Disclaimers Here

Nick parked the Caddy in front of The Raven and the detectives climbed out, silently heading for the darkened entryway. The heavy beat of the music was almost a physical blow as they pushed their way into the gothic club.

"Schanke, why don't you start asking around, while I check with Janette."

"Sure, Nick," Schanke yelled back. Both men briefly scanned the heavy crowd before they separated. Schanke disappeared from sight, heading toward the tables along the back wall. Nick maneuvered his way toward the bar after he spotted Janette and her bartender, Miklos.

"Nicola," Janette softly purred, as he eased up next to her.

"Janette..." He licked his lips as she took a sip from her glass.

"How may I help you tonight?"

Nick ducked his head for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry about last night, Janette." A slight frown appeared on his face, and he looked back at his sister, and lover. "I don't know why I..."

"It's all right, cherie." Janette lightly rested her hand against Nick’s cheek. "It simply happened, yes?" She didn't like pretending that everything was all right, but LaCroix had been adamant. She was not to broach the subject with Nicholas.

Nick smiled slightly, grateful that Janette was willing to forgive his behavior of the night before. Curious how Schank was doing with the Raven's patrons, he scanned the crowd. Reassured about his partner's progress, he turned back to Janette. The slightest hint of a frown briefly crossing her near perfect features informed Nick that Janette had spotted his partner.

"Since Detective Schanke is here, I presume this is an official visit?"

"Yes." Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out three photos. He handed them to her and asked, "Have you noticed any of these men in here lately?"

Janette looked at the three pictures then handed them back. "Yes, I've seen all three here." Tapping her forefinger against her lips a moment, she continued, "Though, the first two haven't been in the club for several days."

A large man, standing quietly in a dark corner of the Raven, suddenly tensed. He watched the tall, blond vampire walk toward the dark-headed beauty that ran this establishment, while the mortal who entered with him moved deeper into the crowd.

"So, *he* survived as well..." whispered a deep voice from the corner. Using the darkness that habitably occupied The Raven, he slipped closer to the pair near the bar, curious about the conversation they were having.

"Janette, there have been several attacks recently."

"Yes, and how does that affect me?" she demanded to know, watching over her domain from the bar.

"They were all here shortly before they were attacked!" Nick moved closer to Janette, determined to make her see how important this was. "The attacks are being made by one of us!" he hissed, irritated at her attitude.

Janette threw an annoyed glance at him, then sighed. "Always the knight, yes, Nicola?" When his frown returned, Janette conceded. "I will see what I can find out."

"Thanks, Janette," Nick replied, leaning in to place a kiss on her cheek. He hoped she would locate something that would support his suspicions that the killer was picking his prey from the Raven's crowd of mortals.

Nick started to move into the gyrating throng when he noticed an odor; it was similar to the one he had noticed on the first victim. Quickly scanning the crowd, he tried to trace where the scent originated, but with the mass of people surrounding him, it was impossible.

"So, he hangs around here, does he?" the eternally youthful detective muttered to himself. With that bit of information he maneuvered through the crowd until he was standing next to Schanke, who was just finishing his interview with the customers at one of the back tables.

"So, what did she say?" Schanke yelled, trying to be heard over the music.

"Janette said all three victims had been in here sometime this past week," Nick told him, then watched Don nod his understanding.

"That jibes with what several of these guys said as well." Schanke yelled, nodding his head at a group huddled near a table. "They saw each of victims in here sometime during the last week, drinking and dancing."

"Why don't you continue talking to the customers while I look around," Nick said, leaning close so his partner could hear him. He wanted to scout around, but without his partner's presence slowing him down. Schank should be safe within Janette's domain, so Nick could go hunting. A thread of excitement was growing in him as he considered the possibility that the killer might be near.

"Okay, Nick," Don agreed, looking at the next table. A twinge of concern for his blond partner prompted him to turn back to Nick. "Be careful, though. The guy could be here."

"I will," Nick acknowledged with a nod. He slipped from Schanke's sight and wove through the milling crowd, but the scent wasn't present. As he passed the open hallway leading to the back of the Raven, another brief tease of the exotic odor floated by. Stepping into the rear hallway, he moved swiftly toward the club's rear exit. Another quick whiff of expensive French cologne floated by when he opened the back door. Nick stepped through and let the door click shut behind him.

Nick's vampiric nature surged through him as he employed all his predatory senses to scan the alley, trying to locate his quarry. he thought, growling softly in frustration.

Suddenly a faint sound from above drew Nick's attention, and the sense of another vampire became clear. He quickly checked for any observers, then rose into the air, heading for the rooftops. The detective flew several blocks from the Raven before he sensed he was close. Lightly landing on the roof, he carefully looked around the area, trying to locate his adversary.

Most of the rooftop was shrouded in deep shadows, with the nearby buildings blocking the moon's light. Nick was walking toward the door that led down into the building when he felt a sickly evil brush against the edge of his mind, making him shiver from the contact. Knowing his adversary was near, the detective spun around, then pinpointed a presence standing in the blackness near the far corner of the building. He walked to the center of the roof and watched the dark shape step toward him, the form of a large, muscular man becoming clearer as the stranger moved closer.

"I need to ask you a few questions," Nick said, his voice becoming rough and deep as his eyes burned with a golden fire. He noted the expensive cut of his opponent's clothing, from the black fedora on his head to the handcrafted leather shoes.

"Maybe I don't want to answer," replied a deep baritone voice.

"I have to insist!" Nick growled, as he carefully stepped closer, his anger growing as he let his bestial side have more rein.

