the following is a sequel to Hammer To Fall
This story has slash, and some bondage, also straight sex

Death On Two Legs
Katrinka

Everything was new, or at least it still felt new to Nick Knight. He
carried Natalie into her bedroom and laid her down on the bed. she looked
up to him with large dark eyes. "Are you sure you won't hurt me?"
"Don't you trust me?" He asked.
"Of course I do, it's just....." Natalie looked away from him.
So that was it, she didn't trust the new Nick, the vampire that now had
the ability to love a mortal without killing her. She might never be able
to trust him enough to give herself fully to him. He decided to give in
gracefully. "This was a mistake, I should go now,"
He pulled away from her, but she caught his hand. "No, don't go, it's
just so much for me to take in, and entirely different species of
vampires. Ones that aren't like you are....what you used to be."
"I know it's hard,"

"Why didn't you tell me about them?"
"What was there to tell?" He stretched out on the bed beside her. "All
telling you would have done was give you hope,"
"These other vampires...."
"Inherited," Nick told her.
"Inherited," She agreed. "How do they become vampires?"
"As their name suggests, most of them are born vampires, but they don't
cross over until they enter puberty,"
"They can mate with humans," it wasn't a question, not really.
"Yes, they can,"
"How did the inherited become vampires?"
Nick realized that if he didn't try to answer her questions, that she
wouldn't trust him, if he trusted her enough to tell her the truth,
perhaps she would trust her in return. So he told her. "The inheriteds are
a remnants of an alien settlement, they come from a different planet,"
'What about secondary's?"
"They are the result of an accident. One of the original inherited
settlers tried to clone the inherited gene, but the gene mutated, and the
secondarys where born."
"When did all that happen?"
"A very, very long time ago, thirty thousand years ago." He began to
stroke her curls.
"Tell me something," Nat changed the subject. "Promise that if you enter
blood lust, that you won't kill me,"
"I swear to you that I'll never take your blood without your permission,"
Nick promised.
"What if I never give it?"
"Then I'll never take your blood,"
Nat reached out and touched Nick's face, then she kissed him, it was a
soft gentle kiss that gave Nick enough room to pull away. Nick didn't
want to pull away, instead, he put his arms around her and pulled her
close to him.
The blood lust that he had always felt came, it wasn't as overpowering as
it use to be, it was more of a gentle nudge, reminding him that he could
take her blood, but his love for Natalie was strong enough to overcome
the passion.
On Natalie's side, she was terrified that Nick would kill her, but on the
other hand, she was fascinated by the idea of another kind of vampire,
those that could roam the day, instead of just the night. Those that
didn't have to kill their lovers.
Natalie had always wanted to bring Nick over to the human side again,
first out of scientific curiosity, then truthfully because she was in
love with him, because she knew if she wasn't able to bring him across,
then they wouldn't be together.
She pushed her thoughts out of her mind and instead concentrated on the
sensations that she was feeling. It felt so good to have Nick run his
hands over her body, stopping at her skirt, which he pulled up, using his
vampire strength to pull her underwear off. The he moved his trembling
fingers to her groin, were he found her clit and began to caress it, all
the time kissing her lips.
"Does this feel good?" Nick whispered huskily.
"Yes Nick, yes," She groaned. "Don't stop,"
The man was a master, how did he ever learn to fulfill a woman like that?
//Oh yes, Janette,//
Nat pushed that thought out of her mind as the passion began to overcome
everything. She had wanted him for so long, and now here he was, worrying
about her pleasure before his. Unconsciously, her body began to move back
in forth in time with his fingers, the warmth in her became a white hot
fire and suddenly, forcefully, she came, crying Nick's name.
The caressing stopped, and he took her into his arms, and kissed her
gently. "I love you Nat,"
Nat felt warm, contented, safe, very safe, she knew now that Nick would
never hurt her. She began to fumble with his shirt, unfastening the shirt
buttons.
"It's all right," He whispered, touching her hand. "We can wait if you want,"
"I want you totally,"
"Are you sure?" Nick asked. "I could still hurt you,"
"I trust you," She said firmly. "I love you,"
Nick looked into her eyes. "I love you too,"
With that, the vampire unbuttoned his lover's blouse, his fingers finding
her bra, unfastening it. For the first time Nat realized that her lover's
hands weren't as cold as they use to be.
They undressed each other, and when they where finished, Nick made slow
love to Natalie.
The new lovers were too wrapped up in each other to notice that LaCroix
was watching them from outside the bedroom window.


*                                           *                               *

Nick went into the station, it was his day off, but he had been called in
by the new captain. He had always known that Reese was just filling in
until a new captain could be named, but he thought it was strange that
he wasn't told the new captain's name.
//I just home the captain will be through with this meeting early, I want
to get back to Nat.//

The new captain was in what was once Reese's office, he was arranging and
rearranging photos on the wall. Photos of his family Nick could guess. It
had been almost a year since Shanke had been assigned to the captaincy
training program, and in all that time, he hadn't changed, he looked like
the same old Don Shanke.

//Except now he's my commander,//
//I wonder how he will deal with having all that power?//

"it's been a long time," Nick said, he stood in the doorway of Shanke's
office. "I was beginning to wonder if you would ever finish your training."
"Tell me about it," Shanke groaned, he turned around, and sat down at his
desk.
"How did you get your promotion?"
"It was through Myra,"
"I don't understand,"
"Myra's cousin is the chief of police,"
"You've always known that, can I sit down?"
Shanke gestured to a chair, and Nick sat down. "Myra tells her cousin
that it's been over seven years since I had a promotion, and suddenly
before you knew it, I was in captaincy training,"
"Well, now your out," Nick couldn't help but smile, it was nice to have
Shanke back, he hated to admit it, but he missed having him around.
"I can't believe I got assigned here," Don told him.
""I thought you requested it,"
"No, I don't like the idea of being my friends captain. What if I have to
send you out somewhere were you can be killed?"
"You might have too, that's the risk we all take being cops,"
Suddenly Shanke was very serious. "Can you follow any order that I give you?"
"Yes sir, I can,"
"This place has changed so much since I left," Shanke said going back to
being more casual. "The stations crawling with new officers, like chief
Vetter's daughter, if I get her killed, I'll be in serious ka ka."
"If she is killed, it will be the person who kills her fault, not yours."
Nick reminded him.
Shanke looked down to a folder in front of him. "What's this about
British officers joining our precinct? Do they know their stuff?"
"They use to be CI5 agents,' Nick told him.
Shanke gave a whistle under his breath. "CI5, that's almost James Bond.
How is Tracey as a partner?"
"She's good, she started rough, but then got better as she went,"
"All rookies do," He glanced back down to the folder. "I see that Bodie
and Doyle have requested to be partners,"
"They where teamed up at home,"
"They are rookies to this force, not only that, their new in town, I
don't think they should be partnered together,"
"Have you met them yet?" Nick asked.
"I don't have to," Shanke looked back up to him. "I know enough to know
that two officers that are new to Toronto wouldn't know where everything
is. So I'm going to change their partnership, at least until they can get
to know the city better,"
"Who are you going to put them with?"
"I thought I would give one to you, and one to Tracey, which one would
you like?"
Nick didn't even think about it. "I'd like Bodie,"
"Then Bodie it is," Don smiled. "When he comes in, send him in here,"
Nick made a mock salute, "Yes sir,"
"Oh, by the way, you've been promoted,"
"I didn't ask for a promotion,"
"I know, I insisted on it, and face it Knight, you deserve it."
"What is my rank?" Nick asked.
"Lieutenant, you'll be my second in command so to speak," Shanke's smile
grew wider. "Now get to work Knight."

*                                                  *                                           *

Bodie and Doyle didn't come in together, which surprised Nick, for since
they had become lovers, they did everything together.
"Morning Nick," Doyle sat down at his desk, it was separated from Nick's
desk by a foot wide gap.
"Andre," Nick said evenly, he didn't have any trouble thinking of Doyle
by his new first name, most vampire changed their names the way humans
did clothing.
Doyle took off his brown leather jacket, and put it on the back of his
chair.
"Whose this?" Tracey asked perkily, she smiled across her desk at Doyle.
"Tracey Vetter, this is Andre Doyle, newly transferred from CI5," Nick
introduced. "Andre, this is Tracey,"
"It's good to finally meet you," Doyle smiled, "Your more lovelier then
Nick told me,"
"Are you new to Canada?" Tracey's smile got an almost predatory look.
Nick could tell there was some kind of change in his partner, she had an
aura that she didn't have before. Something about her made the long
healed bites were Bodie had bit him tingle.
Bodie came into the precinct, to anyone who didn't know Bodie and Doyle
were lovers, they wouldn't even know the two of them knew each other.
//So that's it,// Nick thought, //your not going to admit your together
until you know if Shanke accepts it,//
Bodie stopped cold when he saw Tracey, his eyes narrowed. So Nick hadn't
imagined it, there was something about the woman.
//whose the girl?// Bodie telepathed to Nick.
//She's my partner,// Nick thought back.
//how long has she been a werewolf?//
//Tracey's not a werewolf,//
//are you sure?//
//Positive,//
That was enough for Bodie, he walked past them and sat down at his desk.
"Bodie this is Tracey Vetter," Nick said.
"Bodie..."
"Just Bodie," the man said coldly.
"No first name,"
"Oh Bodie's got a first name, just never goes by it," Doyle said with a
smile. "His first name is Zandor,"
"Bodie, in my office now!" Shanke ordered from the door.

*                              *                             *

Tracey Vetter went to the church that Vachon had made his home. Before
she went in, she looked up to the moon, it wouldn't be full for a few
days. Her mind was full of questions, questions that she hoped her friend
Vachon would help answer.
She looked around the place, no longer where there rats lying around, and
the place was clean, as if Screed had never lived there. She felt a
strange itching at her breast, and suddenly she heard Vachon's voice in
her ear.
"When'd you get back?"
"Yesterday," She said. "Do you get some weird kind of pleasure scaring me?"
"I just felt someone before you come in, I had to be careful," He put his
arm around her waist. "It's good to see you back Tracey, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too,' she admitted. "I should have listened to you, I
should have never gone to London,"
"Did something happen?"
"The man that I was partnered with, Murphy......" She pulled away from
Vachon, and walked across the room, she was a monster, he shouldn't
touch her. . "I became involved with him, and once
when we made love, he bit me. I thought it was just a love bite, until
the full moon came up...."
Vachon closed his eyes then opened them. "Let me see the scar,"
"My scar,"
"If you were bit by a werewolf, you would have a scar," He paused, as if
he could read her fear. "If you are a werewolf, I won't kill you, promise."
Tracey unbuttoned her blouse, she then unfastened her bra and opened it
wide enough for Vachon to see the scar. He went to her and reached out
and touched it gently, which made it tingle.
"Oh Tracey....." he seemed shook up, then he gathered his thoughts. "Why
did you come find me?"
this might sound crazy, but I thought you might understand,"
"Because I'm a vampire,"
"I killed someone Javier....I didn't mean too, I didn't want too."
"I understand, the first hunger is the strongest," he paused again."When
you where gone, a lot of things happened,"
"Yes, the werewolf murders,"
"Urs was killed,"
"Was she killed by a werewolf?"
"No, she was one, when I crossed her over, she made me into one, I'm a
werewolf too,"
"Javier..."
"We're in this together," He put his arms around her and pulled her
close. "If we stay together, the next full moon won't be as bad as the last,"
"You'll kill me," tracey gasped.
//I love you Trace,// She heard Vachon say in her mind. //Please stay,//
"All right,//
In answer, Vachon kissed her.

