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 "LaCroix, you depraved bastard!" Nick pulled his police issue
revolver and aimed it straight at LaCroix's chest.  "Natalie, get
out. You don't need to see this."

      "No!  Nick, Don't!"  She tried to push past LaCroix, but his
grip turned to steel.  His huge frame blocked most of her view,
protecting her.

      "Nicholas, really.  Your theatrics become tiring.  Do you
think your little toy can harm me?"  The contempt in LaCroix's tone
had no affect.  Nick's face held a cold concentration as he aimed
down on his master.

      Not believing her ears, Natalie shoved LaCroix hard, pissed
at the man's stupidity.  Was he trying to goad Nick into
shooting?  "Are you both nuts?  Nick put away the gun, you don't need
to do this."

      "How can you say that Nat?!  He's raped you and cursed you
into hell. He deserves to die."

      Damn, this just wasn't her week.  She added `dense' to the
list of undead and serial killers. "Nick, if he'd raped me, I would
be the one holding the gun.  Not you." She pointed it out slowly,
while enlightenment dawned.

      "Oh my."  Janette stood flatfooted in the doorway for half a
second before regaining her poise.  Her eyes focused on the revolver
with distaste. "Nichola, really, a gun?"  She wrenched it from his
fingers before he had the chance to protest.  "Excuse us, LaCroix.
We'll wait outside while you compose yourselves. Natalie, welcome to
the family."  Taking hold of Nicholas's arm she hauled him out.

      Now, not only did Nick see her nude, but Janette had the
sneak peak too.  Perfect.  "Well LaCroix, I didn't plan on this many
people seeing my naked body until I was toe tagged in a cold metal
locker.  You owe me big time."  She grabbed the towel from the edge
of the hot tub and wrapped it around her chest, tucking the corner
in.  Now her best friend had his heart torn out in the other room,
and she didn't have the guts to make it all better.

      LaCroix, wisely remained silent.  She threw a glare at him.
The scourge of the entire Toronto vampire population should have
sensed his son long before Nick crossed the Raven's threshhold.  He
still stood frozen in the water, staring at the door.

      "Earth to Lucien?  Lights are on, anyone home?"

      "Doctor, wit is an educated man's insolence.  I am not in the
mood for it."   He swung his head slowly around to face her.  The
slick wet hair, making him look cultured even while naked.  "You will
stay here while I talk to my son."

      Fear shot through her at the statement on his face.  "Oh no,
so no.  I've seen what you call talks.  Nick came back bleeding and
limping from a broken leg last time you `talked'.  He  mentioned
plunging a flaming stake into your chest when you `talked' about
Alyce Hunter.  Forget it, you're not going alone."  She yanked on her
clothes, fast.

      "How do you propose to stop me?"

      "I can't, as you very well know.  What is your price?"  As
soon as she said it, she regretted it.  The unholy gleam in his eyes
didn't bode well.

      "Price?  Do you think to bargain with me?"

      "Yes."  She didn't elaborate, and refused to back down.  Even
two thousand year old vampires had a price.  The question was whether
or not she was willing to pay it.

      He smiled, slow, evil, as he contemplated his options.  "One
hundred years, Natalie."

      "Pardon?"

      "You are mine, to do with as I wish, without complaint for
the next hundred years."

      She couldn't have heard him right, one hundred years?  "No."

      "I thought not."  He towelled off and started getting
dressed. "Stay here."  When he reached for the door handle, she swore.

      "Wait." Nick, you owe me for this.  "Twenty."

      His brow raised to her challenge, "Very good, Natalie.
Seventy."

      "That's too much for one conversation.  Forty, and I promise
you'll enjoy it."  Nat! What the hell are you thinking?  Becoming a
vampire had scrambled her brains.

      He barked in laughter. "Agreed.  Shall we my dear?  Our
audience awaits."

      Nick stood at the counter savagely draining bottle after
bottle of human blood.

      "Mind sharing Nick?"  Natalie walked up beside him, while
LaCroix remained standing near the ficus tree.

      Wincing, Nick handed her the full bottle he'd just opened.
When she upended it, and sighed in pleasure at the still new
sensation of the blood, he turned away in pain.  "Why Nat?"

      "I wanted this, Nick.  I have for some time.  Every night I
work with bodies, and come home thinking that one day it will be me
on that slab, cold and alone while a stranger cuts me open.  When
LaCroix brought me across,  I saw heaven and it's a colder, lonelier
place than any morgue.  You have no right to deny me this."

      "I had every right!  If it wasn't for me, you would have
never known about the community.  I led you to this, and it was my
responsibility to bring you across, not LaCroix's!"  He snarled and
swung another bottle to his mouth.

      "LaCroix came in to do what you refused, and I, for one, am
grateful." LaCroix turned at this, surprised.  He had not expected
the good Doctor to admit that.   Over her head, he met Nick's eyes
and shrugged.

      "Natalie, I need to talk with LaCroix.  Leave us, please."
      "I can still hear you in the bedroom. So I might as well just
stay here."

