A Touch of Evil
By StormyNite
Second Chance Series #9
CrossOver Story with the X-File
Adult Chapters are Part 2 & 10  Posted to NNAdult and JADFE or by 
request on FKFIC with an age statement.

Written in February 2000
Posted to Mel's Fiction Page & Stormy's Personal Web Page

Time Line:  6 months after previous episode.  Gracie is turning 2 and 
Jonathan is 7 

Part 1


"I don't understand any of this."  Larson stood behind Jerry as he 
rolled the body over.  "Are you sure, Jerry?"  Larson knelt down beside 
the coroner and the body.

"Listen, Sam.  This is not up my alley and it's the third body in 3 
days.  They are all the same.  I already contacted our department.  
They want Dr. Lambert on this case and I agree.  You'd better call your 
captain and get Knight and Vetter over here as well.  This is not the 
usual homicide." Jerry looked relieved when he spoke.  He just wasn't 
any good at the weird stuff.  He watched Larson flip open his cellphone 
and make the call.

-----------------

Reese walked into the squad room after hanging up the phone.  They were 
now officially the "Spook Squad".  He shook his head in disgust as he 
scanned the room and looked for the best detectives he had.  They were 
just walking in the door and hanging up their coats.

"Don't bother hanging them up."  Reese stopped beside them and handed 
the picture over to Nick's outstretched hand.

"What's up, Cap?"  Tracy leaned over Nick's shoulder to get a better 
look.

"These are pictures of two bodies found yesterday morning on the South 
side.  There is another one now and you've been called in."  Both Nick 
and Tracy held the questions in check as they glanced at the captain in 
surprise.

"What's strange about this one, Cap?"  Nick knew from the look in 
Reese's eyes he wasn't pleased with turning them over.  So it had to be 
a weird one.

"You know I don't like my two best detectives being referred to as the 
"Spook Squad" and I'm sure Natalie is not to crazy about being included 
as well.  If you 3 weren't so damn good at figuring out who did it and 
why, you wouldn't be sent all over the city.  I need you both here!"  
He looked frustrated until Nick handed the pictures back to him.

"I'm not sure the victims had a choice as to where they were killed, 
Cap.  We just like to keep an open mind about life and don't 
necessarily restrict our investigation to the normal channels.  If it 
gets killers off the street, then they can call us "Beavis and 
Butthead" for all I care."  Nick smiled and grabbed his coat.  "I 
assume Nat's been called?"

"She's already in route.  Figure out what's going on quickly, you two.  
I need you back here as soon as possible."  Reese filled his cup from 
the water cooler, then regretted how his remark came across.  "Sorry, 
Nick.  I know you're right, but you two seem to put in more hours than 
anyone on the force does...and get the least recognition.  Damn!  Orson 
over at the 16th never even said "Thank you" last time.  I just want 
you to know we need you here just as much as they do."

"Thanks, Captain.  We'll remember that."  Nick and Tracy headed for the 
door.

---------------

Nick and Tracy drove in companionable silence across town and pulled up 
to the scene.  "You check with the reporting officer and I'll see what 
I can find out from Nat.  He stared at her car parked by the coroner's 
wagon.  He slammed the Caddy's door and a wave of nausea swept over him 
followed by extreme sadness.  Nick gripped the door for support.  "What 
is it, Nick?"

Tracy watched her stoic partner stumble and grab the door for support.  
She was around the car in seconds trying to support him.  "What's 
happening?"  Fear crept into her voice as she tried to steady him.

Another wave rushed him and he gasped at the intensity until he dropped 
to one knee.  "Nick!"  Tracy tried to hold him up, but just couldn't 
support his weight.

Nick caught his breath and shut down his mind for a brief moment.  The 
emotion and pain disappeared as quickly as it came once he cut off the 
link.  "It's okay, Trace."  His bright blue eyes met hers.

"I don't think so.  You looked like hell less than 10 seconds ago.  
What was it?"

"Something or should I say someone trying to get my attention."  He 
rose from his knees and brushed the dirt off his pants.  Worried eyes 
met his.  "It got my attention, but it's not going to work."  Nick 
headed for Nat before Tracy could stop him.

"Men!  You are all the same.  Always something cryptic...you never can 
just spit it out."  She cursed angrily under her breath, then headed 
for Sam Larson standing over amongst the crowd.

--------------

Nick squatted down on the ground beside Natalie and waited as she 
continued to check the body.  The link between them had grown stronger 
over the years and there was a peace that was almost palatable between 
them as they knelt beside the body.  Nick felt her confusion, but knew 
better than to ask until she'd finished her work.  Softly an eerie 
voice whispered in his mind.

"The time is now, the place is my choosing."  Nick shook his head and 
listened once more.  He relaxed and pushed into the black void that 
slowly overwhelmed him until he gasped for breath as the cold enveloped 
him like a tomb. Blood swam before his eyes and the vampire responded 
immediately.  The blood beckoned him, making the need to kill 
overpowering.  Nick reached out to touch the blood.  Instant anger 
engulfed him and the vampire surged forward.

"Nick?"  Natalie felt the cold surround them and the anger crushed her 
like she was an insect.  She turned to see the vampire emerge in full 
force from her husband.  "Fight it, Nick!"  She touched his arm and the 
connection between them flared to life like a bright flame.

He could hear her voice, but the need to kill was growing even now.  
The part of him that was vampire rushed toward it while the man fought 
to gain control.  She touched him and it all became clear once more.  
Warmth spread through him like molten lava running downhill and he 
reached out to her.  Once more together they pushed the evil aside and 
the man gained control.  

"Nat?"  He whispered between breaths.

"What was that, Nick?"  She scanned the crowd to see if anyone had 
noticed Nick's loss of control.  Everyone appeared to be going about 
business as usual.  She turned her attention back to her husband.  
"What was that I felt?  It was so..." She searched for the right words, 
but found her vocabulary lacking.

"Evil...pure evil."  Nick stood and brought her with him.  He wrapped 
her in his arms without hesitation and kissed the top of her head.  "I 
don't understand any of this, but I know what I felt."  Worried blue 
eyes stared into his wife's.  

"Something is about to happen," he stared at the body on the ground 
before them,  "...and this is just the beginning."  He pulled her tight 
into his embrace in an effort to keep the warmth between them just a 
little longer.

"Look for sulfur in the body or around it.  Take samples of the soil.  
I need to know if he was killed here or elsewhere...and the sooner we 
know, the better chance we have."  His worried eyes met hers, then he 
smiled.  "Thanks for reminding me of what we have."  He raised her hand 
to his lips and kissed the top of it.  "I love you."  He smiled then 
walked over to find Tracy.

------------
Little Mary's Preschool

Lisa pulled Ellen over to her side.  "Did you see what Gracie did?"  
She asked cautiously.  Ellen turned and waved at Gracie before she 
spoke.  "I thought it was an accident last week and I wanted another 
opinion."  She turned curious eyes on Lisa.  "It's as if she reads your 
mind and knows what you're thinking.  She got up and went to the 
lunchroom to get me paper towels last week...not once...but twice.   
Little Andrew spit up all over himself again and I was out of baby 
wipes.  I just thought to myself...paper towels would have been nice.  
Gracie jumped up, ran to the kitchen and brought them back.  Now I know 
she's almost two, but some of the things she's done a 10-year old 
couldn't do.

Lisa smiled broadly and went over to pick up Gracie off the floor.  
Gracie giggled and hugged her as they returned to Ellen's side.  "Let's 
test her."  Both women nodded and Gracie bobbed her head right along 
with them.  Ellen tried to think of something unusual.  "Okay, I've got 
it."  She closed her eyes and concentrated.

Gracie stared at Ellen with questioning eyes.  She immediately looked 
at the clock and pointed with her tiny fingers.  "Jo..na..san...4."  
She pointed at the clock as she spoke brokenly.  She wiggled in Ellen's 
embrace until she put her down.  She ran to the toy box and tossed toys 
aside until she found the toy clock.  She hurried back with the clock 
in her hand, then turned the hands until they read 4 p.m.  She smiled 
and handed it to Ellen. "Jo..na..san...here 4."  She said again.

"What where you thinking, Ellen?"  Lisa asked excitedly.

"I asked her what time Jonathan would be here after school."  She 
stared at Lisa in disbelief.  "She read my mind...not only that...she's 
answering it in sentences.   This is unbelievable."

 Lisa squatted down on the floor in front of the small child. "Can you 
read my mind now, Gracie?"  

"Cookies...I like cookies."  Gracie grabbed her hand and pulled her 
toward the kitchen at the back of the facility.  

"You take her to get some cookies and I'll speak with Ms. Henshaw.  We 
should have her tested."  Ellen headed for the owner's office and shut 
the door behind her.

---------------------
Several hours later:

"Fox, how are you?  It's Clarissa."  Clarissa Henshaw chirped over the 
phone lines.

"Clarissa, it had been a long time, but I'm doing well.  How are you 
and that new daycare facility doing?  The last I heard you were taking 
all the money you inherited and getting back to what mattered most."  
Fox Mulder smiled as he remembered Clarissa's statement about molding 
children before they go to school.

"It's doing wonderfully well, Fox.  As a matter of fact I have a couple 
of students that I felt might be more in your line of expertise."  She 
waited for her words to sink in before she continued.

"My line, Clarissa?  Are we talking about some kids who have some 
unusual talents that you can't explain?"  He chuckled.  "As I recall, 
you told me all children had untapped talent and you didn't believe in 
anything supernatural, psychic or I think the word you used was 'mumbo-
jumbo'."

"Now, Fox, don't throw my own words back at me.  It's just that I have 
a couple of children here at the school that are way beyond their age 
level and they have certain abilities I've never seen before and you 
may have.  I heard you and Larry talking about it one evening.  I need 
an outside opinion and I can't go to Larry or our secret service with 
it.  I don't want them locking these kids up for science experiments.  
If I ask Larry for an opinion he has to report it to his superiors.  
It's the law up here.  If I ask you to look at them and give me your 
opinion, then it's between two friends.  Can you come up?"  She asked 
hopefully as she stared through the window watching Gracie building a 3 
dimensional castle with her brother as they waited for their ride. 

All the children gravitated to the Knight children.  Jonathan had a 
calming affect on everyone.  Many of the parents had already commented 
on how much better their kids seemed to be when they picked them up 
after work.  She'd avoided telling them the real reason behind the 
change.  It was a blond haired 7 year-old boy that made everyone around 
him feel at peace with themselves.  Even she was not immune.  She'd 
written it off as a fluke until Dr. Lambert had started bringing Gracie 
to preschool.  The children were different than the others and it was 
becoming more obvious day by day just how much different they were.  
She needed an outside opinion before she talked with her husband.  
Larry Henshaw was her husband of 12 years, but he was also the head of 
research at CSIS, the Canadian Secret Investigation Service.

"I'll be on the next plane, Clarissa.  I'll even try and get my partner 
to come along.  She's a doctor and a true non-believer.  If anyone can 
prove these kids are normal...she can."  Mulder hung up the phone just 
as his partner breezed in the door.

"Did I hear my name being mentioned?"  Scully raised a questioning eye.

"How's your days off schedule look, Scully?"  Mulder smiled that little 
boy smile she knew meant trouble.

"My days off are just that, Mulder...days off!"  She sat down on the 
edge of the desk and crossed her arms.  "What's up that you don't want 
the powers that be knowing about?"

"How about a little trip to sunny Canada?  You know we could go up and 
find a good-looking Mountie for you to make a pass at.  I could take my 
camera and prove to everyone here that you do have a social life."  He 
smiled evilly.

"As if you do?"  She smacked him in the shoulder.  "I don't need 
pictures to prove anything."

"Okay...no cameras but just your lovely company and that analytical 
mind of yours."  He walked over to the file and rummaged through it for 
a minute until he found what he was looking for.  He quickly scanned 
the file, then handed it to her.

Scully briefly scanned the file filled with numerous reports of people 
with so-called psychic abilities.  The part of the file that was 
unusual was the location.  Each of the cases in the file was Canadian 
and documented by the CSIS Research Anomaly Department.  Apparently 
each of the cases had been subjected to rigorous testing and quarantine 
for years in order to debunk their claims.  In each case CSIS denied 
anything unusual about the people involved with the exception of high 
level intelligence. 

"I don't get it, Mulder.  You want to go to Canada to talk to psychics 
and prove they are fake."  She tossed the folder on the desk with a 
look of skepticism.  "If you want to debunk psychics, we can do that 
here in DC without ever leaving home.  I'm not saying there are no such 
things as psychics, but the majority of those people out there are scam 
artists or members of cults trying to bilk the public.  What's so 
unusual about this case?"

"I don't know, Scully.  All I know is Clarissa Henshaw is the biggest 
disbeliever in psychic phenomena there is.  If she turns these kids 
over to the government, they won't see the light of day until they are 
30.  If they are real, maybe we can get an insight on what makes them 
different.  Maybe we can keep the government from destroying their 
lives.  Isn't that worth a few days off?"  He looked at his partner 
skeptically waiting for that maternal instinct to kick in.

"What do the parents think?"

"I haven't a clue, Scully.  I guess we'll find out once we get there, 
but if both kids have hidden talents, I'm willing to bet money the 
parents do too."  He handed her the black overcoat she'd dumped on the 
chair when she came in.  

"Think Mounties, fun, good food, and wonderful company."  He smiled 
broadly.  She snatched the coat from his hands.

"All I can say, Mulder, is that you better find me a really good 
looking Mountie with blond hair and a perfect body or I'm never 
vacationing with you again."



Part 2  ADULT  m/f  Lacroix/Teressa



Teressa sat quietly by the fire staring at the picture in her hands.  
Reverently, she brushed the photo with her fingertips and the sadness 
she'd begun to feel so often returned.  It seemed like a constant 
companion now as she leaned her head back on the couch and relived the 
emotion and passion once more.  Being a vampire had its distinct 
advantages.  A perfect memory was one of them.  She reached into the 
emotion and once more her body craved a union with Nick's.  She shook 
her head in anger and laid the picture face down on the couch beside 
her, then headed for the refrigerator and some nourishment.  

She pulled the bottle from the fridge and downed it in three swallows.  
It wasn't lady-like nor gentile, but it made her feel better.  She gave 
into the anger and pushed into the link she so desperately wanted to 
connect.  

"It would appear drinking from the bottle does not lessen the anger 
anymore than using a glass."  LaCroix smooth velvet voice floated 
across the room as he now stood by the fireplace watching her closely.  
He leaned over and picked up the picture turned face down on the couch.  
His son's smiling face nestled between his children and the Good Doctor 
stared back at him.  He'd seen the photo a thousand times in the last 6 
months.  Teressa used it to remind him of what they'd lost.   She 
tossed the bottle at him, letting the glass shatter into tiny pieces 
after smashing into the hearth.

"It would appear I haven't changed my mind about your company either."  
She appeared before him without a breeze.  Anger blazed brightly in her 
brown eyes dusted now with gold.  She snatched the photo from his 
grasp.  He smirked at her temper and pushed into the feeling.

"This is your fault!"  She growled.  "I've lost my family because of 
you!"  She glared into his eyes boldly as they remained ice blue and 
unmoved.

"You lost your family because you gave into the greed within you...I 
simply showed you the way."  She raised a hand to strike him and he 
halted it in mid-air.  "Temper tantrums are unacceptable with our kind.  
You must learn that."  He snapped her wrist and forced her to her knees 
in pain.  Tears flooded her face and he released her wrist immediately 
and turned his back on her as she began to sob.

She cradled her wrist in her lap as it began to heal.  "I only wanted 
to feel what it was between them...to know what it was like...to learn 
how to make you love me."  She whispered in agony.

LaCroix turned and knelt before her filled with his own anger for not 
foreseeing Nicholas' reaction.  "What you wanted was Nicholas at your 
side and in your bed as well as myself.  You wanted the passion within 
him to belong to you just as I do.  It's what makes him so unique.  The 
evil within you was stronger than the woman. You gave into it and paid 
the price!  Don't blame me...I only showed you the way.  The final 
decision was yours."  He stood gracefully and returned to the fireplace 
putting that famous stoic facade back into place.  He took two deep 
breaths as he had so many times in the past 6 months.  Teressa affected 
him like no other being had aside from Nicholas.

"You bastard!"  She rose gracefully and gained control before she 
continued.  "It was you who let me think it was possible for us to be 
as you and Janette had been with him.  It was you who teased me with 
the power of the vampire and let me believe that it was invincible.  
Only it's not!  You taunted me into something I wasn't ready for, 
something that could never be as I imagined because you wanted Nick by 
your side...not me.  You were willing to let me bed him if it would 
bring him back to your side."  Anger radiated through her body and she 
began to shake.  "I loved you, Lucien...or at least I thought I did and 
you used me.  You made me into a pawn just like everyone else so you 
could get Nick back.  Well it will never happen now.  All I wanted was 
to have a family...a child of my own."  She hesitated, then raised an 
eyebrow mimicking him.  "Maybe I still will."  She turned for the door.  

