This is a new Round Robin that is being posted to the FK Vals list.
Standard disclaimers apply.Lacroix eyes opened slowly disappointed to find Natalie gone. He closed his eyes listening.

Reggie passed though the anteroom and quickly pulled open the heavy wooden door at the far end and stepped into the dimly lit room beyond.
Although the rooms within the subterranean catacomb, built from stone and mortal sweat and blood, carried the atmosphere of centuries, the furniture and accessories reflected the current fashion of polished wood and chrome, together creating a tastefully classic yet empowering sanctuary.
This domain, an office of operations, was designed with the owner in mind. Every item, on every shelf and space, directed the visitor's focus to the large, oak desk at the farthest point in the room. The Master Enforcer sat behind her desk, seemingly ignoring his existence. Reggie would be a fool to assume this depiction of his superior was genuine. He would also probably be dead.
Hurrying to move before her, Reggie, bowed deeply and announced his presence.
"Master, I bring news of Lacroix and the mortal, Dr Lambert."
The figure behind the desk raised her crystalline violet eyes. Reggie swallowed as the familiar endless blackness enveloped him as she probed his mind.
"Yes, so you do." The woman, tall; her hair as black as the night sky falling to her waist as she stood and holding her fledgling in her grasp as she rounded the desk to stand at his side. Pacing about him, she sealed her position of power and bade the young vampire to speak.
Reggie fought the fear which struck him viciously whenever he was in the Master Enforcer's presence. Her beauty, power, and ability to enforce ruthlessly never failed to have him on his knees begging for her forgiveness, regardless of whether or not he had anything to be pardoned for.
"Lacroix has mated with the mortal woman," he told her bluntly.
"Have they bonded?" She responded in kind.
"No, my lady."
"Good, then there is still time." Anonda whirled about, her dark veil of hair and violet eyes flashing resplendently under the candle light.
"From our meeting place tonight, have the doctor taken directly to the chateau," she instructed.
"But, my lady...?"
"The situation has changed there for I have every right to change the agreement Lacroix had with us," she said firmly. Reggie lowered his gaze and accepted her authority.
"And Lacroix?"
"I shall deal with him. Just deal with his mortal, and do as I have instructed."
"Yes, my Lady."
"Oh, and, Reginald..."
"Yes, my Lady?"
"If Lacroix gives you any trouble, and I have no doubt that he will, use whatever means necessary to subdue him, but under no circumstances does he find permanent death. Is that quite clear?"
Reggie bowed deeply.
"Yes, my Lady."
"Very well, you are dismissed."
Reggie bowed once again and quickly turned to scurry from the room, releasing a large sigh of relief as he passed through the doorway and up into the crisp moisture laden air of the night.
 

"This is not necessarily a complicated decision to make Natalie," Lacroix sighed as they continued their conversation.
"Of course it is!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air while pacing the room.
"You would rather die than be brought across?" he asked her, his impatience apparent. They had been discussing the pros and cons of becoming a vampire for quite sometime.
"I don't know, perhaps. How am I to know that becoming a vampire won't truly damn me, trapping me into an endless darkness which would eat and darken my soul and every fibre of my being?"
Lacroix flopped back down to lay on the bed. He was fairly certain that exact line had been spouted by his son on numerous occasions.
"What if Nick is right?" Natalie demanded.
The final insult forced him to draw a pillow over his face and hold it down. Not again. He moaned silently.
He had actually been grateful of the reprieve from such nonsense upon his son's unexpected departure. He sighed dramatically. Perhaps they were both right, and his penance was to be damned to this hellish nightmare of endless resentment and condemnation of the vampire way.
Rolling his eyes, pulled the pillow away and sat up.
His lover was standing at the end of the bed with her hands on her hips watching him. She appeared to be waiting for an answer.
"Do you truly believe this, Natalie?" he asked, exasperated. He had run out of any counter points to the argument. There was just nothing else he could say that he hadn't said a hundred times before.
A small smile quirked at the corner of the woman's lips, as a decidedly mischievous glint came to her eyes.
"Not really. I just wanted to see what you would say if I did," she said. Lacroix stared at her for a moment.
The audacity!
"Why you...!" he muttered as he launched himself at the mortal woman. Natalie screeched and lunged away but he felt his arms wrap around her waist and drag her back down onto the bed. She was laughing into the bedclothes under his weight, and tears streaming down her face.
"I shall teach you how to be respectful to your elders, child!" he growled in her ear. A baneful grin spread across the ancient's face and he pulled back a little and raised his hand, before letting his hand fall sharply against the scantily clad bottom beneath him.
"Ow!" Natalie screeched through her laughter.
"I am terribly sorry," Lacroix said with a mock frown of concern. "Did that hurt?"
"Yes!" Natalie yelped.
"Good,...but as it so happens, I also have the perfect remedy."
Natalie gasped and her laughter subsided as her nightgown was raised from behind and a moment later she felt gentle lips caressing her bare skin.

