Please post the attached fiction to the Jadfe website. It is an N&N pairing.
Thank you,
Becky Chessman
bdundee@aol.com---------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGACY OF EVIL: RESOLUTIONS--An ADULT-- "Forever Knight" fan fiction story
by Rebecca L. Chessman
DISCLAIMERS: The characters from the television series "Forever Knight" belong to James Parriott and Barney Cohen. No infringement of their original copyright or ownership of the characters or series by Sony Television is intended. This is an exercise in admiration for TPTB who are the original creators of the characters and situations previously presented on television. Permission is granted to archive at fkfanfic's ftp site, fkfanfic.com, and the jadfe website. All other please ask.
I have created some new characters and taken liberties with the originals to continue from where the series left off at the end of season three. I am an unrepentant Nick and Nat Packer, and a Dark Knightie. I believe they belong together. But I set myself the task of finding an alternative that would not violate the integrity of their characters. I have tried to include real places and historic events and persons where they fit, but I did not use real modern people.
This is my first attempt at fan fiction. I hope its readers enjoy the adventure. I enjoyed writing it. I have posted this on adult lists as I feel the sexual content and the level of violence might be offensive to some readers. If you do not enjoy consenting sex between adult MF persons or violence directed at or around children, please avoid this story. I have used Nicholas, Nick, and the French spelling, Nicolas, to refer to the character of Nick Knight. The spelling changes as each character uses the pronunciation most familiar to them. I owe a great deal of thanks to Judy
Freudenthal for beta reading, and to Valerie Meachum for advice on medieval jewelry.Legacy of Evil: Resolutions by Rebecca L. Chessman
Chapter 1On Saturday evening a taxi delivered Nick, Natalie, Jules, and Janette to the airport for their flight to Stornoway. The short flight was uneventful. As soon as they retrieved their luggage, Nick led them to the car rental counter where they picked up a car to drive out to Callanish Village where the boat was stored. The wind was picking up, and clouds were massing in the west, a half hour later as Nick and Jules loaded their belongings into the boat.
"You said we'd have our own boat, Nick," Natalie exclaimed, "but I never envisioned one quite this large!" Her eyes took in the sturdy 35 foot fishing vessel built for voyages of a month or more, well able to handle heavy seas, if necessary.
"It has a galley, a head and two staterooms on the lower deck," Nick told her. "I made sure they redesigned it for comfort while maintaining its strength against the weather. The seas in this area can be treacherous."
"And the accommodations are for?" Natalie raised her eyebrows in a question.
"We'll need them, especially when I'm doing the census work the university is expecting. I'm going to have to be out for prolonged periods if I do the marine survey work the university wants. That means I'll have to take someone with me, at least to help handle the boat. We might as well
be comfortable," Nick said. "And I think we may find it's an excellent get away vehicle if we ever need to leave the island in a hurry," he added prophetically.
Everyone climbed in, except Nick, who stopped to make arrangements to have the rental car returned. With this business accomplished, Nick cast off the boat from the pier, jumped aboard, and settled behind the wheel to pilot them to the island.
The water in the loch was choppy, the wind was picking up. The predicted storm was coming in fast, but the distance they had to cover was so short that it took a mere five minutes to complete the trip to the boat dock on Kearstay Island. Nick docked the boat in the sturdy shelter built
over the pier. Everyone carried some of the baggage to the house they could all see, about five hundred yards up a slight slope, inland from the dock. The standing stones of Callanish could still be seen across the narrow loch to the southeast in the moonlight. The beautifully eerie presence of the
neolithic temple had not yet been obscured by the gathering clouds to the west.
Chimneys rose at either end of the tall rectangular house they approached. A steep, gabled, slate roof guaranteed the efficient displacement of either snow or rain. The windows were few, tall, narrow, and placed equidistant from the centrally located door on the front facade. The house faced southeast towards Callanish village. Around the building, the green, rolling terrain was interrupted only by a paved walkway and driveway which led from the pier, curved to the left across the front of the house, then followed the perimeter of the building around to the back toward the outbuildings. Nick unlocked the door to the two story stone house and flipped on the light switch, which illuminated the foyer in which they were standing and the hall which led to the back of the house.
"This is your house, Jules and Janette," Nick handed them each a set of keys. "The other house is located a half mile further over the hill. It looks pretty much like this one, and faces the same direction. There are garages behind each house, and there's a Land Rover in each one. That's
about the only way to get around the island. There're sheep tracks, but no formal roads. There is one other outbuilding that houses the generator, a freezer, the lab, and some tools. The place isn't elegant, but it's comfortable. Let's check and make sure our supplies were delivered properly."
Nick led them through the hallway to the back of the house to a large, comfortable country kitchen with a pantry. They checked the refrigerator and the freezer in the walk in pantry and found that they were, indeed, well stocked. Off the kitchen was a family room containing one of the fireplaces that fed into the chimney at that end of the building. "Would you mind breaking out your car and giving us a lift to the other house?" Nick asked. "I'd like to make sure it runs, and I think Nat's had enough traveling on foot. It sounds like the wind is really picking up out there."
"Of course, Nick," Jules answered. He turned to Janette, "Would you like to come or do you want to stay and unpack?"
"I'm staying," Janette said cheerfully as she winked at Natalie and said, "I'm going exploring." She turned and headed back down the hallway toward where she and Jules had left their luggage in the foyer.
"I'm looking forward to exploring, too!" Natalie exclaimed.
"Then, let's go," Nick said and led the way out the back door toward the left. The wind hit them full force and nearly pushed them back inside the house, until they gained the shelter of the garage.
"You're going to need a lift!" Jules exclaimed.
"The key with the K on it is the garage key," Nick noted. "The big one is the house key and the other is for the barn. The Land Rover key is hanging on the wall in the garage."
Jules opened the garage and flipped on the light inside. It was a sturdy, serviceable building containing not only the vehicle, but a workbench with hand tools and plenty of workspace. A collection of keys hung on the pegboard at the back of the workbench. Jules selected the Land
Rover key and ushered them into the car. The engine started with alacrity, and he pulled easily out of the garage and drove them in the direction Nick indicated until they found the second house. The wind buffeted the vehicle, and the rain started just as Jules pulled into the driveway. He parked
directly in front of the door to minimize the distance Nick and Natalie would have to travel to get into the house.
"Thanks for the lift, Jules. Drive carefully getting home. Call us when you get there, I'll worry if you don't," Nick shouted at him through the wind.
"I will. This is truly fierce weather. I wouldn't want to get caught out in this for very long." Nick and Natalie darted into the house with their bags, and waved from the doorway as Jules followed the driveway back towards his place.
Natalie stopped and stood in the foyer of their new home, turning to see every angle, as Nick flipped on the lights and closed the door. "It's pretty much a twin to the other house, although I think this one is a bit older and a bit larger." Nick said. "They both have three bedrooms and two and a half baths. The lab is in the barn out back. Let's check our supplies. Leave the luggage here. I'll take it up later."
Nick led Natalie to the kitchen at the back of the house. It had much the same arrangement as the one she had admired at Angus' house. "You remembered what I said, didn't you?" Natalie said. "I can see where they broke out part of a wall and made this into one big room! They did a
beautiful job on the work island! Oh, Nick, this is gorgeous. I love it!"
"Glad you like it," he said. He opened the refrigerator and peered inside as Natalie began opening cupboards. "Oh good. He got bacon!" Nick exclaimed.
"Nick, these are our dishes!"
"Yes, I had our things sent over. Some of my old glassware is still in Toronto for LaCroix to use, but I made sure they sent the things you might like, like your teapot and stuff." Just then the phone rang and Nick picked it up. "Jules, you made it OK?.....Good.....Yeah, so is
Natalie.......I imagine they'll be visiting tomorrow. Talk to you then!" Nick hung up the phone. "Jules got in all right. He says Janette is having a ball unpacking. She wants to get together tomorrow evening after she's settled in."
"Great, so do I!" Natalie exclaimed. "I want a cup of tea. Would you like something?"
"I've already got what I want," Nick told her, brandishing a wine glass, "so fix whatever you'd like. I think I'll build a fire in the fireplace down here, then take the bags upstairs. You just keep on
exploring."
Natalie put water on to boil, then went back to opening cupboards. When the pot began to whistle, she found the tea bags and her teapot, rinsed out the pot with hot water, dropped the Earl Grey bags inside, covered them with boiling water and set the pot on the table under a cozy to steep.
While the tea steeped, she investigated the pantry. Then she settled with her teacup on the sofa next to the fire with Nick, who was relaxing after carrying their luggage upstairs. They sat quietly together watching the flames devour the peat behind the glass doors fronting the fireplace insert and listening to the wind howl around the chimneys and the rain beat against the shuttered windows.
"This is lovely and cozy," Natalie said. "This is my old couch isn't it!"
"Yes, I left the black leather to LaCroix. I thought your things fit this house better. They're cheerier."
"I love the hard wood floors and the rag rugs in here. Is the view nice when the windows are open?"
"I really don't know. I've only seen pictures and maps. It'll probably be a bit bleak, though. There are no trees to speak of, and the land is pretty flat. It's mostly peat bog, and some of that is a bit treacherous. Keep your eyes peeled if you walk very far from the house. It's probably safe to follow the sheep tracks. There's a little kitchen garden out back. It's going to be very quiet here. I hope you don't mind."
"We'll have to test my new vision on the peat bogs and see if it helps detect them. I'll find plenty to do, I'm sure. Jules wants me to relax, so that's what I'll do."
"Our video and CD collection is on the shelves on the other side of the fireplace next to all the equipment on the entertainment center, there's a satellite dish out back, and down the hall in the den is a computer and our library. Every thing should be here. There isn't an electron microscope, but you've got just about everything else out in the lab. Let me know if I've forgotten anything," Nick told her.
"I imagine you've had plenty of practice setting up homes over the years. I think I'll trust your judgment."
When she finished her first cup of tea, Natalie rose and carried a second cup with her as she explored the rest of the house. In addition to the den downstairs she found a formal dining room and living room combination. A laundry room, half bath, and mud room opened off of the kitchen and led to the end of the house that overlooked the garage. There were two back doors. The second led through a second mud room from the family room to the barn. From this arrangement, Natalie assumed, rightly, that their weather would often be soggy.
Upstairs were a master suite at the end of the hallway and two smaller bedrooms separated by a large bath. The bedroom closest to the master suite was furnished as a nursery. The other contained her bedroom furniture. Nick's king-sized bed and oversized dresser furnished the master
suite. There was still a great deal to be done. None of the beds had been made, and boxes still stood in each room containing shelving and other small furnishings. Linens had been placed in the linen closets in the bathrooms, but none had been hung out for use. Natalie went to the top of the stairs and called down to Nick.