      LaCroix interrrupted before she argued further. "I believe
Janette went downstairs to open the club.  Finish that bottle, then
go down and join her.  There are somethings that even you don't need
to know about.  Nicholas, I assume this means that you no longer plan
on shooting me where I stand?"  LaCroix came forward, and stopped
behind Natalie.

      "I could incinerate you for this.  But, for her sake, I
won't."

      "Good, she is too young to lose her older brother.  Natalie,
now, you see there is no danger here, go on.  Janette is a wonderful
host, I'm certain she will love introducing you to everyone."
LaCroix held the door open, waiting for her to go through.

      "I don't know if this is worth forty years."

      "Ah ah.  No complaints, remember?  Now go."  Smiling
patiently, he gently pushed her out the door, his hand lingering on
her damp hair.

      Well, Nat thought, at least they weren't going to kill each
other.  She doubted now that there had ever been any danger of it.
She sent one last glance at Nick then went to find Jeanette.

      LaCroix closed the door, and waited until he could no longer
hear her footfalls before turning to his son.  "Well, Nicholas, I
must say you have excellant taste.  She has more fire than I've seen
in decades.  Why,"  He paused, eyebrow arched as he rubbed it in,  "I
don't believe she'll ever forgive you."

      "Why did you call me here LaCroix?  Do you want me to say
congratulations on finding someone to take the place of my sister?
Was this your revenge for Fleur?  Was letting Natalie die not enough,
you have to make her hate me for eternity too?"

      "Contrary to your firm belief, not everything I do is done
with you in mind.  You are not the center of the world.  Natalie is
mine, because she chose to be.  If she didn't want this life, she had
the chance to go into the light, just like you did.  But you came
back to me, as did she.  If she chooses to hate you, it is because of
your own actions, not mine.  She is too intelligent to allow another
to dictate her feelings.  If you paid attention to anyone other than
yourself, you would see that."

      "Do you care for her?"

      LaCroix studied his son, wondering at his motivations.  Things
between them had steadily improved since the night his wayward son had
taken a bullet to his little used brain.  Their talks in the
following nights  held none of the animosity that defined their
relationship for the past centuries. But what is one year when eight
hundred stand against it.   "Emotions are so fleeting. Nicholas."

      "Answer the question."

      "So my debate lessons did teach you something, after all.  How
appropriate that you use them against me." He swirled the blood
around in his glass before taking a slow sip.  "Yes,  Nicholas, I
care for the good Doctor.  Hopefully she will be brighter than you
are and accept it."

      "Don't lie to me."

      In a flash, Lacroix had Nicholas by the shoulders, holding
him against the wall. "If anyone here is a liar, it is you! You stole
one chance of happiness from me and I learned from that mistake.  She
is MINE!"

      Nick looked deep into his master's eyes, seeing the truth in
them.  Something broke inside him then, an honesty born of centuries
of guilt.  Resigned, he turned his head away, baring his neck to his
master.  LaCroix released him in shock and stepped back.

      "Do it LaCroix, know what I can't say."

      Nicholas, freely offering himself?  LaCroix swept his
thoughts back trying to find the exact moment when the world stopped
making sense.  "Are you certain, Nicholas?"

      "Yes,  just get it over with."  Nick's voice sounded
strained, but adamant.

      "Of course."  Savoring this unexpected generosity,  LaCroix
gently pulled his son into his arms. If only things so long ago had
been different, Nicholas really could be an excellant son when he
applied himself.  Allowing the change come over him, he pierced the
carotid artery.

      LaCroix felt him stiffen as their link flared to life.  The
barrage of emotions battered against him, rage foremost, followed by
forgiveness and hope.  He focused on the hope, trying to decipher the
conflicting motives from the chaotic mess in front of him.  He felt
the regret for Fleur, the sorrow of watching his master becoming a
bitter enemy.  The loss of his Natalie was nothing compared to the
loss of his father.   After a few more relished moments, LaCroix
released him.

      "Promise me that you won't hurt her, she's been through
enough."

      The plea, LaCroix knew, came from Nicholas's heart.  After
this gift, this acceptance, he could do no more than grant it.   "You
have my word.  Will you stay with us for a little while?"

      Nick shook his head.  "No.  I will take care of the mess at
the precinct, then move on.  I can't see Natalie this way and not be
able to have her."

      "As you wish.  We will be returning to Rome, I think.  There
are too many mortals here that would notice her changes and question
them.  You are welcome to join us whenever you are ready."  He lifted
one of Nick's empty bottles.  "Does this mean you have finally
stopped drinking that swill?"

      "With Natalie around, you may end up drinking it right along
with me."  Nick laughed, for the first time all evening.  "She has
her ways, and most of them are not pleasant."  He turned to the door,
and said quietly,  "Enjoy her, mon pere.  Au revoir."

      "I will Nicholas, fare well."

      Nick slipped through the door, before either of them said
anything else.
 

 End Chapter 9a