In an instant, he slammed her hard against the wall forcing her hands 
over her head and capturing them in one hand.  Pressing his hard body 
into hers with his lips only a fraction of inch from hers, he hissed in 
anger.  "I was willing to share your blood with my son, but never your 
body.  You are mine, Teressa!"  He growled, then ground his lips into 
hers meaning to punish her for her insinuations.  He ripped her lip 
until she bled freely as he ground his stiff manhood into her groin.  
"There will be no children as I will not share you with my son to 
create them."  He tore her blouse free exposing her lace bra to his 
hungry eyes.  Blood from her lip dripped slowly down her chin and 
trailed enticingly lower to her breast.  His eyes flared golden as he 
dipped his head and lapped the precious fluid.  He savored the tastes 
and let her anger and passion wash over him.  She moaned in 
appreciation as he swirled the hard nubs in his mouth.  Her ability to 
enrage him and push him over the edge both intrigued and frightened 
him.  Who was the pawn in this battle of wills?

He released her arms and gave into the feel of her near naked body 
against his.  His lips found hers again in an angry passion.  Letting 
his tongue claim the inside of her mouth, he savored every inch, every 
touch, and every sensation she evoked from him.  With her hands free, 
she tore open his shirt and let her hands caress each hard plane of his 
chest following their own path to his back.  Anger turned to lust and 
she found herself lying flat on the couch without her slacks.  The red 
feral eyes of the vampire greeted her and she responded with a quick 
rush of her own juices in preparation for him.  He smelled it 
immediately and tore her panties free in one quick movement.

"Which do you want more, Young One?"  He plunged two fingers inside her 
wet core and moved them slowly until she gasped in need.  His head 
suckled her breast and sliced the delicate tissue with his fangs until 
she bled freely once more.  Slowly his licked the delicious fluid as 
his fingers drove her mad with frustration and need.  He plunged deeper 
inside her until she bucked against his hand and head.

"Please, Lucien."  She begged as he continued to drive her over the 
edge with need, but denying her what they both craved.  He would have 
her beg him and swear repentance before he gave into the need within 
himself.

"Please what, Young One?  Tell me what you crave.  Tell me what you 
need."  His head dipped lower and teased the curls on her mound as his 
finger twisted, turned, plunged to his own abandon until she growled 
with impatience.  Her juices flowed freely onto his fingers and he 
replaced them with his mouth.  Lapping slowly at first to savor the 
passion and lust in the blood flowing freely from her body, he began to 
drive her over the edge.  Alternating his tongue and a sucking motion 
he suckled her clit into a throbbing nub as she screamed his name and 
bucked wildly underneath him.

"Lucien,"  she panted.  "Please...take me...come to me.  I need 
you...all of you."  She half sat on the couch and forced his head 
harder against her wet core as she gave into the sensations flooding 
her body.  No matter how she denied it, how angry she became her body 
and heart belonged to him.

Quickly, he pushed her down on the couch and disrobed before her.  
Blood red eyes greeted his as her arms reached out to him.  In one 
swift movement, he impaled her.  Not giving her time to adjust, he 
pulled back and rammed harder into her.  Each stroke was harder and 
deeper than the one before.  If she had been mortal, irrefutable damage 
would have occurred.  She gave into the feel of him and the need 
coursing through her veins.  Instinct told her he was holding out to 
make her give into her own release.  Not this time...She sliced her 
neck over the pulsing vein that beckoned him and she met him stroke for 
stroke.  "Come with me, Lucien!"  She gasped finally unable to control 
her body's response to his.

Her blood flooded the room and played havoc with his senses.  He 
pummeled her body, letting the sweet friction between them create such 
pleasure, he'd forgotten to breathe.  Her blood called to him like no 
other.  She screamed his name as she began to contract around his hard 
shaft and he fought it no more.  He sank his fangs deep within her neck 
and drank deeply.  Every thought, each touch caressed him as he 
exploded inside her.  Such intense pleasure flooded his body, he broke 
free growling her name in release.  Bloodsweat coated her body and he 
gave into the animal within him.  Without hesitation, he sank his fangs 
deep within her neck once more and drank the nectar she offered.  Need 
flooded his senses beyond rational thought and she planted her fangs 
hard into his shoulder and completed the circle.  He gave into the 
sweet pull from her body and let her drink of his essence as he 
devoured hers.  They were once more complete and satiated.  Memories 
and sadness filtered across the connection and he wasn't sure whose 
they were, as they melded into one for a short period of time.  Never 
in his lifetime had he felt so in tune with another being.  When she 
released his shoulder, he peered into tear-laden, brown eyes filled 
with such sadness; he gasped at the intensity.

Grasping her head between his hands, he searched his memory and the 
connection between them and knew the cause.  "It can never be, my 
love," he said tenderly.  "Children are a gift from God and we are 
children of the darkness.  It's not goodness and light that gives us 
power, but the evil and greed of the vampire that makes us what we are.  
We cannot change that.  We are what we are and pay the price for it."  
He watched the tears slide silently down her face and it tore into his 
cold heart.  Maybe he wasn't dead after all.

"No, Lucien,"  she whispered.  "I will not give up hope.  Love is 
stronger than the vampire.  Nick and Tasha are proof.  We don't have to 
give into the evil within us.  We can..."  He silenced her with his 
fingers, then rose from the couch and put on his clothes in silence.  
"Lucien, we ..."

"I am 2000 years old!" His angry eyes met hers.  "I have seen too much 
and done more things than your young mind can ever comprehend.  There 
will be no forgiveness for me..."  He jerked her to her feet before 
him, then ground his lips into hers once more.  "...and you belong to 
me for better or worse.  I will not share you for the sake of a 
child..."  He hissed against her lips, then disappeared before she 
could respond.




Part 3




Mulder pulled up to St. Mary's Preschool and turned off the engine.  It 
had been less than 24 hours since his conversation with Clarissa.  
"Thanks for coming along, Scully. I really appreciate it."  He turned 
to face his partner with genuine sincerity in his eyes.

"You want to fill me in on why I'm really along for this ride, Mulder.  
Kids with unusual talents are usually not in your line, so you must owe 
Clarissa."  She waited patiently with a big question in her eyes.  Her 
red hair fell into her eyes as she turned to meet his gaze and force 
the real truth from him.  He reached to push the wayward hair from her 
face without thinking.

"That's why I brought you along."  He smiled sheepishly.  "You question 
everything, but you still have an open mind with the unexplainable.  
You know me too well."  He pulled a file from his briefcase in the back 
and handed it to her.  

It was filled with newspaper clippings about 5 bizarre murders in and 
around Toronto.  She dug further into the file to find hit and miss 
clippings about deaths involving the loss of blood through wounds in 
the neck.  They dated back over 20 years.  "There's something strange 
going on up here, Scully, and it's been going on for a long time.  I'll 
admit the kids and Clarissa are an excuse to get up here, but my 
curiosity is peeked.  I want to nose around and find out just exactly 
what is going on.  There have been similar incidents in San Francisco, 
LA, New York and New Orleans.  I know cults are growing in the big 
cities, but the death toll seems to be increasing."  He tapped the 
file.  "The latest murders are the most violent and there have been 
traces of sulfur at each one of the scenes.  I pulled up the 
preliminary autopsy reports.  Not only were the bodies drained of 
blood, but it appeared each one of them had been subjected to high 
levels of electricity causing their blood to burn the inside of the 
veins before they were drained."

Scully flipped through the copy of the first coroner's report and 
proceeded to the next.  "Apparently, they have called in a special 
coroner and police unit to investigate.  This coroner, Natalie Lambert, 
caught the sulfur and the arterial damage where the others hadn't.  
I'll want to talk with her."  Scully smiled with the knowledge there 
was another woman in a man's job doing it better than her male 
counterparts.

"What's that smile for?"

"Oh, nothing.  I was just thinking it would nice to talk with another 
woman pathologist who looks at the bizarre and doesn't shy away from 
it."  She closed the file and stuck it back into Fox's briefcase.  
"Well, lets go chat with the kiddies and then get on with the real 
reason why we are here.   And by the way, I haven't forgotten your 
promise of a good-looking Mountie for my entertainment.  I'm holding 
you to that one, so you'd better start looking."  She opened the door 
and stepped out.

-------------

Scully listened to Clarissa's explanation of what she and her staff had 
encountered with the Knight children.  She watched Gracie from the 
clear glass window interacting with the children around her.  She was a 
beautiful child filled with a zest for life and an aura of self-
confidence fitting that of a 10-year old.  The other children 
gravitated to her like a magnet and she seemed very much at ease with 
all age groups.  Of course, most of the students were between 2 and 5, 
as regular school had not released yet.  Mulder sat listening to 
Clarissa and making notes.  A great sadness washed over Scully as she 
watched the children at play.  She had missed so much by choosing a 
career over a family.  She wondered just what the parents did, that 
ended Gracie in preschool at such an early age.  

"Just what do Gracie's parents do for a living?"  Scully asked softly 
from the window as she continued to stare at the children through the 
glass.

"Oh, they are both lovely people. I don't think the children need to be 
here, but like so many other working parents, they want their children 
to learn how to interact with other children prior to attending regular 
school.  Her mother is a ME for the city of Toronto and works night 
shift.  Nick, her father, works nights for Metro Homicide.  He is quite 
handsome, but has some mysterious allergy to sunlight and only works 
nights.  That's how they met.  She was the night coroner.  They've been 
married for over 8 years I believe.  Gracie looks a lot like her mother 
and Jonathan is the spitting image of his father.  They are beautiful 
children and I just think if CSIS had any idea that she could read 
minds, their parents would never see her again.  They are pretty 
stringent up here with gifted children.  I just want your opinion and 
maybe we can get them some guidance or at least let Nick and Natalie 
know, so they can protect them."  Clarissa walked to the window and 
watched the children.

"Go and speak with her, Agent Scully.  Jonathan won't be here for 
another hour.  We only get them 2 days a week.  Jonathan comes after 
school just for Gracie.  He watches out for her, more so than any older 
brother I've seen.  He's 7 and very bright according to his records, 
but he has the unique ability to take your stress away with his touch.  
It's not just me either.  You'll just have to wait and see.  I do 
suggest you take off your suit-jacket before going out there.  Most of 
the children don't respond well to people in suits.  They become leery 
and standoffish."  She smiled and Dana could see why Mulder liked 
Clarissa so well.  She was the genuine article...no pretense...no 
illusive behavior.  She really had the children's' best interest in 
mind.   Scully removed her suit jacket and walked into the room.

She knelt down on the floor beside Gracie who sat busily playing with 
the hands of the clock.  She continually placed them to 4 o'clock, then 
glanced at the clock on the wall.  The lego building behind her was 
quite intricate and bespoke the talents of a child much older than the 
2 years sitting before her.  

"Hi, Gracie!"  Scully said as she sat down on the floor cross-legged 
and picked up the second clock on the floor beside the small child.  "I 
see you are playing with the clock.  Can I play too?  My name's Dana, 
and your teacher Ms. Henshaw says you are the best student in her class 
for reading time.  Can you show me?"

Gracie stared at the pretty woman with the red hair and saw no evil 
within her.  She picked up the clock and crawled onto Dana's lap.  "Me 
tell time good, Ms. He..sha...say."

Scully was startled at her ability to speak in sentences.  She was very 
well advanced for her age, but she still showed no signs of psychic 
abilities.  Immediately Gracie turned the clock hands to 4 o'clock.  
Jo..na..san...come at 4 to play with me and go home.  She turned the 
hands back to the current time and smiled sadly.  I miss Jo..na..san 
until he gets here."  Gracie turned and looked into the blue eyes of 
the pretty woman who held her and reached out to touch her mind.  She 
knew she shouldn't, but curiosity got the better of her.  She patted 
Scully's face and smiled.  "You have babies and job like Mommy.  Not 
too late."

Scully started at the statement.  How could she know that?  Her 
thoughts had drifted to what she was missing once more as Gracie 
crawled on her lap.  She stared at the child and decided to try 
something else.  "No understand."  Gracie said as she stared into 
Dana's bright blue eyes.  She then jumped off her lap and ran to the 
toy box.  She rustled around in it for a few moments and came back with 
a book.  She flipped open to a page of a fox running in the grass.  "No 
mo..der on fox.  What is mo..der?"  She asked with gigantic big blue 
eyes filled with expectation of something new.

Dana caught her breath.  The child WAS reading her mind.  She pulled 
the small inquisitive bundle onto her lap with the book.  "Not that 
kind of fox, Gracie."  She pointed to Mulder standing in the office 
doorway with Ms. Henshaw.  "That is my friend and his name is Fox 
Mulder.  I was thinking he would enjoy talking with you.  Would like to 
go meet him?"  She asked hopefully not wanting to push the child.  She 
nodded agreement.  

They walked slowly over to Mulder and Clarissa.  Clarissa smiled, 
leaned down and picked up Gracie when she outstretched her arms.  
Gracie kissed her cheek and hugged her.  "No worry, Ms.  He..sha.  I no 
go anywhere.  Jo..na..san no go either."  Gracie wiggled and faced 
Mulder, then smiled.  "You like Aunt Tracy."  She smiled and reached 
for him.  Taken by her outward friendliness and charm, Mulder accepted 
and pulled her into his arms.  She felt so fragile, but the wit and 
intelligence behind her blue eyes spoke of hidden talents.

"How am I like your Aunt Tracy?"

"You work with Dana.  Tracy work with my Dad."  She raised a 
questioning eye as if he should have already known that.

Shocked a two-year old could fathom that he and Scully were partners 
like her father and his partner.  "And I take it you like your Aunt 
Tracy?"

"I love Tracy, Dan...el., Va...shon and Al...ma."  She smiled brightly.  
"They take care of me with my Mom and Dad!"  She pointed to herself 
with little fingers.  Mulder laughed and stared at Scully briefly.

"Dana pretty hair...you tell her.  Daddy tell Mommy pretty hair."  She 
pointed to Scully as she spoke.  Mulder looked at her strangely and 
blushed.  Gracie giggled.  "You look good red."  She wiggled and waited 
for her feet to hit the floor before she took off to play with the 
other children.

"You want to explain that one?"  Scully looked at her blushing partner.

"Ah..well...I just thought how great your hair looked in the sunlight.  
I mean the thought just popped in my mind as I watched the sunlight hit 
your hair."  He smiled sheepishly, then beamed in delight.  "That means 
she actually read my mind.  She talks like a normal 2 year old, but 
she's more advanced than that."  Mulder turned to stare at Clarissa.  
"What kind of information do you have on the parents?  I mean like 
profiles, backgrounds, etc.?"

"I can show you what we have on the computer, but I'm sure Natalie or 
Nick will pick up the kids after Jonathan gets here."  She walked over 
to the computer and punched up a special screen.  Mulder sat down 
behind the computer with Scully reading over his shoulder.

Several hours later:

Jonathan sat doing his homework as Gracie finished building another 
lego marvel at his feet with the help of one of her friends.  Scully 
watched them closely as Mulder finished downloading the last of the 
information to disk for them to read later.  He'd accessed both the 
CSIS files as well as the city files on both parents.  A squabble broke 
out behind Jonathan over some toys. He simply closed his book and 
walked over to intervene.  The teachers let him, knowing full well, he 
was much better at calming the kids this late in the day than they 
were.  Moments later everyone was quiet and getting along.  Jonathan 
returned to his homework.  The sun slipped over the horizon and Alma 
showed up at the front door. Jonathan felt her immediately.  His senses 
were becoming more acute everyday.  Sometimes it frightened him, other 
times it thrilled him more than he could express.  He would talk with 
his Dad and go over the sensations and feelings and all would be well 
again.  Jonathan walked to the locked door and opened it for Alma.

"Hi, kiddo!"  Alma smiled brightly and knelt down on the floor in front 
of him.  "Everything cool?"  She asked as she opened her arms for a 
hug.  Jonathan gave her a quick hug as he was getting too old for the 
little kid stuff, but knew Alma wouldn't have it any other way.  
"Where's the munchkin?"  Alma searched the room for Gracie.

"Over building another castle. She won't rest until she has one that 
looks like Dad's in France.  She's firmly convinced we're going this 
summer.  Where's Dad?"

"Got called out on another case just as he was leaving.  He called and 
asked if I could run by and pick you guys up.  Do you mind?"  Alma 
looked a bit hurt, as she'd grown so attached to the kids in the past 
several years.  She watched Jonathan and listened carefully to see if 
he was upset and found him trying to listen to her.  She smiled.  
"Learning a new skill are we or just perfecting a budding one?"

