Part two
Illya checked out of UNCLE HQ and was just about to get into his car when a sudden swoosh stopped him. Smiling, Illya turned to see Nicholas Knight leaning against a pole looking warmly at him.
�I thought you had gone off to spend a quiet evening with LaCroix?�
Nicholas shook his head and moved towards Illya.
�And I thought you were going to spend the evening with Napoleon?�
Illya laughed and shrugged. �He left with Waverly to learn how to fly. Apparently Waverly is at his wits end. Napoleon hasn�t mastered it quite yet.�
Nick took Illya�s hand and gestured to the sky.
�Care to go for a flight?�
Illya eagerly closed the door to his car and nodded.
�I thought you would never ask.�
***
The air was brisk and slightly cold but the sky was cloudless and a full moon and stars greeted Illya as he was flown in Nicholas�s arms. He marveled at the ability and knew for one thing when he was brought across that he would never ride a car again. Flying was just absolutely magnificent!
�Are you warm enough?�
Illya nodded and continued to stare at the ground below him. The city of New York, and in all its glory. It was breath taking. The flight soon came to an end when Nicholas landed Illya on top of the Empire State Building. Looking all around, Illya took in a deep breath, feeling quite on top of the world.
�Nick, I don�t understand how you could ever want to drive a car when you can fly? This is ...� Unable to find the American word he jumbled out a Russian word.
Nicholas recognized it as something to the equivalent of out of this world!
�It is fun. One of the better perks.�
�Nick, may I ask you something...?�
�Sure. Ask me anything. I�ll try to answer it. If I can.�
Illya faced his one time lover and friend and felt a hundred questions assault him. He had so many but one above all the rest had to be asked.
�When I am brought across, the one that brings me across does...does it have to fall into the category of master and slave? I mean...why such an unequal relationship? Why can�t it be equal towards one another?�
Nick took a moment to collect his thoughts and finally he tried to explain that which he himself was yet to understand.
�I don�t know. It just happens I guess. Not all Elder Vampires treat their fledglings cruelly but the inequality of the relationship has always existed.�
�Is it true...that Master Vampires have raped their own fledglings and even allowed other vampires to rape them?�
Nick swallowed, wishing he was not having this particular conversation with Illya.
�Yes.�
�Why? It�s not right?�
�Alot of things that we...vampires do aren�t right Illya. I think that is why they formed a council for the community long ago, to find some boundaries and laws that could be held. But in reality it was only a reason for some vampires to get power- over mortals and immortals.�
�Who are they that make these laws? Can�t anyone overthrow them?�
Nick sighed and sitting down on the nearby rooftop, he looked down over the vast city.
�You must understand, Illya that Vampires have always felt they are superior to mortals. Simply because we are eternal and stronger.�
�Do you think that is true?�
�Once, but not anymore. I believe sometimes that it is in mortals that we learn the most important lessons.�
�Who is the council?�
�I don�t know. I never met any of them. Well, once. LaCroix was summoned to them shortly after I was brought across. There were twelve in all. Three females and the rest were men. Different nationalities and background. They were very superior in acting towards LaCroix. One in particular had some sort of bitterness towards my master. His name was Nemor, and he was older then your father. He wanted to make sure that LaCroix was following the laws of the community and wanted to spend some time alone with me. He in fact wanted more then to just talk to me.�
Illya�s eyes widened in surprise. �Did he...?�
�No, LaCroix forbade it. He wouldn�t let me be alone with Nemor. Nemor was furious. I do not know even to this day of their bitterness towards one another, LaCroix has never discussed the matter, but Nemor I think was the one that has always tried to disgrace LaCroix. He has several times in the past asked for me to visit him. He knew of our falling out and I�m sure he sought a way to get revenge towards LaCroix by getting through me. But, though I was angry with LaCroix, I just didn�t trust Nemor. Something about him. He wasn�t just an elder vampire, an ancient. He was...evil. I could feel it deep inside of him.�
�Has he...bothered you lately?�
�No. He probably has forgotten all about me. I am rather forgettable you know.�
Illya doubted that.
�As I said I only saw the council that one time. When the Council was formed they gathered and created those that would keep their power and balance. The Enforcers.�
�Who are they exactly?�
�Policemen, in a way. But brutal and violent. They have only one purpose, to carry out the orders of the council. It is said they are often bred from mortals that were mad or insane. That way they could transform them into their soldiers. They are without pity and mercy. Without thought or reason. They simply act. They are the right hand with the sword in their palm.�
�Waverly controls them?�
�No, but Waverly can reason with the council. The Council in many ways respect Waverly. He is the oldest living Vampire in our community. In fact, he was asked to join the council on many occasions but for some reason he refused.�
�Did, LaCroix ever...rape you Nick?�
Nick looked at Illya and shook his head. �No, LaCroix can be many things but he did not take me by force. Never has. Oh, he wants my obedience and my utter loyalty but he never...forced himself on me. No, Illya. Vampires are sensual creatures but most have other ways to obtain what they desire. LaCroix finds it is much more fun persuading then enforcing his body onto someone.�
�He scares me...a little. I mean I know he is my father but...he scares me. Nick, if I let him bring me across. Will I fall into the trap of Master and slave with him?�
Nick looked away not sure how to answer that.
�I want a father but I don�t want a master. I want to be free to make my own decisions. To be able to follow my own path. I want to be equal to others and I would like to see a change in how young vampires are treated. I wish, there was something I could do. It just seems dark and malevolent. A part of me, by seeing you, I find the change of becoming an immortal fascinating, but when I see Waverly and how he treats Napoleon and knowing of your past with LaCroix, it scares me.�
Nick reached out and took Illya�s hand gently into his own. He stroked the hand softly and nodded.
