, Hon. Just peel these ones and put them over there. I'll make a puree 
out of those."
They began their domestic chore quietly, and after a few minutes of 
companionable silence, her mother asked,
"He still asleep?" Referring to her new son-in-law. Jordan nodded.
"Yeah, like a baby." She smiled.
"How are you two getting on?" Helene asked, probing gently into her daughter's 
affairs.
Jordan sighed.
"Better. But...I don't know. He just withdraws sometimes...Drives me crazy," she 
finally admitted, her frustration clear.
"It will get better, my love. He needs time, and so do you. It won't change what 
has happened, nor will you ever forget. But it will get easier. It's how we cope 
and get on with our lives," Helene told her daughter, pausing in her work. "You 
have a beautiful family, Jordan. Don't let anything take that away from you, 
including your own, and Lucien's, stubborn pride."
Jordan followed her mother's gaze out into  the sun-drenched courtyard and to 
the children playing.
"I won't, Mama," she whispered. Neither she, nor her husband, would destroy the 
one thing they had both so desired for so long.

"Nicky! Let me have a go!" Liam demanded impatiently.
"No. You're too little," Nicky replied, pulling the glider further out of reach 
of the younger boy. Liam stomped his foot and Devo barked.
"Nickyyyy!"
Nicky sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Oh, all right! Just stop yelling. You'll wake Grandpa," he relented 
reluctantly.
"He doesn't like you calling him that," Liam stated haughtily, taking the glider 
from his older nephew.
Nicky mouthed 'nyahnyahnyah' behind the younger boy's back when he turned to 
attempt to launch the model plane. The kid was getting bratty.
He crossed his arms and cocked his hips as he patiently waited for Liam to fail 
at launching the plane and turn back to him for help. On his fourth attempt, 
Liam frowned and turned to hand the plane back to Nicky.
"It's not fair," he complained.
"Life ain't fair, kid," Nicky responded, his experience evident in such matters 
far outweighing his twelve years.
Taking the glider once again, Nicky asked the younger boy,
"Ready?"
Liam smiled and nodded, standing ready, along with the small whippet, to run 
after the plane the moment it left Nicky's hands.
Nicky ran a few feet and catapulted the model into the sky. The breeze caught 
it, and up it climbed.
Both boys grinned and ran after the plane as it flew higher and higher into the 
sky.
"Oh, oh," Nicky suddenly said as he predicted the flight path of the airborne 
glider. The boys came to a halt as they watched with trepidation as the plane 
hit the barn roof and slid down the slate tiles, then held their breath as it 
teetered on the upper level of guttering. Thankfully, the glider failed to fall 
crashing to the ground. However, to their great disappointment, it also remained 
on the barn roof.
"Aw, Nicky. How we gonna get it down?" Liam whined.
"Dunno," Nicky said as he begun looking for a way to climb onto the roof.
"It's too high!" the younger boy crowed, pouting and almost in tears as he 
realised they wouldn't be able to play with their toy as long as it was on the 
roof.
"Don't worry, Liam. I can get it," Nicky said as he went inside the barn and 
began to climb the ladder into the loft.
Once up amongst the hay bales, Nicky walked through the hay-maze and into the 
hideaway on the other side. He and Liam had found this place on the first day 
they were here. It was their hideout. Little did the boys know that it wasn't 
just theirs to play in.
Leaning out the open loft doors, where the hay was hoisted up a pulley system to 
be stored in the barn's ample roof space, Nicky avoided looking down to where 
Liam was standing below, watching as the older boy stepped back into the barn 
and took off his gumboots before making his way out the doors and onto a narrow 
ledge. 
Nicky gripped an equally slim run of wood with his finger tips and edged his way 
onto the outside of the barn wall. He eased four feet to his right, until he was 
able to grip a larger piece of wood which he could get his hand around. Using 
the wood as a handle, he was then able to pull himself up until his feet reached 
another ledge, and as he pushed up with his legs to stand, he could then reach 
the roof top with his hands. Hands flat on the roof edging, Nicky kicked up and 
pushed himself onto the third story roof of the Walkers' barn.
Safely on the rooftop, he turned around and waved down to the young boy holding 
his breath far below.
Carefully on the old roofing tiles, Nicky began to pick his way over to where 
the glider was stuck in the spouting.

Jordan finished washing the latest bucket of freshly picked tomatoes and glanced 
up as she noticed the silence outside where the boys had been playing a short 
time before.
Frowning when she couldn't see or hear them, she cast her eye further afield. 
Just at that moment she caught sight of her grandson coming into view on the 
barn roof, her son and the dog running around from the rear to watch as the 
older boy crept toward the offending plane perched precariously at the roofs 
edge.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, drawing her mothers attention. Jordan ripped off her 
apron and made a beeline for the door.
"Motherearth! What is that child doing?" Helene gasped as she followed close 
behind. 
Both women ran outside, fully expecting to be picking up the remains of a 12-
year-old from the barn floor.

Upstairs, in a darkened bedroom, Lacroix was woken suddenly by an intense sense 
of urgency. Bolting from the bed, he forgoed pulling on his robe and slippers 
and quickly descended the stairs to the kitchen. The bright sunlight brought his 
onward motion to an abrupt halt.
Shading his eyes, he balked as he, too, watched as his grandson slid carefully 
closer to the roof's edge and reached down to grasp his model airplane.
Readying himself to burst forth and make a run for the child should he fall, 
Lacroix held his breath as he watched Nicholas pull the glider into his arms and 
turn around and begin to slowly climb back along the roof from whence he'd come.

Nicky grasped the glider in one hand as he used the other to balance himself 
against the roof.
When he arrived at the edge of the roof, he lined up the hay pile below and 
deftly dropped the glider to fall, unharmed, to the ground. Once his task was 
successfully completed, he crouched down on his hands and knees and backed over 
the edge, following his tentative path back down into the loft door.
Inside the barn at last, Nicky quickly began to descend the ladder.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?!" Jordan suddenly yelled, entering 
the barn and waiting for him to climb off the ladder.
"The glider got stuck," he replied innocently, his eyes widening as he realised 
the extent of Jordan's anger.
"Can you fly?!" she demanded, her hands on her hips.
"No," Nicky answered quietly, sucking in his lower lip as he bowed his head.
"Then what on earth made you get up on that roof?! You scared the living 
daylights out of us!" Jordan told him, waving to his Nana standing behind her, 
as she held Liam's hand.
Nicky sighed and dropped his gaze.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"I should think so, too," she said, her tone calmer than a moment before as her 
thumping heart began to slow.
"No more glider for you both today. Nicky, go to your room, and you can think 
about what I would have had to say to your father if you have fallen," Jordan 
ordered.
Nicky sighed and shuffled toward the barn door.
Jordan followed along with the others, as they all headed back into the house.

Nicky walked somberly into the kitchen, his eyes cast to the floor. He yelped 
suddenly as a cool hand swiftly grasped his arm and a slap cracked across his 
buttocks.
He struggled to block the next slap, but failed as his grandfather's hand 
smacked him again.

Lacroix turned the boy to face him and growled into the youngster's face.
"I thought you far more intelligent, Nicholas!"
He watched as the tears fell from his grandson's cheeks.
"You are mortal! Never fail to remember that simple fact," he commanded quietly. 
Nicky nodded as his grandfather's hushed tone drove the message home. It was far 
more imposing than Jordan's shouting in the barn.
"Go to your room," Lacroix said, sending Nicky on his way. 
As the boy disappeared up the stairs, he turned to meet the slightly startled 
eye of his wife and mother-in-law. He tilted his head, waiting to defend his 
actions. But his wife surprised him by not arguing his tactics.
"I didn't realise you were down here."
Lacroix relaxed slightly and took a deep breath as he moved toward the fridge 
and his bloodwine within.
"Why don't you go and play with your toys for a while?" Jordan said to the 
younger boy clinging to her hand, his eyes wide as he watched his father pour 
his breakfast into a mug.
Liam nodded and ran for the stairs to go and join his nephew in their room.
Helene moved behind Lacroix and rubbed her hands up his arms in silent 
understanding, as she passed by, before moving on into the house.
Jordan sighed and followed her husband as he was forced to move out of the 
kitchen as the reflected light began to redden his skin.
She watched as he entered the lounge and stopped in its centre to drain his mug 
in a single swallow.
"Why did you not discipline him in the barn?" he suddenly asked her.
"What do you mean? You must have heard me yelling," she asked, moving closer.
"He is a strong-willed child; merely shouting has little effect on his 
behaviour," Lacroix retorted, turning toward her.
"Why must I always be the ogre?" he demanded angrily.
"Lucien, I am not used to smacking anyone, let alone my kids. You know I can't 
do it, and you know I don't 100 percent condone it, either," she argued.
"I refuse to have my children fear me as..." Lacroix began angrily, but trailed 
off and turned away from his wife. Brushing past her, he strode back into the 
kitchen and placed his mug in the sink.
Jordan came in behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle.
"...as you feared your father," she finished for him. Lacroix exhaled forcefully 
through his nose.
"Yes," he said softly. "I have watched myself punish my son, just as my father 
punished me, and it sickens me when I relish seeing the same fear in his eyes." 
With his wife clinging to him, he washed his mug out and set it on the bench to 
dry.