"I just was hoping Dad would make it tonight.  I really wanted to talk 
with him about it.  You know...guy stuff."  Jonathan puffed out his 
chest, but couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice.

"Your Dad just asked me to pick you guys up.  That was all.  He said to 
tell you he'd be by to tuck you both in after he got the preliminaries 
taken care of.  You know your Dad would never short you guys on time 
for anything, but something weird is going on.  You sense it too, don't 
you, Jonathan?"  Alma touched his arm, hoping she was wrong.

Jonathan laid his hand on her forearm and let the peace within him 
console her troubled spirit.  Finally, he took a deep breath, then 
exhaled.  When he opened his eyes they were bright blue dancing with a 
life of their own.  "I feel energy...lots of energy pulling at me...at 
you...but most of all my Dad."  Worried eyes met hers, then he 
whispered.  "I think it wants my Dad."  His frightened voice made her 
pull him into her arms.

"We won't let anything happen to your Dad, Jonathan.  I promise!"

Gracie squealed when she finally noticed Alma.  She ran straight toward 
her.  In less that 5 seconds, Alma had her scooped into her arms and 
twirling in the air.  Clarissa stepped out of the door followed by 
Mulder and Scully.

"Alma...How are you?  I haven't seen you in awhile."  Clarissa stated 
calmly, but seemed disappointed.

"I'm well, Ms. Henshaw.  Nick was called at the last minute and asked 
me to pick up the kids.  I was going through kid withdrawal anyway 
since I hadn't seen them in a couple of weeks."  She smiled and tickled 
Gracie.  Jonathan stood quietly by her side, eyeing Mulder and Scully.  
He seemed fascinated with Scully's red hair and watched her intently.  
Mulder noticed it immediately and smiled.  Scully had no idea how 
attractive she was or how many men adored red hair and a feisty spirit.  
Apparently Jonathan was advanced for his age as well.

Mulder stepped forward and put out his hand.  "I'm Agent Fox Mulder and 
this is Agent Scully from the FBI.  We were in hopes we'd get a chance 
to talk with Detective Knight or Dr. Lambert this evening.  Any chance 
of that happening?"  He turned charming hazel eyes on the attractive 
woman and felt instantly attracted to her.  Her porcelain skin and 
magnetic eyes drew him in until Jonathan jerked her arm hard and the 
attraction diminished.  

"You must be Jonathan."  Mulder offered his hand to the young man 
standing before him.  Jonathan accepted it and nodded yes.  Warmth and 
a sense of calm spread from his fingertips over his entire body ending 
with an incredible sense of peace.  It was utterly relaxing to the 
point he had to shake his head to clear the fuzzy warm feeling and 
think clearly.  Mulder turned questioning eyes to Scully

"This is my partner, Dana Scully."  He turned to Scully with a need in 
his eyes.  "Shake hands with our young Mr. Knight, Scully."

Scully stared at Mulder for a moment, then knelt down and clasped 
Jonathan's hand in hers.  She felt it immediately as he stared into her 
bright blue eyes and touched the red hair without thinking.  At first 
it was warm, then it became something much more dramatic.  She pulled 
away slightly, then felt foolish.  Jonathan touched her cheek and all 
the questions and stress of her life seemed to fade away.  She smiled 
automatically and Jonathan returned it.  "I think I should probably say 
thank you, Jonathan."  She grasped his small hand in hers once more.

Jonathan simply smiled and stepped back by Alma once more.  He could 
feel no evil within the pretty lady only sadness, but they were 
strangers and Dad had warned them both against using their powers with 
strangers.

Alma immediately became leery and grasped Jonathan's hand in hers.  
"You'll have to overlook him, Agent Scully.  Jonathan's mother has 
auburn hair and he is fascinated with all women with red hair."  She 
stepped back with the children in tow.  "As far as talking with Nick or 
Nat, you'll have to check with the precinct.  They are both on a murder 
case, but I'll tell them you want to speak with them.  We really have 
to run for now.  I have to be at work soon and the kids are expected 
elsewhere."  Alma's evasive answer implied more than was stated and 
both Scully and Mulder caught it. 

"Nice to see you again, Ms. Henshaw."  Alma stated softly while her 
eyes accused her of deception.  The three of them stepped out the door 
and disappeared before anyone could follow.

---------------
 
Mulder was all smiles as he flipped on the laptop in the car and 
brought up the data on screen.  Scully watched in fascination and 
disbelief.  "Mulder!  What is so important?"

Mulder simply smiled bigger.  He turned the screen around with 
Natalie's picture on screen.  "You didn't get to read all the data on 
the parents.  Take a look at the name."  He tapped the screen under 
Natalie's picture.  "We have our in to the murders."

Scully recognized the name immediately.  "She's the lady coroner on the 
special investigation team."

"Better yet!"  Mulder hit the advance key and brought up Nick's 
picture.  "He's the cop in charge of the investigations.  Those gifted 
kids' parents are the special investigative unit in charge of all the 
weird and strange phenomena going on up here.  Now why do you think 
that is?"  Mulder raised a questioning eye at his partner.

"Don't even go there, Mulder.  It could all be..."

"Circumstantial?"  Mulder laughed.  "Do you believe in the tooth fairy, 
too, Scully?"  He turned over the motor of the engine.  "Let's go to a 
murder scene."


Part 4




Natalie knelt on the ground by the body.  Carefully, she lifted the 
hand off the chest and checked the fingernails.  Blood was matted 
underneath the nails where the victim had clawed the message into his 
own chest.  The words "light cannot defeat the darkness" were cut deep 
into the chest cavity.  This time she could smell the sulfur residue 
and feel the cold.  She stood quickly and surveyed the area in the 
slowly diminished light of sunset.  Only the police barricade and the 
handful of onlookers stood behind the yellow line.  The cold became 
more distinct around her until she could see her breath in the failing 
sunlight.  A breeze stirred and she felt instantly angry.  A wave of 
energy passed over her and she could feel the evil within it.  A low 
voice whispered in her ear.  "He will be mine forever."  

She turned to locate the voice only to find herself alone with the 
silent body at her feet.  The anger washed over her once more and the 
blooming beast within her flared brightly as she felt the instant need 
to feed on the blood before her.  Before she realized what she was 
doing, her hand reached for the blood on the victim's chest.  In horror 
she watched her own hand dip into the blood and start to bring it to 
her lips.

Strong arms lifted her to her feet.  "Fight it, Natalie.  It is not 
you."  Nick's voice whispered in her ear.  Warmth replaced the cold 
around her and she pushed into it.  She turned frightened eyes to her 
husband.  "What is happening, Nick?"

Nick pulled her into his arms and surveyed the area once more.  He'd 
felt him, the moment he'd made contact with Natalie.  He needed answers 
and there was only one place to get them.  "I don't know, Nat, but I'm 
going to find out."  He kissed the top of her head and let her feel the 
warmth between them.  She'd done it for him and now it was his turn.

"What is that smell?"  Tracy turned up her nose as she approached Nick 
and Nat standing in each other's arms by the body.  They broke up when 
she reached their side.

"I don't remember smelling this at the last one."

"It's a calling card and now he's leaving messages."  Nick stared at 
the message on the victim's chest.  "He wants me to know he has the 
power."

"What are you saying, Nick?"  Natalie stared at her husband.  "Are you 
saying whoever is doing this is..."

"Sending me a message.  He's killing people to send me a message."  
Nick said sadly.  "I've got to get some answers before this gets worse.  
You have to promise me you won't be alone around any of these bodies, 
Nat."  His worried eyes met hers.

"Nick, I don't understand."

"Just do it for me, Nat.  I don't think he'll bother you in a crowd."  
He headed for the car and some answers.

-----------------------   

Confused, Tracy stood by Natalie as Alma appeared behind them.  Natalie 
sensed her immediately and turned.  "What is it, Alma?"  Nat hurried to 
her side, trying not to draw attention to the pale woman without a 
badge who stood behind the police barricade.  "Are the kids okay?"  
Worry laced her voice.

"They're fine, Nat, but I thought you should know.  Two FBI agents are 
looking for you and Nick.  I think it has to do with the kids.  I just 
thought you should know."  Alma started to fade back into the woods 
behind her.  "The kids are at home with Dianne, but something is going 
on.  I can feel it and so can Jonathan.  Get the kids out of here as 
soon as possible.  You and Nick too!"

"Thanks, Alma."  Nat whispered as the vampiress faded away into the 
background, as if she'd never been there.

----------------------

From across the barricade line, Scully and Mulder stared at the woman 
they'd met earlier.  She would have been unnoticeable to the average 
person at the scene, but just as all police are taught to keep a scene 
from being contaminated by sightseers, Scully and Mulder checked the 
murder scene for unwanted personnel.  They noticed her talking with a 
petite auburn haired woman standing near the body.  They watched her 
disappear before them into the background and both responded at the 
same time.  "Did you see that?"

"She disappeared, Mulder.  I mean that's not possible."  Scully shook 
her head to clear her vision as the short-haired blond carrying a badge 
walked over to the auburn haired woman standing by the woods.

"Do you smell it, Scully?"  Mulder sniffed the air.

"I smell it, Mulder."  She said angrily and turned to head for the car.

"Where are you going, Scully?"

"The morgue where I can get some answers...a lot of answers."  She 
hopped behind the wheel, turned the engine on and drove off.

-------------------

Nick walked into the Raven and noticed the new bartender.  He hadn't 
been in here in 6 months.  The bartender didn't notice him as he poured 
the house special to several of the usual patrons.  He was obviously 
one of their kind, but he wasn't aware of who Nick was.  That suited 
him fine.  He didn't want any more problems than he already had.  He 
just needed answers.  The electricity in the bar prickled his skin.  He 
noticed arguments flaring around him as the anger in the air washed 
over the room.  Whatever was happening was growing.  

He noticed Vachon near the back of the room.  He nodded in recognition 
and Nick made his way across the room.  A few whispers could be heard 
behind him and he was certain, his presence would soon be forwarded 
along.  Vachon poured him a glass of the house special as he sat.  Nick 
eyed him closely.  

"Trust me...drink it...you are going to need it."  Vachon surveyed the 
room once more before he continued.  "LaCroix and Teressa have returned 
and he's not in a good mood.  There are rumors that he is the one doing 
the killing.  The council is nervous and the young ones are filled with 
an energy that I can't explain.  Some of the older ones say it's 
LaCroix channeling his anger."  Vachon lowered his voice.  

"I've seen him, Nick.  He's bordering on the edge of control.  Some of 
the older ones have already left.  They say they don't want in the 
middle of a fight between you two again."  

Nick lifted the glass to his lips and downed it in one swallow.  The 
sweet taste of the human blood flooded his senses and filled him with 
power.  He stared at the glass and Vachon poured another.  Sad eyes met 
Vachon's.  "This isn't the answer..." he stood and stared at the back 
room. "...and LaCroix isn't the cause."  

------------

LaCroix stood silently, staring out the window into the darkness.  He'd 
felt his son as soon as he entered the door.  It had taken great effort 
to open the link between them and he was certain Nicholas wasn't even 
aware of his presence.  The contact was minimal, but the fact that he 
could touch his son at all was an improvement.  Nicholas' defenses were 
obviously under assault just as his own were.  Nicholas had managed to 
close the link between them for over 6 months.  His strength, combined 
with the Good Doctor's was growing, but something was interfering and 
he was certain he knew what it was.

Nick stepped into the room and opened the link between them briefly, 
then waited.  LaCroix felt it immediately and instinctively reached 
into it.  As soon as he touched Nick, the wall between them returned.  
Anger flared brightly as LaCroix turned to greet his wayward child, but 
he presented the false appearance of control.  "And what do I owe the 
honor of your presence, Nicholas?"  His power flooded the room and 
pushed Nick back against the wall.  He was on him in a second.  "You 
open our link only to close it in my face.  Don't push me, Nicholas. I 
might lose control and hurt someone."  He slammed his fist through the 
wall beside Nick's head.

"You are too old to lose control, LaCroix.  You and I both know that, 
just as we both know you aren't committing the murders.  As far as our 
link, it was a habit.  I apologize.  What was between us can be no 
more.   You and I both know that."  Nick's bright blue eyes met his 
father's unafraid for the first time in 8 centuries.

LaCroix pulled his hand free from the wall, dusted off the imaginary 
lint on his jacket before he continued.  "Self-assurance and lack of 
humility will get you killed.  You should reconsider the side you are 
on, Nicholas."

"And what side is that, LaCroix?  You know who is doing this?"  Nick 
waited patiently even though his inner soul churned with anxiety.  
LaCroix knew exactly what was behind the murders and what was happening 
within the community.

LaCroix simply smiled smugly.  "You have always been so naïve, 
Nicholas."  He walked to the nightstand and poured a glass of 
bloodwine.  Downing it quickly, he let the power flood his system 
before he turned to face his son once more and waited, but Nick didn't 
respond.  Anger washed over him once more and he flew at his son.  He 
body slammed Nick hard against the wall once more and was delighted to 
see the vampire greet him back.

"You shut me out for 6 months and now you return seeking my aid.  
Nothing is free is the world, Nicholas."  He hissed as the power of the 
anger within him made him feel stronger than he had felt in months.

Nick had responded to the pain that flashed through him as well as the 
anger.  The beast inside him fed on it immediately and pushed into it.  
The power washed over him and he felt exhilarated to the point of pain, 
then he touched the evil.  Deep within him something snapped and warmth 
flooded his body.  He recognized it immediately.  Without hesitation, 
he reached out to it and the beast disappeared.  For the first time, he 
understood.

Blue eyes now greeted his father.  "What is it about me that is worth 
the price you are paying, LaCroix?"  His father's power crushed him to 
his knees as LaCroix let go of him.  Nick gasped for breath, but 
refused to give into his beast.  Pain engulfed him as if he walked into 
a burning fire, but still he refused the evil within himself.  He 
pictured Natalie and the kids in his mind and reached out to them.  
Instantly the pain turned to warmth and pleasure.  He touched it with 
his mind and gave into the power within.  LaCroix screamed and backed 
away.  

Nick rose to his feet and stared at his creator. "No more games, 
LaCroix!  You have been willing to sacrifice everything of importance 
to you to make me return to your side.  You will explain it to my now!"  
Nick hissed.

"You are my son!  You belong at my side."  LaCroix stated angrily, then 
headed for the bloodwine once more.

"I am not your son, LaCroix.  My father died 8 centuries ago.  I don't 
need a father...I need a friend.  Look at you, LaCroix!  When was the 
last time you were this out of control?  We were building something 
worthwhile between us, but that is gone now because you let the evil 
within you regain control.  You were willing to share the only woman in 
your life that made you feel human to bring me back to your side.  Why, 
LaCroix?  Why am I worth the lives of all these people?  Why would you 
risk losing Teressa?"

LaCroix stared at him speechless.  It was true.  He had been willing to 
sacrifice everything for him.  His mind played the words he'd read in 
the Archives so many centuries before.  It was all coming to pass and 
he could not change it...not now...not ever.  It was Nicholas' destiny.  
He sat down in the chair by the nightstand and for the first time in 
his life...accepted the truth.  He stared at his creation standing 
before him and could feel the power within him that still remained 
untapped.  Maybe it was time he was told.

"Meet me here tomorrow at midnight."  He said with resignation in his 
voice, then disappeared. 

--------------




Part 5



Natalie stood over the body preparing, to make the first incision.  
With the first slice of the tissue, the smell permeated the room.  It 
was the smell of burnt flesh that always nauseated her.  She'd never 
gotten over it.  Any excuse to stop would be welcome.  She stepped back 
and rubbed the menthol balm under her nose and placed the glove back on 
her hand.  A strong tingling feeling crept along her skin, followed by 
a slight breeze.  It was as familiar as Nick's touch, but different.  
She looked up to find Teressa standing at the door.  Unable to stop 
herself, she gasped lowly.  Of course the sensations she would create 
would be like Nick's.  Why hadn't she realized it?  Not wanting to take 
a deep breath of the putrid smell before her, she stepped back and 
covered the body before she took a cleansing breath to regain her 
composure.

"Can we talk, Tasha?"  Teressa's soft voice floated across the room 
awaiting permission to enter.  She wasn't sure her sister would 
acquiesce or even consider a conversation with her at this point, but 
she had to try.  She heard her slight gasp, then realized Natalie was 
not prepared for the sensations that touched her.  Teressa was shocked 
herself that a connection, even so slight, existed between them.  There 
was so much to learn.

"I didn't realize we had anything more to say to each other, Teressa?"  
Natalie stripped her gloves off and tossed them in the biohazard bin 
behind her before she met her sister's gaze.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk, but I need you to listen.  If you 
don't want to forgive me, I understand, but I need to explain why I did 
what I did.  I need to explain my stupidity, then I can sleep again."  
Her eyes filled with red tears, but she refused to let them fall.  
Natalie watched her closely and shut down the tiny link between them.  
Only then did the tears fall silently down Teressa's porcelain skin and 
drip onto the floor.  Natalie stared at her sister unmoved. 

