Disclaimers Here

LaCroix was sitting in the broadcast booth at CERK, taping a backup broadcast for his radio show, when he felt a titillating sensation coming through the link from Nicholas. It surprised him; he rarely felt this emotion from his youngest child any more. The old vampire paused the tape and leaned back in his chair, savoring the experience.

Nicholas was hunting.

LaCroix could feel the surge of adrenaline and rising excitement course through Nicholas as his son searched for his prey. Closing his eyes, he let the feeling fill him. After a few moments, the elder man released a low sigh of satisfaction and reluctantly pulled back from his connection. "It has been a long time," he breathed to himself as he leaned back over the control panel.

He clicked off the pause button and resumed working on his broadcast. With daybreak only a few hours away, he wanted to finish this taping before he headed for home. There was an exceptionally fine Chardonnay, mixed with the heady life's blood of a young, spirited artist that he had once sponsored, waiting to be sampled. The thought brought a hungry smile to his lips.

"So, gentle listeners, have you suffered the pains of a hope lost? Is your life winding into an ever-tightening circle, with no rel--" LaCroix suddenly stopped when the link flared with Nicholas' anger.

He thought he recognized what his son was up to. "Ah, Nicholas. Playing great protector of the mortal community again," he sighed. Sitting very still, he smirked with pleasure when the intensity surged even higher. His son's anger smoldered strongly, just waiting for something to whip it into a dangerous wildfire.

The cutting edge of disaster and the delicious taste of danger danced along the link between father and son. LaCroix frowned when he realized that this sensation was different from his son's usual mortal play-acting. Lightly touching the link, the old Roman had to smile as he gleaned what was happening. "No, not protector... Hmmm, trying to disciple one of us, are you, Nicholas," LaCroix surmised, with restrained paternal pride.

LaCroix reached over and turned off the main board. He wasn't going to get any more work accomplished tonight, he realized, as his attention again shifted to the link with his child. The emotions brushing against his mind were too intriguing to ignore.

The elder vampire was walking through the door of the studio when he felt a sudden shift from controlled anger to shock wash over him. Closing his pale eyes, he forced the link to his favorite wider. "What is he up to?" the elder vampire wondered aloud, tense with rising apprehension.

Seconds later, the first waves of pain shot through him, radiating through the link from his son. Worried about Nicholas, LaCroix flew out of the room -- then grabbed a nearby door jam, crushing it between his fingers when the searing pain of Nicholas' staking burned through him moments later. Luckily it was late; no one saw the deep golden glow appear in his eyes as he hurried upward to the roof.

Balancing on the edge of the building, LaCroix strained for a direction. "Nicholas..." he whispered, feeling the blackness dragging his favorite's mind down. When the old vampire felt the intrusion of another upon the link, he snarled in outrage. Someone was feeding off his son! With the added touch on the link, LaCroix gained the direction he needed and disappeared into the night air.

Gautier broke off the protruding part of the stake, then jerked upright in alarm. He felt the presence of another reaching for deBrabant. "No! I haven't had any time." With the memories extracted from the partial draining, the Frenchman recognized the presence as deBrabant's master. His beast flared brightly at the thought of tackling one of the ancients of their race, but his sense of self-preservation took control and squashed the idea.

"Maybe another time," Gautier whispered over his shoulder, willing the wind to carry his challenge forth. "I have the one I want to play with." He glowered at the still form at his feet, then evilly smiled.

"Come on, deBrabant," he purred as he picked up the limp body of his adversary and laid him across his shoulder. "Company's coming." Glancing into the night sky, he whispered, "We have an appointment elsewhere." Gautier's low ominous chuckle split the quiet night and mingled with the soft moan heard from the still form just before Gautier launched them both into the air.

LaCroix landed on the rooftop and immediately knew his son was not there. His nostrils flared in anger; he had arrived too late! A familiar scent drew him toward the other side of the roof, teasing as it goaded him to investigate. The elder vampire slowly walked across the roof until he arrived at the brick chimney. Kneeling down, he carefully daubed his middle finger into the thin rivulets of blood that were inching down the rough surface and brought the red fluid to his lips. His eyes closed in silent distress when the distorted echo of his son’s pain and shock overlaid the bright essence that personified Nicholas.