*********Flashback***********

He sensed his son attempt to creep into the apartment through the rear bedroom 
window. The sun had risen moments before, and the streets were beginning to fill 
with the day's workforce. His son had been very careless, and it was not the 
first time. Almost everyday this week, his youngest had snuck in through the 
window, and he, in his error, had let the matter slide. But no more. There was 
more at stake than just Nicholas disobeying his curfew. The boy was still young 
and not just so in years, but in heart, as well, and his son's increasingly 
carefree attitude could inevitably get him killed...or worse.

He waited until his son had thought himself undetected before opening his 
bedroom door. 
Nicholas had removed his coat and boots, and was about to begin on his tunic and 
breeches. He froze in his movements, and Lacroix stared into his eyes as they 
widened with the realization that he had been caught in the act.
"I was just going to bed," his son offered feebly.
"Indeed," he replied as he closed the door quietly behind him. He stood calmly, 
stoically contemplating how he was to tackle the punishment he was about to 
bestow upon his wayward child.
Nick slowly, with trepidation, fumbled with his brays and hooks, but he finally 
managed to pull his shirt over his head and lay it across a chair beside the 
bed.
He turned to glance at Lacroix still standing in his room. He wondered if he 
intended to remain with him for the night. They had been spending more time 
together these past few months. But there was something in the manner his sire 
was standing, and the intent way he was watching him, that caused him increasing 
unease.
"Remove your breeches, Nicholas," he commanded softly. 
Nick froze; his sire's voice carried a dreaded danger in its quiet tones. When 
he hesitated a moment too long, Lacroix shouted.
"OFF! NOW!"
He was frozen, his hands at his belt buckle, unable to command his fingers to 
move and do as he was bid. His sire strode forth and ripped the buckle free, 
tearing his breeches with it. The leather swished from his hips, and a moment 
later, the strong pale hand returned to rip the remainder of his clothing from 
his body.

Lacroix turned his son away from him and pushed him front first onto the large 
bed beside them and brought the leather in his hand down over his son's exposed 
buttocks.
SMACK!
"Ahhh!" his son yelped as his skin stung from the heavy blow. 
SMACK! SMACK!
Lacroix continued to beat his son, his eyes ablaze as his son struggled. He held 
him down and beat him again, harder until he remained compliant in the receipt 
of his punishment.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
As his son sobbed uncontrollably, he halted his swing, instead throwing the belt 
across the room.
"Never disobey me again," he growled into his child's ear as the fledgling wept 
upon the bedspread, his buttocks and back crisscrossed with bright red streaks 
where his blows had brutally landed.
Lacroix pushed off the bed and strode from the room, slamming the door behind 
him.

**************************

"You are not your father, Lucien. You barely knew him," she whispered. Jordan 
felt his body sigh and she continued.
"I knew him well enough to know that I have no desire to be anything like him, 
and I am also aware that I am more like him than I ever wish to be," he returned 
with quiet determination.
 "I'm sorry you feel like the bad guy all the time, my love. Maybe you should 
think about disciplining Nicky some other way?"
"I am always ready to take on any suggestions," he retorted impatiently, pulling 
out of her grasp.
"Lucien..." She was about to comment on his sudden mood change and free temper, 
but decided against it. Now was not the time to start yet another argument. It 
seemed like all they did these days was fight. Sighing, she changed the subject.
"Dad is going to the stock auction tonight, and wondered if you would like to go 
with him."
"Stock auction?"
"Yeah, he needs to buy a few cows and a couple of good breeding mares. I think 
you might even enjoy it," she said, enlightening him with a smile.
Lacroix felt his tension ease, and he leant back against the opposite bench to 
observe his wife. He felt his lips pull upward as she lowered her head and 
looked up at him, her smile cocky as her dark hair fell demurely about her face.
"And you? Will you be joining us?"
"No. Tonight this is definitely a man thing," she told him, pushing away from 
the bench and stepping into his arms. Lacroix engulfed her with his long, 
muscular arms and held her close, her breasts and pelvis pressing wonderfully 
against his.
"In that case, I believe I would definitely wish to attend this auction with 
your father," he announced with a mischievous smirk.
Jordan slapped him playfully across the arm, and he brought his hands to her 
bottom and pulled her closer, lifting her so he could better plunder her lips 
with his own invading force.


End part 2

Part 3


Lacroix stood, conspicuous among the casually dressed farmers and well-dressed 
horse brokers. He was draped in his usual attire, black on black, on black. 
Silently, he stood at the rear of the arena next to his mortal father-in-law.
The auction was well underway, and Jonathan had already bought his bovine and 
one of the two mares he had intended to purchase. 
"Forty-five hundred," the round, balding auctioneer called as he pointed toward 
the older man beside him, raising his paddle to make his bid.
"Forty-six," the man announced again, gesturing across the room.
"Forty-seven." He pointed at Jonathan again.
"Do I hear forty-eight?"
"At forty-seven hundred dollars. Going once, at forty-seven hundred going twice, 
going three times at forty-seven hundred!...Sold!" The caller turned toward them 
and banged his gavel against the podium.
"Sold to bidder 79, for forty-seven hundred dollars!"
"Well, that cleaned out the bank," Jonathan breathed, but soon grinned from ear 
to ear as he felt the rush at successfully gaining the prized mare.
"You shall reap your return with her, I am sure," Lacroix said as he let his 
lips turn up slightly as the older man continued to smile. There was nothing 
like a good auction to get the blood going.
Their attention was abruptly drawn toward the entrance to the arena leading to 
the holding stables behind the scenes. A solid thump of hooves on wood and the 
loud neigh of a feisty horse rang ominously through the auction yard. The 
circular arena surrounded with cascading bleaches, enclosed in a recently 
constructed building, reminded the Roman of the smaller gladiatorial stadiums of 
old. It was filled to half capacity with the local ranchers, farmers and racing 
studs, all looking to get the best deal on the going fare.
A placid mare was led out into the arena, while the odd thump still issued from 
the stable beyond.
A small brown filly was quickly bid upon and taken away, no doubt to be the 
latest toy for some spoiled child. Lacroix sighed as yet another unassuming 
equine was paraded before him. As the horse was finally led away, the neighing 
and thud of hooves suddenly emanated much closer to the arena. It appeared they 
were about to see what spirited beast had been holed up unhappily in the rear.
A yelp was heard from the mortal apparently leading the horse, and suddenly the 
dark beast trotted out into the arena on its own accord. 
With reins dragging the sawdusted floor, the animal halted dead centre and 
appeared to be inspecting the crowd of silent men and women as intently as they 
were admiring him.
A stallion, black as night, at least 16 hands tall, perhaps more, stood proudly, 
his ears rotating as he listened, nostrils flaring as he grasped the scents 
around him. He shuffled on his feet slightly as he remained on guard yet 
unpanicked.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer said quietly, "it seems Prince is quite 
able to do this routine without any help, and so he should as this is his fourth 
appearance." A quiet ripple of laughter caused the stallion to shift uneasily 
once again.
Lacroix stared at the beast, mesmerized by the magnificent animal before him. 
Without a word he gently claimed the paddle from his awestruck father-in-law. 
Johnathan quickly came to his senses, though.
"You're not going to bid on him, are you?"
"I am," Lacroix responded.
"This horse is a regular here. Almost everyone wants him, but nobody seems to be 
able, or willing, to keep him."
"Explain," Lacroix demanded, glancing toward the solid man.
"He was originally from the Worthington Stable. He is a direct descendent of the 
galloper, Jezebel. She's won over 8 million dollars and 23 of 21 starts. He's 
got her lines. Only problem is, he's a bit of a handful. Worthington's never saw 
to race him, not through lack of trying, but he wouldn't have it. But with the 
spirit and good breeding he showed, they didn't see the logic in gelding him to 
see if he would run. Each year he is brought here and auctioned off to yet 
another stable where they breed him out then realise they can't handle him and 
sell him off to the next wealthy buyer."
"Indeed," Lacroix said. Jonathan stared at the tall man as he kept his eye glued 
to the horse in the centre of the room.
"You're still going to bid, aren't you?" he said.
"Yes."
Johnathan sighed. He had done his best.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we start the bidding on Prince at five hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars....do I hear five-sixty?"
Lacroix allowed several other buyers to play up the ante before joining in 
himself.
His sudden inclusion in the bidding war for the stallion caused a small murmur 
to rise about him as he raised his paddle.
"Seven-forty!" the auctioneer called pointing to Lacroix for the first time.
"Seven-fifty!" a punter called from across the room.
"We have seven-fifty...do we have seven-sixty?"
Lacroix raised his paddle again.
The bidding went on for several more minutes, and as the price rose, so, too, 
did the murmur buzzing about the room.
"Lucien...I sure hope you know what you're doing," Jonathan said from the corner 
of his mouth. His heart was racing as the price went above the nine hundred 
thousand dollar mark. He would have to sell his farm four times over to make 
that sort of money. He shook his head and began to fan himself with his 
programme.
"One million!" the auctioneer cried, and a small cheer went about the room as 
the man gestured to Lacroix's raised paddle.
Prince shifted on his feet, startled slightly by the increase in sound. But he 
soon settled, and Lacroix knew he was going to claim this beast tonight...and 
there was no price that would stand in his way.
"Lucien? Can you afford this?" Jonathan whispered, finally building up the nerve 
to ask.
"Yes," was the vampire's brief response.
"One-ten!" A voice called. This man was Lacroix's remaining opponent, the one 
mortal and purse between him and his prize.
"One-twenty," he responded; the auctioneer was cut off from calling the bid buy 
the stout, well-attired man to Lacroix's right.
"One-fifty!"
"One hundred," Lacroix announced calmly. The expected murmur rippled around the 
arena as the vampire staked his claim.
Lacroix held the bidder's gaze and allowed a small smirk to appear as the man 
realised he was going to be continuously outbid and threw up his hands in 
defeat.
"Holy crap, you just bought a horse," Jonathan muttered.
The gavel slammed against the podium and the crowd exploded with applause as 
they showed their appriciation of the entertaining bidding. Meanwhile, Prince, 
Lacroix's new pride and joy, was led from the arena.
"Come on, let's get out of here before you buy something else," Jonathan quipped 
breathlessly, pulling on Lacroix's sleeve and snatching the paddle blithely from 
his hand as he directed the man toward the nearest exit.