"Hey, you. Come up here and help me unpack!" She heard Nick coming down the hall and turned and went to begin the job of turning the rustic house into a home.
Janette greeted them at her door the next evening when they knocked. She was dressed in her usual, elegant black, but her manner was very unlike the icy femme fatale Natalie had first come to know. Janette seemed to glow with a barely suppressed enthusiastic joy. Natalie could feel that Nick, too had noticed the change in Janette. He glanced at Natalie and sent her a gentle pulse of joy. Then he turned to Janette and said, "Well, are you going to keep us on the doorstep all night, or will you show us your new domain?"
"Nicolas, Natalie, you will not believe how well everything has come together. All my things arrived in perfect condition, and Jules' things go so well with them. I hadn't realized how similar our tastes were!" Janette exclaimed as she led them through the foyer into the hall and through each
room as they moved toward the back of the house.
Natalie was amazed at how different this house seemed to their own. Where their furnishings provided a cozy, comfortable, informal atmosphere, Janette had created an equally welcoming, but much more formal background in hers and Jules' home. The furniture in the living room and dining room was very definitely in a French style with classic lines. A very few, extremely well-chosen ornaments were displayed on the mahogany occasional tables and sideboards. Beautiful oriental carpets graced the hardwood floors. The den/office resembled Jules' Toronto office with its dark woods and leather. The kitchen was that of a French country house. It looked as if it had come
from the pages of 'Better Homes & Gardens.'
Janette settled her guests on the couch before the fire in the family room which extended the French country theme of the kitchen to which it was connected. Jules was awaiting them in one of two easy chairs pulled up to the fire opposite the couch. His manner also evinced the suppressed
joy that characterized Janette's every word and movement. It was obvious that something in their relationship had changed.
Janette went into the kitchen to pick up a tray full of glasses and bottles which she brought into the family room and placed on a table between the couch and the chairs. She offered each person a drink, according to their tastes. Then she settled into the chair next to Jules.
"You've done a simply magnificent job on this house!" Natalie said to Janette.
Janette beamed and looked fondly at Jules as she answered Natalie's comment, "Jules helped. He has a very artistic eye, for a doctor."
"I just told her what I liked. She did everything, herself. Janette is very gifted. She doesn't give herself enough credit," Jules said as he reached for Janette's hand.
Nick and Natalie exchanged a quick glance and smiled at each other. Nick placed his arm around Natalie's shoulders, and she settled against his side. The four friends spent the rest of the evening engaged in quiet conversation which ranged over a variety of topics.
Natalie thought she had never had a more interesting or convivial visit. She wondered at the changes she saw in Jules and Janette and marveled at the steady, quiet warmth that continued to emanate through her link with Nick. How very different this all was compared to the tense, even
frenzied existence, they had sometimes led in Toronto, and even on their honeymoon. Natalie found herself wishing they could stay here, like this, on this little island forever. She sighed and snuggled closer to Nick, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Are you getting tired, Nat?" Nick asked her.
"Oh, no, I was just thinking how lovely and relaxing this is. And what a pleasure it is to spend the evening with such good company!" In the months to come the two couples would spend much of their time together. It would be best, she thought, if they continued to get on so well together.
"Thank you, Natalie," Janette said.
"Please come to our house tomorrow evening," Natalie requested.
"We'd be delighted!" Jules answered her. "Natalie, you and I need to get together, and continue our research. We haven't found out how long Nick has in the sun now. And we need to monitor the progress of your mutation and any effects on the baby."
"And I need to get started on the research the university has assigned us," Nick put in. "When you find out how long I can tolerate the sun, I'll be better able to gauge what I can do, and what I'll have to depend on Natalie to do for me. I'd like our cover to be authentic." Everyone agreed. They decided to begin their respective jobs after one more day of settling in.
"Nick, would you reestablish that link for all of us while we're here on the island?" Jules asked. "I think with the isolation here, we need it for safety."
"I had fully intended to do so. I'll set it up so that the link remains dormant unless it's activated. It can be activated from either end. To activate it, just concentrate on the individual you want to contact, then wait for them to respond. I don't think anyone wants to be intruded upon at
inconvenient moments, unless it is an emergency. Any of us can exclude or include any others, if they wish."
Nick watched as Jules and Janette exchanged a quick look and figured he had guessed correctly. They were ready to deepen their relationship, and the link he would establish went much farther than the usual blood bond. He concentrated for a moment as he structured the new bond and felt Natalie reward him for his efforts with a surge of warm affection. Janette and Jules murmured their thanks, but their eyes remained firmly fixed on one another.
"Well, I'm planning on using tomorrow to set up my lab," Natalie said.
"Same here," Jules agreed.
"This dedication to work is a bad habit," Janette purred at Jules.
"Don't worry, I'll leave plenty of time for other activities," he winked at her.
"I think we need to be getting back home to finish preparing for your visit tomorrow," Nick asserted as he rose and pulled Natalie to her feet.
"Nick's right. I haven't quite gotten one room arranged just the way I want it, and Janette's decor has inspired me!" Natalie said. She and Nick took their leave and headed for home.
As Nick piloted the Land Rover across the short distance between the houses, Natalie slid closer to him and leaned against his shoulder. "They're really enjoying being together. I've never seen Janette so content," Natalie said.
"I've known her a lot longer than you have, and I've never seen her this happy," Nick agreed.
As Nick and Natalie climbed into the Land Rover for their trip home, Janette closed her front door on the drizzly weather and turned to Jules. "That was a lovely visit. I think Natalie likes what I've done with the house," she remarked.
Jules pulled her into a close embrace and kissed her deeply. When their lips parted, he brushed her nose with his and murmured, "You knew she'd love it. It is beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you are mon coeur. It certainly reflects your elegance."
"You are too flattering! But that will get you anything you desire, cheri. Shall we go up?" Janette asked playfully.
"Mai oui." They ascended the stairs to their bedroom, where Jules convinced Janette that she had become the center of his universe.[End Chapter 1 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions]
Chapter 2 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions
Two evenings later at Natalie's lab, she and Jules were reviewing their results from the new tests they had set up with Nick's blood to check its reaction to sunlight and to ultraviolet light. Both Natalie and Jules believed ultraviolet was the electromagnetic wavelength frequency which vampires were unable to tolerate. Jules had discovered, using an ultraviolet light, with the samples he had taken, that Nick should now be able to tolerate three hours of unprotected sun exposure before his blood began to boil. Natalie had repeated the same exposure tests outdoors during daylight with fresh blood samples, and a small skin sample she had scraped from the inside of Nick's cheek. All their tests had shown the same results. Each sample had shown no effects until exposed to ultraviolet or full sun for three hours. However, immediately at the expiration of that period of time, the samples had instantaneously and explosively vaporized.
Now Nick was attempting full exposure to the artificial ultraviolet light Jules had used. Jules and Natalie had set it up in Natalie's lab and had connected it to a timer to ensure the accuracy of their readings. They were all nervous. Nick, Jules, and Janette were all old enough to withstand some ultraviolet exposure if they used enough protective clothing. But none of them had voluntarily attempted any exposure without some form of protection. Indeed, Janette had insisted, when they had discussed this particular test the evening before that, "Playing in the sun is an unnatural
activity for a vampire. Night life is quite sufficient enjoyment for reasonable people." She had refused to attend the test.
Natalie suspected that Janette did not relish sharing Nick's discomfort through their blood link. Natalie empathized with her and had discussed that possibility with Nick. Nick had acknowledged the very real existence of a fallout of pain and had promised to cut his link to everyone for the duration of the test. Natalie had insisted that she needed to feel what he felt to better evaluate his reactions. Nick had been adamant that his own discomfort would be quite sufficient. He wanted to protect the baby from any adverse effects. Natalie had been forced to agree.
Nick was insisting that he wear a minimum of clothing, shorts and a t-shirt. "Since we already know regular clothing inhibits the effects of the ultraviolet," he said, "we won't get a thorough test if I'm not as fully exposed as possible."
The volatile reaction of the samples at the end of the three hour period was what gave Jules and Natalie pause. They wondered if the cumulative effect of the ultraviolet light would intensify Nick's body's reaction to the exposure and cause immediate spontaneous combustion. Nick was of the opinion that he would begin to feel uncomfortable long before that could occur.
"The samples in your dishes are just that, samples. I have feelings. I know when it's time to come in out of the sun. And I've had experience with sunned treatments before this," he said. "I think I'll be able to cope." Still, Natalie had slathered him with the strongest sun block she could concoct and had insisted that he wear the same type of heavy sun goggles for the test that he had used in the sunbed.
It had been very nearly three hours since Nick had settled under the ultraviolet lamp with the report of the findings of the previous marine wildlife survey team the university had sent to the area. Natalie and Jules had busied themselves with further sample preparations to attempt to isolate the enzyme they suspected Divia had introduced into Nick's system. They had managed to produce a chemical indicator that reacted with a color change in the presence of the enzyme.
"There, I think that's the culprit," Natalie said to Jules.
"I think you're right, Natalie. If we can isolate it and reproduce it, maybe we can produce the same results on unaffected blood in the test tube. Then we'll have some indication that our theory's right." Jules broke off suddenly and looked over at Nick, who had thrown the report he had been reading to the floor. Natalie, who had her back to Nick, turned and her eyes followed Jules' glance. She noted that Nick was now fidgeting in his chair. And with her new vision she watched, horrified, as the healthy glow she associated with her husband began to flare rapidly into a fiery glare.
She dropped the test tube she had been holding back into its rack and raced to meet Nick as he suddenly bolted across the room, ripping off the sun goggles and gasping for air. Natalie caught him in her arms and made him lie in a tub of icy water they had prepared. While Natalie settled
Nick in the tub, Jules raced to the freezer and pulled out bags filled with ice and dumped the contents over Nick. Natalie pulled Nick's shirt off and rubbed handfuls of the ice over each part of his body where the glare she could see seemed particularly intense.
They had hoped that Nick's own senses would alert him before irreparable damage to his system could be done. And rapid cooling should ameliorate the effects of the ultraviolet once he was out of the direct beam of the light. Nick immediately began to breathe a bit more easily when the
cold water and ice hit him. He rubbed ice over his face and burrowed into the coolness gratefully. "Well, that's a successful test, I think," Nick stated as he glanced at the digital readout on the timer above the ultraviolet light. It read 3 hours and 15 seconds.
