Another Reality 

by Olivia Jean Ecklund 

Chapter 11 


He watched the sky brighten for a minute then gathered Beast up and went to bed. 
Tomorrow night started his time off. He realized it would be empty without the 
possibility of seeing Natasha. He reached for the phone and dialed her number. 

"Knight here," she answered. 

"It's, Nick, Natalie." 

Her voice softened. "Nick, are you okay?" 

"Yes. I was just wondering when you're off." 

She laughed, delighted he'd called. "I managed to convince Stonetree to give us 
the same nights off." 

Nick smiled to himself, "Really." 

"A girl has to be available for her Prince Charming," she admitted. 

"How about a movie? I would love to spend some time with you," he said in a 
husky voice full of desire. 

"I'd love to see a movie with you, Nick." 

"I'll pick you up at sundown." he smiled to himself looking forward to the 
evening. 

"Come a bit early. I'm usually up by 4:00 pm." 

"Okay, Natalie." See you then," he said. 

"Sleep well, Nick." she said, in a soft sensuous voice. 

Nick sighed as he put the phone down. He fixed a microwave meal and feed Beast 
before crawling into bed. He woke about 12:00 pm and dressed in sweats to take 
Beast to the park. The little dog didn't get out much in the day. He took him 
out at least two or three times a week for some sun and exercise. They would sit 
under a tree and share some ice cream. He also brought Alf along, Beast's 
puppet. He loved to watch the little dog run on his very short legs. 

In the sunlight Nick could see the gray in the dog's coat. It went far beyond 
his face. On his legs, stomach, tail and even down his back were bits of white 
hair. He'd been almost pitch black when Nick had gotten him as a tiny puppy, 
with only a little white chin and a star on his chest and a few white toes. Now 
he had white nearly everywhere. 

Nick wondered what his life would be like if he hadn't had this little guy to 
talk too. He'd been alone for years. He'd dated only a few times. Janette was 
always trying to set him up with a woman. So were Don and Myra. 

He looked back as the little dog retrieved Alf and came back toward him. Beast 
was more like a child to him. Nick knelt and picked him up. He laid his nose 
against the dog's fur on his head and drew a deep breath, smelling the fresh 
sent of his shinny coat. He laid his cheek against the soft hair of his back, 
feeling his warmth. What a comfort he'd been all these years. A warm tongue came 
out and licked him on his nose as he raised his face. 

"Come on boy. I need to get home and dress for that special lady tonight." 

Beast watched as Nick showered and dressed for the evening. When Nick was home, 
Beast was never far from his side. Nick wore black slacks and a black turtle 
neck, with a sports jacket. He combed his thick blond hair into soft waves. 

"I'm going to have to get a hair cut soon," He said aloud. "C'mon boy, let's get 
you some food." Nick placed the food on a plate and watched as Beast ate. He 
made sure the little guy had water and some crunchies in his bowl before he left 
for his date. 

Nick picked up a bouquet of sunflowers and bright yellow roses from the store at 
the corner of his street before he drove to Natasha's loft. It was about an hour 
before sundown. He rang the door bell and the buzzer signaled for him to enter. 
He took the lift, then stepped into the loft apartment. He had expected to see 
Natalie waiting there for him, but she wasn't anywhere in sight. 

"Natalie?" he called. 

"Come on up, Nick. I'm nearly ready." Her voice came from the bedroom upstairs. 

He climbed the stairs expecting her to step out any minute. When she didn't 
appear he stepped curiously into the bedroom. The bathroom door was open and she 
was standing before a mirror blow dring her hair. He was suprised that her 
reflection seemed pale, almost see through. It was as if a ghost was reflected 
there. It made his heart flutter. She turned, the pale green silk robe that she 
wore flowed over her, showing every curve of her body. 

She felt his fear. "Most of my life I haven't had a reflection. Only in the last 
50 years or so have I begun to regain it a bit. Maybe I am redeeming myself. It 
does make it hard to put on makeup when you can't see yourself." 

She started to move toward him. Her robe flowed around her and he saw her as if 
in slow motion. The flow of her hair and the shimmering of the material as it 
slid around her moving body. Her lips were red and inviting. 

"Nat...may...be ...I should...wait downstairs." He turned and fled, hearing her 
delighted laugh behind him. 

She thought. "I shouldn't tease him so. He's such a boy. But I love to see the 
blood shade his ears." She smiled wickedly and then slipped out of the robe and 
pulled a black velvet sheath over her head. It had tiny spaghetti straps over 
the shoulders. She applied blood red lipstick and smoothed her hair lay in thick 
curled layers over her shoulders and down her back. Then she rechecked her dim 
reflection. More than satisfied, she headed downstairs. 

"Wow!" he said, turning to her. He held out his hands and drew her close, 
placing a warm kiss on her check. 

"You're beautiful, Natasha," he said, using the name she'd given him the night 
they met. "Why did you change your name at the station?" 

