Title:Denial No More

Writen by:Areanna Whitewolf

Disclaimer: These characters and songs do not belong to me. They belong to sony/tristar and or the respectable people who have written or sung them.

Chapter 1

Nick Knight sat in the cold emptiness of his loft, an unmarked green bottle of red liquid in his hand. His eyes were hollow, distant. He took a sip from the bottle and made a face. Too little too late, he thought. It did not bring comfort anymore, the sour drink in his hand. He raised the bottle and with a growl, smashed it against the kitchen table, shattering it. He collapsed on the chair in hopelessness. Why did he even bother. The hunger screamed in him, the beast seeking more then thin cow's blood. 'Control', he thought, 'thats all I ever do. Great damned existence, just great'.
He heard the lift to the loft churn, and listened, hearing a familiar heartbeat. Natalie was coming. He made no move to clean up the glass or the puddle of blood, now dripping into his lap. He sat in the darkness, his fangs discended, but his eyes blue. If she got mad, so what. At least he hadn't drank it. He couldn't stomach it. He had gained the sunlight and church, but the vampire would not bow to the man. The man fought with the vampire always. He didn't know how to quiet the beast within, growling to surface. All he had gained, and he could not be human. 'Damn it all to hell', he thought. Maybe his sire was right, there was no point to continue searching for mortality when it seemed impossible.
Natalie opened the lift door, greeted with darkness. She knew Nick was home, she had seen his caddy down in the garage. She reached for the wall switch and the room filled with dim light. She saw Nick and the smashed bottle of blood dripping on his lap, soaking his jeans. Her eyes raised in questioning anger.
"Nick, whats the matter with you? What are you doing, taking a bath in the stuff? And whats with the dark? I have seen you stand the sun for three hours, a dim light can't hurt"
"I am a creature of the darkness, Nat. It is my home. And as for the blood, at least I didn't drink it. This is a bad night, Nat, a very bad night. Please don't take this wrong, but I really think you should go."
"No Nick, I'll stay if I want, damn it. I hate when you do this. You and your damn depression. Is that all you do with your existence, sit and wallow in self pity?"
He just gave her a sad, silent expression and laid his head apon his hand.
Her eyes echoed anger. How pathetic he was, just sitting there, all depressed for no reason. The way his eyes had met hers with that icy half closed look of deep depression made her angrier. He had wanted to be self destructive sometimes, but this was ridicules. Oh, but how she was going to show him. She was tired of this. She walked toward the lift door and turn her head to the side, speaking to him once more.
"You know Nick, I have had enough of your sad, guilty boy act. It's pathetic, it really is. When are you going to learn to step outside the box of your past and let it go?"
"Nat, My past is a reminder of how dangerous I can be. I mean, Look at what I did to you a year ago. You could have died. The vampire in me is too stro..."
"Enough already, Nick. I am tired of hearing the same sorry ass excuses from you. I am done with messing around and flying through hoops to get you to except the life you have. You still haven't learned to see the bigger picture. Well, I don't know about you, but I am not going to just sit in the dark with you. That isn't a relationship, it's a joke. You say you love me, well I am starting to really doubt it. I can't take it anymore. If you don't want to fix your broken life, then I will. Forget the cure, this is worst. For this I am going straight to the top. And believe me when I say you won't like it. Good-bye, Nick. Enjoy the darkness. While you still sit in it, that is."
"Nat, what are you talking about? Who are you going to see? Wait Nat, please."
She looked at him once more, not bothering to answer. She turned off the light, giving him one last angry look. She cursed and walked into the lift, slamming the door down hard in rage.
Starting up her car, she nodded her head in decision and took off towards the Raven. Lacroix or Janette would fix this, hopefully without killing her. Now she had grown desperate. She had to do something, or she would kill him herself soon.
She arrived at the Raven a little while later, and sat frowning in the car for a moment. This was it, if she found nothing here, she would just have to give up. A tear escaped her eyes, and she wiped it away angrily. Damn it, Lambert, pull yourself together. These were not people who understood tears. She opened the car door, putting on a face of calm confidence and made her way inside. She walked through a dancing mass of people, finally making it to the bar. She wasn't surprised to see both Janette and Lacroix here tonight. Their heads were huddled together in conversation. She sat down in front of them, cleared her throat, and looked at them. They turned their eyes to her, slight smiles seeming to play on their faces. She knew this was a big chance and a terrible risk. It was all or nothing now.
" I come in peace, I swear. No more anger, no more petty games. Though we never really got along, one thing concerns us mutually." She paused and thought for a moment, then half smiled " Nicholas is just not himself. He has reached a state of stillness and emptiness neither he nor I can seem to break. He just sits there day after day, night after night. He quit work after that whole thing with Tracy Vetter, his second partner. Another death to blame himself for. Then that whole thing with almost draining me that night. He still doesn't trust himself to come anywhere near me. Well, I can't take it anymore. I want him, I need him, and I know somewhere in his heart of ice is love for me. For both of you too. I can't explain it, but I do know it's there. Do whatever you need to do. Just fix it, please. I am asking for your help."
They looked at her, and frowns crept over their faces. It must be very serious, Janette thought, for her to come here. It was dangerous for her, the only mortal surrounded by vampires. Even Lacroix understood, and he motioned to her to come to the back room. It was a place she knew was kept for only the very special members of the Raven. She walked around the back of the bar, reaching the back room and stepped inside. Janette closed the door behind her, and locked it. Although she was worried about exactly what they might to do to her, she knew better then to show fear. Lacroix sat on one end of the couch and Janette sat on the other. He offered her a seat in the middle with a gesture. She froze. It was dangerous, coming back here. She raised her chin in defiance, desperate not to show fear.
"I may be asking for help, but I'm not stupid. I would rather keep my distance."
Janette's eyes softened. Understanding Nat's caution, she spoke.
"Miss Lambert...Natalie, please sit. We will keep the peace, as you say. We do owe you a debt after all. First with the cure you gave our kind for that nasty fever. And second for saving my life when I was human. I would have died if you hadn't helped me. The white flag is risen today. You are safe and completely welcome. Especailly since your concern mirrors our own. We will not harm you.We won't "bite", we promise."
She smiled wearily at Janette's words and sat between them. She turned quiet eyes from one to the other, and then leaned back, resting her head on the back of the couch with a sigh. Lacroix saw her bare her neck and smiled devilishly at Janette. Not only was she trusting, she was so tempting. But as Janette shook her head, he turned away. If she wanted to keep a white flag, for Nicholas' sake, he would keep the peace too. He looked at Nat calmly again and spoke.
"Well, Doctor, you were right to come to us. This time, it is different. Nicholas isn't just bored with life, or depressed, he is starving to death, quite literally. Though our link has steadily weakened over the course of 200 years, it is still a bond. I have warned him many a time. But my son has always been so hard headed."
Nat nodded to Lacroix.
"I can see now why that pissed you off. I mean atoning is one thing. Living with unending guilt is another. All you have really asked him to do is drink donated human blood. I am beginning to think your idea is right. I am angry with him now. I don't care what I have to do. I'll do anything to help him, even if that means giving up the search for mortality. It's caused nothing but trouble anyway."
Janette's smile widened at Natalie. Oui, Natalie, you have no idea how pointless that quest really is, she thought. Janette looked at Lacroix with a raised brow. Lacroix looked back at her knowingly and turned back to Natalie to speak
"You say are willing to help him. Well aware, of course, what that might entail on your part, Miss Lambert?"
She nodded and spoke.
"Call me Natalie, Lacroix."
"Natalie it is, then. I suppose it is best we tell you what we will have to do to wake my son out of guilt and depression and keep him there. He needs all of us. However for what we need to do, it requires us to, shall we say, 'bare all'. Do you understand?."
Her cheeks colored a blush red and she looked at both of them again. Naked, they all had to be naked? She looked at him and slowly she understood fully. No not just naked, she would have to.....she blinked and swallowed hard. Well, she wanted Nick, and it would have happened sooner or later. But, although not exactly what you call a caste girl, getting naked in front not one but three people would be a little hard. Janette looked at her discomfort and smiled. Ah mortals, she thought, how sweetly modest. Nat slowly nodded to Lacroix and waited to see if he had any other surprises to speak of.
"You see, my son needs to have no way out. His desire and his weaker sense of control will be his undoing. But there are things that you will see that you have never seen before. The mortal idea of what is proper and what is not, you will have to leave that behind you. This is no time for disgust or modesty or pure thoughts. This is the only way I know that will really wake my sleeping son, inside that hollow shell."
She looked at him and a question began to rise in her head. She understood what she and Janette would be doing with Nick. But Lacroix being naked, that confused her a little. She had the idea somewhere in her mind....Lacroix and Nick..... and she blushed slightly again. She decided to voice the question, she had to know for sure. No point in hiding now, she thought.