Striding toward the center of the roof, the elder vampire stopped, then bent to pick up a rumpled jacket. Recognizing it as his child’s, the stains and rips covering the jacket clearly displayed the battle that had been waged only a short time before.

Crushing the ruined jacket in his grasp, LaCroix pushed his anger down and reached for Nicholas through the link, straining for a direction. The easy mental contact of the last several days was gone. In its place was a muddled swirl of vague impressions, practically overriding any trace of his son. All he could sense with any certainty was a vague pulse of life. It was enough of a contact to know his son was injured, though alive, but too weak to gain a destination. LaCroix growled in frustration, then glanced to his right as Janette appeared beside him.

"LaCroix? Did you find him? Is he all right?" she cried, worry evident on her face and in her voice. She had felt his staking, followed by their link suddenly fading to a thin thread of contact.

"No, Janette," LaCroix said, glowering. "I cannot locate him. It's as though something is partially deflecting my thoughts! I can feel his pain, however the vibrancy is little more than an echo rather than what I know he must be feeling right now." LaCroix scowled as he looked off to the East. Within a couple of hours, the hated, deadly sun would be upon them. He *had* little time to find his son before that golden fireball rose to start the day.

"What are we to do?" Janette asked, laying her hand on his forearm, drawing support from her sire, as well as offering it.

"We wait," LaCroix stated firmly. Looking down at his beautiful daughter, the elder vampire took her hand and gently squeezed it. "Go back to the Raven and get rid of Nicholas' 'partner.'" LaCroix rolled the word from his mouth like it tasted bad. Glancing back at the eastern horizon, he added, "I'll be there in a moment." When Janette hesitated, her features tense with worry, he firmly stated, "We *will* find him. Now go do as I say."

Janette wandered through the slowly thinning crowd, looking for Detective Schanke. "Where *is* he?!" She finally spotted him standing by several pretty ladies near the far edge of the dance floor. Gliding through the crowd, she walked up behind Don, slipped a hand onto his shoulder, and interrupted the largely one-sided conversation that was going on.

"Detective, might I have a word with you?" Janette hooked her arm through his and led him toward the bar.

"Ah, sure Janette." Turning back to the ladies, who all had a look of relief on their faces, he yelled over his shoulder, "Maybe another time, girls."

Directing Don to an empty corner of the bar, Janette smiled her most captivating smile. "Detective..." she began.

"Please, Janette. It's Don."

"Don," she repeated. "Don, Nicola became ill a little while ago."

"I knew it! I knew he should have booked off the rest of the night!" Schanke said as he slammed his hand down on the bar. "I figured something was going on when he didn't come back."

"Yes, well... I've put him into one of the back rooms for the day, so you don't need to wait any longer for him," she informed him, then turned to go.

"I'd like to check on him, if you don't mind. He was looking pretty bad earlier," Schanke replied, stepping away from the bar.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," Janette hastily replied, attempting to reassure the detective. Smiling at the confused expression on Schanke's face, she smoothly said, "He is probably already asleep." Looking at Nicholas' partner, she asked, "You don't want to wake him, do you?"

"No, I guess not." Turning toward the front door, he stopped and spun back around. "Wait a minute... How am I supposed to get back to the precinct? He drove us over here."

Needing the detective gone, Janette looked over the bar at Miklos, who opened the cash register, took out a couple of bills, and handed them over to Janette. "Here Detec...rrr Don. Take a taxi." She slipped the money into his hand and turned to leave.

"Wait, Janette. I can't accept this. If you'd just get Nick's keys, I'd take the Caddy back to the station."

"I'm sorry Don, but I can't do that," she replied, turning back to him. "I'm not going to wake Nicola just to obtain his car keys." She smiled reassuringly at Nick's partner, her expression becoming more natural as she heard Miklos quietly phoning for a taxi. Walking back to Schanke, she placed her arm through his again, and slowly walked him to the stairs. "I'll ask him to reimburse me Det...Don. Don't worry."

"I knew he was sick with something," Don mumbled to himself as he started up the stairs. He leaned over the rail and yelled down to Janette, "You'll let me know if he needs anything, won't you Janette?"

"Yes, Detective, I'll let you know."

