Final stretch, folks...
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As he walked up to the door to the bedroom his son had
occupied for the last several hours, LaCroix sent out
a delicate tendril of awareness to see if Nicholas was
awake.

“I’m awake, LaCroix. Come on in.”

Opening the door, he saw Nicholas in one of the two
easy chairs in the room, gazing out the window into
the darkness. Light from the dim bedside lamp turned
his golden hair a burnished gold, the waves brushing
against the back of his collar. He had changed his
clothing and was dressed in black jeans and a blue
silk shirt. LaCroix frowned at the casual attire.
Nick turned to look at him, a sad smile on his face.

“Natalie always liked this outfit on me. The least I
can do is make an effort to make her comfortable.” He
stood up and approached his master. “Is everything
ready?”

LaCroix nodded. “Yes, Gwyn feels confident that
Janette’s enhanced circle, joined with Vassili and
myself, will be enough to contain you and hopefully
redirect your energies. Are YOU ready for this?”

Nick sighed. “As ready as I can be. I can feel her in
the back of my head, and taste memories of her…part of
me wants nothing more than to hold her, and of course
the vampire wants to rip her throat out.” He laughed
bitterly and motioned for LaCroix to precede him out
the door.

LaCroix led the way back toward the club, and Nick
could feel his link with Janette thrumming with
emotions. As they walked down the hall he realized
that there were other resonances layered around
Janette, and he mulled the ramifications. Soon they
were entering the bar, and Nick stopped, looking
unerringly at Janette and her family; his family, he
realized with a start. Well, at least he wasn’t alone.

Janette rose gracefully from her chair and walked over
to him, enfolding him in a warm hug.

“Oh, mon cher. I cannot say it is not good to see you,
I just wish it could be under different circumstances.
You are well?” She looked into his deep blue eyes,
concern mirrored on her face.

Nick took her hand and brought it to his lips. “Hello,
Janette. I’m fine, and it IS good to see you,
regardless of the circumstances. You always bring me
joy.”

She laughed at his attentions, then laced her arm
through his to lead him to the table to meet Cecile
and Jillian. As they approached, Landon stood and
offered his hand to Nick, who took it and shook it.

“Landon, it’s good to see you. It’s been quite a
while.”

Landon smiled, then pulled Jillian to stand beside
him. “Nick, this is Jillian. She’s been with me for
about, oh sixty years now.”

The diminutive redhead smiled shyly at Nick. “Hello.
I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m glad to finally meet
you.”

Nick smiled back, and Jillian’s smile warmed. His
handsome face was opening and welcoming. He held out
his hand, took the one she offered, and brought it to
his lips. “Welcome to the family. A bit belated, but
heartfelt.”

Janette went to stand behind Cecile, who had been
watching the exchange between Nick and Jillian with a
keen interest. She understood what Janette had seen in
the handsome man so long ago. She stood of her own
volition as Janette chuckled.

“Nicholas, this is the latest addition to our little
family, Cecile. She has been with us just over a year.
Watch yourself with this one, Cheri. She is a little
vixen.”

Nick smiled, remembering his early years with Janette.
He extended his hand to Cecile. She took it and walked
over to him, placing a cool kiss on his cheek.

“Hello. Should I call you ‘Grandpa?’” she whispered in
his ear.

Nick burst out laughing and looked into her dark eyes.
“I think Nick is fine. I can see that you ARE a little
spitfire.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the
cheek then stepped back, gently letting her know that
he didn’t return her attentions. She smiled and went
back to her chair.

Nick greeted Gwyn and Vassili, both of whom he had met
once or twice over the centuries. Janette left the
table to go to the bar, returning with a glass of cow
blood for him. He smelled it and smiled at her in
thanks.

LaCroix cleared his throat. “Much as I hate to throw a
damper on this family reunion, I am going to go attend
to Natalie. Mr. Andropov indicated he would be
contacting her at midnight. Janette, I will call you
on your cell phone as soon as we hear from him. I
shall see you all shortly, I daresay. Let the games
begin, as they say.” He left the room, walked out a
back door into an alley and took to the air.

Natalie glanced at the clock, it was 11:45. “Where IS
LaCroix?”

Her question was answered with a knock on the door.
She ran to answer it and breathed a sigh of relief to
see the ancient standing at the door. She stood aside
for him to enter, and he silently entered the foyer.
Natalie could tell that all of his senses were on full
alert, and she took nervous comfort in that fact.

