Another Reality  (02/16) 
By Jeannie Ecklund


Nick hadn't slept all day, his mind was so wound up.  He couldn't stop
thinking about the woman who'd suddenly come to life, rising from his
autopsy table the night before.  After she had left he'd gotten a
blinding headache.  She had tried to do something to make him forget,
but it hadn't worked.

Every time he closed his eyes he could see nothing but her face, feel
her touch, taste her lips.  It invaded his mind and would give him no peace.
As he lay there thinking he realized no matter what she had said she might
do to him, she'd risked herself for a child.  There was goodness inside
of her and sadness.

He had felt her despair as she had kissed him expressing her wish that
they had met, what was it, 800 years earlier?  Could she have really
lived that long?  She didn't look over 25.

He felt his body respond to the thought of her lips and fingers.  He
groaned and rolled off the bed. Thinking of her would do no good.  He would
probably never see her again.  He grabbed his coat and headed for the door.
He would take a walk, a long walk to clear his head. He still had a few
Hours before work.

As he strode to the front door he heard clicking toenails scatter across
the wooden floors of  the apartment.  He smiled down at the small black dog
that came flying around the corner from the kitchen.  The dog bounced up and
down tickling his knee.  He bent and scooped the animal up and hugged the
small dog to his chest.  "Want to go for a walk, boy?"

The small dog's rich brown eyes looked into his.  His little tongue came
out and licked his own small black lips.

Nick smiled.  He knew this was the dog's "yes."  "Okay boy, let's go
watch the sun go down."

He took a leash from the rack by the front door and slipped it onto the
dog's collar.  He carried him down the steps and out onto the sidewalk
before placing him on the concrete on his short stubby legs.

"Come on Beast, let's go to the park."  The dog started to run ahead
forcing Nick to run after him down the street.  Beast was a small Chihuahua
Terrier mix.  Black with a thick short body and wide little head with huge
pointed ears.  His hair was a longish variety.  His face was now white with
age but the ran and played like a pup.  Nick had had him for 10 years now.

Richard, Nick's brother, had a dog named Beauty, so he just thought it
would be fun to call his Beast.  Nick smiled as he watched the little
dog's short legs eat up the sidewalk.  The dog was curious about everything
and made a point of marking their path down the street.

They headed toward the park.  The huge orange globe of the sun was just
slipping below the horizon.

Nick let his thoughts drift back to his visitor of last night.  She must
be some where in this city.  Where could she be?  They'd reached the park
now and Nick bent to undo the dog's leash.  Beast scampered off dashing from
tree to tree, but always keeping his master in sight.

They wondered through the night into the moonlight park.  Nick stood on
the path as Beast dashed in and out of the bushes hoping to flush out a
squirrel.

Suddenly Nick realized a woman was coming toward him.  His heart skipped a
beat and a sweat broke out on his face.  It was Natasha. She was dressed in
casual clothing and looked like any other normal woman might out for a brisk
walk in the early evening.

Nick forced himself to continue toward her.  The vision of her fangs
flashed through his mind and made him shiver in anticipation.

She barely glanced at him as she passed him.  There was a slight flash
of her eyes as they met his briefly.

He walked past her a step or two.  She wasn't going to say anything. He
stopped and turned. "You're testing me...."  He found that she'd also
turned to look at him. "...to see if I've forgotten,"  he finished.

"I see you haven't."

"I don't want to. I won't!" he said defiantly.

She came close.  "This knowledge you hold can be very dangerous.  There
are others who would kill you."

Nick reached up to wipe the fresh sweat from his face.  Beast came from
the bushes, and  barked at the strange woman with his master.

"Beast, stop, sit," he commanded.

The little dog barked again a couple times and Nick pointed to him,
"Sit." Beast sat, watching the woman closely.

Ignoring the dog, Natasha had stepped around Nick and was now close to
him.

He could feel her coolness against his back.

"I'll take my chances," he said.

"I could kill you." she stated in a low sensuous voice.

"..but you won't,"  he said.  He now felt her hand sliding up his back.
Her cool fingers slipped to his side and along his ribcage under his
arm, and over his chest. He wanted to lean back against her and feel her
fangs in his neck.  Surrender himself to her.

"How do you know?" she asked.  "I'm a vampire. I'm evil."

"You're not evil." he said, looking over his shoulder into her face.

She spun him around so quickly that he nearly lost his balance.  Her
iron grip on his arm steadied him.

Beast started to growl low in his chest.

"Quiet boy," Nick whispered to the dog.

The little dog sat back on his haunches and watched.

"Natasha, you saved a human child.  That's how you ended up on my table
in a body bag."

She was glaring at him with amber eyes.  One of her cool hands snaked
over and up his chest. "I am what I am.  800 years of searching and wishing
other wise can't change this.  I choose to embrace the darkness."

He studied her face and was surprised to see pain and regret there. He
reached out a hand and cupped her cheek and chin. "You desire to be
human," he stated simply.

He was amazed to see a blood red tear slip from her eye and down her
cheek toward his thumb.

He caught it on his thumb as he caressed her cheek.  She seemed to
respond to his gentleness.  Her eyes closed and when her eyes opened
they where a deep blue color.

"It is futile to dwell on it.  I can not be disappointed again."

An idea stirred in him.  "I could try.  I am a doctor trained in
microbiology.  Have you tried modern medicine?"

She looked at him unable to disguise the hope.

"No I have not allowed myself to be experimented on since the '800's."

Nick blinked.  She'd said she was 800 years old.  The stories and
experiences she could tell him about!

"I will try if you will allow it.  I can make no promises."

She stared so long into his eyes that he felt drawn to her. He leaned
over and gently kissed her upturned lips.  He was pleased when she
responded to his kiss.

Beast barked and Nick pulled back and looked at the little dog.  A
whoosh of cold air assaulted him and when he looked back she was gone.

An overwhelming loneliness washed over him.

As he bent to pick up his little friend, he sighed and turned back
toward his apartment.  The warm little body of the dog gave him some
comfort. He pressed his lips against the animal's soft cheek.  When
would he ever see the beautiful Vampire named Natasha again?


End Chapter 02 

Another Reality, Jeannie Ecklund, Gersnightlady@cs.com