Disclaimer:  The Forever Knight characters belong to TPTB; all others are
mine.  Permission to post at FK Fanfic and FTP sites; anyone else, please ask.

Special thanks to LizM for beta-reading this story for me,  letting me bounce
all of my ideas off her, and for putting up with all of my questions!  Also,
thanks to my off-line friends, Pete, Keri, and Tammy.

Any comments and (constructive) criticism are welcome, and can be sent to
lmharvey@hotmail.com
Please keep in mind that this is my first attempt at fanfic, and be kind!  This is
an after Last Knight story that I wrote awhile ago, long before I had access to
a computer.

About Last Knight
by Lisa Harvey
c. 1998

Part One


	"Damn you, Nicholas."

As Lacroix raised the stake high above his head, he weighed his options.  He
could immobilize Nicholas and bring the good doctor across, or he could kill
Nicholas and be done with it.  Yes, be done with Nicholas and his ridiculous
little quest...  But would it be a relief, really?  Could he really kill his favorite
child?  It had been terrible enough to lose Janette, but Nicholas too?

Lacroix was so involved with his dilemma that he didn't hear the elevator door
slam open, and he didn't notice Nick turning at the sound.  Instead, in his rage,
he drove the stake into Nick's right shoulder with such force that Nick was
pinned to the floor.  Lacroix became aware of a woman screaming.

"No!  Uncle Nick, are you all right?"  She turned to Lacroix.  "Have you lost
your mind?!  Are you trying to kill him?"  Lacroix watched as she ran to kneel
by Nick's side.  "Actually, yes, I was.  He asked me to do it, as a matter of fact. 
And you are?"  She ignored him as she grasped Nick's hand in her own.

"Nicolas, have *you* lost you mind?"  He looked towards Natalie's body. 
"Daisy, I've killed her and now I just want to die.  Please don't interfere."  She
pleaded, "She's clinging to life, Nicolas, there's still time to..."  Lacroix
interjected, "I hate to spoil this tender moment, but Nicholas has made his
choice.  You seem familiar; exactly who are you?  One of Nicholas'
maladjusted offspring perhaps?"  Daisy rose and turned her back on Nick to
face Lacroix.

She clearly expected him to remember her as she explained, "I am
Marguerite...de Louvain...  Nicholas' niece."  He corrected automatically,
"Nicholas has no family but me."  Losing patience, she said, "I am Andre's
daughter."  He arched a pale brow and thought back... Ah, yes, the cheeky
little minx he'd met while following his wayward son one dull night.  He'd
wondered where Nicholas would get himself off to once or twice a year.  The
first time he saw her she had been barely a woman, he remembered.  He was
amused to note she had worn her hair in the same long, thick braid down her
back.  He smirked as he replied, "I remember you now, of course.  Forgive me,
I never expected to see you again."

During this exchange, both Lacroix and Marguerite could feel Natalie's already
faint heartbeat faltering.  Marguerite's eyes began to glow golden.  "Look, I'd
love to chat awhile, but..."  Lacroix cut her off, "Insolent child, you cannot just
barge in here..."  As he spoke, he raised his hand to either grab her or slap her. 
Marguerite wasn't sure which, so she stopped him by grabbing his wrist. 
Lacroix was surprised by the strength in her grasp.  Oh, he could overcome
her, but she'd put up a damn good fight for one so young.

Marguerite hissed, "We are wasting time here."  Lacroix removed his hand
from her grasp and growled back, "Agreed."  She continued in a more
conversational tone, "I'd like to say good-bye to Natalie Lambert if you don't
mind.  Could you see to my uncle?"  Lacroix heard the hint in her voice and
decided to trust what he suspected was about to happen.  "Of course, my dear. 
I trust you'll be quick?  I'd like to hear your story."

Marguerite walked over to Natalie's body as Lacroix knelt by Nick.  She
reminded herself not to show the elder vampire her fear.  Even if she was
scared for Nat, rather than afraid of him.   Her emotions were running wild, but
she could sort through her feelings later.  Of all the ways she'd imagined she'd
find her uncle, she would have never guessed at this scene.  'I'd *like* to hear
your story, my ass," she thought.  Who does he think he is, making veiled
threats?  Annoyance replaced some of her fear. 