*                                                  *                                                *

"One whole week of service on the Toronto police force is over," Doyle
said as he put his holster in his locker.
"So?" Bodie asked from his locker..
Doyle went up behind his lover and wrapped his arms around his waist.
"We've pulled it off for a week,"
"And....."
"It's still exciting for me, changing identities," He ran his hands up
and down Bodie's bare chest, he could feel bodie smile. "When does it
stop getting exciting?"
"I'll tell you sometime," Bodie turned in Doyle's arms and kissed his
lover deeply.
"What if someone catches us?" Doyle asked as he came up for air, his
canines fully extended.
"It's four am, *no-one* will find us," Bodie kissed Doyle again.
Doyle let the excitement overcome him, they didn't have to have sex, he
reminded himself, but it wouldn't hurt to take a quick bite.
They where so wrapped up in each other, that they didn't see the door
open, didn't see the young rookie stare at them, then turn and leave.\

*                                     *                      *

"Have you seen your former partner lately?" Shanke asked Nick.
"I'm looking at him," Nick said.
"I mean Vetter,"
"Isn't this her day off?"
"Yeah, it's my day off too," Doyle said.
Shanke glared at Doyle, "You will come in when I tell you to come in, is
that understood?"
"Yes sir," Doyle looked at the ground, "Sorry sir,"
"Your still a rookie, just remember that, I can get you busted to traffic
before you can say hello." Shanke threatened.
"Yes sir,"
"Tracey Vetter left a message on her mothers answering machine saying she
was going to visit an old friend in Manatobia,"
""Has she arrived there sir?" Bodie asked.
"Her mother called the friend, who says she hasn't heard from Tracey in
weeks. Also, her car's been found in a bad side of town,"
"Perhaps she wanted to get away from it all for a couple of days," nick
suggested. "If we give her time, she'll come back,"
"If it were anyone but her, I would," Shanke said. "But this is chief
Vetter's daughter, and he has ordered us to check this out."
"Sounds good to me," Nick said.
"Can you wait outside Knight, I need to talk to our new officers,"
"Yes sir," Knight got up and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
"I've received a report that the two of you were caught kissing in the
locker room," Both Bodie and Doyle looked at the floor. "Do either of you
have anything to say about it?"
"it won't happen again sir," Bodie finally said.
"That isn't the problem," Shanke said quickly. "It's the fact that the
two of you to sneak around, I want to know the truth, was it a one time
thing, or are the two of you serious about each other?"
"Would it make any difference?" Doyle asked.
"Yes, it would, this precinct has fraternization rules,"
"I see, no gays allowed," Bodie said.
"There are specific laws in Ontario that ban discrimination because of
sexual orientation,"
Bodie finally looked up to Shanke. "Would it matter to you if we were gay?"
The captain paused. "It wouldn't matter at all, as long as you could do
the work required, but if your not serious about each other, it could
affect your performance."
"What if we where serious?" Bodie asked.
"I would say stop kissing in public, but I'm not doing that to pick on
gays, I've had to tell Nick when I found him kissing Nat lambert."
Nick has a boyfriend?" Doyle gasped.
"Nat lambert is a woman you berk," Bodie hissed at him.
"Are the two of you serious?" Shanke asked.
"We've got a life commitment sir," Bodie said. "If you want to know the
truth, we've been living together,"
"Your records state that you two have separate apartments,"
"We rented one for show," Doyle said.
"That is a huge waste of money," Shanke said. "Get rid of the one your
not using, and get back to work."

*                                                         *                                        *


You suck my blood like a leach,
You break the law and you preach,
you screw my brain 'till it hurts,
you take all my money, and still you want more...

lyrics by Freddie Mercury



LaCroix entered the mansion, it was in what use to be the most elegant
side of Toronto. Now most of the mansions has been divided up into
apartments.
he found the rock group that he was now managing lying around the
darkened living room, waiting until it was time to go to the Raven for
their latest gig.
The Imortals, the only group in the world that was made up of vampires.
He had planned to become the manager for the group long before the
incident with the werewolfs, but after he called in the enforcers,
LaCroix decided to join them a little earlier then planned.
The groups drummer whose name was Rufus Tiger half laid, half sat on the
couch, he was drinking blood from a wine glass. He appeared to be around
twenty, though LaCroix knew his real age, he was over a thousand years
old. He had dark good looks, and long raven hair.
The bass player was extremely good looking, he had long golden hair, he
put his arm around the woman that shared the love seat with him, she was
the keyboardist. She had fiery red curls, and she nuzzled the Bassest neck.
"It's about time that we leave for the Raven," He told his charges. He
looked at the redhead, she was one of his children-brought across a few
years after world war two. He was proud of her, she followed his
teachings well. "Where's Brendon?"
"He's downstairs helping my son," Tory told him.

LaCroix went downstairs into the basement, where is new partner was
running an experiment. He stood in front of a lab table, pouring
chemicals, he looked to be in his early twenties. He had long reddish
golden curls that where pulled back into a tail.
Beside him stood Brendon Bryant, the Imortals lead singer and guitarist,
he was well over six feet tall, with long dark curls, he was also rail thin.
The first man, who was called Stephen looked at LaCroix, his emerald eyes
hard. "Did you find your slave?"
"Yes, I did,"
"Good, he can help me with my work,"
"It's not that easy,"
"Why isn't it that easy?" Stephen put down the chemicals, and then went
over to him. He looked LaCroix up and down. The vampire had an arrogance
that many inherited got around the secondary. The attitude that they
were superior to the secondary. Which was ironic, because Stephen's
mother was a secondary, though to tell the truth, he treated her just as
badly.
"Nick is no longer my child,"
"What do you mean?" Stephen demanded.
LaCroix brushed past him, "Stop asking me so many questions,"
"I am of the imperial family, I have the right to ask you anything I
want, and you have a duty to answer,"
Brendon went up to Stephen. "if he doesn't want to tell you, that's his
own decision, your not god Doyle,"
"We don't have that kind of time," Stephen Doyle said, brushing off the
other vampire. "I command you to tell me LaCroix, why isn't he your child?"
"He's been turned into an inherited, he's no longer my slave," LaCroix
admitted.
"It is forbidden for a inherited to exchange blood with a secondary!"
Stephen gasped.
"That may be, but it has happened,"
"Who would do such a thing?" Brendon asked.
"Zandor Bodanskya Dracula,"

"A dracula," Doyle whispered.
"He must be made to pay," La Croix told him. "Is there anyway your new
virus can be used on a vampire?'
"It hasn't been tested,"
"What if I found a subject for you to test it on?" LaCroix offered, "How
about if I bring you one Vampire and one human for your experiments?'
The first vampire smiled predatorial at LaCroix. "That would be perfect."

*                                                               *                                 *

Nick drove to the site in the caddy. Tracey's car had been found in a
very seedy side of toronto. It was parked in front of an old abandoned
church. There was a police car already there, and an uniformed officer
was standing guard over Vetter's car.
Nick parked his car, and they got out. He looked at the uniformed. "Has
anyone searched the car yet?"
"I thought I should leave it to you, Lieutenant," The uniformed said
before he left.
Ray Doyle walked to the drivers side of the car, he touched the top right
above the door. A flash went through his mind, for an instant he could
see Tracey, she had been in a hurry to get inside. Vachon would help,
Vachon would know what to do.
"Vachon....." Doyle gasped.
Doyle could see Nick look at Bodie. "How did you know Vachon lives here?"
"I just know..."
Bodie went to Doyle's side. "What did you feel?"
"It was nothing," Doyle dismissed. He pushed past Bodie and went inside
the church.
As he touched the door, he knew that she had been here, out of her own
free will, he didn't feel any hostility from her, only desperation.
He went inside, and wrapped his arms around himself without even
thinking. She had been cold when she first came in. He could almost feel
Vachon's arms slip around his waist, could almost hear him say. "When'd
you get back?"
"I've been with you the entire time," Nick said as he came into the
church, Bodie right behind him.
//Do you get a weird sense of pleasure sneaking up on me Javier?// he
could hear her voice in his mind.
Like a flash Nick was in front of Doyle, shaking by the shoulders hard.
Suddenly Doyle was back in the here and now.
"Are you going mad?" Nick asked.
"I feel as if I am,"
"Snap out of it!" nick ordered, he let go of Doyle.
"What did you feel?"Bodie asked Ray.
"it was nothing," Doyle felt ashamed.
"You saw something Ray, what was it?" Bodie persisted.
"Nothing," Doyle walked around the room, it was bare, but the place oozed
a presence. "This is where Vachon lives,"
"How could you know that?" Nick asked.
"I can feel it..."
"I know your suppose to be telepathic, but are you trying to tell me that
you know what happened here?" Nick's voice dripped sarcasm.
"yes, I do,"
"How could you know?"
"I don't know how I know, I just do,"
"Vachon helped Doyle cross over," Bodie reminded Nick. "They share a
blood bond, Vachon will always be Ray's master."
"He can feel Vachon, like I use to feel LaCroix," Nick sounded as if he
was beginning to believe him. "Do you know what happened to tracey?"
"She came to Vachon because she thought he could help her with her
condition,"
"You see, I thought she was a werewolf," Bodie said.
"When did it happen?" Nick asked.
"She was bit by a werewolf in London," Doyle looked at Bodie. "It was
Murphy,"
"Whose Murphy?" Nick asked.
"A fellow CI5 agent," Doyle said. "She came to him in the hopes that she
could be helped by him. She felt a great guilt because she killed someone,
to make her feel better, he told her about you being a werewolf Bodie,
but your not a werewolf."
Both Bodie and Nick looked at each other and Doyle could read the truth
from them.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Doyle demanded.
"Max bit you in the first place, I thought he would have told you." Bodie
explained.
"No, he didn't, and you didn't bother to tell me did you?" Doyle accused.
Bodie closed his eyes and opened them again. "No, I didn't,"
"Why didn't you tell me?" He almost shouted.
"I didn't think you would believe me," Bodie admitted.
"If I could believe that you where a vampire, why do you think I wouldn't
believe that you where a werewolf?"
"I'm sorry Ray, I've always been ashamed of being a werewolf,"
"Why? I don't understand,"
"because it reminds me of a time when I betrayed everyone I cared for, I
was a prisoner of Radu, I was young, not even your age. He took my blood,
and return gave me his condition,"
"Why didn't you resist?"
"He was holding a relative of my hostage, I knew he would kill her if I
resisted,"
Before Doyle could answer, the uniformed police officer came into the
church. "lieutenant Knight, Captain Shanke wants you at the coroners
office,"
"What happened?" Nick asked. "Did they find Vetter's body?"
"No, Dr. Lambert's been kidnapped," The officer said grimly.


*                                                 *                                            *

Nick didn't take the time to drive to the coroner's office, he flew. When
he arrived, he found Shanke questioning Dr. Grace Baltazar, the assistant
coroner. On the exam table was one of the Lab techs, his throat was torn
out, but there was no blood to be seen. In fact the place looked as if
nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"I'm telling you, when I came in, Wilson was dead, and Natalie was dead."
Grace insisted, she was close to tears.
"She couldn't have been gone just like that," there was more then a hint
of sarcasm in Shanke's voice.
"Can I talk to her sir?" Nick asked.
"It won't do any good, she refuses to talk!"
Nick looked into Shanke's eyes, and saw him go under. "Let me talk to her,"
"All right, just this once," Shanke said.
Nick turned to Grace, the woman looked frazzled, as if she had been up for
several days. He looked down to her. "Hello Grace,"
"Hi Nick,"
He looked into her eyes, and said. "Listen to me," He could hear her
heart beat as she went under. "Tell me, what happened?"
"I must forget," she said blankly.
"You no longer have to forget, you must remember,"
"There where two men," She said. "One was holding Natalie, the other had
just laid Wilson on the floor."
"What else happened?"
"The one that had Wilson grabbed me by the neck so hard that I knew he
was going to strangle me, and the first said 'Not her," the other said.
'We must kill all witnesses,' the first told the second one to make me
forget."
"What did they look like?" Shanke asked.
"The first was tall, very tall,"
"How tall?"
"He could have been a basketball player, six six to six eight. He was
very thin, he had very long very curly black hair, and he was Irish, I
remember he talked with a brogue. The second was shorter, more sturdy,
his hair was short and light brown, it was thinning on top, he had an
upper class English accent, but he had a French name,"
"What was the name?" Nick asked.
"I think I heard the Irish one call him LaCroix...."
"Thank you Grace," Nick said breaking the spell.
"That's enough for now," Shanke said. "It said like you had a long day,
you can come in the morning and answer a few more questions,"
"Yes captain," she said, she stood up.
Nick hugged her, "Thanks for helping grace,"
Grace hugged back. "I'm sorry about Natalie, Nick..."
"It's alright, it wasn't your fault," he let go of her and she left.
Shanke turned to Nick. "As for you Knight, I don't care if your allergic
to sun, your going to work twenty-four hours a day until we get Natalie
and Vetter back is that understood?"
"Yes sir," Nick said.
//LaCroix's got Nat,//
//what will I have to do to get her back?//


*                                            *                                                  *

Bodie was going out for a bite of rich, delicious, fresh human blood. He
didn't mind the fact that Nick or Doyle lived on cow's blood. Bodie liked
more then that, he liked his food fresh, always had. He had asked Ray
once if he wanted to go with him on a hunt, but his lover almost vomited
at the thought.
So Bodie went to the Raven alone. It was just after midnight, and the
place seemed to be the hot spot in town. So much so that there was a
poster outside the Raven that advertized that the Imortals were playing a
gig that night. By the looks of the groupies that were waiting to get it,
he knew that he would be able to eat well that night.
Bodie went up to the bouncers by the doorway, the first, a human said.
"Get in line with the rest,"
The second, a vampire's eyes got wide when he saw Bodie, "Your highness,
It's an honor to have you here, please go inside."
Bodie went inside, the lights were turned down low. The place was packed,
both vampires and humans filled the room. Lots of humans, mostly female,
and mostly young.
The Imortals gig had already begun, the lead singer caught his eye, for
he looked as if he could be a twin of Bodie's brother Mercea, who had
been murdered during their exile by Radu. This one was a descendant, he
could tell by the look of him. He wasn't too surprised that he didn't
know him, He didn't know all his family, especially the once that we're
Mercea's.
The lead singer sang a cover of a Queen song that reminded Bodie of LaCroix.