"Yeah, well, I don't want you trying that length of time in the sun without an ice bath waiting," Natalie responded dryly.
"I wouldn't want to anyway. The last few minutes were extremely uncomfortable. I think I pushed it a bit."
"Nick, don't take chances with yourself like that! You're going to be a father soon, and I need you to be there to help me raise this kid." Natalie scolded him.
"I know, Nat, but we needed a good, solid test. And I figured we needed to find out my absolute limits in a fully controlled situation. You know being out in the real world is going to be very different," Nick replied.
"I know you're right, but I hate the chances you take," Natalie returned. "Now get out of that tub before you turn into an ice block." Nick rose from the tub, and Natalie wrapped a large towel around him. She noted that the normal, healthy glow had returned to Nick's body.
"I'm glad you pushed it, Nick," Jules told them both. "I think it has also proven what you thought, that your senses let you know when the danger becomes acute. And we now know that your current condition allows for longer exposure. Does the effect of the exposure seem to intensify
toward the end of the three hours?"
Nick nodded as he patted himself dry then draped the towel over his shoulders as he wrung out his wet T-shirt, "There was a brief period of irritation like an itch that seemed to spread for nearly fifteen minutes before it became truly painful. But the onset of the pain was abrupt. I know from past experience that I was close to really burning. I would have quit at least fifteen minutes earlier in any other situation. I'd like to try going outdoors for different periods of time during the day over the
next week or so. I'd like to see if three hours is the absolute limit for one day, or if I can be repeatedly exposed after rest periods between exposures."
"That sounds like a good idea, Nick. Why don't you try doing some outdoor chores through the next week. Begin with less than three hours exposure and extend the time gradually. I think that should be safe enough." Jules, Natalie and Nick began to plan a regimen for Nick to follow.
"The very first thing I want to do is watch the sunrise, with you." Nick told Natalie.
"I think that could be arranged," she replied. "We need to take this slowly, though. I know you need to go into Stornoway to pick up that shipment the university has sent. I'm going with you to make sure you don't overdo it."
"I don't need a nursemaid," Nick huffed.
"I know. You're an adult, and you know how to take care of yourself. But I'm still your doctor, and you'll follow doctor's orders, or we won't go." Natalie informed him.
"Natalie is right this time, Nick. That new sight of hers is going to help keep you alive. She can help you monitor your exposure. This is a new thing for a vampire to experience. It's like undersea diving for a human, very enjoyable, but very dangerous. It's something that calls for a safety buddy," Jules said.
"All right, I guess I do need time to discover my limits. And spending time with Natalie isn't such a bad thing," Nick said as he pulled her close to him.
"I think the first thing you need to do is go inside and put some dry clothes on. You're positively clammy," Natalie shivered.
"I'm going to head home and tell Janette the good news," Jules said as he walked toward the door of the barn. Nick and Natalie started for the house, "I'll dump the water in the tub later, and we'll tidy up the lab together," Nick said. "But just now I think I'm more interested in getting
some rest before we tackle a day in the sun together."
"Excellent idea," Natalie agreed. Nick contrived to turn their rest into an amorous adventure the aftermath of which was a deeply restful slumber. They awoke just as their room began to lighten with the new day. Nick leapt to the window on the east side of their bedroom, whipped up the shade, raised the window, and flung open the shutters.
"Look, Nat. It's magnificent!" he cried as the orange light in the sky intensified.
"It's the only clear morning we've had, Nick. It's as if it knew you needed a really glorious sunrise," Natalie said as she joined him on the window seat wrapped in a blanket. He wound his arms tightly around her and held her close, his chin resting in the curls on top of her head. He gazed,
mesmerized, as the sky's orange grew to gold, and the light in the sky intensified until it was a bright bluebird color graced with high mares' tails of cloud foretelling the next day's return to stormy weather.
"My mother used to share sunrises with me," Nick said quietly.
"Yes, you showed me last night. No wonder you missed them so," Natalie said as she reached up to stroke his cheek softly. He turned his head from the outdoors for the first time since they had settled into the window seat and captured her lips with his in a tender kiss.
"Ready for breakfast?" Nick asked as he released her.
"Ready for anything, love. This is going to be a very big day for you. I'm glad you're going to let me share it."
"I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else." He kissed her again gently.
That day Nick discovered that he could tolerate certain times of the day more easily than others. They drove to the island's boat barn around eight o'clock. They took their time, as they knew nothing in Stornoway, except the bakery, was likely to be open until after eight or nine. Nick
had ordered yet another car delivered to their boat barn near the village. When they arrived at the Callanish dock, they found the car parked neatly in its space inside the combination boat barn/garage. It was another Land Rover, large enough to haul passengers and boxes full of supplies. Nick took the wheel, and they headed toward Stornoway. It was nine o'clock by the time they made it into Stornoway with several stops along the way just to enjoy the view. Nick was amazed at the colorful landscape he could now enjoy, and was lost in contemplation on at least two occasions.
"I knew you were going to be overwhelmed by this experience, but I didn't know I was going to enjoy sharing it with you so very much," Natalie told him after they had sat gazing at the ocean pounding against the shore at a little cove a few miles outside Stornoway for some time.
"I had forgotten how wonderful just being outdoors in daylight could be," Nick told her. Then he had put the car in gear, and they drove into town and found a place to park. They spent the next hour browsing the shop windows like tourists. Then they went to the shipping company and claimed
their boxes. Natalie walked back to the car and drove it to the shipping company's delivery dock where Nick was waiting. He loaded the boxes into the Land Rover. Then they headed back toward Callanish.
The short time Nick had spent indoors at the shipper seemed to have been a sufficient rest between exposure times. He took his time driving back toward the boat barn in Callanish. But as it neared eleven o'clock, Natalie began to notice a sprinkling of little flashes of ruddy light playing over Nick's extremities.
"Nick, let's get you out of the sun," she exclaimed. Nick nodded, his lips compressed in a straight line of discomfort. Then he suddenly shut down their link, put his foot down on the gas, and began to drive quite briskly toward the village they could see just over the next low hill.
"Let's get into the village and stop at the pub for lunch," Natalie suggested. It was the building closest to the edge of the settlement. Nick quickly agreed. Within a short time he pulled the Land Rover into the parking area which served the pub. He turned off the engine, pulled out the keys, and very nearly sprinted across the car park. Natalie found him waiting for her to catch up to him in the dark foyer of the nearly windowless pub. His normal, healthy glow had been restored, and the tiny
flashes of red she had observed earlier had disappeared.
The pub owner greeted them cheerfully, "Well, folks what can I get for you this morning?" he asked as they settled onto stools at the bar.
"What would you like, Nat?" Nick asked her.
"A pot of tea would be lovely," Natalie answered.
"A pot of tea and a pint of Tennent's Velvet, please," Nick said.
"Excellent choice," the landlord replied. He went to the end of the bar and ordered the tea from the kitchen then turned to pour out the pint Nick had ordered. He set a bar coaster and the ale on the bar in front of Nick and leaned against the back of the bar with a large smile. He was ready for a pleasant chat.
"You staying around here?" the publican asked curiously.
"Yes, we're using Kearstay Island as a base for some marine animal research for Edinburgh University," Nick told him. Then Nick took a deep draught of his ale, and Natalie felt him reopen their link and relax.
"Oh, so you're the university people we heard were coming! Welcome to Callanish," the publican said in a friendly manner. "The university sent some folk out about ten years ago. There was a plague among the seals. They were washing up on shore everywhere. They told us when they left that they'd be sending folks out to follow up, but it's been ten years now. The seals still get sick, but not as often and not so many. It was very sad to see them die like that. Although some do think they're a nuisance."
"I've been reading over the records from that study," Nick said. "They inoculated a lot of the seals to try to keep a viable population alive. We noticed a large colony on one of the rocks out in the loch on the way over this morning."
"Yes, that colony was nearly wiped out ten years ago. It's been growing recently."
Nick stuck his hand out and said, " I'm Dr. Nicholas Boyd, this is my wife Natalie. She's also a doctor. We have two other colleagues on the island, Drs. Jules and Janette deVille."
"Seamus Macdonald, most folks just call me Seamus. Nice to meet you both, Dr. Boyd," the publican shook Nick's hand vigorously.
"Call me Nick. We don't stand on much formality on the island."
"Thank you, Nick. Do you know why the university hasn't sent anyone out here sooner?" Seamus asked.
"I don't think the university had the funding. We're here on an endowment fellowship," Nick informed him. I think a permanent research facility is scheduled to be built on the island next year by the same group that's paying for our salaries. At least that's what we've heard."
"That might bring more jobs into the area. That would be a good thing for everyone," Seamus said.
Natalie's tea arrived just then and Seamus poured her out a steaming cupful. Natalie sipped and pronounced it a truly excellent brew. Nick sipped at his pint. They remained at the bar chatting with the publican for nearly half an hour. Nick and Natalie discovered, during the course of the
conversation, that they were sharing the island with a local shepherd named Hugh Morrison who regularly occupied one of the small sheilings during the summers while he cared for the sheep that were pastured on the island.
"What's a sheiling, Seamus?" Natalie asked.
"It's a small cottage, a hut really, that a shepherd uses while he's pasturing the sheep. They're not really designed for year round use," Seamus told her. "But Hugh's moved out of his crofter's cottage and has been living in the shieling, even in the nasty weather we've been having lately. He recently lost his family. I don't think he's quite himself."
"We're sorry to hear that, was it an accident that took them?" Natalie asked.
"Apparently his wife, an in comer from Glasgow, found our island life too slow for her tastes. She took off with their seven year old daughter a couple of weeks back. Folks around here say that Hugh'll become the local recluse if his wife and child don't return. I believe that Beathag, will eventually come back home."
"Is Beathag, Hugh's wife's name?" Natalie asked.
"Yes. Their little girl is called Morag. Hugh and Beathag were very happy when they were first married," Seamus asserted. "I think Beathag had some problems with her parents she hadn't worked out. Hugh occasionally hinted as much, and they never visited her in all the years she lived here. I believe when she has a chance to settle things, she'll be back."
Soon the lunch crowd began to arrive, Seamus became very busy, and they weren't able to learn any more about their closest neighbor. Nick ordered lunch, a second pot of tea for Natalie, and a second pint of ale for himself before Seamus got too occupied with the newest arrivals. Then they moved to a booth to eat their lunch.