"I never meant for this to happen.  I really thought I had changed and 
I didn't covet everything in your life, but I was wrong.  All my life 
you have been my idol.  Everything you ever did was perfect.  You were 
always the strong one, the one that took care of us after Mom and Dad 
died.  You were everything I wanted to be and couldn't.  For so many 
years I tried to be like you and failed miserably, so I gave up.  When 
we grew older I realized you didn't know how pretty you were and how 
attracted men were to you.  It was the only way I could be superior and 
I used it.  It was stupid and childish and I know that now."  She 
lowered her eyes in shame, then took a deep breath and continued.

"What happened with Kyle was not really my fault, but I didn't resist 
him either.  When Paul tried to rape you, I made you out to be the 
enemy instead of him.  For years I tried to rationalize my behavior.  
Finally, after all the beatings, I grew up.  I thought it was too late 
for us, but you forgave me and let me back into your life.  The more I 
was around you and Nick, the more I realized what I was missing and I 
wanted it for myself.  I honestly believed I could make Lucien love me 
the same way Nick loves you.  I just needed the time to make him see 
it."  She watched Natalie's expression hoping for some sign of 
understanding.

"I just wanted to feel what it was like."  Another tear slipped from 
her eye and slid silently down her face.  "When I realized Lucien would 
sacrifice me for Nick, I was hurt, but he let me feel the power and I 
wanted it for myself.  He made me believe the power between the three 
of us was invincible and the greedy little child inside me couldn't let 
go of the idea.  He made me believe that together we could accomplish 
anything and that Nick really wanted it, too.  The evil within him is 
so strong and he made mine stronger.  I'm sorry.  I never meant to hurt 
you, or try to take Nick away from you.  I find him attractive, you 
know that, but I love Lucien and if bringing Nick back to his side 
would make him love me, then I was willing."  She watched Natalie 
intently listening closely to her heartbeat.  It sped up slightly, then 
calmed again.

Natalie walked over to the cabinet and removed a clean scalpel from the 
drawer.  She sliced her finger, then walked back to her sister before 
she spoke.  "Blood doesn't lie, Teressa."  She smeared her blood across 
Teressa's lips.  "Nick and I have no secrets.  I know what it is you 
wanted and why, but I'm not sure you do.  Everything in this world does 
not center on what Teressa wants.  You're here because you want 
something from me.  You want my forgiveness because you lusted after my 
husband, then I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I will let you hurt 
my family or me again.  I can't trust you, Teressa, and I have never 
trusted LaCroix.  Some people can change...others cannot.  In my 
opinion you have finally met your match.  You and LaCroix deserve each 
other, but be warned...if you come near my husband again...I will stake 
you myself without regret.  I will not let you infect him with the evil 
within you for your own self-gratification...or LaCroix's."  Anger 
flashed in her blue eyes now dusted with gold.

"We are connected by the blood of our parents and the blood of my 
husband, but that doesn't mean I will ever let the evil within you 
touch me or my children.  The choice is mine to make and I have made 
it.  This conversation is over!"  Natalie turned and walked out the 
door.

--------------  

Mulder watched closely from the car as Nick Knight walked out of the 
Raven toward his car.  Before he reached the car, a dark-haired 
Spaniard approached him.  The moonlight caught the finish of the car 
and flashed light across Knight's features.  He could see blood stains 
clearly on Knight's white shirtfront, but no injuries were apparent.  
Mulder took out his binoculars and scanned the area as well as Knight's 
lithe form as he talked with the young Spaniard.  A scream pierced the 
air.  Knight was gone in the blink of an eye.  He had to take a second 
glance to make sure he'd not been mistaken, but the young Spaniard was 
now gone as well.  Losing no time, he pushed open the car door and 
followed the second scream that echoed through the darkness.

A hooded figure stood over the young woman and laughed hysterically.  
She screamed again as his hand tore her blouse free.  Her tight skirt 
and high heels gave credence to her occupation, but gave her little 
comfort or help in escaping what was about to happen.  Nick sensed the 
evil even before he landed.  The smell of sulfur permeated the air, 
followed by the hiss of burning flesh.  Without hesitation he flew at 
the hooded figure. Fire erupted around him turning his jacket into a 
flaming torch.  He shed it instantly and flew at the creature once 
more.  This time he managed to dislodge him from his victim and they 
rolled together across the hard concrete, deeper into the alley.  The 
fire now began to flare inside Nick's veins, so he shoved with his full 
body weight in an effort to throw the assailant away from him.  Both 
men rolled to their feet.

Vachon lunged from the side at the hooded figure, but hit a solid 
invisible wall.  He collapsed to the ground in a heap at the hooded 
figure's side.  Bright red eyes greeted him with a laugh so cold, 
chills ran down his spine.  "You cannot touch me, foolish one.  You are 
mine to control."  He raised his hand and Vachon flew across the alley 
into the wall with such force the mortar gave way.

Nick flew at the hooded figure again, knocking them both to the ground.  
The flames once more flared to life in his veins and he screamed in 
pain, but he refused to release the figure now struggling in his grasp.  
Images flashed in his mind so vivid they were painful.  Death, blood, 
greed, envy all surrounded by some great power took his breath away.  
His beast began to flare within him and reach out to the power that 
beckoned.

Mulder rounded the corner.  "Freeze...FBI!"  He shouted and pointed his 
gun at the grappling men on the ground before him.

Anger bubbled inside him as he fought with Nick, unable to break free 
for the first time in his life...until the mortal arrived.  Nick's 
beast was awakened and he reached out to coax it back to its rightful 
place.  Together they would kill this pitiful creature.  "That's it!  
Give in to what you are.  What we are!"  His coarse voice echoed around 
them all as he spoke to Nick.  Mulder's rapid heartbeat now echoed 
throughout the alley so loudly, it startled him.

"Stop that!"  Mulder screamed and fired the gun in the air with a 
warning.  Nick greeted him with golden eyes and fangs extended as he 
released the hooded figure within his grasp.

"You belong to me now, Nicholas."  The ancient voice touched his mind.  
"Give into what you are."  Once more Mulder's heartbeat echoed 
throughout the alley calling to the vampire, but this time the response 
was different.

Mulder's heartbeat beckoned the vampire, but the hooded figure's words 
echoed through Nick's mind into a deeper part of the man...and he 
responded.  Fire immediately burned in his veins causing him to 
collapse to his knees in pain.  "Never!"  Nick growled and fought for 
control of his own body.  An image of Natalie and the kids touched his 
mind and he reached out to it.  Natalie was with him once more.  Their 
bond was growing stronger with each passing day and now he understood 
why.  He forced himself to relax and pushed passed the pain into the 
love they shared.   Warmth filled with pleasure overwhelmed the fire 
within him until it finally disappeared.

Locar hissed in anger and struck out at the one thing that threatened 
his very existence.  His power met with a solid wall of resistance and 
bounced back around him.  "You will watch him die for your insolence!"  
He growled and turned to Mulder.  Mulder fired point blank at the 
creature before him, but the creature laughed hysterically.

"Your pitiful attempts won't thwart me, mortal.  You will pay the price 
for your stupidity."  Flames shot from his fingers.  

Mulder reacted by rolling to his left. He came to his feet looking for 
cover.  The next bolt of flame shot past his ear and he knew he was 
doomed by something he never dreamed existed.  He ran further back into 
the alley only to find it a dead end.  The creature continued the 
assault, barely missing him each time and driving him further into the 
dark confines of the alley with no escape.  He turned to face his own 
death.  

Locar walked forward slowly and dropped the hood, revealing his true 
form.  Red eyes, filled with hatred, buried deep within a deformed head 
stared back at Mulder.  A sick smiled crossed his cracked, dry lips 
making his white pointed teeth more evident. He raised a bony hand, 
revealing dried tissue aged and rotting on the bone.  The smell of 
putrefying flesh filled the air, then he laughed hysterically.  
"Enough!"  

A flame shot forth from his finger only to be stopped by the hand of 
Nick now standing in front of Mulder.  The flame bounced sideways and 
destroyed the wall beside them.  Another flame, followed by several 
more, shot toward both men standing at the back of the alley, only to 
bounce away harmlessly into the night.  Locar screamed in rage and 
increased the intensity.  Nick held both hands in front of him now and 
deflected the energy back from whence it came.  Locar's cape burst into 
flames.  "I am older than time itself.  I command the evil within you 
all.  You are mine and I will not be denied."  He growled as the flames 
engulfed him. The ground began to vibrate as the rage in his voice 
echoed throughout the darkness, then he disappeared.  Nick collapsed to 
the ground unconscious.

--------------- 


Part 6


Teressa walked up to the bar and sat down.  Instantly a glass of 
bloodwine was placed before her.  She nodded her gratitude.  LaCroix 
was still in the soundbooth in the back broadcasting.  He seemed to be 
in rare form tonight, almost as if he could feel her frustration and 
anger.  She relived the scene at the morgue from an hour before.  It 
had not gone at all as she planned.  She licked her lips once more in 
an effort to recall the images from her sister's blood.  Tasha had 
known all along what she craved beyond all else.  Nick had kept nothing 
from her.  What was between Nick and her sister was stronger than 
before.  They were soulmates bound together for eternity.  The love and 
trust between them created a power far stronger than anything she could 
imagine.  She downed the blood in one swallow.  She'd been a fool to 
believe Tasha would accept her back into her life without proof of her 
sincerity.  They were all family and family was worth fighting for.  
She would just have to find another way.

She walked back into their private quarters and shut the door softly 
behind her.  It was time to make a plan, one that would make Tasha see 
they all needed each other.  She walked to the fireplace and noticed 
the book lying open on the floor.  She recognized it immediately.  The 
yellowed pages filled with the ancient script called to her like the 
blood of an innocent.  She gently flipped it closed and looked at the 
date on the front of the book.  It was one of the oldest books in the 
Archives.  What was Lucien doing with it?  She immediately flipped back 
to the open page and started translating.

--------------- 


Natalie finished the autopsy and discovered nothing really new.  She 
stripped off her gloves in disgust.  There had to be something here to 
give them a clue.  Every cell in her body recognized the warning and it 
was directed at Nick.  She knew it as sure as she breathed.  A soft 
knock at the door drew her attention.  Nat reached out with her newly 
developing senses and could feel nothing.  A pretty red head opened the 
door and stepped in without waiting for an answer.  Most people 
wouldn't even consider it, but it didn't appear to disturb her in the 
least.  

"May I help you?" Natalie asked as she finished covering the body.

"I'm Agent Dana Scully."  She flashed her ID briefly and waited for a 
response.

"How can I help you, Agent Scully?"  Natalie said guardedly.

Scully casually glanced at the body, then walked to the examining 
table.  Unmoved by the smell or the body, she continued.  "I came to 
speak to you about your children."

"My children, Agent Scully?  What could the FBI want with my children?"  
Fear leaped into her throat, but she pushed it back instinctively.

"It's not official FBI business, Dr. Lambert.  My partner and I came up 
here as a favor to a friend.  Clarissa Henshaw is an old friend of my 
partner and she wanted his input.  I'm technically on vacation."  Dana 
smiled uncomfortably, then brought her attention back to the petite 
woman in front of her.  She would give her credit.  The woman was cool 
in the face of adversity and her lack of trust made Scully admire her 
even more.  She gave nothing away even though she was certain the 
woman, Alma, had warned her about Mulder and herself.

"Well to be honest, I felt you should be made aware of a few things. 
Mulder, my partner, and I are assigned to the unusual and unexplainable 
cases in the U.S.  Clarissa Henshaw's husband is the head of research 
for our counterparts, here in Canada.  Clarissa was afraid to ask her 
husband to evaluate your children for fear of long term repercussions.  
She wanted to protect your children from a lifetime of tests and forced 
incarceration in the name of research."  Scully watched Natalie Lambert 
Knight closely for a reaction.  She saw fear in her eyes.

"Your children are gifted, Dr. Lambert, but you already knew that. 
Clarissa will be forced to make a report eventually." She hesitated 
briefly.  "I just thought you should know, so you could take 
precautions."  Dana smiled sadly, then headed for the door.

"Thank you, Agent Scully."  Natalie watched the young woman head for 
the door and felt the sadness around her.  "Could I ask you a 
question?"

Dana turned surprised.  "Of course."

"Why did you really come down here?"  Natalie removed her labcoat and 
headed for the coffeepot.  She poured two cups and brought them back to 
her desk while Scully stood speechless and turned bright red.

Natalie handed her a cup and sat down behind her desk.  "You're a 
pathologist, aren't you?"  Nat stated calmly.

"How did you know that?"  Scully accepted the cup as her mind filled 
with questions.

"Not many people would come into a morgue without hesitation, let alone 
walk over by a body lying covered on a table and not even glance at it.  
It's a common occurrence for you, so that makes you a pathologist or 
one of their staff.  You are a FBI agent, well educated and incredibly 
articulate, so I'm guessing pathologist first...FBI agent second."  She 
raised a questioning eye.

"You still didn't answer the question."  Nat sipped her coffee and 
waited.

Scully blushed.  "Well to be honest I came as a favor to Mulder.  He 
likes to use me as his buffer to reality.  I'm his grounding pad to 
this world.  He has a tendency to believe in more than what normal 
people see.  That's why we make a good team.  When I met your children 
and read your profile, I had to meet you."  She waited to see if 
Natalie understood.  "I wanted to meet another woman who dealt with the 
weird and strange things in this world and still managed to have a 
family.  I just..."

"...needed to know it could be done."  Nat finished the sentence for 
her.

"Yes."  Dana smiled and sighed in relief.  "I have always felt like I 
was missing something in my life, but I honestly didn't think it would 
be fair to have a family.  When I met your children and saw how happy 
they were it made me question my own life."

Nat smiled.  She liked this young woman before her.  She had guts and 
honesty.  That was a hard combination to live with if you were a woman 
in a man's field.  
"I couldn't do it without lots of help, Dana.  It's okay if I call you 
Dana?"  Scully nodded with a smile.  "I'm Natalie."  She offered her 
hand over the desk with a smile.

"Nick and I were friends for a long time before we became lovers.  We 
had lots of little problems to overcome, but he is a wonderful father, 
a perfect husband, and I couldn't do it without him. We both were given 
a second chance after a near death experience to make our lives mean 
something.  Jonathan and Gracie are gifts from God we cherish above all 
else."  Natalie handed the picture on her desk to Dana.  "I love my job 
and what I do helps save peoples lives, but it would all mean nothing 
if I didn't have them.  There are many levels in your life, Dana.  Each 
one of them is unique and should be treasured, but nothing is more 
important than family.  Family keeps you grounded and reminds you what 
is important in life.  Family loves you even when you make mistakes."  
A wave of sadness washed over her as she relived the scene earlier with 
Teressa.  Nat stood and returned to the coffeepot.  Teressa WAS family.  
Just maybe she should rethink the whole situation again.  She sighed in 
dismay.  

The pain hit her so hard she dropped the coffee cup in her hand.  When 
the second wave hit, she screamed as the fire burned brightly in her 
own veins.  "Nick!"  She gasped as she fell to her knees and clutched 
her body.  Scully rushed to her side as she tried to rise.  A scream 
tore from her lips and the welcome darkness engulfed her.

-----------

Part 7



Mulder scrambled to his feet and checked the blond detective on the 
ground who had just saved his life.  He searched for vital signs and 
could find none.  Knight had sacrificed himself for someone he didn't 
even know.  A moan from the far side of the alley caught his attention.  
Quickly he rushed to the young Spaniard who lay crumpled against the 
wall.  There was blood on the wall and the back of his head when Mulder 
checked him over.  Slowly Vachon's eyes began to focus on his 
surroundings.

"Who are you?"  He asked barely above a whisper.  He tried to sit up, 
only to lose his balance and fall back in the same spot he had 
inhabited for 10 minutes.  

"I'm Agent Fox Mulder with the FBI.  I came looking for Nick Knight."  
Mulder glanced at the still form lying on the street a few feet away 
from them.  

"Nick?"  Vachon still seemed dazed, but scanned the area slowly.  
"Where is Nick?"

"I'm afraid he's dead.  The creature in the black hood tried to kill me 
and Knight used his body as a shield.  I don't know..."  Mulder was at 
a loss for words.

Vachon stared at him blankly, then pushed to his feet as his vampire 
metabolism finally kicked in.  He shook his head to clear the fuzzy 
feeling and ran to Nick's side.  Blood ran from Nick's ears and nose, 
but his life force was still strong.  Vachon could sense it 
immediately.  He breathed a sigh of relief, but now they had another 
problem.  He turned to face Mulder.

