Subject: In The Beginning James Created.. (01)


        "I dont know how much more of this I can take."  Nat dropped a
stack of files on the desk.  "I feel like I've been working all my life
on this *one* *stupid* case!  I'd be happy if we had anything that at
least _resembled_ a break-through.  Or a lead.  Or a hint of a lead.."
        "I know, Nat.  Don't worry- something's bound to turn up
eventually.  It always does."  Cohen said, sympathetically.  She sat down
at her desk, and stared at the files Nat had just dropped.  "Do you think
it would help if we went over them one more time?"
        Nat groaned.  "I think the only thing that would help right now,
is a hot bath.  And a long nap.  A vacation, even.."
        Cohen grinned.  "Yeah, well, I doubt the Captain'll let us go
anywhere until we make some progress on this case.  You heard what she
said.  I'm surprised she's letting you get away with not working days,
skin condition or no."
        Nat nodded.  It *was* fortunate the Captain hadn't demanded more
of her time on this case.  Fourteen murders were piled up, and there were
no clues.  No suspects, and no way of telling when the next one would
happen. She sighed.  Her head was beginning to hurt.  "Why don't we go
prowl around, see if we can pick up anything from the street."  It was
her only possible suggestion.
        Cohen nodded.  "Yeah.  At least we'll be out of-"
        "What are you two doing?"  Captain DuCharme walked up and glared
at the detectives.  They looked back, uneasily.
        "We were just about to go see if we could find any clues about
this case."  Nat said. She tried to keep her guilt off her face- they
should have solved this thing by now.  There should have been *something*
by now..
        DuCharme glared at them.  "Do you know how many times the mayor
has called me? Tonight?  Would you like to know what he said?"
        "Not really.." Cohen muttered quietly.
        DuCharme smiled, suddenly. "He hasn't called once.  Apparently
some visiting dignitary from the States collapsed in his office.  His
appendix, or something.  But he's distracted- and so for now, the heat is
off.  That *doesn't* mean I dont want this thing solved.  I just wanted
to let you know, you can relax.  A little."  She grinned, and the two
women smiled back.
        "Don't worry, Captain.  We'll get this thing solved."  Nat
promised.  "Come on, Cohen.  Let's go beat feet."
        Cohen followed her out.


        "Nothing."  Cohen slammed her fist against the dash of Nat's
car.  When they first became partners Nat had protested such treatment of
her precious Caddy- by now she'd resigned herself to it.  "No one knows
*anything*.  I can't believe it."
        "Yeah.. it's not even like they're too scared to talk.  They
really don't seem to know anything.  If we didn't have bodies piled up,
I'd even wonder if there were murders taking place at *all*."
        "I know what you mean.  How can fourteen people get killed in
fourteen different locations, without *any* clues being left behind? It's
unnatural."
        Nat felt a shiver at the remark.  Maybe it was time she ended the
silence, and went to the Raven.  She hadn't stopped by at all, in the
months since the club had opened.  But she'd heard that it was a hang-out
for her kind.  She knew the owner.. an old friend.  She hated to show up
out of the blue, and for such a distasteful reason, but if there were no
answers forthcoming then it looked like she had no choice.  She took a
deep breath.
        "Cohen.. I'm going to drop you off at the precinct, all right? I
have an errand to run.."
        "An errand? Nat, we don't have time."
        Nat gave her partner a look.  "What can we do? We've hit a blank
wall.  Maybe if we take a half hour and relax, don't think about it, one
of us will get inspired."  She shrugged. "I don't know what else to do,
Amanda.  We aren't getting anywhere."
        Cohen nodded.  "Ok. I'll go visit the Coroner's office.  See if
they've come up with anything we can use."  Her voice said she didn't
expect them to find anything they hadn't found before now.  Which was
nothing.
        Nat dropped her off, then turned the Caddy around.  She felt
nervous, she wasn't entirely sure what sort of reception she'd get.  But
she'd known she would have to go by, it had only been a matter of when.