Death on two legs,
Your tearing me apart,
death on two legs,
you never had a heart of your own,
kill joy, bad guy,
Big talking small fry,
your just an old barrow boy,
have you found a new toy to replace me?
Can you face me?
Now you can kiss my ass goodbye!
(words by mercury)


The singer had a real passion to his voice, as if he sang about someone
he knew, and hated.
Bodie went to the bar, Miklos was busy serving people, he had yet to
really talk to Miklos like they needed too. Miklos smiled when he saw
Bodie, without saying anything, he poured him a glass of human blood and
set it in front of him. Then he moved onto another customer at the other
end of the bar.
Bodie turned and looked out at the people again. He was dressed entirely
in black, black cords tucked into black knee length boots, black turtle
neck shirt and a black leather jacket all this set off his very pale
skin. He was devastatingly good looking, but then again, it was easier
if the hunter became the hunted.
He noticed LaCroix across the crowded floor, their eyes met, and LaCroix
lifted his wine glass to him. Bodie nodded and looked away.
//Just what I need here,//
//LaCroix//
He found a woman that would make a perfect meal, she was in her early
twenties, dark skinned, and had long cornrows. He went up to her.
"Aren't they good?" he asked her.
She smiled at him, she smelt of roses and wine. "They're the best, I've
got all they're C.D.'s"
"I see,"
"Your British aren't you?"
"If you'd like," He smiled back.
"I just love England, the countryside is so pretty," The woman kept
rambling on.

//great an airhead,//
He looked her over. //well, I didn't want her for her mind anyway,//
Bodie looked into her eyes, forced her will to succumb to his. "Why don't
we go into the back?''
He lead her into one of the back rooms, and pushed her against the wall
and kissed her deeply. Then he made his way to her throat, and bit down.
She wouldn't remember this happening in the morning, he would make sure
of that, she wouldn't even remember what he looked like, only that she
had a good time.

Something grabbed him by the back of the throat and shoved him to the
ground. He stared up at his attacker, it was LaCroix!
A man, not a man but a vampire stepped out of the shadows, the vampire
looked exactly like Ray Doyle. The vampire took out a gun that had a
silencer and shot him three times in the leg. The bullets burned his leg.
Bodie could tell by the feel that they weren't normal bullets, they had a
garlic center and something else.
He watched in horror as LaCroix fed off the girl, then threw her dead
body to the ground. Then everything went black.

*                                                       *                                           *

He thought he saw his brother walk into the room, his older brother who
had been more of a father then a brother to him.
"Mercea?" he gasped half asleep, the man didn't say anything, just walked
past him.
As Bodie woke, he was tied to a chair, his leg still hurt from the bullets.
//Must have been made of wood,// he thought groggily.
He was in a small room, several lab tables where pushed against the wall.
He couldn't see what was behind him. He could feel the presence of
vampires, six or seven, he couldn't be sure.
A man came up behind him, he was the lead singer of the Imortals, he was
wearing a lab jacket and his long hair had been pulled back into a tail.
There was some resemblance between this man and Bodie's long dead
brother, but he could feel it wasn't him, someone else, someone he knew
he knew, but he couldn't place as to where.
"Who are you?
"I am called Brendon Bryant," the man said, he had a british/irish
accent, he picked up a syringe. "We have questions, you have answers,
what are you charged with?"
"I have no idea," Bodie said truthfully.
"Treason," LaCroix came into view, he was dressed entirely in black, even
the lab coat that he wore was black.
Bodie hated the site of LaCroix, "I should have known you had something
to do with Dr. Lambert, Vachon, and Vetter's disappearance,"
"I had nothing to do with Vachon and Vetter leaving town," LaCroix told him.
"What if I don't believe you?" Bodie asked.
"Why should I lie?" LaCroix smiled tightly, "You are the one that broke
the code, not I."
"I did not break the code,"
"You took my child and made him an inherited. I'm going to make you pay
for that act,"
"I gave Nick the gift freely, he should be the one that has the right to
decide if you should be his master or not,"
"No, the reason secondaries have masters is so that they don't have to
make decisions like that," LaCroix told him. "You had no right to
interfere with my duties. You will be made to suffer for your code
breaking, you will be punished."
"If you kill me, you will pay," Bodie vowed.
"Who says anything about your dying? though, you'll beg for death by the
time I'm through with you," When bodie didn't answer, LaCroix asked.
"Aren't you in the least bit interested in what I'm going do to you?"
He wouldn't give in to LaCroix to even ask
him what he was going to do to him, so he said. "I'll find out soon enough,"
"Do you remember the fever that swept over the vampire community?" The
older vampire asked. "Do you remember how many of our people died of it?"
"If your planning on giving it to me, I've had the immunization,"
"That may be, but a vampire scientist has developed a new strain of the
fever, this one is not responsive to the A.I.D.S virus, if you don't
swear you'll loyalty to me, I'll make sure you get it."
"You'll rot in hell before I give you my loyalty," Bodie spat.
LaCroix nodded, and the man that looked so much like Bodie's brother
stabbed him in the arm with the needle and pushed the trigger. Then he
stepped back.
What ever Brendon had given him, made his arm burn as if it were on fire.
He gasped in pain.
"In a few hours, you'll be sick, very sick, then I'll give you the chance
to have the cure,"
"What must I do?" Bodie gasped.
"You must give me your submission, your total submission. You will
acknowledge me as your master, then you will beg me for the cure,"
"Never," Bodie swore. "I will not swear loyalty to the man that helped
murder my family,"
"I killed your family over four hundred years ago," He reminded him.
"Times change,"
"You'll never change,"
LaCroix punched Bodie hard in the face, then looked up to Brendon. "Give
him another injection in three minutes,"
"Yes master," The vampire said.
With that, LaCroix left.
The man knelt so that he was at the same level as Bodie. "Why did you
call me Mercea?"
Bodie knew it didn't hurt to tell him. "He was my brother, he's dead. He
died a very long time ago in a long forgotten country,"
How do you know he's dead?"
All ready Bodie felt ill, his vision began to blur. "I found his body, it
was in a fountain, he had been staked."
"Did you bury his body?"
"There wasn't time, my castle was under siege, when the siege was over,
his body was gone."
"The castle was Mercea's not yours," The vampire corrected.
Bodie looked the man in the eyes for the first time, his eyes looked
familiar to him. "How do you know about my brothers death?"
"What does that matter?" The younger man countered. "I know who you are,
your Zanor Bodanskya Dracula."
The vampire stood up to his full height, he took another syringe off of
the table. This time when he injected Bodie, it was much more gently. As
bodie began to loose consciousness, he could hear the younger vampire say.
"Please forgive me for what I've done grandfather."

*                                                   *                                                 *

Brendon left the interrogation room, and as his master had called, he
went to his bedroom. He felt physically ill, he had caused the one person
who had ever been kind to him to become very sick.
LaCroix was waiting for him. "You should not have apologized to the
prisoner,"
"What I say to my grandfather is my own business," He said harshly.
In an instant, LaCroix was at his side, he held onto Brendon's thin arm
with an iron grasp, and applied a slow steady pressure.
'Just remember who owns you,"
Brendon looked down to his arm, LaCroix was applying enough pressure to
break his arm. LaCroix, the vampire that Brendon thought of as 'death on
two legs," "Slavery is illegal," He reminded his master.
"In the human world yes, but in the community, well, that's a different
story," LaCroix unfastened the ribbon that held Brendon's hair, and began
to stroke his cheek. "If I hadn't found you when I did, the hunters would
have killed you. You needed me when you crossed over. If I hadn't give
you my blood, you would have died,"
"I'm an inherited, you can't own an inherited!" He tried to pull away
from his master.
"We've shared blood," LaCroix reminded him. "Your no longer an inherited,
your my slave now,"
"You let me have my freedom for almost fifteen years," Brendon protested.
"I will give you privileges, but when you begin to disobey me, I take
them away," LaCroix began to unfasten Brendon's shirt with one hand.
"I've done everything you've commanded me too,"
"Let's not play games, I know you where the one that warned Vachon and
his girlfriend to get out of town,"
"Who told you?"
"What does it matter?" LaCroix with one movement pulled Brendon's shirt
off, so that was it, LaCroix wanted sex, and he would get it from Brendon
weather the young vampire agreed or not. "Tell me Brendon, in all the
time that you have been alive, did your grandfather try and reclaim you?"
"No, he didn't," Brendon looked away from his master.
"SO why hold so much loyalty to a inherited that never had any interest
in you, and reject the father that still cares for you deeply?"
"I'm sorry father,"
"How can you believe that there is goodness in the world? Didn't autzwitz
prove to you that humans are no better then us? Their just as evil as the
worst vampire," LaCroix's grip loosened on Brendon, but this time the
youngster didn't run, there would be time for that later. Now the best
thing would be for him to appease the monster that was his master.
LaCroix touched Brendon's chin and gently turned it so that he was
looking at him. "I've had stephen give the group instructions that they
will inform me if you contact anyone that you don't have permission to
contact, if you disobey me, you will suffer."
"I'll do what ever you want, you are my master,"
LaCroix began to gently stroke his face again. "I know it's hard for you
my son, but you need to grow. I don't want you to turn out like your
Brother Nick and forget everything that you are."
"I will never forget that I am your child," Brendon promised.
LaCroix pulled Brendon to him and kissed his lips. Brendon let him, it
was better not to fight his master, even though every touch made him feel
sick, every caress made him wish that he had been killed with his mother.

French Indochina-1947

Brendon was only eleven years old, but he had in his few years lived
through what would have made many people go mad. He had spent his
formative years in the Gypsy family camp in Autzwitz, being an eye
witness to everything brutal that humanity was capable of. By the time
that his grandfather had helped his family escape, he had changed from a
carefree child to a street hustler, would do anything for a scrap
of bread.
After their escape from the Nazi's, the family had gone to Ireland, the
homeland of Brendon's father, and neutral during the war. His mother was
told by Brendon's father's sister that his father had gone to Europe in
search of them, and had been captured and executed by the Nazi's/
After finding out about his father's death, his mother had taken Brendon
far away from Europe. His mother was a Red Cross doctor in a very small
village near the Chinese border. His mother had insisted that not all
humans where like the Nazi's, and he was slowly beginning to believe her.
The villagers had accepted them with open arms at first. Then a series of
murders had taken place, every victims throat had been torn out.
Slowly a coldness overcame the village, it got to the point that Brendon
was no longer allowed to attend the local village school that was run by
nuns.
It was getting near sunset, and his mother was getting ready to close the
clinic for the night. She no longer had the help of nurses, because one
by one they had been killed.
She talked to brendon about his father, and how much she wished that he
could have known him better. Perhaps after awhile, he could join his
sisters and brothers at his aunts castle in Ireland. He asked again
why he wasn't allowed to live in Ireland like the rest of his siblings,
but yet again, his mother refused to tell. He knew the truth, he was a
theft that couldn't be trusted, even now he allowed the village men to
use him for food. It had been a way of life for so long, that he no
longer even hated himself each time it happened.
His mother looked outside the clinics window, to the hunters, then back
to him. "You must hide,"
"Why mother?"
"Don't ask, just do as I say," His mother said harshly.
"Their coming to kill us,"
"Yes, they are," She agreed.
"I thought you said they weren't like the Nazi's,"
I was mistaken," She admitted. "You must go to your hiding place and hide."
"Yes mother," he said.
"Don't come out until the hunters are gone, can you promise me that?" She
asked.
His mother hugged him tightly, then she gave him one last look. "Always
remember that I love you,"
"I love you too mother,"
She kissed him, then Brendon ran to his hiding place, in their quarters.
It was a trap door in the kitchen floor that couldn't be seen when it was
closed.
He could hear the door to the clinic being broken down, and voices of
people filling the place. He could hear the footsteps of the hunters as
they walked on the floor that was above his head.
Then, there was silence, and smoke.
He opened the door to his hiding place, and went into the kitchen, it was
filled with smoke, the place had been set on fire!
He ran outside. A villager came at him, holding a pitchfork as a weapon.
Just then something came out from the sky and grabbed the villager, and
bit him in the neck. The rest of the villagers fled in terror, but the
young boy was afraid to leave. For the first time, he could see the
headless body of his mother.
The thing cast aside the husk of the villager, and looked at him. It was
a vampire, dressed in a french military uniform.
"Ah...an inherited child....." The vampire drawled in french, "What is
your name child?"
"I'm brendon Dracula,"
"Your highness, I am LaCroix, we're going to become good friends."



