DISCLAIMERS: This is a continuation of "Forever Knight" from the end of "Last Knight." It seems to me to be one logical resolution if the powers that be should ever resume the show. As always, I must state that these characters do not belong to me, I've just borrowed them for a short while, and now return them in better condition than their inventors left them. I hope you enjoy this little sally. I know the Nick and Nat Packers will. All others should be warned by this. All comments to bdundee@aol.com. Permission to archive on fkfanfic.com, at the ftp site, and at the DarkNN website, is granted. All others please ask.

Knightmares - part 1 of 11

by Rebecca L. Chessman

LaCroix raised the twisted pike high above his head. Carefully, he aimed at the precise point of entry. The effect would be immediate. Nicholas' life would cease abruptly as his heart ruptured. LaCroix felt himself dissociating from the act that was to come. It was too painful for contemplation, too agonizing for completion! As the weapon descended, he marveled that he was capable even of this, the murder of his son. When the pike entered Nicholas' body, it seemed to do so in slow motion. Blood fountained from the wound, splattering Nicholas and Natalie Lambert, whose body lay before him. Nicholas toppled forward, the force of LaCroix's blow sent the shaft that penetrated Nick's body through Natalie's as well.

LaCroix bolted up from the chair in his study, shaking his head to clear the images which had imprinted themselves upon the insides of his eyelids as he dozed. No! Nicholas would never insist upon an action so heinous! But deep inside himself, LaCroix knew his vision had had elements of truth within it. Nicholas did love Doctor Lambert that passionately. And Nicholas would truly die if he, or LaCroix himself, were the instrument of her destruction.

"They are at a crossroads," he murmured to himself. "I must act. Nicholas has become too unsettled, too vulnerable. I must do something about his partner. I only hope I am not too late." He rose quickly and set out for the hospital.

Detective Nicholas Knight stood at the bedside of his partner, Tracy Vetter, watching her struggle for life. It did not look as if she would make it this time. Natalie had abrogated his initial impulse to bring Tracy across. And now Nick found himself pondering the question Natalie had asked.

"Why is it so easy to think about bringing her across and not me?!" Natalie had demanded before she stormed off to the morgue.

Nick knew the easy answer. He loved Natalie, just as she was. He did not wish her to die or to be damned to this immortal hell which was his existence. She didn't understand how seductively powerful the desire for her was to him. He wanted to bring her across. He wanted her---desperately! He had tried to make his loved ones like himself, immortal, eternally his own, in the past. It had never worked the way he had wanted.

And, Natalie was wrong, it wasn't easy to think about bringing Tracy across. He had done that very thing on several occasions in order to preserve a life that he had later had to take away for the good of all concerned. Certainly, Natalie herself must remember that, since her own brother was one who'd had to be destroyed. So why had he thought about bringing Tracy into this existence?

Perhaps because Tracy, with her bubbly outlook on life, seemed so young, so unready to die. Tracy knew something of the life she would be entering if he did decide to act. She had admired Vachon, loved him. She had the ability to survive in the Community. She was tough, strong, capable. But then, so was Natalie. Unlike Tracy, however, Natalie had never been a killer. She was, in fact, the precise opposite of a killer. Natalie was a saver of life, a doctor. Natalie might argue that she only worked upon the dead, but he knew her dedication to her profession stemmed from a deep and abiding love for life and its preservation. He had always felt that he would destroy more than her physical life and her soul, as he understood it, if he made her a vampire. He would destroy the very construct of her personality, the essence of what made her Natalie, his Natalie.

Nick thought Natalie probably understood this at the very base of herself, but perhaps he should have told her. Just as he should have told her how very desperately he loved and wanted her. She was very vulnerable just now. Her friend had died, committed suicide, and Natalie was beginning to question her own life choices in the face of her friend's failure to find joy and peace. Nick was terrified, after their confrontation in the morgue, and her comment at Tracy's bedside, of what she might demand of him when he returned to the loft. He knew he would find her there. What should he tell her? What should he do? LaCroix was pressuring him to move on once again. And LaCroix expected, had even ordered Nick to bring Natalie across once before, during that terrifying night at Azure last year. What should he do?

Nick's reverie was interrupted by the shrieking of alarms from the monitors attached to Tracy. An immediate inrush of hospital personnel with a crash cart and all of its attendant paraphernalia pushed him out of the room. He retired to the hallway to listen to the frantic efforts to restore Tracy to life.

As Nick waited in the hospital hallway, LaCroix touched down upon the roof of the hospital. He slipped quietly into a nearby roof access and descended the stairs. He entered the hospital and immediately found the doctors' locker room where he could avail himself of the proper clothing and equipment for his purpose. When he was properly dressed, he quickly located the room to which Nicholas' partner had been assigned. The place was in ordered chaos. LaCroix found it quite easy to insinuate himself into the medical team working over Tracy's body.

But LaCroix noticed something none of the other workers could possibly have discovered. Tracy was not going to die. She was simply in transition. LaCroix had hoped this might be the case, especially when he had heard how she had been injured. The bullets that had embedded themselves in her body had first passed through Nicholas. The minute amount of vampire blood and tissue carried into her system would be enough to sustain her life, but it would not be sufficient to bring her across. It was dangerous, however.

Tracy might become a hunter, but LaCroix did not think so. Usually humans affected in this way, and there had been several in his two thousand years of existence, simply lived longer, healthier lives after their near brush with death. They did, however, have an enhanced perception of vampires. Having ascertained that Tracy was in no real danger of death, LaCroix left the hospital room and paused next to his son who still waited in the hallway.

"She will recover, Nicholas," LaCroix asserted quietly in Nick's ear.

Nick jumped, then turned to LaCroix and asked, "How could you know that, and why should you be here, LaCroix?" Noticing LaCroix's attire, Nick continued, "Playing doctor again, I see. Did you run short of blood at the Raven and decide to raid the blood bank?"

LaCroix ignored Nicholas' sarcastic barbs, as he usually did, and merely replied, "The bullets passed through you before they struck her. Your blood will help her to survive." Nick looked appalled for a moment and then opened his mouth to speak, but LaCroix interrupted him. "There is no need for concern! Rest easy, my son. She will be fine. I've seen this before. Go home. Rest. Take time to consider my previous offer. I will not be leaving for another week. By then you can assure yourself that your partner will live."

"Why so suddenly compassionate, LaCroix? What aren't you telling me?" Nick demanded. He and LaCroix had come to an understanding over Divia's pyre, but Nick did not believe that LaCroix had changed his mind about Natalie.

"Talk to your doctor friend. Ask her what she wants," LaCroix placed a special emphasis on this last part of his advice. He was sure that Natalie would be his greatest ally in keeping Nicholas by his side. He had overheard their earlier confrontation.

"But, LaCroix, what about our agreement?"

"Don't concern yourself. I will not retaliate. Not now. I do not wish to lose you, too. Losing Divia was enough." LaCroix watched as Nicholas' face reflected his bewilderment, disbelief, and fear. Then Nicholas' features relaxed into a hesitant gratitude.

"Besides, I think the doctor is ready to move on with us. She would be an excellent addition to our entourage. Go ahead and ask her, Nicholas. I will abide by her decision. But, make sure it is her decision and not one of your immaterial fantasies!" LaCroix growled quietly.

Perhaps he had been too harsh on Nicholas, LaCroix thought. There really was no way that his son and the doctor could succeed in their foolish quest for Nicholas' mortality. But there was always the possibility that Nicholas might eventually accede to the inevitability of bringing Natalie across. In LaCroix's estimation, Natalie was a strong and challenging woman. Quite magnificent, really! She would be a truly fine addition to their menage.

LaCroix's musings were interrupted by the bustle of the medical team leaving Tracy's room. Their dejected appearance betrayed a sense of failure.

"I thought you said there was no danger!" Nick raged at LaCroix. But the older vampire merely smiled enigmatically.

"She is in transition. Wait, Nicholas, you will see......Wait," LaCroix held Nick back from reentering Tracy's room. "Let them discover the change for themselves," he hissed as a new team approached the room to begin preparing the body for the coroner.

They waited, and true to LaCroix's assertions, within a few minutes, one of the technicians charged out of Tracy's door and raced down the hall toward the nurses' station. Then the two vampires watched as the original team with the crash cart returned. After a very short exercise, the resuscitation team exited the room with smiling faces, pushing their cart before them. Tracy, it seemed, was going to live.

"I leave you to consider your future. I shall be gone as soon as the Raven has been sold. Let me know what she decides." LaCroix left Nick standing in the hospital hallway.

Nick breathed a perplexed sigh of relief. He was very glad that Tracy would live, but he was still concerned about Natalie. LaCroix may have called a truce for now, but Nick was sure that his master would never truly stop manipulating his existence. What should he do about Natalie? Their relationship was at a turning point. Perhaps LaCroix was right, he should ask Natalie what she wanted.

Nick thought he knew what Natalie wanted. They both wanted him to be able to cross back to being human. But there did not seem to be any easy way that could be done. Natalie had been close last year with the Lytoveuterine experiment. He had spent one glorious day in the sun, but in the end, it had been a false trail. Janette had found another way to humanity, but the risk to Natalie's life seemed far too great. And then, he and Natalie had had that one delicious night when he had forgotten he was a vampire.

They had never discussed that time, but Nick had replayed it in his mind over and over. Now he knew what he wanted. He wanted Natalie. If he were human, the first thing he would do would be to propose marriage to Natalie. He never wanted to be without her again. He thought she wanted the same thing, but what if she did not?

Nick started as he felt a firm hand grasp his upper arm. He turned and found the doctor who had been in charge of Tracy's treatment smiling gently at him.

"Detective, we think your partner will pull through. She scared us there for a bit, we thought we'd lost her. But she's rallied, and she seems much stronger. Her vital signs have stabilized. Why don't you go home and get some rest. Tell the rest of her friends she's going to pull through." The doctor patted Nick on the shoulder and went off down the hallway to his next case.

Nick turned and entered Tracy's room, just to reassure himself that what he had been told was true. He reached down and took Tracy's hand into his own and noted the steady beeping of the monitors that had been so erratic earlier. Her color was better, and there was a just perceptible trace of the vampire about her that Nick could feel if he extended his preternatural senses. LaCroix had not lied. Tracy would live. Nick could feel it. But that brought up an entirely new set of problems.

Tracy had recognized what he was in the locker room that evening. He would have to confront her and make her realize that her knowledge of his condition would be very dangerous. She was a resistor, so there was little chance he could erase her memories. He knew he could count on her discretion. He just did not relish facing her disappointment in him. Nick sighed deeply and allowed Tracy's hand to rest beside her on the bed. He would return tomorrow, when she awoke. Now, it was time to meet Natalie.

While Nick watched over Tracy's bedside, Natalie settled herself into the sofa in Nick's loft. Just as she had left the morgue, they had called her from the hospital. Tracy was dead. She had expected to find Nick here in the loft, grieving over the loss of yet another partner within the year, just as she grieved over the loss of her friend, Lora. She was ready to confront him about their relationship. Nick was getting ready to move on, as he had been when Schanke died. But this time Natalie would not allow Nick to go without her. No matter what it took, they would be together.

That one blissful night when Nick had forgotten he was a vampire had shown Natalie the man she loved without all the baggage that came with Nick's tortured past and his vampire condition. God, he was glorious. They had never spoken of their lost intimacy, but Natalie had replayed that night in waking and sleeping dreams every day since. She knew with a frightening clarity that she could never live without Nick again. He was her entire life. Her existence was so intertwined with his own, that she could never separate herself from him, not without serious emotional damage. In spite of her knee jerk reaction earlier, she was not entirely sure she wished to be a vampire. Nick thought she had a naive view of what his world was like, but Natalie had watched him very closely. The incredibly massive self-control he exerted when he held her, even briefly, terrified her.

Natalie was not frightened of what Nick might do to her. She was terrified at what he routinely, ruthlessly did to himself. She knew what intense stress did to human bodies. She could only surmise what might be happening to a vampire subjected to unending, overwhelming stress. Natalie was sure, no human had ever been capable of exerting such prolonged and rigorous control over their basic desires as that which Nicholas Knight used every night of his life, especially on his job as a homicide detective. And his desire for her was stretching that control to the limit. He was close to the breaking point. If he did not relieve some of the stress soon, she did not know what would happen.

Nick's recent possession by a demon had not helped. He had nearly killed her, and if it had not been for his continual practice of iron-fisted control, Natalie was sure she would have died. Even after the demon had been exorcised, Nick had no choice but to begin drinking human blood, once again. Natalie at one time thought that not drinking the blood would help Nick to regain his humanity, but she was beginning to wonder. Drinking human blood seemed to have a relaxing effect upon him.

Nick and LaCroix had made their peace with one another after Divia's death, and Nick had seemed to relax further. When Nick held her after Lora's death, Natalie had not felt the terrible tension in his body that was present on so many other occasions. He was still bent upon regaining his mortality. Natalie hoped that once he did, he would wish to stay with her. But she had found no new avenues of research that seemed promising, and only one avenue they had not tried remained.

There was another way across for him. Janette proved it. And Natalie was absolutely positive that Nick was capable of the kind of control that cure would require. She loved Nick deeply. She planned to ask him to make love to her. They had to do something. They could not continue as they were. Neither of them would survive this indecision much longer. Attempting Janette's cure might be their last chance for happiness together.

Suddenly, Natalie noticed that the lift had been activated. She rose to greet Nick with the news of Tracy's death. The lift door opened and Nick walked toward her. Natalie greeted him with the announcement she had received over the phone just as she left the morgue. The simple announcement of the time of Tracy's death did not seem to shake the smile she saw upon Nick's face.

"Nick, didn't you hear what I said? Tracy is dead!"

"No, Nat, she's not. I just left the hospital. She rallied at the last moment. Her vital signs have stabilized. She's going to recover!" Then he gathered her rigid body into his arms and held her closely until he felt her relax against him. He pulled back just enough to watch her face as he said, "We need to talk."

"Yes, we do," she replied. She began to back away to return to the couch, but he held her for a moment looking down into her eyes. Natalie gasped at the depth of love and concern she saw in his gaze. "We really need to talk," she managed before he bent his head and kissed her gently, full on the lips. He released her and held out his hand to lead her to the couch. She followed wonderingly. He wasn't going to leave! He was ready to talk! Maybe things could work out for them after all. They settled side by side, still holding hands. They sat gazing into each other's eyes, simply sharing the depth of feeling each had for the other.

Then Natalie broke the silence, "Tracy's not dead." She paused, "You didn't?" she asked gently.

"No, Nat, I didn't."

"Then how? I saw her wounds. How could she survive that without some kind of help?"

"She had help, Nat. But not the kind I usually offer. The bullets went through me first." Nick found himself staring at the backs of Natalie's hands as he drew invisible circles upon them with his thumbs. He couldn't look at her. He felt a kind of guilt for having even this much to do with Tracy's resuscitation.

"And that tiny bit of tissue was enough to...to do what, Nick?"

"Enough to help her regenerate. Not enough to bring her across. LaCroix says there won't be any side effects."

"LaCroix! He was there?"

"Yes, he came in while I was waiting in the hall for them to finish with the crash cart. He told me this had happened before. That she would be all right." Nick looked up at Natalie, "I know he told the truth, Nat. I can tell when he's lying. And later I went in to check on her. She will be O.K."

Natalie heaved a sigh of relief. "What else did LaCroix say? I know you two have made peace. What would he think of us being here, together like this, now?"

"He told me to go home, rest, and....to ask you what you want." Nick's eyes bored into Natalie's to emphasize his next point. "You know he wants me to move on, but this time he's willing for me to take you with us. But he wants me to bring you across. I won't, Nat. That's one thing I will not do! And it isn't that I don't want you. You know how very much I want you. I love you, Natalie Lambert, just as you are. It would kill me if I thought I had destroyed you. And bringing you across would destroy you. It would turn you into a killer like myself. You are no killer, Natalie. You were never meant to be. I cannot unmake you to make you immortal."

End Part 1 of 11 - Knightmares

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 2 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

Natalie stared up at him, admiring his resolution, his conviction, his dedication to his ideals. And when he declared his love for her and told her precisely what he thought she would lose if he brought her across, she thought her heart would burst with her love for him. "Oh, Nick!" She reached up and stroked his cheek softly. And suddenly she was in his arms, crushed to his chest, while he covered her face with passionate kisses. Then, just as suddenly, he thrust her from him, and she reeled as she tried to regain her equilibrium. Her heart sped from the sheer pleasure and excitement he had generated with his embrace. She could still feel the places he had caressed, the imprint of his mouth on her face.

"I'm sorry. I hadn't expected to need you this much," Nick murmured. He was gazing at her, blue eyes burning with passion. His body trembled as he fought to keep himself from grabbing her and dragging her to his bed.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, I really don't want to be brought across. I lost my temper in the hospital before. And the reason you gave me is a very valid one. We had some of this discussion once before...after the meteor scare. I told you then you were right not to bring me across. You still are. We simply have to find another way, Nick. And there is another way. I think we should try it."

"Natalie, no! I want you too much. I want,...the vampire wants,...to bring you across. I don't think I have the kind of control required for Janette's cure."

"But, Nick, I know you do have that kind of control. Look at what you've done over the past six years. Have you ever had a job that required so much close contact with humans, blood, and death as this one? And we have done this before. The night you lost your memory. You didn't lose control then. You were even relaxed."

"But Nat, I didn't know what I was. And since then the demon has forced me back to drinking human blood just to exercise the smallest amount of control. It's still prompting the blood lust, more strongly than ever. I can't put you in that kind of danger, Natalie. I can't lose you."

"Nick, I need to tell you. I think your drinking human blood is better, healthier, for you. You've been more relaxed, more in control since you've gone back to human blood. I've watched you. The more you abstain from human blood, the more stressed you become. When you drink the cow's blood, you're edgier, less able to cope with the slightest irritation. Lately your complexion is better, you don't strain constantly to be calm, you're quieter, more composed. You are healthier when you drink human blood. Your body is telling you to take what you need to be healthy."

Nick was appalled. "But you told me that staying away from the blood was a way for me to come back across."

"I told you wrong. I was treating you as if you were an addict. You're not an addict, Nick. You've simply got a different metabolism. Nowadays we can supply your needs without your being a killer. Before it was different. I think we need a different approach. After all, I don't think Janette ever shared the lifestyle you've been pursuing. And her way worked just fine. I think we need to continue to feed you human blood. I think we need some time to get you back to your full strength. I'm sure that will allow you to exercise the phenomenal control you've been building while you've been starving yourself over the past several years."

"But Nat."

"Don't 'but Nat' me. I know I'm right this time. Before I was relying on a theory that bought into your own conviction that what you were was evil, and we only had to counter it with good. It also operated on the premise that what was good for a human was good for a vampire. That, obviously, isn't true. And I have genetic tests, blood tests, every kind of test that I've run on you for nearly six years to tell me that vampires are a human mutation that works. You're not an evil, debased, addicted human, Nick. You're a malnourished vampire who's been subjected to repeated abuse and torture. And I regret to say that part of that abuse and torture was done by me." Natalie looked up at him with sad, repentant eyes.

"Nat, rebuilding my vampire health, that might take a while." Nick said slowly.

"I expect it will. We've been routinely starving you for six years now."

Nick shook his head. "No, Nat, I've been drinking cow blood for nearly a hundred years. Do you really think I've been starving myself?"

"My God, Nick. You've been at this for that long?!"

"I told you, I couldn't kill anymore. I just couldn't."

"But Nick, now there is freely donated blood. People actually sell their blood now. It's a reproducible product."

"I know, and that's what I've been drinking lately. But only for the last month or so. How long do you think it will take to rebuild my health?"

"I really have no idea, Nick. We'll just have to take it as it comes. But you must not go back to the cow, Nick. You need human. You must be completely healthy or Janette's cure will never work."

Nick's face underwent a subtle change, and Natalie could not read his expression. "What is it, Nick?" she asked.

"I was just thinking. LaCroix would be very pleased with you just now. Are you sure he hasn't been influencing your thinking?" he asked teasingly, and a wide smile spread across his face.

"Well, if all he wants is a healthy son, then I'm willing to give it to him. But I have other, more nefarious designs on you," Natalie leered up at him. "I want you just as much as you want me. And I want you any way I can get you. If this is what it takes to have you, let's do it."

Nick pulled her back into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately. She responded with fervor. Their passion was interrupted by the phone ringing and then the answering machine's response. It was Joe Reese, Nick's captain, letting him know that I.A. wanted to speak to him about the shooting that had resulted in Tracy's being injured. He was to be at the station at the beginning of his shift the next evening to make his statement.

