This is number 3 in my Nicky series after The Only Constant is Change and Resistance is Futile. 
Enjoy! 
Oh, and by the way, in case I neglected to mention it earlier.I have absolutely no concept of the 
physical workings of Toronto, or Canada for that matter, outside of my Oxford Concise Atlas. So, 
ppplllease forgive my indiscretions and creative interpretation of your fair city! And hey! If there just 
happen to be any free air tickets floating around out there so I could perhaps come and study this 
fanciful world of Toronto, feel more than welcome to push them my way!
 
 
 
Forever Knight characters belong to TPTB, etc etc etc. Comments welcome, as always to 
knightraven@clear.net.nz
 
 
 
BloodFeud
 
by Kylie Coleman-Tucker
Copyright 1998.
 
Nick sat at his desk tapping a finger against his lips. He lent back in his chair with his arms across his 
chest, thinking about what to get his son for his birthday. It was only five days away and since the boy 
hadn't mentioned anything about it, Nick was sure he wasn't feeling so thrilled about it. He could hardly 
blame him though. For starters, it was going to be his first birthday with his new father, and more 
importantly, it would be the first birthday without his mother.
 
Her death has been hard on Nicky. He had been a ten year old boy, alone, watching his mother slowly 
wither and die. Though Nick was well aware his son was still heavily grieving for his mother, he had also 
noticed the boy seemed to be a little less sad of late. He still went through a few quiet periods, which 
were a little disconcerting at times and Nick would listen as he cried softly at night, but that too, seemed 
to be less frequent than a few weeks ago. But Nicky was still bearing his loss, and it pained him to 
know there wasn't much he could do to ease that burden. This celebration was going to be a hard time 
for his son. 
 
So with respect to this, Nick wanted to do something special to keep Nicky's spirits up and his mind 
occupied.
Natalie had ruled out a party, rightly saying, that it might be a little overwhelming at this stage, maybe 
next year. So Nick had invited his new best friend, Billy over for the evening. They could all go out to 
dinner and a movie. Maybe even the amusement park. Yes, brilliant idea. He thought. Now, all he had 
to do was purchase a few gifts. 
Nick began to make a mental list of all the things he knew his son liked and was interested in. 
 
"NICK!"
 
Nick jerked upright, startled at the sudden loud intrusion right beside his ear, almost ending up flat on his 
back as he yanked his feet from his desk. 
"Damn it Trace, you gave me a heartattack!" he breathed, clutching his chest with one hand.
"Ha! I wish...!" His partner quipped. Secretly reveling in the reaction she was able to elicit from the 800 
year old vampire. Turn about is only fair.
"Nick! you've been sitting there zoning for the past half hour. You were supposed to finish the Simpson 
write up while I was gone!" Tracy stood over her partner, hands on hips not looking at all pleased.
"Oh, sorry Trace I was thinking about what to get Nicky for his birthday." He said, not sounding all that 
apologetic. Ignoring her aggressive stance he relaxed back into his chair.. 
 
Tracy rolled her eyes. How does one intimidate an 800 year old vampire anyway? She gave up with a 
sigh and moved round to her own desk.
"Yeah? When is it?" she asked. She would have to remember to get him something, and tell Vachon 
too. Maybe they could shop together. Tracy smiled at the thought of her handsome Spaniard let loose in 
a toy store.
"The 25th." Nick said absentmindedly as he shuffled through his case notes.
 
"Knight! Vetter!" Reese bellowed from his office.
Tracy gave Nick a glare.
"I haven't done anything! I swear!" He professed, raising his hand.
They both rose and quickly made their way into the Captains office.
"This just came in." Reese handed Tracy a slip of paper from the mountain on his desk. 
"ME's on the way. Go!" Reese shooed them from his office and glared at the phone that just wouldn't 
shut up.
"I hate night's like this." he grumbled.
 
Nick led the way out of the station and slipped behind the wheel of his caddie. 
"Where to?" he asked his partner as they drove from the parking lot.
"Under the Spadina off ramp." Tracy told him, reading from the slip of paper the Captain had given her.
 
Arriving at the scene, Nick noticed the ME's car parked further up ahead. He and Tracy flashed their 
badges at the officers guarding the site and walked over to where he could see Natalie crouching over a 
body, collecting samples and making her initial examination.
"What have we got Nat?" he asked as he moved along beside her.
Natalie scanned the area before looking up at Nick. She stood and faced him with a grim expression. 
"You're not going to like this one Nick." She crouched back down pulling Nick with her. She turned the 
victims head to the side with gloved hands. Pulling back the clothing she reviled a vicious bite mark. It 
had caused a lot of damage to the neck, giving the appearance being savaged by a large animal of some 
kind. Of course the trio knew otherwise. It was a common, yet untidy and dangerous way of hiding the 
nature of the true attacker. Vampire. 
Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair. 
"Can you handle this?" he quietly asked Natalie. 
"Yes." she sighed, she hated covering up for sloppy vampires. But if the community was safe, so too 
was Nick, and Tracy and Nicky and... She sighed again, there was just no winning. 
"It looks like an animal attack to me." She said louder to the two detectives. 
"Thanks Nat." Nick said brushing her arm. He knew it pained Nat to lie in her reports, but there wasn't 
anything else he could do. He turned to Tracy, who was also looking grim. She hated it too, hell so did 
he. In fact, it made him angry as hell. 
"Trace, can you finish up here? I'm going to go and do a little hunting of my own." Nick growled. 
"Sure, I'll catch a ride back with Nat."
Nick strode to his car and roared off in the direction of the Raven.
 
"Nicholas! To what do I owe the pleasure?" He truly was surprised to see his son. Nicholas has been 
too busy with his mortal past time to have even paid his aging old father a fleeting visit for quite some 
time.
"Sloppiness, Lacroix." Nick replied coldly as he lent his back against the bar.
"Ah, business." Lacroix was clearly disappointed. He continued to sip nonchalantly at his bloodwine 
while his son continued to whine about his latest dilemma.
"Someone dumped a body, under the expressway tonight. It was one of us." 
Lacroix raised an eyebrow. 
"Has it been taken care of?" he asked calmly with out facing his son. Nick sighed. 
"Yes, Nat's filed it as an animal attack."
"Then I really don't see what the problem is, Nicholas." Lacroix placed his glass on the bar and turned 
his head to raise his eyes to his son's.
"It was dangerous and sloppy, Lacroix. It was pure luck both Nat and I were on the case. It was almost 
out of my jurisdiction."
Lacroix shrugged unperturbed, lifting his freshly refilled glass to his lips.
 
Nick bit back any comment he was about to make, instead, glanced around the club to see if he could 
spot any new comers. 
"Has anyone new in town come in lately?" he asked his sire, as he continued to inspected the crowd. 
Lacroix gave a long suffering sigh and turned back to his son.
"Not that I have noticed." he said tersely and of course he noticed everything, and everyone. "Now if 
you will excuse me, I have a show to air." Lacroix rose gracefully, and turned his back on his son, 
leaving him fuming quietly at the bar. 
 
Nick issued a small growl of frustration, causing a couple of the younger vampires in his vacinity to flinch 
and cautiously move away. Nick glared at their action, causing them to retreat even further. 
Allowing the power he was capable of welding, yet seldom used, pulse from his being for a moment, he 
sent a nonverbal message to every vampire present. He was not pleased. 
Nick was one of the few older vampires in Toronto, and now he was off his restricted diet, he was 
formidable. Then, of course, there was always the added threat of his sire. None would be foolish 
enough to dare challenge him.
He left the club and headed back to the station. Hopefully his visit would put an end to any more 
unwanted investigations created by this particular part of the Toronto community.
 
Lacroix sat in his soundbooth, and having clearly felt the vampiric surge from his son, let a small satisfied 
smile caress his lips. He began to speak into the microphone.
 
"Diziens of the night, beware. Let this be a warning to you all from your faithful servant. The army of 
justice is on the prowl this night...and he is coming for you..." An evil chuckle sent shivers along the 
airwaves.
 
Nick and Natalie cuddled together on his couch, quietly talking about what to get Nicky for his 
birthday. The fire cast a warm glow over them both as they relaxed after a demanding night at work. 
It was 6am and Nick would have to wake Nicky soon for school. Nick sipped slowly on a glass of 
blood, while Natalie cupped a steaming mug of coffee in her hands as she lent up against his chest. 
Natalie loved this part of their day, it felt so comfortable, and so right to be with Nick like this.
 
She was spending so much time here now, Nick had cleared out some space in his chest of draws and 
wardrobe for her to hang up her clothes. He still hadn't asked her to move in with him yet. She had 
hinted at the notion, trying to gauge what he thought about it. But he had been evasive and had directed 
the conversation away from the topic with all the ease and skill one would expect from an 800 year old 
vampire. She strongly believed it had a lot to do with his medieval upbringing etc, and was embarrassed 
about the fact that he still thought in such a fashion when it came to their ongoing relationship. 
She felt like grabbing him sometimes and just slapping him into the nineteen nineties.
She had refused to ask him again, he would ask her when he was ready. He still had to get used to the 
idea of sharing his space with a ten year old child, let alone with her as well. But then, she wasn't going 
to wait forever either. 
Maybe she should just move in one day and see if he notices the fact that she never left anymore? It was 
practically the case these days anyway.
"I'd better go and wake Nicky." Nick announced, pulling her attention back to the present. Nick slid 
out from underneath her and disappeared into Nicky's bedroom. Nat smiled as she heard the, now 
usual, early morning routine. Nicky, much like herself as it turned out, was not a morning person.
 