*                                             *                                            *

It was daylight when Doyle woke, he had passed out yet again from his
lovemaking session with Bodie. He turned over in the bed, "Last night was
wonderful,"
He found that he was talking to himself, for Bodie had gone. Where would
he go? Then it hit him, Bodie had asked him to go hunting with him the
night before, but Doyle had been sickened by the thought of taking blood
from a human. What would happen if he killed his meal? He had enough
trouble taking cow's blood without thinking of drinking human.
He had been a vegetarian before his crossover, and he still wasn't too
comfortable drinking from something he thought of as living creature.
//why does he do this to me?//
Doyle still couldn't get use to the fact that his partner had a taste for
fresh human blood, and that he usually had sex with the person to get it.
Sex, goddess, it seemed like Ray was back to being a whore, that he had no
claim over his lover.
Bodie had promised that he would never make love to another vampire
during their commitment, but he could still feel the blood tie between
his partner and Nick, and knew if the chance came up, that Bodie would
sleep with him again.
"We're vampires, our world is different then mortals," He could still
hear Bodie tell him. "We view love differently."
//How bloody different could it be?//
//For one thing, your lover is over five hundred years old, and has
grandchildren older then you.//
Something didn't feel right to Doyle, something strange had happened. But
what could have happened?
Doyle shook the feeling off and got out of bed. As he was already nude,
he didn't bother to undress, he got into the shower and let the water
fall over his body. Washing off the blood stained stickiness that was a
remnant of the night before. He had been told by his father that vampires
hated showers, but he never felt the room close in on him the way his
father had always told him it would. Yes, the water from the shower felt
like pin pricks against his skin. That didn't matter to him, he liked
being clean.
He got out of the shower and looked at himself in the mirror, at his
reddish golden curls. A young man looked back at him, a young man that
looked as if he had no care in the world. A young man with no lines
creasing his face, no grey forcing out the copper of his hair. He was
young again. So why did he still feel old inside?
Bodie was five hundred. From what he could guess, Nick was even older.
Doyle wondered how he could face the forever that faced him. How could he
live with Bodie going out every night for something that he couldn't give
him, something he use to when they where lovers, before Ray had crossed
over.
//I'm a vampire now,//
//I'm suppose to be invincible,//
//So why do I feel terrified?//
Doyle shaved, then quickly dressed. He went into the sitting room. Nick
was stretched out on the couch, he was still wearing the rumpled clothes
from the night before. The television was on, and he was changing channels.
"I see that you and Bodie decided to wake up," Nick told him.
Doyle ignored him, he went to the kitchen, and took two bottles out of
the refrigerator.
Nick looked towards the bedroom. "Is Bodie still in the shower?"
"He's out,"
Nick looked at him warily, "What do you mean? Still asleep?"
"He went hunting last night," Doyle tried to act nonchalant. He tried to
tell himself that nothing had happened to his lover, bodie was more then
capable of taking care of himself.
"Hunting?" Nick asked.
"he likes the taste of fresh blood,"
Nick sat up. "Didn't you tell him we where on a case?"
"Yes, but did he listen to me? No." Doyle handed Nick a bottle of blood,
then sat down beside him on the couch. He took a pull on the bottle, it
wasn't too bad, you could hardly taste the cow. "What's shanke going to
do when he finds out about Bodie disappearing?"

"Nothing," Nick took a drink from his bottle.
"What do you mean nothing?"
"I'll hypnotise him if I must," Nick shrugged. "Aren't you worried about
bodie?"
"Bodie's a grown man, he can look out for himself,"





Doyle got up from the couch, he set the bottle he was drinking from on
the table, then went to the coat closet and unlocked it. The first thing
he did was put on his shoulder holster, then he took a box off the top
shelf, he re-locked the door and went back to the couch.Where he
opened the box, and took out his favourite CI5 gun, the one Cowley had
given him as a going away present. He put a lip in the butt of the gun.
Nick looked him over warily. "Where did you get that gun?"
"it's mine,"
"You don't have a permit for that do you?"
"What are you going to do? Turn me in?" Doyle cocked the gun and put it
in the holster.
"What's wrong with your standard issue gun?"
"This gun has bullets made up of a wooden and garlic core, if we're going
to meet up with vampires, we're going to need them."
Suddenly Doyle had a flash, Bodie was in a room, tied to a chair, LaCroix
was watching. LaCroix nodded to a curly haired boy, who gave Bodie an
injection, it hurt going in.
"What is it?" Nick demanded.
"I'm not sure...."
Doyle could still see the scene, and could hear Bodie gasp. "I'll never
give in to you!"
Nick grabbed Doyle by the shoulders and shook him hard. "Ray, snap out of
it!"
Doyle was suddenly back in the apartment, he rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry,
for a moment, I saw Bodie..."
"Where was he?"
"I'm not too sure..."
"What was he doing?"
"He was tied up, a kid gave him a injection, LaCroix was there,"
"Your making that up!" Nick said.
"Why would I lie to you?" Ray countered.
"You wouldn't," Nick let go of him.
"LaCroix's got Bodie, what are we going to tell the captain?"
"Nothing,"
"We can't tell him we're going hunting for the vampire that kidnapped
Bodie," Doyle tried to reason.
"Of course we won't tell him that,"
"We have to tell him something,"
"Don't worry,I'll take care of shanke," Nick said.

*                                     *                      *

Natalie Lambert wasn't sure how long she had been in this place, two,
perhaps three days. It wasn't really a cell, more like a walk in closet
that had a full length mirror at one end. She felt as if he where being
watched all the time.
She hadn't seen LaCroix since the abduction, but she had seen the other
one, he had brought her food in several times. He would look at her with
his dark blue eyes, she could tell that he wanted to tell her something,
but each time she talked to him, he could flee, like a deer that had been
caught in someone's headlights.
The door to the cell opened, the curly haired one carried in another man,
this one had very short, very dark hair. He was dressed in a black turtle
neck shirt and black pants. The curly haired one set the other gently on
the floor. Frankly, the other one looked as if he where dead.
As if reading her mind, the curly haired one looked up to her, for the
first time Natalie realized that he wasn't much more then a boy, he was
perhaps nineteen at the most.
"What's your name?" She asked him.
"I'm called Brendon," The boy's accent was a strange mixture of Irish and
English.
"Is he dead?" she asked referring to the other one.
"No, he's ill, very ill."
"What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know," Brendon looked back at her, his eyes had a hollow empty
look, he looked as if he had been broken. "Dr. Lambert, your a physician,
please help him."
"Why can't you take him to the hospital?

"I can't," The boy's eyes darted at the door, then back to her. "He needs
help, your the only one that can give it to him."
"If your with LaCroix, why do you care what happens to him?"
"he's my....family," The boy finally said.
"Brendon!" LaCroix thundered as he came into the room adjacent to the one
Nat was in. "Get in here now!"
"I must go, I'm not allowed to talk to you." With that the boy left,
Natalie watched as LaCroix grabbed Brendon by the shirt front and picked
the much taller boy off his feet and shake him as if he where a rag doll.
Then LaCroix threw the boy across the room, where he hit the wall with a
loud thump, LaCroix then shut and locked the door.
"You must do as your told!" LaCroix said as he hit the boy.
"I'm sorry master,"
"What did I tell you about talking to people that you don't have
permission to?" He asked with another loud slap.
"I'm not allowed to talk to them,"
"Why did you talk to Natalie?" When the boy didn't answer, there was a
thud against the door to the room, and it shook. "She's human, why do you
care for a human!"
"She's an innocent..."
"There's no one innocent, especially humans," LaCroix growled. ""They are
simply an advanced form of cattle!"
There was the sound of a door opening and shutting, and then silence.
Suddenly the man on the floor began to cough. Natalie knelt down beside
him. "are you all right?"
"I'm not sure," The man croaked. He opened his eyes, eyes that were so
much like Brendon's. He studied her for several seconds, and said. "Your
Natalie Lambert,"
She tried to keep the surprise out of her voice. "How do you know that?"
"I'm a Romany, I get feelings sometimes," He coughed again. "Also, I know
Nick."
"How do you know him?"
"We're friends," For a moment, he turned deathly pale.
nat reached out and touched his face. He was hot to the touch. "The
boy's right, you are ill,"
"I don't get sick," The man said firmly, he coughed again.
"Everyone gets ill," She touched the pulse point in his neck. "You have a
a very slow pulse,"
"All my family do," He looked up to her, his eyes dark with fever. "YOUr
a very lovely lady,"
"Do you have a name?"
"I'm called Bodie,"
"The vampire that turned Nick into an inherited," nat gasped. "Why would
you do it?"
"I owed it to him, he once saved my life, a long time ago,"
"How long?"
"I'm not sure, almost five hundred years ago," He coughed again.
"Your ill! Vampire's don't get ill, unless..."
"They have the fever," he finished her thought. "I know what your
thinking, yes, I did get inoculated, this is a new strain, LaCroix
thought I could be his guinea pig,"
"Why would he do that?"
"He wants me to submit," Bodie explained. "When I do, he'll give me the
cure,"
"Are you going to submit?"
"Of course I'm not!" He paused. "The roman's are no better then the
ottomans when it comes to torture,"
"What has that got to do with LaCroix?"
"He used to be a Roman general, once."
"What does he want from you?" Nat asked.
"I took away his slave, if I submit, he'll get Nick back, he's always
been selfish when it comes to his possessions,"

*                              *                      *

Nick glanced over to Doyle who was sitting the passenger side of the
caddy, staring out the window. His finger tracing his battered cheekbone
unconsciously. They had spent the entire day tracking down leads about
Natalie, but so far, nothing had panned out. The had given Bodie a few
hours to show up. Nick couldn't believe Ray's "Feelings".
The night had just come down, and there was still no word from Bodie.
Nick gave into the younger vampire's worries, and went to check out the
Raven.
Nick was getting tired of the always quiet-always introspective Doyle.
"What's wrong?"
"Why do you think anything's wrong?" Doyle snapped back, his face turned
bright red.
"Are you worried about Bodie?" Nick asked.
"Why don't you go and bite yourself?"
Nick parked the car in front of the Raven. "Listen Ray, for now we're
partners, and we're going to have to start trusting in each other. It
isn't my fault that Bodie disappeared."
"I know it isn't,"
"I'm scared too," Nick told him. "Bodie's a good friend of mine,"
"I know," The rubbing got even more pronounced. "Everytime I'm around you,
I can feel your blood bond with Bodie,"
So that was it, Doyle was jealous of what Nick had shared with Bodie. "It
might make you feel better to know that I don't want Bodie,":
"If you didn't want him, why did you sleep with him?" Doyle demanded.
"At the time, Bodie wasn't committed to you," Nick reminded him. "You
should be one to talk, you slept with Max,"
"At the time I thought he was Bodie, I wouldn't have slept with him if I
knew who he really was...."
"Max tricked you,"
"Yes, damn it," Doyle ran his fingers through his copper curls.
"If you want to know the truth, we just used each other as an outlet for
something we couldn't have," Nick realized the only way he could get
Doyle to trust him was to tell the truth. 'Bodie pretended that I was
you, and I pretended that he was Nat. If he asked me today, I wouldn't
sleep with him. I consider you a friend, and I don't sleep with friends
partners,"
That seemed to calm Doyle down, his coloring returned to normal. "If you
want to know the truth, I'm scared, more then scared, terrified. I know
that I shouldn't. Vampires are suppose to be invincible, to be above petty
human emotions like fear,"
"Who gave you that crazy idea?" When Doyle didn't answer, Nick knew. "It
was your father wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was,"
"What he told you was wrong, our kind can feel fear, and we're not
invincible, especially against our own kind."
"Our kind, how can you think of LaCroix as one of us?" Doyle asked outraged.
"Because he is," Nick said simply.
"LaCroix is evil,"
"We both have good and evil inside of us, we just have to decide what
path we choose,"
"You sound like Bodie,"
Nick grinned. "Thank you,"
"That wasn't a complement!" Even so, Doyle smiled.
They got out of the car and walked towards the Raven. It was already
filling up, but Nick could feel the presence of the one that he wanted to
talk to. The bouncers let them in without a question.
The found Miklos working at the bar. The Imortals where on the stage
doing a sound check. Doyle stopped still when he saw the Imortals.
"What is it?" Nick asked.
'The keyboard player looks like my mother," He gasped.
"I thought you said that your mother was dead,"
"She is, LaCroix killed her,"
"Then it's coincidence," Nick dismissed.
"It's a bizarre coincidence," Doyle went over to the bar.
Nick looked back to the stage, two of the four Imortals where relatives
of his, both were children of LaCroix. Both where brought across as
replacements for the two children that had left him after world war two.
He knew Brendon had left LaCroix fifteen years before, but Tory was here,
and she was very loyal to their master.