"He will be fine, but you have to forget everything you saw."  Vachon 
clasped Mulder's head between his hands.  Mulder wrenched himself free 
and stepped back.  The young Spaniard's eyes flared gold and a cold 
chill crept over his skin.  

"Stop that!" Mulder screamed and took another step back to find the 
wall inhibiting his progress.  "I know what you are.  I know your kind 
really exists and you can't make me forget.  If something happens to me 
Knight's kids will pay the price."

Vachon stopped instantly.  What did Jonathan and Gracie have to do with 
this?  Nick would stake him personally if something happened to his 
kids.  Nick groaned and Mulder stared in amazement.  

"I checked his vital signs.  He was dead."  Mulder and Vachon both 
headed to Nick's side.  

Vachon helped steady Nick as he tried to focus.  He waved two fingers 
in front of his face.  "Nick, how many fingers do I have up?"

"Stop waving them around, will you?  You're making me sick."  Nick 
cradled his head, trying to ease the throbbing so he could think.  The 
pain was gone the moment Natalie touched him through their link.  His 
memory began to return in sharp clear images.  His metabolism was not 
as fast as Vachon's, so he accepted his hand and stood with a strong 
shoulder from the man who tried to help them.  Nick turned grateful 
eyes to the stranger.

"I should thank you for trying to help.  It almost got you killed."  
Nick stated plainly and listened intently to Mulder's heartbeat.  This 
mortal was unusual.  Nick took a couple of steps and stumbled.  Both 
Vachon and Mulder caught him before he hit the ground.

"It's I who should thank you.  If you hadn't stepped in front of me, I 
would have been toast.  Who was that guy or should I say what was that 
guy?"  Mulder needed answers and he was only getting more questions.

Nick stopped and turned to face Mulder.  Vachon held Nick's elbow and 
refused to let go.  "He's FBI Nick and he threatened Jonathan and 
Gracie."  Nick grabbed Mulder's collar instantly and held him high in 
the air.  His eyes flared gold, then red without hesitation.

"I...wait...I never threatened your kids."  Mulder tried to grind out 
between his teeth as the wind was shut off to his windpipe.  "Let me 
explain."  He grasped at Nick's grip and watched in disbelief as Nick 
Knight turned into a full-fledged vampire.  He watched in fascination 
as the blond detective who had been sighted for numerous acts of valor, 
husband and father to two beautiful children turn into a killing 
machine.  His eyes turned to red and long fangs extended from his 
mouth.  The feel of power and age wafted in the air to the point Mulder 
couldn't breath.  It had been so quick, yet this was the man who had 
just saved his life less than a half-hour ago.  Nick eased him back to 
the ground.

"Explain!"  Nick growled as he released some of the pressure on 
Mulder's neck.  

"My partner and I were asked by a friend to evaluate your kids for 
psychic powers. Scully and I work on the unusual cases in the U.S.  If 
something happens to us while we are here, CSIS will be called in.  
They'll start where we started and find your kids' unusual talents.  
You don't want that to happen."  Nick released Mulder's collar and 
stepped back.  His eyes were now blue dusted with gold and his fangs 
magically gone.  Mulder stared in fascination.

"You are real, aren't you?  I've seen lots of wannabes, lots of 
charlatans...but you are real."  He turned to Vachon, then back to 
Nick.  "Both of you are real vampires and that woman who picked up your 
kids is one too."

"What do you want, Agent Mulder?"  Nick looked skeptical, but waited 
patiently before losing his temper again.

"Answers, Detective...just answers.  When I found out you and your wife 
were in charge of the vampire murders I thought maybe I could get some 
information that might be helpful on similar cases in the U.S.  I have 
found that people who have truly gifted children are usually gifted 
themselves.  I have to admit I didn't expect this."  All of a sudden 
the atmosphere around them changed and he felt strange.

Nick locked onto his heartbeat.  "You will remember none of this, Agent 
Mulder.  You sat in your car waiting for me and I never came out.  You 
never came into the alley.  You never saw the hooded man and you never 
saw me."  His voice echoed in the alley and into Mulder's mind.  
"Repeat it after me."  He commanded in a voice that could not be 
denied.

Mulder fought the urge, but the feeling was so pleasant, so welcome.  
How could it be wrong?  The words began to echo into his mind until 
finally he repeated them over and over again.  When they were finished, 
Nick placed him behind the wheel of his rental car and he fell asleep.

Vachon stared at Nick.  "You don't need this distraction right now, 
Nick.  Let me take care of this mess.  You stick with our hooded 
friend.  It would appear you are the only one who can fight him."

"I'm going to take you up on that, Vachon.  Find out who he and his 
partner really are.  While you are at it, check out what kind of 
connections he has here in Toronto.  I'm going to pack Natalie, 
Jonathan and Gracie up and get them out of here for now."  Vachon 
nodded in agreement and Nick headed for the Caddy.

----------------

Teressa sat translating furiously.  It was apparent that most of the 
elders knew what was going on.  It was certain Lucien knew and had 
known for a long time.  Why else would he have tried so hard to keep 
Nick at his side.  Nick was the 'Child of Light' foretold in the 
archives so many millennia ago.  One who had walked in the path of God, 
became disillusioned and fallen into the darkness only to find his way 
back.  According to the Archive, the ancients had not always walked in 
the darkness. They had sacrificed their immortality for the power of 
evil...all for a price.  Now was the time of redemption and the cost 
was too high.  She slammed the book closed and headed for the door.

---------------

Scully checked Nat's pulse and respiration and found it to be erratic, 
but very strong.  She flipped open her cellphone and started to dial 
when Nat groaned in her arms.  She checked her vitals once more and 
they were now steady.  "Natalie?"  Dana said softly, trying not to 
startle her as Natalie's eyes began to focus.

Natalie sat up slowly and let the images float through her mind.  Nick 
was okay. She breathed a sigh of relief, only then did she remember 
Dana Scully.  "Dana?"  Nat turned slightly and brushed her hair from 
her face.  

"Are you all right?"

Nat gradually got to her feet and checked her stability before 
responding. "I'm...fine.  Just a little blood pressure problem."  She 
lied skillfully and headed for her desk.  She pulled out the first 
bottle she found and downed two pills for appearance sake.  They were 
only aspirin, but the bottle was unmarked so Dana would never know the 
difference.

"I think you should see a doctor.  I've never seen anyone react that 
way to blood pressure problems.  You were in pain before you passed 
out.  Do you remember that?"  Scully asked worried as well as 
skeptical.  Natalie was way too bright and way too cautious to let her 
blood pressure cause what just happened.

"Really, I'm fine now." She held the bottle in her hand and shook it, 
being careful not to expose the label to a close inspection.  "I'm just 
going to go home and get some rest.  This case has me on edge and with 
Clarissa Henshaw getting nervous over my kids, I guess it was just more 
than my blood pressure could handle."  It was a convincing performance 
and would have been believable to most, but not Scully.

"I'd be more than willing to help, Natalie.  We've had similar cases in 
the U.S.  Maybe together we can find something helpful for both of us."

Nat looked at her skeptically.  The FBI wanted information on this 
case.  Why?  And would it hurt to collaborate?  Maybe Scully could find 
something she missed.  Maybe there was a clue here that could help them 
stop this maniac before he came after Nick.  At this point she was 
willing to grasp at any straw.  After all it was better to have your 
enemies close at hand than at a distance.  She liked Dana and although 
she felt she wasn't giving her the whole truth, she had warned her 
about Clarissa and CSIS.  

"I'd appreciate that, Dana, but you'll have to get clearance through 
Captain Reese before I can release any of the details on our end.  
Being a government employee, I have to follow all the rules.  Why don't 
you talk with Captain Reese while I check on my kids?  I'll meet you 
back here in a couple of hours."  Dana nodded and headed for the door.

"Natalie?"  She turned in the doorway.  "I can help you."  She 
hesitated only briefly, then walked out the door.

---------------

Nick skipped the lift and flew straight up the steps.  He wanted to 
make sure the kids were safe.  He knew Nat was on her way.  They had to 
make some decisions and quickly.  His vampire sense tingled and he 
looked at the top of the stairs to find his 7-year old son gazing down 
at him.  "You were waiting for me?"  He asked already knowing the 
answer.  Diane, the sitter lay sleeping on the couch.  Nick walked over 
and checked her.  "Your work?"  Nick raised a questioning eye.

"She didn't want me to wait up for you.  I just thought I'd try it.  I 
guess I did something wrong."  Jonathan looked guilty and hung his head 
in shame.  Nick was by his side immediately.

"You need to be taught how to use your powers, Jonathan.  I wasn't even 
sure you'd get any, but apparently they are growing at a rapid rate, 
just like you."  Nick smiled and hugged his son.

"Dad!"  Jonathan squirmed unsure of how he should react, then decided 
to give into the feeling of warmth from his father and hugged him back.

When his little arms wrapped around Nick, the peace Jonathan always 
imparted became a part of him.  Nick pushed into it.  It was a part of 
his son that was unique and he wanted Jonathan to cherish it.  "If I 
teach you how to use your other powers, will you teach me how to do 
that?"  Nick smiled and hugged his son harder.

"I could feel Alma, Dad!  And I could feel you, just like I did when we 
were in trouble at the warehouse, only this time you weren't trying.  I 
knew you were coming 10 minutes ago." Jonathan said in disbelief.

"It's okay, Jonathan.  Most vampires can tell when another is around 
when they are close, but it's not unusual for close family members to 
feel each other miles apart.  Like your Mom and I.  I can feel her now.  
She will be here soon.  It's nothing to be frightened about, but this 
hypnotizing your baby-sitter has got to stop."  Nick said sternly.  
Jonathan stuck out his lower lip and pouted like a normal 7-year old 
caught in his mischief.

"Now promise me." Nick lifted his little chin.  "I need your help right 
now with your mom and sister.  There is something bad happening here 
and I want you guys to disappear for awhile until I get it taken care 
of."

"No way, Dad!"  Jonathan stepped back.  "It's bad...it's really bad and 
you need me and Sissy to help stop it.  It wants you."  Jonathan said 
emphatically with true fear in his eyes.

"How do you know that, Jonathan."

"He told me, the man with the hood.  He was in my room.  He said he was 
here for you and we couldn't stop him.  He tried to grab me, but 
stopped when Miss Alyssa showed up.  He growled at her, then 
disappeared."

Nick snatched Jonathan up and headed for his room.  Once inside he 
could smell the calling card of the ancient creature.  Small quantities 
of sulfur lay on the carpet by the window.  Nick knelt on the floor and 
touched the fine powder with his fingertips.  He didn't need to taste 
it to know where his unwanted visitor came from.  "You pack some 
clothes, Jonathan, and wake your sister.  Help her pack a few things.  
I'm getting you out of here tonight."  He listened to the lift kick on 
and he headed for the stairs.

Part 8




Nick awoke Dianne and sent her home, then went to check on Jonathan's 
progress with Gracie upstairs. Nat rushed into the room.  Nick met her 
at the foot of the stairs and wrapped her in his arms.  She kissed him 
fiercely to make sure he was okay.  "Tell me you're okay.  Tell me the 
kids are okay."  She clasped his face in her hands and stared into 
worried eyes.

"He came for me tonight.  The evil within him calls to the evil within 
us all.  He thrives on it, needs it, like we need food."  He wrapped 
her in his arms again and buried his face in her riotous auburn hair.  
If he lived to be 2000, he would never tire of the feel and smell of 
her.  "I don't understand, but for some reason I can fight him, but I'm 
so weak.  He is the Ancient One, the one in the Archives who created 
all vampires.  I remember reading about it by accident one day when I 
was first brought across.  LaCroix became enraged and nearly beat me to 
death. I never got to read the rest of it.  All I know is the energy he 
creates leaves behind a residue."

"The sulfur!"  She stated calmly.  "Hence the stories and tales of the 
devil being related to the smell of sulfur."  Fear laced her voice.  
"The energy is so strong it causes a flame when exposed to the sulfur.  
A mini explosion wherever he directs it...but why here?  Why now?  Why 
you?"

"It's worse.  He was here."  He glanced at the top of the stairs.  "In 
Jonathan's room."  He couldn't control the fear in his own voice.  "I 
need you and the kids to disappear.  I can't fight him if I'm worried 
about all of you.  He will use you against me.  He as much as said so, 
but I don't understand why?  I am supposed to meet with LaCroix 
tonight.  He has promised me answers."

"You must stay together."  Her ethereal voice floated above them.  Her 
long blonde hair draped gracefully over her shoulders as she floated 
above them.

"Alyssa?"  Nick said softly.

"Yes, my love.  I am here once more to protect your children.  Do not 
send them away..."  She stared at Natalie and smiled.  "...or your 
beloved Natalie.  They are your strength in this battle.  This is your 
destiny.  All that you have been, all that you are, and all that you 
can be will be decided soon.  The choice must be yours.  Just know that 
I will let no harm come to your children."  She began to fade.

"But why me, Alyssa?  Why am I so important?"  He reached for her only 
to have her disappear with her words fading into the darkness.  
"Remember to follow your heart, Nicholas.  Love will always find a way.  
You have come too far to lose faith now," and she was gone.

"You couldn't have made me leave anyway, Nick."  Nat stared into her 
husband's confused eyes.  We are stronger together.  You know that.  
This isn't your fight, it's OUR fight." She ran her fingers down his 
face in a gently caress.  "As it was always meant to be.  You are never 
alone.  WE are always with you."  She turned her head to the top of the 
stairs.  Gracie and Jonathan stood hand in hand waiting. 

His son and daughter touched him through their link.  It was like a 
bright light filled with hope and happiness.  He smiled and pushed into 
it.  Nat was right and for the second time in his life he felt whole.  
He pulled Nat into his arms and kissed the top of her head.  "Eight 
years ago, you taught me how to love again.  Tonight I feel the 
strength of that love and I know that the evil within me no longer has 
a chance of survival."  He turned them both toward the stairs and 
smiled at the kids.  "Let's put the kids to bed and put an end to this 
madness.  It is time we got on with our lives."  When they reached the 
top of the stairs, they both picked up one of the kids and headed for 
their bedroom.  Tonight they all needed to be together.


-----------

It was near dawn as Scully pulled into the motel parking lot.  She 
could see the light on in Mulder's room and went directly there.  She'd 
spent the better part of an hour on the phone with Washington getting 
them to pull strings, but by dawn it was done.  She had the clearance 
and the cooperation they needed.  She wasn't quite sure it was the 
right thing to do, but there were too many unanswered questions about 
Natalie Lambert Knight, the children, the woman in the park, and all 
the murders.  Somehow it was connected and she wasn't willing to 
believe it had supernatural forces written on it.  There was a 
scientific explanation for everything and she would find it.  The 
children might be gifted, but the murder was definitely not 
supernatural and she didn't believe in vampires.  So her work was cut 
out for her.  She would start with the last body and work her way back.  
There were always clues and with Natalie's help, they would find them.  
She was certain, Natalie didn't believe in vampires or the 
supernatural.  She would have bet her life on it.  

Knocking on Mulder's door she waited, but heard nothing.  Quietly she 
slipped her key to his room in the slot.  Since the last little fiasco 
of her being abducted from her hotel room, Mulder had insisted they 
keep keys to each other's rooms.  At first she'd been nervous about it, 
but she trusted Mulder with her life and to be perfectly honest, she 
would have trusted him with more if he'd asked.  She shook her head in 
surprise.  Now where had that come from?  Natalie's words echoed in her 
mind. "Nick and I were friends for a long time before we became lovers.  
It took a near death experience for us to realize what we'd almost 
lost."  

Mulder lay quietly on the bed staring at the ceiling.  "Mulder?"  She 
approached the bed and stared at him.  "Are you okay?"

"I can't remember, Scully.  It's right on the tip of my mind and I 
can't remember."  He turned frightened eyes toward his partner.  "There 
is something big going on here and I think I was a part of it tonight, 
but he made me forget."

"Who made you forget, Mulder?"  Dana sat down on the bed beside him and 
held his hand in hers for comfort.  She hadn't realized she'd done it.  
It just felt right.

"Knight...I was following him and he disappeared in the Raven.  I don't 
remember anything else until I woke up behind the wheel of the car.  It 
had been over an hour, but there is this feeling in the back of my 
mind.  I saw something...something happened.  I know it!"  Mulder 
squeezed her hand in his.

"You fell asleep, Mulder, that's all."

"No, Scully! I'm telling you there is something about him."  He'd moved 
his hand to her shoulder and they sat face to face now.  He finally 
noticed their position and just how pretty her eyes were.  She wasn't 
pulling away from him either.  The desire to kiss her into submission 
and acceptance raced through his mind.  When had this happened?  She 
was his partner, his friend.  Her breathing had increased and she 
seemed nervous for the first time since he'd met her.  There was 
chemistry between them, but was it sexual?  