"Nickyyyy. Wakey wakey. Rise and shine!" Nick said with exaggerated cheerfulness, from just inside 
the doorway. Nick smiled at the unintelligible response from the small form, as it burrowed deeper 
under the covers. Nick walked over to the bed and with one quick movement, tore the covers from the 
bed. 
" Doooon't!" came the whined response. Nicky sat up on the bed and glared at his father. 
"Come on, or you're going to be late." Nick told him.
He chuckled as a pillow thumped into his back as he left the room to let Nicky get ready for school.
Still smiling, he joined Natalie in the kitchen where she was preparing dinner for herself and breakfast 
for Nicky.
A short time later they were joined by Nicky who padded out dressed in his school uniform of long grey 
socks, shorts, long-sleeved shirt and maroon, blue and gold striped tie. It would be later joined by a 
maroon blazer and cloth cap, bearing the schools coat of arms and of course, a shiny pair of black 
shoes to top the prep school look off.
 
That uniform just begs for a pounding. He does look awfully cute in it though. Poor kid. Natalie thought 
as she watched him climb up onto a stool.
"Morning Sunshine." she greeted the boy as he sat at the breakfast bar.
"Mornimh." he replied sleepily, resting his head on the bench and closing his eyes again.
Natalie served him some scrambled eggs and Nicky lifted his head to eat them.
 
Nick was quietly observing his son from behind. He seemed more subdued than usual, obviously he had 
not had enough sleep.
"You were up late listening to the Nightcrawler again weren't you?" he confronted his son, placing his 
hands on the small shoulders and squeezing slightly. 
"Um..." Nicky said, frantically trying to think of way to get out of actually admitting anything.
"Don't bother." Nick said into his ear, knowing exactly what the boy was thinking. 
"Don't do it again. You know you can tape it and listen to him after school." Nick added sternly. 
"Ok." Nicky grumbled unhappily. He didn't really mind. It was getting harder to stay awake long 
enough to hear the show anyway. He usually fell asleep halfway through. Nicky went back to his eggs.
After a few moments of silent eating. Nicky asked 
" Is Carrie coming tonight?" 
Carrie was a 22 year old U of T student, who Nick had employed to look after Nicky four nights a 
week.
"No, Vachon's coming tonight. Carries at her mothers for the rest of the week." Nick told his son.
"Cool." Nicky really liked Vachon, he was always heaps of fun, he didn't make him do his homework 
or anything! It was like having a big brother.
 
 
With Nicky safely on his way to school Natalie took Nick by the hand and led him upstairs to his 
bedroom. She pushed him down onto the bed and began to remove his clothes. Nick grinned and 
began to help himself to ridding Natalie of her own.
 
It had taken them many frustrating months to get to this stage of complete filfulmemt.
They had only made love, twice. 
At the beginning of their relationship as lovers, they had decided to take the physical aspect, cautiously 
and slowly.
Natalie had been more than a little patient and encouraging. 
She had been the one to suggest his change back to human blood, it had been a great success. He no 
longer felt as hungry, or as out of control, allowing them a much higher level of intimacy, than when he 
was on the cowsblood and protein shakes. But everything changed one night two weeks ago. 
 
Natalie had come home after a particularly stressful shift. A father, recently made redundant from his 
job, had completely lost his mind, stabbing his wife and three children to death as they slept. Then cut 
his own throat.
She had come straight to the loft from work and fallen exhausted into his arms, the moment she walked 
in the door.
He'd been so focused on releasing her pain and stress, giving her the pleasure she desired and needed, 
he had been able to control himself well enough to go all the way. He had taken her blood, and had 
stopped himself before taking too much.
 
At the first taste of her blood, he had touched and felt all that she was, her dreams, her wants, her 
needs, her love, her thoughts, and in return, she was able to touch the feelings he could send her. From 
that moment on, he knew without a doubt he could never leave her, ever. 
Her love for him had been overwhelming, never had he been loved in such a passionate way before, it 
was intoxicating, addictive, and it was his.
From that night on, they had been careful, yet unconfined, with the way they could now express their 
love for each other.
 
Nick was brought abruptly back to the present with a gasp, as adventurous lips left his stomach to 
practice their skills elsewhere. 
 
 
Evening fell. Nick and Natalie left for work together, leaving Vachon and Nicky happily watching a 
video. 
Vachon lay on the couch with Nicky sitting on the floor below him, eating a bowl of popcorn. Vachon 
didn't eat the popcorn of course, but he always had fun watching it pop when Nicky made it. In all 
these years, his wonder was never sated at the sight of something so large and fluffy coming out of 
something so small and hard.
Nicky had begged him to teach him how to play the guitar. So he had brought his along his prized 
Straticaster, and spent an hour showing him some basic chords and exercises.
He was surprised at how much he really liked looking after Knight's kid. Of course the few extra bucks 
Nick was paying him, was more than welcome. Between Nicky and his gig at the Raven most nights, he 
was pulling in a pretty penny, and it got Tracy off his back, about getting a job. 
 
They were halfway through their second video, when they were startled by the sound of the skylight 
breaking. 
Vachon leapt instantly to action, grabbing Nicky out of the way of the falling glass and debris.
He threw him into the kitchen area and pushed him to the floor.
Vachon looked the boy in the eyes. He was impressed and grateful to see a controlled steadiness to the 
fear he saw.
"Stay! Keep down!" he yelled over the noise, before turning to confront the intruder he now felt inside 
the loft.
A tall dark vampire with shoulder length hair and a goatee, stood calmly in the centre of the loft. His 
eyes, black as ebony flared and blazed blood red.
Vachon bared his fangs and hissed at the vampire, his own eyes matching the intruders in colour and 
intensity. 
He could feel the intruder's advanced age. He may even be as old as Lacroix. Vachon quickly realised 
he was in big trouble. But he would do anything to keep the child safe, even if it meant giving his own 
life.
"Who are you, and what do you want?!!" Vachon hissed, keeping a careful distance between himself 
and the poised visitor. 
Vachon followed the vampires movements as he began to circle. A shark waiting for the best moment to 
strike. Vachon lowered himself, ready to defend himself. 
"I...am Gaelan of Maroch! And I have come for what is rightfully mine!" he demanded, his fangs drawn. 
The ancient stood tall and at ease with the threat, or lack there of, which Vachon posed.
"And just what is it you claim as yours?!" Vachon spat back. Gaelan didn't reply immediately. He 
shifted his gaze to where Nicky was hiding in the kitchen, and a small evil leer spread across his lips. 
Then in a tone which sent an ice cold shiver down Vachon's immortal spine, he told him.
 
"The boy." 
 
"You, can not have him!!" Vachon hissed and took a step in Nicky's direction with the intention of 
shielding him.
Gaelan struck. He launched himself hard and fast at Vachon, sending him flying across the room and 
crashing into the brick wall beyond with a sickening thud and crunch of breaking bones.
"You...can not stop me, Spaniard!" He spat, then turned toward the kitchen where Nicky was still 
hiding. 
Vachon couldn't move for a moment, black spots and pain blurring his vision.
 
Nicky gasped as Gaelan attacked Vachon, and when the invader turned towards him, he bolted and ran 
from the kitchen launching himself at the box which held Joan's cross above the fire place.
He didn't make it. A strong hand painfully gripped his ankle, bringing him crashing to the floor. He hit his 
forehead on the edge of a table holding one of Nick's artifacts, it smashed to the floor and blood gushed 
from the wound, temporarily blinding him.
He kicked at the vampire with his free foot as hard as he could. He hit him in the nose which caused the 
vampire to let go enough as he clutched at his bleeding nose, for him to pull free. 
Nicky scrambled toward the mantle once again. He was grabbed from behind and spun around to look 
into the red eyes of his pursuer. The vampire drew back a hand and backhanded Nicky to the floor. 
"That, was for making me bleed." he laughed as the boy wavered up on to his knees holding a hand to 
his swelling face. Blood dripping from his lip now as well as his head.
 
Suddenly Gaelan gasped and froze, he looked down, stunned. He stared at the bloodied wooden stake, 
protruding from his stomach. He grabbed the offending piece of wood and yanked it from his body with 
a shriek of pain. He turned to find Vachon standing unsteadily behind him with another piece of a 
broken chair ready to strike again. 
"That.will be your last error in judgement, young one." he said. He launched himself at Vachon again 
with such speed, the injured vampire didn't have a chance. 
 