�I know.�
�Were you scared?�
�Not really, but I should have been, Illya. Because vampires are in many ways evil. They are corrupted by the power that is given to them and it is so hard to control the beast, the hunger...the blood lust. When you become immortal most if not all lose that gift of having a conscience. You think only of yourself. Of your wants and desires. In essence you lose more then your soul. You lose your heart. It can be found again but most don�t find it. They choose the darkness. They choose the other side.�
Illya swallowed and finally asked.
�Would you bring me across if I asked it?�
Nick let go of Illya�s hand and rose. Knight wandered off to the other side of the roof as if distancing himself from Illya.
�No, don�t ask that of me.�
�But you would be fair, you unlike LaCroix, would allow me to be who I am and what I am. You would not try to control me. I think out of all the choices I make, you are the best choice.�
Nick shook his head and his body began to shake uncontrollably.
�No, you do not know what you ask of me.�
�Nick-�
�I said NO!�
Nick raised his eyes and stared deep into the Russian�s blue eyes. �Please Illya. Don�t ask that of me. Understand. I have only tried to bring across three people and it was a disaster. My first try was after the end of my marriage with Janette. Before, in despair, I threw myself into LaCroix�s arms. Alyssa. She was so beautiful and I wanted her. I couldn�t think of living one more day without someone with me. To hold and love. So I married her and on the night of our wedding, I tried to bring her across....I promised her a life of eternity with me...but instead I brought her only death. My first attempt...and she died in my arms. I took too much blood you see.�
Illya sadly lowered his eyes.
�It was not until almost three hundred years later that I tried again. It was during the black plague. A doctor had come to this bar and inn where LaCroix and I were staying. He spoke of how he wished he could save the dying, wishing he had more time to find a cure for this disease. With LaCroix�s permission I brought him across. I thought it was for the better, for the good. I even gave him his freedom. I did not want a fledgling or to be someone�s master. When I saw him again, he was nothing more then a parasite, enjoying the kill. He no longer cared to save people�s lives. He took lives! He killed and killed and killed again without any thought of those mortals he took. He reveled in the blood and enjoyed hurting them before he took their lives. I created a monster, Illya. I tried to stop him. But he laughed and ran and....� Nick tearfully looked away. �A mob of men killed him with fire, they would have killed me too, I was going to let them. But LaCroix rescued me.�
Bitterly, Nick allowed a blood tear fall from his lids. �My last try was with a woman who was dying from leprosy. She was thrown out of her home and village. Dying and lost. Alone. I brought her across. I was running from LaCroix then, and I was lonely. I wanted companionship. I wanted someone to worship. I thought that I was saving her, but in the end I knew I was only saving her for myself. In return she became bitter and wanted revenge on those mortals that had cast her out. She killed them, one by one. Wanting her vengeance. I tried to make her see that they were unimportant. That they were nothing to her now. I even tried to get her to drink only cow�s blood. But she didn�t care. She wanted to kill them all. To revel in their blood, and dine on their flesh. In the end I saw only hatred in her eyes and not one speck of love within them. The mortal woman that she once had been was gone. I had no choice. I had to destroy her. When she died, I still remember seeing the hatred in her eyes. Hatred for everyone and everything. That was the last time I ever tried to bring someone across.�
Looking back at Illya, he sadly stood taller, trying to recover from the pain inside. �So you see, I am not a candidate for bringing someone across. No, I won�t. I won�t do it. Never again. I can only bring you death and despair...and evil. I am evil.�
Illya stared at Nick, not able to see one spark of evil in his eyes, or face or even body. Nicholas was not a bringer of evil. How could this Knight think so?
�Nick, that wasn�t all your fault. Your first attempt....you meant well. You didn�t mean to kill her.�
�But I did.�
�As for that doctor and that woman...they made their own choices, they chose to do evil to ...take lives. That wasn�t your fault. You can�t blame yourself for what other people choose to do with power given to them.�
�Can�t I?� Nick asked with his eyes cast down at his feet. �What about the ones that I took. The ones that I killed.�
�You killed for survival, you did not revel in other�s deaths. You didn�t kill out of malice. Yes you killed, and it was wrong, but you have changed and you are trying to make amends. That is more then your fellow vampires can say. You are not evil. You are good Nick. You are.�
Desperate to get through to him, Illya moved towards his past lover. Taking Nick�s face gently in his hands, Illya pulled the knight closer to him.
�You are worthy of redemption and worthy of love. Don�t carry all this guilt. It wasn�t your fault. You meant well. You meant to do good.�
�I am a killer, Illya. A predator and murderer.�
Nick wept openly and pulled Illya into his arms. Illya returned the embrace and held his ex lover and friend tightly, trying his best to console him.
�No, It is not true. It is simply your nature as a vampire and you have changed that nature and are now true to yourself once more. Believe me, you are not a murderer. You are beautiful and wonderful...and good and I care for you, very much. You are no monster. Trust me.�
Nick held Illya even tighter against his body, and for a moment Nick wanted so much to believe Illya, but then something happened. He could hear Illya�s heart beating, and the soft drum of the blood flooding Illya�s veins. The call of the night. A moment later Nick felt his eyes change in color and the fangs coming to the fore. The hunger came upon him quickly and the beast roared. He was drawn to that white lovely neck, he could almost taste how exquisite the blood would be. His mouth opened and Nicholas prepared to strike.
***
(TBC)