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This is my first attempt at fan fiction, just as
a way of warning. It takes place during the
third season, sometime after Fever and before Human
Factor. The Forever Knight
characters are not mine. They belong to Barney Cohen
and James Parriott and
Sony/Tristar. Permission is granted to archive on
fkfanfic. Thank you to my beta reader
Tim. And to my beta reader and friend, Lisa, who spent
so much time helping me, it was
amazing. Thank you, Lisa, words are insufficient.
Comments and feedback (hopefully
positive) would be greatly appreciated. Send responses
to nicolehrtln@yahoo.com. Hope
you like it!
She had loved him. Loved him in spite of what he was. He thought of her beautiful hazel eyes, long thick curls, the way she twisted her hands when she was nervous, and how she bit her lower lip when thinking. She knew he was a vampire and had loved him still. Visions, memories of the two of them together flooded his mind. But it had ended almost as suddenly as it had begun, it seemed to him. Ignoring the turmoil within, she had thought they had a future together... made him believe. But she had died, along with the infant, a son, during childbirth. They weren't alone. Accompanying them from this life was any small part of him that still clung to mortality. He had ached for a release from his existence. Dead calm and anger, enough to last for a millennia replaced it. Never again would he care for a mortal, he vowed.
LaCroix broke away from his reverie. Time does not heal all wounds, he said to himself.
He had allowed himself the luxury of a son, he thought with a tinge of regret. But that was proving to be a dismal situation. The pull to the past, the longing to be mortal was consuming Nicholas. It poisoned him against his father, his maker. It was funny, almost LaCroix thought, even after eight hundred years, how little his son knew about him, his past, about *her*. But then- no one did. No it was far easier to let him feel the anger, the hatred. It came easily to the surface. Nicholas need never know its source.
The few times he had seen pity in Nicholas' eyes had been almost too much to bear. He nearly gave in then, spilling it all, telling his tragic tale. He had thought twice. Anger served him so much better- grief was too debilitating. And so it remained within, a two thousand year old secret lying safely locked away in a stone chamber.
It was time to pay a visit to his son.
Seconds later he stood just outside the loft.
Nicholas was not alone. Mortals. Doctor
Natalie Lambert and her niece had joined him. He
listened with faint amusement, then
anger at the music wafting out the window. The lyrics
assaulted him:
Contempt played freely over his features. Outcasts? The homeless? The poor? The insane? Mortals all of them still, and so how dare they call themselves outcasts. Compare that situation to that of a vampire. What did they know of hunger, of lack of mercy? They would be released shortly from this prison, this hell; so they would find no compassion here unless..... it was in the from of an early reprieve. Time off for good behavior.
LaCroix sighed. He would have to use the elevator. It creaked to a halt. He stepped into the loft, surveying the scene before him.
The little family was seated on the sofa watching a video- a cartoon nonetheless. Nicholas stood, protectively LaCroix noted. How easily he fell into the role - of husband, father, protector, even just temporarily.
Amy whispered to Natalie, "Who's that?"
LaCroix stepped around Nicholas gracefully, taking the child's hand in his own. "I'm an old friend of Nicholas, here. Mr. LaCroix. A pleasure to meet you," he smiled, kissing the little hand in the gesture of old gentlemen. Amy blushed and giggled. The sound relieved the tension in the room.
"Nicholas, I came by to return this. Someone at the Raven found it and has been ringing nearly non-stop. I spoke briefly to a man named Reese, your captain, he said . He complained your machine here wasn't working as well." He handed Nick the cell phone.
Natalie looked instantly guilty. "The machine would be my fault, Nick. I turned off the ringer."
"Thank you LaCroix, " Nick said moving towards the door. Ushering him out. Out the door, out of his life, LaCroix noted.
"Yes, well perhaps I will see you tomorrow evening."
Nick looked at his maker. "Perhaps?" If LaCroix wanted to see him, he would. Eight centuries together had taught him that. If he was planning on Nick dropping by, that was another matter entirely.
LaCroix left and Nick turned back around.
Natalie was helping Amy on with her jacket. "OK, we're off to the airport" she said. "I'd hoped you'd be coming with us, but it looks like Reese needs you more than I do right now."
Nick cocked a suggestive eyebrow. "You know what I mean," she laughed.
"Bye, Mr. Knight," Amy hugged him. "Thanks for taking us to the carnival."
"You're welcome, and it's Nick, okay? Have a safe trip." He kissed Nat's cheek.
"Hurry back." She smiled in return.
He switched the ringer on and set his cell to
recharge. The phone immediately rang.
"Knight," Reese barked as soon as Nick walked into the station. "I need you and Vetter on this yesterday! And where the hell is Lambert? She's not answering her calls either, and I'm not about to leave another message."
"She took her niece to the airport, Captain," he explained.