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Nick joined Doyle at the bar, Miklos looked them over. "Hello Nick, Doyle."
"I thought you had left town," Doyle said.
Miklos shrugged. "I promised Janette that I would keep an eye on the
Raven, besides, Bodie and I have unfinished business."
"Has LaCroix been in?" Nick asked.
"Why would he come by?" Miklos asked innocently, a little too innocently
for Nick.
"LaCroix was my master, I can still feel when he is near, and he *is* near."
"Yes, he's in town," Miklos admitted. "He came in here a few days ago,
and sold me the Raven for a song."
Is he going to leave town?"
"I'm not sure, he's the new manger of the Immortals,"
"Is Brendon back with LaCroix?"
"Brendon isn't getting too much choice in the matter,"
"He can tell him that he doesn't want him," Nick countered.
"Brendon's only sixty, he's still young, he doesn't has the strength that
you have," Miklos pointed out. "He's terrified of LaCroix, you know that.
Now that your here, perhaps you can help me,:
"What do you want?" Doyle asked.
"I hired Vachon to help me run the Raven, and he disappeared a few days
ago, last time her was here, he had that partner of your with him,
what's her name?" "Tracey," Nick put in.
"Yes, Tracey, I haven't seen them since,"
"It gets worse then that, Nat was taken from her office, and bodie's gone
too,"
Miklos looked into Doyle's eyes. "he didn't tell you where he was going?"
"No, he didn't," Doyle confessed.
"That isn't like Bodie,"
"Tell me about it,"
"The witness that told me that LaCroix was with an Irish guy when he
kidnaped Nat," Nick told him. "I think he has Bodie too,"
"If he has Bodie..." Miklos said.
"I know,"
"What's going on?" Doyle demanded. "Why does your master want to kidnap
Bodie?"
"LaCroix and Bodie's hatred goes a long way back," Nick explained.
"LaCroix helped murder Bodie's family,"
"If all this has to do with that, I will help you," Miklos said.
"Why would you help?" Doyle asked.
"Bodie's my cousin, I'm an expert in all this,"
"I think that it would be best if you stayed out of it," Nick told him.
"Give me one good reason why," Miklos demanded.
"For one, your not a cop," When Miklos opened his mouth to speak, Nick
raised his hand. "I need someone here to keep an eye on LaCroix and the
Immortals, if your running around with us, who will be there to watch them?
"I suppose your right," Miklos sighed. "If LaCroix shows his face, I'll
contact you, and do everything in my power to keep him here, until you
can get here."
"Thanks Mik," Nick smiled. "I'm going to talk to the band, why don't you
stay here with Miklos Ray?"
"I can help," Doyle insisted.
"You just crossed over, besides, I know them, they might talk to me, but
they won't talk to you."
"he's got a point," Miklos said. He poured a glass of blood and set it
in front of Doyle. "Why don't you have a drink, on the house?"

Nick walked over to the Immortals, Tory looked up to Nick from her
Keyboards and in her working class English accent said, "Hullo Nickie!"
"Tory," Nick said. He glanced at the rest of the group, the bass player
nodded to him. Tory walked over to the drummer and put her arms around
him. Brendon on the other hand, wouldn't make eye contact, instead he
seemed to be concentrating on his guitar.
Brendon, who had been, after his adoption by LaCroix, schooled in some of
the best schools in Ireland, he was the one that fit Grace's description.
The boy, who fifteen years ago, with Vachon's help had broken from his
master, was now obviously back with him. He wondered what could have made
him come back.
"Brend, I need to talk to you," Nick said, he glanced at the group
again. "In private,
"What ever you have to say to him, can be said in front of us," The bass
player said, Nick could feel the blood bond between Brendon and the blond
vampire, this one was Brendon's child.
"Can we at least talk in back?"
"we will come with you brendon," Tory said.
"Do you really need me?" Rufus asked, extracting himself from the red
head. "There's a lovely young thing at the bar I'd like to take a drink
from,"
Nick glanced at the person that Rufus was looking at, she was fairly
good looking and human, since he was an inherited, Nick knew that he
wouldn't kill her, also, they went back several centuries. "I'll call you
if I need you,"
The rest of the group followed Nick into one of the Raven's back rooms.
Brendon still refused to make eye contact, which could only mean one
thing, he was under LaCroix's control again.
"What does LaCroix want from me?" Nick said getting right to the point.
"Why do you think he wants anything to do with you?" The bass player
asked, he sat down on a couch, Tory sat down beside him and tried to snuggle.
"What's your name?" Nick asked.
"My name doesn't matter,"
"It's Jamie, isn't he divine?" Tory ran a scarlet tipped finger across
his cheek. "I don't know where Brendy found him, but our masters been
very generous in letting us keep him,"
Nick couldn't help but roll his eyes, After all these years, Tory still
acted like the prostitute she had been before she crossed over. He looked
at Brendon, he had sat his long frame down on a table, a little bit away
from the rest, his eyes where cast down, studying the floor. Nick knew he
was related to Bodie, he knew that from the very beginning, and he knew
that one of the revenges against the Dracula family was to take a young
relative and brainwash him into thinking he was a secondary, that he was
LaCroix's slave. Nick had tried to help him many times before, but the
young vampire had been beaten into submission by their master.
Brendon had always been a good slave, doing everything their master had
told him to, then finally he found his courage and left.
Jamie pulled away from Tory and went over to Brendon, he sat down beside
him, putting his hand on his lover's leg, as if making a claim on him,
tentatively, Brendon reached out and took the offered hand.
Nick didn't like this situation, he knew he could have gotten the truth
from Brendon in private, he was a fairly decent kid, somehow keeping a
remnant of morals even under LaCroix's influence.he wasn't getting the
choice, so he pushed on with his questioning. "What made you come back to
LaCroix Brendon?"
Brendon pretended that he didn't hear, it was Tory that answered. "He was
a good son, he came when his father called, it's too bad that the same
can't be said about you."
"Why all the questions lieutenant Knight?" Jamie asked.
"I want to know what LaCroix wants from me," Nick told them.
"He wants to welcome you back into the family," Tory said.
"I can't do that,"
"He is our master,"
"I am free of LaCroix, he is no longer my master."
"You'll never be free of LaCroix, he owns you, like he owns us all." Tory
said.
Brendon finally looked up to Knight, his eyes where sunken, and had dark
circles beneath them, his eyes reminded Nick so much of Bodie when he had
first escaped from Autzwitz, the total giving up of the self. For the
first time, Nick noticed the bite wound on Brendon's neck, it wasn't a
normal vampire bite, instead it looked as if someone had tried to tear
his throat out, the wound must have originally been quite deep, for it
still looked bad.
"I'm sorry Nick but we really don't know anything," Jamie said.
"Do you know where Natalie Lambert is?"
"Who?"
"I don't know where your girlfriend is," Tory said. "All I've been told
is that you'll get her back once you come back to the family."
"What about Vachon?"
Brendon finally spoke, his voice was very hoarse. "Our master had nothing
to do with Vachon's leaving,"
"Brend....." Jamie hissed.
"It's the truth,"
"Your not allowed to talk to him,"
SO that was it, LaCroix had gone back to trying to brainwash Brendon.
Jamie looked back up at Nick. "As we said before, we have no idea where
your friend is."
"If you do find out something, don't hesitate to call me,"
"We won't because we don't know anything," Tory said.
"Tell LaCroix that I want to speak to him,"
"I will, but he doesn't take commands darling Nickie," Tory said. "He
gives them."

*                                              *                                                *

Bodie had never felt so sick in his long life.
He was yet again tied to a chair, the hunger tried to overcome
everything, but he couldn't let it. He was strong, a Dracula, a son of
Vlad Dracul shouldn't be this frightened.
"You hunger don't you?" Lacroix asked seductively. He hovered around Bodie
like a hawk.
"I'll be all right," Bodie lied.
"Your highness, you shouldn't lie to me, I so want to give you the cure."
"If you wanted to give me the cure, then you would."
LaCroix reached out and touched Bodie's face, stroked his cheek, let his
fingers trail down to Bodie's neck, touching the pulse points. "I will
give you the cure, after you give yourself to me fully, totally.
"Never," Bodie pulled his head away from LaCroix's fingers.
"Then I'm afraid that you'll be forcing me to give you more pain,"
LaCroix walked over to the door, he put his hand on the door knob. "You
haven't met the scientist that created the Fever-B virus have you?"
"You didn't create it?" Bodie not keeping the sarcasm out of his voice.
"Why should I waste my time spending all night in a lab, when there are
others that can do it for me?" He opened the door, and a man came in, a
man that looked almost exactly like Bodie's lover, he was wearing a lab
coat.
"Doyle!" Bodie gasped.
"Hello Bodie," The redhead told him, "Have you given LaCroix's offer any
more thought?"
"Ray why are you doing this to me?" he demanded.
"Whose Ray?" The look alike asked as he went over to a lab table and
picked up a serene, the way this man moved made Bodie realize that it
wasn't his lover. This one's right cheekbone was smooth, unblemished, so
much unlike the face of his beloved Ray.
Who was this vampire?
Then it hit him. Ray had been born from a mixed union which meant that he
had been a twin, his twin had crossed over as a teenager.
"Your Stephen Doyle,' Bodie finally said.
"It took you long enough," The redhead smiled at him, it wasn't really a
smile, more like a self satisfied smirk. "I can't understand how you
could mistake me for *him*"
"You are twins,"
"That may be, but my poor brother never crossed over, so he aged like a
normal mortal, he's getting rather old isn't he?"
"How long has it been since you last saw Ray?"
"I left him over thirty years ago,"
"You haven't seen him since?"
"He is a failed inherited, he must pay for not crossing over," For the
first time, Bodie realized that Stephen Doyle was quite mad.

"He's your brother, don't you have any loyalty to him?"
"I only have loyalty to my own kind, vampires."
"Why didn't you help cross him over?"
"Why should I?" Stephen countered. "He is just refuse, he didn't deserve
the inheritance."
"Who are you to judge?"
"Your a hypocrite!" the vampire shouted, he jabbed the needle hard into
Bodie's arm. "You expected me to do something that you refused to do
yourself, cross him over! You sons of Dracula are all the same in that
matter! Expecting your servants to do something you refuse to!"
"What do you mean?" Bodie's vision began to get blurry, "I've never met
you before in my life, so why do you hate me?"
"I don't," Stephen said. "To me your just a lab rat, just something that
I can use for my experiments,"
LaCroix picked up another serene, and gave Bodie a shot, this one hurt
more then the last, and he felt unconsciousness overcoming him. "Give in
to me, and you'll be free of all this."

*                              *                     *

Bodie woke, he was back in the cell, it seemed as if nothing had changed,
except that he felt even sicker. "A nightmare, it had to be a
nightmare,"
"What kind of nightmare did you have?" Natalie asked.
"I dreamt about a scientist, he looked exactly like my lover,"
"Could it have been Ray?"
"Definitely not,"
"How can you be so sure?"
"I share a blood bond with my lover, besides, it was just a dream." Bodie
sat up, it would be better just to forget the dream.
"This scientist, did he had shoulder length curly copper hair?" Nat asked.
He eyed her warily. "How did you know that?"
"He brought you in here,"
"So it wasn't a dream, it did happen," The truth sinking in, he had
talked to Stephen Doyle.
"Then it was your partner,"
"No, it wasn't. It was his twin brother, Stephen, it must be."
"Don't you know?" She asked. "You've been together with him for years,
you must have met his brother."
"Ray hasn't seen his brother since he was sixteen, he had some family
problems," Bodie for the first time took a good look at Nat, noticed the
sweat pouring down her cheeks, he reached out and touched her forehead,
it felt as if it were on fire. "Your burning up,"
"I don't feel so good,' She admitted.
"I thought you would be immune,"
"What?"
"I estimate that your fever is one hundred and four,"
"How would you know that?" she asked. "Your not a doctor,"
"I practiced medicine for three hundred years, I'm experienced enough to
know when some one is ill."
"When was the last time you practiced medicine?"
"During the war,"
"Which war is that? The Norman conquest?"
"I'm not *that* old, I stopped practising after world war two," He looked
into her eyes, they where dark with fever, he could hear her heartbeat.
"will you lay down?"
 "I want you to know I can't be hypnotised." She said.
He took her discarded lab coat and folded it into roughly a pillow shape,
then he set it on the ground. "I don't care if you can be hypnotised or
not, what you need to do is rest."
Natalie laid down. "How could I have gotten sick?" She asked.
"Have you gotten any shots since you came here?"
"None,"
"Then you must have caught it from me,"
"I can't catch something from a vampire!" She gasped.
"Stephen Doyle developed a mutation of the Fever virus, it is feasible
that it would work on humans," He told her.
"I found a cure...AIDS,"
"it doesn't work on this, and even if it was the cure, it would kill
you," He told her grimly. "It's a mutation, a mutation humans can catch."
"Is there a cure?"
"Yes, but I have to give into LaCroix,"

*                                              *                                 *

Days passed, Bodie wasn't sure how long, only that he hungered. The
hunger, it felt so much like the first hunger. Even worse then the first
hunger, he could remember being this hunger only once before in his life,
when he was a prisoner of LaCroix, and had been left to starve to death
in a dungeon.
Self control, he had to have self control, he couldn't attack Dr. Lambert
the way he had Miklos, Miklos had been tossed in the cell by LaCroix, he
could still hear the vampire's laugh as he drained his former lover.
Miklos was a resistive inherited, so he had crossed over when bodie had
killed him. But Natalie was human, she would die if he fed on her, his
hunger was so great that he knew he wouldn't be able to control himself.
Bodie couldn't understand why the hunger was so strong, blood had been
brought into the cell regularly, and he had drunk it, but everytime he
drank, he ended up more hungry then he had before.
His canines were fully extended, a continuous reminder that there was
food nearby, but he was too weak to push them back in.