As they entered the living room Arthur stood up.
LaCroix motioned him to sit down, then did so himself.
Natalie was too tightly strung to sit, so she went
into the kitchen to grab herself a cup of coffee. When
she got back, LaCroix was telling Arthur the results
of the blood link augmentations. Arthur was fascinated
and still felt guilty about not joining in the link.
LaCroix felt his hesitation wavering.

“Arthur, it is not too late. We can exchange blood and
still bring you into the link. But we must do it
quickly.”

Arthur thought about it, briefly, then looked up at
the master vampire and nodded his head before he
changed his mind.

LaCroix stood up and went over to the young fledgling.
He unbuttoned his cuff and rolled it back, exposing
his wrist and offering it to Arthur, who frowned.

“I thought this needed to be done on the neck?”

“Sharing blood that way brings certain pleasurable
aspects, but the wrist is just as effective, probably
more so in this case.”

Arthur sighed and rolled up his own sleeve. He
tentatively took LaCroix’s wrist and let his fangs
extend. He bit into the master vampire and started
drinking. LaCroix reached for his exposed wrist and
brought it to his own lips to mirror the action.
Natalie watched, entranced. After just a few moments,
LaCroix pulled his lips away from Arthur, licked his
lips and gently pulled his arm out of Arthur’s grip.
Arthur made a grab for the retreating wrist; LaCroix
gently and easily swatted him away.

“Enough, youngster. How do you feel?”

His eyes returned to normal and his fangs retracted,
Arthur grinned. “That was actually quite amazing.
Thank you.” The look of concentration on his face
caused LaCroix to smile.

“Excellent, the link is strong. I think it will be
easier if you join me for the link, and if a shift in
the power balance is needed I can transfer my link
with you to Janette.”

The phone rang and Natalie started.

“Arthur, take my phone into the other room and dial
Janette, quickly, then come back so that she can hear
the speakerphone.” LaCroix handed his cell phone to
Arthur as the phone rang a second time. Arthur left
the room just as Natalie hit the speakerphone.

“Natalie Knight.”

“Ah, Dr. Knight, I hope you are having a pleasant
evening. Your daughter and I have had a fine day.” The
voice was the same voice that had been haunting her
dreams.

“Cut the crap. Where do you want us to meet you?”

“Oh, Dr. Knight I’m hurt. Is your charming benefactor
there?”

”Yes, I’m here.”

Arthur came silently back into the room and approached
the phone with the cell held out.

“Excellent. You know Dr. Knight, you’ve been very
busy. Lots of visitors. Luckily for you and little
Nicole none of them seem to be in law enforcement.
That was wise of you. Now, is Detective Knight with
you?”

LaCroix spoke up. “Detective Knight is in town in a
protected location. He will meet us when we have the
specifics. After our last meeting, let us just say
that we have lost faith in your word. I did NOT
receive the merchandise that I paid you for, and I am
SURE you have counted the money and found that it was
all there.”

There was a chuckle. “You truly are an excellent
businessman, Mr. LaCroix. Very well, since little
Nicole’s life is dependent on Detective Knight’s
presence I will assume that he is handy. Down to
specifics. At exactly one AM, I want the good Knights
to meet me at Washington Park in the Japanese garden.
The front gate will be open, and they should meet me
in the large meeting structure. I will have little
Nicole with me and we can have a family reunion.” The
line went dead.

Natalie hung up the speakerphone as LaCroix took the
cell phone from Arthur.

“Janette, do you know where this is?” He listened.
“Excellent. Oh, and let Vassili know that Arthur and I
exchanged blood and that he will be joining our link.”
He hung up the phone, put it in his pocket and turned
to Natalie.

“Well Natalie, are you ready, you know where this
structure is?”

She nodded her head, anger blazing in her eyes. “Let’s
get this scumbag. I want him DEAD, LaCroix.”

LaCroix chuckled. “I believe that is Janette’s intent,
my dear.”

Arthur looked startled. “Janette?”

LaCroix looked over at him, a droll smile on his face.
“Yes, Janette has claimed Mr. Andropov for herself,
for past…transgressions of his that she feels very
strongly about. I am inclined to indulge her. Now,
Arthur, you should fly to this rendezvous locale and
find a place to conceal yourself until we get there.
You will need to be close enough to the structure to
link, within several hundred feet. Vassili will join
with me first, then I will bring you into the link.”
Arthur nodded, then left by the glass patio door.