Now or never, she told herself.  Might as well be now.
        Maybe he wasn't still mad at her.

        She brushed past the line of mortals waiting at the door to get
in.  The bouncer raised a hand to stop her- and he could have, he was a
vampire.  But she flashed her badge, and he stepped aside with a sneer.
She stopped herself from sneering back.  She'd been trying to raise
herself above such vulgar behaivour.
        She stepped into the dimly lit club, and let her vampiric vision
show her the interior.  It was packed, the music was loud, and she could
smell, above the cigarette smoke and sour odor of beer, the sweet tang of
blood.  As she walked farther into the club, she realised that several
vampires were sipping blood and wine, from wine glasses.  She frowned.
Steeling her will, she decided to ignore it, and went to the bar.
        The bartender barely glanced at her, then asked if she wanted the
House Special.  "No, I'm looking for the owner."  She had to flash her
badge again, before he went and knocked on the office door.  Nat couldn't
help but smile when the owner came out.
        He smiled when he saw her, and came around to her side.
"Natalie!" He gave her a fierce hug.  "It's so good to see you!  I was
wondering when you'd stop by.  You should have called me, before now you
know.  It hasn't been *that* long.."  His words trailed off as he
recognised her expression. "What's wrong?  You're not here for fun and wine,
are you?  Come on, Nat.. you work too hard."
        "I'm sorry, Nick.  I _am_ here on business.  I've got a case I'm
working on.. I was wondering if you could help me."
        His disappointment showed.  "I heard you were a police detective, now.

What's the matter? Was teaching night school too dangerous?"
        "That's not why I left the university.  I just.. I had to take an
active part in.." she trailed off, not sure she could explain herself to him.
        "Preventing evil?  Teaching the minds of tomorrow's leaders
wasn't working, so now you're arresting them?"
        "That's not fair, Nicholas."  His words hurt.  Once they had been
so close, and he had supported her so much.  Now, though, it sounded as
if they would never be able to get back together.  She had changed to
much, and Nick had stayed to much the same.
        "I'm sorry, Nat.  It *was* unfair of me.  Now.. you said you
wanted my help?"  He sounded sincere, and Nat was reminded of the man she
loved.
        "Yes.  There's been a series of murders.  14, to be exact.  And
we have no clues, no suspects.. no one knows anything. I was wondering.."
        "If I did?  Why would I know anything about murders?  Mortals'
affairs are none of my business."  He said it flippantly, as if to remind
her how *she* should feel.
        "Nick.. I know it wasn't someone hunting.  No blood was taken.
But.. Don't you know anything? Haven't you heard something that might
help me? Please?"
        He looked at her and sighed.  "Nat..  not every murder can be solved."
        "I know.  But I have to exhaust every avenue, before I give up."
        He looked at her and smiled.  "Yes.. you always were the stubborn one."
        She grinned.  "I am not stubborn..."
        Nick laughed.  "You stayed in Milan for how many years, simply
because you were too stubborn to go.  You insisted he would return, that
young fop, and you wanted to be there to greet him.. what was his name?"
        "He was *not* a fop! He simply had exquisite taste. But it doesn't
matter now, Nicholas.  He's dead and gone."
        "Like every other mortal."
        Nat nodded.  She decided she'd better change the subject, before
he asked her about her own quest for mortality.  "Do you know anything
that might help me?"
        He sighed.  "You might ask a young vampire named Colin.  He's
newly arrived to Toronto, and he.. doesn't have a very good reputation.
I overheard him talking, a few nights ago.  He may know something.  He
may not.  But it's the only thing I know which might help you."
        Nat leaned over and kissed his cheek.  "Thanks, Nick. I owe you one."
        As she walked off, he said quietly, "You owe me more than one,
little sister."  She didn't acknowledge whether she heard him, as she
threaded her way through the mass of partiers.  Nick watched until he
could see her no more, then headed back to his office.  He didn't see as
Nat stopped at the door, and turned.  The look on her face made it clear
she'd heard, and remembered quite well how much she owed him.  She forced
herself to not dwell on it, and went to find Colin.