As Detective Schanke headed out the door, Janette felt her sire arriving. She quickly headed toward the rear of the Raven. Stepping out of the bustle of the club, she hurried toward her office, her worry deeply etched on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A low, baritone voice spitefully whispered across Nick's senses, driving him toward consciousness. "Come on, deBrabant. It's no fun playing when you're not awake to appreciate it."

The persistent throbbing pain in his shoulder flared into a raging bonfire as he was jerked into a seated position. Nick groaned hoarsely at the movement, then felt a growl rumbling up from his chest when someone began slapping his face.

Gold-red irises flashed as his eyes opened. The detective stared at the cavernous room spread before him. he vaguely wondered, trying to gather his thoughts.

An unexpected blow to his jaw rocked his head back and pulled a deep growl from him as the vampire skated closer to the surface. While his senses began subconsciously hunting for blood to aid his healing, he registered the colder body temperature of another of his kind in front of him. Another slap connected, this one harder than the last, forcing his head to crack against the wall behind him and a trickle of blood to dribble down his chin.

Nick's vision finally cleared somewhat and the presence in front of him solidified into a recognizable shape. "Gautier," he croaked, forcing his attention fully on the scowling figure.

"So. You've decided to join the party," Gautier snarled, a nasty sneer on his face. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to wake," he rumbled as he gazed at the other through gold-edged brown eyes.

"Where are we?" Nick asked, leaning his head against the wall behind him. He gingerly licked the blood off his swollen, split lip.

"You needn't worry about that."

Nick sighed, then hissed in pain when he shifted slightly. His head was pounding. It seemed to want to keep time with the throbbing in his shoulder. Warily watching the large vampire looming over him, Nick asked, "Why have you brought me here?"

Gautier slowly smiled, then squatted down in front of the injured man. Ignoring Nick's question, the other stated, "After all these centuries... It seems we have both survived the passage of time, my old adversary," he trailed off as he stared at his injured captive.

Nick frowned when he noticed the intense way Gautier was watching him. He had seen that lustful look before. The blond vampire looked away, a growing sense of dread rising within him. Considering the condition this crazy Frenchmen had left his victims, at least the ones the police knew about, Nick could guess what Gautier had in mind for him.

He glanced back at Gautier's face when he realized that the dark Frenchman was speaking. "...I returned to de la Barre's castle looking for you, only to find you gone."

Nick frowned in confusion. "de la Barre's castle? Why were you looking for me?" He closed his eyes and grimaced when another flash of agony lanced through his temple. Images from another time and place swiftly flashed by. He recognized one scene as a view of Artois Castle and the surrounding lands just as they had been during the early thirteenth century. Nick slit his eyes open again, sensing Gautier drawing closer.

The dark-headed vampire leaned down and scowled, his face growing hard as his anger mounted. "I promised you that I would return! I always keep my promises," he growled, then drove his fist into Nick's ribs, forcing a strangled gasp of pain out of the detective.

"It doesn't matter though," Gautier declared as he threw a hard punch into Nick's stomach. "Since I have you *now*!" He backhanded the detective prone, then rose to his feet, his expression displaying his enjoyment in the game he was playing.

Nicholas hissed at the added aches and slowly pushed himself back into a sitting position. The beast was surging up, trying to spur him into action, though with his blood level so low: his body couldn't begin to deal with the abuse it was receiving. The injured detective struggled to control the rising bloodlust that raced through his mind. With the vampire so close to the surface, he couldn't suppress the instinctive warning he hissed when Gautier moved toward him again.

"Well, well... A fighter to the end," Gautier jeered.

"What do you *want*!"

"Well now. I already have immortality... and unlimited wealth." Gautier ominously answered. Kneeling down again, he grabbed Nick's chin and forced him to look him in the eye as he purred, "So, how about your ass surrounding my cock. That would feel nice about now."

"Like hell it would, you son of a bitch!" Nick snarled, as he jerked his head away from the other's grip, then took a quick breath as a spasm of pain rippled through him. More images slid past, forcing their way into his mind. He winced and shook his head, trying to control the mental barrage.

"I don't think you're in any condition to argue about it, deBrabant," Gautier replied, his eyes glistening in anticipation as he watched his prize.

"Yes, I do believe riding you would feel pretty damn good about now. I'd have you suck my cock too, but I can guess what you'd probably do." Gautier leaned forward to grab a handful of Nick's sweat-dampened hair and forced the blond detective's head up.