The stake which he had previously thrust into Gaelan, now protruded from his own chest. 
The pain was incredible. Vachon clutched desperately at the stake trying to pull it free, but his strength 
failed him. He fell to his knees and then on to the floor gasping with the overwhelming pain.
He dimly listened as Gaelan picked Nicky up into his arms and flew him out through the broken skylight.
"VACHON!" Nicky screamed out to the wounded vampire. His hands reaching desperately toward 
him.
"NICKY!"
Vachon could do nothing but cry out his name, the boy's scream wrenching his heart. But all to quickly, 
he was taken away into the night.
Vachon was on the verge of unconsciousness. Fighting the blissful darkness, he glanced up and saw he 
was close to the phone. He needed to reach it. 
Through sheer will alone, Vachon pulled himself along the floor until he could reach up and pull the 
receiver to the floor. Panting from the effort and pain, he auto dialed the direct line to the station and 
waited for Nick to answer. 
 
"Knight, 96th." Nick answered his phone absently. 
"Nick." a voice rasped with pain, spoke into his ear.
"Vachon?" Nick frowned, giving the phone his full attention.
"He took him." Vachon gasped as a bolt of pain stabbed through him.
"Vachon what's happened!" Nick was on his feet, the beat of his heart thundered in his ears.
"Nicky, he took Nicky." Vachon whispered as he dropped the phone, finally falling prey to oblivion.
"Vachon! VACHON!" Nick was shaking.
"Tracy!! Get a squad over to the loft NOW!" He dropped the phone and ran for the door. Once 
outside, he took to the sky.
 
Tracy had been on the otherside of the room when she heard Nick yelling Vachon's name, then he 
screamed at her as he bolted from the station.
"Cap!" she said as she ran into Reese's office. 
"I heard!" he said, meeting her halfway. "They're on the way. What the hell's happened?!" 
"I don't know, but it can't be good."
They both hurried to the door to follow after Nick. Tracy called Natalie on route telling her what had 
happened. 
"I'm on my way! I'll bring the usual supplies with me." Natalie said as she frantically gathered her 
medical bag and some bloodbags from the cooler.
Tracy hung up. Clutching the phone to her breast, she silently prayed. God, please let them be all right! 
 
Nick arrived at the loft to a sight of destruction which chilled his heart. There was blood everywhere, 
and he could smell Nicky's in amongst it all. Hysteria rose within him.
He forced it down when he saw Vachon's still body lying next to the phone. He rushed over and rolled 
him over, grimaced when he saw the stake protruding from his chest. 
"Oh, hell Vachon." he looked around the room trying to find Nicky. He couldn't see, hear or feel him, 
confirming Vachon's cry that he was gone. Who had taken him? He had to wake Vachon.
"Vachon!" Nick grabbed the stake, and bracing his foot against his chest he pulled the offending piece 
of wood from his body with a nauseating sucking sound. Vachon screamed as the stake was pulled free. 
Then fell unconscious once again.
"Dammit Vachon! Don't do this to me!" Nick pleaded as he held his hand against the gapping wound, 
stemming the flow of blood.
He looked up when he heard footsteps pounding up the stairs. Natalie followed closely by Tracy and 
Captain Reese, crashed through the door. 
"Nick!" Natalie rushed over to where the vampires were laying.
"Oh God, Vachon!" Tracy followed Natalie to the prone body of her lover.
"Nicky's been kidnapped." Nick said calmly, clearly in shock as Natalie knelt at his side. Quickly she 
checked him for injury. 
"I'm fine. Vachon had a stake in his chest when I arrived. I pulled it out."
Natalie inspected the gapping wound in Vachon's chest and called for Tracy, standing stunned beside 
her, to help. 
"Trace. Trace! Get all the human blood out from the freezer and thaw it." Natalie quickly inserted a line 
directly into Vachon's stomach as Tracy complied, shoving the blood packs into the microwave. 
Natalie attached one of the packs she had brought with her, to the drip and squeezed the bag forcing 
the blood into him as fast as it would go.
Reese stood by, watching the scene in silent astonishment. Nick saw him and rose to his feet. With as 
little fuss as possible he went over and gently helped him to 'forget' the fact that he kept human blood in 
his freezer. 
After four bags of human blood, Vachon began to slowly heal. Natalie moved the drip from his stomach 
into his arm just as the police and paramedics burst through the door a few moments later.
 
With Nicks help, she relayed a set of heart and blood pressure readings to the paramedics, which 
would hopefully match a human in a similar physical state. One of the paramedics lifted the pressure 
bandage to look at Vachon's wound. 
"This is nasty, but doesn't look too bad. Lets get him out of here." he announced. They lifted Vachon's 
still unconscious form onto a stretcher and took him outside to the waiting ambulance. 
"I'll go with him, make sure he stays out of trouble." Tracy said as she followed behind them into the lift.
 
Nick wasn't worried about Vachon. He would be healed enough to take care of the paramedics before 
they even reached the hospital.
He was however, feeling physically ill with worry about his son. Could Lacroix have taken him? He 
wouldn't put it past his sire. Nick felt completely out of control. He had to think damn it!
Natalie grabbed his arm and led him over to a quiet corner, away from the forensics crews and police 
officers, combing the loft looking for clues. 
An APB had been issued on Nicky, and the entire Toronto police force was out looking for him.
Natalie watched Nick as he kept running his hands through his hair, pacing as he thought about who in 
the community could have done this. 
"Nick, you have to ask Lacroix for help." she pleaded him. Nick abruptly turned to face her. 
"What if was him Nat. What if he took Nicky." he said.
"I don't think he did Nick."
"Why not? He's done such things to get to me before." Nick fumed, becoming more agitated by the 
minute.
"He's changed Nick. Even I can see that. He's too fond of Nicky too hurt him, not that he really shows 
it mind, and he gave his word he would protect him." Natalie held Nick by the arms as she talked some 
sense into him. "He gave his 'word', Nick." 
Nick sighed as he thought about what Natalie was saying. He probed the bloodlink he shared with 
Lacroix. Nick couldn't feel any malice or threat coming from his sire. He was doing his show, unaware 
of what had happened, though he was curious about the distress he was loudly broadcasting.
"Yes, yes.I know." he sighed.
He let Natalie take him in to her arms for a moment, before pulling away and striding to the stair exit.
"I'm going to the Church. Vachon and Tracy should be there by now. I have to talk to him. I need to 
know who the hell has my son." Nick stood in the open doorway. Natalie nodded, and when he had 
gone, turned back to supervise the search of the loft, making sure curious noses stayed out of Nick's 
belongings. She had to make sure they didn't break anything or accidentally find out their star detective 
was infact a blood sucking creature of the night.
 
 
Nicky struggled in vain against the tight embrace wrapped around him.
"I would advise against such endeavors if I were you. Although the view would be nice, the landing may 
be a little hard." Gaelan laughed at his own little joke.
Nicky suddenly felt himself being pulled out from under the vampires coat. He grabbed on to his captor 
tightly as he looked down at the city below.far, far below.
"That's much better" Gaelan chuckled coldly as the boy wrapped his legs around his.
Nicky looked up at the vampire who had just staked Vachon. 
Vachon, he was probably dead. Nicky sadly thought.
Nicky glanced about, trying to pick out landmarks as they flew.
Gaelan observed him as he searched, then shifted his grip in order to pull a cloth bag from his pocket. 
He placed the black bag over Nicky's head, preventing him from seeing anything more. 
Nicky breathed hard against the cloth, struggling against the sudden panic at his loss of sight.
 
They flew for about half an hour longer, changing direction many times, before setting down at the rear 
of an old brick building. 
Nicky was carried down into the vast basement of the complex and taken to where a room had been 
prepared for his imminent arrival.
Gaelan put the boy down on his feet and removed the hood. Nicky winced as the vampire inspected the 
bruise forming on the left side of his face. The vampire dismissed the damage as minor detecting no 
broken bones. He reached into his coat pocket once more and pulled out a cloth from a plastic bag. 
"I brought this along just in case you were a little less inclined to accompany me." he said holding up the 
rag. 
"But I have to leave you for a short time, and to guarantee you don't get into any mischief while I'm 
gone, and so that anyone following, can no longer continue to do so, I'm afraid you are going to have to 
take a little nap." 
He moved toward Nicky with the drug soaked rag. Nicky tried to back away but stumbled onto a cot 
positioned behind him.
Gaelan reached for him and roughly held the rag to his face. Nicky tried to struggle, to hold his breath, 
but eventually he could do nothing but succumb to the effects of the powerful drug.
 
Lacroix was halfway through a segment of monologue, when he abruptly halted in mid sentence. 
Something was wrong, very wrong. He couldn't quite place it at first. Frowning in concentration, he 
pushed into his mind to find just exactly what it was he was feeling.
Nicholas.
Ever since their first meeting when the boy had invaded his mind with a strange sensation and startling 
white light, he had developed a growing sense of the boy. Never before in his existence, had he 
encountered such method of creating a bloodlink. No blood exchange had taken place to establish this 
joining, only touch, and what's more, it seemed to only pertain to his family. It was most unusual indeed. 
But what was important now, was that it had indeed been there, weak, but it was there, and now.it 
was gone. 
Lacroix leapt to his feet, placing a CD into a machine and hitting play as he left the sound booth. Just as 
he opened the door, he felt Nicholas enter the Raven. 
His son plowed through the rapidly parting crowd until he stood face to face with him, holding his gaze, 
eyes blazing. Lacroix met his raging glare.
"What has happened." he demanded. His jaw clenched and his eyes became hooded as his son replied.
 