        Nat went up to the Coroner's Office to find her partner.  She
hated the smell of the place- the dead bodies drew at her vampiric
nature, eagerly telling her she should drink deep..  But the smell also made
her stomach queasy, as her intellect told her to stay away from the human
blood.  She took a deep breath before she entered the wing, one last gasp
of semi-fresh air.  Then she headed inside.
        Grace told her Cohen had already come and gone, but Nat figured
as long as she was here she would get the details of the report from the
horse's mouth. Although she didn't expect to hear that there *were* any
details.
        She opened the door to the examining room and grinned.  Her
friend was oblivious to everything, except the dead form before him.  She
snuck up behind him, and said suddenly, "Hi, Lou!"
        He jumped, and turned around.  "Nat!  I've told you not to do
that.. and don't call me Lou."  He glared at his friend's wicked and
insatiable sense of humour.
        "Sorry, Lou."  Nat grinned.  "What do you have for me, Lucien?"
        "For you, I have this,"  he went over to his desk and brought
back a styofoam cup.  Nat took it, but frowned at the smell.
        "What is it?"  She wrinkled her nose.
        Lucien continued, ignoring her question.  "For your case, I have
something interesting.  I'm not sure what it is, yet.  But now that
you're here maybe I can find out."
        Nat set the cup down, and followed him to a table where a
microscope was set up.  Lucien glared at her for leaving the cup, but she
ignored him.  "Take a look at this."
        She did, and while she was looking Lucien went back and got the
cup.  He handed it to her again, as she asked what the heck she was
looking at.
        "I won't tell you, until you take a drink."  He folded his arms
stubbornly.  Nat sighed.  She could out-stubborn the man, she knew, but
the case pressed on her.  She hesitantly took a sip.
        "Augh! What *is* this?"
        "It's a protein drink.  Chemically, almost the same as human
blood.  But with a few minor changes.. what you're holding is also
digestable by humans.  Although, granted.. it doesn't taste very good.
But if you drink this, you may soon be able to drink a real milkshake.
Chocolate.  With whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.."  His eyes were
beginning to glaze over.
        "All right, all right."  Nat was beginning to get nauseaous again.
"So what am I looking at?"
        "I think it's saliva.  But it has some wierd properties.. which
is why,"  he took a tongue depressor and took ahold of Nat's chin, "I
wanted to get a sample to compare it to."
        Nat's eyes were wide, when he moved away.  "You.. you think it's
vampire saliva?  You think a vampire did this?"
        Lucien shrugged.  "I'm not sure.  No blood was missing, so if it
was.. they had an ulterior motive."
        Ulterior motive.. that phrase sounded familiar.  Nat frowned,
then decided maybe Nick had been right.  Colin, his name was.  She'd have
to check him out.
        "You have an idea?" Lucien asked, reading the expression on her face.
        "I think so.. I have a name, it might be a lead."
        "Well.. be careful, ok?  I worry about you."
        Nat smiled.  "Thanks.. but I'm pretty good at taking care of
myself."  She left, to check out Colin.  She was grateful that Lucien had
not scoffed at her last statement.. she knew others who would not have
had so much self-control.
        She wondered how she could find Colin, without letting her
partner know what she was up to.  Then she shrugged, and decided the best
way was to leave, before Cohen found out she was back.  She went back
down to the garage and found her Caddy.


        Nat parked in front of the apartment building.  It was one of the
fanciest, most expensive places to live in Toronto- as far as apartments
went.  She hadn't expected to find Colin living here, he wasn't old
enough to accumulated *that* much disposable income.  Then again, she
really didn't know that much about him.  Maybe he just had expensive
tastes, and to heck with who paid the bill.
        A lot of vampires felt that way.