Scully pulled back a bit and caught her breath; finally, she glanced at 
her hand in his. She slowly put her other hand over his and rubbed the 
back of it, then smiled sadly.  "Get some rest, Mulder.  It's past 
dawn.  We have lots of work to do tomorrow."  She rose gracefully and 
strode quickly out of the room.  When she closed the door, she leaned 
back on the solid frame and took a deep breath.  It was time to be 
honest with herself, Mulder was more than a friend and partner.  
Somewhere along the way, she'd managed to find a place in her heart for 
him and he couldn't even see it.  A single tear slid down her cheek.  
She wiped it away stoically and headed for her room.

------------

Part 9




LaCroix had not returned all night.  Teressa paced the floor.  She'd 
returned shortly before dawn after making several stops and numerous 
phone calls.  She'd expected LaCroix to be here waiting on her, but he 
wasn't.  This concerned her more than she was willing to admit.  After 
her 4th bottle of nourishment, she finally collapsed in bed.  Lucien 
had to be with the Council.  She would rest a bit, then try the 
underground tunnels and see if she could find him.  They had to stop 
this now.  This was her family now and she would die before losing 
them.

Several hours later:

The phone rang loudly in her ears, but Nat refused to leave the warmth 
of her husband's arms.  She awoke enough to know Jonathan and Gracie 
still slept with their arms around both of them.  They'd all fallen 
asleep fully clothed.  Her beeper went off next and Nick grabbed it 
from the nightstand to silence it.  "Let me have it, Nick."  Nat said 
sleepily. She glanced at the number and groaned.  It was the morgue and 
it could only mean trouble.  She glanced at the clock and it was barely 
1 p.m.  She brushed Jonathan's blond curls off his forehead and picked 
up Gracie, wrapped around her thigh.  Her tiny little hands created 
such warmth Natalie sighed with regret because she had to leave them.  
Gently she placed Gracie under Nick's arms beside Jonathan.  Her family 
slept peacefully before her.  She headed for the downstairs phone as 
not to wake them.  Minutes later she returned and took a quick shower.

"What up?"  Nick said groggily barely aware of the time, only the 
lethargy in his bones.  He pulled the blankets around the kids and 
started to rise.

"It's okay, Nick.  They okayed the FBI's assistance on the vampire 
murders."

"Wait, Nat?  The FBI? There was a FBI agent by the name of Mulder in 
the alley tonight when..."

"Mulder is Dana Scully's partner.  She came to warn me about the kids 
and CSIS.  She told me Mulder was going to talk with you.  You didn't 
mention he was involved with our little problem.  I'm not sure what to 
make of this, but I know the kids can't go back to the preschool and 
Dana may of be of some assistance in helping us find a way to defeat 
this creature.  She is used to looking for the bizarre and strange, but 
she refuses to believe in the paranormal.  Sort of like someone else I 
know up close and personal."  She smiled and blushed, remembering some 
of her own comments years earlier.  

"Mulder saved my life by distracting the creature.  I saved his by 
deflecting the energy away and back into him.  I erased Mulder's memory 
of the whole thing, but he is too much of a believer for it to last 
very long.  It looks like our time here is about to come to an end, but 
we have to stop the killing.  I won't have innocent people killed 
because of me.  We have to find a way to put an end to this and 
disappear."  Worried eyes met hers.

"Maybe Dana can find something I couldn't.  It's worth a shot and I 
honestly don't think they are here to hurt the kids.  I think it was an 
excuse on Mulder's part to find out about the murders.  Let's use that 
curiosity...maybe it will help everyone involved."  She kissed him on 
the lips softly, which he deepened immediately.  Instantly his arms 
were around her pulling her willing body down on his.  Passion flared 
instantly between them and they both gave into it.  Her hands were all 
over him caressing, squeezing, and encouraging his further exploration.  
His body reacted immediately and he groaned in her mouth.  Gracie 
whimpered next to them and they came back to reality.  She broke the 
kiss with a sigh and leaned her forehead on his until her breathing 
became normal once more.

"I'm going to remember exactly where we left off, Nick Knight."  She 
ran her hand down his torso and rubbed his stiff manhood through his 
jeans.  "Too bad you fell asleep with your clothes on or this would be 
a lot more fun."  She smiled wickedly.

He unzipped his fly and placed her hand inside.  His silk boxers fought 
to restrain him and he pushed into her hand.  She stroked him long and 
slow and he pulled her lips back to his.  Within seconds, the passion 
between them was rekindled.  No matter how many times they were 
together, he could never get enough of her.  He groaned in agony when 
she pulled away.  

"Keep that thought and next time we won't let the kids in the same room 
with us."  She placed a feather kiss on his lips and headed for the 
door.  "I'll call you if we find anything.  Get Daniel to watch the 
kids if you come in.  For some reason, he's not as affected by all this 
as everyone else."  

-------------

Scully meticulously sliced open the veins of the latest victim and 
viewed it under the microscope.  So far she couldn't find anything 
Natalie hadn't already found.  "There has to be an answer here."  
Exasperation laced her voice after 6 hours.  It was almost dusk.  She'd 
left Mulder sound asleep.  She'd checked right at noon and slipped out 
quietly.  "The inside of the vein is charred and there is a residue 
left.  I think it's probably sulfur.  It looks like the sample you took 
from around the body.  It's almost like there was a fire inside the 
vein and it just traveled wherever the bloodflow took it."

"Any section you pull out is the same.  Maybe the blood is the 
catalyst."  Natalie mumbled out loud.  Nick's words came back to her.  
"For some reason I can fight it."  Natalie ran to the freezer and 
grabbed one of her latest samples of Nick's blood and one of his 
original samples from 15 years earlier.

"Make a slurry of what you find in the veins, Dana."  Nat immediately 
sat the ampoules of Nick's blood in a beaker of warm water to thaw.  
She then went in search of a mechanism that would deliver low level 
electricity.  She returned to find Dana stirring a beaker filled with a 
brownish fluid.  

Nat used an eyedropper and added a few drops of the mixture to the 
slide, then added a drop of Nick's blood from 15 years earlier.  She 
touched the tiny electrode to the slide and turned on the mini-volt 
generator.  The slide erupted into a flame.  Dana looked surprised, 
then made up another slide and they repeated the incident.  "Blood is 
the catalyst.  He injects them with this compound somehow and lets the 
blood mix with it and carry it through their system.  He then applies 
some sort of electrical charge and they burn to death from the inside 
out.  He's not draining them.  He's injecting them with the compound.  
So much for the vampire theory."  She turned and walked back over to 
the cadaver.  "That explains the how, but the why is still a mystery.  
Why this man and not another?  Why the woman before?"  She watched 
Natalie pull out the files and flip through them.

"This man is Jose Ernandez.  He is a known drug dealer."  She pulled up 
another file.  "The woman before him was a professional girl of the 
streets."  She laid down the file and pulled the next one.  "This guy 
was a construction worker, but had been arrested 3 times on child abuse 
and beating his wife.  Apparently, she ended up in the hospital.  She 
was the prime candidate until the autopsy."  Each file she picked up on 
the murder victims, dating back 20 years both in Canada and the U.S., 
had one similarity.  Natalie stared at Scully.  "They all seem to be in 
the less desirable category if you're looking for a good neighbor.  If 
you catch my meaning."

"But there is nothing supernatural about it."  Scully eyed her lab 
partner closely.  "Do you see anything about it that can't be 
explained?"

Nat walked back to the microscope and placed a drop of Scully's mixture 
on the slide.  She pricked her own finger and let a drop of the blood 
mix with the contents on the slide.  She then added an electrical 
charge.  Dana watched closely.  Nothing happened.  Natalie made another 
slide.  "Give me your finger, Dana."  She pricked it and let the blood 
drip onto the slide as she'd done with her own, then applied the 
charge.  Once more nothing happened.  She went back to the morgue 
refrigerator and pulled another sample marked from a week ago.  She 
retraced her steps and made the slide once again and used this blood.  
When she applied the electrical charge, it flamed immediately and 
burned hotly until it busted the slide.  Dana stared at her not 
understanding.

Natalie held the vile up.  "This was taken from a convicted rapist.  He 
was brought in last week beaten to death.  You want to know if there is 
anything supernatural about it?  I don't know, but your blood and my 
blood don't cause the reaction.  Why is that? There is something more 
going on here than just genetics."  She stood and returned to the 
refrigerator to replace the samples. "Not everything is explainable.  
It's taken me a long time to accept that.  I thought everything that 
happens had a scientific basis.  I was wrong, Dana.  Some things you 
just have to accept on faith."  She then returned and made another 
slide.  She applied the electrical charge.  The blood began to boil, 
then hissed and finally subsided into a quiet mixture.  She stared at 
the slide and then the two ampoules she'd thawed out earlier.

"Whose sample was that?"

Nat started not to answer, but then changed her mind.  She picked up 
the first ampoule they'd used.  "This one is from my husband almost 15 
years ago when I first met him."  She picked up the second.  "This is 
his blood sample from last week."  She stared into Scully's eyes and 
waited for her to understand.  

"Apparently, his blood has changed."  Dana said analyzing the 
situation.

"Your blood is your life story, Dana.  Some of us are touched by evil 
more than others.  It is a question of what we do with it."  She picked 
up the vial and stared at the blood inside it.  "We all have a touch of 
evil within us.  Some of us feed it, some of us ignore it, and some of 
us change it.  This creature chooses his victims well, now we have to 
figure out how to stop him."

Dana's cell phone rang.  "Scully"

"There's been another murder, Scully."  Mulder said excitedly.  I need 
your expertise."

Nat's phone rang.  She picked it up already knowing what it meant.  
When she returned to the lab afterwards, she performed one more 
experiment.  After watching the reaction on the slide for ten minutes, 
she set to work.

--------------  
Part 10  Adult
m/f  Nick/Natalie



Teressa pushed the lift button and took a breath to calm herself.  If 
this were to succeed, she needed a level head.  Nick stood by the 
fireplace waiting.  She'd been pushing into their link since she parked 
the car.  At this distance, he couldn't shut her out for long.  Her 
blood burned at times for his.  Lucien said it was natural because they 
hadn't shared blood but once.  It would pass in time, but she didn't 
want it to pass.  She wanted the feelings he carried inside him to be a 
part of her.  She didn't care if they were meant for Tasha.  She wanted 
them together for Lucien's sake. 

She limped out of the lift and stared at him.  Her torn clothes and 
battered face surprised him.  Her pain was real.  She'd made sure of 
that.  His quick intake of breath was the only indication it had 
affected him, but it was enough.  She took one step and fell.  He was 
at her side within seconds.

"Who did this to you?"  He growled as he helped her to her feet.

"It's nothing, Nick.  I just..."  She fell into his arms and sobbed 
into his shoulder.  I just want a family like you and Tasha.  I just 
want to be a part of someone." Her tear-filled eyes met his.  She could 
see the doubt and feel his resolve weakening.  She pushed into it 
quickly.  Distrust and fear overwhelmed her.  Shocked, she stared into 
his eyes.  He didn't know.

"My blood burns for you, Nick.  Surely you can't hate me that much.  I 
am a part of you, a part your body needs and craves.  We are meant to 
be together.  Listen to your body."  She raised a finger to her neck 
and opened a vein.  The smell of her blood flooded the room and he 
reacted immediately.  "We are one.  Take it!"  She pulled his lips to 
hers.  She bit her tongue and shoved it into his mouth.  Grabbing her 
hard he pulled her into his embrace.  Great power washed over her 
filled with such pleasure, she thought she'd died and been reborn in 
his blood. 
She wanted more, but he pushed her away with a growl.

"My blood is yours."  She pulled his head toward the open wound on her 
neck.

The blood excited him, made him want things he'd not wanted in years.  
His blood began to burn unlike anything he'd ever felt in the past, but 
it wasn't for her.  It was painful, filled with something he couldn't 
identify.  The fire began slowly, then increased.  Instinctively he 
knew only blood could put it out, but not Teressa's.  The vampire 
surged forth and reveled in the power the blood gave him.  At first, 
the feelings were so familiar, then more painful. An image of Nat 
flashed through his mind and the man responded.  He broke the embrace 
and stepped back.  The pain stopped and a feeling of warmth and love 
washed over him.  He panted and forced the vampire back into 
submission.  "No!"  He hissed as she tried pulling him back to her 
neck.

She rubbed her fingers through the blood and started to wipe them on 
his lips.  He trapped her wrist in mid-air.  "I said no, Teressa!  I 
will not go back to what I was. That creature doesn't exist anymore!"  
He tossed her across the room.  She crashed into the table, breaking 
all 4 legs.  Unfazed, she bolted to her feet prepared to do battle if 
necessary.

Natalie stood before Nick awaiting her return. She had arrived unheard.  
Teressa stopped in her tracks.  Natalie carried a stake in her right 
hand.  Teressa eyed it closely.  "I meant what I said, Teressa.  Go now 
before I forget that you are of my blood."

"I could destroy you, Tasha."  She stared at Nick for a moment.  "He 
will die.  Is that what you want?  This is a fight to the death and he 
is weakened already.  He cannot win against the Ancient Locar."  She 
turned to Nick.

"Embrace your dark side and he will go back from whence he came.  We 
are all family.  You can feel it still.  Your body has not forgotten 
who made you.  Only with us can you escape your destiny."  She turned 
sad eyes to her sister.

"Convince him, Tasha, or we all lose."  She stepped back.  "Locar is 
gaining strength from his victims to do battle with Nick."  Tears 
streaked her face now. 

"I don't want to lose you. If Nick dies, I will lose you and Lucien.  
You must convince him."  Desperation laced her voice as she stared at 
her sister and brother-in-law.  Questions filled both their eyes.

"You don't know, do you?"  She gasped frightened even more.  "Nick is 
the Child of Light.  Don't you understand?  Only through the death of 
the Child of Light will the evil of darkness be defeated.  The choice 
to walk in the immortal light of God will be returned to those who wish 
it.  Locar will not let that happen.  He will remove the man and leave 
only the vampire to return to the evil he has created for centuries.  
If you embrace the evil within you now, he will leave and the man can 
survive as well.  Can't you feel it?  Your loss of control, the urge to 
feed on human blood, it's all growing stronger.  We all can feel it.  
As long as he is here, we become the animals he created us to be.  You 
have not totally embraced your humanity or the urges of the vampire 
would no longer be."  She stared at her sister in desperation.  "You 
must make him see it, Tasha.  We are family for better or for worse. 
Please?"

Natalie stared at her sister.  She recognized the honesty and the fear.  
Teressa truly believed what she said.  The book of the Archives once 
more was foretelling their future, but she had a more reliable guide.  
She and Nick were not given a second chance only to return to the past.  
The angel was very specific the first time they'd met.

"We are no longer the people we were, Teressa.  Look at yourself, feel 
what is inside you.  You have to decide what guides your life.  Some 
people change, some don't.  You must choose what you want to be.  There 
is evil within us all, but there is great good as well.  You alone must 
decide which gives you the power to live the life you want.  You are my 
sister, my blood, but you have given into the evil within you for your 
own selfish need.  I can forgive you for being weak, but I can't let 
you contaminate my family with it.  Leave now.  Return to LaCroix and 
live with the life you have created.  If it isn't the life you want, 
change it! We've made our decision."  

She placed her hand in Nick's at her side now.  "This is my home and 
you are not welcome here as you are."  Nat pointed at the door.

Teressa's anger flared instantly and flashed golden eyes at Nick.  
"Your blood burns for me.  Deny it, Nick!"

"Your blood does not burn for me, Teressa.  That is in your mind, 
something LaCroix has put there in an effort to get me to return to his 
side.  I understand why now, but it doesn't change the fact.  I fight 
the vampire within me, it is true, but my blood only burns for Natalie.  
Reach into what you felt from me.  Don't mix suggestion with fact.  Go 
back to LaCroix and make him feel what is inside you and maybe there 
will be a chance.  I honestly don't know.  The evil has been with him 
for so long, I don't know if there is a chance for anything else to 
survive.  You must choose what you can live with.  You wanted a chance 
to make him love you.  I suggest you use it or move on."  She looked 
sadly into his eyes and pushed into the link he opened between them.  
He spoke the truth.  A single tear slid down her cheek and she 
disappeared.

Nick could feel the pain within her.  It radiated like the warmth that 
passed between them when they connected.  He had hurt her again.  Guilt 
flooded his soul.  She was so strong, so smart, but she was right.  
They had changed, both of them, but was it enough? He pulled her into 
his arms and wrapped both hands around her face to look into her soul.

