Another Reality 

by Olivia Jean Ecklund 

Chapter 15 


She took the glass and drank it down, handing it back to Nick for a refill. She 
stepped closer as he turned away to refill it. She ran her hand over his shirted 
back and leaned to kiss him. 

Nick stood still and closed his eyes, smiling when her cheek rested against him. 
She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. "Nick, thanks for 
understanding, for forgiving me. I want to be only gentle with you. You know I 
care for you with every fiber of my body." 

Nick felt his desire flare. He felt her stiffen and knew she also smelled his 
need for her. 

"Ah, Nat, maybe being alone isn't the best idea. We should start the movie." 

She sighed, drawing away, "Maybe being alone at all is not the best idea. Its so 
hard not wanting you. It's not yet time." 

He nodded. "When will it be?" 

"I'll know and I will tell you." She kissed him, then sighed. 

"I know how you feel. Come on. Let's go to the concert in the Park. There is an 
all night celebration. A dance and a craft fair. We can take Beast with us." 

Natalie got a look of excitement like a kid in a candy factory. Nick was 
pleased. 

"That sounds wonderful, Nick. I seldom go out in public places. My kind tend to 
group together in dark corners." 

They put a leash on Beast and set off. They could hear the band as they exited 
Nick's apartment building. There was laughing and talking. They still had a few 
hours of night left to enjoy the event. 

They wandered through the booths of sale items and Nick purchased an old antique 
cameo for Natalie. She took it from him with trembling fingers and placed it on 
the lapel of her jacket. "It's beautiful, Nick. No one has bought me a gift in 
centuries," she whispered close to his ear. 

He drew her into his arms briefly and kissed her lips. "You deserve this and so 
much more, Natasha." Beast let out a bark. Nick looked down at him. He seemed to 
be smiling up and them. He bounced around, eager to explore this wonderful 
place. 

Nick leaned to pet him and Natalie caressed the dog's head. They walked awhile 
longer and Nick smiled as he noticed that Natalie would reach up to touch the 
cameo to make sure it was still there. It brought tears to his eyes that no one 
had loved this wonderful creature as she had been mean to be loved. He blinked 
the tears away. 

Nick heard a loud, boisterous voice across the basketball court that was 
doubling for a dance floor. He took hold of Natalie's arm and steered her toward 
the source. "Don!" 

He saw Schanke's eye brows waggle when he came into view with Natalie on his 
arm. "Nick, Doc." he greeted them, "Imagine finding you here, together." 

"Mr. Sch-an-kee..." she said, pronouncing every syllable. 

"Don," he corrected her. 

"Don then." she said, smiling. 

"Buddy, can you watch Beast for a few dances?" Nick asked. 

Beast was wagging his tail and allowed Don to pick him up. "Hey bud," the man 
said holding the little dog close and tossing his hair. 

Natalie observed, "He knows you well." 

"Yeah, Nick and I roomed together for a couple years when this little guy was 
just a pup." 

Beast was licking Schanke all over the face. 

"Really," she said, a bit envious of both situations. "You'll have to tell me 
about Nick when he was a young man." 

Schanke said, "Ohhh now that I can do. Nick, remember the time we hung you from 
a rope and let you down the side of the Beta Kappa girls frat house..." 

Natalie's eyebrow rose. 

Nick turned that fine red shade that she loved and she grinned at his 
discomfort. 

Just then a lovely woman came close caring a couple of Pepsis. Nick, grateful 
for the distraction, said, "Myra, hey." He leaned and gave the woman a kiss on 
the cheek. "This is Natalie, my friend." 

Myra nodded, "Don's told me about you. How do you like Toronto?" 

Myra had reached out and took Nick's free hand, holding it. 

He felt Natalie's hand tighten painfully on his. He looked at her and saw 
flashes of amber. He said over his shoulder, "Thanks Don, Myra. See you in a 
bit." He dragged Natalie into the crowded dance court. 

When they got into the middle of the dancing frenzy he accused her, "You're 
jealous!" His voice was a little high and excited. 

"I was not," she said, pouting and glaring at him. 

"Yes, you were. Nat, I've known Myra for years. She's like a sister to me." 

"A sister!" she threw back at him. 

"Yeah, a sister. You have nothing to be jealous of. She's Don's wife, they have 
a son." 

The music which had been a fast crazy beat ended and a slow song came on. Nick 
pulled her into his arms and she wound her arms over his shoulders and laid her 
cheek against his chest. "I'm sorry, Nick. It caught me by surprise. The Vampire 
is very possessive of one it has imbibed from." 

He drew back so he could look into her face, "Its okay. But what about you, 
Natalie?" 

"I'm possessive too. I feel a part of you. Your blood has become apart of me. 
You are a part of me." 

Nick smiled down at her. "I like that." He breathed softly, "I'll warn you the 
next time I plan to kiss another woman." 

She ran her hand up his neck and back down, letting her fingers go under the 
collar of the sweater. 

Nick winced as her fingers brushed over the bruises. He'd been trying to ignore 
the pain all night. 