Nick could feel that Natalie had something on her mind. She wanted to discuss Nick's physical condition without being overheard. Although she could see that he had recovered from his earlier discomfort, she wanted to insure them some privacy in case Nick had to resort to the flask of blood he had decided to carry with him for emergencies. To Natalie's vision the early morning hours had, apparently, been quite painless and extremely enjoyable for Nick. But the hour before noon had been patently miserable. She was concerned that he might have overdone his exposure on his first trip out. He confessed to her when they got settled in their booth that he was afraid he would never be able to be outside in the sun again. "Not only was it painful, physically, earlier, but, I feel a profound dread at the very idea of facing the sun, even now."
"Then we'll just stay here as long as we have to, love," Natalie consoled him.
"I just hope this feeling wears off before sunset. I'd hate to have to spend a suspicious amount of time here."
"If we have to, we'll just check into a room for the night. I noticed they have them available. We can always make up some kind of errand we need to do in town tomorrow morning," Natalie said. Nick made no comment but availed himself of a lengthy drink from his flask when he was sure no one was looking. Natalie noticed that the last bit of discomfort in his outward manner seemed to disappear immediately. "I'm glad you decided to bring the flask. Although the ale seemed to do you some good as well!" Natalie observed with a twinkle in her eye. "It's a good thing you're still
what you are, or you'd begin to acquire quite a little beer belly, my love."
Nick just grinned at her and took a sip from his second pint of ale. "It's wonderful to be able to really eat again. I always did love ale. The other drink seems almost medicinal now, more like vitamins than pleasure. It's odd!"
"Vitamins?! I hadn't thought we'd been married that long!"Natalie exclaimed.
"Not that, Natalie! When I take it from the flask, it's like vitamins. Not when I take it from the source. That's different, very different," he leered at her.
"Good," she grinned at him. "I hoped you weren't tired of me already."
"Never," he murmured fervently as he took her hand across the table and gazed deeply into her eyes. He sent her a rush of loving passion that made her blush and heartened her tremendously. He had shut their link down considerably while he had been suffering the effects of the sun, and its full restoration was a welcome relief.
"I love you, too," Natalie told him affectionately. Nick sighed deeply and released her hand as he resumed his attack on the cheese and biscuits remaining from his Ploughman's lunch. Natalie could feel him worrying, but ignored it and returned to her shepherd's pie. He needed to work out his own accommodation to his limitations. She had already accepted him as he was. They quietly finished their meal. When the waitress came over to ask if they wished to order anything more, Nick asked for the check. The pub was busy and the waitress didn't return for some minutes. Suddenly
Nick looked up at Natalie, "That feeling of dread, it's gone. Quite gone. What time is it?"
Natalie looked at her watch, "It's just one o'clock. Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm very sure. Maybe it's just the hours on either side of noon, when the sun is highest in the sky that're so uncomfortable. I've always been able to trust my instincts on this before, Nat. None of us ever wanted to go out in daylight. It was terribly difficult to function, the pain was horrendous, and there was that same feeling of dread. I'm glad it's gone." The waitress appeared with their check, laid it on the table, and hurried off to help another customer. "Let's settle our bill and go home," Nick suggested.
"Fine with me. If you have any problems, though, please let me know right away,"Natalie said as she rose from her seat. "But you need to consider that this reaction you had might also be from the multiple exposures you've had today."
"I realize that. We'll just have to repeat the tests under different conditions, doc!" Nick grinned at her. They went to the bar and settled the bill with Seamus who waved them out the door with a smile. As they left, Nick could hear Seamus telling the other local folk in the bar who they were and where they were staying. He knew everyone in town would know about the doctors on Kearstay Island within the hour.
Nick drove quickly to the Callanish boat barn, and parked the new Land Rover where they had found it that morning. They unloaded the boxes they had picked up at Stornoway into the boat and completed the trip out to the island uneventfully. They were both eager to return home. Nick was
beginning to feel extremely tired, and Natalie could feel his fatigue weighing on her. Neither of them were used to the daylight schedule they had maintained that day. They reached their own garage within thirty minutes of leaving the pub in Callanish. Nick pulled the Land Rover up to the boat barn so that they could more easily unload the boxes. Most of what was contained in the crates was veterinary supplies, equipment, and more records from the previous survey team. It took very little time to unload. Natalie parked the Land Rover in the garage as Nick began unpacking.
They had decided to divide the barn into two work areas. Natalie's lab occupied the right hand wall of the barn, while Nick's would occupy the left. The back wall was taken up with four box stalls, each large enough to accommodate a horse. Nick organized his supplies so that he could easily find anything he wanted quickly. Natalie soon joined him, and gave him a hand. Within a short time they had created what would pass for a well-equipped veterinarian's office. The large water-filled tub still stood in the center of the floor. Nick pulled it out onto the driveway in front
of the barn, hauled it over to what would become a kitchen garden in the spring, and there he dumped the contents. He hoisted the empty tub to his shoulder, carried it back into the barn, and stowed it against the left wall between his office and the stalls. Then they both retired to their bedroom for a long overdue rest.[End Chapter 2 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions]
Chapter 3 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions
In Nick's loft in Toronto LaCroix had gathered the experts to plan his strategy against Yves. As Natalie and Nick worked to organize an animal hospital, he outlined his plan for the assault on Yves' organization and discussed Jules' documentation with Feliks Twist, Larry Merlin, Stan
Forsyth, and Thomas Greaves. He had provided duplicate copies of the file on Yves to each of them prior to the meeting.
"I certainly hope you only wish me to organize the funding for this operation," Feliks was saying. "I've never been fond of intrigue or danger. I'll willingly help Nick reinvest part of his fortune to fund anything he'd care to do. Yves sounds like a thoroughly unpleasant entity."
"Thank you, Feliks, that's precisely what we need you to do," LaCroix said. "We're going to need very substantial resources. If you don't mind staying to hear the details, I think knowing what we're planning may help you decide how large a portion of Nicholas' money we may need to divert to this effort."
"I don't mind staying. That information will be helpful. How long do I have to pull this together? How long will you be needing the resources? And should I set up one large fund or a series of smaller ones?"
"I think you'll find some of the answers in our discussion," LaCroix told him. "I think our first priority is to decide how we can penetrate Yves' security."
"I've taken the liberty of testing his computer system, LaCroix," Larry Merlin put in. "He's had a real professional set up a very effective firewall. It's going to be a long process to try and penetrate it, unless we can get someone inside to cooperate with us. I can apply my usual methods, but someone is going to notice the tampering, so we're going to need some kind of diversionary tactic to distract their attention from what I'm doing."
"The same is true of the building," Stan Forsyth said. "Yves employed an excellent designer, and the way the structure is situated on the site, it's going to be difficult to access, even from the air. It's most vulnerable point is the underground utility tunnel. I've gone over these blueprints, I'll compare them with what's on file downtown and see what he's added that he didn't want the building inspectors to know about. That will give us some clues. Although I'd expect any current blueprint would have further modifications. He won't have left things as they were, he'll have kept making changes to accommodate any new advances in construction that could improve his comfort or security."
"The security system he's built into both the building and the computer systems that operate it is formidable," Thomas Greaves contributed, "but nothing is invulnerable. The blueprints will help in locating the electrical panels and utility access points. But, as Stan says, I'm not sure how far we can trust them. Can we get someone to infiltrate his organization? We're going to need really current information before I risk any other personnel on this. I know Jules has done his best to get this
much, but it's still just a teaser. We need a lot more detail for the kind of operation you have in mind."
"I have some people in mind. They've recently relocated to Australia. Yves has a sister organization there, and this couple is a very tempting target for him. They have a recent, prior acquaintance with Nicholas. They're both vampires, so Yves will expect them to sympathize
with his point of view. I think we can get him to recruit them in a way that will seem to be his own idea," LaCroix told them.
"You're talking about Nick's ex-partner and that Vachon person. She's an excellent choice for this kind of thing. But is he really reliable?" Greaves asked.
"He'll do very well," LaCroix asserted. "He and his local friends make an excellent team. They helped me when Yves attempted his first assault on this loft."
"I'm glad to hear it. Will they be part of the final assault operation?" Greaves wondered.
"Yes, they want very much to be involved. I'm not entirely sure of why, but the Inca and his friends seem to have a personal vendetta against Yves," LaCroix told the group.
"Does anyone have an estimate on the kind of capital we're going to need to pull off a full scale assault?" Feliks asked.
"We're going to need a helicopter, weaponry , communications and surveillance equipment, a bank of computers, stipends for everyone involved..." LaCroix paused.
"Several million to start with," Feliks put in. "Oh, well, it's not as if Nick can't afford it. I'll set something up tomorrow as soon as he can FAX me his signature on some papers. He has a small Swiss account I think will be sufficient. I'll invest it in a new fund I've just discovered. It's a very diverse and stable instrument. It's been yielding extremely good returns. The interest should fund most of the operation."
Feliks paused for a moment and then continued, "I don't want to dip into Nick's foundation assets if I can help it. He wouldn't be at all pleased if I had to cut off some of his charitable donations. Send me a list of what each of you think you need, and I'll be your acquisition agent.
It will also help me set up a proper budget."
"On your supply lists, please provide any specific suppliers you think would be most discreet. LaCroix cautioned. "And use every possible security precaution." LaCroix raised his hand to indicate that he noted their uniform resentment at the implication that any of them did not
understand proper security. "We don't want any of this getting back to Yves. He has as many allies in the Community as we do." Each of the other vampires settled down at his acknowledgment and conceded LaCroix's point.
"I think we need a little scouting expedition to test the waters," Greaves said. "Yves would be disappointed if I didn't keep him on his toes. He and I have fenced frequently over the years that I've been working for Jules. But Jules never let me really go after him. I'm eager to test his limits."
LaCroix smiled, "I applaud your eagerness. May I be a part of your scouting expedition? I'd love to see an expert in action. It's been a long time since I've hunted really big game."
"I'd love to have you along, LaCroix. You have an excellent reputation. I love working with experts myself," Greaves agreed.
"Thomas, you've mentioned working with Jules. How are you organized?" LaCroix asked.
"In triads, one person in each group knows one in another triad," Greaves told him.
"I see Marcus' fine hand in this. It's an excellent way of communicating rapidly and keeping losses to a minimum. Let's continue that strategy. Thomas, will you pass the word down the line?"
"I'd be happy to, Lucien."
The group fell to discussing the objectives and tactics of their initial explorations. After a hour they had developed a campaign of feints and intrusions which would give them a good idea of Yves' strengths and weaknesses. And they had drawn up lists of necessary supplies and equipment. At the end of that time, Feliks excused himself to begin the arrangements to fund and supply their endeavors, armed with the supply lists of each of the participants. The others remained to finish hammering out the details of each segment of their strategy. Hours later, LaCroix pronounced himself satisfied with their plans. Each man had earned the respect of the others during their collaboration.