" Mr. Lacroix..."
" Lucien, please. Last names are a formality, and I doubt that this calls for it"
" Lucien, I understand that we will be tempting Nick with sex. I understand my place and Janette's. But you, why do you need to be naked? There is nothing you can do with him, except give him blood. And that hardly requires you to be naked."
Lacroix listened to her, letting a grin grace his rather icy expression as he heard her question. Well, he thought, wasn't she brave to ask such things.
"Well, that is an interesting question. This is what I was speaking of. You are not totally clueless, but there are things that you turn a blind eye to. Mortals are taught to think in disgust when one male and another 'take care of each other'. But in the vampire world, there are no limits. Male or female, its all the same. You see there are quite a few things my son will never speak of with you. He is more caste in speech then any mortal I have ever known. In the past we have gathered, Janette, Nicholas, and myself to well, "make love" you mortals call it, but Nick has always been ashamed of his desires for me. He does, however, enjoy me being there, doing what only I can do. But he was catholic once, and believes it is wrong. However, once my son's desire is raised, there will be very little we can do to hold him back, any of us. Remember though, without your full support in the matter, we will never persuade him. You must show him that you accept him fully. You can not be the one to hold limits, for that is all he will need to get away. You have to give all. You are the last thing that will undo my son. You will probably require to be brought across, but you said you were willing to take that chance."
She nodded and spoke.
"Well if we are going to get there before sunrise, we better hurry. It's already 5:00 am, the sun will be up in an hour. Are we going to take my car, or will you two be...." She pointed up. Lacroix raised a brow and spoke.
"We will go with you. I need to bring some of my special stock with me, and flying with it will hardly be easy. Dropping such special bottles is not exceptable. Our tastes are expensive, so any waste is pointless."
She walked to the back door, smiling all the way. She didn't think of what she would see or what she would do. She just knew that it was the only way to do this, and she wouldn't see Nick suffer anymore. She got in the car, turned the key and released the trunk. She heard the rattle of bottles, a thump, then the trunk being closed. She reached to open the other side. Janette got in first, sitting in the back, and Lacriox in the front seat. She smiled at him half heartily and turned on the radio. As they started to drive, a song came on. Lacroix rubbed his temples, hearing the romantic melody start to torment his brain. But when he began to listen to words, he understood why Natalie smiled wistfully at it. He listened to the words closely. Even Janette sat forward. On the radio was Leann Rimes' "How do I breath"
A tear then two made their way down Nat's face. She began to sing to the words of the song in a low voice. Janette's hand reached out to grasped Lacroix's in it. She nodded towards Natalie, who was too wrapped in the song to even notice she was the focus of some secret conversation. Lacroix nodded back. It was true, she did indeed love his son, and the look on her face as she sang the song proved it. As the song played to it's end, Nat pulled to the side of road, sputtering and tearing too much to drive. She covered her face in shame. They shouldn't see this side of her, when she was so vulnerable and weak. As she cried, a gentle hand reached out to rest on her shoulder. She raised her face to see Janette looking at her in understanding. Even Lacroix's expression had softened. Janette spoke out.
"Natalie, I know it is difficult, mon cheri, to be in love with one of our kind. Especially with Nichola', with a guilt the world over. I loved him once a long time ago, long before he turned towards wanting mortality. You don't understand what that search has cost all of us, including yourself. He is dying because he can't except that blood is needed, to live, to survive. As he destroys himself, he is dragging us to suffer with him. "
Janette patted her, and Natalie spoke in a broken voice.
"I just wanted to help him. When I met eyes with him the first time, he touched my soul with something special. My heart grew to love him....I just wanted to give him something that he wanted so much. I shouldn't have forced him to not drink blood, and be more human. I did this. I heard about that thing between Lacroix and his sister, Fleur I think, and I grew to hate Lucien Lacroix. It burnt me so much to know that a damn debt is all that stood between Nick and I. Now I see that I was nothing but a blind fool. I should have challenged Nick. I should have put my foot down, instead of being all docile and foolish. This is all my fault."
" No no, you didn't do anything wrong. Oui, you helped him to be in control, because you loved him. You wanted him to have what he craved most. You just did as he asked. No one could blame you for that. This is Nichola's fault and even he knows that. That is what we are doing tonight. We will make him see that he is being stupid and self sacrificial for no reason. Now we better get there, the daylight is coming. Our kind can feel it long before it peaks over the horizon. We have not gained Nichola's resistance. Hurry , or this will never work. "
Natalie put the car in drive and headed to the loft. Janette patted Nat's cheeks to wipe away the tears, but not enough that Nichola wouldn't know. It was time he saw for himself just how much his careless and wreckless behavior had taken a toll on those he love

Chapter 2

They all arrived at the loft, and made their way to the lift. They waited patiently for the slow machine to grind to a halt. They stepped inside the loft to see Nick, standing with all the blinds and windows wide open. He stood there without a shirt, but still in the jeans stained with blood that he had been wearing before. His ribs stuck out with malnurishment. He was weak, red eyed, and thin. The starvation had taken it's toll now. He turned to them, giving a sad look, and leaned forward. Then he just fell out of the window without a word. But Lacroix was quicker then lighting, catching on to Nick's feet . He pulled him back inside and closed the window, throwing Nick against the floor. Nat closed the blinds up tight. Lacroix walked towards his son, ready to give him a lecture, but Natalie beat him to the punch, literally. She hit Nick in the chest as hard as she could with her fists, pushing him back.