"Nick, what?" she asked. "She pealed the collar further and saw angry 
purple-blue bruises at the base of his neck. "Who did this to you?" she glared 
at him. 

"Natasha, please, I - I'll tell you later. I just want to hold you right now." 
He pulled her closer and covered her lips with his. He kissed her deeply and 
with all his pent up passion. He felt her finally surrender to the sensations 
and relax against him. "Natasha," he sighed against her lips. "I love you." 

"Oh, Nick!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him off the court and into the 
darker part of the park. 

Schanke watched them go and noticed that Beast was also following his master 
with his eyes. "Well boy, seems like you're with me for the night." He thought, 
"That Lucky stiff." Out loud he said, "I never thought he'd find a woman like 
that. She's rather strange, but beautiful." 

Myra was sitting with him. She said, "Amen to that, Don." She reached out to 
caress the little dog who was sitting in her husband's lap. Beast licked her 
fingers. It wasn't the first time he'd stayed with them. They usually looked 
after him when Nick went on a conference or vacation." 

Natalie took to the air as soon as the trees swallowed them up. Nick was in tow, 
her arm was about his waist. "Natalie!" His shout of surprise was lost in the 
wind. 

Natalie laughed at Nick's fear as she carried him over the trees and out over 
the city. "Relax, enjoy the ride," she shouted into his ear. 

Nick decided he'd better do just that. She obviously was strong enough to carry 
him with ease. He relaxed against her and looked out over the magnificent city. 
"It's beautiful." 

"Yes, it is," she said, nibbling his ear. She took him to the top deck of the CN 
tower. 

Nick was happy to feel the observation deck beneath his feet. She grabbed him 
close and covered his mouth with hers, kissing him furiously and deeply, nearly 
robbing his off his strength. 

Nick kissed her back with equal fervor. Their hands touched each other, and she 
pulled the sweater from his pants and ran her hands over his chest. Nick moaned 
against her lips and his hands worked at the buttons on the casual dress she 
wore. She pulled the turtleneck over his head and tossed it aside. Her eyes 
where closed as Nick continued to kiss her, their tongues dancing. 

Natalie's hands slipped up his chest and over his shoulder to lock behind his 
neck and she pulled him hard against her. They had both forgotten the bruises 
and now Nick gasped with the pain, pulling back. 

She froze and her mind remembered. Her eyes opened to search him. His neck was 
ringed with the darkest black-blue bruises. Her eyes blazed red. "Who did this 
to you!" she demanded, losing her ability to think. 

"Need you ask," he said quietly. 

"Why didn't you tell me, Nick. I'll kill him!" She turned to take flight. 

He grabbed at her, tackling her and knocking her to the floor. "No, Natalie!" 

"Let me go," she demanded, her fangs flashing in the moon light. 

"No, Natasha! Please. You can't fight him when you are angry, he will hurt you. 
If you confront him, you must be able to think. Make some plans. Please! I love 
you - I can't lose you now." He had grabbed her hands and was holding her as 
tightly as he could. 

She elevated, taking him by surprise and he fell away at nearly eight feet from 
the floor. He lay flat on his back, gasping for air. 

Natalie was at his side instantly. "Oh, Nick, Nick! Are you all right?" She 
gathered him up and helped him to sit against the wall. 

He was stunned, trying to catch his breath. She sat on her knees, her hands 
inspecting his ribs and arms and legs. 

"I don't feel any broken bones." She let red tears flow from her eyes. "I'm 
sorry Nick, forgive me." 

He held out his arms to her. This was no longer the Vampire looking down at him. 
She curled her body against his side. He heard her whimper. It tore at his 
heart. 

"We will never be free of him," she cried. "Nick, you are my last hope." "What 
do you mean," he asked stroking her hair, trying to sooth her. 

She was silent a few minutes and then she said, "I told him, if you reject me or 
it doesn't work with you, I would come back to him forever." 

"You did what!, No Nat, you must never go back to him!" He took her by the arms. 
"How could you agree to that? All he has to do is kill me and you will be his 
forever." 

"He will hold to his promise until he feels the changes in me, then he will come 
for us. You cannot be involved in any plans to kill him. If you help me to plan 
to kill LaCroix, it will stain your soul and I won't change. I could lose you 
forever." 

Nick stiffened. "Is that the truth, Nat, or are you just trying to keep me out 
of it. I'm no saint. I have flaws, I've sinned." 

"I know, but if you plan murder, your love for me would change. You do not 
believe in murder. You're a doctor, Nick. You would do it to save me. But we 
would be lost." She moved so she could look into his face. "No. Nick, it's not a 
lie." 

She said softly," I can not lie to you. You are the man I love. Your love can 
change me, make it so we can live like normal people. I want it more than 
anything and I want to be with you." She kissed him gently, then started to rain 
kisses on his bare chest. 

He groaned with pleasure. "Nat! Nat!" he shivered with the cold. "Maybe we 
should take this to my place." 

She grinned at him, "I think mine would be better." She stood, grabbed his shirt 
and hauled him to his feet, then off they flew. 


End Chapter 15 

By Jeannie Ecklund Gersknightlady@cs.com