Part Six

Lacroix was livid.  He threw his glass across the room and stalked back and
forth as he reread the latest note:

Ev'n thou who mourn'st the Daisy's fate,
That fate is thine -- no distant date;
Stern Ruin's plough-share drives elate,
Full on thy bloom,
Till crush'd beneath the furrow's weight
Shall be thy doom.

There was an address on the bottom.  He was going to take care of this
tonight.  He would not allow Marcus an opportunity to get anywhere near
Marguerite.  Lacroix picked up the stake that was sent with the flowers and
left to give instructions to Miklos.

**********

As Nick stepped out of the elevator, Marguerite rose to face him.  At the same
time, they both asked, "Where's Nat?"  Marguerite immediately grew agitated. 
"Why isn't she with you, Nicolas?  I left her in your care."  Nick had a bad
felling about this.  He explained, "The captain called me in for an interview
with IA regarding Tracy's death.  Nat said she'd stay here and wait for me."

Sensing the panic rising in her child, Kayla rose and laid a hand on Marguerite's
arm.  "Let's not get upset yet, Marguerite.  Sit down, and see if you can find
Natalie, while I introduce myself to your uncle."  Marguerite nodded and sat
down.

Kayla held her hand out to Nick, and he automatically took it to press to his
lips.  "You must be Kayla."  She smirked, and decided to tease him in order to
distract him from Marguerite's distress.  "Still gallant after all these years,
Nicholas.  It's such a pleasure.  Young people today can be so...vulgar."  She
continued more seriously, "I don't believe Natalie understood how serious the
situation is, but then she *is* very new to this."

Marguerite jumped up, panicking.  "Something's wrong with Nat...  I can
barely sense her."  Nick put his arm around her.  "She might be unconscious,
Daisy."  "We've got to find her soon, I can feel how scared she was."

Suddenly, Marguerite doubled over as if in pain.  Nick kept her from falling,
but just barely, because he felt it too.  He managed to lower them onto the
couch.  Kayla was next to them in an instant, lifting her child's face to look into
her eyes.  Marguerite looked up, her eyes gold and her fangs extended.  Kayla
turned to Nick, who looked the same as Marguerite, only less in control of
himself.  He got up to pace, practically snarling.

Finally, Marguerite calmed down enough to speak, "She's hurt badly, but I
think if we can get to her she'll be okay."  Kayla brushed the hair back from
Marguerite's face.  "We'll leave as soon as the two of you calm down."  She
glanced over at Nick's still-pacing form, and called to him, "That means you
too, Nicholas.  Come here and sit down."  Nick didn't seem to hear her, but
Kayla ignored him for a moment to tend to her daughter.  She filled a goblet
with blood and gave it to Marguerite to drink.

With that done, Kayla strode over to Nick and grabbed his arm to stop him. 
He turned on her, snarling.  She shook him hard enough to snap him out of it
slightly and said warningly, "I will excuse you for your behavior this time,
Nicholas, because of the circumstances, but you will listen to me now.  You
will not be any good to Natalie in the state you are in.  You must be able to
think rationally; I cannot be worried about you *and* Marguerite when we
leave here.  We all have to focus, because, while Marcus may be psychotic, he's
very clever, and we don't know what he's planning."

Nick stared into Kayla's almond-shaped eyes as she spoke.  They had flashed
golden for a moment when he had snarled at her, but then turned back to their
normal chestnut color.  He found himself being lulled by her words and tone. 
Vaguely, he wondered if Lacroix had met her yet...  She seemed to be quite a
force to be reckoned with.  Nick shook his head as if to clear it.  He had been
led to the couch, and Kayla was asking, "Where is your father, Nicholas?  I
know he wouldn't want to be left out of this."

Nick closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on Lacroix.  It was difficult,
because he was distracted by Natalie's pain.  He gave up soon, however,
because Lacroix was blocking him on purpose.  Nick looked up.  "The only
thing I can tell you is he's not close.  He's blocking me out...  Daisy, can you
feel anything?"  Marguerite turned to him and shook her head.  "Don't look at
me.  We haven't become intimate yet. -- He told me he was going to talk to
you tonight, so I don't understand why he's shutting you out."  Nick gave her
an incredulous look, but he didn't say anything.  Instead, he drank deeply from
the glass Kayla had stuck in his hand.

Kayla sipped from her own glass as she watched the pair on the couch. She
would have preferred Lucius to be here with them, but his absence couldn't be
helped.  Since Marguerite was in control of her anguish, and Nicholas
*seemed* to have regained his senses, they could leave.

**********

Lacroix landed outside the building he was seeking.  It appeared to be a
warehouse of some kind.  He walked around and found what seemed to be the
only available entrance.  He had to be careful; Marcus was probably waiting to
trap him somewhere.  Lacroix had been sensing Nicholas' agitation for some
time now, and he pushed it out of his mind more firmly.  He could not afford to
be distracted now.