"Your reputation as a formidable adversary is well-deserved, LaCroix," Stan Forsyth told him. Merlin and Greaves nodded their agreement.
"I'm glad you're the general officer for this project. I don't think I've met a man who could do it better," Thomas Greaves asserted. "If anyone can penetrate Yves' fortress, you can. It's the first time in many years that I've ever felt that we might have a chance against him. Up until now it's been a battle just to maintain the existence of Jules' organization. I've felt like a French Resistance fighter for far too long."
"Thank you. I will endeavor to live up to your expectations," LaCroix said.
"Our continued existence depends upon it. You won't disappoint us, Lucien," Greaves told him.
"Thank you again, Thomas. We'll meet again in one week." Each vampire took his leave, and LaCroix immediately e-mailed Nick an encrypted overview of their plans.
The next evening on Kearstay, Nick walked out to the barn to share the gist of the first report from LaCroix concerning the strategy his team had developed. "Dammit, Jules, it just doesn't make any sense. All I ever get from this foul thing is just uniform poison. There's no way to tell what any of it is without referring to Angus' report. It isn't going to do me any good at all!" Natalie exploded as Nick walked in the door.
"Hi Nick," Jules said as he saw Nick enter. "The necklace isn't cooperating with Natalie. It seems that her new vision works only on organic, living organisms, including vampires. I'd guess from my and Natalie's tests that our undead status is highly overstated."
"Vampires are not dead, Jules. I've been trying to drum that into Nick's head for years!" Natalie spluttered.
"Considering Nat's current status I'd have to agree. I, at least, am very much alive." Nick declared as he slid an arm around his wife and patted her abdomen gently with his other hand.
Natalie looked up at him and grinned. "You look well, what's up?"
"I just got our first report from LaCroix. He and the experts we discussed have designed a strategy for penetrating Yves' defenses. It's very thorough. He's involving the organization you already have in place, Jules. He's also continuing to recruit good people. It sounds like they
have things well in hand," Nick told them.
"Good, the sooner they can find a way to get at Yves, the better," Jules said.
"Are you finished with this necklace, Nat? If you think you don't need it, I'd like to send it to LaCroix. I really think he'd like it as a keepsake," Nick said.
"You can do anything with it you like. I've found, and Jules confirms it, my vision only works as a caution when the deadly agent is not a living organism. Although we did find that the glowing lines and blotches I can see are organic substances, there is nothing that allows me to identify specific chemical agents," Natalie sighed.
"You can still see far more than you ever could as an ordinary human," Nick comforted her.
"That's true. I guess I'll just have to use this vision when I actually get a patient and see what it tells me. I can sure tell when you begin to feel the effects of ultraviolet." Natalie picked up the necklace with her gloved hands and placed it back in its box. "Here, go ahead and send it to LaCroix with my compliments."
Nick took the proffered box and put it in his pocket. Then he cocked his head as if he were listening. "I think you're about to have an opportunity to test yourself," Nick said quietly.
The next moment Janette appeared at the door to the barn followed by a bedraggled young man with a lamb slung over his shoulders. "I've come for the doctor," the young man declared.
"An eagle got it. It's mother's dead,"Janette said indicating the lamb. "We managed to stop the bleeding, but it's going to need stitches to close the wounds the eagle made."
"Bring it over here," Nick said as he led the way to the veterinary side of the barn. "Are you Hugh Morrison?" The shepherd nodded. "Seamus Macdonald told us you lived on the island. I'm Nick Boyd, this is my wife, Natalie, and that's Jules DeVille." Natalie followed them to the veterinary
side of the barn, changing her gloves and offering fresh ones to Nick, Janette, and Jules.
"Janette told me about you," Hugh said as he placed the lamb on the examination table.
While Natalie used her vision to peruse the lamb's bloody shoulder, Nick unwound the grubby, makeshift pressure bandage covering it. Natalie reached into the wound to stanch the sudden pulse of blood that appeared as soon as the pressure was released. The lamb bleated pitifully. Janette
moved to its head. Placing her hands behind its ears, and rubbing gently, she began to soothe it. The lamb relaxed and stopped its cries.
"It's an awfully deep tear," Natalie said. But if we get it sewn up properly it should heal well. We're going to need a local anesthetic and a wide spectrum antibiotic. Would you get those for me, Nick? Jules, would you please set up a surgical tray? I really need a pair of clamps." Nick prepared the syringes she had requested. Jules handed Natalie clamps to stop the bleeding in the lamb's shoulder, then busied himself setting up a full surgical tray. Nick administered the shots. Then he went to set up a stall to receive their patient after the surgery. Janette continued to soothe their patient. Natalie could feel Janette reaching out to the lamb with more than physical comfort through their link.
As soon as the anesthetic took effect, Natalie began to repair the bleeding vessel. Then she began to sew up the rest of the damage to the lamb's shoulder. Jules stood by handing Natalie instruments as they were needed. When they had completed the surgery, Natalie looked up at the young shepherd and said, "I didn't find any broken bones, but there were some tears in the tendons. It should recover, but it will take a while to heal. Would you like to leave it here until it's ready to get back on its feet?"
"I'll leave it. I'll bring you an old ewe for milk. Dolly doesn't mind nursing others' young ones," Hugh Morrison said. Then he left as quietly as he had come.
"So that's our neighbor!" Natalie exclaimed.
"Your sight really seemed to help, Nat!" Jules told her.
"Yes," she paused as she thought over what she had observed. "It made it much easier to find the torn places. And it's the first time I've felt confident after doing surgery, that I didn't leave any damage unrepaired. I could see that the lamb was in no danger of dying. It's basically healthy. But if Janette hadn't been able to calm it, it might have injured itself further, and I'd have had a lot more surgery to perform. Thank you, Janette."
"I really did nothing," Janette demurred. "I hope it won't be long before Hugh comes back with that ewe. When this lamb wakes up, he's going to be very hungry," Janette said. "May I continue to nurse it?"
"Of course you may!" Natalie exclaimed. Janette lifted the lamb from the examination table and carried it to the stall Nick had prepared.
"Where did you find Hugh?" Jules asked Janette as he followed her to the stall.
"I was on my way over here to lure you back home, Jules, when I heard a rifle shot and then a terrific row. I found Hugh trying to stanch the blood from the lamb's wound and pry it out from the rocks it had wedged itself between. Two other sheep were obviously dead, and the dead eagle, which had attacked them, lay nearby. It surprised me that with the scent of blood all around, I didn't feel the need to attack the man. I simply wanted
to help that lamb. It was fighting him. I calmed it. He got the bandage tightened, and I told him he should bring it to you, Natalie. I knew you could help it," Janette finished her story.
"You've changed, too, Janette," Nick told her.
"Have you ruined me completely, mon frere? Or do I still have my proper hunting instincts?" Janette asked Nick plaintively.
"You have them. They're simply more controllable now," Nick told her as he reached through their link and assessed her feelings.
"I certainly hope contact with you doesn't infect me any further, Nicolas!" Janette declared with a smile. "I don't believe I could tolerate becoming as altruistic as you are!" Natalie laughed out loud.
About twenty minutes later Hugh Morrison reappeared with another sheep in tow. She was a very wide and very old ewe. She waddled purposefully over to the lamb which had begun to bleat the minute the ewe
appeared. He began to nurse eagerly. "Her lamb and this lamb's mother were both killed by the eagle before I could get to them," Hugh said, "The eagle won't bother another sheep."
"You shot it?" Nick asked.
"Yes," Hugh replied, then he turned and left the barn.[End Chapter 3 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions]
Chapter 4 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions
LaCroix entered the service tunnel under Yves' building in Toronto, stealthily following Thomas Greaves and Stan Forsyth. It had been two weeks since their original planning meeting. Stan had surreptitiously acquired
the most recent blueprints on file in the original architect's office. Not surprisingly no record of Yves' building could be discovered in the public records. Stan had checked the archives and found that file was missing. He'd had to resort to burglary. He had discovered some major differences between the architect's blueprint and the one Jules' operatives had been able to acquire. He was amazed that Jules' copy had turned out to be the most recent, and, according to a personal check of the building from outside and the public areas inside, it was extremely accurate.
Now the three of them were attempting to prowl the lower reaches of the building to investigate any access points via the utility service tunnels. They hoped both to find an invasion route, and to plant some surveillance equipment. Each man carried miniaturized cameras and other recording devices in a small backpack together with a small blood supply for nourishment. They, fortunately, had no need for the cumbersome climbing equipment or burglar's tools a similar human expedition would require. However, it was still slow and dirty going, and it took them nearly three hours to finally penetrate the lowest basement of the building, using the blueprint as a guide.
Most of this level of the building contained the environmental controls, the maintenance shafts, and the open ductwork and piping that began its journey here in the basement and carried water, power, and clean air throughout the structure. It was the easiest, if not the quickest route into the heart of Yves' domain. So far during their incursion they had not encountered anyone, then they suddenly detected a strange sound. They moved quietly through the air toward the noise, hovering well above floor level, to minimize the possibility of running into others and to allow them the best view of the layout of the facility. As they approached the sound, it seemed to resolve itself into chanting. It was emanating from one of the smaller rooms on the basement level. Stan Forsyth found the overhead access to the heating duct for that range of rooms, and they entered it. They followed the noise, with LaCroix in the lead this time, to its source.
Looking down through the slatted opening above the room, LaCroix could see a tall young man with wavy brown hair facing a mummy whose open sarcophagus leaned vertically against one wall. The young vampire, for that essence came clearly through to LaCroix, was intently reciting a formula using a language LaCroix had not heard in nearly 2000 years. As the recitation continued, LaCroix realized that this must be Yves, himself. He
was attempting the reanimation of the mummy. Realizing that any information they might be able to glean from this encounter might be valuable later, LaCroix reached into one of his front pockets and removed two of the surveillance devices they had planned to leave behind. He set them up quickly, activated them, and signaled to the others to move onward. They needed to find out if there were other rooms in this range that would also yield valuable information. Once the devices were activated their signals would be conveyed to a battery of relay devices LaCroix had ordered planted atop a nearby building. From there the signals would be beamed to the equipment he still maintained at Nick's warehouse.
As LaCroix and his team proceeded down the air duct, they could hear the unmistakable sounds of frustration flowing from the room behind them. They managed to plant spy devices throughout that range of rooms. Forsyth installed a variety of remote electronic switches and sensors he and Greaves had convinced LaCroix would be essential in controlling the building during their planned invasion. Then they ascended the elevator shaft at the center of the main tower and negotiated the heating ducts to plant further devices
on each floor.