Natalie had put on her coat and grabbed her keys. She
and LaCroix left through the garage door and drove out
into the foggy night.

Janette pulled up in front of the rustic gate leading
into the garden. Nick could feel Natalie getting
closer, and his beast was stirring, but still under
control. Janette turned to him.

“Cheri, go up that path, then into the garden. The
meeting structure is toward the east side of the
garden. You won’t be able to fly but you should be
able to pick up heartbeats. I am going to go take the
car and park it, then join the others. Oh, and these
are for you.” She reached into her purse and brought
out a pair of dark sunglasses and handed them to Nick.

“Janette, what are these for?”

“When you see Natalie, you should wear these so that
Mr. Andropov doesn’t see your eyes. They will
undoubtedly change, and we don’t want to alert him
until it is time, and you don’t want to alarm
Natalie.”

Nick leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, you
think of everything.”

He started to get out of the car, but Janette put a
hand on his arm.

“Nicholas, I have claimed Mr. Andropov for myself.
Natalie told me what he did to those girls in Canada.
LaCroix has given me his support in this.”

Nick looked at her. “He’s yours. AFTER we make sure
Nicole is safe.”

She nodded. “Oui.”

He continued to exit Janette’s car and walked slowly
up the path. The gate was partially open. He knew
Natalie was still outside of the gate, but went in. He
could hear three human heartbeats among the foliage
just inside the wall. It seemed Andropov had tried to
make sure that he had lots of backup. Nick grinned to
himself. Andropov would be very unpleasantly surprised
to find thirty angry vampires joining the party.

He wound his way through the peaceful foliage,
hearing occasional human heartbeats. Finally finding
the building he was searching for, he put on the
sunglasses that he had gotten from Janette, and sensed
her presence nearby. She sent him a surge of support.
He could tell that she was linked to several others,
but not who or how many.

The building looked like a large Japanese house. It
was one floor, dark wood, and had rice paper windows
behind the glass. It was about 500 feet long. He
walked around to the back of the building, hearing
several human heartbeats in that direction. As he came
around the back of the building, he noticed a
flagstone courtyard, and a stunning view of the city
over to the left. He ignored the panorama in favor of
the door to his right. He walked over to it and saw
that it was open. Straining his ears, he finally heard
what he had been searching for, the beat of a child’s
heart. Smiling to himself, he concentrated and heard
three other adults near the child. She seemed to be
asleep. Good. Stepping through the door, he entered a
wide open space. The light was very dim, cast by a few
Coleman lanterns scattered about the large room. There
were several doorways along the walls, and he could
sense humans behind all of them. The child was behind
a door on the far wall.

Suddenly he felt his link with Natalie begin to
vibrate. She was getting closer. He kept a tight rein
on the vampire, but he knew that as soon as she was
within sight and smell he would lose his control. He
reached out to Janette, and found his link to her
strong and intact. Suddenly he also felt a psychic
wall around him. He pushed against it but could find
no chinks in it. He sighed in relief. As long as that
wall was around him, if his hunger arose, Janette
should be able to control him. And, if not, he knew
that LaCroix would also be ready to step in and impose
his link as master on Nick. He quickly moved over to
the far side of the room as he felt not only Natalie
but also LaCroix approaching. They came around to the
back of the structure, as he had. He heard their
footsteps on the concrete, then the door opened.

LaCroix entered first, followed by Natalie. His heart
constricted and beat twice at the sight of her. She
was still as beautiful as ever. Her hair was shorter
than it had been in Toronto, nestling around her face
like a halo. She had barely aged, even though she was
now in her forties. She was wearing a pair of jeans
and a blue fleece pullover. He could make out the
twinkle of gold at her throat, and he saw a flash on
her left hand. She was wearing his gifts, and a sad
smile came to his lips.

As soon as they entered, Natalie turned unerringly
toward Nick. She felt the link they shared thrumming
in the back of her head. She started walking toward
him, drawn by not only their link but her heart as
well. He had on dark glasses, but she could tell that
his fangs were extended.

“Nick…”

LaCroix put one hand on her arm. She turned to look at
him, anger and irritation on her face.

“Natalie, stay here.”

A rustle of air and fabric sounded and suddenly the
two vampires and the mortal woman looked over at one
of the doorways. The same figure that Natalie and
LaCroix had seen in the reservoir was standing across
the space from them, about 300 feet away.
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Kristen Fife, 2004 all Rights Reserved