She knelt down and cradled Nat's head in her lap.  "Nat, it's me, Maggie.  How
did you get yourself into this mess?"  Hoping to find an answer, Marguerite
wiped a line of blood from Natalie's wound with her finger and tasted it.  As
she got her answer, she growled and bit into her wrist.  She put it to Natalie's
mouth and whispered softly to her.  As Natalie began to swallow, Nick finally
realized what was going on and began to struggle with Lacroix.

"Steady, Nicholas, it's already done.  You'll only injure yourself further."  Nick
rasped, "How could you let her do this?"  "Oh, come now, Nicholas, did you
really think I was going to *kill* you?  I was just about to stake you and do the
same when your niece interrupted.  Personally, I think Dr. Lambert is much
better off without either one of us as her maker, don't you think?"  Nick
disagreed, "I didn't want Natalie cursed to this eternal darkness."

Marguerite looked up as she pulled her wrist away.  "You drank *more* than
enough of her blood to know what I could tell from that one drop. -- She didn't
mind being brought across as long as she was with you, Nicolas.  How could
you let her die when she trusted you with her life?"  He answered, "We both
had faith that we would be together in whatever came next."  Marguerite
snorted, "Well, I know you don't think you're going to Heaven.  Your tortured
soul, and the quest that goes with it, is the talk of the Community.  But did you
really think someone as good as Nat was going to Hell?! -- Oh no, wait...you'd
*both* be reincarnated.  Don't be a fool, Uncle Nick."

Lacroix came over to give her a handkerchief and then carried Natalie to the
couch.  Marguerite held the handkerchief to her wrist as she went over to sit by
Nick.  "I'm sorry, Uncle Nick.  I don't believe any of those things would've
happened.  I think Nat would have gone 'towards the light', and you really
would be in 'eternal darkness'.  I have no faith in reincarnation."  Nick asked,
"So you believe that vampires *are* evil?"  She replied, "No, I don't believe we
are *inherently* evil, but I do believe we are capable of far greater cruelties
because of our abilities and life span. -- I'd like to remove that stake and tell my
story before Nat wakes up. -- Uncle, if she wakes up and tells me that I've
done the wrong thing, I swear I'll stake the both of you myself, okay?" 

Nick smiled weakly.  "I'm not really in a position to argue, am I?"  She smiled
back.  "No, you're not.  Monsieur Lacroix, would you lend me a hand?"  "Of
course, my dear.  And please, it's just Lacroix."  "I remember," she murmured.

He put on foot on Nick's chest and worked at pulling the stake out.  Nick
grimaced and Marguerite grabbed his hand in a feeble attempt to comfort him. 
She personally thought Lacroix was wiggling the stake extra hard to be
sadistic.  "While I'm working on this, why don't you start your tale?  It seems
we aren't going anywhere for awhile."

She replied, "Well, I'll start with how I was brought across, because my mortal
life is irrelevant at this point. -- One night after I had tended to an ill old
woman in the village, I decided to walk home without waiting for someone to
escort me.  I was about halfway home when..."  Marguerite continued her tale,
but she was lost in the memories.

***Louvain, 1289***

She was walking home in the dark, moon-less night.  She couldn't see beyond
the glow of the lantern she was carrying.  It was preternaturally quiet, and she
was cautious as she walked.  Out of nowhere, a form appeared and grabbed
her.  It was a man; his eyes glowed red as he threw her to the ground.  His
enlarged incisors tore into her throat to drain her blood.  As Marguerite lost
consciousness, she heard a growling sound and her attacker disappeared. 
Later, as she regained consciousness...

*******************

"...everything was so...strange, and I felt the most terrible hunger I've ever
experienced.  There was a woman watching me, and she introduced herself as
Caelia."  Lacroix interrupted, "Your master?"  Marguerite corrected, "My
maker, my *mother*.  Kayla is the name she goes by now. -- She doesn't like
the word master; it implies that she controls us.  She doesn't want that much
responsibility for her fledglings, which is why we are few.  She brought me
across because she felt responsible, among other reasons.  That if she had
found the vampire who attacked me sooner, I would have still been alive."