Natalie was jolted from her slumber by the telephone ringing beside the bed. She turned to the naked vampire beside her and rolled her eyes as he slept through the interruption.
"Hello?" she said quietly, bringing the receiver to her ear.
"I wish to speak with Lacroix," the caller asked, or rather demanded.
Natalie paused before saying, "Yeah, sure...hang on a minute."
Pressing the phone against her breast, she rolled over and shook her companion awake.
"Lucien...wake up."
Lacroix took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. When he glanced up at her she waved the phone at him and mouthed, 'for you'."
Lacroix frowned as he took the phone. He had told no one of his whereabouts.
"Yes?"
"You will deliver her at midnight to the warehouse on Hubbard's wharf. It shall be a public performance, General."
"Is that really necessary?" he asked. Not that he was against a good show now and then, but the act of bringing Natalie across was not something he wished to parade before a dozen other vampires.
"Yes. The Master demands it."
"Very well," he sighed. The phone went dead in his ear. Sighing, he gave the phone back to his lover and she returned it to the side table.
He ran his fingers across his brow and sighed again. Natalie watched him, waiting patiently.
"The plan has change a degree or two."
Natalie frowned.
"How so?"
"You are to be brought over under the eye of the enforcers," he told her.
"And that means...?"
"They will be present when I bring you across."
"Oh...I was kind of hoping I had guessed wrong," she sighed.
They were silent as Natalie snuggled back down under the duvet and into Lacroix's embrace.
"When?" she asked quietly.
"Midnight."
Natalie turned slightly to look at her bedside clock.
"Three hours," she mumbled.
As she felt Lacroix take another deep breath beneath her she smirked and asked him, "What should I wear?"
He expelled the remainder of his sigh in a chuckle and he pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead.
"If I thought I had any say in the matter...I would prefer you just as you are," he told her.
Natalie smiled and sat up, rising to her knees to face him. She watched his gaze fall from her eyes to her breast as she let the sheet around her slip from her fingers. Leaning forward, Natalie brought her hands to either side of his face and pulled him to meet her lips.

*********

"You were sure to tell him, midnight?"
"Yes, my Lady,"
Anonda, once again, began her slow pace of the floor before her small band of enforcers. All were dressed in the traditional black garb of the Community's police force. She prided herself in training and producing the elite of the elite who were completely loyal to her and her wishes. This troupe of immortal soldiers under her commanded had been conditioned to be the most ruthless, unforgiving and obedient enforcers the Community had ever known. Even the eldest vampires trembled at the mere thought of her iron fist. That was all...but one.
Anonda hissed at the mere thought of the impertinent man, and ignored her youngest creation as he flinched at the sound.
How she and Lacroix had ever become lovers she did not know, the whole idea brought her chilled blood to the boil. But they parted on bad terms and she had a small account to pay...
and Lucien Lacroix was going to get every cent he deserved.
 