"When?"
"About 15 minutes ago."
"OK- get Grace in here," Reese called to the officer beside him. "She can fill Dr. Lambert in when she gets here. I need some coffee," he sighed.
Nick returned with a cup. He exchanged knowing glances with his partner- Tracy Vetter. She also had just come in he noted. It was still an hour before their shift normally started. She looked a little flushed, he thought. The glance they shared was one of mutual amusement. Reese was always upset about something- maybe they were running low on coffee? No on further glance it looked like Reese was really concerned about something. Most of the night shift had gathered.
"What's up, I haven't seen him this shook up since... well, I don't know when." Tracy shrugged. "I just got here myself."
"Nice night?" he asked She nodded, remembering Vachon. Was it his imagination or was she actually blushing? He smiled, "That good, huh?'
He handed the coffee to Reese. When Grace came in he started: "OK, everyone here it is. Six years ago, there was a case that made headlines. You'll probably remember. They called them the Moonlight Murders. He killed six women before we caught him. Took 6 months. He killed only on the full moon. Left his calling card- a crescent moon carved into his victims throats. Kidnapped them from the local clubs around and kept them alive for 4 days before killing them. They were in bad shape before he ended it. His last victim was his own girlfriend. The guy was a real nutcase. William Owens is his name. Luckily for us he remains incarcerated- serving life sentence without a possibility of parole. Well, someone out there admires the guy, his style- because we have a copycat killer on his hands. The media made sure Billy got lots of coverage last time and so this one has it all down. I want this guy, I want him bad. We will not end up with five more victims before we catch him."
"Knight- I want you and Vetter on this. Here's the file from the case six years ago. Grace, I'm hoping we won't need you and Natalie on this very long, but you know what to look for. You saw it last time. Any info you can give us on the deceased may be helpful. Don't omit the smallest detail."
Nick noticed the captain seemed unwillingly to look directly at Grace. He sat down, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Captain, no offense, but you look like you could use a cup of coffee," Grace suggested. "Had one", he sighed. Damnit, he'd had five. "But, Thanks." Grace said, " I know, you'll catch him, captain. You've got some of the best working for you." with a smile for Tracy and Nick, she left.
Vetter and Knight still stood there, looking at
him. "Grace helped us on the case 6
years ago. So did Lambert. The last victim- Owens
girlfriend was one of our own. She
and Grace were good friends. It was real hard on
her...."
Tracy and Nick reviewed the file. "Gruesome", Tracy said looking at photos taken of the corpses. "Better than the real thing, though. I never have gotten used to that. I don't know how Natalie manages. Nick, I'm going to talk to someone who might be able to shed a little light on this. "
"Shall I come with you?", he asked.
"No, it's fine. I'll meet you back here in a couple hours or so." Looking at the neck wound made her think of Vampires. Would Vachon know if it had been one of them? Tracy was about to find out. And if not, what a great excuse to see him again!
Nick wondered that as well. Natalie would be in shortly, he knew and would let him know, but on the other hand, LaCroix might know specifically who... Decision made, he pulled the caddie into the Raven parking lot. Busy night, he saw. Vampires and mortals alike danced, drank and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
LaCroix sensed his approach before he made it through the door. "Nicholas, my son, you accepted my offer. Here have a drink." Nick began to refuse, "relax, it's your vintage" he said. Nick downed the glass of cows blood quickly.
"LaCroix, I'm afraid I'm here on business rather than pleasure."
"You always are, as of late. So- how can I be of assistance to you, detective?" Was it Nick's imagination, or had a look of sadness flashed across his masters face? He hadn't meant to cause him pain. He knew LaCroix missed him. After eight centuries together, Nicholas missed him too, occasionally. But they were on opposite sides of the coin when it came to Nick's quest for mortality, and so Nick stayed away. Preferring distance to fighting.
"So, do you know of any of our kind that got sloppy last night? There's a killer we're after and I want to know what we're dealing with."
"I haven't heard anything, but I'll keep an ear open", LaCroix offered.
"Thank you" Nicholas said sincerely. He wanted to say more to his sire, his father LaCroix sensed. He longed to tell him of his successes and failures in his search for mortality, of his job and his love for Natalie Lambert, but he stayed silent. Speaking only led to fighting , as it had on many occasions. If he wished to hold onto Nicholas he would have to remedy that.
"So, tell me about this case, Nicholas."
Nick did, filling in all the details. When he had finished LaCroix commented on how pale and drawn he looked. "Still seeking mortality?" he asked. Nicholas' silence confirmed it.
"Oh Nicholas- don't you see the quest for
mortality will come to as awful an end as
your quest for religion? Do you remember Vittorio?"
Flashback
Rome 1600
Nicholas had brought them to a church of all places- a church. "Nicholas, if the God you seek were on the earth, surely he wouldn't leave his precious children all alone. Keep looking and let me know what you find." LaCroix snorted derisively. God- what a concept.