"You selfish, stupid, inconsiderate basturd, how dare you ?! Do you care about anyone but yourself?! Look at you, so courageously throwing yourself out a window and into the sun so the world would live without your "evil" in it! You know you are too weak to step into light today, don't you?! Do you ever think about the people who love you and care for you? Do you think about anything except your damn guilt! Do you ever just stop to think?!"
He looked at her in anger and sadness and spoke.
"Love, what love. If you are talking about the two in back of you, you have to be sadly mistaken. Janette can't stand the sight of me anymore since I have wanted to become mortal, or I did. My quest has turned our love sour over many years. And Lacroix, he has only loved one other besides himself. He does not love me, he owns me. I am the slave and he is the master, or he was till I walked away. He just wants his due. Did he tell you about Fluer, my sister, how I stopped him from bringing her across. He swore that if ever I loved a mortal, I would have to pay in kind. I can't love you or he will kill you. He hates me worst of all. So why do you care if I die. I have been nothing but trouble for you, Nat. It is obvious in your reaction that I annoy you. Just let me die then.
She slapped him hard across the face, hearing him growl. Then she turned away, not seeing a tear roll down his cheek. Lacroix picked him up by the shoulders and shook him hard.
"Nicholas, you should weep, for you are indeed a basturd. How dare you bring Fleur into this? I am still angry, but to kill your love, or bring her across myself, would have truely lost you from me. Do you really believe I would be so stupid. I knew you lied to me that night at azure. You must not think too highly of me if you think I would fall for such a stupid prank. If you do not think I love you, then you do not understand the first thing about the sire and the childe, which any fledging automatically knows. Even if I wanted to hate you, I could not. Our bond is one of blood and soul. There was a time we were together, mon portage, but it is long forgotten. I do not care if you don't kill to survive. But to starve in an attempt to be noble, that is the most selfish thing I have heard from you. How can you decide if we want you or not. Well no more, my starving childe. You may have the light and your god, but you will not, can not turn away from me and the truth that is here tonight. You are my creation, my son, and I refuse to lose you. I did not lose you to a demon, I did not lose you to vampire hunters, and I did not lose you to your precious mortality. I will not lose you now to something so puny as Starvation. Come now my son. Where is the Nicholas I knew, so vibrant, so full of life you were once. Even when you fought me, at least you were living with spirit. Now you are nothing but and empty shell. Know this, mon fils. If I were not to love you, I would not have come at all. Know that before you go jumping to your death."
"You talk to me about being selfish, but listen to yourself. I belong to you, I am yours to own. Are you so old and twisted you can't realize those are not words of love, but of control , of possession. I am not a trinket Lacroix, and I belong to no one but myself."
"Fine my son, you need proof that I love you, that I want you as a father wants a child, then so be it. Consider this my gift of love."
Lacroix opened his shirt with one hand and brought Nick closer to him. He sliced through the skin over his heart with a sharpened claw, and grimaced in pain as he dug deeper into the wound with his fingers. Finally satisfied, he pulled his fingers out of the wound. The vampire in Nick roared to life, unable to be controlled so close to his sire's blood. Nick locked his mouth to Lacroix's chest, gulping down the fiery liquid. Lacroix wrapped his hand around Nick's head holding his son to him, as they both sank to their knees. Lacriox brought Nick's wrist to his mouth, turned his head, and bit into flesh. Blood flooded his mouth. The bond was complete. Nick's mind reeled from the feelings from Lacriox. So strong, so raw, so open. It was almost too much to bare. And deep down in his soul, a part of Nick's wall of stone cracked away, then another. The ice around his heart began to melt. This was too much. He moaned against Lacroix's cool flesh.
Nat looked on with shock written all over her face. She never expected to see this blood joining. She felt the power of incredibly strong emotions flow through the room. If Lacroix had been a light of love, he would have been blinding. The tremble in Nick's body told her he was getting much more then she was. She looked at Janette, who swayed like she was drunk, no doubt from the onslaught of emotions that ripped through all of them.
Then Janette grabbed Nat's wrist and bit into it, and then her own. She walked forward, dragging the doctor towards Nick. She bit into her other wrist on the way, and apon reaching Nick , bit into him remaining wrist. The she joined one wrist with Nick's and one with Natalie's before finally speaking.
"Now, push into you blood all the emotions you feel for him. Every desire, every love, every want, everything. Show him, Natalie, as we must, that he is loved. Show him how much you truely love him, both man and vampire. And be warned you're going to get a flood of emotions as well, but it is the only way to break away the first walls of ice that Nichola is hiding in. Sit and claim with blood the man you love and will love forever."
Natalie pushed as much heart felt emotion into her blood as she could, and was nearly knocked out by the force of the raging emotions she felt from all of them, but particularly from Nick. It was amazing, the force of his pain and his love.

"Nichola', here is your proof, mon amour. Feed, feed until you burst with it. See that we will not let you go away. You belong here with us, with the ones that love you so much it hurts inside. Even your cold sire has given you the gift he has never given anyone. No more pain, no more guilt. Feed Nichola', feed and be free."
Nick spun with all the emotions pouring into him. The wall of icy guilt and stony depression shattered. He drank until a calm reached into him, and Lacroix let go of his wrist. He broke away and laid back, his head falling hard to the floor. He felt strangely empty without them there. He just lied there, his eyes closed, and tried to build up the walls he so took comfort in. But it was no use, love held him in a warm, almost painful grip.
Janette made no move to break contact with Natalie's wrist. Too lost in her thoughts to get through the fog. The emotions were still so strong. But Lacroix's silent tap on her shoulder was enough. She broke her wrist from Nat, and Natalie fell backwards. Her minds reeled in pain, Nick's pain. And a guilt she cried out with. Finally the memories from the three vampires flooded her head and she screamed as the flash of mental pictures tore through her brain. It was far too much for her soft mortal mind.
Nick sat up instantly, leaning over Natalie and picked her up, cradling her against his chest. He put his other hand on top of her head. He knew she was suffering the memories that came with any blood sharing. She looked at him, and tears filled her eyes. He spoke to her softly.
"Calm yourself, Nat. Take comfort in me. Let the memories bleed away. "
Nat looked away from him, trying hard to focus. The memories let go, but Nick's guilt, pain and torture were unending. She looked at him again in a silent plea, and Nick turned his head to his sire.
"Help me, help her. Over 2000 years of memories are causing her pain. This will drive her crazy, it will destroy her. Please, help her Father."
"I would help her, my son, but I can not. It isn't the memories she is suffering from right now. It your pain, your self torment, and your precious guilt. It must run it's course inside her. Love, Nicholas, rarely comes without a price. She knew that before coming here. You have paid yours by torturing yourself, she is paying hers. "
Nick held her to him and tears filled his eyes. But he did not cry.
"I am sorry, Nat, so sorry"
Natalie raised her crying eyes to Nick's and banged a fist against his chest. The pain was receeding but the knowledge of it she knew would only go away when Nick stopped feeling it.