"It makes me more ordinary. I fit in better and besides I always get those moose 
and squirrel jokes. Do you know what they are talking About?" 

He smiled, "It refers to a character in a cartoon. She is named Natasha and 
there is a moose and squirrel in it. I watched it when I was a kid." 

She grimaced. "I hate cartoons." 

Nick wasn't surprised, and he said so. He turned toward the table and picked up 
the flowers he had brought. "For you." 

Her face lit with pure pleasure. "Oh, Nick, they're beautiful! I seldom get to 
see flowers in the light. Nick was shocked and amazed when a big red tear formed 
and slipped out of her eye. He grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed 
at it, looking at it curiously. 

"Blood is our only fluid, even our tears are red," she explained. 

Nick ran his finger gently over her cheek. "I'm glad you like them," he said. He 
stuffed the handkerchief in his pocket. He would study the blood later. It might 
prove interesting. 

He leaned his forehead against hers. "May I hold you for a moment?" 

She nodded. 

He drew her close, wrapping his arms around her. Their cheeks pressed against 
each others. "You tug at my heart so, Natasha." 

She relaxed for a moment, comfortable in his arms. She felt the beast stir 
within her. She pulled back and Nick saw the amber in her eyes. 

He did not shy away, but smiled and took her arm. "Come on, let's go see that 
movie." 

They chose an adventure film instead of a romantic one. Neither wanted to stir 
the beast or their desires again, especially in public. After they walked around 
the shopping mall that held the theatre Nick invited her for a drink. They took 
a dark booth in the rear of the restaurant. 

Nick got coffee and Natalie ordered a glass of red wine. He watched her 
Discreetly take a flask from her purse and pour a dark liquid into the wine. She 
stirred it with her finger, then sucked the tip looking at him as she did." 

Nick felt heat rise from his face and he looked away, hearing her laugh. "You're 
such a delight, Nick. I love your freshness. You make me feel alive again." 

He smiled back at her and sipped his coffee. They talked about their cases and 
later drove to his place and got Beast and went for a walk in the park. The moon 
was bright and Nick noticed Natalie's eyes seemed to take on a life of their 
own. They sparkled and flashed in the moonlight. He saw bits of amber as she 
seemed to look through the dark shadows around them and see things he couldn't. 

"Do you have infrared sight?" he asked curiously. "Yes, its a compensation for 
having to live in the darkness." Suddenly a muffled scream touched her senses 
and she looked to her left. Nick saw her eyes turn from amber to red. He took a 
step away, uncertain as to why she had changed. 

Before he could say anything, she thrust her purse into his hands and rose up 
into the sky. That fast she was gone. He stood open mouthed and felt his legs go 
weak. "She can fly!" he gasped. 

Now a piercing scream rent the air and he turned in the direction Natalie had 
flown. He ran toward the cry for help. Soon he came into a clearing and saw 
Natalie drop from the sky, knocking an attacker away from the woman. 

He ran close, reaching for the victim first. He saw Natalie's face in the 
moonlight. Her eyes blazed red and her fangs were out, the would-be attacker 
held firm in her grasp. She was ready to strike. 

"Natalie! No!" he cried out. 

She turned to look at him then flung the man away from her. He was knocked 
unconscious when he hit the ground. Nick pulled a phone from his pocket and 
called 911. Looking back at Natalie, he could see that she was struggling to 
regain her composure. He held the girl close to him protectively, so she could 
not look to see what was going on. He soothed her with words of comfort 
explaining who they were. She seemed content to cling to him. 

As they heard sirens come close, Natalie came to him and touched the woman's 
face, turning her so she could look into her eyes. "You saw nothing unusual 
here. We just came to help..." 

The young woman said, "Nothing unusual..." 

Nick watched, fascinated. Nat finally turned to him and took her purse back. She 
pulled a plastic tie from it to handcuff the perpetrator, securely fastening his 
hands behind his back. Then she aroused him and gave him the same memory 
altering treatment. 

The police cars zeroed in on them, taking the prisoner off their hands. The 
victim was led to a separate unit, under the protection of a female officer. 

As the cars drove away, Natalie looked at him. There he stood with his little 
dog and expectant look on his face, but Natalie could feel the beast churning 
beneath the surface. It had been denied the kill of the hunt. She had to get 
away from Nick. 

She stood nailed to the spot until everyone else was gone. When he took a step 
toward her, she held up her hand for him to stop. "Please, Nick. I need to go." 

He could see the amber in her eyes. He slumped back disappointed. 

"I'm sorry," she said. 

"It's okay. You saved that woman's life, Nat. Please call me later. It doesn't 
matter how late. If we can't be together, at least we can talk on the phone." 

She nodded. He watched as she soared up into the air and disappeared into the 
night sky. 

Beast barked after her. Nick scooped the little guy up in his arms and held him 
close. "Well, it's just you and me again, boy." 

End Chapter 11


By Jeannie Ecklund Gersknightlady@cs.com