"So that's it then?" Nick challenged. After this life, when you're staked, be-headed or turned to ash, that's the end. You believe in nothing more?"
"Out like a candle," Lacroix smiled. "As assuredly as you want to believe in * we go on *, I believe in we go out. Such a tired old argument, really Nicholas. How much longer must we stay here?" And that's how LaCroix managed to stay so guilt free Nick realized. That's why he did exactly as he pleased.
Nick's eyes widened in alarm as LaCroix raised an eyebrow, smiled slowly, and then slipped into the confessional. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been 721 years since my last confession, give or take a few years." The priest on the other side muttered something Nick couldn't hear.
"My sins are grievous Father, I've killed every night for the past 15 centuries and rather enjoyed it, I'm afraid. In fact, I found it......delicious." Nick hung his head. Lucien was enjoying this. Silence from the other side.
"So what would you have me do, Father? Give you a few thousand of these?" The sound of coins clattered in his hand. "Say a half million hail Mary's? What baptism do you have to wash away the sins of a vampire?" Nick closed his eyes and groaned in protest.
He was researching them all the great religions of the world, and their leaders. Not that any of them would have an explanation about vampires- he knew that, but maybe about heaven and redemption. Someone would have the answers to the questions he asked. And they had- just not the answers he wanted to hear.
He had great hope in the one LaCroix toyed with now. He had been watching him for days- waiting for a free moment when he might speak to him, alone. No easy task. He had promise Nick thought as he listened to him preach. He said how this mortal life was but a test and if we passed we would move on to a greater, glorious place. He talked of the struggles each individual faced and how overcoming our weaknesses would bring us peace.
Peace, Nick speculated. Could there be peace for a vampire? The priest was young and persuasive. When he preached it was with such vehemence and intensity that Nick wondered if he didn't hold a hypnotic power of his own. He seemed absolutely sure of what he spoke.
And now LaCroix played with him.
The kind priest listened with a kind and thoughtful ear, making the occasional comment, as LaCroix rattled on, never guessing how much danger he was in sitting across from the Roman.
"Lucien," Nick hissed.
LaCroix ignored him.
Finally, tired of the young mans hollow promises and vague explanations, he reached over and through the flimsy divider, and in seconds, drained him.
"LaCroix!" Nick yelled
"Now you can move onto that happy place in the sky. Wish your maker all the best- and ask him if he's seen mine lately." LaCroix whispered angrily.
"Tell me you didn't take his life," a golden eyed Nicholas threatened.
"Sorry, my son. Did you want a taste?"
Nicholas shuddered. His eyes turning from gold to blue in his sadness. A change LaCroix had observed far too often, lately.
"Can we not remain in one city long enough for me to at least talk to...." Nicholas stopped midsentence in frustration.
"Did you even know why it was him I wanted to speak with? Did you ever hear him preach?" asked Nick, more to himself than to his master. Angrily he strode out into the cold, wet evening.
LaCroix smiled to himself. Better than that, he had known the intentions of the man's heart, the full measure of his soul- whatever that meant. He'd seen his desires- yes with one long drink- he had seen it all.
All the mortals who had placed their trust in him and his religion. The bedside confession of an 87 year old murderer... that had been a hard one for the priest to forgive. The visits to the inmates, feeding the poor, the deranged. Talking to the young mother who had sold herself for a cheap bottle of wine. Helping the alcoholics get on their feet only to find them drunk or dead on the streets months later.
And yet in spite of it all- the man preached *God*. He felt the struggle within the priest to forgive, to not judge, to accept.
"Yes, my dear priest, but how will you pass the test of immortality?" LaCroix said softly. He opened his wrist and held it to the lips of the dying man. In seconds he arrived at the house they stayed in and dumped the still limp body on the bedroom floor at his feet.
He had done it to torment Nicholas of course. The sooner he realized there was no good in this world, no right or wrong, no God, the sooner they could get on with life, accepting this state of things and all the *blessings* that went with it- for lack of a better word.
"LaCroix!" Nicholas growled behind him. He noticed too late his eyes were red, fangs protruded. He leapt like a feral cat pinning LaCroix to the ground. LaCroix quickly recovered and held Nicholas still in an iron grip.
"Really, my son, there's no need for fangs. He is a gift. A gift of education. The sooner you learn there is no peace attained here or elsewhere, the better off we'll all be. Finally the futile quest will be at an end." LaCroix released him.
The two stared at the priest laying there at their feet. "The interesting part will be in watching what he forsakes......" LaCroix said, pacing around Nick in a slow circle. "Will it be life or death? *God* he snorted derisively or master?"
-end of flashback-
End of Chapter 1.
Onto Part Two!