"Sorry? Nick, you should have told me. God why do you do this to yourself. I know how, but I can't understand why. If I knew this was your price for the quest of mortality, I would have never agreed to it. You could have said something"
"And force you to live in my hell? I would never...."
Her eyes glared in pain, anger and sadness. This was enough now. She would make him see.

"Didn't you trust me enough to handle it. God, Nick, I love you, damn it. All of you. Stop carrying that damn scepter of self-torment. " She thought for a moment and looked at him deeply 'Take comfort in me'"
"Even if that comfort may cost you your very soul."
She sighed in frustration, trying to make it clear to him. Then the song from the car came flooding back to her, and she ripped through her purse. It was one of her favorites. She found the CD and walked over to Nick's CD player. She put the CD in the deck and pushed the arrow keys to the number song she wanted. Then she pushed play.
As Nick's loft filled with music, he listened to the words. His eyes bled tears as he listened. Did she care for him so much? Did she love him so deeply? He looked at Janette and Lacroix and a truth came flooding back. They all loved him, each in their own way, but the love was true. Janette walked up to him and spoke, laying a hand on his shoulder as he locked eyes with the swaying, singing figure of Nat in front of him.
"Do you see now, Nichola', why we can not leave you alone. Why we force you to accept something you so obviously hate. Look at her, even as she sways the pain torments her. Look alone her and see what we have seen from you everyday for many centuries. Do you even wonder now why we get so angry and turn our face away from yours. She is suffering right now because she must. You suffer this every day by choice. We had to be hard as ice around you, or your guilt and pain would have ripped us in two. Lacroix is your maker, your father, your sire. No bond is deeper then the one you share with him. You felt everything from each other once. Can you see why he blocked you away. You only have to see this once Nichola'. He has seen it everytime you do it, everytime you let guilt take you. Love for life is one thing, but endless self torment. That is hard for any father to see in his child, even if his child is the one to blame. Give up your pain, stop your foolish guilt and for once see the gifts you were about to throw away this morning and every morning you starve and get self destructive. Open your eyes Mon amour, open them and see the world as it is, not what you would make it. "
Nick finally understood now, looking into Natalie's eyes as the song stopped and she stared back at him. It was crushing this blow. He flew up the stairs in escape. But Natalie and Janette followed him, Janette running up the stair at vampiric speed, but waiting at the top for Natalie. They captured Nick in their grasp, and each smiled at the other. Now the fun part came. Let the lustful fires and wild desire burn all day along. Let the seduction begin.

Chapter 3(Adult in Nature)