With Nick's rumbled complaint, Gautier frowned, as he gazed at the handsome face before him. "You really don't remember, do you?"

"Remember what?" Nick snarled, his anger obvious in his voice as he tried to free his head from the painful hold.

"I can tell from your blood. You really don't remember that night," the large man rambled on as he jerked his hand free from Nick's hair. "Someone has tampered with your memories, deBrabant," he stated with absolute certainty. "Someone with a lot of skill in manipulation." Cocking his head slightly, he asked, "Maybe, LaCroix?"

"What are you talking about, Gautier? What has LaCroix got to do with this?"

Staring off into space, Gautier slipped into his own thoughts, temporarily forgetting the other. "It doesn't matter," he muttered to himself. Jerking back to the present, he continued, "I'll enjoy myself whether you remember or not," he lewdly said, his smile growing again.

The large man rose, pulling Nick to his feet. "I hope you decide to fight me, deBrabant. It will make the taking so much sweeter!"

Gautier backhanded Nick, sending him crashing against the wall. "I've dreamed of this day." Moving swiftly, he plowed another fist into his victim's ribs. Gautier smirked when the young detective doubled over, the audible crack of a rib breaking obvious over the gasp of pain. "For almost 800 years," he hissed in anger, "I dreamed of revenge," Gautier growled, his eyes shifting to red.

He jerked the injured vampire up, then sent him sprawling with a hard backhand across the mouth. Nick fell against a stack of packing crates and briefly disappeared from sight in a shower of broken crates and packing material, which spilled across the warehouse floor. Grimacing against the pain, the blond detective was struggling to his feet when Gautier waded through the broken items, picked him up, and threw him against a wall of wooden boxes that lined one side of the warehouse.

"You don't have de la Barre to protect you now, young squire," the tall vampire sneered as he wrapped one hand around Nick's neck and pinned him against the wooden crates. Nick clawed at the hand squeezing his throat, then bellowed in indignation and pain when Gautier smacked his free hand against the weeping, open wound in Nick's injured shoulder.

"Oh, I bet that hurt," Gautier wickedly teased, watching the blonde detective's complexion blanch from the blow.

Through the ages, the Frenchman had happened upon an occasional young vampire while hunting for his next victim. They had always been easy to break, weak and easily intimidated, barely stronger than the mortals he usually hunted. Because of this, he was unprepared when Nick, panting for breath, forced his injured side into action and belted the tall vampire in the solar plexus with all his might.

Gautier dropped his hold in surprise and staggered several paces back. Rubbing his chest, a slow grin of delight spread across his face.

"I don't need de la Barre or anyone else to protect me, Gautier," Nick managed to say, panting from the pain. He staggered slightly, then slowly backed away from the other, trying to gain more maneuvering room.

"Well, well. Maybe the boy *is* a man after all." Gautier carefully followed his quarry, watching the injured detective with a deadly stare.

Nick saw the smirk appear on the dark knight's face as Gautier stalked slowly after him. He knew the other was just playing with him, building the hunt's tension until he tired of the game. Glancing around the room, he continued to back away from the French vampire. He didn't see any escape until he noticed several large skylights mounted in the warehouse's roof. With a soft sigh of relief, Nick tensed, preparing to launch himself into the air, when he was suddenly overwhelmed with punches. Pulling his arms in against his body, Nick tried to protect himself, as the blows hammered in unchecked.

Desperation whipping him to action, Nick shoved Gautier away, and with an angry yell, followed with a series of punches. Succeeding in driving the big man back a few paces, Nick threw himself into the air with his left arm cradled against his broken rib. He let the vampire surge through him, using its anger to strengthen him as he pushed for more speed in a desperate attempt to escape.

He'd almost reached one of the skylights when Gautier grabbed his leg and jerked. Nick quickly spun around and launched himself at his attacker, using surprise to his advantage. The two vampires became a whirling mass of flailing arms and flashing teeth. Horrendous growling could be heard as the two enemies tore at each other -- all the while, they plunged toward the ground.

Nick knew he *had* to get away, before his strength failed completely. He pushed loose and made one last attempt to reach the skylight above.