Jordan sat with Liam in her lap and laughed as he leaned forward and moved their 
counter past Nicky's well-laden Park Avenue hotels and collected his two hundred 
dollars for passing Go.
"Awww!" Nicky cried as Liam giggled.
"Your turn!" Liam said, holding the dice out to his grandmother.
"I'm not sure I want to," Helene said as she frowned at Nicky's gauntlet run. 
But as she raised her hand to throw the die onto the board, a light honk and the 
roar of a truck engine halted her motion.
"Papa!" Liam shouted excitedly and leapt from his mother's lap. With a slight 
look of disappointment from Nicky, everyone rose to their feet and walked 
through the kitchen and outside to meet the returning menfolk.
Jordan watched as the large truck her father hired to haul his purchases back 
from the auction pulled to a halt, and backed up to the corral entrance. She saw 
her husband jump from the cab to open the gate as the truck backed into the 
opening. She couldn't help grinning at the manly sight her husband made as he 
began helping her father open the rear door of the vehicle...she just had to buy 
him a plaid shirt to go with his deliciously form-fitting black jeans.
Approaching the log fence, she leant against it as the boys crawled through and 
into the pen.
"What did you get, Gramps?" Liam asked, trying to peer into the truck.
"Well...I bought a couple of cows and a pair of very nice mares."
"What's a mare?" the little boy asked, still having no luck in seeing this 
animal in the darkness.
"It's a girl horse, silly," Nicky told him.
"Oh," he said, then frowned at Nicky. "I'm not silly!"
"Boys," Jordan warned the pair. They both quickly settled down and returned 
their attention to the animal Jonathan was leading off. A healthy cow clomped 
her way down the ramp and across the arena, into the barn.
"Does she have a name?" Liam asked as he watched the animal pass by.
"Not yet," Helene smiled.
"Muffin!" he called. The cow stopped in her tracks and turned her head toward 
the child.
"Yes, she does, Nana!" Liam crowed as though his grandmother should really have 
known that all along.
Helene and Jordan chuckled as the cow now formally known as Muffin was delivered 
into the barn, and Jonathan returned to lead out the remaining cow and two 
horses, Liam and Nicky happily naming each as they passed by. Goose, Annie and 
Flos, c/o Nicky, were now offically entered into the Walkers' stock books. 
A sudden bang of metal from within the truck caused all the mortals present to 
jump in surprise.
"Jonathan, what on earth do you have in there?" Helene asked, a hand to her 
heart where she had grasped it to prevent it from leaving her chest.
"I don't have anything in there. You had best direct that question to the 
gentleman over there," he said, jerking a thumb toward Lacroix.
"Lucien...what did you do?" Jordan quietly demanded. Lacroix smirked as he 
disappeared inside the unit. Another bang and a few moments of silence were 
followed by the emergence of the magnificent beast within. Lacroix trotted the 
beast from the truck and let him settle outside and gain his bearings.
"I purchased a horse, my wife," he finally replied. 
"Purchase would be the operative word," Jonathan murmured. He raised his hands 
in retreat as Lacroix shot him a glare.
Jordan moved her attention from the horse, to her father, then back to her 
husband.
"Lucien, dearest. How much did you pay for this horse?"
"Does he have a name, Papa?" Liam cut in.
Lacroix much preferred to answer his son's question.
"Yes, his name is Prince."
"I like that name," Liam said, nodding with approval.
"He's really cool, Grandfather," Nicky said, daring the step a little closer. 
"Can I touch him?"
"Yes, come around here," Lacroix instructed, bringing the child in front of him 
and watching as the boy brushed his hands down the beast's neck. Prince shuffled 
at the new touch, but after a few calming words from the vampire, he settled 
once again.
"Dad. How much did Prince cost?" Jordan demanded. Jonathan shot a look to 
Lacroix who just shrugged and nodded.
"One hmammh ohnehn dollars," he mumbled.
"Dad..."
"He said, One point one million dollars," Lacroix told her.
"Good grief," Helene said, putting a hand out to take a hold of the fence lest 
she faint dead away.
"What?!" Jordan demanded.
"Oh, wow! That's so cool," Nicky said.
"Lucien!? I can't believe...Why?...Oh, my god...What on earth are we going to do 
with a million dollar horse?!" she finally managed to ask.
"Jonathan and I have come to an agreement in that matter. Prince will reside 
here. He will act as sire to Jonathan's mares, and I shall pay for his upkeep 
and claim fifty percent of the profit from the sale of any off-spring.
"A million dollars..." Jordan muttered, clasping a hand over her forehead.
"One point one," Lacroix corrected with a smirk. "Jordan, do not fret so. You 
know I can well afford it," he told her, dropping Prince's reins and letting the 
horse walk away to the far side of the arena. He approached his wife and wrapped 
his arms around her.
"I know...but a million dollars..." she breathed, and Lacroix chuckled as he 
stood behind her directing her chin toward the dark beast trotting the length of 
the pen, snorting as he smelled the mares within the barn and the strange 
surroundings of his new home.
"Is he not the most magnificent animal you have ever set your eyes upon?"
Jordan snorted unhappily and pulled out of her husband's arms and strode across 
the courtyard and into the barn. Lacroix sighed and flapped his arms in 
frustration before following after her.
"Come along, boys, let's go inside and leave them to it," Helene said, placing a 
gentle hand on their shoulders and guiding the curious children back to the 
house.

"Jordan... " Lacroix said, entering the structure.
"How could you do that?!" she demanded, spinning round to confront him.
"Do what?" he asked, genuinely confused. She couldn't be so angry that he had 
gone out and bought a horse?
"You bought a damned million dollar horse and all the responsibility attached to 
it without as much as a single word to me about it!"
"Jordan..."
"A million dollars!" Jordan paced the floor before him, throwing her hands in 
the air. "Just like that you go out a spend a million dollars...!"
"Stop it!" Lacroix demanded, stepping forward to grasp her arms and halt her 
wild pacing.
She glared at him and he glared back.
"What is this all about, Jordan?" he asked her. "I have never seen you so 
irrational. What has happened?"
"Nothing has happened! Everything has happened!" she growled, attempting to pull 
away, but his sure grip held her in place. His hands loosened as her tears 
started falling down her cheeks. In a gentle voice he asked her,
"What is going on?"
Jordan sobbed and waved her hands in a gesture of confusion and loss of purpose.
"Some of us don't have a million dollars to go out and fill that empty space 
within us..." she wept, pressing a hand against her abdomen. Lacroix pulled her 
to him, crushing her to his chest and wrapping his strong arms about her, 
brushing his lips against her hair.
"I will sell him on if you wish me to," he whispered. Jordan sobbed again and 
shook her head.
"No. He's beautiful. I'm sorry..." she murmured against his chest. "I don't know 
what came over me," she said, pulling away slightly. But Lacroix pulled her head 
back to his shoulder and she clung to him again.
"Shh. It's all right," he told her softly. He should have known her staunch 
reserve couldn't hold out forever. Ever since the day their baby died, Jordan 
had been a pillar of strength; she had coped, looked toward the future for them 
both. She hadn't packed a bag and left; she had kept herself together and had 
just got on with the day at hand. She hadn't grieved, not as she perhaps should 
have. She had suffered abortions before, but this was different. This baby had 
been their baby, their child, and she had been conceived in love and desired by 
them both. 
His wife had carried their daughter for almost six months. How could she not 
have formed a bond with the child which reached deeper than any she had 
experienced before? And he was partly guilty of allowing her to go on this way. 
He had let her be strong and unyielding, expected little else...always the good 
soldier.
"It's all right," he whispered again. This time the words held a weight of 
permission, of desire to let her grieve as she needed for their child, as she 
had allowed him to grieve as he had seen fit. It was only his selfish arrogance 
that had not allowed her to do the same.