"Gaelan has taken my son."
 
 
Nicky woke to find his hands and feet bound, securely with handcuffs, to either end of the cot he was 
now lying on. A blindfold had replaced the hood, covering his eyes. He had no idea how long he had 
been asleep for. He felt heavy headed and groggy.
His mouth was dry. He tried to swallow but couldn't. A strange chemical taste was in his mouth and 
nose. It made him feel sick. He hurt.
 
"I think I'm going to be sick" he said quietly to the person he could hear moving around behind him.
He felt one hand being released from the handcuffs and a strong hand rolled him over onto his side. 
Where he promptly vomited into a waiting bowl. When he finished, a damp cloth wiped his mouth and 
chin, then a glass of water was pressed to his lips. 
"Drink." Nicky drank the water slowly.
He was promptly handcuffed again and left alone. 
The drug's residue eased him into a light sleep once again.
 
 
Back at the loft, Lacroix sat quietly in one of the lounge chairs. The only sign of his inner agitation, was 
the occasional twisting of his pinky ring. Natalie sat curled up on the couch, while Nick restlessly paced 
the length of the room behind them. 
 
Nick had arrived at Vachon's church, to find the pair safely resting upon the bed, having successfully 
escaped the clutches of the paramedics, whom suddenly saw fit to release Vachon into Tracy's care, 
and send the vampire on his way. 
Vachon, while guzzling bottle after bottle of blood, told Nick exactly what had happened at the loft. 
Nick gapped as he heard Vachon utter the name of the offender. Then growling viciously, he'd flown 
straight to the Raven.
 
"What does Gaelan want with Nicky?" Natalie asked, looking to Lacroix for some kind of explanation.
The Ancient was the only one of them who actually knew Gaelan. Though he did not recall him fondly. 
"I am not certain. He may wish him as his own."
"But?" Natalie prompted, suspecting the vampire believed Gaelan's reasons were anything but to 
reaffirm familial bonds with his daughters son.
"But." he said glancing sternly toward her. 
".he may also want the boy to complete a certain fabled ritual." he said affirming Natalie's deduction.
"What ritual?" this question came from Nick, who'd abruptly halted his pacing as Lacroix spoke. 
"An ancient ritual, scribed in one of the old texts. It depicts the birth, of one of light, to that of darkness, 
and when the light is sacrificed and fed upon the zenith of the fullest Moon, a power of great significance 
shall descend upon the chosen one." Lacroix quoted from memory. "Gaelan has been irrefutably 
obsessed with the ritual for well over five centuries." He added disdainfully.
"You mean to tell me, that Gaelan made Sarah half vampire by design?" Nick exclaimed, unable to 
believe what he was saying himself.
"Yes."
"Oh my God. 'When sacrificed then fed upon.'..." Natalie whispered. "He's going to kill Nicky."
"Yes."
A strangled sob erupted from Nick as he turned and walked away from the others. 
This was all too much. Discovering the birth of his son, had just been too good to be true.
 
Lacroix rose and followed Nick across the room. He moved infront of his son and held him still by the 
shoulders, then moved them to either side of his face. He tilted Nicks head up, forcing him to look into 
his eyes.
"We will find him." he told him quietly, his voice firm with conviction, and a trace of the rage he was 
holding tightly reined. 
"We may already be too late." Nick whispered. 
"No, he is alive. It is three days till the moon is at it's zenith." Lacroix had felt the return of his grandson 
about an hour ago and had silently rejoiced. 
He had believed the worst as their link had abruptly faded earlier in the evening, but now, as he 
surmised Gaelan would be following the ritual to the letter, he had some hope of them saving his 
grandson in time.
Nick stared at this father for a moment, then his face crumpled, and he shook his head as his fearful 
tears fell.
"I can't loose him Lacroix.I can't." Lacroix pulled Nick to his chest and held him as he cried the 
tension from his mind and body. His son's heart had always been too open and giving for his own good.
"When I felt the link break.I thought..." Nick sobbed. 
"I know.I know." he whispered into his son's ear. 
He did know, it was the same way he felt whenever Nick chased his dream of mortality. It was why he 
had held on to him so tightly over the years, no matter the consequence. He couldn't loose his son 
either.
Natalie felt the tears run down her own cheeks as she witnessed the rare moment between Nick and his 
sire. Brushing the streaks from her face, she turned away to give the men some privacy. 
 
 
Drip, splat, drip, splat.
Nicky lay quietly, listening to the sound of water dripping onto the floor. He had woken again to an 
empty room. But he could feel the powerful vibe of the ancient vampire in the next room.
The continuous sound of traffic droned on in the background and Nicky tried to listen to every detail, 
hoping it could help tell him where he was.
But then, even if he did get out, he didn't know Toronto well enough to find his way back home. 
Maybe, if he could get to a public place somehow, or better yet a police station...
Who was he kidding. He wasn't about to get out of here on his own, and he knew it.
He would have to wait for his father to come and rescue him. He had no doubt Nick would be coming.
The room was becoming cold. He was only wearing T-shirt and jeans, and he couldn't reach for a 
blanket, even if there was one. 
Nicky tried not to think about what this Gaelan person was going to do to him. He decided to distract 
himself from the morbid thoughts and the increasing cold, by playing music in his head.
He loved music, his mother had taught him to play the piano from a young age, and he used to play for 
her everyday. 
Making music in his mind, was something he often did when he was bored, usually during class or 
assembly at school. 
He started off with Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Relaxing, he let his mind wander into the music, until 
it drowned all else, and it was all he could hear or feel.
 
Nick and Tracy had took Vachon down to the station to make a formal statement regarding the 
kidnapping of young Nicky Knight. They composed an identicate picture and APB matching Gaelan's 
description and put it on the street.
Nick hadn't hesitated in using the mortal police force to search for Gaelan. He needed every pair of 
eyes he could get, looking for them. He would deal with Gaelan himself, when the time came. 
 
"Nick go home." Reese sternly ordered his battered detective, as he came alongside Nick's desk. 
Nobody else would dare tell the detective he looked like hell. So it had been left up to him to get Knight 
out of here for awhile.
Nick tiredly rubbed his face with his hands. 
"I can't."
"Nick, everything that can be done, is being done. You need to get some sleep."
Nick just shook his head. He had to be here if anything came in. He wasn't about to leave.
"I thought you might say that." Reese leant closer to Nick and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Which is why I had a cot set up in IR3. Use it." Nick glanced up at his captain, bewildered.
"Captain I..."
"I have kids too Nick. Get some sleep, Knight. That's an order! We'll wake you if anything comes in." 
Reese quickly left Nick before he could reply, and headed back into his office.
Nick just shook his head again and ran his hands through his hair. He sat quietly at his desk for a few 
more minutes. Then pulled himself to his feet, feeling all of his 800 years, and wearily headed over to the 
interview room. 
Sure enough, a cot and pillow lay in the far corner, away from the door. The interview room was 
situated at the far end of the bullpen, slightly away from the bustle of the station outside.
He closed the door and shrugged off his holster. Wrapping it up on itself, he placed his gun under the 
cot as he sat down. Nick slowly lowered himself down, to lie flat on his back. Resting his head on the 
pillow, he threw an arm over his eyes. Sighing heavily, he tried to relax enough to fall asleep. He knew 
he needed it. 
As he lay there, he began to think and hear one of Mozart's concertos. It began to lull him, his eyes 
drooping closed.
Sooner than even he thought was possible, he fell fast asleep listening to the soft melody floating through 
his mind, calming his soul, even if it be only for a moment.
 
It was well past noon when Natalie came into the station. Nick still hadn't come home. She hadn't been 
too surprised by this, but she was concerned Nick hadn't fed in sometime. So discretely carrying a 
thermos of blood, she headed to where Nick was said to be sleeping.
Natalie quietly opened the door to the darkened room. Her face softened when she found Nick fast 
asleep on a cot along the back wall. 
She went over to his side and carefully placed the thermos on the floor at the head of the bed. Gently 
she brushed a lock of dark blonde hair from Nick's forehead. He was frowning as he slept. Natalie felt 
the tears well up again as she gazed upon his sleeping form.
But he was sleeping, and that, thought Natalie, was what was important right now.
uNicky had been missing for over sixteen hours now, and everyone was beginning to feel desperate. 
All the cops here, knew from experience, that most kidnap victims, especially children, not found within 
the first 24 hours, weren't usually found at all. At least not alive, and with no ransom or demands having 
been made as yet, it didn't look good. 
The whole station was both charged and subdued as they diligently went about their duties.
This time it was one of their own. Everyone was doing the best they could to help Nick, but at the same 
time they were thanking God it wasn't them and their kids. 
The clock was ticking, time was running out.
 