"Well, that should be easier, now that Tracy's going to recover," Natalie observed.

"Being interviewed by I.A. is never easy, Nat. But you're right. With Tracy's testimony, I think they'll let us both off with a reprimand. What would you like to do now?" Nick asked Natalie with a suggestive look.

"I don't think we should indulge our desires too thoroughly too soon, my love." She told him. "We still need to build up your strength." He hadn't released her from his arms, and she reached up and wrapped her own arms around his neck, bringing his head down for another deeply satisfying kiss.

"Je t'adore, mon coeur, Natalie." Nick breathed in her ear as they parted.

"Moi aussi, mon cher," she responded. He nibbled down her neck, inhaling her scent, and sucked gently at the skin just over her carotid artery. "Nick, isn't that a little dangerous," she murmured, then gasped, as an electric bolt of sensual desire shot from the spot he suckled to her very core.

"Mmmm, and delicious," he murmured as he pulled back and looked into her eyes. His eyes flashed golden flecks. She watched, fascinated, as the vampire slowly emerged to revel in her desire for him.

"Then I think we need to break this up and get you something to drink." She dared to kiss him once more, tasting his mouth deeply with her tongue. Then she pulled back and was gratified to find that his eyes had drifted to a copper hue. That indication of just how much she had aroused him pleased her, even as she fully understood she was playing with fire. She reached up, caressed his cheek, and kissed him briefly once again as she rose and went to the refrigerator. She lifted out a bottle with the Raven's private label on it, pulled the cork, and returned to the couch.

"Here, you need this. Drink it all. I want you healthy."

He looked up at her, his eyes once again blue and full of love. "Thank you, Natalie. For everything." He held out his hand to her, and she settled beside him. Then he tipped up the bottle and emptied it.

Above their heads, LaCroix drifted just above the skylight. Having felt his son's passionate arousal, he had decided to find out just what Nicholas and his erstwhile lover would decide. He had arrived just in time to witness Natalie's latest prescription. He was inordinately pleased with himself. Things were going just the way he had hoped. The doctor had finally realized what he had been trying to tell them both. Nicholas must consume human blood. And when Nicholas was at his full strength once again, then he would bring that magnificent woman across on his own when they tried Janette's so-called 'cure.' LaCroix chortled silently. It was true, the old maxim, if you give someone enough rope, he will hang himself! He flew off, extremely pleased with developments.

Nick smiled as he left the precinct the next evening. I.A. had conducted their usual brutally ruthless interview. When he had gone in that evening, they had already taken Tracy's statement in the hospital. They had raked Nick over the coals for having used so much force that he had broken Dawkins' neck when he had flung him against the wall. Nick was now on administrative leave without pay for the next month. That was just fine with him. It would give him time to follow Natalie's new prescription. And, just maybe, he could persuade her to take some time off to be with him. He headed straight for the morgue to tell her the news.

When he arrived, he found only Grace in the morgue offices. "Where's Nat, Grace?" he asked the handsome black woman who was probably Natalie's best friend.

"Good evening, Detective. She's at home. She resigned, you know," Grace replied.

Nick's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Resigned!? When? Why?" He demanded.

"Why don't you go ask her. She told me I should tell you to come by her place when you came in."

"I will, Grace, thank you, but I just don't understand why she would resign. This job is everything to her. She loves her work."

"Don't worry, Nick, they wouldn't accept it upstairs. They gave her an extended leave. She needs it. She never did take enough vacation, and this thing with her friend, Lora, took a lot out of her." Grace patted him on the shoulder. "Go on over and talk to her."

Nick nodded and smiled, kissed Grace quickly on the cheek, and hurried down the hall to his car. He headed out of the morgue parking lot and drove directly to Natalie's apartment. What ever would have possessed her to resign? At least now they both had time off. Nick smiled as he thought of a number of things he might persuade Natalie to do during that time.

Natalie sat on her couch petting the purring bundle of fur in her lap and wondering how soon I.A. would get through with Nick. She knew he'd be puzzled when he arrived. She'd actually resigned the night before and hadn't told him. She'd been ready to leave with him when he moved on after Tracy's death. She hadn't intended to be left behind. But when Tracy survived, and she and Nick reached an understanding about their future without the major argument she expected, she rethought her resignation.

When Natalie's boss called her earlier that evening to reject her resignation, she accepted the leave of absence instead. But Natalie still thought that she and Nick would have to move on soon. If they managed to actually accomplish Janette's cure, they would have to attempt to escape from LaCroix. Natalie had tossed and turned after returning from the loft. When she slept at last, horrid visions of what Nick might do if the cure failed plagued her dreams. They must be very careful with this new regimen. Nick had a tendency to go overboard with things. She remembered, vividly, the irrational way he'd acted when she found him 're-vamping' himself at the Raven during his attempted 12-step cure. Their situation was littered with emotional minefields. She hoped there was a way to defuse the tremendously dangerous potential for them to kill each other inadvertently.

A quiet knock sounded at her door. She lifted Sydney off her lap and went to answer it. The moment the door opened, Nick breezed in, lifted her off her feet, and whirled her around in a gleeful hug. Then he set her on the floor and kissed her deeply. When he released her slightly, she reached around him and shut the door.

"We don't want the neighbors gossiping," she told him as she noticed Mrs. Gibbs, across the hall, smiling widely at them.

"Why not? I love you, and I want everyone to know it," Nick replied. But he backed off a bit and merely took her hand and dragged her down onto the couch at his side. "What's this I hear about you resigning?"

"I did that last night before I came to the loft when I thought Tracy was dead. I told you I was ready to go with you when you moved on," Natalie said.

"But they wouldn't let you go, would they?"

"No, but the leave of absence gives us time to think about where we want to go and what we want to do next." She smiled up into his face and watched as her use of the word 'we' registered on his sensibilities.

Nick returned her smile and said, "I have a few suggestions."

"Me, too," she told him. "I had a bad night last night, Nick,...nightmares." She shivered. "We need to take this very slowly. I don't want you racing off with the bit between your teeth on this new diet. I want to monitor your system and make sure we don't do this too fast. There's too much danger for both of us here."

"I know. I know, Nat. But I also know that this time it will work. I already feel more in control around you. But you're right. I do get carried away. You need to be very observant. Let me know when you feel the least bit uncomfortable. I promise to back off."

"That's not the only danger, Nick. We know we're going to have to confront or evade LaCroix eventually. Will we be able to do that?"

Nick suddenly sobered. He looked at her closely for a moment, then, seemed to make up his mind about something. He said, "I've been planning my escape from LaCroix for centuries. I have a variety of contingency plans in place and an identity that I don't think he can crack. But we can't use any of it until the last possible moment. I don't want to give him a chance to read my hand until I play it."

"That makes sense, Nick. Don't tell me anything about it. Then he can't get anything out of me if he tries." Nick frowned and then nodded at her assertion. He took a deep breath, and his face lightened to the joyful expression he had worn when he'd arrived. "What do you want to do now, Nat? I'm on administrative leave for the next month without pay. Excessive force was I.A.'s determination."

"I see. Would you like to go somewhere together? I think we need some time out of this pressure cooker we call our lives to just relax and try out this new relationship." Natalie looked at him hopefully. And watched as an even wider grin covered his face.

"Just what I was going to suggest, myself. Where would you like to go, Nat?"

Natalie hesitated about what she was going to say next. She wasn't sure how he might take it. He hadn't really said anything about marriage, but his every action seemed to express his commitment to her. "Nick, I'd like to know more about you. Who were you before you met LaCroix? Where you were born? What was your family like? Does your home still exist? Could we go there? You've lived in my home country for the past six years, at least. I want to know more about the man who, most likely, will become my husband." She hadn't thought his smile could grow any wider, but the brief flash she caught, before he smothered her in kisses, looked as if it might cut his head in two.

When Nick finally let Natalie go, his eyes had gone to a feral red, and he was trembling with the effort to keep from attacking her. He jumped up from the couch and disappeared into the kitchen. Natalie could hear the sound of the refrigerator opening and was very glad she had picked up a case of blood at the Raven the previous night on her way home. The place had not been open for normal business, but LaCroix had greeted her graciously before her hand had even touched the door handle, and had cheerfully sold her what Nick needed. When Nick returned to the couch, he was composed, even sober in his attitude.

"That was close, Nat. I keep forgetting how very much you affect me." Then he smiled shyly at her and reached into his pocket. He fished out a small box and handed it to her. "Go ahead, open it," he encouraged her quietly.

Natalie lifted the box from his hand and opened it. Inside she found a magnificent marquis cut ruby ringed with diamonds. The ruby was not overly large, perhaps half a carat, but its deep, red clarity was flawless. Natalie looked up at Nick and smiled as he reached into the box, lifted out the ring, and placed it upon the ring finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly.

"It's my promise to you," Nick said quietly. "If we can control this terrible desire I have for your blood,...enough to make Janette's cure work,...I want you to be my wife." He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "But I have no desire to tie you to a hopeless quest, my love. If you do not wish to attempt this, I will understand." Then he waited, tensely, for her answer.

"Nick, I want very much to marry you and live with you for the rest of our lives. I would marry you even if you were not human, if you would have me." Natalie told him sincerely.

Nick's lips met hers in a tender, gentle kiss and he smiled at her through the tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes. She reached up and wiped them away with her fingers before they could fall, and he kissed her fingertips. They sat together gazing into one another's eyes for a long time. Natalie finally roused herself and asked, "Well, where do we want to go?"

"My home is no longer there, in Brabant. But the countryside in the Netherlands and Belgium is beautiful. If you really want to see where I was born, we can go there. Have you ever seen Paris? It's a beautiful city. They say it's for lovers. I spent much of my life in that place. It's where LaCroix found me, but there are also many happy memories there. I've lived just about everywhere around the globe, Natalie. I could show you anyplace you'd like to see."

"Let's go to Brabant. I want to see the countryside. No big cities, Nick, no matter how romantic. I need peace and quiet just now. Is that all right with you?"

"Of course it is, my love. Anywhere you want to be is where I want to be."

"Could we just rent a car somewhere in the low countries and drive where we want to go, Nick?"

"Sure, no problem. Let me make the travel arrangements. When do you want to leave?"

"As soon as you can organize things. I don't want to waste any of our time off. When we get back we can decide what we want to do next. I may still decide I want to resign. And you might want to think about where you'd like to go next," Natalie urged him. Nick looked closely at her.

"Nat, are you sure you want this? Your profession is very important to you. I don't want to be the reason for you to give up your life."

"Nick, I'm not giving anything up, I'm just thinking over possibilities for change. This job I have now is just fine, but I could do research. I'd like that. And I think, Mr. Knight, that you might know how I could set up a laboratory to do just that, most anywhere we wanted. Am I right?"

Nick grinned at her and nodded. "Yeah, I do. I just don't want to force you into anything you don't really want, Natalie."

"You don't really know me very well do you?" Natalie asked. Nick looked puzzled. "Don't you understand yet, you big lug. I love you. You are my life. When people marry, they make these kinds of changes voluntarily. This is what I want, Nick. I want whatever it takes to keep us together."

Nick just looked at her and shook his head. She reached up and kissed him sweetly, then wrapped her arms around his neck and devoured him. When she pulled back, he just stared at her with his mouth open. Then he grinned at her. "Well, I'd better go make those travel arrangements. You get packed, and I'll pick you up tomorrow evening just after sundown. Let's plan on traveling for about two weeks. Then we'll come home and see what we want to do next." Natalie nodded, rose and followed him to the door. He pulled her into his arms again for a goodbye kiss. Then he was gone. Natalie relaxed against the door for a moment, then she went to the phone to call Grace.

End Part 2 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L.Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - Part 3 of 11 - Please see disclaimers at head of part 1.

by Rebecca L. Chessman

"Natalie!" Grace answered the phone in the morgue, "What are you up to, girl? You've sure got that blonde detective worried about you."

"Just keeping him on his toes, Grace. Say, would you look after Sydney for me for the next few weeks? I'm going to take advantage of this leave of absence to take a vacation."

"I'd be more than happy to, Natalie. Where are you planning on going? And is there anything I should know?"

"Belgium. And what do you think you should know, Grace?" Natalie asked innocently.

"Give, girl. There's something going on between you and that detective. I want to know just how far it's gone. You know you can't keep secrets from me, Dr. Lambert!"

Natalie knew that Grace would needle her until she got every scrap of gossip possible, so she decided to provide the edited version for public consumption. She and Nick would have to cut their ties with Toronto sooner or later, and she thought she should begin to pave the way. "Well, Grace, we're going to vacation together. We've decided to find out if there's a future for a real relationship. But that's as far as things have gone, honest."

"Well, it's about time! I don't know if you realize just how many people have been rooting for you two to get together. It was beginning to look like you would never realize what we all know. You and Nick were meant for each other. Don't come back without a ring on your finger!" Grace admonished.

Natalie giggled, "Are you in the pool, too, Grace?"

"Natalie!" Grace was scandalized. "How did you know about the pool?"

"Schanke let it drop. And if it helps any, I have a ring."

"Good for you, girl! What's it like?"

"Why don't you drop over after your shift, and I'll show you. And you can get reacquainted with Syd."

"Listen, Natalie, don't worry about Sydney, he and I get along just fine. But I am dying to see that ring. I'll be over as soon as I can. I won't be disturbing you will I?"

"No, Grace, he's not here. He's making travel arrangements and letting me have time to pack. You won't be interrupting anything. We're not leaving until tomorrow evening. Why don't you stop in, and I'll fix you breakfast."

"Done, see you soon." Grace hung up and immediately dialed her friend at Toronto Metro. Hanging up the phone at home, Natalie knew the grapevine would be buzzing.

While Natalie talked to Grace, Nick was heading for the hospital. He knew he would have to let Tracy confront him. He didn't want to leave that loose end dangling in case he and Natalie decided not to return from their trip. He pulled up into the hospital parking lot, rehearsing in his head all the reasons he had not confided in Tracy. By the time he'd gotten to her room, he thought he had a well-thought-out answer for anything she might ask him.

"Well, it's about time!" Tracy greeted him. She sat up straight in bed and leaned toward him eagerly.

"About time for what, Trace?" Nick asked, wondering why she wasn't angry.

"I wondered when you would get around to asking Natalie to marry you. But how could you!?" Tracy exploded.

Nick was completely floored. How did Tracy find out? He just stood and stared at her.

"Well, are you going to explain or what?" Tracy demanded.

"How did you find out about Nat and I?" Nick was amazed!

"Grace called me....Well, how can you? I know what you are, Nick Knight. How could you not tell me?" Avid curiosity and intense excitement seemed to dominate Tracy's entire demeanor, colored with just a trace of anger.

"Tracy, just calm down. I'll try to explain. That's why I came. I am glad to see you're feeling better. You were in pretty rotten shape last night. We thought we'd lost you for a while."

"Come on, Nick, give!!"

"Why aren't you more angry with me? You seemed so disappointed in me last night when you realized what I hadn't told you."

"LaCroix came by earlier."

"LaCroix!?" Nick nearly choked on the name.

"I think he wanted to make sure I could keep a secret. He explained why I'm still alive. And he told me what your relationship is to him. God, Nick, I'd hate to be tied to him for life! It seems to me that's enough punishment without my being angry with you. How can you and Natalie be together with him around? I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him."

"We're not absolutely sure we can be together, but we're working on it. You know how hard it is. You and Vachon were close friends."

"Yeah, we were," Tracy brooded quietly for a moment. Then she looked up at Nick. "I hope you and Natalie have a better chance at happiness than Vachon and I had."

Nick reached over and patted her on the shoulder.

"Just exactly what did LaCroix tell you?"

"He told me that when the bullets went through you, they carried some of your blood and tissue into me. Whatever makes you what you are, healed my wounds. He told me that I would always be able to identify creatures like yourself and him. He warned me that there was a remote possibility that I might become a hunter. But because you and I had respect for one another, and there didn't seem to be that much tissue exchange involved, he didn't think I would be. He said that I might live longer than average, and I'd always be very healthy. Sounds like a nice trade off. I owe you my life, Nick. Thank you." Nick waved away her thanks.

"I'm just glad I didn't have an adverse effect on you, Trace. What will you do now? Will you stay with the force?"

"Yeah, I think I will. I'm going to try to do what you and Natalie have done, be an interface for the Community. I hope you two know what you're doing. And I hope it works out for you both."

Nick leaned down and gave Tracy a big hug. "Thanks, Trace. We'll try to be careful. We'll be back after our vacation. If we decide to move on, we'll let you know."

"You'd better, partner. No more secrets, O.K.?"

"O.K., Trace. So long." Nick left Tracy's room speculating on just what LaCroix had wanted to achieve by visiting Tracy. If he had wanted to develop a friendly source of information about Natalie and himself, Nick thought, Tracy wasn't going to be as cooperative as LaCroix might have imagined. Nick smiled to himself. Then he decided to head for the Raven to talk to LaCroix. If he appeared to be open and told LaCroix their current plans, it might buy them some quiet time.

Within half an hour Nick pulled up in front of the Raven, parked the caddy, and headed for the door. It opened before he could reach the handle. LaCroix greeted him and ushered Nick into the office where LaCroix pulled out two wine glasses and a bottle. LaCroix poured out a glassful of blood wine for each of them and settled into the large leather chair behind the desk, leaving the easy chair for Nick. "How is your partner this evening?"

"Feeling very much better. She said you visited and explained what had happened to her." Nick observed.

"Yes, she was rather angry with you at first. But I believe she was truly grateful to you for her life." LaCroix smiled.

"It's just a shame her friend, Vachon, didn't survive Divia's assault."

"Yes. What have you decided, Nicholas? Will you be leaving with me at the end of this week?"

"No, LaCroix. Natalie and I have decided to move on together. We're announcing our engagement, and going on vacation together tomorrow evening."

"Your engagement? To a mortal?" LaCroix's eyebrows rose in query. "You tried that once before. It didn't work."

"I know, LaCroix. I won't try that again, but we have to tell her friends something. I still wish to pursue my quest for a way back, LaCroix."

"What does your doctor want, Nicholas?"

"She wants us to be together. She says she doesn't care what I am. She wants me to continue drinking human blood. She says it's unhealthy for me to drink the cow blood. She thinks it will be easier for us to be together if I'm not starving myself. Have you been influencing her, LaCroix?" Nick suddenly and forcefully demanded.

LaCroix chuckled. "No, Nicholas, I have not been influencing her. She's just realized the facts. You and she are different kinds of being. Your superior nature requires a very refined food. You should bring her across, Nicholas. She is a very intelligent woman. She would be a great improvement to the general tenor of our Community."

"You will not interfere with us, LaCroix!" Nick insisted.

"No, I will not interfere, Nicholas. You will bring her across on your own eventually. I would not dream of inhibiting your desires in this matter." LaCroix smiled again. "Let me know when you return from your little sojourn. Aristotle knows where I am relocating. Enjoy your trip home."

"How did you know where we were going?"

"Oh, Nicholas, really, you are so predictable. Every young man takes the woman he intends to marry home to meet the family. Your original family no longer exists, but you do still have ties to the land. Show her your new home. She will be suitably impressed."

Nick sat and looked at LaCroix for a long moment assessing his master's mood and truthfulness. He finally satisfied himself that LaCroix was telling the truth, but he still knew that the ancient vampire would expect Natalie to be brought across. They would have to be very careful when they decided to genuinely move on without LaCroix's knowledge. Nick finished his drink and rose to depart.

"I will let you know when we return," Nick said, "But I expect that you will use your own resources and will know before we do." Nick smiled faintly.

"Indeed. Enjoy your time with Dr. Lambert while you can. I will not interfere."

"Thank you, LaCroix," Nick left.

Nick shook himself as he slipped into the driver's seat of the caddy. Now he could set about making their travel arrangements. He headed back to the loft and began making phone calls. When he finished his calls, he packed some of what he thought he would need on their trip. Then he downed a full bottle of blood before settling himself to sleep through the day.

Hours later, Nick bolted upright in bed, he was sweating profusely, and his breath came in painful pants. The nightmare began as a beautiful dream of his and Natalie's marriage. Although, now that he was awake, Nick realized it was a replay of his marriage to Alyssa. The nightmare began when he drained Natalie just as he had Alyssa. The taste and scent of Natalie's blood was so exquisitely intoxicating! He had not been able to stop until he consumed her completely. There was never any hope of bringing her across. Then, in his dream, he had gone to the window and opened it. He lay with his bride until the sun rose and burned him to ashes.