Forgoing the ladder, he held her tighter in his arms and lifted them off the 
ground, flying into the loft above.
He took her into the hideaway and sat them comfortably in the hay. Lacroix leant 
back against a bale and pulled his wife to lay against his chest.
"We have been through the best of times, and the worst of times, mon coeur, and 
I am all too aware that we shall have many more, but know this: I shall always 
be here for you, no matter how silly or weak you may think you feel," he told 
her, his breath brushing against her hair as he stroked his hand along her side. 
"I will think neither. I have nothing but respect, love and admiration in my 
heart for you," he breathed. Jordan turned in his arms and raised herself up. 
She took his face in her hands and gently kissed his lips.
"I love you," she breathed.
Their kiss deepened and Jordan began to release the buttons of her husband's 
shirt.

Lacroix held her warm body against his, their skin molding together, barely 
knowing where they each began and ended. He ran his hands down her back and 
along, over her buttocks.
"Mmmm," Jordan murmured, still basking in her post-climactic glow.
He gently grasped her cheeks and kneaded, before trailing his soft, large hands 
back up over her hips to wrap his arms around her once again. He felt her sigh 
against his naked body.
Jordan lifted her head and turned it to lay under his chin. 
"Every time we make love, I can't help but feel a little sad and angry that we 
can't conceive a child," Jordan said quietly. "I can't help but feel 
guilty...that it's my fault we can't do what we should be able to do."
"Don't be. Without Natalie's formula there is no way I could sire a child, and 
once you come across, nor will you, whether you are able to now, or not. Do not 
dwell on that you can not change, mon coeur. That is a cardinal rule of living 
as a vampire," he told her gently.
"My brain understands, but my heart still feels the loss," she whispered. 
Lacroix bent his head and kissed her forehead.
"I know," he breathed. He understood, all too well.
"I miss her so much, and I didn't even see her, touch her, feel her..." Jordan 
said, her tears falling anew.
Lacroix tilted her face to wipe his fingers across her cheeks, gathering the 
moisture and bringing it to kiss against his lips. 
Jordan dove deep into his eyes before launching forward and wrapping her arms 
around his neck, clutching him in a suffocating embrace. 
As he encircled her, his unearthly strength bound unyielding within his arms, a 
traitorous tear marred his proud Roman features.  Tonight his pride would come 
second. Not even for an instant would he desire to release her from his arms to 
remove the condemnation of his inner being from his flesh. 


End part 3


Part 4

Jordan watched as Lucien lifted his saddle onto Prince's back for the third 
time. The horse shifted and threatened to rear again, pulling sharply at his 
tether.
Her husband spoke quietly and kept the saddle against the horse's back. A few 
minutes later Prince settled and allowed the vampire to fasten the buckles to 
hold it in place.
She kept her distance, sitting in the swing seat on the back porch just beyond 
the kitchen. 
This was her parents' favourite spot. She remembered how they would sit out here 
for hours after she and Michael had been put to bed. Their murmured voices 
comforted her, though she hadn't thought much of it then. Teenagers never did.
   To this very day they sit out here, cuddled close, growing old together and 
loving every moment of it.
How she had strayed from such a loving family, she would never know. All she 
could remember was an incessant need to be somewhere else, to see the world, to 
live life to the fullest.
She had left for college and had never looked back. Even when she had been 
trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage, she had rarely turned her thoughts 
to her family. Not because she didn't miss them or love them dearly, but her 
shame and pain was too much to bear when she brought them into the equation, as 
well. But now, with Lucien, everything had changed.  She was surprised herself 
at how much love and happiness the master vampire had unwittingly brought into 
her life.
Lucien refused to even contemplate the effect on their family of his being a 
part of her life. Far too overly emotional.  She teased him, of course. Such a 
powerful and evil character such as himself, had been reduced to playing the 
good fairy, sprinkling happy dust wherever he traveled. The unearthly growl and 
glow of his eyes would have her in fits of laughter, until he forced it away 
with his insatiable lust.
  They had been through some tough times in the past year, and they had made it 
through, if only barely. Neither of them unscarred or unchanged. Nick could 
attest to that. He was the one who had perhaps been able to see and experience 
the real changes in his sire. They had their moments, certainly, but they were 
fewer, and interspersed with good times the pair had not experienced for 
centuries.
    
Jordan smiled and it stayed, creasing her lips as her attention was brought back 
to her husband and his task. She pushed her toe against the porch and set her 
seat in gentle motion.
"Has he ridden him yet?"
Jordan looked up to see Nicky standing in the kitchen doorway.
"Not yet. I think he is going to try in a minute," she told him.
The boy moved and took up a spectator's position beside her.
"Gramps said no one has ever ridden Prince before," Nicky  said, keeping his 
eyes glued to his grandfather.
"Yeah?" Jordan glanced at the child then back to her husband, gently running his 
hands over the horse's neck and back. He moved around to the far side of his new 
pride and joy and continued his stroking.
"What's he doing?" Nicky asked.
"I'm not sure," she replied, curiously watching herself.
Her husband frowned in a expression of what looked like distaste, then ducked 
his head from view. The horse shifted and neighed softly and Nicky quietly 
exclaimed,
"Did he just bite him?"
Jordan raised her eyebrows a little as Lacroix came into view again, wiping his 
mouth delicately  on his shirt sleeve.
"I think so," she finally murmured.
"Why'd he do that?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him," she said, planning to follow her own 
advice.
They watched as Lacroix circled the horse again. This time the animal held still 
and relaxed under his caressing hands. Then with a single leap the vampire 
pulled himself up onto the horse's back. Prince shuffled slightly but quickly 
settled as Lacroix murmured quietly.
"Well, I'll be..." came a masculine voice behind them. Jordan and Nicky turned 
to glance at the man standing in the doorway, watching Lacroix in quiet awe.
"Jack Worthington will never believe me when I tell him my boy has finally 
broken the Prince of Montana," he said, a beer clutched in one hand. He then 
ignored his daughter and stepped off the porch to walk over toward the wooden 
fence holding the million-dollar horse and his new master.
Lacroix by now was trotting Prince around the edge of the pen, gently prodding 
him faster until they were at a steady canter.
Jonathan opened the gate, and Lacroix nodded gratuitously as he trotted Prince 
from the enclosure. He pulled up alongside the kitchen porch and turned the 
horse about, steadying the beast as the stallion caught wind of freedom.
"I will return shortly," he said to his wife. Jordan smiled and nodded, too 
captured by the enthralling sight of her husband upon the magnificent animal to 
utter a word. They made quite a pair. She smirked as she realised another trip 
to the barn may be on the cards later that night.

Nicky, used to the sight of his grandfather riding, realised he was still 
awestruck at the sight.
With a slight kick of his heel, Lacroix turned the animal and immediately 
brought the beast into a gallop, disappearing into the night, the sound of the 
creature's thumping hooves the only sign of their passing.

Half an hour later Lacroix and Prince came thundering back into the courtyard, 
pulling to a halt before the curious gathering of the entire family.
Jordan grabbed Liam's arm as the child ran past her, about to run over to the 
horse and his father.
"You have to be slow and careful around Prince, Liam," she told him.
"Let him come," Lacroix told her. Jordan glanced up and nodded.
"Okay, walk over to Papa," she said to the bright-eyed boy. Liam nodded and with 
great seriousness, he slowly walked over to stand dwarfed by the ebony animal.
Lacroix leant down and scooped Liam up by the arms. He swung him about and 
lowered him onto the saddle in front of him.
Liam was grinning like mad and was clearly excited at being on his first horse.
"Hold on here," Lacroix instructed, showing Liam how to grasp the animal's mane. 
The barest of touches from his heel, set them going at a walk.
Jordan smiled and stood with her hands on her hips as she watched the pair move 
off across the courtyard. She saw Lucien bend down to say something to Liam, and 
the little boy nodded. Another tap from the vampire and Prince strode into a 
perfectly even trot.
"Oh, sweetie. That really is a million-dollar horse," Helene said, coming up 
behind her daughter.
"Don't they look...wonderful..." Jordan breathed. Lucien was born in a saddle, 
and it showed. He was completely at one with the horse, a simple flowing line 
between man and beast, or was that beast and beast, she thought with a chuckle.
"Honey, I wouldn't sell that, even for a million dollars," her mother replied 
with a soft smile.
"I think Dad just made the investment of a lifetime," Jordan told her mother.
"Baby, it's you who has made that investment...I just have a horse," her father 
interjected, running his hands down her arms and kissing the back of her head.
Jordan felt a tear come to her eye and she turned to embrace him.
"Thank you, Dad. You have no idea how much that means to me," she whispered in 
his ear, sqeezing him tighter.
She was aware he liked Lucien, they wouldn't be here if he didn't, but now her 
father considered him family, her family, as well as theirs, and one could never 
put a price on that, not even Lucien Lacroix.