        She headed up to the seventeenth floor, where her information said
he lived.  She still hadn't figured out what to say, how to ask him- she
couldn't simply arrest him, if it turned out he was behind all the
murders.  Nor could she let him get away with it.  But mostly, she wanted
to know why a vampire would bother killing so many people, and *not* take
their blood.
        What was the point?  She knocked on the door.
        A young man opened it, and grinned at her.  It was the malicious
smile of a vampire who believes he can get away with anything.  She hated
him on sight.
        "I'd like to talk to you, if I may.."  she began, not showing him
her badge just yet.  He stepped back, to let her in, and she got the
feeling not only had he been expecting her, but he knew exactly why she'd
come.
        "Well of course we were expecting you, Natalie.  Why else would
we go to so much trouble?"
        She froze at the voice.  No, it couldn't be.. not him.  Why did
he keep showing up, to ruin her life?  She turned towards the one who'd
spoken, and yes, there he was, smiling at her.  "Schanke.. why am I not
surprised?"
        He laughed, and the sound grated on Nat's nerves.  She wanted to
run, to hide, to leave this town, this country.. anything to get away
from him.  She faced him calmly, though, knowing that if she ran now
she'd never stop.  He waited as she stared at him, then he nodded.  "Very
good, my darling daughter.  You finally show some backbone.. after all
these years.  I knew I had chosen wisely."
        "What do you want, Schanke?"  She kept her voice tight.  She was
*not* going to back down this time.  She wasn't going to show any
weakness, or fear.. even if deep inside she was shaking.
        "Why must I want something?  Maybe I just dropped in to say hi."
He smiled at her, a falsely innocent smile that made Nat want to gag.
        "Then why would you kill ten innocent people?"
        "Innocent? What makes you think they're innocent?"
        "You didn't kill them for food, and there was nothing in their
backgrounds which indicated any reason for an enemy to kill any one of
them. They were _innocent_.  You killed them for your own pleasure."
        "Well, fun as it was, it wasn't entirely for pleasure.  Who cares
if they were innocent, though? They're humans.. what else are they good for?"
        "Lucien says they make great souvlaki."  Nat said, in an almost
casual tone.
        Schanke looked at her.  "Souvlaki? You want to become human for
souvlaki? And here I'd hoped you at least had a noble reason.. something
dramatic, like saving your soul or redeeming yourself of your sins."  His
sarcastic voice stabbed thorugh her.  She remembered at time when all
she'd wanted was his affection, his pride, and his love.  Now all she
wanted was his ashes, scattered across the Atlantic.
        "My.. aren't we vengeful tonight?  Such language.. such imagery!
Didn't anyone tell you to be respectful of your parents?"
        "Only when they deserve it."  She hated that he could read her
thoughts, but she liked that he knew her hatred of *him* was real.
        He smiled.  "It's no matter, my sweet.  When you get bored
playing at being a mortal, I'll still be here.  I'll wait for you.. but
don't be suprised if I.. entertain myself in the meantime."
        A chill ran down Nat's spine.  "What do you mean?"
        "Who, me? Nothing, nothing at all.  Perhaps I'll go down to
Nick's place, and enjoy myself."  He grinned, and suddenly he was moving
past her and out the door.  Nat didn't move after him, still in shock at
seeing him, at being forced to fight against him unexpectedly.
        She looked at Colin.  "You helped him kill those people."  She
accused.  She still had a homicide to solve.
        Colin shrugged.  "Why not?  It was fun..he says he's going to
teach me everything he knows.  My own master was killed by hunters when I
was newly turned.  Schanke took me in.. he's been like a father to me."
His sickly grin told Nat that Colin and Schanke were two of a kind-
delighting in the vulgar, the evil, and the cruel games that made being a
vampire something she despised.
        Colin brushed past her, to follow Schanke.  Nat watched him go.
She couldn't arrest them for the murder.. she couldn't even tell Cohen or
the Captain the case was solved.  She groaned.  This would have to be one
for the open files.