No, Nick resolved to himself, it will not happen that way. I will not kill Natalie. We shall be together. He got up from the bed. Glancing at the clock he noticed it was only noon. He went downstairs where he consumed two full bottles of blood. Then he returned to the bedroom suite, showered, changed his pajamas, and went back to bed. He slept the rest of the day peacefully. When he awoke at his normal hour, Nick rose and finished packing for their trip. In addition to his toiletries and nourishment, he included a bulky package which was wrapped as a gift in his attache case. As he placed it in the bag, a wistful look came over his face as he speculated what Natalie's reaction would be to this present. Just as Nick completed his packing, the door video buzzed. The car he had ordered to carry himself and Natalie to the airport had arrived.

Natalie and Grace spent a satisfying morning admiring Natalie's new ring and discussing the joys and disappointments of courtship. Both ladies had had their share of relationships that had failed.

"The first time I saw you and Nick together, I knew you two were meant for each other," Grace said

"Grace you've said that about everyone I've dated!" Natalie exclaimed.

"This time it will work, Natalie. Believe me!" Grace assured her. "He's right for you."

Natalie had her reservations about a relationship with Nick while he was still a vampire, but she couldn't imagine being with anyone else. Of course she couldn't tell Grace that, so she simply complained mildly about his occasional inattentiveness. Grace agreed that Nick hadn't always been the most attentive of lovers. <Both of you have tried to deny your attraction for each other. God knows why!> Grace thought to herself.

"But I could always tell how much he cared about you. It's the way he looks at you when he doesn't think you'll notice," Grace asserted. It was late when Grace left, and Natalie finally went to bed. She'd managed to oversleep, and now she was in a rush.

Natalie raced about her apartment gathering up her cosmetics and toiletries and throwing them in her overnight bag. She was very glad she had packed everything else before Grace had arrived. She took one last glance around to be sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Sydney wandered into the room to check out Natalie's bags. She picked him up to hug him one last time, to his immense disgust. When she released him, he bounced across the room, then curled up and began to re-groom himself where Natalie had disturbed the arrangement of his fur. Just then Natalie heard a soft knock on her door. She raced to open it, and found Nick smiling widely on the other side. He gathered her into his arms for an enthusiastic kiss, then scooped up her bags and whisked her out the door.

"You didn't even give me time to tell Sydney to be a good kitty," she complained gently as Nick led her down the hall.

"You already said goodbye to him. He was still rearranging his fur. I noticed." Nick told her with a mischievous grin. Natalie returned his grin and slipped her arm through his as they continued down the hall.

"Wow, a limo!" Natalie exclaimed as they neared the curb where the large black car was waiting.

"I had to make some special arrangements. Apparently all the regular transportation is booked for the next week or so. People seem to be having conventions this time of year, and I didn't want to disappoint you."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to get used to luxury," Natalie commented as the driver came around to the passenger side, seated his passengers, shut the door, and loaded the bags in the trunk on his way back to the driver's seat. The drive to the airport was uneventful, but when they arrived at the bustling complex, the driver passed the main terminal and continued on to the small civil aviation airport adjoining the commercial airlines property.

"What next, Nick? Are we flying a Lear jet to Europe?" Natalie joked.

"Sort of," Nick answered with another charming smile. "It's actually a Gulfstream V. It belongs to the Foundation, but they let me use it when I'm on business for them. And we do have some business to do in Brussels."

Natalie was speechless for a moment, she'd known about the Foundation and the immensity of his wealth. But it just hadn't sunk into her consciousness until the moment that she saw the beautiful executive jet imprinted with the deBrabant Foundation logo standing in front of the hangar. Floodlights illumined the bustling mechanics obviously making last minute checks on the aircraft. She breathed a huge sigh and inwardly adjusted her perception of Nick to include the worldly businessman he obviously was, in addition to the very competent detective and the anguished vampire with whom she was much more familiar and comfortable.

The limo driver stopped his vehicle at the bottom of the steps leading to the open door of the plane. A uniformed stewardess appeared at the top of the stairs. Nick led Natalie to the foot of the stairway and gestured for her to ascend. When she reached the top of the stairs, the stewardess ushered Natalie to a comfortable easy chair next to the window on the far side of the plane. A second chair faced hers across a table. A second, similar setup, filled the rest of the passenger cabin on the same wall. An attractively efficient teakwood galley/wet bar graced the opposite side of the cabin. A three-seat couch, placed next to the galley, filled the remainder of the cabin. A central opening in a teakwood bulkhead led to a second cabin at the rear of the plane.

Nick and the chauffeur loaded the bags they had taken from the trunk of the limo into the baggage compartment in the belly of the plane. Nick reserved his attache case and Natalie's medical case and overnight bag, which he carried up the steps after paying for the limo and tipping the chauffeur generously in cash.

"Good evening, Mr. Knight," the stewardess greeted him as he stowed his briefcase under the easy chair across from Natalie's.

"Hello,...Angela Fredericks, isn't it? Please call me Nick."

"Yes, sir,... Nick, it's nice to see you again. George and Tom are your pilots tonight, and Luke is our navigator. I hear we're headed for Brussels this time," Angela replied.

"Yes, we are. I'd like you to meet Dr. Natalie Lambert, my fiancee," Nick told the stewardess.

"Good evening, Dr. Lambert. It's a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations to you both!" She smiled as she shook Natalie's hand.

"I'm going to check and be sure all the food was delivered properly. I'll be back to serve as soon as George tells me it's stable enough." She moved briskly to the rear of the plane.

"Do you travel this way often?" Natalie asked Nick as he handed her her bags which she stowed in the space beneath her chair, as she had seen him do with his own.

"No, not really. I check on the Foundation's work about once a year through the lawyer, mostly. But this past year we've had some heavier demands due to crises in food supplies to some areas we've been aiding, and I had to do some personal intervention at least twice. I try not to do too much traveling. They have a tendency to pamper me," he grinned as he settled into the chair next to Natalie's, "and I don't really deserve it."

Natalie settled more deeply into her chair and tried to relax. Her eyes darted about the cabin as she took in the understated elegance of their surroundings. The overall color of the interior of the plane was a creamy beige, but the cushions in the furnishings were a deep burgundy with a small deBrabant logo worked in gold and black repeated throughout the tough, woven fabric. The full logo was emblazoned on the front of the galley. The usual shades were apparent in the plane's windows, but, in addition, beige blackout curtains were tied back to either side of each window. The floor was covered in burgundy indoor/outdoor carpet. The beige, burgundy, and gold, and the obviously fine workmanship of each detail of the cabin's furnishings, conveyed a feeling of quiet, confident, privilege.

End part 3 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 4 of 11 - Please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

Nick interrupted Natalie's perusal of the cabin to advise her to strap herself in, and showed her where her seat belt was hidden in the depths of the chair. They both prepared themselves for take off. Angela passed through their area to the crew cabin.

She returned very shortly, "George says we're ready to take off." She moved to the outer door and secured it, smiled at them, and disappeared into the crew cabin once again.

"Is she going to stay in the cockpit?" Natalie asked Nick.

"Yes, I had the plane modified to allow the entire crew to remain together if they chose. Sometimes they only fly cargo, and it gets lonely for someone stuck back here by themselves.

"Cargo!? Where could you possibly put cargo amidst all this elegance?" Natalie asked.

"Mostly in the belly of the plane, but in the cabin behind this one we can load a good deal more. I'll show you once we're airborne," Nick replied.

The plane began its taxi out to the runway. Natalie and Nick settled in, Natalie peered out at the airport lights as the plane moved. Nick sat watching Natalie, delighting in her obvious excitement. Natalie had always enjoyed flying, but had never flown in an executive jet before. She had had to put up with small deHavillands on short hops, occasionally, but this plane seemed very much larger and was infinitely more comfortable. She felt the same exhilaration she always did when the plane lifted from the ground. And she eagerly gazed at the lights of Toronto as the city spread before them while the plane circled gently to rise to its appointed altitude. Soon the entire metropolitan area was spread before her. She was glad it was a clear night. She'd rarely had the opportunity to see so far. Then the plane passed into some high cloud cover, and she lost her view of the ground. Natalie sighed deeply at the lost beauty and turned to Nick.

"How long will the flight take?"

"About eight hours, we have about 4,000 miles to cover. This plane's range is 6,500 miles. It will carry people and supplies nearly anywhere. We also have a small medical setup in the second cabin near the lavatory. The Foundation had a Gulfstream IV, but I found it really didn't carry enough fuel or cargo. When you're flying rescue missions, things can often go wrong. So when this model became available, we upgraded. I hate losing good people to bad planning."

"I've noticed that," Natalie smiled at him. "What do we do with all that time? You don't provide a movie on the flight do you?"

"Not usually, but I had them bring along some of your favorites. I also have a little something else I think will help to pass the time." Nick replied.

At that moment Angela appeared through the cockpit doorway and announced, "George says we're at cruising altitude, if you'd like to get up and move around. He doesn't think we'll have much rough air, and the jet stream is with us. It should be a good flight. How soon would you like supper?"

"Natalie, when would you like to eat?" Nick asked her.

"Not for another hour or so, would that be all right?"

"Just fine, Dr. Lambert."

"Please, just call me Natalie."

"Very well, Natalie, I'll serve supper in about an hour. In the meantime I'll make some fresh coffee, and you can help yourselves to the bar. I'm sure Nick wants to show you around the plane. I won't spoil his tour." She turned to the galley and began assembling a pot of coffee.

Nick turned to Natalie and asked, "Would you like the grand tour?"

"Of course!" He led her through the passage to the rear cabin, and Natalie was amazed to find a fully equipped medical suite complete with an examination table which could function as an operating theater. The lavatory came equipped with a small shower as well as the usual toilet and sink, and behind these facilities was an open area equipped with cargo nets and tie-downs. A mound of boxes labeled 'medical supplies' occupied the center of this area.

"What's with the medical supplies, Nick?" Natalie asked.

"That's our business in Brussels," Nick replied. "We're meeting a medical team who will take the plane to deliver these supplies and their services to the Balkans. There is a very great need in that area just now. The Foundation is only one of the groups sending aid."

"I see," Natalie commented. "I've been tempted to volunteer on one of those teams myself. But I daresay they'd rather have pediatricians and internists."

"They need good pathologists too," Nick told her. "Dr. Moya has told me that he prefers to have someone examine the dead as well as the living anytime he's called into a new area. He says he needs to know everything the people suffer from, not just what's been most recently visited upon them. He insists it helps in proper diagnosis and treatment."

"That does make good medical sense, especially when you're dealing with a transient population. I'd like to meet this Dr. Moya," Natalie said.

"You will. He's leading this team. He's put together a group from all over Europe. He regularly flies to Mexico and other parts of Latin America each year to volunteer in primitive areas where they don't have and can't afford regular doctors. The Foundation also funds similar efforts in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia."

"I'm impressed."

"Not with me, I hope. The Foundation simply does very necessary work."

"Work that wouldn't be done if you didn't direct it properly, Nick. Don't sell yourself short," Natalie huffed at him. Nick just took her hand and led her back toward their original seats. "Never mind that, Nat. I have something else I'd like to share, if you don't mind."

Natalie could tell he was uncomfortable accepting any praise for his charitable efforts. She still was extremely proud of him. It took knowledge and financial ability to make the kind of operation Nick had described work well and deliver the help it was intended to give. Many other charitable organizations had been unable to deliver on their promises of aid when their funds had been embezzled or supplies had been stolen. Nick had investigated a murder involving one of those organizations two years before. She knew no slips would be made in the deBrabant Foundation or Nick would know and correct them immediately. She shivered a bit at the thought of just what he might do to anyone who diverted help he had intended for those who needed it. And she pondered her own feeling of satisfaction that he had the necessary power and could and would use it, ruthlessly and effectively, if it were required.

Nick interrupted her thoughts deliciously by slipping an arm around her and hugging her to his side as he led her back to the main passenger cabin. He settled her on the couch next to the galley and left her, momentarily, to retrieve the present he had left in his attache case. He carried the package to where Natalie now sat and handed it to her.

She looked up at him and commented, "You'll spoil me with so many gifts."

"Good," was Nick's only response as he settled at her side.

Natalie quickly removed the festive bow, unwrapped the lovely paper, and looked questioningly up into Nick's eyes as she opened the front cover of one of the two albums she held in her lap.

"You said you wanted to know more about me," Nick said. "LaCroix had me make the first album when he was helping me regain my memory. He expects me to destroy it. And I will. We can't leave evidence like this lying around. The Enforcers would hear of it, and you and I would be dead. But I wanted to share it with you before I do destroy it. The second album is one I have kept of things you and I have shared. That one is yours to keep and add to if you wish. It has nothing of the vampire in it."

Natalie nodded, speechless at the trust he was placing in her, and very moved by the simple existence of the second album. "These first pictures, they're very old. They're miniatures?"

Nick nodded, "When I first learned to paint, I set myself the task of making portraits of my family as I remembered them. I painted a miniature of each of them. This is my uncle, Henri, the Duke deBrabant. These are my father and mother, my sister, Fleur, and her son, Andre. These on the next page are my older brothers and older sister. This one became the duke, eventually, when my cousins died without issue." Nick pointed at one of the dark haired young men who looked very much like Nick's father.

"You took after your mother, didn't you," Natalie noted, turning back to the first page to gaze again into the faded portrait of a lovely blonde woman. "What was her name?"

"Clara, we were very close. I was the youngest son. When I was a boy, she would take me with her when she visited the people on the estate who needed medical help. She was the closest thing we had to a doctor in those days. Her mother had taught her herbal cures. She taught me to find and prepare the proper ingredients to brew some of the concoctions she used. Some of them have come back into use now in a much more precise and consistent form."

Natalie nodded, "Now they call the old herbal cures homeopathic medicine. And many have become standardized prescription medicines."

Nick met her eyes and acknowledged her observation, then he continued his story. "Fleur and I grew up in very nearly a separate family from my brothers and my older sister. My brothers were all settled on their own lands, or in the monastery, and my older sister married, before I was seven. Fleur was four years younger than I. Soon after she was born, I was fostered to another family to learn the proper way to be a knight and run an estate."

"I had just won my spurs when Father was killed in battle. But I stayed on with my lord DelaBarre until I was sent to the Crusades. Mother kept the estate for me while I was in the Holy Land. It was the least of my father's possessions. The best land went to the oldest son. I was lucky Father had many holdings, and one of my brothers became a monk, or I would not have had this bit. The church paid my family well when I went on Crusade, so Mother could afford to keep up the estate."

"I gave part of the land to Fleur for her dowry when she married. When Mother died, I closed the castle. It fell into ruin over the centuries. I kept the land for many years, but eventually, I had to sell it. Recently, I found some land which reminds me of the place where I was born. I bought it and built a house there. That's where we'll be staying. It's no castle, but it's comfortable. It's on the coast, so you can hear the ocean. The architectural style offers thorough protection from the sun, but one can swim and sunbathe beside the pool in complete privacy."

Natalie smiled up at him. "It sounds lovely, Nick. But won't it be a bit cool for swimming and sunbathing this time of year?"

"It would be if the deck were outdoors, but I had it roofed and enclosed in glass. It doubles as a conservatory," Nick told her.

"I'm looking forward to seeing it. Are you truly going to destroy these little paintings? Can't you just disassemble the album?"

"I could. If you wish, you can keep the things you want. Just don't keep them together like this."

"I won't. But I can't bear to part with these. They're wonderful paintings."

"They're very delicate. I really should put them back into storage with the other art work I own."

"Please do, Nick," Natalie smiled sweetly at him. He reached to gently caress her cheek, then added a firm, delectable kiss which was interrupted by Angela entering the cabin bearing trays of food. Nick looked up as she placed the trays on the table between the two chairs he and Natalie had occupied earlier. Natalie closed the album in her lap and said, "Oh, that smells wonderful. Thank you so much, Angela."

"You're very welcome, Natalie." Angela smiled at them knowingly and said, "I'm quite sure you two don't mind eating alone. I'm going to eat with the crew in the cockpit." Then she left them alone.

Natalie rose from her seat and walked back to settle in front of her dinner. It was a deliciously broiled filet mignon with small, white parslied potatoes and a colorful selection of fresh vegetables. "Oh, this looks wonderful, Nick. What a shame you don't care for such lovely food."

"I'll find something I can tolerate," Nick replied as he settled into his seat. He reached under his seat and brought out his attache case again. He withdrew a slim green bottle with the Raven's label and filled the wine glass which sat upon his tray. He ignored the food laid out on his plate and quietly savored his chosen repast.

Natalie meanwhile attacked her plate with relish. She filled her glass from the tiny bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon which had been provided with her dinner and sipped delightedly at it. When she finished, Nick offered her his dinner, "Would you like more wine with that?" Nick asked.

"Yes, I would, thank you." She paused for a moment, then traded plates with him and ate a bit more. Nick rose from his chair and went to the galley and found a second bottle of wine for Natalie. When she was full, she settled back in her chair and eyed Nick as he sat at his ease watching her over the rim of his glass.

He had enjoyed watching her eat. He liked watching her do anything, he reflected. She was so radiantly alive!

"A penny for your thoughts," Natalie teased him.

"I was just thinking how much I like watching you. You're truly beautiful, Natalie."

Natalie blushed at the compliment and saw his slight smile widen appreciatively, which only made her blush more furiously. Nick finished the liquid in his glass, replaced the cork in the bottle, and stowed it back under his seat. Then he leaned forward to take her hand and lead her back to the couch. She followed him cheerfully, but she teased as they walked, "Don't you serve dessert on this airline?"

"Of course, milady. But we allow dinner to settle first." He eyed her suggestively then remarked, "I'm going to wait until we land before I have mine." Natalie caught her breath as his meaning penetrated her understanding, and blushed a third time. Nick pulled her down onto the couch, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her thoroughly. She gasped for air, and his eyes sparkled a brilliant gold when he released her. He drew back and picked up the album from where she had left it and placed it into her hands. "I think we'd better go back to the past for a while."

Natalie smiled up into his eyes which were slowly regaining their blue color and said, "Perhaps that's wisest." Nick slipped one arm around her shoulders, and they bent once again over the album which told his life story. He reminisced quietly, retelling her some parts of his life he had only half-shared with her in the past, and startling her with brilliantly colorful anecdotes about each picture or bit of memorabilia he had placed in the album. In addition to the portraits he had made, there were also letters, pressed flowers, delicately embroidered handkerchiefs, bits of fabric, lace, stamps, small coins, theater and opera programs, calling cards, an occasional bank note, melted wax seals bearing the imprint of various signet rings, and, later in the book, faded photographs, deeds, newspaper clippings, business cards, dozens of items denoting the many incarnations Nick had experienced during his centuries-long life.

When Natalie turned to yet another portrait of a lovely, young, blond woman, Nick named her. "Alyssa, she was my wife." He now, finally, told her the full story of his lost wife. "And Natalie, I dreamed I killed you, too. But I won't let it happen this time. I can control myself. And I will." His eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and Natalie could feel his resolution emanating from him like a solid wall of resistance.

"Nick, I know you have that much control. I trust you."

"I'm still afraid, Natalie. The only thing in my life I cannot live without is right here next to me. I love you, Natalie. Nothing, and no one else, in my life has meant so much to me as you do." He kissed her cheek gently.

Natalie remained staring up at him for a timeless moment. Then she said, "That's completely unbelievable to me, Nick. Why? Why me?"

Nick gazed into her eyes and answered, "You've always known my secret. Yet, you've never been afraid of me, of what I am. You care for me, even though you know I've killed hundreds of thousands. You've never betrayed my trust. You've borne my neglect of you, and your needs, without a whimper. And you are a very admirable, intelligent, and interesting human being. How could I not love you with every atom of my being?"

Natalie just shook her head. "I still don't understand it. You have so many talents, so much experience of the world. You've known such fascinating people, lived so many intriguing lives, traveled so many places. I'd think I'd be boring to you."

"Never boring. I never know quite how you will react to things. Your view of life is as unique as anyone I've known. You keep surprising me. Never boring, my dearest, delectable, Natalie." And he punctuated each of his last words with a soft nibble upon her lips. Then he gathered her up for another deeply passionate embrace.

In the midst of this delightful interlude, Natalie could hear someone nervously clearing her throat. Then, as Nick released her, she heard Angela ask if they would like dessert. Natalie began to giggle uncontrollably. And when she looked at Nick, she thought she had never seen him look quite so guilty as he looked at that moment. She was sure the slightly pink tinge his face was manifesting was the vampire equivalent of a furious blush.

Natalie finally managed to control her laughter, and asked, "What do we have for dessert, Angela?"

Angela grinned and said, "Chocolate mousse. Nick said chocolate was your favorite."