The next afternoon, Jordan lay stretched out on the lounge chair, basking in the 
late afternoon sun, a book resting in her lap. She pulled her sun hat lower as 
the sun shifted, and watched the boys splash around in the pool. The 
rectangular, inset pool took up a large portion of the back yard, at the rear of 
which lay the gate and hideaway where the hot tube was situated. 
The day had been especially hot, and they had all taken refuge from the heat by 
either remaining indoors or swimming in the cool water of the swimming pool.
Nicky was sporting his wrap-around sunglasses, which she had insisted he wear 
most of the afternoon after he had returned inside after half an hour, 
complaining of painful, irritated eyes. The poor kid was slathered in sunscreen, 
as well. She would pour it on him every hour, just to be on the safe side. She 
was quietly waiting for the dreaded day when he would really start to burn in 
the sun.
 But as yet, all he seemed to do was tan. He had quickly become a gorgeous 
little brown boy, with a mop of bleached-white, curly hair. Jordan couldn't help 
wondering if Nick had looked the same as a child.

Lacroix woke. His room was stuffy with latent heat from the day's searing sun, 
and he felt slightly uncomfortable under the bed clothes. It must have been 
quite a day, he thought, if it were to make him feel the heat this late in the 
evening. The sun was barely an orange glow on the horizon as he flung open his 
curtains and peered down to the pool and the children as they played quietly at 
the far end. His wife sat in a lounge chair, her straw hat pulling a smile which 
evolved into a leer as his appreciative eye flowed over her bikini-clad bosom 
and nether region. Jonathan had lit a handful of kerosene torches about the 
yard, and the dimming daylight was replaced with the naked flames.
Pulling on the bathing suit his wife had brought without his knowledge, he 
chuckled at the batman logo still prominent on the pant leg. Pulling a towel 
from the bathroom as he passed, he  made his way through the house and out into 
the backyard to join his family.

Night had fallen, but it brought little relief from the humid heat still in the 
air. Dropping his towel over  the chair next to his wife, he continued to the 
pool's edge, and without hesitation, dove into the cool depths and swam beneath 
the surface to the far end.
The children were waiting for him to surface, and when he did, his youngest 
child flung himself around his neck.
"Morning, Papa!"
"Evening," Nicky corrected.
"But he just woke up, so it's morning," Liam said, turning and emphasizing his 
rightful thinking on the matter.
Lacroix chuckled and said,
"Good morning to you, too."

Jordan smiled and reached down beside her chair to grab her camera. She had been 
taking photos of the boys playing, and she didn't want to miss an opportunity to 
take a few shots of her husband with the children together.
After a half-dozen shots, Lucien turned and made a face at her, a silent command 
to give it up. Chuckling, she smirked back and took one more, before setting it 
aside again. There may be one or two she could get a good painting out from.

The children had long retreated inside, and Lacroix had carried his wife into 
the hot tub as the night air finally cooled.
She lay in his embrace, stroking his arms as they silently gazed up at the sea 
of stars above.
"Lucien, I want to tell them," Jordan breathed, her voice unwavering in her 
quest.
Lacroix sighed heavily. He had been hoping, futilely, he might add, that his 
wife would let the matter rest.
"Jordan..."
"Lucien, I can't do this alone...."
"You will not be alone. I will be there to guide you," he told her.
"But you will not take the place of my father, nor my mother, Lucien," Jordan 
retorted. "I refuse to be on the same tier as Nick and Janette. If you want to 
bring me across, you will have to see me as your equal, not your child."
"Jordan, It is not done in such a way," he told her. It had not slipped his 
notice that his wife had taken to arguing with him more often, seizing the riens 
of their relationship in an attempt to control their life together. He fought it 
quietly for now, feeling that Jordan was over compensating for her years as a 
victim to her ex-husband's cruelty. But this could not go on much longer, and 
certainly not once she was a vampire, she would be a child in this world, even 
more so than she is now. She would have to trust his judgement completely, and 
without question, when it came to her new abilities and immortal lifestyle. Both 
their lives would depend on her compliance. But, for now, he let her have free 
rein. Afterall, most of the time he found it all rather amusing.
"Then I will just have to find someone else to bring me over..." she said, 
sitting up. Lacroix followed, moving them both so that he could look steadily 
into her eyes, while keeping a hold of her arms.
"You would allow another to bond with you?" His extreme distaste evident.
"If you don't agree to my terms, yes."
"Jordan..." he said, exasperated.
"Don't 'Jordan' me. You know very well how I feel about this. I don't even like 
the way you treat Nick and Janette at times. I am hardly about to let my husband 
treat me like a errant child!"
"I would not..."
"You would too!"
"Hardly ever!"
"That's not good enough!"
"Why ever not?!" Vexation and confusion raising the pitch of his voice.
"Why do you think?!"
"I have no idea why not! If I did, then I wouldn't have to ask!" Lacroix said, 
finally loosing his temper.
"You can be so archaic, Lucien!"
"And you can be as stubborn as a modern mule!"
Jordan's response was to shove a wave of water over his head and step out of the 
spa.
Lacroix sat in the water for a moment longer, stunned at how the conversation 
had turned so nasty, so quickly. Wiping the water from his face as he heard the 
wooden gate slam shut, he leapt from the tub and landed in front of his angry 
wife, blocking her path to the house.
"Lucien, get out of the way," she demanded, trying to push past.
"No," he said, stepping to intercept her.
He was a little surprised when she launched herself at him, slapping and then 
closing her fists to thump his wet skin as he remained unmoved in his vamperic 
resovle. He grabbed at her wrists, slipping as his wet hands met wet arms. His 
second attempt ricocheted as well, and unfortunately, it sent his wife's fist 
toward his face. 
He clutched a hand to his nose as it began to drip blood down his chest. 
It stopped almost immediately as he healed, but there was enough blood to bring 
a halt to his wife's attack. When she reached forward to see the damage, he 
jerked away.
"Leave it," he growled. It did hurt. He was quite proud his wife could deliver 
such a blow, but this was not the time to win her over. This was a time to brood 
and allow himself to be angry with her. He was finding the latter to be somewhat 
difficult however, but he did his best to remain irritated.
"Let me look," she said quietly. Lacroix sighed and lowered his hands to let her 
inspect his bloody nose.
"I don't think I broke it," she told him.
"Actually, you did. It made a rather distinct sound," he informed her, pushing 
her hands away again.
"Has it healed yet?"
"Almost."
"I'm sorry."
"Good."
"It's still bleeding," Jordan mumbled as a single drop dribbled from his 
nostril.
"The cartilage is out of place and irritating the wound," he told her.
"Can you fix it?"
"Of course," he said as he pressed his hands on either side of his nose and gave 
a sharp but gentle jerk. More blood fell, and he winced.
"Dear Mother! What did you do to him?" Helene cried when she saw Lacroix 
clutching his nose, his hands and chest covered in blood.
"She hit me," he complained to his wife's mother, playing the injured victim to 
the fullest. Jordan rolled her eyes.
"It was an accident. He's fine," she sighed, turning to her mother.
"Come inside and let me have a look at it," Helene said taking Lacroix's arm and 
leading him in the house as he kept up the act, pinching his nose to stop the 
bleeding as any mortal would do. Jordan almost screamed at the smirk he sent 
over his shoulder.
She arrived in the kitchen to find her husband sitting in a chair at the table 
and her mother inspecting his offending appendage. He looked at her over her 
mother's head, and she glared at the sparkle of mischief in his eyes. 
"Well, it's not broken," her mother announced. When she turned to the sink to 
gather a wet rag to clean away the blood, Jordan walked up behind her husband 
and as she passed by, and drew a rather hard slap against the back of his head.
THWACK!
Helene spun around in time to see her son-in-law clutch the back of his head and 
wince.
"Jordan Helene!" she exclaimed in disbelief at her daughter's behaviour.
"He'll live," Jordan muttered as she continued out of the kitchen to stomp up to 
her room.
Helene was a little surprised and befuddled to see Lucien begin to chuckle as he 
rubbed his head.