"I don't think so, deBrabant," the rough voice snarled. Nick could see the flash of white fangs when the tall man suddenly smiled. "Be careful what you ask for... You may get it!"

Nick stopped, surprised. "Do I know you?" There was a feeling of familiarity with this person, though Nick couldn't place ever meeting him before.

"We met a long time ago, deBrabant. I'm surprised our meeting meant so little to you that you'd forget it," the heavy baritone voice responded, animosity obvious in his tone.

Nick's only answer was a deep timbred rumble. He flashed his fangs in anticipation of the coming confrontation, all the while they slowly circled each other. He sized up his opponent, knowing that battle was swiftly approaching. He would have to be very careful. Though shrouded in shadows, Nick knew his opponent had to be at least three or four inches taller, not to mention weighing quite a bit more than he did.

"No matter. You'll remember this meeting," the large man growled seconds before he rushed Nick.

Nick stepped back quickly as the other attacked. He slipped behind the dark-headed vampire and tried to pull him into a chokehold, but the large man easily broke away. A large hand grabbed hold of his jacket and jerked him forward. Throwing himself to the side, the detective managed to pull out of his grasp, though he left a large section of his jacket lapel hanging in his opponent's hand. Nick quickly slipped the ripped jacket off and tossed it away as he stepped back, watching for another opening.

"Why are you attacking these young men?" Nick queried, as they circled each other warily, like two predatory cats. "It's more than just feeding."

"Ahhh..." the big man growled, as he rushed the blond detective, trying to bowl him over. "But that would give away the secret, deBrabant," he concluded as Nick spun out of reach, avoiding the deathly grip.

"That's no answer!" Nick snarled, angered by his flip response.

Dodging another rush from the other, Nick knew he had to use speed and agility to defeat this opponent, since he didn't have the advantage of height and weight. I'm not going to catch a break against this guy, he realized with a sigh. The feelings of approximate age coming from the other was close to his own, so their vampiric strength would be about the same. Damn!

With a thunderous growl, the large vampire charged. They locked hands and tried to wrestle each other for position. Suddenly, Nick felt himself pulled off balance. He snarled in rage when an arm wrapped around his throat and his back collided against a muscular, hard body. Raking his fingers across the stout forearm at his throat left deep, red furrows behind, but it wasn't enough. When the hold began to tighten, Nick buried his fangs through the expensive linen into the pale flesh and began to slash and ream.

A bellow came from behind him, then Nick was spun clear, but not before his opponent swung sharp nails at his chest. The hand missed his skin but caught the silk shirt, ripping it open. The two opponents squared off again.

"I have to say," the large man sneered as he glanced at the exposed chest, "you did fill out your youthful build quite nicely."

Nick growled deep in his chest in answer to the personal remark. He controlled the impulse to launch himself at this dark assailant, knowing that particular move would be disastrous. Cunning and stealth were needed here, not brute force.

The large vampire rushed him again, attempting to sweep the detective into a bone-crushing embrace, but Nick threw a hard punch to his stomach and stepped away. Circling each other warily, he absently noticed the expensive suit was torn in several places. Nick expected he exhibited like evidence of their violent battle. Hearing his opponent growl, the blond detective managed to duck out of reach once again. Looking back, he noticed the hat, having hung on through most of the fight, was finally missing, though his adversary's features were still not discernible.

Nick avoided another dangerous charge, then quickly spun back and threw a strong punch, which connected against the square jaw. The big man staggered, then dropped to one knee. Nick rushed in to follow up on his advantage... and faltered when his opponent looked up.

The moon's light was streaming down, fully illuminating his adversary's features. It was the bristling mane of dark hair framing his opponent's face that pulled on a half-buried memory. "What... the devil..." Nick stuttered, as he hesitated in surprise. "Do I...? I know you!" Nick whispered surprise displayed on his face. With a hoarse scream, Nick clasped his hands against his temples when a searing pain ripped across his mind. Crying out, he dropped to his knees, defenseless.

Struggling against the pulsating spasms bombarding his consciousness, Nick softly moaned as he staggered to his feet, only to feel an equally vicious stab of agony scream through his shoulder. When he looked down, he saw a long, broken piece from a two by four board embedded in his left shoulder. He sagged against the door leading into the building below, then looked up and grimaced, while his opponent slowly stepped back, a slow smile appearing on his face.

"You're Lord Gautier of Aquitaine!" Nick gasped, his flesh reminding him in excruciating detail about the wood as his head throbbed in concert with the tortuous ache from his returning memories.

"Ahhh, you remember me," Gautier answered, his anger smoldering just beneath the surface.

"I...remember the joust...when Lord de la Barre appointed me...to fight you," Nick gasped, fighting against the unrelenting pain that was radiating from his shoulder and head. He cradled his left arm against his side and pushed away from the door, trying to move away from Gautier, who was slowly stalking toward him.

"And do you remember the celebration afterwards, deBrabant?" Gautier asked, smirking, as he casually herded Nick toward the wall surrounding the flue that rose from the roof.

"No," Nick gasped as his shoulder connected with the large masonry chimney.

"Then let me help you remember," Gautier said, moving swiftly to cover the few feet between them. He grabbed the stake and gave it a vicious twist. Nick gave a strangled cry and collapsed against the wall. He felt his head being jerked to one side, then a different type of pain merged with the throbbing of his shoulder, as Gautier sank his fangs into his neck and began to drink. Besieged by his enemy's thoughts, as well as his own returning memories, Nick quickly slid into unconsciousness.

To Chapter 8

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