They finally ran out of equipment over an area they had identified as Yves' office complex midway up the central tower of the building. With this much accomplished, they decided that this particular visit had exceeded
their fondest expectations and retreated to the loft to check whether their equipment was functioning properly. Dawn was just an hour away as they entered the loft.
"You know that they probably sweep that building regularly for surveillance equipment," Thomas Greaves said to LaCroix when they returned to the loft.
"Yes, I'm quite sure they do, but they're bound to miss a few. Over time we should be able to gather quite a lot of information. Tonight's exercise will be the first of many, but we need good intelligence. This is the only way we're going to get it, until Merlin manages to tap into the computer system. Even then I prefer to do my own scouting and actually see and hear what is going on. Computer communication too often reveals only what the target wishes to reveal," LaCroix replied.
"We'll need a great many more expeditions like tonight's before we finally attack this fortress Yves maintains. And as soon as he finds our devices, he will become a far more cautious enemy. We'll probably find booby traps the next time we attempt this little exercise," Greaves predicted. "While we still have our connection, let's see what we can learn."
LaCroix acknowledged Greaves' observations, settled himself in an easy chair, and turned on the large television monitor. First they monitored the range of basement rooms they had bugged. Each empty cell-like
enclosure revealed only a silent void, until they activated the equipment over the room they had first encountered.
"We have to get that scapular necklace!" the tall curly haired young vampire LaCroix had seen earlier was exclaiming to another man.
"But, boss, you never told us about a necklace. We just grabbed the mummy like you told us to," the seemingly older man exclaimed.
"Quite insufficient, Soames. Get a team together and get that necklace. It's essential to our plans. We must have it." The one called Soames hurried out of the room. The young man he had addressed as "Boss" followed him out in a leisurely fashion.
"That one called "Boss" is Yves, I'm quite sure," LaCroix opined. "I wonder if it is Divia's necklace he needs so badly?" Greaves eyebrows went up in a question.
"Last week I received a scapular necklace from Nicholas. It was found in Ka-Ha's tomb in a sarcophagus next to his. My daughter, Divia, I'm sure you've heard of her, wore one like it. She had been inside that
sarcophagus. You know that Nicholas and Natalie destroyed Ka-Ha's mummy?"
"We heard. And we heard about her," Greaves said.
"Indeed," said Forsyth.
"The necklace was originally planned to be part of the expanded Egyptian exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. Did Jules brief you about the necklace?" both men nodded. "Enough said. Divia's sarcophagus was the one they put the replacement mummy in when Yves stole the other from the British Museum, thinking it was Ka-Ha," LaCroix stated. "Yves may believe this mummy he was attempting to revive is a priest of Ka-Ha. From the looks of that sarcophagus, he's managed to steal Divia's coffin and its present contents. Let's back up the tape and see what we've got."
LaCroix stepped the videotape backwards. They watched in silence as Yves attempted several incantations and rituals to reanimate the mummy. Finally it appeared that he had had some satisfaction. LaCroix pressed the
play button and let the tape run. Low moans could be heard emanating from the direction of the mummy, then mumbles as Yves chanted in the language LaCroix had recognized earlier when they had prowled the basement.
"He's using an old spell to contact the dead. The Egyptian priests used it for divination. We Romans preferred to gut a bird or other beast and study the entrails. I never believed in the efficacy of either process," LaCroix commented dryly.
"He is getting some kind of result," Greaves noted.
"But it isn't what he expected!" LaCroix said as he suddenly recognized the voice they could all now hear clearly emanating from the mummy.
"Sorcerer! Hear me! You will find my lost necklace. Only then will I aid you in your aim to destroy those who have deceived and confounded you. I shall be your help meet. In the name of Ka-Ha, my master, we will
conquer those who oppose us."
"Who are you, oh spirit?" Yves asked.
"I am she who would have been your master, if I had lived. You have called me in the name of Ka-Ha, my master. He promised me power. He did not fail me. He and his remains have been destroyed, as was I, by
ungrateful children. But he taught me well. You and I can compass his revenge. We shall destroy those who oppose his will. But we must have the necklace, the scapular necklace. Only then can we avenge him. Only then
can we carry out his will." Nothing further was heard from the mummy. Yves suddenly turned toward where the camera was hidden, and they saw his face for the first time. It would have been handsome, if it were not so twisted with frustration and hatred. His eyes blazed red, his fangs were extended, and he snarled as he turned from the mummy and swore to find those who had destroyed Ka-Ha.
LaCroix turned to the others, his face paler than usual as he announced, "It was Divia's voice." He hesitated then resumed, "at least it sounded like hers. Her spirit still survives, it seems. Never would I have imagined that this was possible. Nicholas told me once of a spirit he swore had survived, Francesca," LaCroix breathed in awe.
"How can that be true?" Greaves asked.
"I do not know. But I know that we now have the key to what Yves wants. Do we let him have the necklace and find out what Divia wants with him? Or do we destroy it?" LaCroix asked them.
"I think you should let him have it and find out what she wants," Forsyth said. "Besides, what can a dead vampire possibly do?"
"I agree," Greaves said. "I've never believed in ghosts. What can she possibly do as a spirit, no matter how malevolent?"
"Divia, herself, cannot do anything. But belief in her and what she wishes could make Yves attempt almost anything. She could be quite an inspiration to his cause." LaCroix paused as another thought struck him, "Has anyone heard from Cyril lately? Yves could have come by this information in quite another fashion. He may be providing this little show for our benefit."
"There's no way he knew we were there today!" Greaves exclaimed.
"Are you absolutely sure of that?" LaCroix asked.
"Yes," both the other vampires answered.
"Nevertheless, let me place a call." Within a short while LaCroix had placed an overseas call. All three vampires waited in an agony of suspense for someone to answer.
"Cyril?! Yes, it's me. Listen, has there been anyone snooping about the place since you sent the display over here?.....I see. I'd suggest you move on. I'm afraid Yves is onto us......No I have nothing but a hunch. In this case I believe that is sufficient......Yes. We shall. Goodbye, and good luck." LaCroix turned to Greaves and Forsyth and said, "He hasn't seen anyone, but he's felt intrusions. He'd already made plans to move on. He's on his way now. I'm sure Yves suspects us. He's banking on giving us a real show to shake us up. Should we play along with his little game?"
"Absolutely," Forsyth exclaimed as Greaves nodded vigorously.
"Very well, then. I shall place the necklace in the display at the Royal Ontario Museum immediately. Whatever happens then, I think Yves may find Divia, if she truly has survived in some fashion, more than even he
bargained for," LaCroix said. He walked over to a cupboard in Natalie's lab area and removed the box containing the necklace. "Please wait for me here. I do not think we all need to go." The other two vampires nodded their
assent.
"We'll keep monitoring Yves' movements. Perhaps we shall learn even more," Greaves said.
LaCroix ascended the stairs to the roof of Nick's loft and headed for the museum. There he entered the structure through the roof access he had utilized several years before when he had killed the museum guard and
stolen the Mayan cup in order to foil one of Nick's many attempts at reversion to mortality. LaCroix marveled quietly to himself at the massive changes his relationship with his son had survived. He placed the necklace
in the display in the Egyptian gallery and left as quickly and quietly as he had come. He made it back to the loft just as the sun rose.
It was a few days later when LaCroix and Greaves witnessed Yves second attempt to contact the entity they referred to as Divia. Greaves had been rechecking the reception from the equipment they had planted in Yves'
building to discover whether an electronic bug sweep had cleared any of it. So far none of their equipment had been removed. LaCroix was reviewing the tapes they had recorded over the previous days when he spotted Yves' image. He stopped the tape, rewound, and pushed play. Regular perusal of the surveillance tapes from the mummy's basement room showed that it had not been moved from its position. Only Yves had entered or left the room since the morning they had watched him contact the supposed spirit of Divia. During one of those sessions the mummy had, in fact, identified itself to Yves using Divia's name. LaCroix was beginning to suspect that someone inside Yves' organization, who was privy to the information gathered by his detectives was manipulating the mummy very cleverly for their own purposes.
Now both Greaves and LaCroix watched, fascinated, as Yves placed the scapular necklace LaCroix had planted in the Royal Ontario Museum around the neck of the mummy. Then Yves took up a position facing the mummy with his back to the camera and began to recite the ritual incantation he had performed each time the mummy had apparently addressed him. The same groans and whispers they had heard at the beginning of each manifestation greeted his earliest attempts. Then, as he repeated the incantation, the noises resolved themselves into an uncanny semblance of Divia's voice, as LaCroix remembered it. LaCroix consciously suppressed any outward emotional reaction and listened carefully to the message the mummy was conveying.
"The destroyers of Ka-Ha must be obliterated from the face of the earth!" Divia's voice proclaimed. "They who have betrayed the prophecy must not survive. The time of the 'Hunter' is near. He shall be ruthless. He
shall be brutal. He shall be strong. I can help you to find the promised one, but you must bring me a living host. This dead shell cannot serve our purposes. Deliver to me our enemies. I shall convert the parents of the
'Hunter' to our uses. Then, together, we shall train him. We shall wreak vengeance upon the betrayers!"
"Who are the betrayers? Where can we find the 'Hunter?' We have searched, but he has eluded our grasp. I brought you what you desired, the necklace. Now you demand a living host! How much more will you demand? How much longer must I wait!?" Yves raged at the mummy.
"You must destroy deVilliers and deBrabant. Only when they are dead will it become clear where they have hidden the 'Hunter,'" the mummy replied in Divia's voice. But Yves turned away from the camera at this last
proclamation. It was clear to see that he was torn, unsure of his course of action. He turned back towards the mummy.
"You tell me nothing I do not already know! Where can I find them?"
"They have allies among those who pretend to follow our cause. Search out the spies. Use them to hunt their own. Be clever. Be cautious. Trust no one. Search out the spies. Use the humans to hunt them down, then
feed them to the one who will come. He will become strong on the blood of his enemies, and so will you. Stay true to the prophecy of Ka-Ha." The mummy's words lapsed into silence.
Yves swore vehemently and stalked from the room when it became evident from the prolonged silence that he was to receive no further enlightenment that day.
"Someone is trying to poison the well and get rid of Nicholas and Jules at the same time," LaCroix observed to Greaves. "Knowing Yves' past history, that mummy just signed the death warrants of nearly everyone in his
organization. Someone on the inside has to be animating that mummy. And unfortunately for us, they know a very great deal about us."