Self control, he had to have self control,
even as he thought it, Natalies heartbeat was so loud that it almost
drowned out everything.
Why was he so hungry?
Blood had been brought in, great quanties of blood, and Bodie had drank
it, but it just made the hunger worse, he ended up being more hungry then
before he ate.
The door to the room opened, Brendon came in carrying a tray. There was a
blond kid watching him from the doorway. Bodie could feel the bloodtie
between the two.
Brendon looked them both over, then set the tray on the floor in front of
Bodie. Then he looked into the older vampire's eyes, and in Romany, said
telepathically. //I'm sorry grandfather.....//
"Who are you?" Bodie demanded out loud.
"I'm.....//
The blond went over to Brendon's side, he touched him on the arm,
breaking the contact between Bodie and him. The blond then reached into
his jacket pocket and took out a serene, he went over to Bodie and
jabbed him in the arm.
"How can you do that to him?" Natalie demanded, "Can't you see he's dying?"
"Your both dying," The blond said. "Why does it matter as to where or when?"
With that the blond and Brendon left.
A wave of hunger overcame Bodie, this one was even stronger then the
last. This one was different, he suddenly became sexually aroused.
He hungered.
Natalie could see the change in Bodie, she reached out and touched him,
he pulled away from her and hoarsely said. "Don't touch me!"
"Why, what's wrong?"
"It's blood lust, I'm going through blood lust, if you touch me, I won't
be able to control myself!"

*                                 *                       *



Nick came into the living room of Doyle's apartment holding two glasses
and a bottle of blood.
Doyle was sitting on the couch, his canines where showing, he had given
up hiding them, after all, he would eat in a little while.
Nick unstopped the bottle with his teeth, and poured two glasses, he
handed one to Doyle, who quickly drank it. It wasn't until he was
finished, that it hit him that this blood tasted different then other
blood that he had drunk.
"Is there something wrong with this blood?" He asked.
"Should there be?" Nick sat down beside him, and refilled the glass.
"This doesn't taste like cow's blood, what is it? pig?"
"It's human,"
Doyle stared at the full glass, "Human, how did you get human blood?"
 Nick shrugged. "I found it in your refrigerator,"
"Bodie...." Doyle hissed. "I bet he killed someone to get this!"
Nick looked at the label, "Don't worry, this comes from people that where
rejected from the blood bank, if we didn't drink it, it would just go to
waste,"
"I see," Doyle drank the glass..
Nick put the bottle on the coffee table. "Does it bother you that you
drink blood?"
"Why should I?" Doyle asked, he put the glass beside the bottle.
"I was told that before you crossed over, that you where a vegetarian,"
"I don't have the choice if I drink blood or not," Doyle pointed out, "I
still won't eat meat, but somehow, this seems different."
"The cow dies either way," Nick pointed out.
Doyle looked at Nick, really looked at him, he never realized that the
vampire was this desirable, this good looking. He had an overwhelming
urge to kiss him, and he did, Nick responded, passionately, hungrily.
Suddenly, Doyle realized what he was doing, he pulled away from Nick,and
horrified asked. "What am I doing? I think I'm going mad, I still hunger,
even though I've fed,"
Nick reached out and touched Doyle's curls, for the first time he realized
that Nick's fangs where extended. "Your not feeling your hunger, your
feeling Bodie's,"
"How can I do that?"
"Our lust is coming through the blood bond we share with Bodie," Nick
explained.
"How would you know?"
"Because I know,"
"Why is Bodie so hungry?" Doyle asked. "It feels like the first hunger,"
"Perhaps he's going through blood lust," Nick suggested.
"He can't be,"
"Why can't he be?" Nick countered. "It's the only explanation that makes
any sense."
"Blood lust, oh goddess. I feel so helpless, I should be there, helping
him get through this,"
"You'll help Bodie by remaining strong,"
"Bodie might die,"
"He also might live through this, he's a strong vampire," Nick's fingers
went to Doyle's face, they stopped at his cheekbone, caressing it.
"Perhaps there is a way that we can help him,"
"How?" He didn't move the fingers, it felt good for Nick to touch him.
"We share a link to Bodie, perhaps if we satisfy our hunger, it might
help his,:
"That's mad," Even as he said it, his body reacted to the suggestion,
his cock straining against the zipper of his jeans.
"What if it works?" Nick asked gently. "Our link goes both ways,"
"I've got a commitment to Bodie," He said, his will faltering.
"we're vampires Ray, Bodie of all people would understand," Nick kissed
Doyle, the younger vampire felt Nick's passion as his own. Nick was
feeling the same was as he was, they would probably hate themselves later
for this, but for now it felt right.
The kiss was heated, as they shared their fire, Nick the stronger vampire
took control of the situation, he tore off Doyle's pants, and tore open
his fly.
Nick wanted him, the thrill coursed through Doyle's body, as the older
vampire pushed him down onto his back, and put his legs over Nick's
shoulders. Nick entered him without lubrication, and with animal abandon
began to thrust.

*                                            *                                                *

Brendon looked in on Bodie, the older vampire was still dying, and the
woman, the human looked ill too. They both would be dead if they didn't
get help. He knew he would have to be the one that gave them that help.
The only thing that stopped Brendon from going was fear, fear of the
vampire that was his master. LaCroix would kill him if he helped Bodie
out, the fear of dying by LaCroix's hands almost drowned out everything.
Except his memories,
He could still remember the first time Bodie had brought him food. He was
only six, and couldn't understand why the Nazi's didn't give them more
then just a bowl of watery soup a day.
"Mama, I'm hungry," He had told his mother.
"I know dear," She was wearing a cast off dress, the Nazi's hadn't yet
introduced uniforms in autzwitz yet, and they had been detained in the
gypsy family camp for only two weeks, but it seemed like an eternity for
the young boy.
"Please mama, let me have something to eat," he begged.
"You'll get something in the morning<' His mother looked outside the
window to the night sky, the window had no panes, just shutters. Brendon
could see the glow from the crematorium in the sky. He thought it as
pretty, he was too young to understand what was going on. "Your
grandfather will be back from the infirmary soon, I don't want you to be
bothering him about food, do you understand?"
"yes mama," He looked at the floor, his brothers where sitting round the
room, his sisters where playing jacks on the floor. They had wanted to
teach him, but he had refused, it was a girls game. The room was large
compared to what the other Romany's lived in, most of the others had to
live in barracks, but they were a special case, because Brendon's
grandfather worked in the infirmary.
Brendon could dimly remember his father, though the memories of him were
fading fast in his young mind, he could remember his father singing to
him in celtic, those were happy days, before he had to worry about if he
would get to eat.
Finally, his grandfather arrived, it was after lights out, he came in
carrying a large package. Brendon laid huddled on the cot that he shared
with two of his sisters, all three were pretending to sleep, but it was
hard to sleep when the pain from the hunger was so great.
"I'm back, why don't you go hunting?" Grandfather told Brendon's mother.
"It's too soon, the guards are still out," She told him. "Besides, I
don't feel right feeding when my children are starving,"
"We can't all starve, go, feed."
"But..."
Bodie walked over to Brendon's mother. "It's all right Oxanna, I'll watch
the children, do I really have to command you?"
"No father, " and with that the woman left.
Children, I know your awake, get up," His grandfather opened up the
package and set it on the floor. "I've got something really special for you."

Brendon's sister Lexa ran over to their grandfather and looked into the
package. "He's got food,"
The other children scrambled to their grandfather, leaving just Brendon,
he was younger then the rest and couldn't push his way through, so he
watched, as each sibling received food, then ran to their cots to eat it.
"Brendon come here," Bodie said.
Brendon did as his grandfather commanded, stopping in front of him. He
didn't wonder why his grandfather looked the same age as his mother,
while the other children in the camp's grandfathers were old and grey,
all he cared about was this was his grandfather.
His grandfather looked him over, his dark eyes twinkling, "Your getting
so big, it seems like yesterday you where born,"
"Yes grandfather,"
"I brought you something special, something you'll like,"

Brendon didn't dare ask what it was, he was too afraid, he had become
afraid of men, all men, after he had seen several guards rape his
teenaged sister.
His grandfather took out a large piece of bread, french bread, an orange,
and a piece of sausage, he held it out to Brendon, but the child just
stood there. "Go ahead Brendon, take it."
Brendon did, he took a bite of the sausage, he had never tasted anything
so wonderful in his life.

*                           *                            *
Brendon felt a hand on his shoulder, he knew instantly who it was, Jamie,
his child, his lover.
//You must go,// Jamie telepathed.
//I can't .....LaCroix,//
I know your afraid, I'm scared too, but how can you let your grandfather
die? Will your conscious allow it?"
//I want to go,// Brendon told him. //Grandfather was the only one that
showed me that you could be kind, even in hell.//
//Then why hesitate?"
//LaCroix will find out that I've gone,//
"How?" He asked out loud.
"Tory will notice that I'm gone."
"She's been hounding me to sleep with her, I'll let her have her way with
me,:
"If LaCroix finds out....."
"He won't," Jamie said firmly. "We must get LaCroix out of our lies, I
want the old Brendon back, the man that crossed me over."
"Even if it costs me my life, I must go," Brendon decided. "Right now, as
a slave of LaCroix, my life isn't worth living."

*                                                        *                                           *

Brendon left, taking only one thing with him, his prized homemade guitar.
He went to Knight's place, he could feel the presence of Knight and one
other vampire inside. He couldn't risk using the intercom, for he knew
that they probably wouldn't let him inside. He went into the garage and
hid his guitar in a safe place, he glanced at the door leading to the
stairs, it was locked and a security system was in place beside it.
He walked over to the door, took a deep breath, and turned invisible, and
passed through the door, he became solid on the other side. He stood for
several seconds, catching his breath, then he went to the top of the
stairs, the door was locked. He hated going invisible, it drained too
much of his energy, but right now, he didn't have the choice, he passed
through the door. He had barely became solid, when he was knocked to the
ground by Knight, who sat on his chest, and hissed. "Give me one good
reason why I shouldn't tear out your throat?"
"I know where Natalie is,"
"Why would you tell me?"
"I owe Bodie my life,"
"What did Bodie ever do for you?"
Brendon decided that the truth would be the best. "I was in the gypsy
family camp with him, he smuggled me food."
"You lie," Nick hissed. "The gypsy family camp was liquidated."
"Look at my arm,"
"What would I find there?" Nick countered." Your LaCroix's slave, you do
his bidding,"
"Please Nick, look at my arm,"
Nick grabbed Brendon's wrist, holding it, he pulled open the sleeve. "So
you have numbers, but that doesn't explain how you lived,"
"I am ZOrya's son,"
"You mean Bodie's daughter?"
"Yes,"
"How can you prove that your who you say you are?"
"The only proof I have is my memories," Brendon said. "The smell that I
will never forget, the smell of the dead being burnt, how we would watch
as the trains came in, and the people being lead to the gas chambers.
How during role call, people where beaten so badly, they died, how I was
always hungry. Those where my first memories, the evil Brutal savagery of
the humans."
"How old where you when LaCroix found you?"
"I was eleven, it was in french Indochina, my mother was murdered by
vampire hunters, and LaCroix found me,"
"What was he doing in french indochina?"
"The French returned to take back their colony, LaCroix was one of the
soldiers," Brendon looked up to Nick, into his eyes. "Kill me, I deserve
death for what I have done, but please, let me tell you where my
grandfather is being held, I owe him that,"
"Where is he being held?"
Brendon told him, then waited to die, instead, he was surprised when Nick
got off his chest. "Get up,"
"I don't understand," He said as he got to his feet. "Why aren't you
going to kill me?"
"You where a child when LaCroix found you," Nick explained. "By the time
you went through the change, he had you convinced you where his slave, I
know what LaCroix's like, I know what he can do to a person's mind."
Just then, what looked like Stephen Doyle came down the steps from the
upstairs, he looked Brendon over.
"Stephen, I don't understand, what are you doing here?" Brendon gasped.
The man flinched as if hit, then said. "I'm Ray Doyle,"
"I see, it's just that you look so much like him,"
"Him? Do you know him?" Doyle demanded. "Is he in toronto?"
"He's the one that mutated the fever virus,"
"So why help us?"
"He's given the virus to Grandfather, and Dr. Lambert caught it from him."
"Is there a cure?" Nick asked, slowly backing away from him.
"I brought some with me, we must work quickly, LaCroix is working to make
Bodie his slave."