"Oh yes, I definitely want dessert. Nick says he's waiting until we land for his." Natalie grinned evilly at Nick, whose face flushed an even brighter pink. She laughed at his discomfiture. And Angela joined in her laughter, although Natalie knew she didn't fully understand the joke. Then Angela reached into the tiny refrigerator tucked into the galley and handed Natalie a parfait glass, generously filled with mousse, and a spoon. Angela also placed four other desserts on a tray and asked, "Are you sure you don't want any, Nick?"

"Quite sure, thank you, Angela. But I might feed it to Nat later," he grinned. Angela took the tray into the cockpit and left Nick and Natalie to themselves again. Nick took the album from her lap so she could concentrate on her dessert.

After the first mouthful Natalie exclaimed, "It's simply marvelous! It has bits of chocolate blended into the mousse that just melt in your mouth. And it's so rich."

"It's Belgian chocolate. I'm told it's specially designed to satisfy the most discerning chocoholic. I believe you belong to that eminent society," Nick winked at her.

"I do, and it is that good," Natalie replied as she relished yet another bite. When she had finished her treat, Nick asked her if she wanted his. At her vehement affirmation, he rose, took her empty dish and spoon, and fetched the last dessert from the refrigerator. She reached for the glass, but Nick kept it.

"No, you don't. I'll feed it to you. I want to enjoy it with you." Then he proceeded to feed her the mousse, stealing a kiss before each bite, tasting the residue of chocolate which remained in her mouth, together with her own heady flavor. When they finished the dessert, her breath came quickly, and his eyes glowed. He rose and placed the empty glass and spoon on the galley's counter. When he returned to his place at her side, her breathing had calmed, and his eyes had once again become blue.

Nick replaced the album in her lap, but then the crew cabin door opened and a tall, handsome man came into the cabin. "George," Nick exclaimed, "I want you to meet my fiancee, Dr. Natalie Lambert. Natalie this is our pilot, George Fredericks. He's also Angela's husband."

"Hello, Dr. Lambert. I've heard very nice things about you from Angela. I'm glad Nick's finally going to have someone to take care of him. He doesn't do very well on his own," their pilot said with a smile.

"Call me Natalie, George. You're right. He does need someone to watch out for him. He gets into terrible scrapes on his own." Nick humphed at them, but they both ignored him.

"Would you like to see the cockpit, Natalie? I'll introduce you to the rest of the crew. We still have several hours of flight time. I hope Nick brought something along to entertain you. He's prone to working, reading, and brooding when he flies alone."

"I'd love to see the cockpit and meet the crew. This time he did bring some entertainment along. Thank you for asking." Natalie followed George into the cockpit and met Tom, the co-pilot, and Luke, the navigator. She had expected the crew's cabin to be Spartan, but it was as well-appointed, if smaller, than the passenger cabin. The crew were a cheerfully efficient team. Natalie enjoyed her brief sojourn with them. George explained each crew position to her and showed her some of the instruments. She returned to the couch in the main cabin to share her impressions with Nick.

"Nick, you have a wonderful crew on this plane," Natalie enthused.

"They're not my crew, they're employed by the Foundation," Nick corrected her, gently.

"Well, the Foundation certainly knows how to find excellent personnel. I'm glad it believes in nepotism."

Nick smiled at her, then responded, "You wouldn't want it to split up a good team would you?"

"Never!" she responded.

"Would you like to watch a movie for a while?" Nick asked her.

"Yes, I think I'd like that." <I'd really rather continue the 'Nick Festival!'> Natalie thought to herself. <He's never been so open with me before. Maybe if I give him some breathing room now, he might offer even more intimate details of his past when we reach his home.>

"The tapes are behind that door," Nick told her, indicating one of the storage areas mounted on the bulkhead between the passenger and crew cabins. "Choose what you'd like to see." While Natalie selected a tape, Nick lowered the screen mounted in the ceiling of the plane. When she returned to her seat, he loaded one of the two tapes she handed him and activated the projector which was placed at the back of the passenger cabin. They settled onto the couch, Nick's arms encircling Natalie, and watched two of Natalie's favorite comedies. They fell asleep in each other's arms, stretched out on the couch, close to the end of the second film.

End part 4 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 5 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

Several hours later Nick awoke. Natalie still slept, wrapped in his embrace. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, and she smiled in her sleep. She was so warm, soft, inviting. He kissed her again, and this time she stirred, her eyes opened, and she looked up at him. "I like waking up in your arms," Natalie said quietly.

"Maybe we can make it a regular event, soon," Nick murmured as he brushed his nose against hers.

"Mmmmm....I'm counting on it," Natalie returned as she reached up and stroked his cheek. Then she pulled his head down for a proper kiss. "You know, you need a shave," Natalie remarked as she stroked his cheek.

"You don't care for the bearded look?" Nick asked.

"I like you anyway you're comfortable, Nick."

"The beard itches," he replied.

"I'd like a shower. May I?" Natalie asked.

"Of course, help yourself. Ladies first," Nick told her. Natalie rose and retrieved her overnight case, then she went into the rear cabin and used the lavatory and shower facilities. When she was finished, she exited the shower and could hear Nick humming in the adjoining lavatory. She returned to the passenger cabin and found that the screen had been raised and a breakfast was waiting for herself and Nick on the table where they had eaten dinner.

Natalie dug into the omelet and croissant, reserving the fruit for dessert. She finished her repast with a steaming cup of coffee, French roast, she observed to herself. Just then Nick came into the cabin, exuding the scent of fresh aftershave. His hair was still damp, and he looked refreshed and happy. Natalie thought to herself that he had never looked so well. She savored that for just a moment. "The breakfast is delicious. Would you like yours, or can I have some of it?"

"You can eat the whole thing if you like. I'm going to have my usual," Nick replied as he settled across from her and pulled his bottle from his case. He picked up the cup from his tray and filled it from the bottle and took a deep drink. Natalie exchanged plates with him and worked slowly on his omelet and croissant.

"What do you do to make them think you've eaten when you travel alone?" Natalie asked conversationally.

"Mostly, I tell them I'm not hungry. I hate to waste food. But sometimes I just put it in the rubbish bin when no one is looking."

"Nick, does the food make you feel ill, or does it just taste badly?" Natalie asked curiously.

"You've never asked me that before," Nick commented before answering. "The food smells delicious, but it all tastes flat, bland. When it goes down, it wants to come up again, immediately. It makes me sick, Nat."

"You once told me that you could experience a person's life by drinking their blood. What is the bottled blood like? Does it have the same effect?"

"Not quite. I can still tell what the person is like, experience their thoughts when they were donating the blood. But, really, taking it from a living being is very different. It's sensual, erotic, intoxicating. It's more than just the blood, Nat. It's the sum of the person's existence. And the thrill of the chase, the hunt, the seduction of the victim is unparalleled in any human experience I've ever had. Every sense is tuned to its highest pitch, each minute nuance of scent, touch, taste is magnified, enhanced, deeply savored."

"It sounds like sex, Nick."

"It is," Nick reached across the table and stroked her cheek as his eyes gleamed goldly at her. "It is." Abruptly he dropped his hand and closed his eyes as he took a deep drink from his cup. Then he looked up at her tiredly and asked, "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Natalie?"

"Yes, I'm very sure. I want to make love with you, intoxicate you, make you want no other."

"You've already done that, my love. I could never be satisfied with any other," Nick told her vehemently.

"Then we have no choice, Nick. I need you. You need me." She smiled at him. He sighed deeply.

"I'm still terrified that I'll wind up killing you, Natalie."

"You won't."

"But what if I brought you across? That would be worse. It would destroy you, Nat."

"It might. But Nick, then we would be together. Forever."

"You'd tire of me eventually, and then you'd be stuck in this existence. You'd never be able to eat your chocolate again," his eyes sparkled mockingly. "You'd hate me for that!" He smiled at her then rapidly sobered, "I don't think I could bear it, if you grew to hate me."

"Nick, stop agonizing over what hasn't happened. We'll deal with problems as they arise. And, somehow, I don't think I could ever tire of you. You're a fascinating and charming man, Nicholas Knight." Natalie reached across the table and grasped his free hand in her own and squeezed it tightly. Nick smiled at her and returned her caress. She released his hand and returned to her breakfast. He thoughtfully poured himself another cupful of blood and drank it down. The bottle was nearly empty, he finished it, then rose, rinsed it out in the sink, and dumped it into the disposal bin in the galley.

Angela entered the cabin as Nick returned to his seat. "Well, I see traveling with you has given Nick an appetite for a change. I approve, Natalie. Would you two like anything else?"

"No, thank you. How soon do we land?" Natalie asked.

"George says we'll be circling Brussels in about half an hour. You had a nice nap after the movies. That should help with your jet lag."

"We're going to spend the day at the Sheraton at the airport. We have to meet Dr. Moya there later this morning. He and his team will board tomorrow morning for the flight to the Balkans," Nick told Angela.

"Good, at least we'll get plenty of sleep before we take the next leg. I hope we've treated you well this trip," Angela said.

"I've had a lovely flight, thank you, Angela," Natalie told her. "Please thank the rest of the crew for me."

"I will, and you're very welcome. It was nice to have someone to wait on for a change," Angela replied.

"Thank you, Angela. I'm glad you were headed the same way we were," Nick said.

"You're always welcome to fly with us, Nick. I hope we see more of both of you." Angela picked up their dishes, tidied the galley and returned to the crew cabin.

"We're spending the day in Brussels?" Natalie queried.

"Not really, we'll meet Dr. Moya and his team at the hotel. By that time I think you'll be ready to really sleep, not just nap. The jet lag catches up with everyone, even vampires. Tomorrow, I thought we'd drive home. We can sightsee on the way."

"How're we going to manage that without burning you alive, Nick?"

"I have a car with heavily tinted windows and a chauffeur waiting to drive us. That way we can travel in comfort, and you can still see the sights. It'll be fun to see the countryside through your eyes."

"How far is it to your home?"

"Only a hour and a half northwest of Brussels on the Flanders coast. The closest large city is Bruges. I thought perhaps you'd like a drive through part of the area where the Brabant I knew used to be. Nowadays what was Brabant is shared between Belgium and the Netherlands."

"Your foundation's logo is very close to Belgium's coat of arms," Natalie noted.

"My original coat of arms was differenced from my father's and my brothers' by featuring a griffin, rather than the rampant lion. I've kept the colors and the griffin for the Foundation's logo."

"You use those colors in your interior decoration at the loft, also. I used to think the red and black were just your oblique reference to your vampirism, but they're your livery colors, aren't they?" Natalie mused.

Nick looked at Natalie curiously for a moment, then he said, "Yes, I suppose both your observations are true. They are my livery colors, and I suppose they fit my essential nature as well. I never really thought about it. I've just always used what I liked."

They could both feel the plane's angle shift at that moment. It was becoming obvious that the pilot was making a course correction. "We'll be landing soon, Natalie. The car will meet us at the hangar and take us to the hotel."

"What about customs?"

"They'll meet us at the hangar, also. It's a little different from the regular passenger terminal. But this flight has been scheduled for some time now, and the customs officials are expecting us. The deBrabant Foundation has a special representative who handles the paperwork, and I am a dual citizen."

"You are?"

"I am."

"Interesting." Nick waited for the rest of the comment he was sure would come, but Natalie chose to take the question of his citizenship no further.

Within an hour the plane landed. Nick and Natalie passed the probing of the local customs authorities, were transported to their hotel, and ushered to their rooms. Nick generously tipped both the chauffeur and the bell boy who had brought their luggage to the suite. He was now on the phone to the lobby making arrangements with Dr. Moya for a brief meeting in the hotel bar. Natalie was beginning to feel a bit tired, but was anticipating a congenial visit with the doctor. When he rang off, Nick turned to her and smiled.

"Dr. Moya will meet us downstairs in the bar in an hour. What would you like to do in the meantime?"

"It's nearly lunchtime. Could we go downstairs and have a sandwich or something?" Natalie asked.

"There is also a nice shop in the hotel lobby. Would you like to shop a little bit?"

"Yes, I would, thank you." They left the room arm in arm and examined the hotel shops. Natalie noticed an attractive swimwear set on display. She tried it on, and it fit beautifully. Nick persuaded her to purchase it. She hadn't packed anything to wear for swimming.

When Natalie completed her purchase, Nick asked that it be delivered to their suite. The clerk was very happy to comply with his request. Nick and Natalie left the store and headed for the hotel cafe. There Natalie enjoyed a snack and dessert while Nick sipped a glass of red wine. When it was time, they wandered into the bar to meet Dr. Moya.

Dr. Ernest Moya was a tall, thin, dark-haired, bespectacled, and rather serious person. His earnest enthusiasm for the project he was pursuing for the Foundation lit his normally somber features. Natalie and Ernest, they were quickly on a first name basis, had a challenging and vigorous discussion about what pathologists could accomplish on rescue missions. Nick sat back and enjoyed the exchange of their professional views. At the end of their visit each doctor promised that one day they would work together. Nick quietly suggested that the Foundation would gladly fund any project on which they cared to collaborate. Both doctors walked away from their encounter with a thorough respect for one another.

"It would be a very great honor to work with Ernest," Natalie told Nick when they got back to their suite.

"Well, then, I'll just have to make sure you are on the next team the Foundation puts together, won't I."

"I'd really love that, Nick."

"Good. Then that's settled. Are you sure you don't want to fly out tomorrow?" he teased.

"Nick, not this time! This is our vacation, remember?" Natalie protested.

"I wasn't sure you still needed a vacation, Nat. As a matter of fact, I'm not entirely sure I shouldn't be very jealous of Ernest just now," Nick asserted.

"You needn't be concerned. I love you, Nick." Natalie reached up and kissed his cheek.

"I know. But sometimes I think I should have made you forget me. Things would be easier for you, certainly safer." He told her as he gathered her into his arms and held her tightly.

"Nick, don't say that. I wouldn't be the same person without you. I'd be empty, wishing for something I could never find, the way I was when I met you. I don't even want to think of life without you, again."

"I feel the same way about you. I guess we're stuck with each other."

Natalie slid her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. When they parted, she yawned. "Oops, I'm sorry, Nick. I didn't mean to yawn in your face. I guess the jet lag has caught up to me."

"Not only does she wish she were going off with another man, now I'm boring her!" Nick exclaimed to the ceiling.

Natalie slapped his arm playfully and said, "Oh, shut up, you! Come on, let's go to bed. I'm tired."

Nick picked her up and carried her into the bedroom where he'd had the bell boy place her bags. He sat down on the side of the bed with Natalie in his lap. Then he lowered his head and kissed her deeply, passionately. After a long while he raised his head. His eyes glowed as he whispered, "Shall I sleep with you this time? Or should I let you rest now?" He dropped little kisses across her forehead and onto each cheek as he awaited her answer. He could hear her heart racing. Her breathing became ragged as he continued to kiss her. She returned his kisses, but did not answer him as she pushed him back into a reclining position upon the bed. He pulled her down on top of his body and held her close.

He could feel her hands sliding into the front of his shirt, caressing his chest, his back. She was so warm. The curves of her body were so firm, soft, delicious. Suddenly he rolled her beneath him. Her body burned with passion. His face seemed aflame when he nuzzled her in the hollow between her breasts. When had they undressed each other? he wondered briefly. Her legs spread wide to receive him. Her breasts were soft and delicate against his chest. She smelt of sun, flowers, rainy skies, all the clean, beautiful things he had always loved. His head spun with the scent of her. And then her intensely warm moistness surrounded him, and he slid into the depths of paradise.

She was thrilling, her thighs enclosed his waist, he pressed against her, into her, as deeply as he could. She pushed back against him, impaling herself upon him, mating with him. The soft noises she made deep in her throat were sounds of pleasure and desire. He had never felt so completely at one with anyone in his life. She was everything he had ever wanted. He tasted her skin, felt her sweet, soft hands sliding over his body, caressing him. He pulled her against him again and again, urgently desiring to remain within her forever, so close, so warm, so delicious.

And then, as her body began to contract around him, he shuddered and gasped as he felt the desperate hunger rise to taste her more deeply. His fangs descended abruptly, his eyes had been burning with his hunger since he had kissed her the first time. She was grasping him even more tightly as she rode the crest of her own need. He raised his head from her delicious lips and looked at her. Her eyes were closed. She would not have to see his eyes go red. Through a ruby haze he watched her, he needed to taste her. He lowered his head toward her neck, but at the last moment, he altered his angle and bit into her breast. He heard her gasp as his fangs sank home. He continued to plunge into her and began to feed upon her lifeblood.

She was drowning in his desire for her. Each time he kissed her, he was harder to resist. He was so strong, so powerful, so firm. His body against hers was hard, lean, and supple. And when he entered her, she thought she would die of pleasure. His hands caressed her deftly, thrillingly, gently, surely. She wondered yet again at the intensity of feeling he generated with his slightest touch, and now he was filling her, claiming her as he had done only once before, but never so completely as now.

She could feel his needs as well as her own. The vampire with whom she mated was more than the man who had loved her the night he had lost his memory. This mating was more vivid than any she had ever experienced. She wrapped her legs tightly around him, urging him to enter her more deeply. Her fingers slid into his silky hair and stroked down his wide shoulders and across his back. Then she felt him pull away slightly. She didn't want to separate from him. She pulled against him drawing him into her. She thrust against him, yearned to get closer to him. Then she felt his fangs enter her breast, and he was suckling her.

As he drank from her, Natalie felt her consciousness opening, accepting Nick's feelings, thoughts, needs. She could feel herself spiraling down into a deep, warm, dark place, a place filled with his love, his desire, his need of her. A place where she would be cherished, caressed, cared for, treasured, forever. Then she sensed she was in the presence of a powerful, immutable force which acknowledged her and accepted her presence. It was as if someone had knelt to her and promised to preserve her life as he did his own. Then she felt a lightening of the pressure against her breast, and she began to sob as she felt their closeness diminishing. She reached for Nick and wrapped her arms around him and held him closely. Then she rested.

Nick heard Natalie's sobs as he released her breast and stopped drinking from her. He drew back to be sure he had not hurt her. But she pulled him against her tightly and only relaxed when he lay quietly beside her. He lifted his hand from the pillow beside her head and gently touched her face. "Are you all right, Natalie?" he asked in a whisper. He knew he had not killed her, but he was concerned that biting her had been painful.

In a voice trembling with emotion Natalie answered, "I've never been so loved in my life."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Hurt me!" her eyes flew open, and she gazed up at him with longing in her eyes, "On the contrary, I don't know if you could ever please me so much again, my love. Oh God, that was beautiful!"

"Yes," he said, and pulled her closer to him.

She snuggled into his embrace and lay quietly savoring the feel of him, the scent of him so close to her. "Nick?"

"Yes, love," he answered softly as he caressed her shoulder.

"You just promised to love and protect me forever, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any idea how very much I love you?"

"Yes. I know." He stroked her face, her hair, her lips. She shifted in his arms and reached up to be kissed once again. He possessed her mouth, tasting every crevice. She could feel him beginning to fill her again. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him into her. He pressed into her warmth. They moved together into that place of their mutual security, touching, warming one another, feasting on their joining. She could not believe he could move her, claim her so completely, yet again. He could not believe she could embrace him so fully, desire even the vampire. They rode their mutual need to the apex of their love and collapsed, exhausted and sated, into a deeply satisfying slumber.

End part 5 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 6 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

Half an hour later Nick woke to a raging hunger. Natalie still slept, snuggled against his chest. He looked down at her and admired the way her hair framed her face. Oddly enough, the sight of her did not cause his hunger to rouse further. In his mind's eye he could see the bottle he desired nestled at the bottom of his luggage in the other room. It was one of Janette's favorite vintages, and it had not been donated freely.

He extricated himself gently from Natalie's embrace, hoping he would not awaken her. He padded into the next room and quickly located what he so desperately needed. He hesitated just a moment before he popped the cork and drained the bottle, chugging it, as he made his way to the bathroom. He knew he would need this powerful drink if he were not to kill Natalie. Just the possession of the bottle in his luggage had given him pause. He knew he would regret drinking it, but his overwhelming desire for Natalie drove him to select this vintage. It would feed the one hunger he could never sate with his beloved Natalie...the lust for the hunt!

He savored the after effects of the deeply disturbing draught as he satisfied his body's non-lethal needs. Then he rinsed out the bottle and set it, quietly, into the bathroom trash receptacle, and rinsed out his mouth with mouthwash. He hoped he had not disturbed Natalie. He felt slightly restless, as he always did, when he traveled and had to sleep in a strange bed. And the blood he had drunk added to that sense of restlessness. Guiltily, Nick returned to the other room, having insured that Natalie, at least, would not be drained as the unfortunate, whose blood he had just consumed, had been.