As soon as they touched him, he felt the desire go through him. Lacroix leaned against the door . As soon as Nat reached out to kiss him, the vampire almost came to life . Nick held it in barely. Being renewed with Lacroix's blood was making the beast too strong. He pulled away from her.
" Nat you can't ...I can't ....I'll hurt you."
"Nicholas, my son, I don't think you get to choose this time. You will have her, bring her across and love her forever as you must. Do not turn away, because tonight there is no where to run, no where to go. Stop your foolish morals from swallowing you , because you will most likely die from them."
" I won't take her. I can't. Her innocence may not matter to you, but it does to me. I am not you, Lacroix, I can not destroy her light and humanity so easily. I can not ignore human life....I just...."
Lacroix pounded the wall with his fist putting a hole through it. He walked up to Nick and growled low and menacing in his throat. He had had enough. He would make his son see. He shook Nick hard, then held him but an inch from his face.
" That's enough. By the stars, do you ever realize how stupid you are, how very foolish. To think such a thing as mortality and immortality could be switched and switched back so easy. Blissful isn't it, to think that in one moment you can be purified of your so called sins and die whole. But such things have never existed in our world, and they won't. We are vampires. We, me and you,Nicholas. We chose this fate. Our souls wanted this when we were made. We had the chance to turn away and die "pure" like the rest of the human race, but we did not. No matter how terrible the choice was for you, to die or live forever, you chose to be as you are. That is why, no matter how much you fight against your nature or search for a cure, a way back to humanity, you shall remain thus. After 800 years of life, you have learned nothing. Why do you deny, why do you search for that which can not and won't be found. "
Lacroix's eyes glared with anger and pain at his son. Why did his creation have to be so stupid. Nick tried to look away, but Laciox grabbed a hold of his face. He would make his son understand. Make him see. <br>"I've saved you and saved you, getting in just by a moment, before you were beyond help, and you've done it over and over again. Well no more. I can not watch you suffer yourself any longer. For to see you in pain hurts me more then you can know. What has this denial done for you, my son? What has it helped? NOTHING!!"
You are so worried about mortal life, how preacious it is, how good it would be. Human are no better off then we. Most of the time they destroy each other. We feed from them, and in these times, most live. They donate it, give it freely to us. So a few of the weak die. So what. They will all die, eventually. What is good and evil and how is it decided. Are humans really better then us? Think for a moment. Has our kind ever killed for greed or money? Have we ever fought to make our beliefs of religion someone else's . How often do we fight amounst ourselves to proove who is the better. We are better, Mon prote'ge, superior as a race, then the mortals. Not because of our abilities or powers. Because we need none of the things that they battle so hard amoungst themselves for. We kill because of a need to survive. It is how we are made. We are a noble race, my son. We feel love, we feel passion, like mortals do, but only we have the ability to understand what a gift such emotions truely are. Nicholas, humans are so frial, their reasoning so muddled, that they never stop to even enjoy the life you are so ready to give up your exsistence for."
"You fight yourself so much, you suffer, because you spend too much time thinking about damnation to your soul. Foolish boy, think. You will never die, never, so what damnation, if it even exsist, will come to you , if you will never have the unfortunate chance of getting there. You fight your own morals,Nicholas, your own ideals. Why? Stop this please. Stop suffering yourself and enjoy your immortality. Live and let this stupid guilt come to a rest. Fight yourself no more. Do not mourn that which you can not have, for you are just mourning the death that comes from mortal life. That is all. Morality does not stand in the face of survival. You chose this life, and you can not repent or unchose it, because you have done nothing wrong.
Nicholas, you are a Vampyr. You have been and always will be. Live as you are, mon prote'ge, live as you are."
Nick stared at his father. It was true what he said. Then Nick shook his head.
" No Lacroix, I won't do that to her. I will except that I must live this way, but I will not bring her into the darkness with me. How can I live with the knowledge that I might hurt her, or kill her agian. Janette decided to chime in, realizing that entirely too little of the conversation involved her.
"How can you live without her, Nichola. You will have to one day, live without her. She will crumble and die and there is nothing to be done unless you do it now. Already I feel the weak connection forming. My blood might just make her half vampire, then the enforcers will surely kill her. She knows too much now anyway. Have you ever thought of asking her what she wants instead of what you want. Ask her what she wants for once, Nichola, and stop being so self-indulgent."
He looked at Natalie's eyes, taking her upper arms in his hands. With his eyes he pleaded with her, trying to make her not want it, for he was too frigthened to dare bite her now. Full or no, the beast would have free reign, and he was not sure he would have control. He didn't trust himself, not after the last time. But she looked back at him with determination and stubborness.
"Nick, I love you, nothing will change that. I don't care what it takes, I just want you here with me. If that means becoming a vampire, then I will. The only down side to that it seems is drinking blood, and that is not so bad. Most blood these days come from donation. The hospital throws out more blood a day then you swallow in a year. So feeding won't be so hard. And look at you. You are gaining more time in the sun now then you ever were. I noticed that as we increased the dosage of human blood you take in, the time increases rather then decreases. The better you are the more humanity you gain. Being human and living with humanity are two different things. You can never be human Nick. After so many years, I have learned to accept that, and after 800 years, you should too. What has happened in the past, the deaths you caused, you paid your penance, and it's time to move on. 800 years of unending guilt is killing you and dragging us down to suffer with you. How do you expect to live forever the way you are going about it. I want you, I need you, and there is nothing you can do to stop that. Would you rather have me for a little while and hold me at arms length, or risk my death to give us an eternity to love and live together as a couple, and as a family. Please Nick don't you see. Love me. Love is the only way to find the peace you crave."
Nick looked into her eyes and saw that she meant her words. He struggled, trying to see through his morals for a moment. Nat stuck her finger in his mouth before he had a chance to stop her, and she cut her finger against his razor sharp kanine. Though it was not desended, it cut through her skin, drawing blood to the surface. She laid it on his toungue. He went to pull it away, but instead pulled her finger further into his mouth, sucking on it so hard her finger almost hurt. He let her go as the wound began to heal. He knew now, blood never lied. He would risk anything to be with her. Slowly he nodded.
"I will risk everything that I have if it means I may have you for eternity." He looked to Lacroix and Janette "You two must be my torch light, my control, so that I do not take too much. If she dies, I die too, weather you like it or not."
They nodded back, complying. They looked at each other with a smile. Soon they would be a family again and have a new fledging in the proccess. This was turning out to be a splendid night indeed, far easier then Lacroix had antisapated. He left the room for the time being, letting the girls have their fun with Nicholas. His would come later, alone. He would not have his son any other way. He took the guess room, neatly put together, and closed the door behind him, preparing himself for the hum of desire he was about to get through the blood link with his children. It was torture, but, ah, what a sweet torture indeed.
Nick saw Janette lock the door when Lacroix left and then circle around him. She was like a caged tiger, and a growl rumbled in her throat much too low for Nat to hear. He saw Natalie do the same, circle around him, the grace of lioness in her body. Her heart beating with courage and trust in her eyes. He knew that would be the only thing that would keep him from killing her when the time came for him to do what he had to do. They started undressing him, and hands touched every area of his flesh, all save one. They would let him suffer as they suffered time and again for all the times they had wanted to have him and he denied them. Janette knew she was there for tempting and waking him up, but she wanted to tease him. Natalie on the other hand surprised her. Nat was the focus of his desire, yet she teased him most of all. He groaned as their hands walked all over his body. It was so intense it burned him. Janette kissed his throat, nipping the vein ever so lightly, but the beast in Nick stayed tight under his control. Natalie claimed his mouth, and rubbed her toungue against his canines, so wanting to show him that she wasn't afraid of him, man or vampire. His jaw screamed at him silently in pain at the gentle touch of her toungue against his Canines. It was getting harder, but at this early stage he was able to keep his fangs from coming in. Gold flecks hid beneath the surface of his eyes, showing that the beast would not be held forever. Such control, such control he had. He felt Natalies finger touch his abdomen, just above his turgid member, and she drew it in a circle, across his thighs, and back where she had started. He willed himself to stand still, and hold his silence. He would wait until the last possible moment before letting the beast within him claim his body. He reached out to touch Natalie, who was now in her red lace bra and panties. Such rich red, he thought, the color of shining blood. But she danced away from him.