A great roar filled the room, then Gautier slammed against him. Mad with hate, the vengeful knight was a whirlwind of flying fists and nails. His obsessed opponent battered Nick until they both struck the ground.

Everything clouded over for one brief moment when Nick hit the ground. A second later, the other's weight landed on top of him, wrenching a shrill scream out of the wounded detective as every nerve in his body shrieked from the impact. Drawing a ragged breath, Nick gasped, then flinched when the other began ripping at his clothes, shredding material and tearing streaks of skin away in his maddened frenzy.

Nick was almost thankful when a gray fog finally descended, dulling the pounding that resumed.

A deep, reverberating growl rumbled through the small office as LaCroix strode to the desk and poured a glass of bloodwine. He raised the goblet to his lips and took a sip, trying to calm his rising fury. Another flash of pain, sharp and intense, shot through him. With a roar, he dashed the crystal to the floor and spun around, his eyes burning a deep, angry amber. Where is he! LaCroix wanted to shriek to the world as the link fluctuated with Nicholas' fear and pain. No direction to hone in on! It was like the link was passing through a mirror, refracting their connection into a muted, barely recognizable copy of the original. He let a low, rumbled growl emerge as he filled another glass and downed the contents.

LaCroix glanced toward his daughter, who was sitting on the couch, her expressive blue eyes filled with worry. The look that passed between them spoke volumes about their fear for Nicholas' safety.

This is maddening! the old vampire thought, his eyes glowing gold as he stared off in thought. He could feel his son in pain somewhere within the city, but he couldn't sense any more! LaCroix again tried to force their link, straining for more contact from the shaky, thin strand he had now. A sudden thought occurred to him. It is almost like something is blocking me, he thought. Shaking his head, he forced himself to calm down, then poured another glass, and resumed his wait.

Gautier heard the whispered moan breathe out of the unconscious body as he toed it over. He jerked the limp body up and laid the still form across his shoulder, then gazed around the warehouse, looking for a convenient spot to continue their 'discussion'. "I don't want you leaving without some fond memories." Spotting a group of large shipping barrels stacked off to his right, the Frenchman quickly moved toward them, his excitement mounting as he approached the climax of this meeting with his old adversary.

With a growl of anticipation, Gautier dropped the blond detective to the ground and pulled one of the barrels onto its side. Yes! The perfect height, he thought, as he stood by the barrel, an ugly leer crossing his features. The dark-headed vampire glanced back at the battered body lying at his feet when another muffled noise whispered from the bruised face.

So many emotions swirled through him as he stared at the man at his feet. In his delusional mind, Nicholas deBrabant had been the chief cause of all his humiliation and loss of station when he was a knight. However, the young, blond squire also represented so much more. Gautier looked at the battered and bleeding form and saw through his mind's eye the handsome young man like it was yesterday. A cruel smile crossed his face as he revisited those old memories; the day he sampled the younger, naive squire and the feelings that virgin body had given him. He *wanted* to feel that again. "And I will!" he snarled, dropping his semiconscious captive face down on the upturned barrel.

Nick groggily felt the hard, wooden surface he was dropped upon. With a grunt of pain, he tried to push himself up, but something was holding him in place. Shaking his head, the muddled detective tried to concentrate... What was going on?

A low, rumbling growl behind the dazed detective acted like a bucket of cold water being poured over his head, pulling him awake and alert to the danger nearby. He winced as the sound of ripping cloth cut through the quiet room, then gasped at the sudden motion when the remains of his shirt was roughly stripped off his body. Ignoring the pain, Nick pushed against the restraining hand in the middle of his back and snarled, "Let me up, Gautier!" as he struggled to rise from the barrel. His snarl of frustration turned into a groan of apprehension when Gautier laid his body on top of him, adding his weight to the load Nick was supporting.

"No! Don't do this." A note of despair appeared in his voice when he realized he wasn't strong enough to fight the large man off. The strain of supporting himself and Gautier was too much and he crashed against the barrel, Gautier on top of him.

"Hold still, my lustful squire," Gautier whispered next to Nick's ear. "I've waited a long time for this--" he finished, his fangs flashing as he spoke. "Through the years, I've visited many in your stead." A harsh bark of laughter sounded as he ran his fingers through Nick's blond hair. "In fact, I never expected to meet you again. Imagine my surprise upon seeing you," he breathed. Bending to the pale shoulder, he tasted the skin and threaded his hands around the slim waist to fondle the detective.