*                                      *                                           *

Bodie sat slumped in the darkness, he could feel blood pouring down his
face, blood from the sweat that accompanied the fever, the pressure in his
groin seemed to be ever increasing. He had to have relief, Natalie was
here, her heartbeat enticing him, almost hypnotising him. He reached out
to her for a second, he wanted to touch her face, run his lips along her
neck, then slowly biting down and drinking from her as he took her. His
self control was slipping, it would be a matter of time until he took
Natalie, unless.....
Unless he did something he swore that he would never do, something that
wouldn't just save his life, but Natalie's. She was an innocent, an
innocent that had been sucked into all this because of him.
He would have to pay her back.
He made his decision, the next time that LaCroix came for him, he would
be ready. He was drug into the lab room, by the blond and Stephen Doyle.
They dropped him on the floor, then left him to LaCroix.
LaCroix walked around him. "My dear Bodanskya, you are sick. I wonder if
you'll last another shot?" Bodie watched as LaCroix picked up a syringe,
and filled it with a clear liquid from a bottle. "I suppose I'll find
out...Unless you swear your loyalty to me."
"You are my master...." Bodie said quietly.
 "You see, was that so hard to do?" LaCroix's voice was suddenly gentle.
"Yes..." Bodie finally gasped.
"You still have your pride, I like that." LaCroix put down the syringe,
then knelt down beside him and touched his face. "Would you like to get
well?"
"Please...."
"That isn't enough, you must beg for it, get on your hands and knees and
beg!"
Bodie got to his knees, the hunger that he felt was overcoming
everything. This vampire, this vampire could help him. That blocked out
all thoughts of hatred. He laid on the floor the way he had centuries
before when he was a slave. "Master, please help me."
"That didn't sound like you meant it."
"Please master, please help me," He begged. "I'll do anything for you
just as long as you help me,"
"You'll give my your claim to the title of king of the vampires?"
"Yes," He finally gasped. "I'm yours to do with what you command."
A look of pure lust came over LaCroix. "I can't have you in this
conation, I want you for my satisfaction not yours," He snapped his
fingers and the blond boy came into the room, for the first time, Bodie
realized he was wearing a robe. LaCroix nodded and the boy took off the
robe, beneath it he was nude. He looked like an angel to Bodie. He knelt
down beside Bodie.
"You will preform for me Bodie, once your blood lust has lessened, I will
take you. I want you fully aware when I have you, do you understand?"
"Yes master,"
The boy kissed Bodie, he was a vampire, he wouldn't be permanently harmed
by Bodie's blood lust. He couldn't understand why the boy would agree to
this. He wasn't LaCroix's slave.
//Please tape me,// the boy pleaded inside his mind.

//I'll hurt you....//
//I've been through much worse...I want you too.//
That was all the permission that bodie needed. He grabbed the blond by
the back of the neck, and kissed him. He let the animal part of himself
take over. The rest was a blur. He remembered turning the boy onto his
stomach, and unfastening his pants. He took the boy roughly. Drinking the
boy;s blood as he did. The boy arched back in orgasm, as he came, he
opened his mind to Bodie, and Bodie found out about the plan that he
shared with Brendon. Why he would be so willing to take a vampire in
blood lust.
Jamie truly loved Brendon, and could give himself to anyone if it meant
saving his lovers life.
Later, Bodie laid on the floor, his arms around Jamie, who was gasping
for air.
//I'm sorry...//
//There's nothing to be sorry for, you where great,// Jamie turned in
Bodie's arms and kissed his lips.
Now that Bodie was through with Jamie, it was LaCroix's turn.
LaCroix walked over to them. "I think you should get back to Tory,"
"Yes master," Jamie got up, looked around for his robe, found it, with
one last look, he left.
LaCroix scooped Bodie up in his arms and carried him out of the room. he
took Bodie to a bedroom that was decorated entirely in black. He threw
Bodie down on the bed.
"You see, joining my side isn't that bad," LaCroix said seductively.
//I sold my soul to you,// But bodie looked up to the older vampire. "May
I ask you something master?'
"Anything,"
"Dr. Lambert,"
"Don't worry about her," LaCroix interrupted. "If you satisfy me, I'll
give you the cure."
"Why should I trust you?"
"I give you my word," His eyes raked over Bodie's body. "I think it would
be better if you take off your clothes.
"Yes master,' Bodie slowly undressed, all the time having his masters
gaze on him. He had to stand to take off his pants. It was then that
LaCroix grabbed him by the hair and kissed him savagely, forcing his
tongue inside of his mouth.
Bodie felt like choking, but he reminded himself that if he didn't do
this, that an innocent would die.
He felt the slap of something metal against his left wrist. LaCroix's
iron grip on the other. He looked down. :LaCroix had handcuffed his wrist.
He pulled Bodie to the bed, and to the headboard, threaded the chain from
the handcuffs through a slat of the headboard, then slapped the other
wrist of the handcuff on the wrist he was holding. He shoved Bodie onto
his stomach, he instantly moved from the uncomfortable position.
"It would be better for you if you don't struggle my slave," LaCroix
whispered in his ear. He put is hand on Bodie's back, let the fingers
trail their way down to the small of the back, then dip lower, Bodie felt
LaCroix's fingers against his anus, the nails scrapping it."I enjoyed the
show you put on,"
"Thank you master,"
"Have you been with many woman?"
"I've been with enough,"
"When I'm done with you I just might give you to Tory, though I might
keep you for myself," The fingers entered Bodie. 'I'm not going to have
to give you much breaking in, do you remember how I broke in slaves when
I was with Radu"
Bodie closed his eyes, trying not to think of it. LaCroix had killed
several slaves with his sadism.
//Now he's going to kill me,//
The fingers were removed, and suddenly something sharp hit his back,
something sharp that burnt as it touched his skin. Bodie closed his eyes
tighter, as the blows rained down on him, he was too weak to do much
else. It took him a while to realize the blows were coming from the stems
of roses, a floor that could burn an inherited.
Just as suddenly as they started, the blows ended, and he felt LaCroix's
lips on his back, kissing the burns gently. His lips trailing their way
down his back, driving him mad. He hated to admit it, but it felt very
good, very sensuous. He couldn't help but groan.
"Like that do you?" He heard the sound of LaCroix zipper unzip, and
felt the weight of LaCroix's body against his, as he entered him slowly,
gently.
LaCroix's lips moved to his neck. "Perhaps next time I'll watch you and
Brendon preform."
"Yes master,"
 "He's a real raver, but then again, I am the one that taught him about
desire," He could feel LaCroix smile against his neck, then caress him
again with his lips. Right before he bit Bodie LaCroix said. "You see,
I'm not that bad of a master."

*                                                *                                             *

Bodie laid on LaCroix's bed, his hands were still in the handcuffs, he
could have gotten out of them, that would have been no problem, but he
wanted LaCroix to believe that he was on his side.
As he pretended to sleep, he could hear LaCroix dress, it was still light
outside, he could feel that, and tonight would be the full moon.
He had given himself to LaCroix, pledged his loyalty to the monster that
had once enslaved him, had massacred so many members of his family.
Max, the king of the vampires and his brother would never forgive him for
this betrayal, even if it did save lives.
Bodie couldn't even forgive himself.
The horrible thing was that he had enjoyed sleeping with the older
vampire. He was surprised that LaCroix-even with his sadism-was a
wonderful lover.
All ready he felt better, stronger.
He heard a click as LaCroix unlocked the handcuffs, then he felt the
presence of other vampires.
"Take him back to the cell," LaCroix ordered.
"I don't understand-he gave into you," Jamie said.
"He's still a Dracula, he'll have to earn my trust," LaCroix said. "Now
do as I command!"
"Yes master,"
Bodie felt himself being moved.
He could hear doors open, he was shoved to the ground, then the doors
shut. Finally, he opened his eyes. He was back in the cell, Natalie was
lying on the floor, her head propped up by her lab coat. Her face was
covered in sweat, so much so that it made her hair damp. He knelt beside
her, and touched her forehead, she was even hotter, she was still ill.
LaCroix had lied to him.
Natalie opened her eyes, they were dark from the fever. "Bodie, were did
you go? You where gone so long,"
"I'm back now,"
"Your neck....what happened?"
Bodie touched his neck, the wounds that LaCroix had given him during
their lovemaking where still open. Why were they taking so long? He had
to tell her the truth, it was important that she know the truth. "LaCroix
finally got what he wanted, he broke me, I'm sorry Nat,"
He expected her to tell him to leave her alone, instead, she took her
hand, "There is nothing to be sorry for, you were ill, it isn't your fault,"
He could leave, now that he was well, it would be simple, just go
invisible, and go through the wall, but that would leave Natalie to
lacroix, she was an innocent.
//LaCroix never gave her the cure,//
//Now she's dying,//
//I have the cure within me,//
//If I give it to her, she'll get well,//
//she'll also cross over,//
//It's a chance I'll have to take, I can help her, I should, I can't let
her death be on my hands,//
Bodie opened the wrist that Natalie wasn't holding with his teeth, he
then held it over Natalie's mouth, a trickle of blood went in, she
gulped, then moved her head.
"Bodie no,"
"If I don't cross you over, you'll die,"
"Your ill too," She reminded him.
"LaCroix gave me the cure, you can be helped, but you have to take my blood,"
"I'll cross over,"
"Your a scientist," He told her, he could force her, but it wouldn't be
right, she had to make the choice herself. "You can find the cure to
being an inherited, you can work all day and night if you want. Right
now, your dying, this is the only way."
In answer, she turned back to him, took the cut wrist, and held it to her
mouth, then she begun to drink.

*                               *                           *

Natalie woke, it was still dark in the cell, but she felt better, alive.
She felt a freedom that she had never felt before. She was lying beside
Bodie, his arms were around her, holding her close, protecting her. She
felt as if she was a part of him, though she would never be able to
explain how.
 She hungered.
She had never hungered like this before, she wanted blood, wanted Bodie,
wanted to feel him inside her.
She touched his body, he was nude, she didn't realize it before, she ran
her fingers over it, she could feel him shiver, as she went lower, she
could feel his hardness, feel his desire for her..
 //Natasha,// He said in her mind, in Moldovian, she didn't even ask him
how he knew the language that her grandmother talked to her in. //are you
sure?//
Natalies hunger was so great that she didn't think of weather this was
right or wrong, only the need. The lust was so great, that nothing else
mattered.
In answer, she kissed him, her hand grasping him behind the neck, taking
his hand in hers, and guiding them to her breast.
He unfastened her blouse, pulling it over her shoulders, his fingers then
stopped at her bra, where he pulled it open. He kneaded her breasts.
Natalies fangs grew, and she could feel herself going through a change.
The lust intensified.
She pulled away from Bodie, pulled off her pants, then kissed him again,
rubbing her body against his. He grabbed her buttocks and pulled her
close to him, his fingers touching her anus.
She had to control him,
she pushed him onto his back, she was surprised how easly he did as she
wished, she straddled his body with hers, then lowered herself down onto
his penis. The blond bond they shared demanded that they shared not just
their blood, but their body's.
He reached up, and kneaded her breasts as she rode him. Bodie's eyes
where now yellow, his fangs fully extended.
Nearer and nearer she came to orgasm,
as she came, she knelt down, and bit him.

*                                          *                   *

Bodie woke, Natalie was still in his arms. A wave of guilt overcame him.
he had raped her. Yes she was going through blood lust, but that was his
fault, he was the one that had crossed her over. He had given her the
cure, but by giving her the cure, he had also given her a curse.
He had always prided himself in being an honorable man, but he had taken
advantage of an innocent.
He could feel that she was awake. He would have to try and make up for
this. Natalie's hair seemed even more curly now that she had crossed
over. He had an overwhelming urge to touch it. Suddenly she took his hand
and guided it to her hair. He let his fingers get lost in the curls.
He pulled her close to him, kissing her lips, tasting her essence, her
hand went to the back of his head, pulling him close..
Then Bodie realized what he was doing, he was seducing her again. he
forced himself to pull away from her. "Natalie, I'm sorry,"
"There's no need to be,"
"I raped you..." The words stuck in his throat.
"If you remember, I was the one that took you," She reminded him, she
touched his cheek,
 he shook her hand off. "I'm forcing you to feel this way"
"How?"
"It's our blood bond,"
She touched him again. "If you hadn't crossed me over, I would have died, "
"Why do you hate vampires Natasha?" He asked her in Moldovian.
"How do you know Moldovian?"
"I know several languages," He told her. 'Tell me about your grandmother,"
"She was from Moldova, she would tell us about vampires that came in the
night, how they choose to be evil. About Vlad Tesps."
"Vlad's my brother, you know him as Max Shreck,"
"He's a good man, if I was wrong about him, perhaps I'm wrong about the
rest,"
"Now that you've crossed over, you should give Nick another chance," He
told her. "What the two of you can share now is like nothing you ever
experienced before,"
"Except what we had,"
He looked into her eyes, "Yes, what we have-had,"
"I need you Bodie,"
"Natalie....
"Don't tell me you don't want me, just as much as I desire you," She
touched his jugular, caressing it, a very sensuous act for a vampire.
Desire glowed in her eyes, she still had remnants of the blood lust. It
was always harder on woman crossing over. Through their bond, her desires
became his, and when she pulled him to her, he didn't struggle.