        She only hoped the killings would stop, now that Schanke's game
had achieved its end.  She headed down to her car, and drove slowly back
into the world of mortals, of police who solved normal nurders, and of
friends who were addicted to chocolate.


        Nat walked into her apartment.  The Captain had not been pleased
to find that after a night of promising 'we've almost got it' she and
Cohen had come up empty handed.  It had taken some clever talking to
convince Cohen, as well- but she couldn't hand over Schanke to the
police.  She liked the police.
        She hit the play button of her answering machine and headed for
the shower.  Her vampiric hearing let her listen to the messages over the
sound of the water- but tonight there was nothing.  Not even a friendly
reminder from Lucien, to take her vitamins.  As she stepped into the rush
of hot water, she thought about her master.
        How long before she'd see him again?
        "Oh, I'd say.. not long."
        Nat jumped, and instinctively grabbed for a washcloth, holding it
against her chest.  Schanke smiled, and pulled the shower curtain to one
side.  "Nice.. you get that at Sears?"  He nodded towards the cloth.
        "Schanke.."  she wanted to yell at him to leave her alone, to get
out, berate him for intruding on her privacy.  But she was too aware of
her nakedness before him, aware of the scent of him, aware of his pull on
her soul..
        He reached forward and caressed her cheek.  He smiled, and
fondness showed in his eyes.  "I always loved you best, you know.. Nick
hated me for it, for chosing you.  He knew it meant he was no longer my
favorite.  But he's gotten over it.. I haven't."
        He pulled her forward and kissed her.  Nat struggled with her
emotions for a second, then she felt herself giving in to the passion
she'd never been able to deny.  Much as she hated him, much as she
loathed everything that he cared for, she couldn't help but slip her arms
around him and pull him closer.  Once, in her years when she'd analysed
every aspect of her life searching for answers, she'd realised that it
was the very fact that she was so repelled by him that made her want
him.  Whether it was fantasy that she might change him, or reckless
abandon at flirting with the dark side, she had never been able to resist
his pull.
        She turned off the water and let him pick her up and carry her to
her bed.  She lay against the pillows and watched as he undressed.  She
often wondered what he thought when this happened- in the midst of their
worst fighting, they had shared the most passionate embraces.  She
stopped thinking, as he began running his fingers up her leg.
        She quivered at his touch.  He licked one finger, and began
running it up the other leg, pure lust showing in his face.  She opened
her legs, and leaned he head back.  The patterns on the ceiling reminded
her of the dining hall they'd once made love in, after a feast of
Michaelangelo's assistant painters.
        She sighed as Schanke leaned over and kissed her left breast.
His tongue rolled over her nipple, and he began caressing the other with
his hand.  His wieght pinned her down, and she released herself into the
desire that called at her, digging her fingernails into his back, and
lifting her legs to wrap around his waist.
        She moaned as he thrust inside her.  He filled her, as if his
being was spilling into her entire body.  His motions against her pelvis
rocked her, and she pushed herself against him.  She felt her fangs come
down, unbidden, and she waited for the time to strike.
        His tongue ran over her other nipple, and she gasped as his fangs
pierced the flesh.  The pain coarsed through her, and she wished she
would have the chance to give him the same sweet pain.  He often left
her, unsatiated, leaving her screaming and swearing never to sleep with
him again.
        But of course she forgot, when he came to her and she felt his
hands upon her.  She felt his thrusts getting faster, harder, as he
slammed himself inside her.  She moaned, and bit her own hand.  the blood
ran down her arm, and suddenly Schanke was licking it up, and bringing
his mouth to her neck.. She came as he bit into her, and drank.
        When the waves faded, and she found herself relaxing, she opened
her eyes.  The room was empty, Schanke was gone.  She stood, wanting to
run after him, but not knowing where he'd gone.  Nothing remained of his
visit, except the pounding blood in her viens and the need to replish
what was lost.
        She headed back to her shower with a glass of cow's blood, and
cursed him.