As soon as he entered, Lacroix could hear the low cries of someone in pain. 
They sounded familiar to him somehow.  He made his way toward the sound. 
Soon enough, he saw his suspicions were confirmed.  There, staked to the wall
through her right shoulder, was Natalie.  She was fading in and out of
consciousness, and for a moment Lacroix was unsure of what to do.

If he pulled the stake free now, Natalie would need blood soon.  Right now the
only option was his, which might not be a good choice.  He decided to call
Nicholas to him so he could be free to finish Marcus off.  But first, he'd make
sure Natalie would be all right.  Lacroix dropped the stake he carried with him,
and put a hand to her cheek.  "Natalie?  Can you hear me?"  Natalie opened her
eyes and tried to focus.  When her vision finally became clear, her eyes opened
wide and she screamed, "No!"

Before Lacroix could react, he felt a white-hot pain shoot through his body as
a stake entered his back, barely touching his heart.  As Lacroix fell to his
knees, Marcus stepped into view.  "Good evening, General.  I'm so glad you
could make it to my little party.  You're early, though.  I really thought
Marguerite would show up first."  Lacroix snarled, "You are a complete fool if
you think she would show up here alone, Marcus."

"Ah, yes, she'll bring your cow-swilling son with her, won't she?  Nicholas is an
annoyance only; I will grant him an end to his immortality.  It will have to be
quick though, because I have plans for you and your lovely flower."  Lacroix
didn't feel it was necessary to dispel Marcus' beliefs.  If he didn't take the time
to find out that Nicholas had been back on human blood, and Kayla was home,
he was even more delusional than Lacroix remembered.

Marcus approached Natalie.  "I am going to free you from the wall now,
dearest Natalie, but I don't want you to struggle.  You'll only damage yourself
further.  Feel free to call to your friends for help, though, the sooner they get
here the better."

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

Nick, Marguerite, and Kayla had just finished checking the perimeter of the
building when Nick fell to his knees in pain.  Marguerite dropped down next to
him.  "Uncle Nick, what's wrong?"  He rasped, "It's Lacroix; he's been staked." 
When he looked up, his eyes were still golden, but he had managed to retract
his fangs.  "Will you be okay, Uncle?"  Nick let Marguerite help him to his feet. 
"It won't be easy, but I think so."  Marguerite looked up at him worriedly. 
"And Lucien?"  "We need to get to him quickly."

Kayla decided they had to get going -- *now*.  "Marguerite, Nicholas, we
have to get in there if we're going to help either one of them.  The two of you
are going to need to concentrate.  It will be especially hard for you, Nicholas,
but we have to be alert.  There's only one entrance, which means Marcus is
trying to manipulate us.  Let's stick together for now."

As they entered the building, Kayla could sense only three other presences
besides theirs.  That meant Marcus was alone.  He was always a little off, but
he had to have gone over the edge now.  Kayla wondered if it was just because
he was so close to his goal, or if the death of his only fledgling had done it. 
Marcus was foolish to have sent such a young vampire after Marguerite.  She
had taken care of him easily.  

Nick tapped Kayla on the shoulder and whispered, "He's moving Natalie. She
was close to Lacroix, but now he must be taking her that way."  He pointed in
the general direction.  Kayla considered the information for a moment, and
then told them, "This is where we separate.  Nicholas, where is Lucius?"  He
pointed.  "Over that way, not too far."  "Marguerite, you go and help him,
while Nicholas and I follow Marcus and Natalie.  As soon as the two of you
can, come to us."

Marguerite wanted to argue, but she knew without having to be told that it
was better this way.  No matter how strong his tie to Lacroix, Nick was going
to be distracted by Natalie's pain.  He needed to see her, and Marguerite
needed to see Lacroix.  Marguerite hadn't shown it, but Kayla had felt her
reaction to the news of Lacroix's injury.

As Marguerite searched the first of the two rooms, she wondered what
Marcus' reaction would be when she didn't follow him and Natalie.  Well, he
was in for some big disappointments tonight.  He could never suffer enough for
what he had done, in Marguerite's opinion.  If she couldn't kill him herself, she
wanted to at least be there when it happened.

It was in the second room that Marguerite found Lacroix.  He was on his side,
and obviously in great pain.  The sight made her knees weak. Marguerite knelt
beside him, and he opened his eyes.  He rasped, "Careful, Marguerite, there's
garlic on the stake, don't touch it."  "I intend on pulling it out the way Marcus
stuck it in, Lucien.  Brace yourself."