Marguerite was interrupted by a sucking sound and a scream as Lacroix got
the stake free from Nick's shoulder.  She felt the bones in her pinkie snap as
Nick squeezed her hand.  Nick rasped, "It's my fault, Daisy, for coming to visit
you.  I should have stayed away like Andre wanted, but I couldn't. -- You
knew what I was, and you loved me anyway.  Nat's the only other person to do
that."  She answered, "No more guilt, Uncle Nick. -- Actually, the vampire
who attacked me had to do with...Lacroix."

####################

Lacroix paused in attending to Nick to arch a pale brow and ask, "Really, my
child...how?"  Marguerite paused, not certain how to continue.  She knew that
Lacroix's present manner was normal for him, but she'd be damned if he was
going to intimidate her, the big bully.  But she couldn't believe Natalie was
closer to the truth than Kayla was.  She remembered when she met Lacroix for
the first time...

***Brabant, 1281***

It was her fourteenth birthday, and she was being betrothed to the Count de
Louvain's son, Etienne.  He was a handsome young man, five years her senior,
and on his way to becoming a knight.  It was to be an arranged marriage, but
Marguerite was fortunate in her father's choice.  Etienne was handsome, kind,
and most importantly, there seemed to be a mutual attraction between them. 
He would be a good provider for Andre's only daughter, and Marguerite was
content with the betrothal.

After the party had ended, Marguerite was in her room preparing for bed.  She
was frowning as she brushed her long brown hair, remembering the fight that
she'd had with her father just before retiring for the night.  In reality, Andre had
sent her to room, like a child.  She still could not see why her father was so
mad.  He had somehow found out that oncle Nicolas came to visit her
sometimes, and for some reason her father went crazy.  He'd never been upset
with her before...well, not *this* upset anyway.  He started ranting about how
Nicolas was a killer...Father had seen it with his own eyes.  The fact was oncle
Nicolas was a VAMPIRE, and that meant Marguerite was not to see him again
for any reason.

A vampire?  He drank human blood to survive?  Killed people for the sheer
pleasure?  Marguerite couldn't believe it, and even if it was true, she didn't
believe for one second that her beloved uncle would ever hurt her.  She could
see his love for her in his eyes, and he absolutely doted on her.  No. 
Marguerite obeyed her father in all things, but she had to draw the line when it
came to her uncle Nicholas.  The only person she loved more was her father,
although she supposed her six rowdy older brothers came in there somewhere.

As she finished plaiting her hair, she saw a slight movement by the window. 
She turned to see oncle Nicolas standing there.  "Ma petite fleur, bon
anniversaire."  Marguerite ran and hugged him tight as he swung her around. 
"Oncle Nicolas, I thought you weren't coming.  I was getting worried about
you."

Nick smiled.  "I would have been up here sooner, but your father caught me
lurking in the shadows watching the festivities.  I'm afraid he wasn't too happy,
and I don't blame him.  However, you did look beautiful tonight, and I have
something for you.  It was your grandmother's, and I think she'd be proud." 
Nick handed her a wrapped package.  Inside was an intricately carved wooden
box with the de Brabant family crest on it.  "Open it," he urged.  She did, and
inside was long gold chain.  At the end of its length was a gold and jeweled
cross.  "Oh, Uncle, it's beautiful!"

Marguerite went to hug him with cross in hand, but Nick flinched back slightly. 
Her brow creased...  "What's wrong?"  She placed the cross back in the box,
and put the box on her dressing table.  This time when she reached for him,
Nick didn't flinch away, but she did notice his eyes were fading from gold to
blue.  "So, it's true then?  You're a...vampire?  Father told me it was so, but I
didn't believe him..."  "Your father is right, Daisy, I *am* a vampire.  I *am* a
killer, and I shouldn't see you anymore."  Marguerite protested, "No, Nicolas,
you kill to survive, the way we hunt for food.  You would never hurt me; you
love me."