"It must be love....I have seen you kill men for far lesser indiscretions, 
General."

Lacroix shot from his chair, sending it scattering across the floor as he spun 
to face the  door.
He paled as he recognised the giant of a man filling its frame.
"Samuel," he breathed. The arrival of an Elder on your doorstep, uninvited and 
unexpected, was rarely a good thing.
"Mrs. Walker," Samuel said over Lacroix's shoulder to the woman standing behind 
him, clutching the kitchen sink with one hand, her heart racing as she waited 
for Lacroix to enlighten her. "Please forgive my unexpected intrusion, but I am 
afraid I must speak with your family immediately," Samuel graciously told her.
Helene nodded.
"Of course," she managed hesitatingly. She could see the muscles in her son-in-
law's back and shoulders pull tight and ripple beneath his skin.
"Why don't you go and dress yourself and bring Jordan down so we may speak," the 
Elder gently commanded, smirking softly at the rather informal attire the master 
vampire was parading.
Lacroix nodded briskly and turned to stride from the room. At the stairs he 
bounded upwards, taking them four at a time.

End part 4

Part 5

"Get dressed," he ordered his wife as he barreled into their room. He ignored 
her splutter and stripped himself of his wet bathing suit and reached for a 
discarded towel.
"Lucien..."
"Samuel is downstairs waiting for us," he told her as he threw down the cloth 
and pulled on underwear and trousers.
"What...?"
"Now! Get dressed, now," he prodded her into action. Jordan was already in her 
underwear and she quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt.
"What's this all about?" she whispered as they hurried to make themselves 
presentable.
"I do not know. But he did imply that it was urgent," he whispered as he slipped 
into his socks and shoes.
Jordan watched as he fumbled with his shirt buttons, his usually unfazed 
demeanor showing signs of unease.
"Lucien, you're scaring me."
He finished tucking his shirt tails in and moved closer to his wife.
"Forgive me," he said, clutching her arms and pulling her closer to kiss her 
forehead. "Are you ready?"
Jordan nodded and he took her hand to lead her downstairs and into the living 
room where Helene was keeping their visitor company.
"And you find this works even during the winter?" Helen was asking, chatting 
agreeably with the ancient vampire.
"Indeed, it does, and it cuts costs up to fifty percent," Samuel replied. "Ah! 
Here they are," he said, rising to his feet to greet Jordan.
"My dear." He brought her hand to his lips and gave her a friendly smile. She 
couldn't help but relax a little and return it. Lucien, however, was a different 
matter. She held his hand and she almost had to pull away as he tightened his 
grip. But as he eased off she squeezed back and led him over to sit on the 
lounge suite opposite where the Elder had reseated himself. As they all took 
their seats, Helene informed them,
"Did you know Samuel develops organic pesticides and  owns several organic farms 
in the Midwest?" she asked her daughter.
Jordan shook her head.
"You always were a farmer at heart, Samuel," Lacroix said. Samuel chuckled and 
nodded.
"That I am, Lucius," the Elder replied good-naturedly, accepting the vampire's 
attempt at conversation.
Helene frowned a little as she picked up on the odd name Samuel addressed her 
daughter's husband by, yet again.
They made idle chatter for several long minutes, Lacroix's unease becoming more 
noticeable. Why didn't the old man just get on with it?! he thought angrily.
<Calm yourself, Lucius,> a voice whispered against his mind. Lacroix glanced up 
and met the ancient's enigmatic ebony eyes. He nodded reluctantly and attempted 
to ease his rampant thoughts.
The women's easy chatter halted as they heard the arrival of heavy work boots in 
the kitchen.
Helene rose and disappeared into the kitchen. She returned a few minutes later 
with her husband in tow.
"Samuel, I would like you to meet my husband, Jonathan," she introduced the 
visitor.
"Sam?" Jonathan exclaimed as he entered the living room and saw the large, dark 
man rise from his chair.
"Joe," Samuel grinned.
"Oh my god!" The two men stepped forward and embraced each other in an energetic 
bear hug.
"Look at you. You haven't changed a bit!" Jonathan exclaimed after much back 
slapping, pulling back but not letting go of the vampire's shoulders. "How long 
has it been?"
"Thirty? No, forty years?" Samuel said.
"Try forty-five."
"I take it you two are acquainted with one another?" Lacroix quipped from his 
seat.
"Samuel and I went through college together. He saved my life more than once," 
Jonathan said, an arm around the Elder's shoulders. Samuel didn't seem to mind 
in the least. In fact, he seemed just as equally happy to see his old friend 
again.
"Back then, we were the only farm boys in the night classes of the science 
faculty at Duncanville University," Jonathan went on to explain.
"And Joe here was the only person to take pity on one of the few black men 
allowed entry into the establishment," Samuel told them.
Jonathan stood back a little and inspected his longtime friend.
"Look at you. You look great," he murmured.
"That is a part of the reason I am here," Samuel announced, his tone taking on a 
more formal affair.
"And now that we are all here, It is time I spoke." He gestured everyone to take 
their seats once again, and once settled, he began.
"What I am about to divulge to you will demand difficult decisions to be made by 
you all," he said.
Lacroix glanced away. He had a feeling his worst fear was about to be realised. 

The Council had become impatient.

"Helene. Jonathan. You may find what I am about to tell you somewhat 
unbelievable, but I assure you, it is all too true and equally serious," Samuel 
continued, holding the Walkers' gaze steadily as he imparted the gravity of the 
situation.
"What? Are you going to let us in on some top-secret government experiment or 
something?" Jonathan said, amusement and an increasing sense of foreboding 
creeping into his voice.
"Or something," the Elder smiled. "But let it be known that what you are about 
to hear can not leave this room. The knowledge you are about to partake in is of 
the utmost secrecy, more so than any mere government assignment. Breaking the 
code of secrecy is punishable by death. Do you understand?"
Jonathan glanced over to his Jordan and then Lacroix. They appeared unnaturally 
calm about all this.
"What are you trying to say, Sam? And why do I have the feeling that my own 
daughter and her husband already know all this?" 
Jordan dropped her gaze, unable to meet his accusing eye and his sense of 
betrayal. Lacroix, however, held it until the mortal man returned his attention 
to the ancient seated across the room.
"You have been chosen for several reasons, Joe. One, and primarily, is your 
mortal association with your daughter and, in turn, her bond with Lucius. He is 
a respected elder of our Community and retains a certain standing which holds 
him in high regard with the Council. Also, your friendship with me has tipped 
the scales in your favour, allowing your inclusion into our Community without 
the necessary...membership."
"What do you mean by mortal association, and who is this Council?!" Jonathan 
demanded. He was confused and had the distinct feeling of being backed into a 
corner by a force he could not see, touch or even understand.
"I think you should start from the beginning, Samuel," Helene suggested calmly, 
taking her husband's hand in hers. It had the desired effect, and he took a deep 
breath as he fell silent.
"Quite. Well, I suppose the beginning is a very good place to start," Samuel 
began with a small smile.
"My mortal sire bestowed upon me the name of Sah'dadel. It translates as 
Stargazer. It is born of a language which has been dead and forgotten for over 
five thousand years. I watched as the people I had called family grew old and 
died, as my village fell under the rot of time, and my people scattered about 
the earth as slaves, merchants and nomads. I have seen empires rise and fall, 
only to rise again...and fall again. I speak every language known to man, and 
many which have been lost for millennia.
I have sired many children in both my mortal and immortal years, and I have 
taken many lives in war, hunger and rage. I have seen peace and I have seen war, 
and I have gained a wealth of knowledge in my time but still do not know how 
they get the little 'm' on the m&m."
"Just how old are you, Sam?" Jonathan asked.
"I believe I am near to eight thousand years in age, give or take a century or 
two," he replied with a small smirk, knowing the reaction the admission would 
cause. It was not something he disclosed often, and it was certainly not common 
knowledge.