Nick again strained upward, trying to push himself off the barrel, then froze when he realized he was helping the Frenchman by giving the other room to stroke his hands across Nick's chest and stomach. When Gautier began to lick the back of his neck, he ducked his head and growled in frustration. Retaliating the only way possible, the irate detective launched an elbow jab into the ribs behind him.

"What? Don't you want to play, Nicholas?" the large vampire jeered. "I take it you didn't miss me." With a leering smile, he continued," Oh, that's right. You don't remember, do you?" he taunted.

Nick refused to answer, then ground his teeth, his anger and frustration climbing as fangs were dragged across his shoulders. His fury quickly escalated when Gautier began rubbing against his buttocks, the Frenchman's hard penis obvious through his clothing. Nick tried to wiggle away from the unwanted forceful teasing. However, with one of Gautier's hands against his abdomen, pulling him tightly against his assailant and the other roaming across his chest, there was little chance of escape.

In frustration, Nick attempted to burrow closer to the barrel, trying to escape Gautier's fangs as they continued to scratch across his shoulders. The hands ranging across his stomach and groin were swiftly leading Nick to desperation as he sensed the teasing was nearing an end. He increased his struggles, apprehensive as Gautier began to work his tongue across Nick's shoulders toward the back of his neck. Nick felt the deep, low growl vibrate through his body from Gautier and tensed. Playtime was over. He felt the dark knight draw back then lunge, sinking fangs into the skin under his ear.

"Nooo! Gautier, don't..." As his life's blood was drained from him, the only sound that could be heard was the wet sucking sounds as the big man fed from his unwilling victim.

"Running a little low, are we?" Gautier quipped when he rose a short time later. Gautier lay against Nick's still form, reclining on his bent forearm, which rested against Nick's back. Leaning forward, he brought his other hand up and grabbed a handful of blond hair. He pulled his now pliant captive's head back, dragging a groan from Nick.

"How can you drink that swill, deBrabant?!" Spitting on the floor, Gautier continued, "Your blood fairly reeks with the foul stuff." Not receiving any answer, the dark knight released Nick's head with a disgusted noise. "Cow... Out of all the animals you could have picked, it had to be cow! I'm surprised your master allows it!"

Weakened further by this latest feeding, Nick wavered on the edge of consciousness. He heard Gautier's tirade and tried to use it to fan his anger. However, he couldn't seem to spark anything to retaliate with.

he despaired as he fought to hold off unconsciousness. He knew he couldn't defeat Gautier after all the damage he'd taken, so with a soft sigh, he relaxed against the barrel and let the approaching blackness flow over him. After all, there's little point in tormenting someone when they don't feel it, he hazily rationalized.

"Damn it!" Gautier roared when he felt the body under him go completely limp. Standing up, he quickly moved to stand by the barrel. "Don't you pass out on me deBrabant!" he bellowed, jerking Nick's head up.

The whispered sigh that resulted from the movement encouraged the Frenchman. Threading his fingers securely through the golden blond hair, Gautier quickly squatted down and forced the detective's mouth open. He ripped a gash in his wrist with his fangs and let the blood drip, slowly filling Nick's mouth. Tilting Nick's head back further, the dark fluid slowly trickled down his captive's throat. After the second mouthful had been swallowed, the large vampire pulled his wrist away. "That ought to be enough," he rumbled to himself.

Gautier released Nicholas and watched his unconscious captive for any sign of reviving. He felt his blood working on the young detective and growled in pleasure upon sensing the tentative connection forming between them. Good, he mused. "So you *are* strong enough to survive my attentions. Even better," the burly Frenchman purred.

Standing up, he began to pull his belt loose as he returned to stand behind the still form. "I think it's time for another lesson, young squire," the deep baritone voice intoned, as he watched Nicholas beginning to faintly stir.

*Smack* Nick flinched when pain wound around his mind, driving him out of the soothing darkness.

*Smack* The scent of blood floated in the surrounding air.

*Smack* His shoulders and back felt on fire. What? His thoughts were still muddled and confused. Strange images -- memories that were not his began to run through his mind.