"He's so paranoid, he'll be killing people who look at him wrong," Greaves agreed.
"I am certainly glad whoever it is doesn't know, any more than Yves does, where Nicholas and Jules are," LaCroix stated.
"Let's do another prowl and see if we can spot the equipment that's being used to provide the voice for that mummy. I wonder if they'll get more elaborate if Yves does provide a living host?" Greaves wondered out loud.
"An excellent idea. How soon do you want to attempt it?" LaCroix asked.
"As soon as possible. I don't want to wait too long, but we need some more equipment. I'll contact Feliks and see if he can get it for us by tomorrow. I'll meet you under KH Medical Supply tomorrow at dusk. Even if
we don't have all the equipment, we can reconnoiter the area."
"I'll see you then, Thomas," LaCroix said as he ushered Greaves into the lift and turned to review the rest of the tapes from the previous day, just in case there was anything further to learn.[End Chapter 4 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions]
Chapter 5 - Legacy of Evil: Resolutions
On Kearstay Island late one night nearly two weeks later, Natalie suddenly raced into the den where Nick was just finishing a report that was due at the university. Nick had undertaken the marine research that he had
set up as their cover, and appeared to be genuinely enjoying cataloging the wildlife he observed. "Nick, Janette needs us! Get out the Land Rover, and pick me up in front of the barn. I'm getting my gear. It's raining again.
You'll need your rain gear!"
Nick looked up from his report, but Natalie had already disappeared. He reached out to Janette along their link and discovered that Janette's need was indeed urgent. He was somewhat amazed that Natalie had sensed
Janette first, but then, he thought to himself, the two women had become extremely close since settling on the island. And Janette's need seemed to require Natalie more than himself. He had reached the garage and brought
out the Land Rover as he finished his thoughts and saw Natalie appear at the door to the barn with medical bag in hand. Her advancing pregnancy showed in the roundness of her figure, but she was as agile as ever as she leaped
into the seat next to him as he pulled up in front of her. A heavy storm was blowing up, and the mizzle of rain they were currently experiencing was only the mild precursor of their next round of rough weather. He was concerned about Natalie being out in the weather.
"I'm glad to see you dressed for the weather," he told her. "Which way do you want me to go?"
"Just follow Janette's link. You'll find her," Natalie told him. He did, and soon they had arrived at a shallow cove on the west side of the island. Janette was kneeling on the beach beside two large, humped figures. Jules' Land Rover was approaching from their right. Both vehicles' headlights illuminated the scene through the steadily worsening rain, and Nick and Natalie could finally make out that Janette was soothing two seals that were lying on the beach. Natalie jumped out of the car as soon as it came to a stop and began examining the larger seal. It was a female and it had been badly injured. Deep cuts ran down one flank and across the abdomen of the cow. It appeared that a boat's propeller had caught the seal as it swam. She had apparently beached herself in an attempt to get somewhere that she could heal. But, Natalie observed, this creature would never heal without some immediate medical attention. The other animal was much smaller, and had suffered at least one deep cut itself. It must be her calf, Natalie surmised. The female was lactating.
"Nick, would you and Jules please help by restraining the female. I'm going to try to sew up these cuts." Janette shook her head.
"They will not need to restrain her. She knows we are here to help," Janette told Natalie. Natalie looked closely at Janette, then she settled beside the mother and signaled Jules to see to the calf. Natalie paused and surveyed the seals with what she had come to think of as her 'health sight.'
"Jules, the calf just needs that one cut sewn up. Then he'll need to feed. Nick, do we have a formula for seal's milk? I don't think this mother will be able to nurse for some time. She's got a lot of damage to the muscles in that area."
"I can check online with the university's database and see if they've had to create one. I'm fairly sure there is one. Part of my investigation is to discover why these seals are succumbing to that infection that's become rampant again lately. I remember a mention in some of the early records of a program to care for orphaned pups. Do you need me here, or shall I go back to the house and look for the formula?"
"Go find the formula, Nick. Jules and I can take care of the sewing, so long as Janette can control the seals." Nick flew off toward the house as fast as he could, leaving the Land Rover to light Natalie's and Jules' work. Natalie and Jules bent to the task of anesthetizing the seals and sewing up their wounds. Jules finished quickly with the calf and came to help Natalie with the mother seal.
"Is she going to pull through, Natalie?" Jules asked, knowing that Natalie's sight would reveal the seal's condition unerringly.
"I'm not entirely sure, Jules. She's lost a lot of blood. I wish we had a source for a whole blood transfusion, but plasma will have to do for now. I have some antibiotics that I think will help also. How are you doing, Janette?"
"Just fine. She is going to be all right, Natalie." Janette spoke surely from her position at one end of the seal where she sat on the ground cradling the huge creature's head in her lap. She was gently stroking the seal's forehead and crooning softly to it. "When you two finish sewing her up, I'd like to take her up to Nick's hospital. She needs more warmth than this beach can give her just now."
Natalie nodded in agreement. They and the seals were suffering the effects of the intensifying storm on the exposed beach. "I'm sure glad you people are as strong as you are. We'd probably need a lot more than three
of you to get her up there otherwise. She must weigh at least four hundred pounds. And the calf must weigh at least one hundred and fifty. Nick's on his way back."
Just as the two doctors finished their work, Nick reappeared. "I found a formula, and we have the ingredients. I mixed up a batch and it's waiting up at the barn. We'll need a lot more than we have on hand just
now. I'll have to go into Stornoway to pick up supplies tomorrow. I'm glad it's not Sunday, or we wouldn't be able to get enough supplies to feed the pup properly." The three vampires managed to heft the mother seal into the
back of Nick's Land Rover after they put down the back seat. She rested quietly, seemingly content. Janette resumed her place at the seal's head and Natalie drove them back to the barn. Nick and Jules followed with the
pup in the second vehicle.
Both animals were settled into a large box stall in the barn on a pile of fresh hay. They covered the mother seal with a large horse blanket. Nick created a makeshift baby seal bottle from a pail and some rubber tubing. When the baby seal awoke from his sedation, he cried pitifully. Janette soothed and fed him. He ate greedily then snuggled up to his mother for a nap. Nick had also brought some mackerel he had caught earlier in the day to feed to a pelican with a broken leg they had been nursing. He chopped it up into a mash and while Janette soothed the female seal, he fed her as much fish as she seemed able to eat.
After both animals had been fed, Natalie surveyed them once again and pronounced them both on the mend. "Neither of them have been infected with that disease you've been tracking, Nick. I think they'll both pull through!" Natalie was pleased with their night's work. "You are simply wonderful, Janette. No one I've ever known has had such a sure, calming touch with animals. And these creatures are so large that they could have
done a lot of damage to us if you hadn't been able to control them. Thank you!"
Janette glowed as she accepted Natalie's praise. "I just did what I could. You and Jules did the hard work."
"No, Janette, mon coeur, you are the gifted one," Jules assured her as he pulled her close to his side. She reached around his waist and returned his embrace as they both headed for their own car and home. Janette stopped and turned away from Jules for a moment, "I'll be back later to check on them both," she said.
"Good, they need you," Natalie told Janette as she and Jules left. Natalie began putting away the equipment she had used on the seals on the beach, when she suddenly paused and placed her hand on her abdomen with a
gasp. Nick was at her side in a second.
"Nat, what's wrong? Are you OK?" he exclaimed.
"I...I'm fine," Natalie replied. "The baby just kicked me!" she said with a huge smile.
"He did!?" Nick picked Natalie up in his arms and hugged her closely. Then he set her down and reached toward her stomach. "May I?" he asked shyly.
"Of course you silly man. It's your baby too!" Natalie told him as he gently cupped her stomach with his hand and waited. A few seconds later he jumped and looked up at Natalie with a tremendous smile, "It is," he
breathed, "it's our son. He's moving." They stood together in the barn for several minutes simply enjoying the now even more evident fact of their child's existence. Then they took one last look at the seals to be sure they were comfortable and returned to the house.
Within a week the two seals had healed enough for Natalie to remove their stitches. The baby seal was nursing from its mother within two more weeks. And Janette returned their charges to the sea at the end of the
third week.
Nick and Natalie had become a well-known sight around Lewis over the past few months. Since Nick could not manage an entire day on the boat alone, without either pulling into a cove and anchoring or setting a sea anchor and drifting during the hours surrounding noon while he sought refuge in his cabin below decks, Natalie had insisted that he take her with him on his day trips. They had become as fine a team in marine animal research as
they had been in criminal investigation.
Natalie had managed to replicate the enzyme Divia had produced in the laboratory. This development offered Janette the opportunity to experience the changes Nick had undergone. But Janette had balked at trying
the 'concoction' as she dubbed it. "I have had quite enough of a change, thank you!" she asserted forcefully. "Nicolas has already contaminated me with his compassion. I do not think I could tolerate any more fiddling
about with my internal workings." Then she had smiled and returned to soothing and feeding the baby seal she had rescued from the surf the previous evening. This one's mother had not survived, and Janette had become its surrogate parent. She was feeding the pup the seal milk formula Nick had learned to prepare. He had improved upon it since the first time they had used it, adding more nutrients than had originally been prescribed. They had all become quite expert at wild animal rescue.
Nick and Natalie planned a thorough census of the seals in their area. Nick devised a course he thought would take in all of the local seal colonies. He figured they would be gone for at least two weeks on their
initial outing. Then they would resupply at Stornoway or at Tarbert and set back out to sea for yet another two weeks. A series of these short voyages would eventually make a complete circuit of Lewis, and they would have
completed the major portion of the research the university had contracted them to do. Nick had stocked the boat with an abundance and variety of provisions. If the weather held, they should be able to finish the census
with a minimum of problems.
Nick knew that Janette and Jules would enjoy having the island to themselves for a while. Natalie was a month into her second trimester of pregnancy and had suddenly become a sensual temptress, continually needing
his amorous attentions. Nick was blessing his lucky stars that he had not, after all, become human. He wasn't sure how human males managed to perform during this period of their mates' expectancy. He hoped this voyage would
see them through the end of this particular time. At least they would have a bit more privacy on the boat, and the distance would insure that he would not have to work so hard to keep their passions from invading the link to
Jules and Janette.