Natalie quietly left Nick to sleep as long as possible and went to sit down at his desk.
As people passed, they gave her the odd sympathetic smile, encouraging word, or asked how Nick was 
hold up. 
She was astounded when Detective Harrison, someone with whom Nick butted heads with fairly 
frequently, came over and asked her to pass on his families prayers to Nick.
Looking for something to do, she started going over the report of the 'animal attack' by the 
expressway, which was sitting on Nick's desk. 
Maybe it had been Gaelan who'd killed this guy? It might just give them a clue as to where he had taken 
Nicky. She quietly mulled over the thought for awhile as she patiently waited for Nick to wake.
From the corner of her eye, Natalie caught sight of the interview room door opening. She turned her 
head to see a rumpled Nick appear, shrugging into his holster and making a subdued beeline for his 
desk and her. He had only slept for a couple of hours.
"Thanks for lunch" he said attempting to smile. He pulled up a spare chair and sat down beside her. He 
didn't look any better from having slept, but then he didn't look any worse either, so Natalie opted not 
to say anything. Instead just grabbed hold of his hand, while they went through the file again together.
 
Something wet was dripping on his face. Nicky jerked awake, startled at the sensation.
He immediately began to shiver in the damp, increasing cold of the dark basement. 
"Open your mouth." Gaelan ordered him.
"Why?" Nicky tried hard not to let his increasing fear show in his voice as he spoke.
"You need to drink." the vampire said impatiently.
Nicky felt the dryness of his mouth, which brought on an immediate thirst. He opened his mouth. A glass 
was once again pressed to his lips and he drank greedily. He suddenly felt painful hunger pangs ripple 
through his stomach. But he daren't ask for any food. He felt a damp cloth wiping the dried blood from 
his face.
"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Nicky asked defiantly.
The voice chortled 
"So much like your mother!" Nicky heard Gaelan move closer to him. He could feel his cool breath on 
his cheek. Nicky's heart pounded, he couldn't see, and he couldn't move. This man could do anything 
he wanted to with him, and there was nothing he could do about it. Gaelan leaned close to Nicky's ear 
and whispered.
"Why my child, one should always recognise family!" Nicky could sense the leer which crossed the 
vampires features.
He was confused at what Gaelan had said. What about his family? He could only just feel Nick and 
Lacroix's presence. He had been able to do so for a few weeks now. It was a little odd at first, being 
able to feel somelse in your mind, but he had soon become accostumed to them being there. Although 
Nick's was stronger, he could feel Lacroix at a much greater distance. He could barely feel them at all 
now. It was like a faint tingle in the back of his mind, just enough to know they were alive.
What did Gaelan have to do with his family? Was he using him to get to his father, or Lacroix? 
"What does my family have to do with this?" Nicky asked, his confusion apparent.
"My dear boy. They have told you nothing, haven't they?" Gaelan stood, sighed and moved a step 
away. "I child, am your mothers creator!" Nicky gasped, and Gaelan laughed at his reaction as he 
continued. 
"I gave her the gift of immortality, and she has forfilled her purpose admirably! I chose her well." 
"You Bastard!" Nicky spat in the direction of the voice and strained at his bonds. 
"She hated what you made her! She was weak, she could not defend herself against the others! It's all 
your fault!" 
A hand slapped Nicky hard in the face, then pulled his head back by the hair. Nicky's face contorted 
with the pain which flew from his jaw to the rest of his face, but he refused to cry.
"You will be silent!" the voice hissed, then more calmly sneered. "I wouldn't want to take you before 
your time now, would I ?" Nicky remained quiet as his head was roughly let go. Gaelan's footsteps 
strode out of the room, slamming shut and bolting the metal door behind him. 
 
Nicky lay silently in the dark, his face throbbing from the latest assault. His still head ached terribly from 
hitting the table at the loft, making him feel lightheaded, and he could feel the pressure against the blind 
fold, telling him his eye and cheek had swollen and bruised from when Gaelan had backhanded him. 
He was cold and he hurt. Nicky continued to shiver, but not only from the cold. He prayed silently for 
his father to find him.
 
"But we have no proof whatsoever it was Gaelan who dumped that body!" Nick said exasperated. "We 
have nothing!!" Nick threw his pen violently onto his desk, then lent back and covered his face with his 
hands trying to control the beast which was moments away from ripping loose. He was becoming 
increasingly irritable. He still had an hour of daylight left before he could join the search out on the 
streets for his son. It was driving him insane. 
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry" he whispered through his hands. Natalie put an arm around his shoulders and 
drew his head to hers. 
"It's Ok."
Natalie let Nick blow off steam. He looked exhausted, ready to drop. She felt that way herself. But she 
knew he wouldn't rest again until they found Nicky.
They waited the agonizing hour for the sun to drop below the horizon. 
They had worked out a strategic search plan, starting in the area where the vampire victim was found. 
By systematically flying over the city, Nick was going to try and feel Nicky through their bond. 
Hopefully he would get lucky and find him. It was all they could do, but it had to be better than nothing 
at all.
 
 
Nick usually loved flying. It was the one aspect of being a vampire which he would truly miss if he ever 
became mortal again. But tonight, he didn't take any joy in it at all. He was fully focused on searching 
for his son, seeking out the weak link he shared with him. 
At least he could feel he was alive, Nick took what hope he could from that, but the problem was, he 
had to be in fairly close proximity to be able to detect him enough to locate him.
For over four hours now he had been following the flight plan he and Nat had made, and so far he'd 
found nothing. He couldn't even feel what direction to go in, or gauge the distance away from his son, 
nothing. Nick was frustrated, he wasn't getting anywhere.
Natalie was calling him on his cellphone every hour to keep him up to date with the police findings, or 
lack there of. Nick had even ventured to call Lacroix to see if he had found anything in his own search. 
Lacroix had sounded as frustrated as he was. He was searching through city records and plans for 
anywhere Gaelan may have taken and hidden Nicky. But there were just so many sites, it was taking an 
enormous amount of time checking each of them out, even with the recruitment of Vachon, and a couple 
of other willing vampires. And who was to say Gaelan had even stayed in the city. He could be an 
eternity away by now. 
Nick resisted the urge to call Natalie again, instead sped up his own search as much as he dared, 
without running the risk of missing the weak link from his son.
 
Natalie sat at her desk in the coroners office, making phone calls and fielding the endless updates being 
demanded from Nick. She knew Nick wasn't handling this well. Nicky was everything to him, she 
wasn't doing so well herself. She has quickly grown to love Nicky like her own. 
This child was nothing less than a miracle for Nick. She knew now, how badly he had wanted to 
become a father, and to now have something he thought to be so out of reach, something he daren't 
even dream of, be ripped from him...She couldn't be certain if even she could bring him back from the 
depths of where he may fall if he lost his only son. And if it wasn't enough, two more bodies with the 
same MO as the expressway victim, had been brought in. They were found at opposite ends of the city. 
Gaelan was playing with them. Sending them on a wild goose chase, and she was going to have to tell 
Nick. The thought made her feel ill.
The phone rang, making her jump at the sudden sound reverberating around the laboratory. It was 
Lacroix checking in.
He and Vachon had covered over quarter of the list of possible sites they had acquired. They too had 
come up empty handed
"We will continue to search for another hour, after which we shall have to return to the Raven. Have 
Nicholas meet us there." Lacroix told her. 
"Yes, I'll tell him Lacroix." She said wearily. There was a moment of silence from them both, then 
Natalie said firmly. 
"We'll find him Lacroix."
"Yes, we shall. Sut will we save him." he replied solemnly.
"God, I hope so." she prayed quietly.
"As do I." Lacroix sighed.

The next night went pretty much the same way. Lacroix, with Vachon's help, was close to completing 
the search of the list of possible sites. 
It was raining. He hated the rain. It had ruined his perfectly good suit, and although he didn't feel the 
cold, he could feel the wet riverlets of water as they streamed down his neck and back, and the 
uncomfortable manner it stuck his clothing to his skin. He was soaked. It didn't do well to improve his 
increasingly foul mood either. 
Lacroix impatiently stood outside the final building on his list. He couldn't feel either Gaelan or his 
grandson, but Gaelan was as old as he, his mental shields were well defined, deeming the ancient quite 
capable of masking both his own and Nicholas's presence, even from himself.
They had searched every warehouse, farm, factory, condemned building and any other manner of 
shelter they could find...manually. Most sites had been run down and filthy, not to mention inhabited by 
a multitude of waifs and lowly mortals, of whom he had felt no desire what so ever to feed from.
"This is the final site." he told Vachon, who stood beside him, looking as miserable as he felt, hands 
shoved deep into his coat pockets.
"Lets get this over with." he replied to the older vampire. They split up, and at vampiric speed, searched 
every room of the old warehouse.


Nicky had been unable to sleep much since Gaelan had told him he was his mothers creator. He'd 
begun to think about his new family. Gaelan had talked about the bloodlink they all shared. Maybe he 
could try contacting his father by pushing into his link with him. It had worked briefly on his mother the 
couple of times he had tried it. 
But he could hardly feel his father, and he had never before tried to contact him in this way. Maybe 
Lacroix could feel him more easily. He was much stronger than Nick. 
If they could feel him, they might be able to find him. 
Nicky lay still on the cot, ignoring the cold and the pain in his body, and concentrated on the link which 
bound him to his father and grandfather. 
He gathered the white light into a tight ball in his mind, then with all his might he mentally pushed it down 
the weak link. 
He lay waiting for a response. Nothing. 
He lay quietly and waited for a long time before giving in to the fact that it hadn't worked. He wasn't 
about to give up completely though. If he did, he knew he may as well be dead.
Nicky went back to thinking about the link and how he could use it to save himself.
Maybe the contact needed to be retained for longer in order for them to notice it? But how could he do 
that? He would have to be able to concentrate on just one thing, for a long period of time and send it 
down the link along with the white light. But what...?
 