Natalie had turned over and was facing the other direction when he slipped back into bed. She had also pulled up the blanket and spread. Nick worried that his cooler body temperature bothered her. He hesitated about curling up against her. He did not remember the last time he'd spent an entire night with a mortal woman. Usually he was primarily concerned with satisfying his hunger. And when he learned to sip, as he had from Amalia, he never allowed himself the luxury of spending the night in her bed, for fear of being caught by the sun in the morning. Amalia, she had been sweet. He'd drawn her life out nearly a month. But in the end all his resolutions were nothing in the face of his hunger and her desire for him. Would he and Natalie end in the same way? How would he survive if he killed the one woman who made him feel so complete, so human?

"Nick," Natalie's voice shook him out of his contemplation, "Nick, get over here and snuggle with me. I missed you!"

He grinned to himself before he answered, "Are you sure, Nat? I know my body temperature might be a bit too cool..."

"Shut up and get over here, mister, right this minute. I need you." Natalie ordered. Nick spooned himself against her backside with alacrity.

"There, is that better?"

"Much."

"But aren't I too cold?"

"Deliciously so." Natalie wiggled her backside against his groin provocatively. Nick responded by settling her more tightly against himself. They relaxed for a moment. Then Nick let one hand, that had rested over the other against her stomach, slide up her arm to her shoulder caressingly. He pulled her hair back, away from her neck, and kissed her just at the carotid pulse point. As he did so, he inhaled deeply of her fragrance.

Then he murmured in her ear, "Delicious is what you are, my love, or rather, delectable." He kissed her again in the same fashion.

Natalie turned over and faced him. She reached up and stroked his cheek and grinned at him. "So, I taste good, do I?"

"Ummm, yes," Nick replied.

"What do I taste like?" Natalie asked curiously.

"Like Natalie Lambert."

"Oh, come on, Nick, you can do better than that!"

"Honestly, you taste like yourself. Each person has their own unique flavor. I don't know how to describe it in food terms for you. But to me you taste spicy, vibrant, passionate, shy, strong, vulnerable, compassionate, and above all, curious to a fault."

"That sounds like a horoscope description!" Natalie punched him playfully in the ribs.

"I can't help it if you taste like your horoscope." Nick tickled her in the ribs until she was breathless from laughter. Then he gathered her into a bear hug that prohibited her from reaching any part of his anatomy with her hands. When her giggles subsided, he kissed her deeply, then released her enough to roll her over on her side and pull her back against his chest, her backside resting against his groin. He kept her hands covered with his own until she seemed to relax. Then he released them. She lay quietly against him.

Then she said, "I think that experiment went very well, don't you? I knew you had the right kind of control."

"This is only the first time I've taken your blood, Nat. We don't know how this is affecting either of us, yet. There is an addictive element to taking someone's blood. I know from past experience that it is possible to sip for a time, but, inevitably, the desire for more of the victim's blood arises. And the victim begs to be taken. There is a very real danger, that we are just repeating an old pattern of behavior."

"You've done this before, Nick?"

"Not precisely, Natalie. I've never loved anyone the way I love you."

"I'm very well aware of that. I meant, you have 'sipped,' as you put it, before?"

"Yes."

"Tell me about it." Natalie demanded.

Nick hesitated, he wasn't sure he wanted to discuss any other woman while he was in bed with Natalie. "I think I need to know the possibilities, Nick." Natalie insisted.

Nick sighed deeply, "I told you you were curious to a fault,....very well, then," Nick explained to Natalie what his relationship had been with Amalia, and every other young woman upon whom he had fed during that period in his life when Janette had first left him. When he finished, he commented, "You can see why I'm worried about addiction. As the feeding cycle progressed, the need to increase the amount of blood taken grew. Amalia died. I kept her alive for nearly a month, but then I killed her. My need, and hers, killed her. She kept coming back to me, begging me to take her blood."

"It was pleasurable to her."

"Yes, but she still died. I still killed her, and many others. This so-called relationship of ours could be the death of you."

"But, Nick, you haven't killed anyone like that in over a hundred years. And you have an alternative source of food now, that you could not have had then." Nick began to shake his head, but Natalie stopped him.

"Wait, stop a minute and think, Nick. Was Amalia a resistor? Or was her desire for you a part of your hypnotic control over her?"

"No, she wasn't a resistor. None of the women I chose then were resistors. And, as I remember, I did control her rather tightly. She had a very strict father who didn't approve of me as a suitor. I had to choose another town when she disappeared. He was suspicious."

"There's a very real difference between us, then. I am a resistor. My desire for you has nothing to do with any hypnotic hold you have over me. Even LaCroix didn't control me at Azure without drugging the champagne."

"He drugged the champagne!?" Nick shouted.

"Shhh, hush, Nick! You'll have hotel security in here in a minute! Yes, he drugged the champagne. When I woke up the next morning, I recognized the symptoms and the aftertaste."

"You recognized the symptoms and the aftertaste!? Natalie, what aren't you telling me?" Nick demanded.

"Nothing important. We tried a lot of crazy things in med school, Nick. And one of them was trying to concoct an aphrodisiac. Most of the guys assumed it had to involve alcohol. Another med student tried out the formula LaCroix used on me once. It was a long time ago, Nick. And I wasn't hurt. It wasn't an aphrodisiac either. Don't worry, I got even with him later," Natalie grinned at Nick evilly. Nick looked at her carefully to be certain there was nothing more to her story, then resumed.

"Well, if you remember that much, then you must have heard our conversation. You've known about our agreement." Nick asserted.

"Yes. I figured you'd tell me, or find a loophole, eventually. But this on and off relationship we've had lately has been truly hard to bear. I'm very glad you two decided on a truce."

"Natalie Lambert, you are full of surprises." Nick declared, then he added, "How could I ever get bored with you around!?" He turned her towards him, pulled her into a comprehensive embrace, and kissed her until she was breathless.

She pushed him away vigorously and exclaimed, "Just calm down, Nick. I am only human. You could break a rib!" She grinned up at him to soften her words. Nick released her slightly, but nuzzled her cheek and strung a line of tiny kisses down her neck until she shivered in delight. When he reached her shoulder, he stopped and looked up at her. Natalie suddenly yawned widely, then covered her face with her hands and blushed.

Nick chuckled at her, "We haven't had much sleep. Would you rather continue this later?"

Natalie peered at him between her fingers, "Would you mind very much, Nick?"

"Not at all. I'm kind of tired too."

"That's why you needed the blood," Natalie remarked. She'd heard him moving around in the other room and had surmised that he might need additional nourishment, since he was denying himself the fulfillment of draining her.

"How did you...? Never mind, you're too clever for me, Nat. And, yes, that's why I needed the blood," Nick replied.

They settled back down into the bed spooned together once again. After a short while, both fell comfortably asleep.

Several hours later Natalie awoke. She needed the bathroom, but she was still held tightly in Nick's arms. Natalie unwound his grasp upon her waist and slipped out of the bed. She pulled the covers up over him again, hoping that her trapped warmth would keep Nick asleep while she was gone. When she returned, he seemed deeply asleep. She slipped back under the covers, lifted one of his arms over her waist, and snuggled her face into his chest, blowing at the chest hairs that tickled her nose.

"Welcome back," he rumbled in her ear as he pulled her hips into his. Natalie responded by nibbling at the place where his neck met his shoulder, then tasting the skin of his throat with her tongue. The world suddenly tilted, and she found herself trapped beneath his body, while he devoured her mouth. He pulled back slightly, every muscle in his body trembling with the effort he exerted to stay away from her.

"Remind me not to play with that particular trigger point unless I really mean for you to make love to me instantly!" Natalie exclaimed.

"Do you?" Nick growled.

"Yes," she barely had time to reply before he had covered her mouth and her body with his once more. She opened to him. When he entered her, he found she had told the simple truth. She was more than ready for him.

Natalie was again overwhelmed with the rapturous fervor of Nick's passionate attentions. <Experience tells,> Natalie thought to herself. Nick was a skillful lover. Even under the influence of the intense hunger she unwittingly invoked with her attentions to his neck, he was proving to be a tender and considerate partner. And when, at the zenith of their arousal, he bit her, he was still able to take only a fraction of the blood she assumed he would need. And yet, the vampiric link he had described to her a few weeks before was becoming more intense. The images of his life, which flashed behind her eyelids as he drank, became clearer each time he took her blood. And what he betrayed to her was amazing and disconcerting. His warning about becoming addicted to his attentions was reinforced by the revelation of his past experiences.

Natalie was beginning to truly understand what he'd explained about his addiction to Amalia. What was foremost in his mind in the present seemed to trigger the memories Natalie relived from his past. She saw Amalia's seduction from Nick's point of view. It was unnerving to say the least. And it was connected in his mind with his own seduction by Janette into the vampire life. Nick's original, passionate encounter with Janette devolved into the oddly clinical, but no less arousing scene, of LaCroix's actual conversion of Nick.

Natalie found herself learning for the first time just how compelling the vampire's need for blood was. She marveled again at the massive control Nick must exert to keep from killing her. She had hoped that making love to him would relieve some of the stress they both had been feeling. But by not allowing himself to drain her blood, he had created yet another kind of tension. Natalie wondered if any relationship they could have would be less stressful. Was this helping Nick at all, or was she selfishly indulging her desire for him to his detriment?

"Yes, you have helped me, Natalie," Nick answered her silent musing. "You've become the keystone of my life." He stroked her lips with his fingers gently. "I cherish every moment you have shared with me." He clasped her protectively and kissed her forehead. She raised her lips to him for a more passionate expression of his devotion, and he obliged her readily. They lay peacefully together, exchanging tender caresses, for boundless moments.

"It's getting late, love." Nick said.

"Time to get up?" Natalie asked.

"Mmmm, yes," he murmured into her ear as he nuzzled it. "Time to go home."

"Where ever you are is home," Natalie said nosing the hollow of his throat.

"Are you sure you're entirely immune to my vampiric influence?" Nick asked.

"I'm not sure I want to be immune from you. You're entirely too desirable, my love," Natalie replied.

"Well then, it's definitely time to get up. You're losing all your perspective, Dr. Lambert." Nick sat up, and pulling the covers off of Natalie, he swatted her playfully on the bottom.

"Nick! You bully!"

"Time to get up! No more lazing around in bed, milady," his eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaped from the bed and evaded Natalie's attempts at retaliation with inhuman ease. When she chased him to the bathroom door, he turned suddenly and captured her in a delightful hug. He looked down into her eyes and asked, "Ready for your shower?"

"You could join me, and we could share," Natalie offered coquettishly.

"That might be just a bit too distracting. The car will be here to pick us up soon," Nick returned. "Maybe we can try that this evening."

"I'll hold you to that promise," Natalie smiled as she slipped from his arms and into the bathroom. Nick walked into the second bedroom to use the other bathing facilities. Within half an hour they were both dressed and nearly ready to go. Room service delivered a light breakfast of croissants, coffee, and fruit, which Natalie made short work of, while Nick drank yet another bottle of blood with the Raven's label.

While Natalie was packing to leave, she discovered something was missing. She made Nick check under the bed, while she combed the bedclothes, for a piece of lingerie they had carelessly discarded the afternoon before. She finally found it stuffed under one pillow.

"How it got there, I'll never know," Natalie mumbled to herself. Nick came out from under the bed, chuckling, when he heard her comment. He came up with yet another undergarment which neither of them had missed.

"I still don't remember getting undressed," he commented, "so don't ask me."

Natalie giggled and said, "Neither do I. I think we were too busy worrying about other things at the time."

Just then the phone rang. Nick answered. It was the front desk. The car had arrived. The chauffeur was waiting in the hotel lobby. Nick asked for a bellboy to be sent up for their luggage and for their bill to be prepared. Natalie threw her lingerie into her bag and closed it. Nick set their bags beside the door. He held Natalie's coat for her, then donned his own plus gloves and a scarf. He held a hat with a rather large brim in his hands. "If I move quickly enough, maybe I won't surprise our driver by smoking in public," he observed.

"There's a decent-sized overhang over the lobby entrance, if the car is under that, you should be all right," Natalie said.

"That's what I'm hoping," Nick replied. "And if it's overcast, as usual, that will also help."

When the bellboy rang, they left the room and headed for the hotel desk. Nick paid the bill while Natalie gazed around the large, elegant lobby. She noticed a uniformed chauffeur conversing with the hotel employees around the bell station. "Nick, I think that may be our driver," Natalie tapped him on the shoulder, as he turned from the desk, replacing his wallet in his jacket pocket. He looked at the person Natalie indicated and started.

"Well, he's decided to have us followed," Nick observed quietly in Natalie's ear.

"Who, Nick? LaCroix?" she returned in an equally quiet voice.

"Who else, Nat? Yes, LaCroix. He probably wants to know how things are going. I think he will be very surprised. Don't let on we know this driver is one of his," Nick instructed in a low tone that only Natalie could hear over the general conversation in the huge lobby.

"One of his? Do you mean he's a....?" Natalie shot back quietly.

"Yes," Nick returned in a whisper. "He is a vampire. Well, at least that relieves my mind about the wisdom of taking a limo with smoked glass windows. If he can drive it, I can certainly ride in it."

"You mean you hadn't tried this kind of travel before?" Natalie demanded, still keeping her voice down.

"No, I haven't had a need to travel in daylight for some time. Come on," Nick urged quietly. "Let's go see the sights. Now I'm excited. I haven't seen Belgium in daylight for centuries."

End part 6 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 7 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

As they crossed the hotel lobby arm in arm, they saw their bellboy push the cart containing their luggage out the door. The chauffeur followed him and together the two placed the luggage into the trunk of the large limousine which was pulled completely under the shade of the overhang in front of the hotel. It was a drizzly day, and Nick had no trouble with the sun. He ushered Natalie into her seat then settled next to her. The chauffeur closed their door, assumed his seat, and pulled away from the hotel. Within a very few minutes both Nick and Natalie had shed their coats, as the driver had set the temperature in the back seat to a high setting. Nick had sent a set of detailed instructions to the rental company explaining the route for their trip, and the driver followed the directions to the letter.

Natalie enjoyed the side trip into downtown Brussels where Nick identified the well-maintained buildings with their ancient architecture by their original function and their current tenants. He provided an entertaining and informative narration of their travels. Brussels was now the center for the European Economic Community and had long been a prosperous trading center. Natalie admired both the beauty and the enterprise which characterized the bustling city. Then they followed a main highway out of town towards the northwest. Nick had told her they were heading into Flanders which had not been a part of his family's holdings. Brabant had stretched mostly north and east of Brussels in the time Nick had first lived there. The place they were heading, near Bruges, was a seaside resort area which reminded him of the area around one of the seacoast castles which he, himself, had owned at one time. Although, he had told her, his castle had been on a narrow peninsula, and this house was on a low hill overlooking the North Sea.

The land they traveled across was very green with low rolling hills. The road skirted the city of Ghent within an hour, and they continued their westward journey. Nick pointed out places where he had traveled or lived at some point in his past. He showed Natalie the remains of a village which had been in the area they were just passing. It had been devastated by the two armies contesting its possession and had ceased to exist through their earnest attentions. "And LaCroix and I put the last of its inhabitants out of their misery. I suppose vampires are simply another of nature's scavengers." Nick observed gloomily.

"Nick, stop it. Didn't you ever have any fun with LaCroix? As close as you two are, I have to imagine there were times when you were friends," Natalie remarked.

Nick looked at her for a moment, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "As a matter of fact, there was a time once, in England during the Renaissance. We had a brothel we ran. The girls were lovely and delightful bait for our prey. They had a better life with us than they had had with their previous owner. And we could protect them better than the usual pimp."

Natalie stared at him for a moment, aghast. She was sure he was testing her tolerance, and wondered just for a moment if he could be teasing. But she quickly pushed that thought away and looked at him carefully. He was telling the truth. He had enjoyed that time with LaCroix. And thinking back on the history she knew, and what she had just learned about his relationship with Janette, she merely asked, "What did Janette think of that?"

"She didn't know at the time. She had a new lover in Paris and didn't want to be bothered with us. When we told her later, she was extremely angry with us, until she thought it over. Just as you have. Those girls needed a home and an income. We gave that to them. It was all we could give them."

"Nicholas Knight, sometimes I don't understand why I love you."

Nick slid closer to her and wrapped her in his arms, "I'm glad you do," he whispered in her ear.

"You have been such things!" Natalie shivered.

"I still am," he observed.

Natalie reached up and caressed his cheek, "Yes, you are," she kissed him gently, then again, deeply.

"Show me some more sights," Natalie said brightly as she moved away from him. Nick obliged. As they traveled further west the land grew flatter. They passed the outskirts of Bruges and went on toward Ostende. Just as they approached Ostende, they turned north and followed a road which paralleled the coast. There were occasional narrow lanes leading inland from the road, and the driver turned into one marked only by a number. Within half a mile they turned into a wide, curving driveway which approached a large house sided with natural stone which appeared to be built directly into the hill which backed it. The front of the house was comprised almost entirely of expanses of window which looked down over a slightly sloping approach to the sea. The driveway directly before the door was protected from the sun by an expansive overhang. The chauffeur parked the car in front of the door. He left his seat and headed to the trunk where he unloaded their suitcases and placed them on the walkway in front of the door. Nick ushered Natalie to the front door and unlocked and opened it.

Nick returned to the driver who was waiting beside the bags, "Thank you for the very efficient service. Please tell Mr. LaCroix that we have arrived safely." He handed the man a generous tip, and smiled at the surprised expression which appeared upon his face. Then Nick said, "Just leave the bags here. I'll carry them in, thank you." The driver recovered his composure, touched his cap, closed the trunk lid, got back in the car, and drove off.

"Very nicely done, Mr. Knight." Natalie commented. "I can carry some of my own bags," she said as she picked up her overnight case and medical bag in one hand and one suitcase in the other.

"Just leave the big suitcases here for a moment, Nat. I'll show you to our rooms, and you can get settled while I bring the other things in," Nick said. Natalie set the suitcase down and transferred her medical bag to her right hand as she followed Nick, who carried his attache case, into the house.

"Our rooms?" Natalie queried as she walked.

"Yes, we have adjoining suites. I've learned over the years that people need their space. If we each have a place of our own to retreat to, sometimes quarrels are mended more easily." Natalie thought about that on her way up the wide, shallow stairs which led further into the house. She noticed that the long expanse of windows fronting the house looked into the great room. That room was furnished beautifully with overstuffed chairs and couches, occasional tables and bookcases, forming conversation nooks. On the back wall a huge fireplace was flanked by more bookcases, an entertainment center, and a bar. Natalie could not see what lay behind the doors leading out of this room. Nick led her up a long, easy rise to the second floor hallway which had several doors leading off to either side. Each door was wider and taller than Natalie was used to. As a matter of fact everything about this house was larger and far more spacious than anyplace she had ever lived. Indeed, it was much like a modern castle.

"Nick, did you design this house?" Natalie asked.

"No, but I did tell the architect what I wanted. He did a wonderful job of putting everything together for me." Nick arrived at the last set of doors in the hallway and opened the one on the right. "This is your suite. Mine is on the left, but they both join behind the wall. He gestured at the end of the hallway. Natalie opened the door and entered a beautifully appointed sitting room. She set her medical bag on the desk to the right of the door where she had entered. Then, after a brief glance at the couch, chairs, table, and chest which furnished the rest of the room, Nick led her through a door to their left. This was the bedroom. A king-sized bed occupied much of the floor space. Also in the room were a dresser, night stands on either side of the bed, a dressing table, an entire wall of closets, and two other doors placed nearly side by side. One door led into a large, luxurious bathroom which Natalie entered. She placed her overnight case on the counter next to the double sink. Then she turned to Nick, who was waiting in the bedroom beside the other door, which was closed.

"Is that the door to your room?" Natalie asked.

"Yes. Would you like to see it, too?" Nick asked.

"Of course, my curiosity would never be satisfied otherwise!" Natalie told him. She followed him through the door and found his suite was furnished almost exactly as hers was. Although she admitted to herself that she preferred the more feminine fabrics in her suite to his decidedly masculine appointments. These featured a display of what was most likely his own knightly weaponry flanking a beautiful tapestry with his coat of arms worked carefully in petit point. His comfortable looking chairs and couch were covered in leather instead of the flowered chintz in her sitting room. There were no windows in either suite, and Natalie assumed this was the part of the house which he had told her was built into the hill behind it. To make up for the lack of windows, both suites were skillfully lit with recessed floodlights and other decorative lighting fixtures. Mirrors and plants under gro-lights were strategically placed throughout to give the illusion of outdoor space and light and to minimize the sense of claustrophobic enclosure. Natalie was extremely impressed.