Marguerite stood up and grabbed the stake.  As she put her foot on Lacroix's
back for leverage, she took a deep breath, and then pulled as hard as she could. 
Lacroix roared as the stake came free.  Marguerite threw the stake to one side,
and knelt down again.  She helped Lacroix into a sitting position, and he leaned
back against her.  Without a word, she bit into her wrist and held it to his
mouth. At first he seemed resistant, but then he drank greedily.  Marguerite
murmured to him in French as he drank.

Lacroix was overcome by what he found in Marguerite's blood.  The purity of
her feelings for him...  She had come to love him without reservation, despite
his past.  No one had ever cared for him in this way before.  Marguerite was
reassured by the images Lacroix that gave her.  He was finally willing to let
Nick go.  If they got out of this in one piece, she'd be elated, but for now she
had to concentrate on Marcus.

Finally, he pushed Marguerite's wrist away from him.  "Enough, Marguerite.  If
I take any more, you'll be too weak to defend yourself."  She peeked at his
wound through the holes in his shirt.  "How do you feel, Lucien?  Your wound
is healing."  He replied, "I'll be fine; especially after I rip Marcus' head from his
body."  "That makes both of us...  Let's get out of here.  If I don't show up
soon, he's going to start torturing Natalie."

Marguerite helped Lacroix to his feet, and grabbed the stake she had discarded
before.  She strode out of the room in search of her prey.  Lacroix picked up
the stake he had dropped and followed.

**********

The rest of the warehouse was one big room, but it was cluttered with large
crates.  Some were piled three or four high.  They were effective barriers,
preventing a view of the whole room.  About halfway toward their goal, Nick
had to stop to retain control of himself. -- Marguerite had pulled the stake free
from Lacroix. -- Kayla had taken the opportunity to discuss a plan.  Nick
wasn't happy about what she wanted, but he didn't have any better ideas.  They
hid not too far from where Marcus had Natalie, and waited.

Marguerite had found Marcus and Natalie quickly.  Natalie sensed Marguerite
coming, and stopped struggling to look up.  When Marguerite appeared, she
only had eyes for Marcus. -- One glance at Natalie had been all it took for
Marguerite to cut off her end of their bond. -- Nat's eyes were gold and wild as
she struggled against Marcus, who had grabbed the stake still protruding from
Nat as soon as he saw Marguerite.

Marguerite's eyes were golden as she gave him a feral grin.  "Bon soir, Marcus. 
Recognize this?"  She held up the stake that she had pulled from Lacroix's
body.  "I believe this is yours."  Marcus moved Natalie in front of him like a
shield.  Marguerite had guessed correctly; he was trying to weaken her by
using Nat.

"And I believe she is yours.  You wouldn't want anything unfortunate to
happen to her, would you, Marguerite?"  She snarled, "Natalie has nothing to
do with this. -- It's me you really want.  Let her go, and I'll come to you." 
Marcus shook his head.  "You'll come to me with a stake in your hand?  You
must think me very stupid."  Marguerite threw the stake to her right, towards
where she sensed Kayla was hidden.  She took a few more steps toward
Marcus.  "Forgive me, I'd forgotten you like your opponents defenseless.  I
don't know how I could, considering you're holding my daughter like a shield. 
I didn't think Roman soldiers were cowards."

To Marguerite's surprise, Marcus threw Natalie from him.  She landed on the
opposite side of the area from where Marguerite had thrown the stake. 
Marguerite had to fight her natural instinct to run to Natalie.  It took all her
concentration to keep her gaze on Marcus.  His eyes went from gold to red. 
She braced herself for his attack, but he seemed to look through Marguerite. 
She didn't need to turn around to know that Lacroix had appeared behind her. 
Marcus came toward her and growled, "It seems you have acquired some
thorns along the way, my beautiful flower.  I should have made you mine
instead of leaving you for dead.  You'd have made a captivating companion."

Marguerite snarled, "Kayla didn't give you a choice, but I would have killed
you while you slept."  He clicked his tongue.  "Ah, yes, your misplaced
affection for Lucius.  He's incapable of returning your feelings, Marguerite.  He
will use you for his own needs, and then discard you.  That's the way he is." 
Marcus stopped directly in front of her, and lifted his hand to touch her. 
Before Marguerite could react, Lacroix appeared next to her.  He grabbed
Marcus' wrist, and jerked him away from her.  He snarled, "She is *mine*,
Marcus, and she has chosen me.  You will not touch her, or try to infect her
with your lies."

Marcus jerked his wrist free; he and Lacroix circled one another.  Marcus
asked, "Do you deny killing Divia so you could be free of her, General?  She
was your daughter, our master, and yet you killed her without a backward
glance."  Lacroix growled, "She was my daughter and I loved her more than
anything in this world, but she was a monster in a child's body.  I could not be
what she wanted, anymore than she could be what her master wanted.  But
unlike her, I did not enjoy what I had done."