A figure in black appeared behind Nick and said, "Yes, Nicholas, tell her how
you treat the ones you love.  Tell her how you'll toy with her; drain her a little
at a time to bathe in her essence; and finally gift her with the sweet relief of
death.  Show her how you love her, Nicholas."  Nick was immediately on
guard.  "Don't, Lacroix.  Marguerite is Andre's daughter; I love her as if she
were my own.  You know I would never harm her."  Lacroix looked
Marguerite over and kissed her hand.  "Ah, my dear, what a pleasure to meet
you.  You must favor your mother's beauty; you do not have the look of
Nicholas' family."

Marguerite was not able to keep the slight sarcasm out of her voice, "Charmed,
I'm sure."  She was able to speak more respectfully as she continued, "Your
name is Lucien, isn't it?  I've read about you in my grandmother's diary.  How
could she have cared for you when you seem so cruel to my uncle?"  "Cruel,
my dear?  I am just trying to teach my wayward son the ways of the world.  I
am Nicholas' only family.  You are merely mortal and will leave him someday." 
He caressed her cheek as he continued, "You really are quite exceptional, you
know, how would you like to stay this beautiful forever?"

Nicholas looked horrified, but Marguerite turned her cheek away from
Lacroix's caress as she answered, "Thank you, monsieur, for your kind words
and offer, but I think I should like to experience a little more of life before I
make such a...shall we say...permanent decision."  Nick was visibly relieved,
but he was still tensed up for Lacroix's reply.  "A wise choice, my dear. I *will*
check up on you to see if you change your mind. -- I would be interested in
seeing this diary if you still have it.  And please, call me Lacroix."

"The book is somewhere in storage.  I'm sure I can find it, but it could take
awhile."  Lacroix smirked as he replied, "I have nothing but time, I can wait.  I
should leave you and Nicholas now...it's getting late and I haven't yet dined. 
Bon anniversaire, ma chere.  Au revoir."  Lacroix disappeared before either
Nicholas or Marguerite could say another word.

*******************

The memory took Marguerite less than a minute, and when she looked up, she
saw Lacroix looking at her expectantly.  She smiled up at him as she asked,
"Do you feel our connection, Lacroix?  We're family...Divia and Kayla were
sisters.  And it seems you aren't an only child.  Thanks to my dear aunt Divia,
you had two brothers. -- Marcus...he was the one who tried to kill me, and
Julius...but he suffered an unfortunate accident."

Lacroix paused in helping Nick into a chair and queried, "Unfortunate
accident?"  Nick thought that his niece's smile was an eerie echo of Lacroix's
when she answered, "Well, he sort of ran into a stake."  Lacroix smirked. 
"Really?  How clumsy; then again, Julius was never very bright.  Marcus,
however, was too bright for his own good. -- He was my second in command,
you know."  "I know, and he's out to get you, in case you haven't guessed.  He
attacked me to get at you.  He thought you would come back."

She crossed to the refrigerator and got out two bottles of blood.  She popped a
cork and drank straight from the bottle.  She made a horrified face and said,
"Ugh, cow?  I'd hoped that was only a rumor."  She pulled the cork out of the
second bottle and handed the bottle to Nick.  "Drink up; you'll need it to heal. 
Is there *any* human blood in this place?  We're going to need some for
Natalie when she wakes up."  "I'll have a case delivered.  I think we could all
use some."  Lacroix gave a pointed look to Nick as he picked up the phone and
dialed.  He walked into the kitchen area to carry out his conversation.

Marguerite perched on the arm of Nick's chair.  "Are you still angry with me,
oncle Nicolas?"  Nick smiled in spite of himself; the way his niece said his and
Nat's names gave him bittersweet memories of Janette and other times long
gone.  He pulled her into his lap and hugged her.  "Yes, I am, but right now I'm
too stunned to see you alive."

"I wanted to come to you. -- Kayla told me to come to you, but for some
reason I hung back.  It's a good thing too, because as strong as I am, I don't
think I could've survived an attack from Divia. -- Around the same time, I met
Natalie in the park, and...  Uncle, I am so sorry I had to bring her across...I
wanted to bring her to the hospital.  I *could* have made it if it wasn't for the
verbal sparring with Lacroix."