"Your architect and your interior decorator are very talented." Natalie observed. "Would you please show me the rest of the house?"

"I'm glad you like it," Nick beamed. "I'll give you the grand tour!"

"First, let's bring up the suitcases." Natalie said.

"One moment, milady," Nick vanished with a whoosh, and reappeared momentarily with their luggage.

"All right, smarty," Natalie huffed. "Put mine next to my bed. Then let's go!"

Nick showed her each of the four other rooms on the second floor. Each was a smaller version of their own suites. "You could make this a very elegant hotel if you didn't want to live here yourself, Nick." Natalie told him.

"That was the idea," Nick responded. "Small hotels do well in rural resort areas. This has become a popular vacation spot lately. I thought this place would be a good investment. I really hadn't planned to live here." He reached for her hand and kept it in his as he led her back down the stairs.

They wandered through the great room, staying far enough away from the windows to keep Nick out of any direct sunlight. Natalie tugged on Nick's hand and asked, "What's behind this area, Nick?" She led the way to the door set between the bar and the fireplace. When she opened it, she found an efficient, professional kitchen. "Wow, you could accommodate a chef and his full kitchen staff in here!"

"But, it's set up just now for two people," Nick told her. He opened the huge refrigerator, and Natalie saw enough groceries to feed herself for two weeks, and plenty of bottles of what must be Nick's own nourishment, however much they looked like red wine. She amused herself and Nick by opening every cupboard to find what was hidden behind each door. Then she started on the drawers. When she had thoroughly familiarized herself with the things she thought she might need, she grabbed Nick's hand once again and dragged him off through yet another door.

Behind it was a narrow hallway which led to a staircase. They climbed the stairs. When they reached the top, Nick held Natalie back for a moment while he touched a button on the electrical panel that was placed on the wall just before the door. They could hear a whirring and clanking that reminded Natalie of the sound of Nick's loft shutters closing.

"This must be the conservatory," Natalie surmised. "You're closing the shutters." Nick nodded then opened the door into a lovely garden.

A wide variety of trees and shrubs grew in pots and huge planters, surrounding a lovely pool, which was faced with natural stone. Flagstone walkways meandered around the edges of the pool. The entire north wall was covered with huge boulders, making it seem that the shoulder of a mountain had intruded into the room. This backdrop supported an artificial waterfall, which watered a variety of plants, spilled over three levels of rock, and finally fell into the far end of the pool. The effect was that of a small forest grove with a pond in the center. Natalie advanced into the room breathing deeply of the scents of the flowers and other greenery which grew so lushly in their planters. Looking upward she noticed that Nick had closed the shutters over the roof of the conservatory. There were others that could be closed over the sides of the immense room. She turned towards the west wall that overlooked the sea. It was raining harder now than it had been when they had arrived. The sky was black with clouds, and the North Sea was breaking vigorously over the rocks on the coast over a mile away. Then she turned and looked out eastward and saw the green land rising towards the spires of a town, probably Bruges, she could see in the distance. To the south the hill into which the house was built flowed down towards the nearer town of Ostende. "Oh, Nick," she breathed. "This is simply magnificent."

"Since the rest of the house is so enclosed, I thought it needed some outdoor space. At night I like to open the roof shutters and look at the stars. Today it's dark and stormy enough that I can be in here without the wall shutters down. It's nice to see even stormy daylight from time to time." Nick sighed and lost himself in contemplating the view over the sea.

Natalie touched his hand after a short time and led him to one of the sets of chaise lounges set beside the pool. "Let's just enjoy the view for a while," she said. They settled into adjoining chairs. After sitting quietly for some while, Nick reached out and took her hand. He sat holding it in his lap, enclosed in both of his, gazing into the distance for quite a while longer.

He thought of the time he had lived in Ostende. He was free of LaCroix at the time, and Janette was safely occupied elsewhere. It was the seventeenth century, and he was living the life of a respectable trader, earning a handsome living with his sailing fleet. A young woman knocked on his door one morning and begged to be a servant. His housekeeper hired her and introduced her to him that evening. She was a lovely young thing, but very tense. He'd known at once that she was fleeing from something and was very happy to offer her a place.

Over the next several months, Nick managed to worm the girl's story out of her. Her father had died recently. He had borrowed heavily from a prominent man in their town. Luckily, Herr Stein, the man to whom her father was indebted, agreed to let her work off her father's debt as a servant. She hoped this rich man would be a kind master. He had always seemed pleasant and respectful when he visited her father's shop. But the man proved to be a seducer. In order to escape his unwanted advances, Gertrude had run away. She was very frightened, because she knew that she was unable to pay the amount she owed the man. And her life was forfeit if she did not. Nick, hoping to help, contacted Gertrude's master anonymously and paid the debt in full. He assumed, rightly, that the brute might not be reasonable and did not reveal Gertrude's whereabouts.

Unfortunately for them both, Gertrude's master was not only vengeful, he was persistent. His minions had at last discovered Gertrude's whereabouts and descended in force upon Nick's household, stealthily, at night. They dragged Gertrude from the servants' wing and had her out in the courtyard with a knife at her throat before Nick could act. He confronted the man and tried to reason with him. But Herr Stein would not relent. He cut Gertrude's throat.

Nick lost his temper and his control. He attacked Herr Stein in full vamp and killed him. The German's servants scattered in all directions, screaming. Nick's peaceful life in the seaside village was ruined. Gertrude died instantly of the deep wound her cruel master had inflicted. Nick was forced to leave her body and Herr Stein's in the courtyard. He had time only to gather a few things for quick travel before the terrified servants returned with the night watch and began telling over and over the story of the monster who had appeared in their midst.

Nick looked at Natalie relaxing next to him and marveled that she still did not regard him as a monster, even after he had taken her blood. Indeed, his biting her seemed to thrill, rather than repel, her. He smiled quietly at her. Then he drew her hand to his lips, kissed it, and jumped up. "Let's go unpack," he invited her. "Later we can come back up for a swim."

"Let's do," she agreed. They made their way downstairs, through the kitchen and great room, and back up to their rooms where they each spent some time settling in. Natalie located the new swimsuit she had bought at the hotel the day before and slipped it on. She put on the beach coat she had bought to go with it and went to knock on Nick's door, which opened just as she raised her hand. Nick came through the door. He, too, was dressed for swimming.

Natalie went to grab a towel from the bathroom, but Nick stopped her. "There's a cabana beside the pool with plenty of towels. We needn't take any with us."

"I didn't notice a cabana when we were up there."

"It's there, on the wall beside the waterfall."

"Oh, I just admired the falls. I didn't look at details." Natalie replied.

They strolled companionably to the conservatory once again and spent the next hour swimming and splashing each other, cheerfully. Natalie tired first. When she climbed out of the pool, she flopped happily down onto a thick fluffy towel she had left atop one of the lounge chairs, and wrapped herself up in one of the terry cloth robes Nick had brought from the cabana. She fell asleep watching Nick, who was still steadily swimming laps. When he finally had had enough, Nick left the water, wrapped himself in the second terry cloth robe, stretched out on the lounge next to Natalie, and watched her fondly as she napped.

He thought to himself that she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever known. And she was so dear to him. He thought back over the women with whom he had lived for any length of time. Janette, his dark seductress, was thrilling and challenging. He had once thought he could not live without her. But he had discovered that he was more comfortable as her ex-lover, friend, and confidant than he had ever been when they had lived together.

Erica had been a joy. They had both been enamored of the traveling life of an actor. Erica had been an independent, intelligent, enthusiastic, creative companion. But they had met, lived, and parted friends. He had never had any illusions that they would remain together forever.

Then he thought of all those whom he had thought he had loved, whom he had killed. Alyssa leapt to his mind. He knew he now had the power to bring Natalie across without making the mistake he had made with his wife. But, he still hesitated. He knew from taking Natalie's blood that he could sip from her. But he worried about how long it would be before he needed more each time to satisfy his needs.

End part 7 of - 11 Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 8 of - 11 please see disclaimers at head of part 1

Rebecca L. Chessman

Nick also knew that Natalie was not so concerned about how she might change if he did bring her across. She had no illusions about what he was, he had discovered. He had thought that she would, naturally, be revolted by him when they finally came together in bed, and he bit into her body. She had reveled in his attentions. She found him and his vampire nature intriguing, erotic, oddly delightful. He marveled at her need to know everything about him, no matter how horrendous. And, he realized, she had imagined some things about him and his past actions that were far more heinous than anything he had ever done. And she still loved him! She amazed him, thrilled him, fulfilled him as no other woman had ever done.

His pleasant thoughts were interrupted by an odd tingling along his spine. He felt suddenly uneasy. The vampire inside him was stirring and reaching out with all its senses, listening to the outside world, assessing it for danger.

Natalie didn't nap very long and awoke feeling refreshed and relaxed. She looked around and found Nick in deep contemplation. "Nick. Thank you."

Nick started and focused on her, before asking, "Wha...what, Natalie?"

"I said, thank you. For this lovely trip, for sharing this beautiful house, for sharing yourself with me."

"You are more than welcome, my love," he replied.

"What had you so engrossed, Nick?"

"I'm not sure. Something isn't quite right. I don't know if the fact that LaCroix is spying on us is making me nervous, or if something else is going on. I feel unsettled." Nick frowned slightly, then shook himself, and smiled at her brightly. "Would you like some dinner? It is getting to be about that time."

"Yes, I would like dinner. That refrigerator looked well stocked. I think I should go raid it and see what would be fun to cook. But, first I'd like to go back to our rooms, shower, and change."

"Sounds good to me!" Nick returned. They left their towels, and the terry robes they had used, on the rack in the cabana to dry and went back to their rooms to get ready for dinner. Half an hour later they descended the stairs to the kitchen. Nick made a pass by the front door and made sure it was locked. He closed the shutters on the front of the house. And while Natalie explored the refrigerator, he went up the back stairs and closed the shutters around the conservatory.

Then Nick rejoined Natalie in the kitchen. A cheerful dining room adjoined the kitchen. The dining room fireplace shared the chimney of the larger fireplace in the great room and literally was back-to-back with it. Nick started a fire and set the table while Natalie cooked herself a stir fry of chicken breast with a variety of vegetables and rice. She had also found a wide selection of frozen ready-made desserts. She set one serving of a delectable chocolate cake aside to thaw. Nick found a bottle of Chardonnay which had been chilling in the refrigerator, and popped the cork, and set the wine to breathe in its own chilled server on the dining room table. He also opened one of the tall bottles of blood and set it out at his own place at the table.

When they both settled at the table, Natalie commented, "You really are worried aren't you, Nick?" When he cocked an eyebrow, questioningly, at her she continued, "you checked this place over and buttoned it up as if you were expecting a hurricane."

"I'm not sure what it is, Nat, but I want to be prepared. The weather is blowing up an even bigger storm out there. I think we're far enough from the sea to be safe here, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to take precautions. There are a few other safety measures I will show you after dinner."

"I always feel safe with you, Nick. Not much can harm me with you around."

Nick smiled at her. "I'm glad you feel that way, but you know I'm as dangerous as anything you could encounter."

Natalie returned his smile, "Yeah, that's why I feel safe!"

Nick looked at her strangely for a moment, then he changed the subject. "That dinner of yours smells good. You must be a good cook, Natalie."

"Not really, I like to cook, but I don't do it often enough to be proficient. There are always too many other responsibilities. It's really kind of nice to have the time and the ingredients to put something tasty together. The spice rack here is filled with things I don't usually have in my kitchen. Maybe that's why this tastes so much better than what I usually cook."

"You used to force me to eat things. And I didn't like most of them, but could I try some of that?"

"Of course you can, here, take this," she handed him a small portion on her saucer together with a spoon. Nick took the plate and spoon she offered and tasted the food. But his look of anticipation died abruptly when he put a spoonful in his mouth.

"Ummm, it smells better than it tastes, as usual." Nick said sadly, but he swallowed the mouthful. Then he offered her a cautious smile. "It doesn't feel like it's going to come up, yet." They waited a few moments. Nick took another mouthful, chewed slowly, and swallowed. It, too, stayed down, and Nick didn't turn green around the gills. He smiled at her again and finished what was on his plate.

Natalie had continued eating her own dinner while watching Nick to be sure he wouldn't become ill. When the food he'd eaten seemed to agree with him, she asked, "Would you like a little more?"

"No, I think I'll take it slowly, Nat. This is more than I've been able to eat before."

"Good, I think you should take it slowly, too. Drink the blood you have there. You need it, I should think. We exercised a lot this afternoon." Nick followed her advice. The blood in this bottle had been freely donated, and the donor had been having an especially cheerful day. Nick felt his mood lighten. When they each finished their meals, they cleaned up the dining room and kitchen together, did the dishes and retired to the great room. Nick was about to put some classical music into the CD player when Natalie noticed the piano.

"Nick, play for me, please." She urged enthusiastically.

"What do you want to hear?"

"Something classical and romantic," Natalie informed him. Nick settled at the piano, and Natalie reclined in a nearby easy chair and let the soothing sounds of "Fur Elise" and the "Emperor's Concerto" flow over her. When the concerto was finished, Nick rose and filled the CD player. When the music began to play, he approached Natalie's chair and bowed.

"Would milady care to dance?" he asked her very formally.

"Milady would love to dance," Natalie answered playfully. Nick handed her out of her chair and swept her across the room in an elegant waltz. When the waltz ended, they continued with a fox trot. After several dances, Natalie begged to be able to sit down. Nick guided her to a barstool at the bar and poured her a tall glass of ice water from a cut crystal carafe, which he extracted from the small refrigerator behind the bar.

"Thank you, Nick. I really needed that."

"You are very welcome," Nick replied. "Would you like to dance some more?"

"Maybe later. Right now I'd just like to sit still. I haven't danced so much or swum or had as much fun as this in years, Nick. Why haven't we spent more time together like this?"

"We were always too afraid that it would end in the bedroom, and that would be the end of you," Nick replied.

"Is that really true? Or have we just been too wrapped up in doing our jobs and finding your cure to take time to enjoy life?" Natalie asked.

"Perhaps we're both right, Natalie. We did spend most of our time together worrying about my cure. I've neglected you shamelessly, haven't I?"

"Perhaps, but I always knew you loved me. That was enough for awhile." Natalie said as she caressed his cheek.

"Always, my love?"

"Well, at least after that Valentine's Day, I knew. And, really, I think I've known since you saved me from Roger's advances."

"But you wouldn't let me kiss you. You ducked me in the interview room."

"Nick they videotape everything that goes on in those rooms!"

"Not everything, Nat."

"It was just too soon after Roger. I couldn't let my guard down again so soon." Natalie confessed.

"That's what I thought at the time. And I also realized that I was the same kind of creature Roger was. Turning to me wasn't really a healthy thing for you to do, Natalie. Not then, and maybe not now." Nick sighed deeply.

Natalie scowled at him. "We were having a perfectly lovely time, Mr. Knight. When are you going to get it through your head that I'm not counting the past against you? There isn't a thing I can do about what you did or didn't do before I met you. Let alone anything you might have done before I was born! What you have done since I met you, and the way you intend to live your life in the future are what interests me. Everything else is water under the bridge. You can't take it back or undo any of it. You made a horrendous mistake one hell of a long time ago. Now you have repented that mistake, and you are atoning for it. Let the past go, Nick. Get over it. It's done."

"But..."

"No buts about it, Nick. It's over. Let's just go on from here. Can you do that?" Natalie demanded.

"I'll try to."

"Nick, I know now how strong your desire is for my blood. But we can work on it together better than we can apart. I'm willing to take this one step at a time. I don't want to push you into something you can't handle. But everything we've done together convinces me that you are a lot more trustworthy than you give yourself credit for. It's your self doubt that's crippling you, not your lack of will power." Natalie insisted.

"You believe in me so very much. I'm really not worth your effort, Nat."

"Oh yes you are, Nicholas Knight. Do I have to beat that message into your thick skull?" Natalie threatened as she grasped the neck of the heavy crystal carafe from which Nick had poured her water.

"No, Nat, violence isn't necessary." He ducked and then grinned as she relaxed her hold on the decanter.

"Let's put this another way. Do you respect me and my judgment?" Natalie asked.

"Of course I do, Nat." Nick protested.

"Then take my word for it, my love. You are worth every bit of frustration and effort it might take for us to be together. I admire you and the way you are living your life, Nick. It makes me proud to be your friend, let alone your lover. Make me your wife, Nick. I want the whole world to know how proud I am to be with you."

"You're forgetting one thing, Nat." Nick paused and looked at her significantly.

"LaCroix!" they chorused together.

"Well, there is that," Natalie agreed. "Either we move on together, I cure you, or you bring me across. There's no other way around him, Nick."

"I like the first two solutions." Nick told her and added, "but I think the first is the most reasonable."

"Then let's do it. Let's stay here for a while. I feel so relaxed, so at ease here. I need this vacation. Then let's move on. I don't care where or how, but let's shed LaCroix."

Natalie paused a moment then asked, "Nick, what made you suddenly doubt yourself? You haven't had such a bout of depression since the demon possessed you. It's almost as if a post-hypnotic suggestion kicked in just now. Has LaCroix been messing with your mind again?"

"Not that I know of, Nat. He did insist that I would bring you across myself when I last spoke to him. He was especially pleased that you had urged me to resume drinking human blood. He is of the opinion that you would, I believe his words were, 'improve the general tenor of our kind.'"

The uncanny imitation of LaCroix's tones that Nick produced sent a shiver down Natalie's spine. "Well, I can see, he does have a long range effect. That spying chaffeur of his has upset us both, Nick. Let's go to bed and just worry about us for a while." Nick smiled as Natalie grasped his hand and pulled him from in back of the bar. He wrapped his arm around her, and they headed toward the stairs.

Just before they reached the first step, a terrific bang went off above their heads. Both stopped and looked skyward. Nick listened carefully. Natalie could hear a hissing sound but could not make out what was causing it. After listening for a few minutes Nick looked at her and said, "It's definitely a powerful storm. That must have been some debris hitting the roof. I'm very glad I shut all the metal louvers. Let's go upstairs. I want to show you the storm shelter. The weather can be very violent this time of year in this part of the world. The polar air hits the gulf stream in this area and causes some tremendous marine upheavals. This could be what I've been feeling. The sound of the wind alone would be deafening outdoors, without the force of the rain."

They hurried upstairs, and Nick led Natalie into his suite. At the back of his bedroom he led her through a hidden door placed behind the tapestry on his wall. In the next room he flipped a switch, and Natalie gasped as the light revealed a limestone cave. The walls had been smoothed off and reinforced with metal and concrete. A basic survival camp lay before them. Nick showed her storage cabinets filled with food, water, and medical supplies. A generator supplied the place with power. "If any emergency arose that cut us off from civilization, we could survive here for at least a month. We're above the storm surge here, and almost entirely enclosed in rock. I don't think we're going to need this, but I wanted you to know it was here," Nick reassured her.

"Brother, you really believe in being prepared, don't you!" Natalie exclaimed.

"Let's just say being cautious has paid off in the past," Nick replied. He led her back out into the bedroom, switched off the light, closed the door, and replaced the tapestry. "There is also a tunnel at the back of the cave that leads to the surface, inland, about a mile from here."

"Well, right now it seems the only thing we need to worry about is the storm," Natalie observed. "I've always enjoyed storms, especially the sound of rain on the roof. It's a shame the sound is so muffled in here."

"You can hear it better in your room," Nick said. "Shall we?" Natalie led the way through the connecting door into her bed room. She paused for a minute and turned toward Nick, "Do you...?" she began, but his kiss answered her question. Then he picked her up and carried her to their bed, where she found she could hear the rain on the roof, but she didn't really care any longer.

End part 6 of 8 -Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

Knightmares - part 7 of 8 please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

They took their time undressing each other. Both felt they had really been far too hasty in that regard in Brussels. Nick confided that he had been so afraid that he would drain her completely, that he'd spent most of his time focusing only on her pleasure to distract himself from her delectable blood scent. Natalie responded by attempting to remedy this lack of attention, but he insisted that the danger was even more present this time.

"The usual pattern of sipping is to take slightly more each time, and to leave the victim with a sense of incompletion. It's going to be hard for me to break that pattern. I want to make you mine completely, Natalie. But I love you too much to make you what I am." Nick told her regretfully.

"So that's what you've been worried about," Natalie rejoined. "I thought so." She reached up and stroked his cheek as they lay quietly together for a moment. He clasped her hand in his and placed a soft kiss in her palm and closed her fingers over it. Then he caressed her face with his free hand, nuzzled her nose to nose, and kissed her gently on the lips.