"Ha!" Jonathan laughed out loud in his disbelief.
Lacroix's eyebrows were raised in surprise, and Jordan's mouth hung agape. They 
were all in stunned awe.
"You're kidding me?!" Jonathan blurted. Samuel smiled and shook his head.
"How can that be! You're crazy!" he said.
"Perhaps. I certainly have been," Samuel chuckled, "But as to how it can be, is 
the mere fact that I...am a vampire," he imparted with the appropriate pause for 
dramatic effect.
A stunned silence was followed by a shocked gasp as Samuel allowed his fangs to 
slide into place and his eyes to glow with their spectacular, iridescent gold.
"Oh...my...god," Jonathan uttered, unable to wrench his eyes from his friend's 
features.
"Jordan? You knew about this?" her mother asked, glancing to her daughter. 
Jordan nodded.
"Yes, I knew," she admitted quietly. "But wait, there's more," she added with a 
weary grin.
"More?"
Lacroix took that moment to let his own facial appearance transform into its 
vampire state.
Jonathan and Helene stared at him. How could they not? But for Jordan's father, 
the shock quickly turned to anger.
"How dare you!" Jonathan growled, rising to his feet and stepping toward 
Lacroix.
"Dad..." Jordan began hoping to stop whatever he was about to say or do.
"No! You stay out of this!" he demanded. Jonathan kept his glare glued to 
Lacroix as the vampire withdrew his canines. 
"You have lived under our roof and taken my daughter as your wife, and you 
couldn't find the courage to tell us of the danger we, as well as my daughter, 
could be under?!" he seethed, his voice rising as his anger built.
"Courage had little to do with it," Lacroix told him. "The more you knew, the 
more danger you were in. And as for Jordan, she has known the risks since the 
day we met."
Jonathan strode from the room. They could hear the fridge door open and close 
and he returned with one of Lacroix's bottles in his hand. He pulled out the 
cork and spilled a small amount clumsily onto his hand, bringing it to his nose 
to smell its contents.
"And this?" he demanded, shaking the bottle at him. "There are children in this 
house and you drink human blood in front of them?!" Jonathan threw the bottle at 
Lacroix in disgust, who batted it away as it splashed bloody streaks over his 
shirt and face, before thumping to the carpet. Lacroix wiped the mess from his 
face, but refused to retort. The damage he would do could not be reversed if he 
did so.
"Dad! Stop it!" Jordan yelled, leaping to her feet, and stepping between her 
husband and her father.
Meanwhile, Samuel calmly sat back and watched the scene play itself out to it's 
inevitable conclusion.
"It was donated, dad. And damn it, he needs it to live!" Shouting, Jordan 
quickly obtained her father's attention. Lowering her voice, she told him,
"There are many things you need to know, and some you never will. But we don't 
have much of a choice here. Either you learn about us, about Lucien and 
Samuel...and me, and you agree to keep the code of silence, or that knowledge 
will be taken from you and we will have to leave, and when we do, we won't be 
able to come back home...ever," Jordan said, a tear making its way down her 
cheek, her emotions finally breaking forth.
"What do you mean?" Helene spoke up.
Lacroix took the moment to join the discussion.
"Very soon, Jordan will be joining my immortal family. She will not age, nor 
will she ever suffer from illness or death. We shall have to move on, and break 
any ties she has with the mortal world. Her friends, her family, everyone," he 
told them. He rose to his feet and paced behind the couch, leaning his hands 
upon the back as he continued.
"And if I am correct in my assumption, she no longer has a choice in the matter. 
She will become a vampire, or she will die. It is that simple," he stated 
quietly, his eyes barely belying his fear and doubt as to whether she would 
choose to join him, especially given their argument earlier in the evening. He 
looked toward the Elder gracefully seated upon his chair as he would have a 
throne a thousand years before. The ancient vampire nodded in acknowledgment.
"You would kill my daughter?" Jonathan asked Lacroix in disbelief. Lacroix 
closed his eyes in agony at the mere thought.
Samuel gazed upon the proud vampire across the room. The mortal would be correct 
in his assumption, Lacroix would have been given the duty of taking the mortals 
under his care should it be so decided, however, the responsibility wasn't the 
Roman's alone. He too, held a stake in the lives of the humans gathered, and 
frankly, he did not think Lucius would have the heart to fulfill the command. To 
be blunt, he was certain Lacroix would sooner take his own life before that of 
his beloved wife. 
"No, the Elder spoke for the younger man. "Lucius will not be given the duty," 
he answered. "I shall be the chosen one to take your daughter, and yourselves, 
should it become necessary," he declared quietly, without menace, merely stating 
the fact.
Jonathan fell into his seat and took his wife's hands tightly in his.
Samuel took a deep breath as the news finally began to register with the 
gathering around him.
"But let me remind you that this need not be the road we travel. If you choose 
to keep our secret, to never reveal our nature to anyone, we shall turn a blind 
eye to the continued contact with your daughter, and her family, until you both 
pass over in old age," he said, attempting to lift the somber atmosphere which 
had gathered within the room. Changing the subject slightly, he continued, 
"Perhaps, you would like to hear a little something from Lucius? Come, General, 
I am sure you would take pleasure in enlightening these good people with a 
little of your origins," the Elder prodded. 
Lacroix frowned. He wouldn't, actually.
"At least now I know why you have avoided telling us anything about your family, 
Lucien," Helene smiled, hoping to placate the man sitting across from her, a man 
she now knew even less about than she had a half hour ago.
Jordan sat down and coaxed her husband to sit beside her.
Sighing, he took his seat, crossing his legs as he made himself comfortable. 
Lacroix sighed and a took a deep breath before beginning his story.
"I was born in the city of Pompeii in 44AD. I entered the Imperial Roman army at 
17 years of age and duly rose through the ranks to became General of the 
Emperor's 21st legion. I was brought across in 79AD..."
"Vesuvius..." Jonathan muttered, enthralled upon Lacroix's every word.
"Yes, Vesuvius. I was saved from her savage hand by the one which brought me 
across... Who made me a vampire," he clarified. "I have brought across many in 
my time, but I consider Janette and Nicholas, and more recently, Liam, as my 
only children, and Jordan, of course, as my wife." He took her hand in his and 
brought it briefly to his lips as he looked into her eyes. Jordan smiled as she 
felt his mental touch brush lovingly against her mind.
"Nick? He's a vampire too?" Helene asked.
"Yes," Lacroix answered briskly.
"And Nicky?"
"Yes...and no."
"Which brings me to my next point of discussion," Samuel interrupted. He closed 
his eyes briefly and smiled. "He will join us in a moment."

End part 5

Part 6

Sure enough, a few minutes later a sleepy-eyed, boy entered the room. Nicky 
rubbed his eyes against the brighter light and shuffled toward the group of 
adults. He smiled when he saw Samuel and walked forward to throw his arms around 
his neck in greeting.
"Hello, Elder," Nicky yawned. Samuel chuckled.
"There is no need to be so formal, Nicholas."
"But I like calling you that," Nicky grinned. This time Samuel laughed.
"Very well, child. If you insist!" he pulled Nicky onto his lap, and Nicky 
wiggled to make himself comfortable. "Thank you for joining us," the Elder said. 
"We have just been enlightening your grandparents of your family's 
rather...unusual nature."
Nicky raised his eyebrows and looked to his mortal great-grandparents. They did 
seem to be staring at him a little more than usual. He smiled warmly.
"Don't be afraid. They're not all like in the movies," he told them.
"I think I am beginning to realise that," Helene whispered. She turned her 
attention back to Lacroix who had remained quietly next to her daughter, their 
hands entwined--much as she was with her husband.
"Nick has been a policeman for how long?" she asked.
"On and off for the past 50 or so years. I believe he has become rather attached 
to the profession," Lacroix told her. 
"And the deBrabant Foundation...is his?"
"Yes."
"You must be proud of him," Helene stated softly. Lacroix paused for a moment 
before replying, much to the Elders, and his wife's, surprise.
"Yes, I am."
Helene shared a small smile with him, but as he noticed the rest of the room 
staring, he shuffled his legs and directed the attention else where.
"You woke Nicholas from his bed for a good cause, Samuel?"
"Ah, yes of course," the Elder said, smiling indulgently. "The Council has 
decided to request young Nicholas' attendance to an Assessment," he said.
"An Assessment?" Lacroix said, moving forward in his seat. "I though we had 
agreed to wait until he was older?" he said, his mood changing yet again, as he 
felt the trepidation at the new move by the Council.
"They...We did, indeed. "However, in light of his noticeable increase in 
abilities over the past year, we have decided to retract the agreement. We 
would, instead, like to test Nicholas regularly to observe his progress."
"I will not allow it," Lacroix told him, his calm tone belying his rapidly 
rising anger.
"I am afraid you will have little say in the matter, Lucius," Samuel informed 
him quietly.
"It's okay, grandfather. I'll do it," Nicky said from Samuel's lap.
"You do not know what you are agreeing to, Nicholas. Your father would not allow 
this, and neither will I."
Samuel sighed and held the vampire's gaze steadily as he tried to impart the 
reality of the situation.
"It will be out of your son's hands as well, General. This decree shall be 
abided by," the Elder instructed Lacroix, his mind gently re-enforcing the 
command of the High Council.
"I will not have it!" Lacroix shouted, leaping to his feet.
The Elder watched as the master vampire rebelled just as he had expected the 
Roman to do.
"Go to your grandfather, Nicholas," Samuel whispered in the boy's ear. Nicky 
obeyed immediately and climbed from the Elders lap, rounded the coffee table 
separating them, to sit in-between Jordan and where his grandfather would be 
sitting if he had been.
Samuel rose to his feet, facing down the younger and smaller vampire. 
Purposefully he remained unconfrontational and at ease. Of course, he could swat 
the vampire away like a fly, but he had no desire to create such friction 
between them. Instead, he gently allowed his presence and age to flow between 
them. 
When Lacroix finally dropped his gaze submissively, albeit barely, he announced 
his departure.
"Jonathan. Helene. Thank you both for your gracious hospitality. I apologise for 
the demanding knowledge of which I bestowed upon you both tonight. However, on 
the same note, I will look forward to your joining our Community." Samuel held 
out his hand, and after a brief hesitation, Jonathan took it, clutching it 
heartily.
"You will have 48 hours to digest what you have learnt, and to ask Lucien and 
Jordan whatever questions you will, but after such time, I shall require your 
answer." Samuel stepped past Lacroix as he stood silently, his fists clenched , 
as the Elder bade the others goodnight.