" No no, Ni....Nicholas" Nat smiled at the surprise on his face " You are going to have to wait your turn, we are still having fun. Just sit back, be teased, be pleasured and be still."
He heard her say his full name, something that she had never done before. It was the way she said it, sexual desire and a hungry love dripping his name from her lips. He stood there as if made of chilseled granite. He face was a mask of strain as they covered his chest with small kisses, each taking her turn. Janette stopped in back of him, looking over his shoulder at Natalie, and gave a suggestive nod downward. Nat nodded in agreement. She loved this, pleasuring him, driving him half mad with lust. It was the way she had felt in the last 6 years. She kneeled before him, and without a moments notice, took his stiff manhood into her mouth, willing her throat to take him in fully. With that Janette played with the vein in his neck, nipping slighty, and then sucking, without drawing blood. His eyes bolted open, skipping the golden shine he would normal get first, and going to deep blood red. His fangs dropped without a thought. But his lips remained tightly shut, as he tried to gain control of the feirce wave of fiery wanting swept through him. He would let them have their fun, but for how long he wasn't certain. It would be difficult to keep this up much longer, but he would try his hardest. Natalie quicked the pace and sucked harder, and tears of blood came from Nick's eyes, but he stood unmoving. His whole body vibrated with pleasure, and he grabbed Natalie's head back with a growl, and moved out of Janettes reach, smiling to them, still tight lipped. They looked at him, eyes heavy lidded with lust, and began to walk to him. He spoke two words that told them everything.
" My turn"
He accended apon Janette first, kissing her so feircely he bit her lip, drawing blood. He turned to Natalie and his kiss was slightly less harsh, but drew blood from her toungue. It was more then he could handle. He pulled away and pointed to the bed, a growl in his voice. They went to it, taking him with them. It was too much. He wanted them everywhere, and yet some part of him knew he was not in control, they were. He sat there breathing for a couple of minutes, and when he looked up again, his eyes were blue. He had gained momentary control of the beast again, but for how long. He ripped Nat's lace bra and panties from her in one mighty tear and concentrated on her breast, suckling them hungerily. She gasped and moaned, stiring him onward. They laid him on the bed, and Nat shraddled him around his hips, teasing the tip of his engourged manhood with her labias. He bucked upward, ramming into her with one thrust, and began a steady rhythm. He saw Janette straddle his head, and he delved into her with his toungue, and a feline like roar escaped her lips. He focused on her to keep himself in control. Nat increased the speed, pumping into him, moaning loudly. It was getting harder, the beast was screaming inside him. Natalie saw this struggle inside, and saw Nick trying to focus on Janette to keep himself away from revealing his beast. It must be killing him. She withdrew from him and saw Janette bite his wrist, releasing herself. Janette screamed and colapsed on the bed sideways. She lay in silence for a while and then got up as if nothing happened. Natalie looked at her with confidence.
" Janette, can you go and get Lacroix for me. Nick refuses to break free from his morals as of yet. It is plain he needs more persuating."
" Oui , Natalie, I shall do just that. "
Natalie followed her to the door and leaned against the frame, looking at Nick. He laid sprawled out on the bed, rigid and shaking with feverish desire. She hadn't wanted to stop, it was so good, but without Nick being open and fully enjoying it, it seemed pointless. If he could not let go, then neither could she.
Lacroix appeared over her naked form. She looked at him and whispered as low as she possibly could.
" Take him, pleasure him, but don't let him release. Make him break free, Lacroix. You are the only one left to snap him. "
He raised an eyebrow at her, and with a slight nod and a smile, he spoke. " Oh well, then .I shall have to do my best, won't I"
She smiled and stepped aside. He walked in the room, in nothing but pants. He looked at Natalie when she didn't leave. He raised a brow, and decided to question her. " Dear, I thought you were going to let me alone with him"
" No Lacroix, I said you could take him, I never said I would leave. I want him to know I will not back down from him no matter what. I want him to know I am here. He has to learn to trust I am not afraid or disgusted, that I trust him with my very soul. And he has to learn to trust me with his. I am staying"
Lacroix nodded and went about getting naked. Natalie watched with wide eyes, this was new to her, she had never seen this before. Janette walked up in back of her and smelled her desire. It was so intense, it poured from every pore. She purred and reached out to drag her finger nails lightly down each of Nat's arms. Her hands made their way up again and brushed a breast, and Nat gasped. She stopped the hands that rested on her breast.
" Janette, I am not so sure about this...I have never been an ladies lady. I am not a lesbian."
" Oui, I know that, but you seek pleasure too. Just pretend I am Nichola' and close your eyes. I know what I am doing, and I won't hurt you."
Nat felt her hands move again, and closed her eyes. She felt a mouth on her neck, teasing her vien with feather light nips. Two fingers grasped each nipple, and she moaned. Her eyes shot open when Janette's fingers dipped between her legs, moving in and out. Something in her broke lose. She watched as Lacriox bent Nick over and shoved himself home inside Nick's ass. It was erotic in a way, watching Lacroix move ever so slowly in and out. Nick growled and roared as Lacroix reached around to grab his manhood, moving up and down. Janette moved her fingers and Natalie began to move faster, feeling the the tight building of desire inside her. Janette removed her fingers after a while and walked Nat over to the bed just as Lacroix found his release. He removed himself from Nick, his body laden with blood sweat. Nat picked Nick's head up, bringing him up on his knees. She crawled onto the bed. She looked at his blood red eyes with no fear and spoke.
" Nick, this is it. You have to finish as do I. We must complete each other. You have to do this, or you will never be at peace. I trust you with my life. Take me, and end your pain and mine. Forever Nick, we'll be in love forever.
With that she wrapped her legs around Nick's waist and felt him hoist her up, impaling her apon himself. It was so good to have him there again. They moved together, following the dance of joining . It was true bliss as they built together, never breaking eye contact. They pace quickened. They moaned in breathlessness. Finally Nat bared her neck , pulling her hair aside with one hand and holding his head with the other. He hesitated, afraid again. The last time he did this, it had nearly cost her her life. But Natalie would not have him doubt. She was stubborn, she had to be. She pulled his head down and felt his lips brush across the vien, and a growl rumbled in his chest. The beast had finally grabbed hold, and would not let go without getting what it desired. Nat heard the rumble and smiled.
" Now, Nick now. Take me, let me in. Forever, Nicholas de Brabant Knight. Make me yours forever."
Nick pulled his chin up and drew a sharpened claw against his throat over the vein, drawing blood, and reared his head up higher baring razor sharp fangs. He bit down into her tender flesh and blood flooded his mouth. Like the necter of a goddess she tasted. He brought her head down to his bloody shoulder and she opened her mouth to it without hesitation, his blood flooding her mouth in turn. It was sweet and slightly tangy. They drew from each other as climax hit them both at the same time. It was glorious, lighting shining behind their eyes. They stayed twined together, as Janette and Lacroix paused in getting dressed to look at them with smiles on their faces. Finally it was complete.
Nick withdrew and pulled Nat's head up. Her eyes were half closed. He withdrew his manhood from her and laid her back on the bed, joining her under the satin sheets. Janette and Lacroix moved towards the entrance of the loft, leaving the pair alone. Before he drifted off to sleep, Nick mumbles something so low, even Lacroix had difficulty hearing it.
" Now Natalie, I am complete. Forever Natalie Lambert Knight. You are with me forever. And now I belong to you"
And he drifted off into a peaceful sleep, wiating for the next night to come.