"I don't want to lose my best friend," he told her softly.

She pulled her hand free of his and wrapped both arms around him in a comprehensive hug, burying her face in his shoulder. "You can't lose me, Nicholas Knight. You're stuck with me for as long or as short a time as we can have together." When she raised her head to look at him, the hold he'd had on his emotions broke, and she was smothered in kisses and whirled away on a flood of incredibly intense passion.

Neither had a conscious thought until their bodies had thoroughly pleasured each other, and he had begun to feast on her blood. Suddenly, it dawned on him that he had her throat in his mouth. He pulled back quickly and found her eyes shining up at him with an incredibly fierce possessiveness. And he realized that she had just experienced his recent recollections while they had relaxed beside the pool. He bent his head again and licked away the trickle of blood that flowed from the two tiny holes he had made in her neck. <At least I had sense enough to take her vein and not the artery!> he thought to himself.

"Nick," Natalie purred at him, "are you really sure you want to be human again?"

Nick's head snapped up, and he stared at her aghast. "What!? What do you mean by that, Natalie Lambert?" he demanded. He grabbed her chin and made her look him in the eye.

She continued to devour him with her eyes, then she grinned. "It's just that I love you the way you are. No one has ever made love to me the way you do. I like it. I don't want you to change."

"Natalie Lambert, you are a foolish woman! We're playing with fire here, and you want to dance in the flames!"

"Yeah!" she leered at him. "Let's do it again." And she matched her words to actions as she traced a trail up his throat with her tongue. It was the one erogenous zone Nick could not resist. Natalie found herself precisely where she wanted to be, beneath Nick once again. But he soon repossessed his control and turned the tables on her.

End part 8 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 9 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

She found herself sitting astride him. He was buried deeply within her, but he lay still and grinned up at her impishly, "Now, it's your turn to do whatever you wish to me," he told her. Natalie quickly obliged him, and he found her to be a very inventive and stimulating lover.

"Wherever did you learn to be so skillful in bed?" Nick suddenly demanded.

"I like to read romance novels. I've never had such a willing partner to try these things on," Natalie blushed.

Nick wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down against his chest for a deeply satisfying kiss. When he released her, she returned his kiss demurely, then he rolled them over and pushed deeply into her, and she realized that he was near his release. This time she watched his face change as he pounded into her. And when he buried his fangs into her shoulder, she knew it had not been his original target.

She closed her eyes and was flooded this time with images of herself and Nick together in bed in every possible position. Each time he had pictured her face suffused with passionate fulfillment. Then, as she felt his release, the pictures softened to scenes of gentle caresses, soft touches, tender kisses. Natalie was pleased she had been able to satisfy his desires so thoroughly. And she was awed by the power he had shown her she had over him. She was convinced that he could control every aspect of what he called his beast. And she cherished the sensual indulgence of his beast's passion.

Natalie felt Nick's lips nibbling at her neck, his tongue caressed the area of her shoulder he had just bitten. "You enjoy this entirely too much, Natalie," he remarked. Natalie just smiled at him.

"So do you, you delicious vampire," she purred. "How many other women have you had?"

"I'll never tell. It wouldn't be gentlemanly. But I expect you'll eventually find out," he murmured.

"Not if you have as much control over what you let me see as you do over the rest of your desires," Natalie riposted.

"Mmmm, maybe you won't know, then," he said as he kissed her again and stroked her breast. She slid one hand over his chest, down his belly and stroked between his legs. He hissed and grasped her hand and held it to his lips. "Are you ready for me again?" he asked.

"Not really, just admiring your equipment," she grinned saucily up at him. He kissed her hand and placed it back between his thighs. Natalie stroked him, rousing him once again, although not so high as he had been.

"It gets tired, just like a mortal man's," Nick grinned. "Give me a little time."

"Not just like a mortal man's," Natalie disagreed. "You recover far more quickly. I like that. But just now, I'd rather lie here with you close and just feel your body against mine." She released him and snuggled into his chest. Nick gave a satisfied sigh and pulled her close, stroking her back slowly. Natalie reached up and blindly caressed his face as she placed tiny kisses down his breastbone. They both quieted and simply lay holding one another.

"The rain's slowing," Natalie noted after a few moments.

"Umm hmm," Nick nuzzled her ear.

"Are you still feeling restless and upset?" Natalie asked, then kissed his chest.

"Not so much now that the storm's dying down, but something is still out there. I'm not sure what," Nick kissed her cheek.

"You just keep those sharp senses tuned. I trust you to keep us safe."

"You trust me entirely too much, Natalie Lambert," Nick nuzzled the latest wounds in her shoulder.

"It's a well-placed trust, love," Natalie insisted. "Is the storm clearing enough for us to go back upstairs and skinny dip?"

"Natalie, you are a wanton woman."

"Umm hmm. Come on. It would be more fun than the shower, and probably safer," she urged.

"How could skinny dipping with a vampire be considered safe?" Nick wondered aloud.

Natalie grinned at him, then she rolled out of Nick's arms, jumped out of bed, and held out her hand to him. He crawled out of bed and accepted her hand. They wandered out into the hall companionably, then Nick scooped her up in his arms and flew her through the hall, down the stairs, and through the great room. Natalie barely had time to catch her breath before he had whisked them through another door which led directly to the pool from the great room without passing through the kitchen.

He didn't open the shutters, but flipped on the lights in and around the pool. Still holding Natalie in his arms, he flew them towards the center of the room, and hovering, he lowered them gently into the shallow end of the pool. Natalie turned her face toward him, and their lips came together as he let her body slide from his arms down his own. They stood together, embracing in the warm water, surrounded by the soft glow of the pool's lights, the scent of the night-blooming flowers, and the gentle sound of the waterfall.

Natalie thought she'd never been romanced so effectively. If he'd wanted to seduce her with a romantic setting, he could not have found a more alluring place to do so. And the sheer delight of having him so close, so affectionate, and completely hers was utterly luxurious.

Nick was in ecstasy. This lovely creature in his arms was delicious, willing, completely his. And he had been able to please her repeatedly without killing her or taking too much of her blood. The last was too wonderful to even contemplate.

He knew he had only lightly sampled her delectable ichor. He paced his consumption to insure that she would never lose consciousness. She'd felt little discomfort. He had flooded her with his joy and intoxication with her essence as a small return on the prodigious belief she seemed to place in his ability to rein in the beast. He was entirely certain that he had never been so adored in his long life. He could not comprehend this very evident fact. How could she?

Natalie drew back from him for just a moment to look up at him and say very sincerely, "I love you so very much."

"Why, Natalie? How can you?"

"Just because I do." He tightened his hold on her and crushed his lips to hers once again. They devoured one another, tasting their mutual pleasure, savoring their recovered intimacy. Then they parted and stepped away from one another joined only by their hands, which they clasped together lightly. They each allowed their eyes to caress the other's body with appreciative gazes. Then they turned to swim the length of the pool and back in tandem.

When they returned again to the shallow end of the pool, Natalie turned onto her back and floated. Nick watched her peaceably for a bit, then followed her example. Their hands joined once again. After a short while, Nick noticed a slight sprinkling of goose bumps gathering on Natalie's exposed flesh.

"Nat, let's swim to the other end of the pool, and I'll go get us some towels. You look like you're getting cold," Nick suggested.

Natalie nodded, and they turned over and swam lazily to the other end of the pool. While Natalie rested against the side of the pool in the warm water, Nick jumped out and jogged up the path to the cabana. He returned wearing his terry cloth robe, which he hadn't taken time to belt, set an armload of towels down on the path, and held out Natalie's robe. Natalie pulled herself out of the pool and allowed Nick to wrap her up warmly. Then he turned and spread out several of the large, fluffy beach towels across the path, settled down on them, and drew Natalie down beside him.

He turned on his side and pulled Natalie into his arms. Sliding his hands under her robe, he held her flesh to flesh. He kissed her gently. Taking his time, he savored the texture of the inside of her lips, slowly deepening the kiss until he had caressed every crevice and fold in her mouth. He proceeded to caress and cherish every inch of her skin, gently, slowly, tenderly. Natalie responded by exploring him just as quietly, softly, sensually. While their lovemaking lacked the feverish passion of each of their previous encounters, it held a confident compassion, a delicious consideration for one another that they both felt, but had been too needy to express before. This time as they approached their climax, Nick found himself nibbling on Natalie's neck, but his fangs never descended. He suckled upon her vein. Her blood scent was absolutely delicious. Natalie bit him, suddenly, on the shoulder as her body contracted around him, and this pulled the final explosion from Nick. Then they lay together quietly, still joined physically and emotionally.

When his breathing had regained its normal rhythm, Nick remarked, "I think I might have given you a hickey this time." He stroked the spot carefully. Natalie winced slightly.

"I'm surprised that's the only one I have. I expected bruising when you bit me. But your bites just leave little holes that seem to heal nicely," Natalie told him.

"Some of the women I've taken scarred rather badly," Nick said contritely.

"You still have a bit of a welt where I bit you," Natalie rejoined.

"Really? I deserve a lot worse."

"Cut it out, Nick. You haven't hurt me. And you won't. I know it."

"How can you know that, Natalie?"

"Because I know you and how you feel about me. Hasn't this past few days given you any confidence at all?"

Nick sighed deeply. "I have tried before. No one has ever survived this for long, Natalie."

"Well, I'll just be different. And you will be, too. Besides, you didn't even bite me this time," Natalie noted.

"I didn't?! I must have!" Nick exclaimed. Natalie just shook her head at him. "Where did that bruise come from then?" Nick demanded.

"Perfectly ordinary men give women hickeys during lovemaking. Some even bite. I bit you! You didn't take any blood this time. That's for sure." Nick looked thoughtful and licked his lips.

"I didn't, did I?" he said slowly.

"No, you didn't." Natalie hesitated for a moment, then she said, "Honestly, I kind of missed that. I like sharing your thoughts, your past." She smiled brightly at him. Nick made a face.

"My past isn't all that much fun to share."

"When you're thinking about Erica, it is. I'm sorry she decided to end her life. I would've liked to know her." Natalie stroked Nick's hair back from his forehead. He smiled and nodded.

"She was a very special person. She was so talented!" he exclaimed softly.

"She still lives in a way, inside you. And since you've shared yourself with me, now she belongs to me, too."

"You're not looking forward to sharing LaCroix, are you?"

"I'm not sure I'm that tolerant just yet, love," Natalie replied.

Nick suddenly turned away from his contemplation of Natalie's face. He looked upward and frowned. "I'm afraid we may have to deal with him sooner than later. He's coming, Nat." Gently he disengaged himself from Natalie, rose to his feet and tied his bathrobe together. Natalie had sat up and wrapped her robe around herself. When Nick reached a hand down to her, she rose and tied her belt. They picked up the towels, returned them to the cabana and headed downstairs.

"How long do we have before he gets here, Nick?" Natalie asked.

"About a half-hour. Something is wrong, Nat. I don't know what. I don't think he's angry with us or with me. There's something else going on. We'll just have to wait until he fills us in. He just let me know he was coming. Actually, that's rather more considerate of him than usual," Nick remarked wonderingly.

They had a bit longer than Nick had estimated before LaCroix arrived. Nick and Natalie had time to bathe, dress, and eat a small snack. They were lounging on one of the couches in the great room, each sipping at their chosen beverage, when the elder vampire breezed in the front door as if it were his own home. He stripped off his overcoat and gloves and threw them over a nearby chair.

"Good morning, Nicholas,...Doctor," he greeted them.

"Good morning, LaCroix. What brings you here? I thought you were going to give us some time to ourselves," Nick observed neutrally.

"Unfortunately, circumstances have changed. I was going to wait until you arrived home to break part of this news to you, but when I stopped in Paris to conduct some business of my own, I discovered that it would be unwise to wait."

"What has happened, LaCroix?" Nick asked mildly.

<Conducting business of your own in Paris, my foot, spying on Nick and me is more like it!> Natalie thought sourly to herself.

"I believe I shall begin the news with that closest to home. Vachon has been revived. Your partner is partly to blame for that." Nick and Natalie both sat up straighter. "It seems that Miss Vetter removed the stake she impaled her friend with before she buried him. Divia's poison, apparently, was neutralized by the time Vachon spent in the ground. However, he was famished when he finally managed to dig himself out of his grave. He took a vagrant, but failed to dispose of the body properly. Fortunately, your partner was assigned to the case on her first day back at work. She was able to locate him quickly. She contacted me, and we managed to get him safely controlled before he could bring the Enforcers down upon himself. I was going to let Miss Vetter provide this story to you when you returned from your trip. She was able, with my help, to close the case of the vagrant in a satisfactory manner for your superiors."

"My God," Natalie breathed.

"Indeed, for he is not mine," LaCroix commented bitterly.

"What else, LaCroix?" Nick asked.

"I received a tip from an old friend that if I still had holdings in Paris, I should liquidate them rather quickly. The factions are at it again, feuding amongst themselves. It's becoming rather ugly. I thought a personal warning might be in order. I know you also have property there. And you enjoy the city. I thought you might make a side trip there with the doctor. If I were you, Nicholas, I would not do so at this time. The authorities have been called. When you and Dr. Lambert go out in public, make sure you keep her close to your side. I see you have done so even in private. That may be enough to shield her. Enforcers seldom think with more than their instincts or their noses." LaCroix rose from the chair into which he had settled, recovered his coat and gloves and looked at Nick.

"Will you allow me to stay the day, Nicholas?"

"Of course, you may stay as long as you need. Thank you for the news and the warning. If you will follow us, we'll show you to your room," Nick answered. Nick and Natalie rose to lead LaCroix up the stairs, then Natalie spoke.

"LaCroix, I'm sure you must be tired from your trip. Would you like something to drink before you retire? Or something to take upstairs with you?" She looked at Nick as if he had been a poor host. LaCroix smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Doctor, I would like something, thank you." Natalie signaled Nick with her eyes, and they led LaCroix into the kitchen. Natalie showed him the blood cache in the refrigerator. LaCroix's eyebrows rose as he examined the labels on the tall green bottles and selected one for his own use. Then he reached for another and handed it to Nick.

"Nicholas, I do believe that you are going to need this," and he grinned. Then he turned to Natalie and asked. "Doctor, may I call you Natalie?" Natalie nodded graciously. LaCroix noted her acceptance and remarked, "I am very grateful to you for helping me to bring Nicholas back into the fold, Natalie. His relationship with you is strengthening him. And with this current crisis upon us, he will need his strength." Then LaCroix turned and walked out of the room.

Nick and Natalie looked at each other, puzzling over LaCroix's words for a moment, then Nick looked down at the bottle in his hand and gasped. It was another bottle of the same vintage he had already consumed in their hotel suite in Brussels. It was LaCroix's way of saying that he knew just how close to the edge Nick's relationship with Natalie was driving him, Nick thought to himself.

"What is it, Nick?" Natalie knew LaCroix had found another way to turn the knife he kept in Nick's back, but she didn't understand the nuance of his action. When she studied the look on Nick's face, she decided she'd wait until they were alone. Then she would find out just what was going on.

"Never mind, let's just show LaCroix to his room and..."

"Nat, I will have to make some phone calls about this new development. And, I'm afraid, we will soon have even more company." Nick looked up at her ruefully. "I'm afraid the honeymoon is over, love...at least for now."

Natalie took his arm in hers and guided him back towards the main room and the staircase as she said, "Whatever it is, Nick. We're facing this together. You just need to let me know how I can help."

When they reached the foot of the staircase, they found LaCroix waiting patiently for them. Nick offered him the first suite on the left at the top of the stairs. Natalie had dubbed that suite, "The Imperial," in her mind when she had seen the furnishings. Now that she knew for whom it had been designed, she quietly renamed it with a mental grin, "The Imperious." As she and Nick walked down the hall, she realized that the suite next to LaCroix's was decorated for Janette.

The other two suites she had no clue about, but realized that she might find out soon enough who Nick's other close friends were. She was surprised when Nick led her into his apartments, then she realized that she shouldn't have been. This suite of rooms was the control center of his little castle. If living conditions became crowded, she surmised, she would be moving in with Nick. That thought thrilled her. She liked the idea of being even closer to him. But his attitude as they entered the main sitting room told her that he was more worried about her safety than ever. Absentmindedly, he set the bottle of blood he still carried down on the desk.

Nick was worried. He had been able to control himself when he took Natalie, so far, only because he was so well fed. He also had purposely placed them in adjoining rooms so he could retreat, if need be, between their encounters. She did not realize what she had gotten herself into as yet. And he had neglected to enlighten her about his need for the thrill of the hunt for fear she would ultimately reject him. With other vampires around, he was going to have to protect her as his property. He was absolutely sure she was not going to like that particular aspect of their relationship.

He could not and did not wish to place her in thrall as his blood-slave. He had done this with others early in his vampire existence and found it to be, not only demeaning to the possessed, ultimately unsatisfactory. It spoiled the flavor of the blood. And there was no challenge in the possession of such tame women. Natalie, he reflected thankfully, would never be tame, no matter what he might do to her or with her.

Having Natalie, having her with him, loving her, had become far more important than he had ever imagined it would be. He knew she had once dreamed of having him bring her across, so they could both work toward a cure together. But, lately, she had begun to dream of living with him as a vampire, forever. He had tasted it in her blood. He wondered at himself that this dream of hers did not disturb him as it would have just a week earlier. Could having this one woman outweigh his lifelong conviction that vampirism was a poison to his eternal soul and destruction for her? God help him, he was now sure that having Natalie any way she would take him was worth any price.

Natalie had settled on the couch and was watching Nick pace. He was extremely upset. Whatever had happened in Paris would heavily impact their relationship. Natalie worried that he would now decide they could not remain together. She was resolved that he would not drive her away. Whatever she had to do to stay with him, she would. <Even,> she reflected, <if I have to ask LaCroix to bring me across!> She sincerely prayed she would not be forced to exercise that option. Suddenly Nick stopped pacing and turned to her with a smile. Natalie relaxed immediately, overwhelmed that she would not have to cope with LaCroix.

End part 9 of - 11 Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 10 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1

by Rebecca L. Chessman

"Nat, we're going to have a lot of company very soon. Would you help me get ready for them?" Nick asked.

"Of course, Nick. Just tell me what you need me to do."

"First, I need to make some phone calls to find out just what is going on." Nick pulled his wallet from a drawer in the desk, he flipped it open and dug around for a moment. Then he handed her a slip of paper with letters and numbers on it. "Would you please go into the bedroom and find the safe in the far right hand corner. It's in the floor under the rug. Open it and bring me the file that's in there. I'm calling a friend to find out who might need a place to stay. When you get back with the folder, we'll do a little banking by phone."

Natalie accepted the paper and went into the bedroom to do as he had asked. She could hear him in the other room speaking to someone named 'Clothilde,' who seemed to know a great many people Nick knew. The safe was easy to find and manipulate, if one knew it was there. The leather tri-fold was the only thing in it. She re-closed it and rejoined Nick in the sitting room. When she returned, he stopped pacing and hugged her with one arm, placing a brief kiss on her temple. Then he released her and accepted the folder.

Natalie reseated herself on the couch. He was using his cell phone, rather than the portable on the desk, this surprised her. Until she realized it allowed him to continue working off his nervous energy with his physical movement. He continued pacing while speaking with Clothilde in French. Natalie understood most of his side of the conversation, but many of the references escaped her. It was evident from his demeanor, that Clothilde was a friend of long standing, and that Nick valued her opinion. But there was nothing of the lover in his attitude. Natalie wondered if Clothilde were a vampire, and how long she had known Nick. After a few more minutes, and a promise to keep in touch, Nick rang off.

"Things are even worse than LaCroix intimated." Nick said as he turned a worried look on Natalie. "Several old friends of ours have been killed. Others are in hiding. Clothilde was able to take in a great many for a few days. Her place is just outside Paris. She will send six of them here. She does not have rooms for everyone, and things there are very crowded. We're going to have a full house for about a week."

"Six, Nick? Do we have enough room?" Natalie asked.

"There are two couples and two singles," Nick replied. "I'd already made arrangements in Ostende for weekly cleaning and maintenance people to take care of the house, so we won't have to clean for people. All the rooms are furnished with fresh linens, and there's also a wine cellar full of supplies for our guests."

"There is? Where?" Natalie asked curiously.

"Under the kitchen," Nick responded.

"Good, so we can just relax and continue to enjoy our vacation," Natalie commented.

"It's not going to be that easy, Natalie." He settled next to her on the couch and put his arm around her. "I'm afraid you're going to have to move in with me so we have enough room," he frowned slightly.