"Tell me you meant everything you said.  Tell me you love me in spite 
of my weakness, in spite of my stupidity.  I have changed, Natalie, 
please don't ever doubt it."  A single tear slipped from her eye.  He 
wiped it away while it tore his heart apart.

She reached to touch his inviting lips as she pushed back her own 
insecurities.  "I will always doubt myself when it comes to Teressa, 
but I have never doubted you.  I need to be with you, Nick.  I need to 
feel what is inside you, because the human side of me still needs to 
hear the words."

Nick reached to his own neck and sliced open the vein pulsing slowly in 
reaction to her being near.  He brought her lips to the blood and gave 
into the connection between them with the first swallow she took.  No 
matter how many times they shared blood, the pleasure never seemed to 
lessen.  She drank deeply as he took them to the couch with her still 
sucking his essence into her soul.  She broke the connection and sliced 
open the vein on her own neck.  He came to her immediately.  

Love washed over him filled with the doubt of her own sexuality.  She 
never doubted his love or the change within him, but her deep fear of 
losing him to another woman physically had never gone away.  He tore 
himself away from her neck as he lay on top of her.  How could she not 
see how beautiful she was?  How much he had always wanted her?  Never 
again...he would never let her doubt again.  His lips met hers and she 
opened like a flower under his touch.  His tongue caressed the inside 
of her mouth as his hands disrobed her.  Breaking the kiss long enough 
to stand and disrobe himself, he stared into her lust-filled eyes.  

"I have always wanted you, Natalie."  He knelt down beside her and 
gazed into her eyes while his hands caressed her exquisite face.  "I 
love every inch of you.  No one has ever made me feel like you do!  Let 
me make you feel the same." He kissed her lips as his hands trailed 
over her breasts and massaged them until they became hard nubs under 
his fingertips.  Only then did he suck gently on them and move his 
hands lower.  His fingers traced every curve; his lips touched every 
inch of her, until she moaned beneath his touch.  

Swirling the tight nub in his mouth, he knicked it slightly with his 
razor sharp fangs.  He stopped to let the blood pool and her scent fill 
the air.  He inhaled deeply, then lapped the precious fluid into his 
mouth.  The connection was made once more and her juices flowed freely.  
He sucked harder as his hands found what they sought.  Between his two 
fingers, he pulled and rubbed her clit causing her juices to flood his 
fingers.  Lust washed through their link.  He plunged two fingers 
inside her, removed his mouth from her breast and sliced open his own 
neck once more.  He pulled her mouth to it.

"I want you to feel how bad I want you, my love.  I want you to taste 
it, crave it, as badly as I crave being with you."  She drank deeply as 
he worked her clit skillfully.  His manhood rubbed her leg and grew 
with each stroke of his finger.  Pleasure flooded his body as she drank 
his blood and made them one.  His need for her was becoming almost 
painful, but he would not stop.

One hand held his neck to her lips as her other hand found his hard 
shaft rubbing her thighs.  Lust filled with passion flooded her senses.  
She could no longer tell which was his or hers.  It didn't matter 
anymore.  Only his body could put out the fire that burned within her.  

She started to break free, but he pulled her back to his neck and 
plunged his hard cock deep within her.  "Feel it, Natalie.  Feel how 
much my body craves yours."  Slowly he began to move within her.  Each 
stroke caressed her clit and plunged deep into her wet core.  He wanted 
more.  He wanted her to surrender completely to him.  He ground his 
pelvis against hers until he touched her cervix.  She released his neck 
and screamed in pleasure.  He was lost to the feel of her beneath him, 
to the love she carried in her heart for only him and the faith in them 
together.  It was in her blood, in her body and he would never 
willingly give it up.  He retreated once more.  She whimpered until he 
pounded hard back within her again.  Each stroke bespoke the love he 
felt for her, the need only she could satisfy.  She met him stroke for 
stroke pulling his tight ass with her fingers until finally she placed 
her legs on his shoulder and gave into the need within her.  He plunged 
harder and deeper now until she began to contract around his throbbing 
shaft.  She screamed his name in release as her body fell into the 
sweet abyss they both craved.

He watched the look on her face when she gave into her own needs and 
tightened around him.  It was not enough.  He had to be a part of her, 
deep within her so she would never doubt what was between them.  He 
caressed her stomach as she began to contract around his shaft and he 
pushed deeper.  Grinding the head of his penis against her cervix, he 
lost all control.  His seed began to spill into her.  

"Let me in, Natalie."  He panted as he continued to massage her 
stomach.  "Let us in.  I want another child.  Our child made with 
love."  He screamed his release and pumped harder as the need to create 
life burned through his veins.  

Pleasure came with each stroke and she gave into it without hesitation 
as he rubbed her abdomen over her uterus.  She'd never known how 
sensitive she was.  It was beyond erotic as his penis caressed, then 
ground hard into her cervix.  It should have been painful, but as he 
massaged her stomach she opened even further.  He was filled with a 
burning need to be inside her.  She could feel it between their blood 
connection and the contact within her body.  She arched and surrendered 
to him.  Another child...he wanted another child and so did she.  She 
felt his release as he screamed her name.

She pulled him back to her neck.  "Feel my love, Nick.  Make us one 
once more as we were always meant to be."  He sank his fangs into her 
neck and drank deeply.



Part 11




Teressa walked into the Raven slowly.  It was still early, but the club 
would open soon.  When she closed the door, the cold feeling of death 
swept over her.  Power, old power, crushed her to the floor.  She 
screamed in agony when the flames of Hell began to burn in her veins.  
"Lucien!"  She sobbed as she clutched her arms to her body.  As quickly 
as it came, it disappeared.  She sat panting on the floor and noticed 
the blood running from her nose, dripping onto the floor.  She 
gradually got to her feet with the help of a chair, wiped the blood 
from her face and headed toward their living quarters.  The door was 
torn from the hinges, the walls partially demolished.  She stepped into 
the room to find the small wet bar in the corner upturned and broken 
into a thousand pieces.  

"Lucien?"  She whispered as her heart beat twice in succession.  Panic 
overcame her.  The bed was shredded and the wall into the bathroom had 
been demolished as if a body had been tossed through it.  She ran 
quickly to the other side to find LaCroix lying silently in his own 
blood.  Quickly, she knelt down beside him and placed her hand over his 
heart.  She felt nothing, no vibration, and no life force.   She 
checked him for injuries, finding multiple stab wounds by wooden shards 
and enormous amounts of blood pooled underneath him.  It had been a 
terrible battle and he'd lost.

"Lucien! Don't you leave me!"  She sliced her wrist and pressed it to 
his lips.  Her blood dripped freely down his throat, but there was no 
response.  "Lucien!"   She screamed as the tears poured from her eyes.  
She shook him violently to no avail.  She tore from the room and dialed 
the phone.  This wasn't happening.  Not now...not LaCroix.  Locar 
wanted Nick, not Lucien.

Nick answered on the fourth ring.  "Nick, he's killed LaCroix!"  She 
sobbed hysterically.  "He's killed him. I can't live without him!"  She 
wept uncontrollably and let her greatest fear crush her to the floor.  
"He's...gone.  I'm lost."  She whispered now and gave into the grief.

--------

"Teressa?"  Nick tried to reach her through their link, but she closed 
it down.
He stared into his wife's blue eyes.  "He's come after LaCroix.  It 
starts now."  He kissed her on the lips passionately.  "I shall love 
you forever, Natalie Lambert Knight."  He stared into her eyes.  "You 
are my strength and my heart, you and the kids.  Together we can defeat 
him.  Take the kids to Daniel, Tracy and Vachon.  Meet me at the Raven 
when you're done.  I can't do this alone.  I know that now."  He jumped 
from the couch, quickly dressed and was gone.

----------

Teressa sat cradling LaCroix's head in her lap.  His wounds had not 
improved and his blood was not being drawn back into his body.  He was 
dead.  All the planning, all the hopes of making him see she was worth 
any price were gone.  Tears flooded her face.

Nick flew into the room.  He could feel the presence of evil still 
lurking in the corners...waiting for the right moment.  He stopped and 
scanned the room.  Quickly, he knelt down beside his fallen master.  
His life force still fought for existence.  Nick could feel it like a 
small feather brushing his skin.  They were part of each other and 
always would be.  He sighed in relief. Yes, they were a part of each 
other...He could finally accept that now.  With centuries of practice, 
he sliced his wrist and shoved it into LaCroix's mouth.  He 
concentrated on the tiny link that still existed between them.  He had 
closed it off for months, but finally he understood the reasons for 
LaCroix's behavior.  It wasn't the evil within LaCroix that made him 
try so hard to force Nick back to his side, but the love of a father to 
save his son in the only way he knew how.  In that instant, Nick 
forgave him.  Bright flames burst to life in his mind and LaCroix began 
to suck gently on his wrist.  Teressa gasped in relief.

"Lucien? Oh, please, Lucien.  Come back to us."  The link was complete.  

Images of the fight between Locar and LaCroix danced through Nick's 
mind.  The pain he'd felt became a part of Nick and he understood just 
how hard his father had battled to save his life.  Strong emotions 
passed between them, as Nick felt his father's eternal fear of losing 
him to death in the name of their preservation and choice.  LaCroix had 
known all along Nick was destined to fight the ancient Locar, and in 
his own way, he had tried to protect him.  Images of his love for 
Teressa and what it had cost him to use her to protect him tore at 
Nick's heart.  

Never before had LaCroix let him see so deeply into his soul.  A soul 
filled with torment and regret that he had caused himself by killing 
his own child.  Being a vampire was his punishment for the greatest 
evil of all.  He had never forgiven himself and he would not watch 
Nicholas die without a fight.

Lost in the feelings between them, Nick hadn't noticed LaCroix's eyes 
open.  "You are my son.  You have always been my son."  His weak voice 
caressed Nicholas' mind.  Nick's bright blue eyes met his.

"I am more than that, LaCroix, and you have to let me fulfill my 
destiny." He helped him sit up and put his hand in Teressa's.  "Love is 
stronger than evil and if you let her see what is inside you, you will 
know I'm right."

"He has gone after the children."  LaCroix's eyes filled with regret.  
"I was not strong enough to reject him.  He is looking for something 
you would never sacrifice at any price.  He cannot touch Natalie.  He 
has tried and she rejected him. Use it to get the children back 
safely."

Nick headed for the door.  "He will use your doubts against you, 
Nicholas.  Only if you return to the darkness does he win.  Your death 
banishes him into oblivion and the choice to return to the light will 
be ours once more."  For the first time since they'd met, he saw regret 
in his master's eyes.  He shut the door and walked out.

-------------

Natalie rushed into the morgue to pick up the experiment she'd run 
after Dana left.  She had to be right or she'd lose Nick forever.  
Whatever Locar injected into his victims through his bite acted as a 
conduit.  The energy he created simply ignited the compound from 
within.  Whether he gained anything in the process she couldn't be 
sure.  "Well at least we are right about some of it, Dana."  Nat stared 
at the needle filled with fluid before her.

"Right about what, Natalie?"  Dana said calmly as she and Mulder 
stepped through the door.

Natalie stared at the bright young woman before her and gasped.  She 
didn't need this now.  "Nothing, Dana.  How are you?"

Mulder walked over and reached for the needle.  Natalie glared at him.  
"You'd better fill me in, doctor, because right now I have a gigantic 
headache from your husband's whammy and my partner here thinks I'm 
nuttier than usual."  Knowing eyes stared into hers.

"There are some things in this world better off left unexplained." She 
turned and stared at Dana.  "Some things that can't be scientifically 
explained.  You've seen it, but refuse to accept it.  I did too until 
reality slapped me in the face.  I don't have time to explain."  Her 
phone rang and she jerked it from her pocket.  "Lambert!"

"Nat, he's going after the kids.  I'm going to Daniel's place.  Meet me 
there, but don't go in until we are together.  Promise me!"  Worry 
laced his voice as he pushed into their link.

"I promise, Nick.  I'll be there in 10."  She flipped the phone closed 
and grabbed her keys on the desk.

"We're going with you."  Mulder said without hesitation.

She stared at him, then Scully.  "No you're not.  This isn't a game 
anymore.  He is after my children.  Go back to the states.  Help those 
people who were touched by this maniac.  Help them understand that the 
evil within us is what he craves.  Tell them to change their lives 
before it's too late."  She brushed past them and ran out the door.

---------
 
"I don't understand any of this Mulder.  She knows there is a 
scientific explanation for what this man is doing.  He's injecting them 
with something and then lighting it with an electrical pulse."  Scully 
looked at her partner in disbelief.

"Just what does he inject into them, Scully, and how does he light it 
from 10 feet away?"  Images of the night before flashed in his mind.  
He grabbed his forehead in pain.  Scully tried to support him enough to 
keep him from falling to the floor.  Images of Knight with fangs bared.  
The anger and pain he felt all became jumbled in his mind.  Scully had 
managed to get him to Nat's chair without him falling over.  When the 
images stopped, he stared at the blond man in the picture on her desk.  
This time he was smiling filled with the light of happiness, all 
clearly displayed on his face.  Jonathan and Gracie smiled back at him 
as well.  The man who had saved his life was Nick Knight and he was not 
mortal.  More questions popped into his mind.  He'd seen Knight in the 
daylight from a distance.  Vampires didn't play house with mortals or 
the mortals became dead...and last but not least, they didn't have 
kids.  This was all wrong and Scully wouldn't believe any of it.

"Let's just follow her and find out what is really going on.  She may 
need our help."  He stared at the picture.  The creature he'd met 
before and the pain he'd felt touched his mind in full force, causing 
him to correct his statement.  "Maybe they BOTH need our help."

------------

Tracy was on her way as Daniel tucked Gracie into bed beside Jonathan.  
She'd refused to be anywhere without him since they'd arrived.  Vachon 
had left to get some supplies in case they had to hold up for awhile.  
Natalie had called from the car and so had Nick.  He wished Vachon 
hadn't already left.  Both Nick and Nat were terrified.  Both kids were 
nervous and on edge.  They cuddled up together and sat huddled in the 
corner of the bed waiting for their parents.  Daniel paced the floor 
before them as soon as he tucked the sheets around them.  He'd tried to 
be positive, but Gracie read his mind.  She started crying as soon as 
he'd hung up the phone.  Only Jonathan's touch had calmed her.  
Periodically, he would stop and check on them.  Jonathan held out his 
hand.  Daniel rushed to his side and clasped the small hand in his.  
He'd meant to comfort the child, but the opposite was happening.  Calm 
flooded his senses, filled with a peace only Jonathan could see and 
feel.  He smiled, then touched Daniel's face.  

"Don't worry, Uncle Daniel. Mom and Dad will protect us all.  What is 
between them is strong.  Together nothing is impossible.  My Dad tells 
me that all the time."  He smiled, as the room became ice cold until 
they could see their breath.  Daniel picked up the holy water on the 
nightstand and poured it in a circle around the bed.  Jonathan hugged 
Gracie in his arms and concentrated on his newly forming link with his 
Dad.  Daniel wrapped the crosses in rags to protect his hands, then 
placed them inside the holy water in 5 different places around the bed.  
A fire erupted before him as he finished.  The cloaked figure Nick had 
described to him earlier appeared.  Glowing red eyes appeared in the 
darkness and he flashed his razor-sharp fangs for effect.

"You think this will stop me.  If the father will not be mine, then the 
children shall."  He held his arms out and flames shot from his 
fingertips.  They stopped at the circle of holy water and hissed with 
the contact.  Locar screamed in rage.  "Not enough!  The evil within 
you will be my guide!"  He reached out with his mind and crushed Daniel 
to his knees.  Gracie screamed as her little mind touched Daniel's and 
felt the pain.  Jonathan reached for Daniel, still holding his sister.  
Power washed over them all, but Jonathan's purity and calm stilled the 
beast and they all passed out.

"LOCAR!"  Nick screamed as he crashed through the door.  He reached out 
to his children and felt Jonathan's pain.  Anger washed over him 
causing his fangs to drop.

"Very good, de Brabant!"  Locar laughed when he appeared before him.  
"All is not lost after all."  He reached out with his mind and tossed 
Nick back through the opening into the street, then followed.  His 
ancient power washed over the street and crushed Nick to his knees.  
"You are filled with doubt, de Brabant, and it makes you weak.  If you 
will not come back to the darkness, then your children will."  He shot 
flames from his fingertips that ignited a fire within Nick's blood.  
Hunger, need, lust, greed, anger hurled itself toward the forefront and 
Nick's beast surged forth.

"That's it, Nicholas.  Be as you were meant to be! There is no room for 
forgiveness in your soul."  He lunged toward Nick and sank his fangs 
deep within his neck.

The fire flared to life inside his mind with Locar's first sip of his 
blood.  Pain tore through him, but he did not give into it.  He pushed 
into the pain and fed Locar all that was within him.  His love of 
Natalie and the kids, his forgiveness of LaCroix and his willingness to 
die for those he loved.  With each beat of his heart he gave into what 
he really was, what he was always meant to be.