"At least Divia had one dutiful son...  Julius disappeared, and you betrayed her,
but I have remained loyal all these years."  Lacroix sneered, "I can't imagine
why Divia brought the two of you across.  You were both quite incompetent. 
It took both of you over a thousand years to find me the first time, and nearly
as long the second.  Don't tell me you didn't get distracted along the way."  "I
had to look for Julius.  He never could be trusted to carry out any command
given to him."

Marguerite shook her head in disbelief.  "I hope you didn't waste too much
time, Marcus.  He's been dead for seven hundred years."  Marcus paused to
refocus his attention to her.  "You couldn't have killed him.  He was too strong
for you."  "You're right, I wasn't strong enough, but Kayla was.  However, I
*was* strong enough to destroy your fledging," she taunted, "You should have
never sent him after me.  He was dead before I could even learn his name."

Marcus roared and surged forward to get at Marguerite, but Lacroix grabbed
him.  Marcus recovered quickly, and began to wrestle Lacroix for the stake. 
Marguerite knew better than to try to get in between them.  She looked around
for the stake she had thrown away.  It was behind her, and she could see Kayla
sliding out of the shadows to retrieve it.

She could sense her uncle making his way to Natalie.  It was a safe bet Marcus
wouldn't even have a clue as to what was going on around him.  Marguerite 
made her way around the pair of fighting vampires towards Natalie.  Nick
came out from between two crates to be by Natalie's side.  The only thing he
could offer Nat for now was comfort.  If he pulled the stake out, he would
distract Marguerite.  He offered Nat his wrist, hoping his blood would calm
her.

Marguerite was almost by Nick and Nat when Marcus threw Lacroix to the
ground...  The stake was on the floor in between them.  Not waiting to see
what would happen, Marguerite ran and whirled Marcus around to face her. 
They grappled for a minute, but then Marcus gained the upper hand.  He hit
her backhanded, and Marguerite landed sprawled on her back not too far from
Nick and Nat.  As Marcus advanced on Marguerite, they snarled at one
another.  Enraged, Lacroix found new strength as he leapt up and wrenched
Marcus backwards. 

Recovering quickly, Marguerite approached Nick and Nat.  "Nat, I want to
pull that stake out.  I can think of a better place for it.  Uncle Nick, can you
hold her?"  Nick could only nod as he held Nat firmly.  He was awestruck at
the change in his angelic little niece.  He knew he was being foolish. -- She was
a vampire, but he still thought of her as a little girl.

Marguerite's eyes were blazing red. She was impatient to get back into the
fight, but she took the time to apologize to Natalie beforehand.  As the stake
came free, Natalie shrieked in pain, and began to struggle with Nick.  She
hadn't fed for hours before Nick had come to her, and the Hunger was
overpowering.  Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Marguerite.  Although
Natalie had never seen her before, she seemed familiar somehow.  The woman
knelt beside Natalie and stroked her hair as she spoke to her softly, "That's
right, Natalie, you know me.  I'm going to give you some of  my blood now so
you can heal."

Marguerite turned to see Marcus on top of Lacroix.  He was trying desperately
to push the stake into Lacroix's chest, but Lacroix was able to keep it from
happening -- just barely.  Marguerite rushed forward, and plunged her stake
into Marcus' back.  Surprised, Marcus gave a choked off cry as he felt the
stake enter his body.  Lacroix plucked the stake from Marcus' hand and pushed
him away.

Marguerite helped Lacroix to feet, and he turned to look at Marcus.  Marcus'
eyes glittered malevolently as he struggled to get up.  "You bitch!  I should
have made sure you were past saving that night!"  Lacroix replied, "I believe
Marguerite said earlier that you were not given a choice."  Marcus sneered,
"When you exchange blood with her, Lucius, just remember that I had her first. 
Her mortal blood was so very sweet..."  Before Marcus could continue,
Lacroix snarled, and thrust the stake he was still holding into Marcus. 

Kayla appeared at Marguerite's side, and put a comforting arm around her
shoulder.  "I'll dispose of him now.  Natalie has had some of Nicholas' blood
and mine, Marguerite, but I think she should have some of yours as well." 
Marguerite nodded, and silently walked over to where Nick and Nat were. 
Kayla turned to Lacroix and prodded him as well.  "You should go to your
son, Lucius.  Not only could you use some of his blood, but Nicholas could use
a distraction from Natalie's pain."  Lacroix watched the three younger
vampires, and remarked wryly, "Marguerite *could* use some room.  Nicholas
is quite the worrier, I'm afraid."  Kayla smiled.  "Don't worry, Marguerite can
handle him."

End Part Six