Music! Yes! It could work.maybe. It was worth a shot anyway. What else was there for him to do 
anyway, lying here tied up and blindfolded. 
The next step was deciding what music to send? Classical? Too long and difficult to repeat over time, so 
he decided on rock. 
The Cranberries. Nick knew it was his favourite band right now. He played this song all the time. He 
was bound to recognize it. 
Nicky relaxed and centered on the link again. This time though, he began to relay 'Dreams', along the 
link as hard as he could. He kept repeating the song over and over and over and over.

They had all gathered back at the Raven. Lacroix had closed the club early, he couldn't tolerate the 
noise and festivity tonight.
He half sat on a stool at the bar sipping from a glass of bloodwine. Nicholas was seated a little further 
down next to Natalie. They were talking in whispered tones, not that it mattered, he could hear every 
word. But he was too lost in his own thoughts to be bothered by what the lovers were conversing 
about.
Lacroix tapped his finger absently against the bar, as he devised the best and most painful way in which 
to kill Gaelan, after this episode was over. 
Time had run out. 
They had exhausted all and any avenues, and now, all they could do was wait. 
He glanced over to Nicholas. He was alone now, eyes closed, resting his head on his arms against the 
bar as Natalie went in search for the stock of bloodwine. Lacroix doubted he would drink any of it.
Nicholas opened his eyes suddenly, and without lifting his head, stared at something on the bar. Lacroix 
followed his line of sight, to his finger tapping the bar. Then much to his confusion, Nicholas started to 
quietly sing.
Though my life,
Is changing everyday,
In every possible way.
 
Though my dreams ,
Its never quite as it seems, 
Never quite as it seems.
 
Lacroix's eyes widened as he too started to sing. Still tapping the double four time beat on the bar. 
Confirming to Nicholas they were hearing exactly the same thing.
 
I know I've felt like this before
And now I'm feeling it even more
Because it came from you.

Then I open up and see 
The person falling here is me
A different way to be.
 
Natalie reentered the bar joining Vachon. They could both only stand there, staring open mouthed at the 
sight before them. Neither of them could quite believe what they were seeing. Lacroix and Nick were 
standing at the bar singing, and Nick was smiling. 
 
Oh God, Nick's finally lost it, Natalie thought, and he's taken Lacroix down with him.
Then both men stopped singing and spoke together.
"Nicky!!"
"Nicholas!" Lacroix allowed a small smile to pull at his lips.
 
 
Nicky was almost asleep when he felt the most amazing sensation. It enveloped his mind and warmed 
his heart. It was an incredible, all encompassing feeling of safety and love. Nicky smiled, then laughed.
The door to his cell clanged open, resonating the clash of metal on concrete painfully around the room.
"Stop it!!" Gaelan screamed as he stormed into the room. He had evidently felt the strong response in 
the link as well as he.
"No." Gaelan quickly moved to Nicky and slapped his thigh...hard.
"Ahhhh!" Nicky couldn't help but cry out in pain. The bond to his family broke. Leaving him alone and 
in the darkness once again.
 
 
Nick felt his son's pain shoot through his own leg, and stumbled against the bar. Lacroix too felt what 
happened. The link was now broken, but it had been established long enough to determine Nicky's 
location. It was in a heavily populated part of the city. 
Gaelan had been hiding in plain sight.
"We must go. Now." he said firmly. Steadying his son with a strong hand.
Nick nodded pushing away from the bar. He grabbed Lacroix's glass and drained the contents with a 
single swallow. 
"I'll fly ahead. You follow in the caddie with Nat." he said to Lacroix. "He may need medical attention, 
and it's almost dawn, we'll need the car." Nick flew out the door before Lacroix even had the chance to 
challenge his son's brazen orders. 
He could have easily caught his son if he'd tried, and normally he would not have tolerated being 
ordered about by Nicholas, but his son had made a logical argument. He was the only one who could 
lead Dr. Lambert to where Nicholas was being held. He sighed and turned to Vachon, preparing for the 
worst.
"Prepare the bedrooms, ready for our return." Vachon nodded and hurried off to the supply room. 
Lacroix turned to Natalie who was hurriedly shoving supplies into her bag.
"Whenever you are ready Doctor." 
Natalie closed her bag and headed for the door grabbing Nicks keys as she passed the bar.
"Ok, Lets go." She said. Lacroix followed her out of the club and into Nicholas's car. Putting his unlife 
into her hands, he allowed her to drive, and drive she did.
 
Gaelan roughly released Nicky's hands and feet. Still blindfolded, he was lifted and carried from the 
room. 
Gaelan moved Nicky to the larger outer room of the basement. He placed him on a large wooden table, 
binding his limbs tightly to the tablelegs with a length of coarse rope. 
Nicky was really terrified now. But he couldn't allow Gaelan the satisfaction of seeing his fear. Bravely 
he tried to talk to the vampire.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, surprised at his steady voice. 
Gaelan didn't respond. Nicky heard glass clink as the vampire tinkered with something a short distance 
away. He tried again.
"How can you do this to me? I'm your Grandson." Maybe he could make him feel sorry for him. 
"Oh, quite easily my child. You are of my creation, therefore you are my property to do with as I 
please." Gaelan came closer as he spoke. 
"Your mother was created for one purpose, you. And you will be the all mighty apex in delivering to me 
a great power, a great power that shall be mine." The obsessive words, tumbled with a determined 
conviction, from his lips. He was almost giddy as he felt the power which was to be his, brush against 
his fingertips. Soon, it will be his.
 
Gaelan stood over him. Nicky could feel the softness of his silk shirt as it slid against his arm. He lay still, 
breathing hard, his heart pounding. 
Nicky recoiled as he felt his arm being turned so the inside of his elbow was exposed. 
"Now this may sting a little, but it will fade, and then you will sleep." Gaelan said soothingly. Nicky 
struggled against the tight bonds, but Gaelan held his arm still with a firm hand. He felt a needle pierce 
his skin. He cried out as fire was injected into his blood. 
As the initial pain dulled, Nicky began to feel very strange. His body felt heavy, and he began to feel 
very tired. He tried to fight it, but quickly, unable to continue his battle, he slipped unconscious.
CRASH!! 
Gaelan whipped his head in the direction of the sudden noise. 
 
Nick flew into the room and slammed hard into Gaelan, sending them both flying across the room and 
into a wall of shelves. They fell to the floor, now littered with paint cans and wooden debris. 
"Well, well, If it isn't Lacroix's wonderboy." Gaelan sneered getting quickly to his feet. "You're too late! 
He's already mine!" Gaelan laughed.
"NO!!!" Nick screamed as he stared at his limp son, lying tied to the table. He lunged at Gaelan once 
again, allowing his vehement rage to take full control. 
 
They began to throw each other viciously around the basement. The strength fueled by Nick's rage, was 
making up for his lack in age and power as he fought the older vampire. 
He fought ruthlessly and at one point Nick seemed to be pushing Gaelan back, until suddenly, he 
slipped in a patch of spilled paint, falling heavily to the floor. Gaelan saw his chance and lunged. 
Nick lay sprawled on the ground, and upon seeing Gaelan rushing toward him, he reacted instinctively, 
bringing his knees up as Gaelan reached him. He pushed upward with all the strength he could summon. 
The action sent Gaelan flying over his head to slam into the wall were the shelves had been. But he 
didn't fall to the ground. 
Nick rolled onto his hands and knees, never taking his eyes from the insane vampire. 
The ancient vampire began to laugh, chuckling at first, then more manicly as he stared down at the 
wooden shelf bracket protruding from his heart. The laughter turned to screams as his body began to 
burn.
Nick stared, enthralled by the sight of the burning vampire. A moment later Gaelan lay dead, nothing but 
ashes upon the cold concrete floor. 
 
Nick hurried over to where his son lay deathly still on the table. 
"Nicky! No! Please God!" Nick ripped off the bonds holding the boy down, his face contorted in 
desperation and pain. 
"Nicky!"
 
Lacroix ran into the room. Upon seeing his son holding the limp boy in his arms, desperately calling his 
name, he quickly went to them. 
He noticed the pile of ashes on the floor, accounting for the screams he heard a few moments before. 
"Let me see him." Lacroix gently demanded. Nick loosened his grip, allowing Lacroix to examine 
Nicky. He found the needle mark on his arm.
"He's been poisoned." he said. Lacroix quickly dropped his fangs and bit into the boys arm to draw out 
as much of the poison as he possibly could.
He had swallowed a large mouthful, and was drawing in a second, when the acidic taste abruptly 
registered. He pulled hard away from the child, dropping the boys arm to the table, and began spiting 
what was in his mouth onto the floor. 
"What?" Nick asked desperately as he watched in panic, his sire spitting out the blood from his mouth.
"What is it!?"
"Snake venom." Lacroix said, suddenly feeling very ill, and very dizzy.
 