As they approached the silent warehouse, seemingly abandoned for all intense in purposes, he sensed the familiar buzz of a dozen or so vampires within. Most carried the powerful signature of an enforcer.
So, Anonda would spare little tonight. He guided Natalie through a side door, wishing to get this over and done with as quickly as possible so he could take his new fledgling and leave this infuriating city.

The warehouse was empty, even the worn concrete floor was devoid of dust and debris. At the centre of the expanse stood four flaming torches marking out a square, bringing the only source of light in the otherwise dark expanse.

Natalie felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and a small shiver coursed down her spine. The atmosphere inside was thick with anticipation. She felt a comfort as Lacroix's arm around her tightened briefly before he led her toward the torch-lit area. As they neared, a woman stepped from the darkened shadows and moved into the light. Lacroix brought them to stand before her. Natalie straightened her back and held her chin high as the woman passed her gaze upon her.
The woman shook her long, dark hair and cocked her hips as she planted a hand upon one of her leather clad sides. Seemingly painted on, the black leather shone as she swayed, then began a slow prowl round the pair. "Well, Lucius. She is a pretty thing," she said, her voice silk on silk. Lacroix remanded silent as he set his jaw, watching the master enforcer pace about his lover.
The sultry woman flashed him a baneful smile, her striking eyes, a deep purple under the candle light and darkness of the warehouse. He had fallen for the temptress's dark passion before, he would not make that same mistake again.
"Let us get this over with, Anonda," he demanded, his patience wearing thin.
"Tsk,tsk, Lucius, where is that infamous patience of yours?" she said impetuously, moving behind Natalie and running a fingernail down her cheek and gently twisted a strand of her hair about her fingers, all the while keeping her eyes locked with the male vampire.
Lacroix did not reply, but resumed his glaring stare.
Anonda sighed dramatically and released Natalie's hair.
"Very well, let us begin." Anonda motioned toward the back of the warehouse and a dozen vampires moved out of the darkness and took up position along the square's parameter.
Standing a small distance behind Lacroix and his mortal whore, Anonda let her angular features fall into a baneful glare, and with hooded eyes, she nodded once again toward her fledgling.
Reggie and five others stepped forward and quickly parted the Ancient and his mortal.

Lacroix frowned as he was swiftly manhandled several feet away from Natalie, four of the enforcers surrounding him, the remaining two held Natalie.
"Lucien?" she called, her tone shaking slightly as she, too, felt the distinct vibe in the air change. He spun to the master enforcer standing calmly to one side.
"What is this?" he growled.
"A slight change in plan, my dearest Lucius," she purred, not even a humorous smirk crossing her lips as she paced slowly toward Natalie now detained at the opposite end of the lit arena.
"What change?" he asked cautiously. He berated himself for being such a fool as to take the master's agreement at face value. Not that he had much choice in the matter, but still, he had not prepared for such an eventuality...he would not give himself the excuse of the distraction he was under over the past 24 hours.
"Do not worry, my sweet. Dr Lambert will still be joining our little club," Anonda halted her slow pace about Natalie and turned back to face her old adversary. She smiled.
"But..." she turned to Natalie once again and moved behind her and ran a finger along the curve of her neck. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the fragrant mortal blood.
Raising her eyes to meet Lacroix it was with a golden gaze and parted lips, showing the length of her extended canines, glinting in the firelight. "...you shall not be her master."
Lacroix lunged forward, only to be prevented from moving far by the wall of black flesh surrounding him.
"This was not our agreement!" he snarled, his own eyes and fangs alight. Anonda held his gaze as she bent forward to kiss Natalie's jugular and taste the skin above the pulsing blood within.
"No, it was not," she stated, her apathy clear.
"Lucien...?" Natalie called again, her fear now wholly apparent, not only in her voice but upon the air, now filled with the ambrosic scent of fear.
"Natalie..." he whispered. Strong hands clamped down on his arms and shoulders, preparing for his next movements.
The master enforcer smiled again as she reared her head back and thrust forward, sinking her teeth into Natalie's neck with a bestial snarl. Natalie screamed in pain and Lacroix lunged forward again, this time with all his might, snarling and thrashing under the strength of the enforcers. "NO!!" he screamed. He turned within the circle of bodies trying every method he could conjure to break free. He tried taking to the air, but his move was anticipated and countered several times amongst others. He howled and snarled as he fought, every second which passed ripped Natalie further away from his arms. As he watched Anonda catch Natalie was she slumped in her arms, he let out an almighty howl of defeat.
Anonda passed the mortal to her fledging and he lifted the doctor into his arms and quickly carried her into the darkness.