*                                                      *                                            *

Shanke had called Nick and Ray to the station right after Brendon's break
in. He ordered Nick and Ray to track down several leads that had been
phoned in. Since the policemen didn't trust Brendon, they did as their
captain ordered. It wasn't until sunset that they where able to get to
LaCroix's mansion.
"Are you sure we can trust you?" Doyle asked Brendon, he sat in the back
of the caddy with him, guarding him.
"Yes, you can trust me," Brendon said.
"You could have told LaCroix that you were bringing us here,"
"I wouldn't do that," the young vampire insisted.
They parked behind the mansion, and got out of the car. Something
didn't feel right to Doyle, he could feel the presence of vampires, lots
of vampires.
There was only thee of them, and he couldn't trust Brendon, the inherited
that had been raised by LaCroix. Brendon had never asked for a gun, he
expected to die at any moment. Brendon was their loose cannon.
They went into the through the back door. The first two vampires they
encountered was the dark haired one, Rufus Tiger, and Jamie.
"I see, LaCroix was right, you did betray us,' Rufus snapped.
"LaCroix's the one that betrayed us, not me," Brendon said.
"How?" His dark eyes narrowed.
"He gave his funds so that Stephen could develop a new strain of the
fever virus,"
 "I've drank from someone with AIDS, I won't get the virus,"
"That's the point Rufus," Jamie said. "Stephen's developed a virus that
is immune with AIDS. Anyone that doesn't give their loyalties to LaCroix
will die.
"Even humans can get this fever," Brendon said.
"If that's true, then the enforcers must be called in," Rufus said.
"We can handle them," Nick said. "Why don't you and Jamie find Tory,"
"Can we trust them?" Doyle asked.
"Tyger and I go back a long way, I can trust him." Nick said.
"Can I come with you to find LaCroix?" Brendon asked.
"I think you should stay with Tyger and Jamie," Doyle said.
 "Please Doyle, LaCroix has my grandfather,"
'You'll come with us," Nick said.
Brendon showed Doyle and Nick where LaCroix was. A lab had been set up in
a basement room, Stephen Doyle was working at a table, with a red headed
woman. He couldn't see the face of the woman. He instinctively went for his
gun, and said. "Hold it right there!"
Stephen Doyle looked up to Ray. "Hello Ray, I see you where finally able
to convince some vampire to cross you over, it's been a long time hasn't it?"
"Not long enough,' Doyle couldn't keep the hatred out of his voice.
"Why do you hate me Ray? I'm your brother,"
"You deserted me,"
"Why would I want some failed inherited hanging around me?" Stephen asked
with a cold smile. "You cramped my style Ray-O'boy."
"Hello Ray,' The woman turned around, and Ray couldn't believe his eyes.
So much so that the grasp loosened on his gun for a second. It was his
mother!
In a flash, Tory was at Ray's side, his gun in her hand, she pressed it
against his neck. "Hello son,"
"I don't understand, LaCroix killed you," Doyle said confused. "I saw him
kill you,"
 "He didn't kill me, he crossed me over, Didn't Nick ever tell you?"
"No, he didn't," Doyle admitted.
//Nick knew all along about my mother,//
//Why didn't he tell me she was alive?//
"If you don't drop the gun Knight, I'll blow my sons' head off,"
"What right do you have to kill him?" Nick asked.
"I gave him life, I can give him death,"
Out of the corner of his eye, Ray could see Brendon back up, and he
wondered if he was going to bolt. Instead, the vampire backed up against
a lab table, and in an instant, he was holding a crossbow. He aimed at
Tory and shot, she fell, firing the gun. The bullet ricochet off the
wall, and hit Stephen Doyle in the arm.
Ray caught the gun as it fell, he aimed it at his brother. "Give me one
good reason to kill you,"
"If your here to rescue your lover, it's too late," Stephen gasped.
"Why is it too late?" Nick asked.
"He's already given his loyalty to LaCroix."
Ray didn't, couldn't believe his brother. "Bodie would never give himself
to LaCroix,"
"Where would LaCroix be?" Nick asked Brendon.
"He is usually in his bedroom at this time of night,' Brendon explained.
"It's down the hallway, you can only get to Bodie and Natalie through his
room."
"What should we do with Brendon?" Doyle asked.
"Please, trust me, just this once," Brendon said as he reloaded the
crossbow.
"I think the slave has just thrown off his shackles,' Nick said. He went
down the hallway, Ray after a moment followed.
LaCroix sat in an easy chair in his bedroom. "Hello Nick, Ray, come in,"
"You knew we where coming," Doyle said.
"Brendon's mind is so easy to read," LaCroix said. "So, why are you here?"
"We want Bodie, and Natalie," Nick said.
"it's too late, their my children now," LaCroix touched a button on the
remote he was holding, curtains opened to reveal a two way mirror. Bodie
and Natalie laid on the floor, nude, holding each other.


*                                          *                                     *

"Bodie did exactly as I wished, only did he pledge his loyalty to
me, he crossed over Dr. Lambert," LaCroix bragged. He touched another
button on the remote, and a window opened, revealing the night sky, and
the full moon.
Something changed inside of Ray, and the rage he felt for LaCroix was
mixed with something he had never felt before. He felt himself change
into something. Suddenly he was an animal, and animal that wanted revenge.
He could feel LaCroix and Nick change too. Nick and him attacked LaCroix
at the same time.
LaCroix sank his fangs into Doyle's neck, and with his claws tore at his
shoulder, Nick was able to fight LaCroix off of Ray, but LaCroix was able
to jump through the window and escape into the night sky.
Ray wasn't sure how long had passed, but Ray Doyle changed back into
himself. His shoulder had been slashed open by LaCroix. He laid on the
floor gasping for air.
"Are you all right?" Nick asked,
"I'll be fine," He gasped. "Go, check on Bodie,"
Nick pulled the door off the cell and went inside, Bodie looked up to
Nick, his eyes still feverish. "How did you find us?"
"Brendon helped us,"
Nick looked at Natalie, she was nude, she had been with Bodie....
"Nick!" She said, she went into his arms.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
"I'm feeling better, Bodie saved my life,"
"He crossed you over," Nick accused, "You and him....."
"I took advantage of her," Bodie said quickly. "What we did, wasn't her
fault."
"I'll remember that," Nick said. Natalie sagged against him, with one
motion, he picked her up in his arms. "I'm going to take you home...to
our home,"
Bodie watched as Nick Left, he had no clothes, LaCroix had taken care of
that, he still felt weak, nd he could feel Ray. He was here, would his
lover forgive him for betraying him.
he went into the observation room. Doyle was on the floor, his shoulder
an open sore. Doyle looked up to bodie in confusion.
"You gave yourself to him,"
He should have guessed that Ray would be able to read him. He had lost
Ray. Finally he spoke. "Yes, I did."
"You didn't have a choice,"
"How do you know that?"
"i felt your blood lust through our link, when I felt it, I couldn't
control myself,"
"What did you do?"
"I slept with Nick,"
So Nick took advantage of you, he's a hypocrite," Bodie knelt down beside
his lover, "He condemns me for the same act that he did,"
There was a cry from the lab room. Doyle got to his feet and staggered
into the room, bodie followed.
Brendon laid on the floor, a stake through his heart. Stephen and Tory
Doyle where no where to be seen. Jamie held Brendon in his arms. Tears
poured down the youths face. "He's going to die, please Bodie, help him."
Bodie knelt beside his grandson, he stroked his raven curls. "Little
Brendon,"
"you remember me," Brendon asked surprised.
"You were always my favorite,"
"You were the only person that was ever kind to me, who never insisted on
something in return for his kindness," Brendon coughed. "I'm going to die,"
"Your *Not* going to die," Bodie insisted. "I'm going to remove the stake,"
Jamie looked up to Bodie, panic in his eyes. "Please your highness, make
it quick,"
"Can you trust me Brendon?" Bodie asked.
Brendon nodded, with one swift motion, Bodie pulled the stake out. The he
gave his wrist to his grandson. "Your not dying, not if I have anything
to do with it!"

*                                  *                      *

Bodie collapsed soon after they got Brendon to the apartment he shared
with Doyle."Jamie, take care of my grandson, I trust you,"
"I will," jamie swore.
Bodie passed out.
Doyle quickly wrote a number on a piece of paper. he gave it to Jamie.
"This is the number of a vampire doctor, call him, tell him that Bodie's
injured. Tell him what happened,"
Jamie stared at the paper in his hand. "Are you sure he'll help?"
"Yes, Damn it!" Doyle picked up bodie and carried him to their bedroom,
he set him down on the bed.
"Bodanskya, your too much of a bother," he told his lover.
Bodie stirred, "i'm sorry....."
"You've been giving your blood to too many people, who do you think you
are? A blood bank?"
"I had to save Nat's life," Bodie gasped. "Brendon's too, he's my grandson."
"i know, I still can't get over you having a grandson that's older then
me," Doyle told him.
"you get use to it,'
Doyle touched his forehead, "The fever's gone,"
"I've had the cure," Bodie reminded him. "i'm sorry Ray, about your mother."
"Thanks," The younger man laid down beside the older vampire. "Why did
you give into LaCroix?"
"in the end, it was the easiest thing I could do," I wasn't strong enough,"
"Your the strongest person I know," Ray told him.
Bodie looked up to him, his eyes where hollow. "I love you,"
"I know," Doyle kissed his lover's lips softly.
To say that Bodie didn't look good was an understatement. He had been
almost completely drained. If he didn't get blood soon, he could die, it
was that simple. Yes, Ray was hurt too, but Bodie was much worse.
he put a hand on the back of Bodie's head and pushed it towards his neck.

"Feed, my love, you must feed,"
"I might kill you,"
"You won't kill me, I trust you," He felt Bodie sigh against his neck,
then bit down. For now nothing else mattered.

*                                *                                               *

It was eight o'clock at night when Max Schreck got the call from Jamie.
After hearing what had happened, he told the boy that he would be right
there and to stay by the phone.
He flew to the apartment house, and went through the wall. The blond boy
was waiting for him in the living room. He looked the boy over. "I am
Vlad Dracula, who are you?"
"I'm called Jamie...sir,"
"You said there was a problem,"
The boy looked down the hallway. "My lover was staked,"
"Where is he?"
The boy showed Max to his lover, who was lying on a bed. Max couldn't
believe his eyes, this vampire looked as if he could be Max's dead
brother Mercea. They looked as if they could be twins, the same long thin
frame, the same long curly hair that they kept in the same style.
Jamie noticed Max's hesitation. "Please your majesty, can you help him?"
"Can you tell me what his name is, his *real* name?"
"He's called Brendon Dracula..."
So this was Bodie's grandson, the last time Max had seen him was when he
was a toddler. brendon looked terrified of Max.
Max knelt down beside his great nephew, he touched his forehead. "I've
heard that you've been having a lot of trouble.
"I'm sorry your majesty," Brendon croaked.
Max set up an I.V. for his nephew. He would get three pints of vampire
blood. Then he looked at the younger boy, his nephew;s child.
"You can't stay in Toronto, LaCroix will come after you."
"I know,"
"Do you have any idea where you'll go?"
It doesn't matter, as long as I'm with Brendon,"
"Does his father know he's alive?"
"My fathers dead,' Brendon said.
"Your father's alive and well, and living in L.A. I think you should go
to him."
Max then went to check in on his brother. he found him sleeping in
Doyle's arms. They where both weak, but they would live.
He could feel a bond between Bodie and LaCroix, and knew that they needed
to have a long talk, but this wasn't the time. Later, they he could talk
to his brother later, when he was well.
Quietly, Max left.


*                               *                              *

"I'm starving," Natalie told Nick as he laid her down on the bed in his
loft.
"Now you know you'll never get well if you keep drinking blood," Nick
chided, he tried to hide the smile that tugged at his lips. It served her
right, to find out how the hunger was really like.
"I take it back, Nick, I take everything I said about trying to make you
human again back!" Natalie said. "I didn't know the hunger was this
strong, I thought it was like a hunger for a drug,"
"It isn't,"
"No, that you can ignore, this, well, this....." She paused. "Are you
going to leave me now that I'm a vampire?"
In answer, Nick stretched out, beside her. "Of course I'm not,'
"I feel like such a hypocrite,"
"Your not, your a wonderful woman," He traced his finger down her face.
"Now we have forever,"
"The virus..... What if it gets out?"
"I've talked Grace into start making the cure, and Max, He's going to
help of course,"
"You told *Grace* about vampires?" Natalie gasped.
"To tell you the truth, no, I didn't, she already knew"
"Then how does she know? Who told her?"
"I don't think anyone," Nick said. "besides, she owes me a favor,"
"Why?" Natalie looked at Nick. "Is Grace?"
"A vampire? Yes,"
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"She didn't want you to see vampires coming out from every corner,"
"How old is she?" Natalie asked.
"I'm not sure, she never told me," Nick said truthfully.
"Do you have any idea?"
"All I know is that she's older then LaCroix and an inherited,"
"If she's that old, then she should be running my office!"
"Do you know how many times she's asked me that?" Nick countered. He
smiled down to her."I love you Natalie,"
"I love you too," With that, Natalie kissed him.






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