"It couldn't be helped, I know that now.  Lacroix had no intention of carrying
out my wishes. -- He wanted Natalie brought across to bind me to him, the
way he did with Janette.  If Nat had to be brought across, I'm glad it was you. 
How did you know to come here, anyway?"

Marguerite got up and went back towards the elevator to retrieve the black
leather jacket and an envelope that she'd dropped in her haste.  She showed the
envelope to Nick.  "I had spoken to Natalie earlier, and she seemed very
out-of-it.  She told me what happened to her friend, and that she didn't want to
end up like her.  I tried to talk some sense into her, but it was no use over the
phone.  She told me she was going to come here, but I thought I could get her
at the morgue first.  When I got there I found her letter of resignation, and
stupidly, I brought it with me."

Lacroix replaced the cordless phone and announced, "The delivery should be
here in an hour or so.  I trust this is not a problem?"  Marguerite picked up Nat
as if she weighed no more than a child, and replied, "Oh no, she should be
asleep for most of the day, I think.  I slept for almost 24 hours when I was
brought across.  I'm going to put Nat into your bed so she'll be more
comfortable, Uncle Nick, and I suggest you join her.  You could use some rest
yourself."

Nick was slightly nervous about leaving Marguerite alone with his master, but
she didn't *seem* intimidated by him.  He was mostly confident she could
handle being alone with him.  But Lacroix had seemed fascinated with her from
their first meeting, and *that* worried him a little.  He was also a little nervous
about being alone with Natalie.  There was nothing to keep them apart now... 
Lacroix interrupted Nick's reverie, "Oh, come now, Nicholas, get a move on. 
What can I do to your niece now?  She's already a vampire.  I'll even be a
gentleman and let her have the couch."

By the time Nick got himself up the stairs, Marguerite had Nat in a pair of his
black silk pajamas, and was rolling up the sleeves.  She glanced at him as she
collected Nat's clothes and placed them on a chair.  "You know, Uncle, it
wouldn't hurt for you to add some color to your wardrobe.  Black makes our
kind look so...pale."  He looked pointedly at her outfit.  Her shirt was a black,
sleeveless mock-turtleneck.  Hanging from a long gold chain was a very old
pendant in the shape of a daisy encrusted with pearls and rubies.  "You're
wearing black, but I guess it draws attention to that beautiful antique necklace.
-- Thirteenth century?"

She gave him a self-conscious grin.  "Yes.  Thank you; it was a gift from my
mortal days. -- You'll notice I am wearing blue jeans."  "And black boots, "
Nick teased.  She stuck her tongue at him.  "I'd better get downstairs.  I have a
feeling I'm not done talking to Lacroix."  She kissed him on the cheek and
turned to leave.  Nick stopped her by saying, "Daisy, be careful."  She turned
back to say, "I've been careful since the night I was brought across, Uncle
Nick.  I'm safe with Lacroix.  Well, relatively speaking.  We have to worry
about Marcus now.  He's looking for me; I can sense him. -- I'll explain more
to you later."

As she closed the bedroom door, Nick let out a sigh.  He looked down at his
clothes, or rather, what was left of them.  Very gingerly, he began to change. 
The hole in his shoulder had closed, but it still ached terribly.  He had
considered not changing for about a minute, but disgust of the ripped, bloody
shirt drove him to it.  Tonight had been horrible and exhausting.  On top of
everything that had happened with Nat, and then Tracy's death, now his niece,
whom he had presumed dead these past 700 years, made a reappearance.

He could only assume this Marcus was going to come after him, as well as
Daisy and Lacroix.  Natalie too, he realized.  He had caused her so much pain,
and constantly put her in danger.  He should have moved on long ago, but
every time he thought of going, he found he couldn't leave her.  Nick got into
bed and kissed Nat's forehead.  As he drifted off, he wondered where this
Kayla could be, and why she had left his niece all alone.

End Part One