"Anonda!" Lacroix seethed, still struggling against his captors. "You will pay for this!" he threatened.
The master enforcer stared darkly at the vampire writhing against her men. "No, Lucius...or should I call you Lucien?" she asked him absently, moving closer to the group of shifting bodies. "No matter..." She brushed the thought away with a flick of her hand.
"Why are you doing this?!" he demanded.
She paused and leaned in close to Lacroix's ear and whispered, "We all eventually get what we deserve, Lucius...remember that, it will serve you well."
With no desire to linger any longer, the Master Enforcer swirled in a cascade of black and leather, and strode purposely from the warehouse and onto the rendevoux to tend to her prize.

Reggie observed the Roman struggling fiercely once again, and as he and his master passed in the doorway, Anonda motioned her command with a sharp nod, silently issuing her order.
As she left. the enforcer lifted his head and leveled his shoulders, taking on the authority in the room.
He strode over to the squad holding the raging vampire and sneered silently as the man continued to fight his own kind over the pathetic life of a mortal.
"You brought this on yourself, Lacroix," he snarled. Lacroix hissed in answer. Reggie turned his attention to his men.
"See that he is unable to pursue before dawn," he ordered. Standing back, he watched as the gang of enforcers began to attack the ancient vampire.

Lacroix was forced to the ground as a wooden club smashed against the back of his knees. Another hit him over the head, while fists beat against his ribs, and feet dug sharply into his gut, his back, and every other square inch of his body. Once unconscious, they continued to beat him, making sure the vampire would take the time necessary to heal.

When all was done, the torches were extinguished and removed, and as Reggie pulled the steel door closed behind him, the enforcer glanced over his shoulder at the prone figure lying in the centre of the warehouse, a shaft of moonlight beaming over the ancient as he lay in a growing pool of his own blood.
"You should have known better, General," he muttered, before turning his back and taking to the sky.
 

The sea breeze wafted over the ancient mariner, and he breathed the familiar salt-laden air deeply as he wandered along the wharf front. Screed heard, then spotted the rat he was hunting, scurry under a rotting boat hoist, along a wall and amongst a collection of empty oil drums.
Chasing the rodent further along the old warehouse wall, the carouche sniffed the air as he kept his eyes and senses firmly focused on his prey. With a final lunge he grabbed the squealing rat and thrust the wriggling rodent against his fangs, quickly sucking the beast dry.
"Ooo, that 'it's the ol' spots," he muttered to himself.
Throwing the limp carcass into one of the oil drums, Screed hitched up his worn and filthy trousers and began his hunt once again.
As he passed by the doorway of the abandoned warehouse, he paused and sniffed the air once again.
"Nee, that ain't right?" he said to himself. "That vere's a bloodsucker I za sniffin'." Curiosity getting the better of him, Screed tentatively he opened the door, somewhat surprised it was unlatched. The steal door swung in and the gangly bald man poked his head around the corner to have a look inside. When he sensed nothing of threat by the door he cautiously stepped into the building. He saw the source of the blood scent immediately, the warehouse was so devoid that the figure laying at it's centre was painfully obvious. At a cautious scuttle, the carouche moved closer to the vampire upon the floor.
Even up close and personal, it took a moment to recognise the man before him.
"Bleedin' eck, if it ain't the boss-man," he breathed. Without a second thought, Screed turned and hurried from the warehouse the up into the sky, making a beeline for the abandoned church, and his master.
 