Chapter 4

Nat woke the next day, just barely past dusk. She stretched out and yawned. Nick lay in a dead sleep beside her. It must be too early for him to rise up, she thought. Last night came whirling back to her, but everything was foggy. What had happened? Flashes came to her in bits and pieces, but too fast and unclear to tell what had gone on. She got up and wrapped a sheet around her. Seeing shreds of clothing around the room, she guessed in must have been one hell of a night. She went to the guest room to get dressed in a tee shirt, sweats and sneakers. She had always kept an extra set of clothing here, just incase something happened. Now she was glad she had. She walked down stairs and grabbed her pocket book and keys. She had to go back to her place for a short time. She had to get some clothes to stay at Nicks house with, she thought absentmindedly. She wrote a quick note to Nick and walked out the door, almost humming to herself. It was a good thing she was on vacation for a week, her body sort of ached. Maybe it was last night, she thought to herself with a smile. She made it to the underground garage, and got into her car. She started up the car, and suddenly a pain hit her in the pit of her stomach, a spasm so violent, tears filled her eyes. Suddenly last nights events became very painfully clear. Nick's blood in her mouth....Nick had turned her. She thought about what to do. Should she wake Nick....no that would not be smart, trying to wake a vampire. He might be a bad morning person and accidently rip her arm off or something. She pondered through the pain for a moment. Then it came to her. The Raven, she would go to the Raven. Someone there could help her. She floored it out of the garage, nearly hitting Nick's caddy, and flew down the street, breaking several speeding laws on her way. But her insides hurt. She had to get there soon.
She arrived at the Raven at top speed, just under ten minutes. The pain beat at her so hard she almost plummeted straight into the building itself. She parked half up on the curve, almost left the car running, and slam the door so hard the driver's side window broke. She went to the door, pounding on it. No one answered. It was barely past dusk, probably too early for any ordinary vampire to be up and about. She went around back, pounding on the door there, but again no one answered. Finally the pain got the best of her. She huddled in the alley behind the Raven, rolling up into a shivering ball on the ground. The pain ripped at her as she lay there. It hurt too much. She sat there whimpering, praying maybe someone would come soon to save her. Her mind traveled to her cell phone, and she barely pulled it out. She pressed a button and the speed dial popped on, dailing Nick's number. He picked up on the other end and said "Knight" but when no one answered him, he hung up. Nat pulled her knees to her head. She was so hungry.
There was a whoosh behind her, and she felt a familar presence. It was like a feeling she got when she was near her family, but stronger. Finally a female voice peirced the cloud of agony inside her head. It was Janette. Thank god, she thought silently.
" Listen, I do not like when dirty people sleep outside my club. Now, I understand you hit hard times, and this looks like a good place to sleep, but I would ask you to please remove..." Her words stopped mid sentence. She felt it, the tingle, the bond, and suddenly pain spread through her limbs. She went to Nat's shaking form and gasped.
" Docter Lambert, what are you doing here? Why didn't you stay with Nichola'. Don't you know it is bad for a fledgling to run from the master on the first night."
Nat barely whispered out her words.
" I forgot...the turning....didn't realize...Nick sleeping...couldn't wake...came here....help"
Janette picked her up and flew with all her vampire speed back to Nick's loft, coming in through the skylight. Nick stopped just as he was about to step onto the lift. He had felt Natalie's pain, and was going to go to her apartment to find her. He saw Nat draped in Janette's arms, and took her to him. He rested her head in the hollow of his neck, soothing her, but that was all the insentive she needed. She didn't think, just bit down, feeling blood fill her mouth. It was sweet pleasure as warmth spread through her veins...it was so good. Nick roared, the vampire coming to life, and then he stood there, pleasure hitting him. It felt so good, Nat's happiness and love rushing over him. She took his blood in powerful gulps...but he didn't stop her. Weaker and weaker he grew, but it felt too good to push her away. He was draining fast, but a smile lit his face.
Janette felt her brother getting weaker and stopped Nat, yanking her away by the scruff of her neck. Nat growled at her, and Janette growled back. Nat calmed herself. She relented to Janette with a bow of her head. Janette was a 1000 year old vampire, it was dumb to challenge her. Nick just collapsed in a dead faint. He didn't move.....but a weak tingle from him told Janette that he was alive, barely.
Another woosh entered the loft. It was Lacroix. He had senced the turmiol all the way across town. He looked at Nat, feeling her strength and then looked to his son, and felt almost none. It was clear what happened. He bent down to pick up Nick, and laid him, back down, on the couch, whispering in his ear.
"Oh my poor foolish boy, didn't anyone ever teach you never to offer your neck to a new born. Love or no, there are limits to what you should and should not do. Unless you want her to live without a master, it is quite up to you. Come now, my son, rise and drink, before you get feral."
Nick moaned and coughed. Somewhere he found the strength to open his eyes to Lacroix's ice blue ones. A minute past, in silence, then the whole loft shook with Nick's roar of hunger. He pushed Lacroix aside, stumbled to the fridge, and took out three bottles of human blood. He gulped them down one after the other, and then took a forth, drinking it more slowly. He felt the strength return to his limbs and smiled, closing his eyes for a moment. He felt a gentle hand touch his heart and he opened his eyes to Natalie. She looked sad, but he felt through their bond of blood, that she was without pain.
"I'm sorry Nick, I just forgot. Last night was so foggy in my head I didn't remember till the pain hit me. I should have stayed with you."
Nick saw Nat drop her head, like a 6 year old who broke her mother's vase, and smiled.