Natalie's heart beat so loudly she was certain Locar would hear, but 
Nick had distracted him enough.  She plunged the needle deep within 
Locar's neck from behind.  Locar screamed in rage and swatted her away 
like a fly.  He turned and pulled the needle from his neck.  For the 
first time in centuries pain roared in his veins.  Hatred engulfed him 
as he stalked the young woman who'd caused this to happen.  Knight, 
even in pain, was at her side before he could reach her.  How was that 
possible?  He looked at his hands in surprise.  They began to age.  He 
tried to flash fire, only to see the skin on his wrist wither and peel 
before his eyes.  Pain unlike he'd ever imagined tore through his body 
until his knees gave way.  "What have you done?"  He hissed while he 
stared at his failing body.

"Given you back your humanity, Locar.  My blood with the serum has made 
you human.  A 5000 year old human, but human."  Nick gasped between 
breaths.

A scream tore from Locar's lips when his skin peeled from his body and 
evaporated before them.  Within minutes only a skeleton remained, then 
dust.

Natalie held onto Nick when she felt him convulse in pain as the 
transformation took place. "Don't you leave me, Nick."  She held onto 
him for dear life, but he began to collapse in spite of her efforts.

Strong arms stopped them both from hitting the ground.  Mulder put an 
arm under Nick's as he fought the pain.  "Need some help?  For some 
reason, I remember I owe you one."  

In a faint voice,  "My kids, he hurt my kids...please."  Nick groaned 
and coughed blood as his body fought the poison injected into him from 
the bites.  Mulder turned to Scully and Natalie.

"You get the kids and meet me back at the car."  He threw a now 
unconscious Nick over his shoulder and headed for the car.  Natalie had 
already run for the stairs inside.  Scully was only a step behind.  
They reached the bedroom and Natalie immediately checked the children.  
With a sigh of relief, she felt strong steady pulses.  

Scully checked Daniel.  "I'm afraid it's too late.  There's no pulse."  
Sympathetic eyes met Nat's.

"Daniel is a vampire, Dana, a real one...and they don't have a pulse."  
Natalie scooted to the edge of the bed and reached out with her limited 
senses for Daniel's life-force.  It was there as strong as ever.  She 
smiled.  "He's okay, just unconscious. Can you get him while I get the 
kids?"  Dana looked at her skeptically.  She wasn't much bigger than 
Natalie.

"Okay, I'll be right back."  She picked up Gracie in one arm and 
Jonathan in the other.  Although it was awkward, with her new-found 
strength it wasn't a problem.  She brought the kids to the car and laid 
them across Nick.  Their presence would help him fight the battle 
within.  

"Scully is inside with a friend.  Can you help her?"  He's too big for 
her to carry alone."  Mulder nodded and hopped out of the car.  "By the 
way, Mulder...thank you for not judging us before you know the whole 
story."

---------- 

Daniel regained consciousness in the car.  Scully pulled a gun out of 
instinct.  He could see the fear in Natalie's face as she tried to make 
Nick more comfortable.  When they arrived at the loft, he carried Nick 
upstairs to bed as Natalie pulled all her blood supplies from the 
fridge.  Scully and Mulder carried the children.

"Where do we put them?"  Mulder questioned uncertain how to help.  
Nothing he'd seen made sense.  

"Put them in bed with Nick."  Daniel met them at the head of the 
stairs.

"He's in a lot of pain, Nat.  Whatever that stuff is...it's killing 
him.  He's burning up.  Are you sure you want the kids to feel this?"  
Concern laced his voice.

She hesitated and reached out to her husband.  Tears filled her eyes as 
she met Daniel.  "He needs us all Daniel."  She dashed up the stairs 
into the bedroom.



Part 12




Scully checked Natalie's pulse as she lay beside her husband with her 
arm recently bandaged from her efforts.  Both Jonathan and Gracie lay 
unconscious draped across Nick's still form.  Nat's pulse was slower 
than normal and very erratic.  Nick awoke periodically.  Natalie would 
calm him down by reopening the vein in her arm.  He was in pain and 
fighting for his life.  Mulder and Scully stood by silently watching, 
afraid to ask to many questions.  Natalie finally passed out from the 
lack of blood.  Scully bandaged her arm and started an IV.  The woman 
should have been in shock, but only an erratic heartbeat was an 
indication of her depleted condition.

Hesitantly, Scully checked Nick only to have him moan in pain from her 
touch.  She pulled her hand back instantly.  His fangs were visible and 
she'd seen his eyes glow red only minutes before when he awoke.  They 
were in trouble.  He was growing weaker and Natalie was out of blood 
she could donate.  "I...I don't understand this, Mulder."  She stared 
at Nick's sharp fangs barely visible as he lay quietly on the bed.  "He 
is real.  What we saw tonight really happened."  She turned to Mulder 
more frightened than she cared to admit.

"He is a vampire.  A real vampire and Daniel is, too. What is going 
on...?"  Mulder knelt down beside her and put a finger to her lips.

"It doesn't matter what he is.  He's just different than us.  He saved 
my life the other night and unless I miss my guess, he just stopped a 
good number of murders that would have happened.  So he drinks blood.  
We eat beef rare and we don't think that's strange.  He could have 
killed me the other night and he didn't, even when that hooded creature 
tried to make me look like a rare vintage.  He fought the evil within 
himself and won." 

He pulled Scully's hand into his.  "I know everything has an 
explanation, but maybe that explanation is more complex than just 
science.  He was willing to sacrifice himself for a stranger, and those 
two beautiful kids down there.  How could something evil do that?  How 
could something evil create such treasures in life?"  He rubbed 
Jonathan's blond hair.  "Children are a gift from God, not the devil."  
He stared at Natalie lying in Nick's arms.  "You can feel the love 
between them like a living thing.  They are more than friends or 
partners.  They are what we all seek..."

Scully touched Mulder's cheek.  "...They are soulmates."  She finished 
his thought.  Her eyes locked with his.

"Yes,"  he whispered and said a silent prayer.

Nick began to thrash around again.  Mulder tried to force him to be 
quiet.  Daniel had disappeared only to return with an older gentlemen 
dressed all in black.  His skin was pale and his eyes like cold steel.  
A dark haired woman of about 30 stood beside him.  The ethereal beauty 
of her skin took your breath away as the power he commanded washed over 
the room.  He took a step forward and stumbled.  She held onto him 
tightly and assisted him to Nick's side.  

"Leave us."  LaCroix commanded expecting no reproach.

"Can you help them?"  Scully stayed her position in an effort to 
protect her patients.  "If not, then you should leave.  They have 
enough problems right now."

He shot daggers at her as the gold dusted his eyes.  She gasped when 
the power of his age swept over her.  Instantly, she recognized the 
knowledge of centuries in his eyes...but she saw no compassion.  So she 
asked again.  "Can you help them?"

In pain from his own recent battle, as well as the pain from Nicholas 
in his current position, LaCroix's temper was short; however, he 
recognized tenacity when he saw it.  The young woman would protect his 
son.  The man stood behind her and drew his weapon.

"Know that I loaded this with bullets made of wood, filled with garlic.  
They may not kill you, but they will slow you down.  So answer the 
question."  Mulder cocked the pistol for effect.

Nicholas had a knack for picking out tedious mortals.  In his current 
condition there was no time to waste.  "He is my son.  If I cannot help 
him, then he will die."  A flash of pain brought LaCroix to his knees.  
He groaned in unison with Nick.  Scully rose and backed away. 

LaCroix crawled to Nick's side.  He reopened Natalie's wrist and bound 
it to Nick's.  He made small cuts in Jonathan and Gracie's palms.  
Placing one hand in each other and one hand of each child in the hand 
of their parents, he created a blood circle.  He sat down beside them 
and called on the power within him.  With a deep breath, he sliced his 
own wrist, held it above Nick's lips and let the blood drip into his 
mouth.  "Blood of my blood, I release you."  He said with sadness.  
Teressa gasped.

At first the room turned cold, then warm and a mist began to form.  
Lights began to dance from within as it surrounded the four bodies 
lying on the bed.  The light became brighter and the room warmer.

"Follow the light, Nicholas.  It is what you were meant to do."  The 
light became a glowing ball and began to throb like a heartbeat.  
LaCroix pulled his hand free from the light and stepped back.  Regret 
was written on his face.  He had lost him forever.  

"LaCroix!"  Nick screamed in pain and the light disappeared.  He panted 
heavily and searched the room for his father.  Nick raised his hand 
slowly.  LaCroix stepped forward and took it.  "It is never too late, 
LaCroix.  Forgive yourself as I have forgiven you and there is a 
chance.  We are blood and shall always be.  Words can never bind me or 
free me, only love can do that."

He stared at Teressa.  "You have been given a second chance.  Don't 
waste it."  He stared at LaCroix.  "Evil is a choice not an absolute.  
You must choose your path every day.  You can live in darkness or the 
light.  The decision is yours."  LaCroix stood and stepped back into 
the shadows as the room gave way to a new day.

Natalie coughed as did Jonathan and Gracie.  "Dad?"  Jonathan's weak 
voice touched his heart.  Nick pulled him closer and gave into the 
warmth he felt from his son.  Gracie smiled up at him and hugged his 
leg.  Happiness flooded his mind as she touched him. 

"Nick?"  Natalie sighed with relief as his bright blue eyes met hers.  
She stretched her hand across his chest and kissed him softly.  His 
heart beat underneath her fingertips and she started in surprise.  She 
immediately checked his pulse and felt the warmth to his skin.  "You're 
mortal."  She said shocked, then checked him again.  "Nick, you're 
mortal!"  She screamed in delight and wrapped her arms around his neck, 
then kissed him soundly.  "My God, you are beautiful in the morning 
sun."  Gracie giggled as the sun danced across the room onto the bed.

"Mommy's hair pretty in the sun, too."

"You read my mind, Gracie!"  Nick touched Nat's auburn curls in the 
sunlight.  "And I intend to make sure you get a tan to go with it."  He 
pulled her lips back to his.  "I'm going to love you, Natalie Lambert, 
every day of our lives and beyond."  He rubbed her stomach.  "And our 
children, too."  He smiled knowingly, then turned to Gracie and 
Jonathan.   "How do you two feel about another brother?"  Gracie 
squealed in delight and Jonathan smiled.  "I take it that it's a yes."

LaCroix and Teressa stepped further back into the shadows and finally 
disappeared downstairs.  Teressa helped him to the leather chair and 
sat on the couch beside him.  She questioned their situation.  "The 
Archives were wrong.  The Child of Light didn't die."  She moved and 
knelt in front of him, then rested her head upon his knees.  Gently he 
rubbed her hair in a possessive caress.

"He is mortal and he will die.  With his death our connection will be 
gone forever."  He stared at the shutters closed to the morning sun and 
pondered the alternatives.  "Maybe Nicholas is right.  A short time in 
the sun with someone you love is worth an eternity in darkness."  He 
turned sad eyes to her.  "I have made many mistakes over the centuries 
and paid the price for it."  He stared up the stairs and reached out to 
the warmth he felt there.  Nicholas had forgiven him and regained his 
own humanity in the process.  It was a chance to start over again, even 
if only for a short time.    "They have shown us another way.  Maybe 
it's time we looked at the alternatives."

A single red tear slid down her face.  "I love you, Lucien LaCroix.  In 
the darkness or in the light, I want to be with you.  You are my heart 
and my soul and maybe together we can learn to walk in the light.  
Tasha was right when she said I chose my path, but I CAN and WILL 
change if you are with me.  Together we are a family..."  She stared up 
the stairs for a moment with great sadness.  "...and maybe she'll 
forgive me for that touch of evil I carry and show us the way."

He leaned over and pulled her into his lap.  "I have been a fool."  He 
caressed her face lovingly.  "I love you, Teressa, and if it takes me 
forever…I shall prove it to you."  He kissed her lips and let her feel 
his soul and his fatigue.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she wept for joy.  Now they had a 
second chance.  They would make it work, just like Tasha and Nick.



Epilogue:




Scully and Mulder watched from the sidelines.  For some reason Scully 
felt lighter, happier than she had in years.  Watching the happy family 
before her, she knew her life could change if she wanted it to.  She 
wrapped her arms around Mulder's waist.  He turned and stared at her, 
then draped his arm over her shoulder.  "Ahh, I hate to interrupt, but 
I have a few questions here that are going to drive me crazy if I don't 
find out."

Nick finally noticed them in the corner.  Natalie turned and beamed 
with happiness.  She ran and hugged them both tightly.  "Thank you, 
thank you, thank you.  I can't say that enough."

"What for, Natalie?  It was Nick who fought the demon and won, almost 
at the cost of his life."  Scully said simply.

"If it wasn't for our lab time together and your ideas, I probably 
wouldn't have seen the answer."  Dana stared at her confused.

"That night we did all the experiments with the blood…You were so 
convinced it had to be natural causes creating the reaction.  I was 
using Nick's blood from the first week I'd met him and his blood from a 
week ago.  You see we've been working for years to find a scientific 
reason for him being a vampire.  When I finally accepted there were 
things out there I couldn't explain, I got a new perspective on the 
world around me."  Dana still stared at her confused.

"You don't understand, do you?"  She led them both to the bed, so she 
could be near Nick as he recovered.  "Nick woke up on my morgue table 
15 years ago.  He hated what he was and wanted to make up for what he'd 
done over the centuries.  I was convinced his condition was physical 
not metaphysical. I tried to cure him, but the condition is both."  She 
leaned over and pulled Gracie into her lap.  "Over the years Nick began 
to change slowly and we fell in love.  It wasn't supposed to be 
possible. I mean..."  She smiled, stared at Nick and her two beautiful 
children.  "...playing house with a vampire usually gets you killed.  
When we accepted the love in our hearts for each other, we were willing 
to sacrifice everything and only then did our lives change.  We were 
given a second chance and we took it.  Every day Nick fought the evil 
within him and every day it got a little easier.  This creature fed on 
evil.  It gave him power and he refused to let any of it go.  Nick was 
becoming too strong...and together we could accomplish anything.  He 
couldn't let Nick become mortal again or evil would have been defeated.  
It would show all of his kind that they didn't have to be evil to have 
power.  Power is in here..."  She touched her heart, then Nick's. 
"...and here.  Love is the weapon against evil that not even the 
ancients could destroy."

"But I still don't understand what you injected into him."  Dana sat 
down beside them.

"After you left, I combined my blood with Nick's sample of a week ago.  
When I watched the reaction I saw the vampire gene disappear and the 
cells became perfectly normal once more.  I assumed that Locar's blood 
was filled with the poison he injected into people with his fangs.  I 
simply injected him with a serum mixture of my blood and Nick's 
combined.  With the influx of Nick's blood he'd drunk, Locar became 
mortal.  Apparently the mixture wasn't perfect and the cells began to 
age.  He became exactly what all bodies would have been after 5000 
years...dust."  

She touched Nick's face gently and smiled.  You could feel the love 
between them.  "I was afraid to put too much of my blood into Nick's 
system at once or the same thing would happen to him.  We had the 
advantage that Nick's system has been gradually adjusting to mine over 
the past 8 years; however, it was insufficient.  I should have known 
that, but this metaphysical stuff is still a bit unfamiliar to me.  He 
needed all our love and strength including his father's.  Nick had 
learned to love and sacrifice, but it wasn't enough.  He had to learn 
to forgive to be human."

"I finally understood what made you different than me."  Nick ran his 
hands through Nat's beautiful hair.  I wasn't sure I could ever forgive 
LaCroix.  At the Raven, I finally understood and so did he.  We'd come 
full circle with our lives.  He wanted a child he couldn't have and I 
wanted a father who'd love me for myself.  When I realized he'd been 
trying to protect me all these centuries from his greatest fear, I knew 
there was hope for us all.  He fears my death… not his own.  I knew 
then I could forgive him."  

He stared at the door and reached out with his senses, but felt nothing 
aside from warmth.  He smiled sadly. "I think this mortality thing will 
take some getting use to."  Nat leaned over and kissed him.

"I think you'll find it has some distinct advantages as well."  Nat 
smiled and let the happiness glow in her eyes.  She then turned back to 
Mulder and Scully.  "I know you have a thousand questions and we'll 
answer them all, but for now I need to put these kids to bed and check 
on our houseguests downstairs.  I suggest you find your hotel and come 
back later tonight.  Tonight we will show you another world that you 
only dreamed existed.  Tonight..."  She touched Dana's shoulder.  
"...tonight you will learn that science and the metaphysical world go 
hand in hand."  She smiled brightly and held her daughter in her arms.  

"Welcome to the real 'Twilight Zone!'


The End

Author's Note:

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