Natalie barreled into the room, only having run at mortal speed from the car, just as Lacroix lent heavily 
against a wall willing himself to stay upright.
"Paramedics and uniforms are on the way!" she called out.
"Nat! Help him!" Nick cried. Natalie rushed straight to Nicky's side. 
" He's been injected with some kind of snake venom!" Nick told her frantically. 
"Where was it injected?" she asked. Nick quickly showed her the boys arm. Natalie ripped open a 
large bandage and began to tightly bind Nicky's arm and shoulder, slowing the spread of the toxin. She 
went on and checked his other injuries.
"There's nothing more I can do until the paramedics get here. They should be carrying anti-venom." 
Natalie told Nick. He gave a resigned nod, and held Nicky to him, and waited. 
 
Natalie turned to where Lacroix was now sitting on the floor. 
"What happened to him?" she asked Nick, frowning at the strained expression on the elder vampires 
face. 
"He tried sucking the poison out of his arm. Snake venom can make us sick." Nick glanced at his father 
now sitting against the wall. His eyes were closed and his hands planted firmly on the ground as though 
for balance.
They all heard the sirens begin to wail in the distance.
"I'd better get him out of here." Natalie said nodding her head in Lacroix's direction. 
"His presence will only complicate things. I'll come straight to the hospital after I've dropped him off. 
You'll be all right if I leave you by yourself?" She asked Nick softly. Nick nodded.
"Go." He said, looking into her eyes. "Just hurry back, Ok."
"I'll be right behind you." she told Nick. Natalie squeezed his arm as he nodded, then strode over to 
Lacroix.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, of course." he replied curtly, opening his eyes to glare at her. Lacroix pulled himself up using the 
wall as support. He took an almost steady step towards the stairs. Natalie followed along behind him, 
ready to catch the injured vampire should he stumble.
 
As they reached the caddie, Lacroix staggered and let out a moan. With one hand on the hood of the 
car, he suddenly fell to one knee, and promptly vomited heavily into the gutter.
Luckily, they were on the far side of the building away from the police and ambulance crews which had 
now arrived and were rushing inside, so they were safe from immediate detection. 
Natalie bent over the heaving vampire and rubbed his back as he continued to heave well after every 
drop of blood possible, had left his stomach. 
She was surprised when he didn't shrug her off. He must really feel bad. she thought as she helped 
Lacroix into the passenger seat of the caddie. As they headed toward the Raven, Natalie kept glancing 
at Lacroix to check on how he was doing. He was slouched down, his head resting on the top of the 
seat. He had his eyes firmly closed and arms folded over his chest, he was paler than she had ever seen 
him. He looked terrible. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Never had she seen him so helpless 
before. It just didn't seem natural somehow.
 
 
Captain Reese came out of his office and stood in the centre of the bull pen. He raised his hands and 
called for everyone's attention.
"People! Hey listen up!" the room fell silent. "I have some news." His solemn expression, broke into a 
wide smile as he announced. 
"We found him!" the room cheered and applauded. Silent and not so silent thanks were given to all 
forms of life. So with morale now at an all time high, they returned back to work. The city slept for no 
one. 
 
Natalie parked the caddie in the alley behind the Raven. She leapt from the car and went around to help 
Lacroix step out. Opening the passenger door, she gently roused him. 
"Lacroix. We're here." He weakly lifted his head and reached for the car door to steady himself as he 
slowly exited the car. 
Standing upright, his legs buckled and he stumbled. Natalie caught him before he fell, and propped him 
up against the side of the car. She was going to need some help getting him inside.
"Wait here. I'll get Vachon." she told Lacroix, though he didn't look like he was about to go any where. 
Natalie ran inside and called for Vachon. He appeared immediately and followed her back outside.
"Whoa, what happened to him?" he asked when he saw the state of the ancient vampire leaning heavily 
against the caddie, his eyes closed and the back of his head resting on the roof.
"Snake venom." she said.
"That would explain it." he said as he braced a shoulder under Lacroix's, and an arm around his waist. 
"Come on old man, lets get you inside." Vachon all but carried the ancient vampire inside, and up to his 
bedroom. Natalie watched from behind as he lay him on the bed.
Lacroix was barely conscious as she removed his shoes and jacket, then covered him with the 
comforter. Lacroix had now passed out completely.
"Will he be all right?" she asked Vachon.
"Yeah, he'll be fine. He'll have one hell of a headache, and if he remembers this, be as embarrassed and 
grumpy as hell when he wakes up. But after a little blood, he'll be good as new."
"Ok good. I'm going to the hospital now. They took Nicky to Mercy Faith." Natalie informed Vachon 
as she left the room. He followed her out in to the hall.
"Hey Doc. Is he going to be all right?" he asked, concern flooding his face.
"Yes. I think so. He may take few days to recover, but I think he'll be all right."
"And Gaelan?" he all but spat out the name.
"Dead."
"Good."
Natalie left Vachon to watch over Lacroix, and quickly headed over to the hospital.

Nick was sitting in a chair beside Nicky's bed, his head propped up with on hand, the other clutching 
his son's.
Natalie stood in the doorway gazing at Nick as he kept watch over his sleeping son.
"How's he doing?" she asked softly, coming into the room and brushing her fingers down the back of 
Nicks hair.
"The doctor said he'll be fine. He hasn't woken up since the ER." His eyes never leaving the boy. "They 
pumped anti-venom and a tone of drugs into him. He became conscious downstairs, but they gave him 
something to make him sleep."
Natalie wrapped her arms around him. Nick closed his eyes and lent back into her embrace. They 
didn't need to say anything more, they just took comfort in each others presence.
A while later Natalie was out in the waiting area close to Nicky's room. It was empty, so she had 
stretched out on the couch and fallen asleep.
Nick had remained at his son's side. Determined to be there when he woke.
 
"Mah, ah! Daddy!, daddy!" Nicky suddenly thrashed against the blankets covering him.
Nick jerked from the light doze he had fallen into, and held the frightened boy to his chest.
"Nicky! Nicky. It's Ok, I'm here. Daddy's here." Nick soothed the awakened boy, caressing his hair 
gently and kissing his head. 
"Dad?" Nicky whimpered.
Nick's heart leapt and his throat tightened. He smiled as his son called for him. It sounded so right. Dad. 
He loved it.
"Yes. I'm here. You're safe. He's gone."
"Dad..." Nicky began to cry and Nick pulled him tighter to him and he couldn't help but cry with him. 
 
Natalie woke and went to check on Nick and Nicky. She paused at the door and smiled as she looked 
upon Nick lying on the bed with Nicky curled up in his arms, a small fist tightly holding on to Nick's 
shirt even as they both slept. 
Natalie left them to phone Lacroix and Vachon with an update. Natalie started as she dialed the Raven, 
she suddenly realised today was Nicky's birthday. They would truly have something to celebrate 
tonight. 
 
Night had fallen, and Lacroix finally felt the desire and will to drag himself out of bed and into the 
shower.
He stood under the water, letting the warm water wash away the lingering grogginess the venom had left 
in his body. 
A bottle or three of blood had finally rid him of the pounding headache which had woken him. He 
dressed quickly, and picking up a wrapped package from his desk, he headed for the hospital.
 
Tracy had come in to see Nick and to check on Nicky earlier in the day. The boys were still sleeping 
like the undead when she got there. They were adorable.
Natalie asked her to help move Nick over to a spare bed, which she had the nurses wheel in. They 
managed to rouse just Nick enough, for them not to have to carry him. Natalie guided Nick, who with 
eyes closed just went wherever she led him. But when they went to remove his gun and holster, Nick 
had actually growled. Both women had jumped back and looked at each other with raised eyebrows. 
"I think we should leave it on." Tracy said to Natalie.
"I think you're right, Trace."
So they pushed him down onto the bed, and he was sleeping again before his head hit the pillow, 
assuming he had actually woken at all. 
Nick's total hours of sleep in the past four days had been about 6. He'd also had very little to eat. 
Natalie wouldn't be surprised if he slept for the next 24 hours. 
Nicky hadn't stirred through any of this. So Tracy offered to stay with them while Natalie went home 
and showered, changed and picked up some fresh clothes and food for Nick.
 
She slept the afternoon away on the visitors couch. She'd been immensely grateful when Tracy had 
offered to stay, allowing her to go home for a while. Tracy left her at about midday and headed over to 
the church, to spend the rest of the day with Vachon. Everyone was exhausted. Physically and 
emotionally.
 