Samuel stepped through the kitchen door, and with a grin of mischief he took to 
the sky. Jonathan ran out to watch him ascend into the night sky.
"You never told me you could fly, you bastard!" he shouted.
Samuel laughed out loud as he hovered 30 feet above his old friend's head.
"And you never told me you had finally worked up the courage to ask Helene on a 
date!" he replied.
"I didn't!" Jonathan called back with a grin. "She asked me!"

Helene watched and smiled as the men conversed. The ancient vampire's laughter 
floated on the wind as he flew higher into the sky and disappeared from view.
The Walkers returned to their lounge to find only their daughter and grandson 
waiting there.
"Where's Lucien?" Helene asked.
"Upstairs, trying not to break any furniture, I hope," Jordan sighed.
"He's kinda mad about the assessment thing," Nicky said, sitting side-by-side on 
the couch with Jordan.
Helene glanced about the room, pursing her lips at the blood stains on her 
carpet and lounge suite. She would deal with it in the morning.
"Well, it's almost dawn," she announced. "I think everyone should get to bed. We 
seem to all have a lot to think about," Helene suggested strongly. 
Jordan patted Nicky's leg in agreement, and he slid from the couch and leant 
over to hug his Nana and Gramps goodnight before disappearing upstairs.
After the boy had left the room, Jordan rose and began to pace before her 
parents.
"Mom. Dad. I know this is all pretty unbelievable..."
"Not to mention terrifying," her mother added.
"That too," Jordan said. "But I love Lucien, and I have come to feel a strong 
loyalty to the Community, and even more so, to his family. But I still love you 
both so much, and I feel so torn between you both that I am having a difficult 
time making any decision about all this," Jordan said, her voice strained with 
emotion.
"But now, I don't even have the choice I thought I had. I don't want to lose you 
again." Jordan's tears began, and it was Jonathan who stepped forward and 
wrapped his arms around his daughter.
"You won't have to worry about us, Love. We won't be going anywhere, and who the 
hell believes in vampires, anyway?" he said with a smile. Jordan sobbed and 
threw her arms around him as he looked over her shoulder to his wife. When she 
smiled and nodded in agreement, he relaxed into his daughter's embrace.

Nicky slowly pushed open the bedroom door. His grandfather sat on the bed with 
his head in his hands.
"Yes, Nicholas?" he sighed without looking up. Nicky moved inside and closed the 
door. Lacroix breathed in and straighted to meet his eye.
"I have to do the test."
"I will not allow it."
"They would take me anyway, wouldn't they?"
"Not if I have any say in the matter."
Nicky just stared silently, knowing his grandfather was fighting a losing 
battle.
"I want to do it," he said quietly.
"You do not know what the test involves, Nicholas," he said. "You will be kept 
from your family for several weeks,"
"Will they hurt me?" the child asked.
"At times," Lacroix answered honestly.
"Will they kill me?"
"Perhaps."
"Will you be there?"
"No."
"Will Dad?"
"No."
Nicky sat down next to his grandfather and contemplated what was being asked of 
him.
"I will do it," he said firmly, with quiet conviction.
"Nicholas..."
"I have to. It is my duty. You always say that we have to do our duty. So I have 
to do this," he whispered. Lacroix closed his eyes. Why must the child choose 
this of all things to take to heart? Why must be so...noble?
"You are so much like your father," he muttered. Opening his eyes, Lacroix 
captured the young boy's enchanting blue gaze, and gently, he reached within and 
touched the melodious hum of the unique familial bond they shared, and placed a 
hand over the boy's head and slipped it down to his shoulders, pulling him 
against his side.
"Your mother would be very proud," he whispered.
"Yeah. But she would be real mad, too," Nicky said with a grin. Lacroix 
chuckled.
"That she would, and it would not be pleasant, to say the least."
They sat for a moment longer before Lacroix pushed his grandson to his feet.
"Come, it is time for bed."
Nicky leant in and hugged the vampire, kissing his lips.
"Goodnight, grandfather."
"Goodnight, Nicholas."

At the bedroom door, Nicky turned back.
"Grandfather," he asked. "Why did you bite Prince?"
Lacroix chuckled at the unexpected question before answering.
"He could not trust anyone. We bonded through his blood. Now he does," he told 
him briefly.
Nicky smiled.
"Will you teach me to ride? You said you would."
"That was almost 2000 years ago," Lacroix complained.
"But you promised..." Nicky pleaded. Lacroix chuckled once again, feeling the 
heaviness recede in his heart, at least for the moment. He grandson seemed to 
have a special gift in creating a sense of ease within him.
"Yes, Nicholas, I shall teach you to ride."
"And will you teach me to use a sword?"
"Perhaps, we shall see."
"Cool! Thanks, Grandpa!" Nicky said as he bounded from the room and into his own 
next door.
Lacroix shook his head and lay back on the bed, running a hand over his tired  
eyes.

His wife entered, but he remained where he was. He feigned sleep as she began to 
work the fastenings to his trousers. He was completely naked by the time he 
listened to his wife remove her own clothing and felt the touch of her warm skin 
against his cool thighs. She climbed on top of him, and her lips brushed across 
his. She took his face in her hands, and barely a breath away from kissing him 
again, she whispered,
"I love you."
Lacroix moved his arms around her as their lips met again in an hungry dance, 
eager to devour the other completely, passionately, and he hoped, for all 
eternity.


He watched quietly as his wife made sure the children fastened their seatbelts 
and were comfortable before she slumped into the seat beside him and pulled her 
own belt around her waist. He glanced out the window at the mortals scurrying 
about the tarmac and let his mind wander.
With their agreement to uphold the Code, his wife's parents were now considered 
to be a part of the Community. This, in turn, made his wife happy, and therefore 
himself. The matter of his grandson's Assessment was another matter. Samuel had 
returned and had discussed briefly that he would speak to both his son and 
himself about the matter upon their return to Toronto, but as it stood, the 
Assessment would occur within the next two months. It was news he did not relish 
imparting to his son.
"Thank you." 
His wife's soft words pulled him from his reverie.
She leaned toward him as he turned from his view. 
"For what, mon coeur?"
"All this. Coming with me to my parent's home, for being so patient and 
understanding, not only with them, but with me, too. I know I haven't been the 
ideal wife lately," she admitted, glancing into her hands.
Lacroix leant over and engulfed them in his own. He brushed a hand down her 
face, pulling her eyes up to meet his.
"You are anything but a demure, obedient woman, Jordan. But I believe that is 
the quality I love most about you. But I tell you now that when the time comes, 
there will be times when you must obey me without argument, for all of our 
sakes, not just my own pride," he whispered, his fingers continuing to caress 
her cheek.
Jordan smiled and dropped her eyes.
"I know I have been demanding lately. I guess I just feel like I can be in 
control if I want to be. But I will admit that most of the time, I am happy for 
you to take the reins, so to say. But when it comes to the big decisions, I just 
want the chance to not only have my say, but to know it is being heard, as 
well," she said quietly.
Lacroix brought her forward to kiss her forehead.
"Always," he whispered.
Jordan grasped his face in her hands and leaned forward to tenderly kiss his 
lips.
"Hmmm. I think I like it when you get all patriarchal and manly," Jordan 
murmured in his ear as he nibbled on her neck.
"I did get that impression when you volunteered me to help your father re-fence 
the corral...while you sat on the porch and watched."
"You did look very roguish in Dad's shirt and cowboy boots, lugging all that 
wood around..."
"Well...if the reception I received after my hard night's work was anything to 
go by, then perhaps it would be in my own best interests to purchase a pair of 
boots the moment we arrive home? After all, I will be teaching Nicholas to 
ride..." he breathed.
The pair sensuously roved hands over the other as the plane began to taxi onto 
the runway.
"And when you have finished with him...you can come and teach me...to ride," 
Jordan whispered, a leer, full of immoral implication, sparkling in her eyes.
The thought was enough for Lacroix to pull his wife into his arms and savage her 
as the engines roared and the plane took to the air.


End.

My many, many thanks to each and every one of my betas, who helped to mould this 
story, and who continue to inspire and teach me to write.
I love you guys.

Kylie.

End part 6