Nick cast off the boat early on a Monday morning during the second week of May. Fair weather was forecast for the following week. Nick had already taught Natalie the basics of navigation, and they had carefully
studied the nautical charts of the passages surrounding Lewis and Harris. Natalie began the voyage as navigator, while Nick did duty as pilot. They planned to alternate duties throughout their trip. They headed west out of
Loch Roag then turned north into the Atlantic, paralleling the coast. Lewis and Harris combined might be only 95 miles long and range from 18 to 28 miles across, but there were many coves, bays, and small islands off the
coast that would hold the wildlife they were studying. Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, Nick had explained to Natalie, had been formed in a series of volcanic eruptions. Then the advance and retreat of the glaciers of the
ice ages over the centuries had eroded the original formations, carving deeply into the original lava flows. Much of the landscape had been tamed into green bog or pasture on northern Lewis, but empty stretches of twisted rock occupied lengthy expanses of the southern part of the island which was known as Harris. The two parts of the island were divided by a mountain range rising to nearly 2,000 feet at its highest elevations. Nick and Natalie enjoyed an impressive view of the western cliffs of Lewis as they set out on their journey.
During the ensuing weeks they passed barren rocks populated only by sea birds and small islands dotted with sheep, birds, and gray seals. Each time they found a seal colony, they first surveyed the area with high powered binoculars. Then they attempted landfall when they could and counted the numbers of males and estimated the size of each one's territory and harem. When they had anchored near a colony for some time, and the local residents had become used to their presence, they would choose a seal family to examine more closely. Natalie's health sight allowed them to discern which animals might be most in need of medical help. They doctored
numerous cuts and abrasions as well as diseases during their circuit of Lewis. The seal plague seemed to be at a low ebb during this particular tour of duty. They inoculated pups and their mothers when they could and
tagged seals for later researchers to follow.
Nick thoroughly enjoyed his research. Natalie became more comfortable each day with the exercise of her ability to perceive health, illness, and injury with her new vision. And each day was punctuated with a two hour recess around noon enforced by Nick's inability to endure the sun. Natalie took unabashed advantage of his imprisonment and shamelessly seduced him at every opportunity. Nick was grateful that Natalie frequently
required a nap after each amorous encounter, otherwise, he reflected, he would have gotten no sleep at all.
One night after they had been on their voyage for nearly three months Nick came out on deck after supper to find a glorious full moon lighting a clear, cloudless sky. The stars above were flung out across the ocean of the air as thickly and shone as brightly as white sand on a coral beach in bright sun. Natalie gasped as she followed him out of the gangway into the moonlight.
"Nick, it's simply gorgeous tonight!" she exclaimed.
"Nights this clear and bright, with no fog or cloud, are very unusual in this part of the world. Let's get a blanket and spread it on deck and watch the stars for awhile," Nick suggested.
"That's a lovely idea. You taught me the constellations for navigation, but we haven't had much time just to enjoy looking at them lately." Nick went below and fetched blankets and pillows from their stateroom. When he returned topside, he created a comfortable nest aft of the wheel house. They had dropped anchor in a small cove earlier in the evening near a rock with a large seal colony they intended to explore in the morning. They could hear the distinctive barking of the seals in the distance as they settled onto the pillows and blankets.
This was one of the last landfalls they would need to make before they would finish their survey and be able to return home to Kearstay. They were very close to home. They were inside the western arm of Loch Roag ,
the loch which also contained Kearstay. Their island was located in the eastern arm of the loch on the other side of Great Bernera, the island which dominated the center of the roughly 'H' shaped waterway. Nick pulled
Natalie close and wrapped his arms around her, cuddling her gently. She leaned into him and kissed his neck, then nuzzled his collar open and tasted the hollow of his throat. Nick leaned back and looked down his nose at
Natalie, "Are you ready for me again?" he asked in a teasingly exasperated tone.
"Mmmm," was Natalie's only reply as she renewed her attentions to his neck. She knew it was one erogenous zone he could not ignore.
"You are absolutely insatiable, Natalie! What am I going to do with you?" Nick asked her rhetorically as he began stroking her and sliding his hands into her clothing, loosening and removing the impediments to his
attentions. Natalie just purred and pulled his t-shirt off over his head and began working at his belt buckle. They made beautifully passionate love on the open deck of the boat under the brilliant stars. When their passion was spent, they lay together caressing each other fondly and gently. After some time, Nick placed his ear against Natalie's belly and lay quite still, listening for several minutes.
"He's very restless tonight," Nick said quietly.
"Tell me about it!" Natalie exclaimed. "I think he's learning the high dive in there," she told Nick affectionately.
"It won't be long until he's born," Nick observed.
"I know , but two more months! I'm going to be as big as two houses. I've gotten absolutely huge during this cruise!" Natalie said.
"You've gotten absolutely beautiful," Nick told her as he kissed a trail up her body to end with a deeply passionate kiss on her mouth. He continued stroking her abdomen as he showered her face with tiny kisses. She stopped him by pulling his head down for another long, deep kiss. Then she turned onto her side, and he pulled her back against him so he could continue to caress her and feel the movements of their son. They lay quietly under the stars simply enjoying their closeness, their child, and their privacy.
Dawn awoke Nick and Natalie on the deck of their boat. They had drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. "Good morning, love," Nick greeted her.
"It's a glorious morning!" Natalie exclaimed.
"It was a glorious night. A lovely way to end our voyage, don't you think?" Nick replied.
"I'll be sorry when we are finished. I've thoroughly enjoyed this time with you, love," Natalie said.
"As have I. Are you hungry? Should I start breakfast?" Nick asked her.
"Not yet," she told him as she pulled him down for a kiss and slid her hand between his thighs and stroked him.
"Natalie, you're going to wear out all of my equipment if you keep this up much longer!"
"You've had a full night's sleep. I've just discovered you're very ready for me, and you're, very luckily for you, not human, so what's the worry?"
"You minx!"
"You love it. Admit it!"
He kissed her and pleasured her, but he never admitted, at least out loud, just how much he truly enjoyed loving her. He didn't need to, she knew it.
Later that morning they set out in the dory for the seal colony. As they approached the rocky beach of the seal-filled island, Nick noticed a commotion off to their left. "Nat, I think it's a bull fight. You stay back. I'll do the onshore investigation," Nick said. "I don't want to risk the baby, and I can get out of their way faster than you could even if you weren't pregnant."
"Fine, I'll observe with the binoculars from here," Natalie answered as she threw the anchor over the side of the dory. They had observed many fights between seal bulls over females and territory during the previous few
months. The battles were ferocious and over quickly, often leaving many wounded and, occasionally, some dead in their wake. Natalie knew that the current battleground was no place for her. Only Nick's nature made it even
moderately safe for him to approach the fighting seals.
Nick lifted from the boat and floated over the intervening water heading toward the two huge male seals that were fighting on the beach. Female seals and their calves were fleeing in all directions, but one mother and calf seemed to be having a difficult time moving out of the range of the fight. Natalie raised the glasses to her eyes and focused in for a closer view of the female seal. She gasped as what she was really seeing registered on her consciousness. "Nick!" she shouted, "It's a child!" And indeed, through the binoculars, Natalie could clearly see that the calf the mother seal was protecting was not a seal at all. It was a human child, a girl.
Nick had heard her shout and was arrowing into the area intent on rescuing the child. Natalie watched with bated breath as the struggling males moved ever closer to the female seal guarding the child. Nick had reached the pair of noncombatants. He dropped to the ground next to the child and reached for her. She shied away from him towards the cow.
"Come here, sweetheart. This is no place for you just now. Let me get you away from here," Nick said quietly and soothingly, extending his power to calm the girl. She began to relax, and Nick took advantage of her
stillness to scoop her up into his arms and fly up and away just as the bulls overran the cow. Out in the boat Natalie breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Nick soar above the fight with the child in his arms. Then he was
beside her in the boat, and she was carefully examining the girl for injuries.
"She looks all right, Nick. No broken bones, a few scrapes and cuts, but she's generally healthy. How are you sweetheart? How did you ever get out here?" Natalie asked their new charge.
The child simply stared at Natalie, then looked carefully at Nick, her brown eyes wide and solemn. She was dusty, naked, and clutched a small packet, of what appeared to be seal fur, tightly to her chest. She appeared
to be between seven and eight years old. Her long, straight, brown hair straggled down her back. She did not appear to be frightened, simply curious. She reached toward Nick's hand and stroked the back of it, then up
his arm, stopping at the elbow. Then she looked up at him and said, "You're not entirely human either, are you?" Nick's mouth dropped open, and he stared at her intently.
"What do you mean, sweetie?" Natalie asked.
"He flies. His skin is cool. He feels different. You're different, too. I can feel it," the child answered as she turned to Natalie and stroked her hand and forearm as she had Nick's.
"What's your name, child?" Nick asked.
"I'm Morag. Thank you for getting me out of the way. He was very angry. He would have killed me."
"Who would have killed you, Morag?" Nick asked.
"Grandfather. He doesn't approve of me. Mother tried to protect me, but I think it's time I went home to Father. Can you take me? It's just the other side of the loch."
"Take you where, Morag?" Nick asked.
"Home, to Father, on Kearstay!" Morag insisted.
"We live on Kearstay. Are you Hugh Morrison's daughter? We thought you and your mother had gone to Glasgow," Natalie gasped.
"Father knew where we were. I don't think he expected me to return. Do you think he'll be glad to see me?" Morag asked.
"Yes, he'll be very glad to see you. He's missed you very much," Nick told her.
"Where's your mother?" Natalie asked.
"There, on the rocks. She wants to stay with Grandfather. I'm ready to go home now." Morag settled herself on one of the benches in the dory and simply waited for whatever would happen next.
Nick and Natalie looked back toward the beach where the fight had occurred. The males had separated. The female seal who had protected Morag was looking out to sea in their direction. The other seals had resumed
their places on the beach as if nothing had happened. Natalie looked at the child, then at Nick. He shrugged and began rowing toward their boat. When they reached the boat, Nick tied up the dory and Natalie dug around in their cabin to find a t-shirt for Morag to wear. Then Nick set sail for their side of Loch Roag and home.
"We'll have to survey that seal colony some other time. Or, possibly, we should let it alone," Nick said to Natalie as they sailed homeward. Morag had settled in the bow of the boat, still clutching her packet of seal skin, but now wearing the over-sized t-shirt Natalie had loaned her. She sat quietly , looking ahead past the horizon.
"I don't really understand what happened out there!" Natalie exclaimed. "Where is Morag's mother? Why didn't we stay to look for her?"
"That was she on the beach. Morag and her mother are selkies," Nick said to Natalie. Then he added quietly, "I never thought I'd ever see one. It's uncanny."
"Selkies?" Natalie asked.
"The seal people, shape-changers," Nick replied. "I always thought it was just an old highland superstition." