PART ONE OF SIX
Beta read by Dinah and Mom-Ra
Class: Slash Warnings: None, unless you don�t like vampire stories
Disclaimer: I don�t own them. Can I cry now?
Please pre-read Sins of the Father affair and LaCroix�s heart affair before proceeding. It will make more sense! This is the last installment. Hope all of my readers enjoyed the ride, I know I did. Two gorgeous blonds in one story, oh yeah baby! Bring it on!
(Same night at ending of LaCroix�s Heart affair)
Part one
He opened his eyes as awareness slowly came back to him. The lovemaking had been more intense then any sex encounter Solo had ever had in the past. Taking in a deep breath, which he didn�t need, Napoleon tried to put all his memories in order.
Holding Illya, kissing him, biting him, drinking his blood! So light, so sweet, tasting like orchids. Thirsty and needing more, wanting to possess every drop, the inability to stop as the hunger overtook him!
�Illya!� Sudden panic over took Napoleon as all his fears hit home of what happens when a vampire bites a mortal and cannot stop. The prostrate figure next to him moaned and delved deeper into the pillows mumbling something about not waking the dead.
Smiling in relief, Napoleon realized that he hadn�t taken his lover�s life. That somehow, in his uncontrollable urges, he had been able to stop himself before killing.
That surprised Napoleon, because Waverly had said that a fledgling Vampire had no control. So, Napoleon figured, he might as well tag that on as another lie Waverly had told him.
Waverly? That was one big problem with a Capital W. Just a few days ago he had been mortal and had started an intimate relationship with his partner of three years, Illya Kuryakin. Because of his desire of Immortality, Napoleon had allowed Waverly, an ancient Vampire, to bring him across. Waverly had said it was to ensure Solo, his heir, would succeed to the throne. But that too had been a lie. It had all been done so Waverly could get his hands on Illya.
Feeling the guilt consume him, Napoleon winced and turned away, remembering his own crime in all of this. He had knowingly become a vampire without consulting Illya and had withheld information of his partner�s past. Secrets? They brought nothing but trouble. Fortunately, because Illya loved him, he�d forgiven Solo, but that still didn�t solve the problem set before the two UNCLE Agents.
Solo, now a new born vampire, had much to learn, and that learning process would have to be done by Waverly...his Master. The anger of Waverly�s betrayal burned him. How could he do this to him? To us?
Turning back to his sleeping lover, Napoleon could hear the heart beating. It seemed to be calling to him. Shaking himself out of it, Napoleon rose from bed and hurried to the kitchen down stairs. Nearly taking the refrigerator door off by its hinges, Napoleon grabbed the bottle of blood on the first shelf and quickly opened it taking several long gulps from it. Once again memories assaulted him. It took a moment for Napoleon to realize the memories were coming from the blood he was drinking. A young woman, perhaps in her early twenties. She was in college, had a boy friend. She was sweet and still virginal. She loved horses and enjoyed reading poetry. She didn�t like needles and had only given blood to the red cross out of a dare from her friends.
Full once more, and feeling the beast fade, Napoleon put the bottle back into the fridge. She was still alive and living her life. Napoleon was glad that vampires no longer had to kill to survive.
Napoleon wasn�t sure if he could take an innocent�s life. A Thrush agent, sure- an evil vile human being, he could. But not an innocent. It was then Napoleon could understand the guilt that was carried by Nicholas Knight. Napoleon couldn�t even fathom how many lives Nick had taken in his eight hundred years as an immortal. Pity and compassion suddenly filled Napoleon, who promised himself that from now on he would do what ever it took to be befriend the ex-crusader.
After restarting a fire in the hearth, Napoleon sat down on the couch and glanced at the time. Still early yet. Taking a look around the room, Napoleon noticed only then that the cabin was almost windowless. Only one could be seen and it was boarded up. LaCroix obviously took no chances. Able to think clearly, Napoleon pushed away his own problems and thought of Illya. His Russian partner at the moment was dealing with earth shattering revelations that had only just begun to take seed.
Losing a lover, gaining another. Finding out that he had a father who was an ancient vampire. Learning that he was a half breed, an experiment, and finally that the two men in his life that he trusted most, betrayed him. Lied to him.
Two years. Waverly said Illya had two years before he would be forced to cross over, and in the process choose himself a master. Napoleon, in some small way, wanted more then anything for Illya to choose him. But Napoleon knew that two things stopped that dream from taking place. One thing was Napoleon had no experience of bringing any one across and as a fledgling it was not permitted in the Vampire community. Too many risks.
The second thing that stopped him was the knowledge. The older the vampire that brought across a mortal the better. For some reason, in the community class was everything. Vampires gained power and respect by their age and who were their masters, not by what they did or did not do. Plus an older vampire could look after and protect its fledglings. As it stood, Napoleon knew that he had nothing to fear from other vampires. Waverly was an ancient and a adviser to the council. That in itself made Napoleon valuable and respected by others. In essence, he was one of the safest vampires around.
A Fledgling without a master, however, was a danger to all. Most, if they were not taken in or adopted by an elder vampire, were killed. The reason for this? According to the ancient laws, fledglings were unable to be controlled, and without guidance from a master, could reveal the existence of vampires to the world or worse, get other vampires killed.
Napoleon knew that the laws of the council were logical, but they held very little compassion for mortals and immortals alike. For instance, sometimes two ancient vampires who had fallen for the same mortal and wanted that mortal to be brought across, could fight to the death. Thus the one killing the other master vampire could take the mortal for its own. Another undefined law was that younger vampires did not have much say in worldly matters. Being a sensual creature an older vampire could take at its leisure a younger vampire for sexual gratification as long as the creator of the young vampire consented. The younger, however, had no say whatsoever in the matter. Rape was undefined by the council. As far as they were concerned, the young were slaves to their masters and they could do whatever they wished to their fledglings. Even kill them.
Napoleon hoped in time that those laws could be changed. Maybe he could help to change them.
�Hi!� Illya came slowly down the stairs.
Looking up, Napoleon smiled at seeing the half naked Russian come towards him with his hair all in disarray and looking more asleep then awake.
�Hi. How are you feeling?�
Illya shrugged and turning, headed for the kitchen.
�Thirsty!�
Opening the fridge door, Illya pushed the wine bottles filled with blood aside and reached for a bottle of orange juice. Getting a glass in a cupboard, Illya poured himself a healthy portion and drank it down in one gulp. Feeling a bit better, Illya put the now empty glass down and hurried over to Napoleon. Snatching up a throw blanket, Illya curled himself up to his lover, laying his head gently on the broad dark shoulders.
�Better?�
�Much."
�I know its a bit early, but you know we have to talk?�
Illya snuggled closer, his hands delving deep under the blanket and finding their way past his lover�s waist where the Russian began to stroke the upper thigh playfully.
�What do you want to talk about?� Illya asked, innocently.
Feeling the heat going through him and his body responding almost at once, Napoleon took Illya�s hands into his own so as not to distract him. Illya looked back at him with a small pout on his lips.
�Illya.�
�Ok.� Sighing, Illya leaned back but still kept the blanket wrapped around himself. �Go ahead?�
�Waverly said that a fledgling making love to a mortal is dangerous and that usually they have no control and kill their lover.�
Napoleon gave Illya a long look. Shrugging again, Illya mumbled.
�Another lie to add to his list of lies.�
�I am not so sure he lied, Illya.�
Napoleon looked away from his lover and stared into the nearby flames.
�What do you mean?�
�I mean, that while we were making love...right at the moment. As I drank from you, I did lose control. I had no control. I wanted all of your blood, every last drop of it!�
Napoleon slightly shivered at the memory of it.
Illya blinked. �So, what are you saying?�
�Just as I started to feel your heart slow, I swear I thought...I heard a voice that commanded me to cease. I felt a push and I stopped. It sounded like Waverly�s voice?�
Illya swallowed, finally understanding. �The bond. You�re sharing the bond, Waverly must have...known what we were doing. It�s the same with LaCroix and Nick. With every Master and fledgling. The bond is what maintains control over the other and can home in on the creation�s whereabouts.�
�oh.� Neither one spoke for awhile after that. Neither wanted to acknowledge the thought of Waverly being able to know what they were doing. The privacy they once had was no more.
�Damn him!� Napoleon finally spat out angrily. �and Damn me! What have I done? Illya, I�m so sorry.�
Falling into despair, Napoleon lowered his head into his hands, his betrayal in all this slicing through his entire body and soul. Illya smiled up at him sadly.
�Nick learned to control the bond that he has with LaCroix. He can sometimes shut him out. Make Waverly teach you that when you return to him.�
�I won�t return to him!� Napoleon rose and paced the room. His anger showing in every movement. �We�ll run away, Illya. We�ll go somewhere he can�t find us, far away so he can�t feel the bond.�
Facing his lover, Napoleon stopped when he saw Illya smiling with one raised eyebrow.
�Running away is not going to solve this Napoleon. Besides Waverly will find you. Find us both if he has to. He has a great deal of power and knows how to use it.�
Feeling slightly sickened at that thought, Napoleon sat down on the couch, his face crestfallen in desolation.
�What do we do, Illya?�
�You will go back tomorrow night. You have to continue your training, Napoleon.�
�Not without you!� Napoleon returned.
Illya nodded. �I intend to. I will not give up my career and life in UNCLE and you Napoleon. I thought last night you would have realized that.�
Napoleon smiled and reached for his lover. Illya snuggled up to him and kissed Napoleon gently on the lips. When Illya broke away, he stared down at the ground. �I have to go back. I have a father I want to get to know. Waverly and I have to talk and come to an agreement. I have two years before I have to make up my mind to cross over completely as a vampire and I intend to have every single one of those days.�
�Illya, who will you allow to bring you across?�
Illya glanced back at him, confused. �I don�t know, but the choices are limited. But whoever brings me across, I won�t let them control me, I won�t call anyone my master. Never again will I allow someone to rule over me. I am my own person and I want my freedom.�
Understanding, Napoleon clung to his lover and friend tighter. No matter what happened he would not allow anyone to hurt Illya. Not even himself.
***
(Two days later)
Napoleon finished his report and was about to head out of Waverly�s office when he realized that Illya wasn�t following. Glancing worriedly at his lover and giving one long look at his boss, Napoleon left the two alone in the room. Outside, he refused to budge an inch from the doorway. He waited what seemed like hours before the doors finally opened and Illya walked out.
Seeing Napoleon, Illya stepped alongside his partner and walked down the hallways. Checking out, Illya allowed Napoleon to take the lead. It wasn�t until they were in the car and heading to Napoleon�s place that Illya spoke.
�We came to an agreement.�
�and?�
�And he will give me the next two years. The end.�
�Illya, you weren�t there. I remember when Waverly told me about you. He was...is obsessed with you. He wants you. I know it...I can feel it.�
Illya slowly turned to Napoleon and shook his head. �And LaCroix now knows about me and him. Waverly won�t try anything sneaky. Not if he wants to keep us both working for him and at UNCLE. He will put his...feelings aside. Everything will be ok.�
Napoleon finally nodded and headed for home. After a long hot shower, Napoleon slid into the bed and the waiting arms of his lover. Once comfortable, Napoleon whispered into his lover�s ear.
�Waverly is taking me off field assignments for the next few months. He wants to start my training tomorrow. He said that you will be assigned someone for the time being.�
�Yes, he told me.�
�I don�t want you to work with anyone else.�
�I�ll be fine. Waverly is assigning me with the second best Uncle agent we have in New York. Nick.�
Smiling, Napoleon cut in adding. �And I being the first.�
�Are you joking, I�m number one. You come to a close fourth right after Mark Slate. Or maybe fifth, April is a pretty good shot.� Napoleon narrowed his eyes and Illya fiendishly looked back at him. Chuckling, he tried to hide under the blankets but Napoleon came after him.
***
(Two weeks later) -Somewhere in Brazil-
Hiding behind trees, Nick turned to his small band and gave them the go ahead. Illya, dressed in black, kept his position as the remaining troops went forward. The opposing enemy saw them coming and grabbed their weapons. As the fire was exchanged, Illya glanced at Nick and then, pointing to the tall building ahead of them, Nick gave the go ahead. Running towards the target, Illya pulled the long rope and grappling hook from his bag pack. Getting as close as he dared, he was preparing a throw when one of the enemy jumped out at him swinging a knife into a deadly slicing motion. Illya evaded the movement and, dropping the rope and hook, he caught the Thrush agent�s hand with the weapon and snapped the arm in half with one quick hit of his fist.
As the man howled in pain, Illya brought up his leg, connecting to his enemy�s chin, sending him crashing to the ground, out cold. Retrieving the hook and rope, Illya swirled the rope, getting momentum, and then with one lunge, he threw the hook upwards and it clanged loudly as it connected to the base of the rooftop.
Pulling on it to make sure it was secure, Illya then began the long climb upwards. Looking back, Nick watched as Schanke and his men continued to hold off the main Thrush patrol. Keeping one eye on Illya, Nick was about to join the Russian when he saw the lone figure taking careful aim. His eyes flashing red, Nick flew with a speed unmatched by mortal men and quickly took the Thrush guard out with one blow to the neck.
Nick however did not see the other Thrush guard who took a careful shot at the climbing Uncle agent. Illya heard something whiz past him and hit the brick wall, just missing his shoulder. Taking a secure hold, Illya pulled out his special, and spotting the sniper, he shot back, taking the Thrush agent�s head cleanly off at the neck.
Returning to his job, Illya quickened his pace. Reaching the top, Illya jumped and cleared the wall just as several more shots tried to take him out. Ignoring the sounds of fire around him, Illya hurried to the center of the rooftop where a small box was hooked up to a larger white box. Taking out the special tools, Illya removed the white box slowly to see that THRUSH had not been lying. It was a bomb. Closing his eyes, Illya took out his tools and picks and set to work on deactivating it.
The Thrush agent fired at Nick, but seeing that his shot seemed to have little effect, he took out a long knife and tried to kill the UNCLE agent with his bare hands. But Nick Knight merely caught the weapon and, staring deep into the agent�s eyes, he caught the heartbeat and spoke forcefully into his face.
�You will drop your weapon and surrender. You are outmatched.�
The agent paused only for a moment, then as if in a dream, repeated what Nick had said and then lowered his weapon, and sitting down on the ground, surrendered. Taking up the knife, Nick hurried towards the building, intent on joining Illya, and therefore he did not see a dark figure hidden in the trees who had watched the display with profound interest.
�Illya, hurry!� Nick called up to the Uncle agent. Not sure if he heard, Nick turned to check on Schanke and the others. The THRUSH agents had surrendered.
�All clear!� Schanke called to Nick.
Nodding, Nick turned back to the building, wondering if Illya had managed to diffuse the bomb.
The dark figure climbed the jeep. Removing the mask, a woman with long blond hair was revealed. Narrowing her eyes at the group, she knew that the base had been taken but not all was lost. She pulled up her sleeve to reveal a very special watch. Hitting the red code, she smiled waiting.
Illya had just clicked the last red wire and was about to call Nick to let him know everything was secure and that he could send in some of the men to finish the round up, when a loud snick sound caught his attention. Looking down at the black box, Illya pulled the shell off to reveal another bomb and it had a count down. 7-6-5-.
�Oh sh...� Illya got to his feet and started running. �Run for cover!�
Hearing the yell, Schanke and the UNCLE agents quickly ran from the area with there prisoners. Seeing that Nick still stood by the building, Schanke called to his partner before heading into the trees. But Nick continued to stay in place looking up and waiting for Illya.
Illya grabbed the rope just as the timer hit one. The Russian managed a leap just as the bomb exploded and a wall of fire erupted behind him. The force threw Illya forward and the Russian lost his grip of the rope and was suddenly falling without anything to hold on to or stop his momentum. Seeing the ground quickly coming up, Illya realized his time was up.
***
Nick came up out of nowhere and caught the falling figure in his arms and landed safely on the ground with his two feet, Nick set Illya down and took cover behind a large boulder.
***
She couldn�t believe it. She put the binoculars down and blinked in confusion. He flew? A man can actually fly? Narrowing her eyes, She put the binoculors down and starting up the jeep, made her escape.
***
�Illya, you ok?�
Nick asked as he slowly stood up from behind the boulder. Illya joined him with a smile on his lips.
�Some ride huh? Can we do it again?�
Shaking his head, Nick took out his communicator and called to HQ in New York.
�Open channel D, Overseas relay. New York. Mr. Waverly, Nick Knight reporting in.�
�Waverly here, How did the clean up go?�
�Well, no casualties to report, and we have quite a few prisoners to bring in.�
�Yes, yes, but Dr Welsh�s project plans? Were you able to retrieve them.�
�Ah, well...Sir...not exactly.�
�What do you mean not exactly Mr. Knight? That was the whole purpose of trying to get into the satrap...where is Mr. Kuryakin?�
�Right here, Sir.� Illya chirped.
�Well Mr. Kuryakin. You said it would be a piece of cake? What happened?�
�Ah, well you see, Sir...ah...Ah...�
Nick sighed and spat it out. �They blew their own satrap.�
A disgruntled sound emanated from the communicator pen, and after what seemed like a long time, Waverly�s voice came through.
�Fine, sift through what you can with some men and see what you can find. Have the captured Thrush agents brought to the nearest HQ and interrogated to see what they might know of the project. Learn and retrieve all that you can. Waverly out.�
Closing the communicator, Nick looked down at Illya with a smile. �I guess he is not too happy with us at the moment.�
�No, but look at the bright side.�
Nick raised an eyebrow, waiting. Illya grinned. �He is angry but in New York and we are in Brazil?�
Laughing, Nick turned to see Schanke making his way towards them.
�Sheesh, Nick when the boss asked us to clean up...did he mean it literally?�
***
Nick slowly took off his jacket and fell into the nearby couch and the waiting arms of his Master and lover Lucien LaCroix. Laying his head gently on LaCroix�s shoulders he sighed wistfully.
�and then what happened?�
�Then we boarded the next flight for here. Illya is still in HQ finishing up the last of the reports. Schanke is staying in Brazil to help with the interrogation of the THRUSH prisoners. Most of them look like they were just low officers and guards. I doubt we�ll get any information from them. It seems the big guys got away.�
�At least you and Illya are all right. I do not understand, Nicholas, why you persist with this...game.�
Looking up at his master, Nicholas gazed at him in confusion.
�That is all it is, a game. Oh Nicholas, I do understand your desire to play hero, but honestly, they are mortals. Here today, gone tomorrow. All of them. What difference does it make that THRUSH carries out some silly evil plot. We, the important ones will survive.�
�You really are a heartless bastard.�
�I am not saying that what they do is right, nor am I taking sides in this. I am simply telling you how I feel. In the days of the Roman Empire I dealt with many officers and generals who hailed there Great Caesar in exhaltance and now, a few thousand years later, they are not even a memory. These are sands of time that hold no real interest. Only one thing is of interest to me and...that is ah...you.�
He moved to get better access to Nicholas�s throat, to find his lover move away from the embrace. When he faced his special Knight, he could see the anger flashing in his eyes.
�Why can�t you care? Why can�t you feel anything but superior to everyone and everything? Even with me? You�re still the same. Always have to be in control, always your opinion is what counts.�
LaCroix sneered, his own temper flaring. This was not how he wanted Nicholas�s first night back in New York after two weeks, but here it was and his patience was wearing thin.
�Feel? I feel a great deal Nicholas. I simply choose how and with whom I feel. Mortals are unimportant to me, they are a source of food that is all. If you wish to pour out your heart to every creature that crosses your path, let that be your own folly. But do not lay this guilt on me. I have loved greatly and it has caused me great pain. I learned that lesson long ago. It seems you have yet to learn.�
Both turned away from each other, The anger almost to the boiling point, and then, just like that, it was gone.
Nicholas wandered over to the piano, and after a moment or two, began to play a few chords. Putting his anger aside, LaCroix turned back to his child and shrugged.
�Once, I loved someone. A mortal. A simple girl really. I was still young, not even hundred years into my immortality. She wasn�t beautiful but she was...funny and kind. Her kindness struck me the most. I had never known such kindness. I grew up with a mother that wanted no part of me and a father that wanted to make me a man in his own image. One I couldn�t live up to.�
LaCroix closed his eyes painfully as he remember the harsh beatings of his father. When he opened his eyes he saw Nicholas had stopped playing and was staring at his creator in a new light. In all these hundreds of years he had never known of LaCroix�s painful past.
�I was forced into a military life but in time I did learn to like it. Ah, who am I kidding? I loved it. Every minute of it. The feeling of power and the love of my men at my command. I remember going home and waiting for the moment when my father would look at me with pride. That never happened. I realized then that the only one I could count on was myself and that the only things that mattered were what I wanted. That I would never live up to anyone�s expectations except my own.�
LaCroix then briefly thought of Selena and Divia. (* Selena was a Lady of the Night who gave birth to Divia. They were not married and Divia was his daughter from her.)
�I lived my life in darkness from my mortal birth and into my own immortal life. I am a general, and I know no other life but to be that. So, it took me by surprise to find myself falling madly in love with a mortal woman that was good. Truly good. She sang and played and danced. She laughed. Loved. She loved me, even though she knew what I was. She forgave me my sins, and instead of a monster, she saw only her hero.�
Nick swallowed and asked. �What happened to her?�
LaCroix shrugged and looked away.
�She was killed by the enforcers.�
Nick stared at his master in horror.
�You know the law, Nicholas. Anyone who finds out about us must either be brought across as one of us, or must die. I couldn�t tie her to the darkness. She belonged in the light. Perhaps that is why I loved her. So, when I could not bring her across and the enforcers found out that a mortal knew of our existence...the council ordered her death. It was quite quick. I found her sleeping in her bed.�
LaCroix felt a wave of sadness overtake him. Not accustomed to feeling so much emotion he turned away, shielding his eyes from the memory, but still he could see her lying so peacefully in the bed. A smile was upon her lips. Her long, curly auburn hair was in waves around her face. She looked so young and so very innocent. Not beautiful but, untouched. Pure. Even in Death.
�When I realized she was dead, I felt such pain. Not since the death of my daughter. I could not bear it Nicholas. I wanted to die. I didn�t know how I would live without her. My heart broke that day. What ever was left of my mortality. I think it truly died. Yes, I killed it. I had to survive. I suppose I am thought of as heartless but I can only feel so much Nicholas. Love hurts. It kills. I only wish to save you from this pain. To learn...that which cost me dearly. I am only trying to do what is best for you. Because when I saw you, I saw the same light that was in her. I suppose that is why at first I brought you across, to find that light I had lost. I did find it in you, and in time I grew to love again, and though it has brought me great pain, it has indeed brought me great happiness. I want to protect you from the hurt. You are always taking the extremes, you love so hard and so quickly without any thought of what will happen when someone betrays it, or simply dies as all mortals do.�
Nicholas rose from his seat and came slowly towards his master.
�They were wrong to kill her and take her from you. They are wrong to do the things they do. The council is wrong to allow these things to happen. Mortals have a soul and a life that should be respected. You know that.�
Hearing his child�s worlds, LaCroix turned to his son.
�Be silent! Do not say such things about the council...�
Fearful for the first time, LaCroix paced the room as if searching for something. Finding nothing, he turned back to Nicholas. �Never say such a thing again. If the council heard you...or any enforcer. Anyone...Nicholas....I could not save you from their wrath. They are the law and their law stands. It may not be right but it must be respected.�
Nick shook his head. �Respected? They allow their own to be killed. They care for nothing but themselves. They don�t think for the good of the community, they should be over thrown, they should be replaced or destroyed...�
Nicholas got no further, LaCroix�s hand flew and hit Nicholas squarely across the face. Shocked, Nick took several steps away. Also surprised at what he had done, LaCroix reached for Nicholas. But Nicholas only pulled away, heading for the door.
�Nicholas, please Mon fils-�
Nick paused as he opened the doorway of LaCroix�s home.
�I have to go.�
�Nicholas I am sorry. Please. Do not leave.�
Turning back to his Master, Nicholas faintly smiled at LaCroix.
�I�m sorry too. I�ll see you later.�
LaCroix watched his lover leave, and after the door closed behind him, the elder sadly leaned back against the chair, his left hand covering his mouth- the hand that had struck his lover.
***
The Voice of the ancient vampire, LaCroix filled the air over the live radio broadcast at CERK HQ.
�This is the Nightcrawler...and tonight I speak to you of rights and wrongs. For men they believe only those that follow the law are right and those that do not are wrong, men forget that they are fallible and therefore some laws can be kept but not necessarily be for the good of all. Is that not the purpose of life, to do good for others? But what is good? What is evil? For what is one without the other, and therefore what is right without wrongs. The Lawmakers believe themselves to be justified in their ways but if justice is to be served, what of those that have been wronged? Those innocents that have suffered. Mortal or eternal. I ask children of the night this question....If a Law is made and is not for the good of all, then should that law be broken and if it is broken, is the law still right?�
(TBC)