*Smack* Pain! Nick gasped and took a long, ragged breath. He heard the hiss of something swinging through the air, then *smack*. Jumping at the impact, he hissed when his back flashed a painful message to his befuddled brain. The pain racing through his body merged with the memories running through his mind. Killing... Blood everywhere...

Raising his head, he fought to control the rush of unwanted thoughts that attempted to crush him, scarcely noticing the cutting sound moving through the air, announcing the descending blow. *Smack* With a weak snarl, Nick tried to push himself off the barrel. He looked over his shoulder with red, vampiric eyes and saw a belt swinging toward him.

*Smack* With a howl of rage, Nick summoned all his strength and shoved upward, frantically attempting to escape from this defenseless position. He felt a strong pressure boring down on the small of his back, holding him in place -- pinning him easily to the barrel as he weakly struggled to be free.

Nick let a loud snarl escape, then jumped as another blow landed, leaving behind another bloody welt. *Smack* He refused to cry out. He wasn't going to give Gautier the satisfaction.

Ignoring all the pain, Nick gave a massive heave and tried to pull away from the iron grip of his captor. Instead of escaping, however, his left wrist was pulled behind him causing a wave of agony to scream through his shoulder at the sudden movement. With one wrist pinned, he fought to prevent the capture of the other one, but to no avail. Nick snarled in frustration when Gautier tightly strapped his wrists together with the belt, then shoved him onto the barrel.

"I'm glad you decided to wake. It's time to get down to business." Nick heard the hateful deep voice, his breathing quickened with his rising anxiety and fear.

"Gautier, don't do this," Nick implored as he frantically strained against the restraints. The sound of his pants being ripped open echoed in his mind. He couldn't quite remember. Too many things flashing through his mind. Gautier's memories... his memories.

Shaking his head to clear it, he felt the shredded denim hanging loose around his waist. Gautier had been in such a fevered rush, he hadn't even bothered to remove Nick's belt-- just ripped the cloth away, until only small remnants remained.

"I have been looking forward to this for a long time." Gautier growled, the vampire strongly evident in his voice.

One hand firmly holding him still, Nick heard Gautier opening his pants. He felt the panic surfacing as his helplessness aided his enemy. Using all his strength, he strained against the leather binding his hands and pushed back against Gautier. Nick tried to twist around when he felt Gautier's penis bump against the inside of his legs. An arm briefly twined around his waist, holding him in place. "I'm glad you're as eager to start as I am. I'll try and make it as enjoyable as the last time."

Nick attempted to squirm away, wanting free from the unwanted embrace. As he twisted partially around, he confronted his abusive captor, who was standing with his muscular chest visible through the open shirt and his large penis prominently rising from the front of his open pants. Gold and red flecked eyes watched the blond detective hungrily, while the dark-headed vampire slowly stroked his stiff cock.

"Are you ready, deBrabant?" he hungrily said. "I'm ready for you."

"Gautier, stop. Don't do--" Gautier shoved Nick viciously down on the barrel, driving the air out of him with the impact. Fueled by his panic, Nick strained as hard as he could and finally felt the leather snap, freeing his hands at last. He began to push off the barrel, when a searing pain burned across the tight opening of his anus. "Nooo!" Nick screamed, as his head was jerked back by the hair, bowing his back painfully. With a hand on his back roughly shoving him against the wooden barrel, he felt Gautier invade his body as he thrust his desires down the new, raw link between them. The agony burned through him -- all the abuse, the staking, the beatings, and now the mental and physical rape merged into an all-consuming agony. Nick couldn't tell where the pain stopped and he started. Suddenly, a door in his mind opened wide and all the memories that had been leaking into his subconscious over the last several days came pouring forth. A scream from the bottom of his soul cascaded out, to fill the warehouse with his anguish. He remembered...all of it!

"LaCroix!"

LaCroix felt his son's scream as it tore across their link. "Nicholas...!" He flew out of the Raven with his eyes flaring red, following the waves of heartache and pain that continued to bombard him. East, toward the lightening sky -- that's where the link pulled him. He had to hurry!

Gautier felt Nick's tight sphincter squeezing against his cock as he vigorously thrust into the whelp. He continued to push hard and strong, until his pubic hairs were brushing against the soft, pale buttocks. "Oh, yeah," he growled in delight. He could feel the bloody lubricate coating his cock as he tore flesh with his violent thrusts.