"I never sleep that soundly Nat. So you could have woken me. Never again. If ever you feel like that, do whatever it is you have to do to get in touch with either Lacroix , Janette or myself. You can even call out through our link. One of us will find our way to you. If ever you were around humans with that feeling, you could kill someone, and the you'd have the enforcers breathing down our necks. We wouldn't want that to happen, now would we. So if you ever have that pain, lock yourself away alone somewhere and call out . One of us will find you. The first few months are always tedious. Now how do you feel, are you still hungry?"
She blushed a little and nodded silently. Nick handed her the bottle he had taken for himself and smiled wider. It was funny to see someone so shy about taking blood. He had felt weird that first night, but not shy.
" Here then, feed. And don't look so embarrassed. You're hungry, you feed. If you don't....well you saw how I was before last night. "
She gulped the blood down in a few minutes and put the bottle on the living room table. She wiped her mouth on her arm and smiled. She felt so good. Like a giddy child. She looked at Nick innocently and wondered if they would teach her to fly soon. As though reading her thoughts, Nick chuckled and spoke.
" We have to take things slowly. You have things to learn Nat. Flying comes in kind of last. I mean you haven't even learned about your strength and speed yet. We will have to go away from here, for at least awhile. People are beginning to notice that I don't age. Maybe after teaching you the basics, we will move on. You'll have to quit your job at the coreners office right away. The dead are very strong to a vampire nose, and until you learn to handle it, you'll get sick every time you are around a corpse. Besides I never did like you in that job anyway. It seems depressing to me. Having to spend all night around the decaying. And as of now, the quest for mortality stops. I am what I am, I know that now. I am a vampire, and that is not the same as a killer"
He looked at Lacroix and thought a moment before speaking.
" Father, can you get in touch with Aristotle and arrange for some new lives to move on with. It's time."
Lacroix nodded and Nick looked at Janette. She looked sort of upset. The club, he thought. It was her baby. Janette had liked the Raven best of all.
" Janette, you can't own the Raven forever. You can open up one somewhere else. There is things we must do, you know that. I mean you can stay if you would like, but you'll have to move on soon anyway. I would like it if you would come with us. I haven't trained a fledgling yet. This is my first that seems to be going well. I am going to need both you and Lacroix on this. You two have more exprience then me in this area. Please say you'll come. "
Janette hesitated for a moment and then nodded. She didn't like to be away from Nichola' too much, she thought to herself. He was like a fungus, annoying sometimes, but he still grew on you.
Nat sat there silently for a few moments. Things seemed to be moving so fast. Move away, quit work. It was alot to take in. Lacroix saw her look of confusion and patted her on the shoulder.
" Nothing need be done right this moment, my fine doctor. We still have a whole night. Take your time, and relax a bit. Ease your mind. You are family now, my family and you will be well taken care of. I promise. "
" It's not fear, Lucious. It's just a little.....overwelming. I never thought about this when I came to my decision last night. There is alot that vampires have to sacrafice when having to move on. It's not that I regret my decision, but it just seems everything is happening a little faster then I had thought it would. "
He paused, hearing her call him by his first and true name. No one had called him that in a while. It was just a little strange. He assured her with a smile.
" It takes a little getting use to but after a few centuries, it's like an everyday task. We can not live for long in a place. After 20-30 years people begin to notice that we are not aging. They must not know of our exsistence. And for a fledging to continue with life as they had when they were mortal, it is not heard of often. You have alot to learn about yourself, and it must be done in solitude. It is too much for a fledging to live in such a crowded area. You must break into your new nature slowly. Nicholas had to be trained in the same way, though back then we were not nearly as careful with killing as we are today. It is dangerous for vampires this day in age. We will get noticed a little too quickly. It is the code we live by. You will have ample time to learn this, but the first month or so, it must be you and your master and no one else. It is very important. Do you understand. "
Nat thought on his words for a few minutes, taking them in, and nodded. She didn't want to turn out like poor Richard. Nick had to kill him becuase his vampire nature was too much to handle. She didn't want that to happen to her. She looked at Nick with a smile.
"Well I better hop to. I need to go to my apartment and get dressed properly. I have to pick up Sidney and bring him here, I have to drop by work and hand in my resignation to the coriners office. I have to get some boxes, pack my stuff up, put my furniture in storage, pack my clothes and....."
Nick stopped her.
"Woah, Nat, slow down. First of all you aren't going anywhere yet. My apartment is sound proof, but out there the world of noises and heartbeats will drive a fledgling crazy. I need you to stay here. When Lacroix gets the plans from Aristotle on where we are moving, I will arrange everything and have your entire appartment moved there. Granted, I can't take the building with it." He chuckled at that and so did she. " There are certain advantages to being a vampire, Nat. Especailly when you are one of Lacroix's lineage. Lacroix is the brains of this operation, but each of us has so much money and time at our disposal that we have everything done for us. You name it and Aristotle can find it for us. New Jobs suiting our knowledge, new house, new last names, birth certificates, id and drivers licence. Everything will be taken care of. As for clothes and your cat, either Janette or myself will get that done for you. But for a little while, because this is new on you, you can not go out by yourself. And for the first week, you will not be allowed to even go anywhere, with or without someone. The first week is always tedious, vampire needs and senses are so high. Do you understand me, you have to stay here, it's important."
She nodded , and frowned. It was like being in Jail for a week. She was going to go stir crazy. Janette whispered to her while Nick went to get ready upstairs
"Don't worry after the first few days, I'll take you to the roof for some fresh air when Nichola's out. He'll never notice. " Nick looked down at them. Crazy Janette, he thought, always trying to break the rules.
" You know I may be busy but I am not deaf. Just because I starved myself, doesn't mean I can't hear as well as you all can. Janette, if you do take her out on the roof, you had better watch her. I want to keep things as safe as possible. I don't want her or anyone else getting hurt."
Natalie dropped her head and pouted. She felt like a two year old, being watched like she might break everything in the house. The beast inside her took that disappointment and turned it into anger. What was she a criminal. Lacroix felt the anger from her and decided to quell it at once.
"Dear Docter, what Nicholas said is true. It is always this way in the beginning. Fledglings don't have control. You've seen it before. Look at what had to be done about your brother. If you go out there on your own now, and get hungry, you'll kill carelessly, and that would bring down..."
She cut him off.
"The enforcers, I know. Geez. You know a little faith in me can't hurt. I mean, I have kept the code up until now, had to coat over vampire killings for you guys before. I have protected you all this time. Now it's like I'm a criminal. I am not my brother. He didn't know anything about vampires, I do. Nick'll drive me nuts, keeping me penned up here for a week. How am I going to learn anything. You know, this was suppose to be an adventure for me. New powers, abilities. I want to stretch myself."
Now Janette chimed in. Nat thought this was some sort of fun game. No, Janette thought, that had to be stopped.
" This, what you are, is not a fantasy, or a fun ride. This is a legacy Nichola gave you, and with the legacy comes the rules. It is what seperates us from the true beasts out there. You have alot to learn about being a vampire. Tonight could have turned out far worst if I hadn't found you. What you know about vampires, their fears and their wants, is barely the surface of what lies beneath our skin. You want to know what the city sounds like to us? How the smells of the outside world affect us? You want to go outside? Then come with me. I shall show you why Nichola is keeping you in."
Janette grabbed her hand and flew upwards, floating gracfully out of the skylight. She held Nat firmly and waited. Suddenly Nat shivered. The noise was so loud. A thousand heart beats that sounded like multiple thunder storms. Cars that sounded like elephants. The light breeze that sounded like a hurricane. She covered her ears. It was like the whole world was screaming inside her head. Then the smells. Blood came first, making her hungry all over again. Then came the gasoline, the filth, the garbage, death, food. The smell of her world made her sick. She trembled and threw up, blood pouring out of her mouth. After she finished, Janette took her inside. The quiet returned. Nick's loft must be very sound proofed to close out the world. She trembled again and ran to the sink throwing up more blood. Then, as her stomach settle, she wiped pinkish tears from her cheek and looked at Janette.
"How in the world do you live with that at all. I would be trapped here forever, anything to avoid that smelly racket."
Nick smiled at her. Well that was one lesson learnt.
"Nat, we live in it because we have grown to deal with the world. As a new vampire, you can't possibly be expected to know and deal with everything. Thats why training is done away from here, in a remote and quiet spot. You have to learn to break yourself into things slowly, control your abilities, and your hunger. Even I , as old as I am, still walk through the streets and have to control what I hear and smell, or I would have your reaction. Now can you understand why you aren't aloud to go out."
She nodded quietly. Well, she had signed up for this. There was no going back now. But oh, would she have alot to learn. She felt a pang of hunger rumble again in her belly, but said nothing. Nick, Lacroix and Janette had their heads together, talking amongst themselves for a moment. She didn't want to disturb them. Her eyes fell to her wrist. Well, maybe this would make it go away too, it was blood after all. She rose her wrist to her mouth and bit down. It was good, warm. Then a hand reached out to grab hers away from her mouth. She growled, her eyes golden, and bit at the hand that had hers. A flash of power came through her. It was Lacroix. She held the finger in her mouth, but Lacroix pulled her head away by her hair and she released his finger.
" Never do that. I would feed from a old sick woman before feeding from myself. It won't make the hunger go away. And never, ever draw blood from your own kind without asking first. You do that, and a second later there will be a stake in your chest."
She growled again then closed her eyes, breathing deeply. When she opened them again, her eyes were back to normal. She looked at Lacroix and bit back her anger. The second lesson it seemed was the one of control.
" Yes, Lucien, I understand."
He released her hair and patted the top of her head, then pulled up a sleeve. Then, to her surprise, he offered a wrist to her. She looked at him with a look of wonder. This was new. She wondered if it was some kind of trick. But her hunger called out, and she could not resist. She bit down into the offered wrist and her mind filled with lighting and power. Where Nick's blood had been warmed honey, Lacroix's was like peircing fire. After a few moments she had to let go. It was too much. Hungry or not, she would wait before doing that again. She shook her head to clear the fog and then looked at Lacriox.
" Sorry, Lucien, but that was too much. Like fire in my veins. I will wait till I am more seasoned before thinking of ever asking for your blood again. It was like the blood was trying to take control of me. And I have to learn to have control of it. The beast craves power, but the mortal craves confort, and save for your tearing emotions last night, your blood has no comfort."
Lucien held his wrist and gave a slight nod. He had done this to teach her, and again, for the third time, the lesson had hit home. He turned and Janette came forth with two bottles in her hand. She gave one to Nat and kept one for herself. She put two glasses on the table. She filled them and handed one to Nat.
" Mon cherie...it is more civilized to sip from a glass then gulp from a bottle. That is the man's way to drink. Here use this. It looks better, and gives you more time to savor the taste of it. There is a little wyne mixed in with it. It gives the blood an interesting flavor. I enjoy it."
She looked around herself, and smiled, taking a sip from the glass Janette handed her. This was going to be an interesting eternity, she thought, so very interesting.