Natalie woke in the back of a limousine. She started away from the black-clad figure beside her, and stared cautiously at the one opposite. Neither vampire said anything, and all she could think of was whether or not she was a vampire, too. Her hand went quickly to her throat and felt the sticky mess of the puncture wounds in her neck. Neither were bleeding any longer, and she moved her fingers around slightly to her feel for her pulse. She sighed. A heart beat, a mortal heartbeat.
What the hell was going on? Who was that woman, and why did she do all this? And where was Lucien?
The vampire across from her, stared unwaveringly and she glanced away and looked out the window. It was heavily tinted, and she could bearly see the streetlights glancing by.
Her fear easing somewhat as she realised she was in no immediate danger of death. She was hoping that if the enforcers had wanted her dead, the woman would have killed her earlier.
Oh, Lucien...where are you? She thought, closing her eyes against the reality of tonight's unwelcome adventure.
 

"Screed, just why have you dragged me all the way down here? There are better things I could be doing, you know."
Screed pulled his master into the empty warehouse and silently thrust his finger toward the vampire on the floor several meters away. Vachon wasted no time in running over to the man and kneeling down to examine the unconscious form.
"Lacroix?" he said, shaking the vampire gently. He didn't respond, but from the injures he could see, he had a fair idea that the old man wouldn't be waking anytime soon.
The Spaniard thought for a moment. He would be doing a lot of vampires a favour by just leaving the old geezer here for the dawn.
He sighed heavily.
Reaching down to shuffle his arms under the ancient, he muttered, "You owe me big time for this, Lacroix."
Lifting him into his arms as he stood, he shifted the vampire until he was comfortable in his arms before carrying him outside.
 

When Natalie woke again, she couldn't see. Her hands were tied and she could feel a distinct hum and vibration coming up through her feet. She was sitting, her seat comfortable. A plane? Was she flying?
"We shall be at our destination soon. There, all your questions shall be answered," a feminine voice told her from across the aisle.
Anonda. That was what Lucien had called her. Just who the hell did she think she was?!
"I am judge, jury and executioner. Take care to remember that, child."
Natalie stared and pressed back in her chair. Had the woman just read her mind?! She sure hoped she hadn't.
"We are linked for the time, Natalie. Your blood holds many pleasures."
Natalie glared as she realised the woman had seen her and Lucien's love-making over the past day.
"It shall fade in due course, but for now, you are mine to do with as I chose. If you value your life at all, doctor, you would heed my warning. Obey me."
Natalie looked away, hoping above hope this would all be over soon. One way or another.

The plane landed with a light thump and Natalie soon felt herself being pulled from her seat and guided toward the door and out into the night air. She was bundled into a second vehicle, much like the first.
The ride was long and not a single word was uttered.

She managed to sleep for an hour or so on and off during the trip. She had no idea where she was. Not in Canada anymore, she almost sure of that. She was fed orange juice and fruit intermittently, and she ate all that she could. Who knew when she would be able to eat again. She was still tired and feeling the effects of the earlier blood loss.
She felt the car slow, then turn into a driveway. They continued on for a few minutes before coming to a halt.
Before the car doors were opened, one of the enforcers pulled the blindfold back over her eyes.
Unsteadily, she stepped from the car, a hand on her arm keep her upright and pointed in the right direction.
They climbed a dozen steps then entered what felt like a large room. She obediently went where she was tugged and found herself descending stone steps into a damp, and much cooler environment. A basement?
A door clanked open and she was pushed within. Her blindfold was removed and she was shoved to the floor. The door swung closed behind her with a clang, and the bolt driven home.
Natalie quickly glanced about the dark room, her eyes unable to adjust to the low light. She could barely see her hand an inch in front of her face. She started as she heard shuffling from further within the room, accompanied by the rattle of chains and a rasped whisper.
"Natalie?"
Nautili's eyes widened, and she gasped as she recognised the voice. She would recognise that voice anywhere.
"Nick?!"
"Nat..."
 

End part 7