Darkest Memories

by April Hackett

Chapter 7


 

On the journey back to the house, LaCroix felt Nicholas moving slightly, trying to become  conscious. Landing near a stand of trees, he shifted Nicholas in his arms, waiting to see  what his beloved son's reactions would be upon waking. When Nicholas opened his eyes,  LaCroix observed not the usual blue he was hoping for, but a fiery red staring back at him.  Feeling no recognition from his son, he was ready when the younger vampire started to  struggle. Using a mental trigger he had planted in his son's unconscious over 700 years  ago, he sent him back to sleep again. Gathering Nicholas into a comfortable position in  his arms, LaCroix leapt back into the air.

Arriving at the house just before dawn, LaCroix landed on the front steps and quickly  moved into the house. Someone had tried to repair the door and cover the windows while  they had been gone. The bloody carnage that had covered the foyer had also been cleaned  up.

Moving towards the staircase, LaCroix heard Karen land behind him. Turning, he noticed  for the first time that she had one of the humans, which she casually dropped by the front  door.

"Why did you bring that with you?!" he asked with heavy contempt. "They have caused  enough trouble, I would say. Kill it and be done with it!" Turning away, he headed up the  stairs to the bedroom with Nicholas still quiet in his arms. Janette, still looking a quite  pale, met them at the top of the stairs, and followed as LaCroix moved into the bedroom.

As he was laying Nicholas on the bed, Karen walked into the room and moved toward  them, gazing at LaCroix. "With the elimination of those men in the truck and the  possession of this captain for the Council's examination, I believe this case is cleaned up.  Do you need anything else from me before I go?"

"No, just go! I have the needs of my family to see to now!" demanded LaCroix. His  patience with this woman had run out. Dawn was only a few minutes away. If they  delayed much longer, they would have to stay in the house until nightfall. "I will contact  the Council later in regards to any problems that might arise."

Karen turned and left the bedroom. Meeting David at the bottom of the stairs, they  swiftly left, taking the German officer with them.

LaCroix sat down on the edge of the bed and turned back to Nicholas, dismissing the  Enforcers from his mind. He was concerned what condition would his son's mind be in  after this run in with the Germans. If he had been pushed too far, then insanity could be  the result.

"How is he?" Janette asked softly, leaning her head close to LaCroix's. She was fearful;  Nick was so pale and still.

"I don't know. I had to put him back to sleep to get him here." He turned his head  toward her saying, "They put him back in a cage, Janette! I just don't know what this will  do to him." Returning his attention to Nicholas, LaCroix's gaze became hard as he  worked on removing the cuffs that were binding his son's hands together. After a few  minutes of struggle, he finally managed to break them open. Throwing them roughly into  a corner of the room, LaCroix began to examine Nicholas for any damage inflicted by his  abductors.

After removing his son's shirt and checking for wounds on his chest, LaCroix leaned  Nicholas up against his shoulder. LaCroix turned toward Janette and said, "Check his  back. I know he's been injured somewhere; I can smell it." The smell of his son's blood  was unmistakable.

Janette ran her fingers across her brother's back. Seeing a large welt on the top of his  shoulders, she started to slowly run her fingers across the back of his head. Feeling  several lumps, she pulled away slightly, noticing the unique feel of blood on her fingers.  Glancing at the pillow Nicholas had been laying on, she noticed the smudge of blood on it.  Looking at LaCroix, she quietly said, "It looks like someone has hit him on the back of the  head several times."

Nodding in response, LaCroix carefully laid Nicholas back down on the bed. "I was  wondering how they were controlling him. Effective, but rough on the body. The usual  methods of the S.S."

"I think we should try and deal with some of these memories that have been surfacing  while he's unconscious and easily contained. With the added trauma of last night, things  are probably going to be worse if we don't do something about it. Janette, you be ready to  hold him down if it becomes necessary, while I see what I can do with these memories."

After Janette sat down on the other side of Nicholas, LaCroix began to apply a little  mental pressure, trying to subdue some of the more intense memories that were upsetting  his son's life. Nicholas frowned in his sleep and began tossing his head as his master  pushed on his mind. When LaCroix began pressing on one of the most painful memories  Nicholas, thinking he was again under German attack, began fighting back. Struggling  hopelessly, he cried out his denial at the pressure on his mind, his voice breaking from the  torrent of emotions he was experiencing. Pulling back from Nicholas's mind, LaCroix  realized that it would take more control than this contact could maintain to accomplish  what was needed. It was all LaCroix and Janette could do to calm him down. It was  quite some time before Nick settled back into a fitful sleep.

Leaving the bedroom with Janette, LaCroix slowly walked down the hall while talking  with Janette. "I'm going to have to try and treat him through the blood bond. Too much  has happened for a general contact to work."

"Are you sure he is strong enough to attempt his healing now? I will be unable to assist  you if you do this today, LaCroix. What if you need help with Nicolah?" Janette replied,  her worry and fatigue lacing through her voice.

"After he has slept a while, I'll try again. I dare not wait, Janette. Between the trauma  and his hunger, there is no telling what kind of reaction we'll face if I wait too long. I am  his master, Janette. I know what needs to be done....." He softened his words by stroking  her cheek. "Why don't you go and rest my dear. There is nothing you can do for now."

"All right, LaCroix." Janette conceded, "If you need any help, you will come and get  me..... Be careful." Janette kissed him goodnight and slowly walked toward her bedroom  at the end of the hall. Turning back toward the stairs, LaCroix headed for the kitchen. He  knew he needed to feed well before attempting to deal with Nicholas.

NEXT--CHAPTER 8

All comments can be sent to me, April, at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Home | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 8

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1