Natalie reached up and kissed him gently on the cheek. "Don't worry about me, Nick. I'd love to move in here with you. You'll see, we'll like living together. Besides this suite is as big as my apartment. You can still get away from me if you need to." Nick looked at her askance for a moment. "I know you're worried about my safety. I keep telling you that I trust you. Just don't back away from me, Nick. I need you to be with me."

"I'm still worried, Nat. You know you will be considered as little more than my mortal pet by these people. It's going to grate on your nerves, and mine. They can be rather charming people, but they aren't tolerant of my eccentricities."

"No more than LaCroix is, I imagine." Natalie commented. "Don't worry, Nick. We'll cope."

"LaCroix has far better manners than any of these people do, Natalie. A mortal pet is beneath their notice. They will more than likely treat you as a servant. Most of the time they will ignore you." Nick took a breath to try to explain to her what she would be facing, but realized when he looked at Natalie's face, that no amount of explanation would prepare her for the coming confrontation.

Nick hugged her again and kissed her briefly. "I wish there were some way to make this less of a strain, but I can't think what I can do." He sighed deeply, "Why don't you go get your stuff moved in here, and I'll make sure we're still solvent." He turned again to the phone as Natalie rose and went into her suite to move her belongings into his. She stopped at the door into his bedroom to look back at his worried face, as he opened the leather folder and began tapping numbers into the cell phone.

It didn't take long for Natalie to move her things into Nick's space. She took over drawers in the bathroom and bedroom that he had left empty. She stripped the sheets they had used from the bed and placed them in the hamper in Nick's bathroom. Then she remade the bed with fresh linen she found in the linen closet in what had been her bathroom. She also took the towels she had used into Nick's bathroom and replaced them with fresh ones. When she finished, she returned to their sitting room. Nick was just closing the cell phone and setting it on the desk. He didn't look quite as worried as he had. And when he looked up and saw her in the doorway, he smiled and held out his hand to her. She noticed that the bottle of blood was gone. From his manner, it appeared he had consumed it.

"Well, financially, we're O.K. But the cost has been high in property damage, even higher in loss of life. Three of my houses in Paris have burned to the ground. The tenants were killed in the fires. All three fires were blamed on faulty wiring. The insurance companies are willing to pay to rebuild, so we will."

Natalie went to him and hugged him hard. "Were they close friends, Nick?" she asked gently.

Nick grimaced, "Some were, others were only acquaintances. They are gone, now, forever. And to die in such a way!" Nick shivered in Natalie's embrace.

"I know. I know. I've always been terrified of dying in a fire. Ever since my famiily witnessed that accident when I was a kid!" Natalie responded.

"I'm glad you're here, Natalie," Nick returned her embrace and kissed her gently, then he nuzzled her under her chin and nibbled down her neck.

"Isn't it time for bed, now?" Natalie asked suggestively.

"Umm hmm, it is," Nick picked her up in his arms and carried her to their bed. "This is probably the last quiet day we will have for a while," Nick murmured in her ear as they crossed the room. Then he let her down onto her feet next to the bed, but he kept her close in his arms. "Are you hungry at all, Natalie?"

"Only for you, Nick," she replied as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. Nick caught her upper lip between his own and nibbled it gently. He repeated his caress on her lower lip. Then he allowed his tongue to taste every plane of her mouth. When he drew back slightly, Natalie whimpered until she felt his soft, moist lips traveling from the corner of her mouth down past her chin to fasten on the pulse point on her neck. He suckled there for a moment before his tongue traced a return path to her mouth.

Natalie felt her insides melting in the fire he was forging within her. What he could do to her with his mouth on other parts of her body, suddenly flashed through her mind, making her tremble with desire. As if he had read her thoughts, Nick began to undress her. And as each bit of skin was revealed to his gaze, his mouth caressed it. Soon they were both entirely consumed in pleasuring one another. When Nick bit into her neck, Natalie cried out in her ecstasy.

This time Nick took far more blood than he had previously. And, as he fed, Natalie understood, for the first time, his concern for her life and soul. He was not only afraid that she would lose both to him. He was terrified that she would ultimately hate him and then abandon him. Then, he revealed the tremendous depth of his devotion to her. In that moment she recognized, indubitably, that if she accepted him, in his eyes, she would be his for eternity. It was a terrifying intimacy he was offering her, overwhelmingly possessive and irrevocable. Natalie understood in that moment why he would never love Janette again in that way. Janette had betrayed him once. Nick would never risk himself with her in that way again. Now he was offering Natalie the choice. He would accept any decision she made, but he could not accept any half measures.

He was now, she suddenly realized, once again, entirely a vampire. He had been a divided man when she had met him. Denying himself human blood had been the way to reveal the human man she knew was at the base of his personality. But that diet had led to an incomplete being, one who was divided against himself, ill, unstable. The full conjunction of vampire and man was splendid to behold. Nick, this magnificent creature in her arms, was offering himself, absolutely and unreservedly to her!

For one terrifying moment Natalie was unsure. If she accepted what he offered, she would become his property in his world, unless he brought her across. And even then, he would always, to some degree, be her master. Part of her deepest nature hated the very idea of anyone's owning her. But she was torn by her desire for his complete possession of her body, and the seductive idea that they could truly become one, complete and fulfilled, being through their love. The corollary to his possession of her was her own incontestable and absolute ownership of him in perpetuity. Natalie was entirely sure that he would never exercise any power she granted him against her own best interests. They would be mutually possessed by one another. Natalie smiled.

She felt him release her neck. She turned her head and kissed him deeply, tasting her own blood in his mouth. Then she pulled back and looked up into his blue eyes and said, "I am yours, Nick, forever." He devoured her mouth once again, then wrapped her tightly in his arms. Natalie relaxed in his embrace and nuzzled his neck. Nick jumped slightly, but quickly controlled his instinctive reaction.

"Are you sure, Natalie?" Nick breathed in her ear.

"Completely, my love," she replied. "I know you tasted it in my blood."

"Je t'adore, Natalie."

"J'entends, Nicolas, pour l'eternite." They held each other quietly, savoring their newest bond. <Now,> they each thought, <now we are together, forever.> They drifted into sleep.

Over the next week their commitment to each other was sorely tested. The people who descended upon Nick's home were rudely, insufferably pleased with themselves, Natalie thought more than once. Especially the countess, she who spent most of her time endlessly discussing French literature and playing chess with LaCroix. And LaCroix seemed to hang on the countess' every word. Natalie supposed if Nick hadn't told her the woman's name, she would never have known it was Clarisse. Everyone addressed her as 'Countess,' and deferred to her every opinion.

Natalie was grandly ignored by the countess and bitterly resented it. But, Natalie admitted to herself, the countess was quite a charming and intelligent woman. Natalie vigorously agreed with the countess' views on Camus. And she'd been fascinated by the discussion surrounding 'Les Fleurs du Mal.' Baudelaire's poetry had been a favorite study of Natalie's when she had taken French in college. And the subject matter, the search for beauty in the perverse, grotesque, and morbid, touched Natalie's sensibilities as a coroner.

But, suddenly, in the midst of a fascinating and heated discussion, Nick banished her to their room, without any explanation. Natalie was extremely angry with him, and resolved not to speak to him or allow him to touch her until he apologized abjectly and profusely. She, reluctantly, answered a discreet knock at their door nearly an hour later. She assumed that LaCroix or someone else wanted her to fetch something, yet again. Although she quietly hoped it was Nick come to apologize.

She had been confronted by the rather oily charms of Julian, the youngest of the vampires who was staying with them. He insinuated himself into the sitting room, and settled himself uncomfortably close to her on the couch. She suddenly realized that Julian was attempting to seduce her, and had been pursuing the same course during the discussion downstairs. She was in very real danger of being consumed.

Nick materialized in their doorway just as Julian leaned toward her, his fangs extended. "She is mine, Julian!" Nick shouted as he pulled Julian to his feet and threw him across the room. "Back off!", Nick ordered, flashing his bared fangs. Julian had backed off quickly and disappeared out the door. Nick slammed it and locked it behind him. Then he turned to Natalie.

"Are you all right, Natalie? I didn't think he would go this far," Nick gathered her up in his arms and held her close. All thoughts of keeping him at arm's length were driven from her head as he kissed her. When he raised his head and looked into her eyes, he asked, "Am I forgiven for chasing you away when you were enjoying yourself so much? I needed to get you away from Julian. He was finding you hard to resist downstairs. I got him to feed while you were up here, but I think you were just too tempting to him, my love." Natalie's eyes widened as she took in Nick's comments. And she realized abruptly that she had allowed herself to become so involved in the literary discussion, earlier, that she had ignored her own safety.

"I forgive you with all my heart, Nick, thank you," she returned his kiss.

Julian had quickly made other arrangements for his lodgings and had left the next evening. <That's one guest down and five to go.> Natalie counted to herself as she watched Julian, hesitantly, shake Nick's hand before he rushed out the door to the car which was waiting for him..

The two vampire couples were really no trouble at all. They seemed to focus entirely upon one another. They could be drawn into card games or discussions. They listened to Nick take a turn on the piano. But they seemed, constantly, to be listening for each other. Natalie idly wondered if she and Nick seemed as entirely removed from social intercourse as these two couples. She hoped not. She much preferred being ignored by LaCroix and the countess to sharing a room with those self-involved souls.

Apparently, the two couples had made arrangements to move on as well. They left the evening after Julian had gone. Now, only LaCroix and the countess remained. It appeared that they were going to stay so long as they continued to enjoy one another's company. Nick told Natalie that the two were old friends, but had never seemed to enjoy each other's company so thoroughly or for so long as they did now.

And when she thought about it, Natalie was rather pleased. Clarisse and LaCroix were delightful conversationalists. And with the others gone, the countess seemed to relax. She even responded politely to Natalie when Natalie addressed her. The four of them spent another two days in each other's company. She and Nick had no idea that there was another reason for Clarisse's presence.

End part 10 of 11 - Knightmares by Rebecca L. Chessman

All comments to bdundee@aol.com

Knightmares - part 11 of 11 - please see disclaimers at head of part 1.

by Rebecca L. Chessman

Clarisse sipped delicately at the crystal goblet she held in her hand. Her eyes flicked from the landscape illuminated by the silver moonlight to the face of her companion as she asked quietly, "What will you do now, Lucien? About your son and his little pet?"

"Leave them alone for a time, my dear," LaCroix answered her. He still gazed out at the silvered countryside. "You saw them together. He will bring her across very soon, I think. She will be a fine, new addition to my family."

"Indeed, my dear, in about a year, I should think so."

LaCroix snorted derisively, "Nicholas will never last so long. Control was never his strong suit. Impetuosity has always been his downfall."

"Not this time, Lucien. I have never seen him so committed to anything other than his precious quest. You will see. He will take his time with this one."

LaCroix looked carefully at his companion. <She knows something,> he admitted to himself. <What have I overlooked?> Clarisse was the one person who excelled him in strategy and game-playing. He respected her, but resented her superiority in this regard. What had he not seen that she had? There was no way around it. He had to ask.

"Very well, Clarisse, what is it I have not considered in this relationship?"

"He has changed, dramatically. He is not the Nicholas I remember. Something has happened to him, recently."

"What do you mean?" LaCroix demanded.

"He's very powerful. You saw how quickly Julian backed down, even after you encouraged him to challenge Nicholas for his woman. Have you ever seen Julian turn tail and run from anyone else as he did from Nicholas?"

"No, I was disappointed. I had hoped for a more interesting confrontation," LaCroix complained mildly.

Clarisse smiled enigmatically at LaCroix, then asked again. "What has happened to Nicholas? What has given him this strength?"

"Strength!?" LaCroix scoffed, "After all of Dr. Lambert's meddling it's a wonder he's still alive! She injected Nicholas with some kind of drug last year in aid of his disgusting quest for mortality. She actually suceeded for a day," LaCroix grumbled. "But he recovered."

"This is not just the result of some mortal medicine, Lucien. This change is at the very root of his being," Clarisse insisted.

"You must be wrong. He has spent centuries pursuing an endless list of ridiculous cures. For the past century he has insisted upon drinking only cow's blood. It has weakened him immensely. And just this past year he has suffered numerous physical attacks. Each has taken its toll. I have been extremely concerned about him," LaCroix asserted.

"What kind of attacks, Lucien?" Clarisse asked.

"He was shot in the head and lost his memory then possessed by a demon while his memory was still incomplete. It very nearly forced him to bring Dr. Lambert across," LaCroix smiled.

"He resisted a demon!?" Clarisse asked in amazement.

"Yes, he did," LaCroix replied. "He is mine, no other can require his obedience," he asserted vehemently. "Then, the entire Community in Toronto was infected with the fever."

"I heard that Doctor Lambert's work was the reason for your survival," Clarisse smiled knowingly.

"Yes, well, she is useful at times, I suppose," LaCroix admitted grudgingly. "Had you heard about my daughter, Divia?"

"You mentioned her once, but I thought you told me she was dead."

"So I believed. She was not. She attacked and killed several persons of my acquaintance, then she attacked Nicholas and myself. Nicholas killed her to save me." Clarisse merely nodded in acknowledgement.

"Each of these assaults sapped his strength. The only positive effect was that the demon's attack revived his desire for human blood and his interest in the hunt. I had hoped my leniency toward his involvement with this woman would induce him to bring her across. That would lure him back into the fold and end these silly attempts at mortality," LaCroix said.

"I believe you have succeeded beyond your wildest dreams, Lucien. He is entirely vampire. His aura is astonishingly virile and potent. She is completely under his spell. If it were not for his long standing convictions, she would already have been brought across. As it is, she will eventually convince him to do so. Your problem, my dear, is that when she comes across, you may lose any control over him you might have had." Clarisse smiled slyly at him.

LaCroix smiled confidently back at her. "Ah, but this is where planning pays off, my dear," he murmured. "Nicholas will need help with his fledgling. I, fortunately, can provide that help. I am only leaving them for a short while, a month or so. Then I shall return and begin her training."

"You may be very surprised about that, my dear. How our Nicholas managed to find such an enticing and diverting lady as Doctor Natalie Lambert, I do not profess to understand. You may try to train her, Lucien. But she is a worthy opponent for you. Never doubt it. I would enjoy some company when you return. I should like to see what develops." Clarisse fairly glowed with expectation.

LaCroix scrutinized the face of his companion. "You seem extremely concerned about my family affairs, my dear. What has so intrigued you?"

"This game you and the delectable Nicholas have been playing for the several centuries I have known you has been extremely entertaining. I believe he's managed to outflank you this time. And, it is entirely unconscious on his part. It's very rare that such an interesting situation presents itself with such fascinating people in each part. I had not thought today's mortals could produce such a paragon. But Dr. Lambert is entirely delicious and will add a definite spice to the play. Immortality has a tendency to become insufferably tiresome at times. To have such an intriguing situation fall in one's lap is simply too good to pass up! Do stay with me for a time, dear Lucien!" Clarisse cooed.

LaCroix smiled gently and calculatingly at his companion. "Indeed, my dear, I understand your interest when you express it so eloquently. I shall accept your invitation. Perhaps you can help me with this very delicate situation which you have brought to my attention."

LaCroix came to Nick and Natalie's suite early the next evening. Blissfully unaware that they were the subject of their elders' rather nefarious conversation, Nick and Natalie were laughing over pictures of themselves with Schanke in the album Nick had made for her. LaCroix told Nick that he and Clarisse would be traveling together for a time. They were leaving that night.

"We'll be sorry to see you go, LaCroix," Natalie told him.

"Really, my dear? Thank you," LaCroix responded with raised eyebrow.

"Really, LaCroix. We've enjoyed your company, haven't we, Nick?" Natalie said. Nick looked at her and smiled quietly.

"Yes, we have enjoyed the visit," Nick said, never letting his eyes leave Natalie's.

"I have enjoyed it as well," LaCroix reached out for Natalie's hand. Natalie tore her eyes away from Nick's and offered her hand to shake, but LaCroix surprised her by raising it to his lips and kissing it gently.

"You are a fine mate for my son, Doctor." Then LaCroix turned and left the room.

"You have made a conquest!" Nick exclaimed quietly.

"Oh Nick, please, not that!" Natalie rejoined. Nick took her hand in his, kissed the palm, and placed it over his heart.

"You've captivated both of us, my love," he told her very seriously.

"Nick, you're frightening me," Natalie replied.

"And well you should be, Natalie Lambert. This is very serious business." Natalie looked up at him and shivered at the implications of his assertion. "Now, you are considered family. You have been accepted into my world. Are you sure you want to be a part of it?" Nick's eyes bored into her own as he waited for her decision.

Natalie raised her face and kissed him gently. "Nick?"

"Yes, love?"

"May I take a little time to consider this?"

"Of course you may. This is a decision that will change your life completely." Nick began to rise from his seat. But Natalie pulled him back down.

"No, Nick. Don't leave. Just let me sit quietly for a time. I need you here," she pulled his arm around her and settled against his side with her head leaning on his shoulder, then further relaxed against him as she pulled her feet up beside her on the couch. Nick sighed gently, in relief.

Natalie realized that Nick was now, truly and finally, asking her to marry him. He, obviously, now felt that she had experienced enough of his world, his family, to make an informed decision. And, now, she had something she had never thought she would have, LaCroix's blessing. There were many implications to this development.

One of which was that she needn't be brought across in order to live with Nick as she wished to. LaCroix no longer appeared to insist upon it.

However, the problem she had experienced with Julian would continue to occur. So long as she was mortal and inhabited a vampire dominated society, she would never be considered as anything more than Nick's pet. She could depend on Nick, and, she was now sure, LaCroix, to protect her. But there was always the chance that, sometime, they might not be in a position to do so.

The possibility was growing that Nick could be persuaded to bring her across. She knew from their continuing blood link that his adamant stand, that becoming a vampire would destroy her, was softening. Did she want to become a vampire? Just now, Natalie admitted to herself, she was still unsure. They had not discussed Nick's possible cure. They had silently concurred that it did not seem likely in the near future. He had shown no physical changes to indicate that Janette's cure was working for him.

She and Nick had been able to continue their friendship as they were, while cultivating a passionately fulfilling love life. She knew one thing absolutely. She loved Nick with all her heart and soul. She could not leave him, not now, not ever. She enjoyed and was intellectually stimulated by the interaction with the vampires she had met. It was not a comfortable and familiar kind of society, but it was challenging and intriguing.

Natalie wondered, suddenly, if all brides felt as alien as she did on the brink of joining their intended's family. She snuggled closer into Nick's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. Then she looked up into his eyes with a smile and asked, "Where would you like to get married? Here, or in Toronto?" His answering whoop of joy echoed through the room, and Natalie thought she would drown in the deluge of kisses he rained upon her face.

When Nick finally calmed down enough to speak, he joyfully responded, "Here, love. I don't want to wait!"

"Neither do I, love, neither do I," she replied.

"I wonder what kind of paperwork we will need to produce to get married?" Nick wondered. "The magistrate's office is bound to be closed by now, but I can call tomorrow."

"Why wait, Nick. Let's use the computer and see if the requirements are posted on the Internet," Natalie urged.

"You are impatient!" Nick exclaimed.

"Well, why not? I use it constantly for quick research at work," Natalie responded.

"Go ahead, Nat. See what you can find," Nick urged as she booted up the computer at the desk. Within five minutes they had their answer. They each had to submit a birth certificate and a certificate of residence. Natalie's documents had to be legally certified, since she was a non-resident and her documents had been issued in Canada. Luckily, she had been born in a small town in Quebec, so her birth certificate was in French. She could, therefore, avoid the added complication of finding a Belgian translator. Since Nick was a legal resident, he could submit their documents and request the publication of the banns. They could marry ten days after the banns were posted. Nick immediately got on the phone to Aristotle to request the necessary documents and authentication.

Next Natalie called Grace, and Nick called Tracy. They knew the two women would very efficiently spread the news. Then they rose from the couch and headed for the pool for a little exercise.

"I've felt rather penned up this past week with all our guests," Natalie said to Nick as she floated next to him in the pool a half hour later.

"I know what you mean," Nick replied. "Anytime LaCroix comes to call I get the feeling he's about to attack. I didn't always feel that way about him, but lately, even after our truce, it seems he's plotting something." Nick sighed deeply.

"Why do you suppose he does that, Nick?" Natalie had her own ideas of what motivated LaCroix's actions, but she was interested in Nick's take on things.

"He says it's because I continually deny my true nature. That I've rejected his greatest gift to me, eternal life."

Natalie giggled, "He certainly can't say that lately. I've been feeding you well."

Nick looked at her oddly, then he too began to laugh. "You know, Nat. It feels good, to be well and happy."

The End - 11 parts for now.

Knightmares - by Rebecca L. Chessman

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