Lacroix entered the hospital in the conventional mortal manner, through the front door, and headed 
toward the elevator. He could sense his son's presence, and followed it to the seventh floor, and straight 
into the room in which he was still sound asleep.
He stood in the doorway observing his grandson as he sat up in bed reading a comic book.
The only illumination was coming from an overhead light directly over the boy's head. Nicholas lay on a 
bed on the far side of the room, facing away from the door. Not many patients were on this floor, so the 
bustle of the hospital was minimal enough to leave the door open.
Nicky glanced up and smiled at the figure in the doorway. 
"Grandfather!"
"I see you are feeling much better than the last time I saw you." Lacroix raised an eyebrow in question.
"Yeah. My leg hurts, but I'll live." Nicky said still smiling. 
Lacroix moved to stand next to the bed. He tilted the boys head to inspect his bruised face. The 
swelling had gone down, and the cut was healing. 
"Show me your leg." he demanded softly. Nicky sighed and pushed down the blanket to reveal his left 
thigh. It was severely bruised, running all the way to the bone. A fraction more force when Gaelan had 
struck him, and it would have been snapped in two.
Lacroix felt the anger anew rise within him. He pushed it aside, there was nothing he could do now to 
change what had happened. Instead he pulled the blanket back up and said.
"I've brought you something to help pass the time. A late Birthday present of sorts." Lacroix placed the 
package he was carrying on to the boy's lap, mindful of his injured leg.
Nicky's eyes lit up and he smiled.
"Thank you." he lifted it a little. "It's heavy." he said as he tried to guess what it was. Then he tore into 
the paper with great gusto.
His mouth hung open when he saw what is was. 
"Oh Wow! This is great! This is...Merci beaucoup, grandpere!" Nicky reached up and pulled Lacroix 
into a hug. Lacroix hesitated at first, but then embraced the child. He felt the boy begin to cry. He held 
him tighter.
"I didn't let him know." Nicky whispered in his ear.
"What didn't you let him know?" he asked softly. He assumed Nicky was talking about Gaelan. His 
assumption was correct.
"How scared I was." Nicky trembled in his arms as the events of the past few days replayed in his mind. 
Lacroix pulled the boy away, just far enough to look into his eyes.
"Good." he said and with pride in his eyes, he kissed his forehead and embraced the boy again. 
After a few moments he wiped the tears from Nicky's face and drew his attention to the book in his lap.
It was the best text Lacroix could find, depicting the Era of Ancient Rome. The book was huge. It was 
four centimetres thick and big enough so Nicky would have to use both arms to carry it. It even 
contained a Latin/English dictionary.
"Why don't we have a look through this." he said pulling the wrapping paper from the bed and tossing it 
in to a corner.
Nicky nodded enthusiastically and moved over on the bed allowing his grandfather to sit next to him. 
Lacroix had to hold the book up, it was to heavy for Nicky, but he turned the pages as Lacroix 
enthralled him with an endless array of tales, making the pictures and facts within take hold and come 
alive.
 
This is how Natalie found the pair, Lacroix, knees drawn up, propping up a huge book, discussing 
Ancient Rome with his grandson in whispered tones, so as not to wake Nick.
"You're looking a lot better tonight." she said to Lacroix as he noticed her enter.
"Indeed." he paused before adding reluctantly."I seem to owe you my.gratitude.in returning me 
safely back to the Raven last night." 
"You're welcome." She said knowing that was as close as Lacroix would ever get to thanking her. 
"It was an experience, I can tell you." she said with a smile as she met his gaze. 
"What happen to you?" Nicky said frowning up at Lacroix's emotionless face. Natalie moved closer to 
the bed.
"Your grandfather helped saved your life last night. He sucked a good dose of the venom from your 
arm." She told Nicky as the boy looked down at the fang marks on his arm. He had wondered what 
they were.
"You bit me!" he exclaimed staring wide-eyed at his grandfather.
"Yes."
Nicky grinned at Lacroix's expression of distaste at the mere thought of the venom, not to mention the 
subsequent events.
He hadn't been told the story of what had happened after he was poisoned yet.
"Tell me what happened." He asked them.
Lacroix shot death from his eyes as Natalie began to fill Nicky in on all the details.
 
"So, you puked your guts out, huh?" Nicky said as seriously as he could muster to his grandfather, who 
had remained outwardly calm, other than to glare at Natalie, throughout the story.
"It was an experience I've not had for a very long time." he replied coolly. 
 
"I'm just glad you didn't chuck in my car." a voice said from across the darkened room. 
Nick rolled off his bed and staggered to his son's, standing across from Natalie. 
"Don't worry my love, I was ready to shove his head out the window if he did." Natalie smiled at Nick, 
caressing his cheek, as he grinned back.
"Thank you my dearest." He said, tenderly capturing her hand in his and kissing it.
"This is insufferable." Lacroix exclaimed as he rose up off the bed. He left the book with Nicky and 
shrugged on his jacket. 
"Goodbye Nicholas, I shall see you tomorrow night." he said to his grandson, and ignoring Nick and 
Natalie altogether, he left the hospital. 
 
"We'll pay for that you know." Natalie said.
"Yes, but it was worth it." Nick answered, coming around the bed to gather Natalie into his arms.
"When can we take him home?" he asked nodding at Nicky.
"First thing tomorrow morning."
"Thank God, I'm about to die from boredom in this place." Nicky said relived.
Nick and Natalie just stared at him, horror struck.
"What?" he frown at their reaction. Then it dawned on him.
"Oh sorry, bad choice of words."
"Come here." Nick drew his son into another bear hug. Nicky had a feeling this was going to happen a 
lot over the next few days. Then Natalie joined them. Then another pair of leather clad arms wrapped 
around them all, and a familiar voice said.
"Ooo, Group hug." 
Nicky looked up. "Vachon!!" 
"In the flesh."
"I thought you were dead!" Nicky gasped.
Nick shot his son a look. God, he hadn't realised! Of course he wouldn't know.
"No, he missed his heart. Nat gave him some blood, and he was back to his usual annoying self in no 
time." he appeased Nicky. Vachon pouted at Nicks playful insult.
"Thanks for fighting for me Vachon. I'm glad your all right." Nicky said to Vachon tearfully.
"Hey, no problem little Nikito" 
More hugs, then pulling away, Vachon said.
"Wait there. I have something for you." Vachon ducked back outside then returned wearing a big smile 
and clutching a black guitar, with a red ribbon tied around the neck. 
"Happy Birthday Nicky. This is from Trace and Me."
"Oh Vachon. This...this is SO COOL!"
 
Nick opened the lift door with his free hand, and carried Nicky into the loft. No evidence could be seen 
of the destruction which had occurred here only a days before.
Natalie followed behind, holding an overnight bag and the guitar Vachon had given Nicky. Nicky 
himself tightly clutched the book Lacroix had given him to his chest.
Nick put him down on his bed, and tucked him in. 
"Sleep" he pushed lightly on their link to help the boy along. He took the book from Nicky's tired arms 
and placed it on his desk. Nicky was out like a light. 
Nick brushed his hand over the sleeping face before turning out the light and closing the door behind 
him.
Natalie was at the kitchen counter, unpacking the assortment of drugs Nicky had been prescribed. 
Painkillers mostly, and a cleansing potion to help rid his blood of any residue poison.
Nick went back into the lift and grabbed the crutches from within. He took them into Nicky's room and 
left them by his bed. 
Nicky was under orders not to walk on his leg for at least a week, so he was issued the underarm 
crutches to get around.
"Did they manage to get all the stuff on the list?" he asked Natalie who had gone over to a closet under 
the stairs and was removing various boxes.
"Yes. You know you're going to spoil him rotten." she accused.
"I know, but just this once I want to spoil him." he half whined, helping her to carry the boxes to the 
coffee table by the couch.
Natalie went back to the closet and returned with a stack of wrapping paper, tape and scissors.
"Here" she said handing Nick the scissors. 
"You bought it, you wrap it!" 
Nick stared at the enormous stack of gifts and made a face at her, then pouted like a little boy, which 
never failed to make her laugh. 
"Ok, ok I'll help!"
Together they sat down and wrapped a small mountain of birthday presents for Nicky, and added them 
to the three which were already wrapped in black and silver paper, on the kitchen table. Having been 
dropped off earlier by a certain dotting Grandfather.
 
"I was so scared, Nat. I've never been so scared in all my life." Nick whispered. He closed his eyes and 
breathed deeply, as the intense emotions of the past few days washed over him once again.
"I was terrified, Nick, not just for Nicky, but for you too. I was so afraid I'd loose you as well, if we 
lost Nicky." Nick wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she took a steadying breath, calming the 
flood of residue fear from the past few days, before going on.
"But Gaelan's dead, Nicky's here, and he's safe. We just have to concentrate on the present. No 'what 
ifs', no guilt tripping, no blame throwing. Deal?" Natalie grabbed hold of Nick's thigh and gave it a 
squeeze.
"I love you, Nat." Nick turned to the wonderful woman beside him and drew her lips to his. They kissed 
for a long moment before gently pulling away, to return to their attentions back to their wrapping 
assignment. 
"Some first Birthday this turned out to be." Nick muttered as he started measuring out the paper. 
"It's one we're certainly never going to forget." 
"This is one week I really wish I could forget, Nat." he said sadly. Natalie, with fingers covered in bits of 
stickytape, stretched up and kissed him again.
"Here.cut." She told him, drawing back and handing him the pairs of scissors. "Or, he'll be awake 
before we've finished."
Smiling fondly, Nick began to enthusiastically help her wrap his son's birthday presents.
 
 
 
 
Finis.