The scream that spilled out of the pale body beneath him, surprised him for a moment, then he slowly smiled. Pulling harder on the handful of hair, he made the blond head arch back toward him again. "Does it hurt, pretty boy? You're not going to break, are you?" he taunted, as he pounded into his unwilling victim.

The large vampire released the disheveled hair and slipped one hand across the other's blood stained chest, while his left hand grasped the detective's hip. Holding Nick securely against him, Gautier pulled the unresisting body up against him until the golden strands rested against the Frenchman's shoulder. Ah, yes! I knew he would feel wonderful!

His grunts mingling with the low moans of pain coming from his prey, filling the warehouse with sound. Gautier closed his eyes, concentrating on his pleasure as he slid in and out of Nick. The growing ball of sensual pleasure emanating in his groin rapidly grew as his orgasm approached.

When a ragged groan sighed out of his victim, he snarled, "How about a little taste, deBrabant. Hmm, yes, a taste would go good about now!" Gautier flicked his tongue against the undamaged side of Nick's neck, tasting the skin. He licked and mouthed the area under the detective's ear, then after finding the spot he wanted, he sank his fangs in and sipped on the life of Nicholas deBrabant.

A few moments later he pulled his fangs out. With blood streaming from his mouth, Gautier threw his head back and wallowed in the feelings coming from the weak newly-made link, the blood, and his cock. He released the limp body, letting it drop to the barrel again and continued to forcefully fuck his ancient opponent. It didn't matter that his victim had once again slipped into unconsciousness. Unless he was really sloppy, his new bed toy should last for quite some time.

Leaning down, he sank his fangs back into the unresisting throat, tearing at the side of Nick's neck in a greedy desire to possess every drop of the delicious liquid.

Suddenly, he jerked upright. Standing quietly, his cock still buried deep inside the still body under him, Gautier tilted his head slightly, as if he were listening. Straining, he could faintly sense the waves of anger and worry that pulsed along the link running from the unconscious form to his ancient master. Listening through the weak connection he now had with Nicholas was like trying to hear through a bad phone connection; enough came through to warn, but not to communicate.

"Damn!" he hissed, then pulled out of the bloody ass. Taking a piece of Nick's torn shirt, he hurriedly wiped himself off and fastened his pants. Leaning near the unmoving head, Gautier whispered, "I shall taste of you again, deBrabant..." then was gone.

LaCroix streaked toward the warehouse district. The link to his son had gone strangely quiet in the last minute. It didn't matter though. He had his destination in sight.

Crashing through one of the roof's skylights, the ancient vampire landed inside the warehouse with the glass raining down around him. Gold hued eyes scanned the interior, searching for Nicholas. He listened to the link, trying to pinpoint his son's location. There! A small tremor to the left pulled LaCroix unerringly toward his son. He hurried through the warehouse, following the thin thread that spun between them.

LaCroix rounded a large wall of crates and beheld the signs of a terrible fight. Broken and disturbed containers were strewn about the cavernous open area in front of him. He walked through the mess, his nostrils flaring as he hunted for the familiar scent of his child. There... to the right... he realized, then stopped when faced with the sight left for him.

"Oh...Nicholas," LaCroix breathed in unaccustomed shock. He flew over to the still form lying outstretched across the barrel, noting the bloody welts, the battered face, and the crimson evidence of Gautier's rape covering the deathly pallor of his son. The elder vampire checked the link for any sign that there was still life in the mauled body.

"When will you learn," LaCroix whispered as he knelt down and gently stroked his fingertips across Nick's check. At the touch, a weak moan whispered out of his favorite child. Quickly rising, he removed his coat and laid it across his son's blood streaked back. A pain-filled breath was plainly heard when LaCroix eased Nick off the barrel and wrapped the coat around the unconscious vampire's body.

"It will be all right," LaCroix whispered as he tied the coat closed and pulled the collar up, then carefully picked up the battered body and lifted into the air. Dawn was only minutes away! He had to get Nicholas to safety! The shattering of more glass announced their swift departure as the first hint of color streaked across the eastern sky, heralding the approaching day.

To Chapter 9

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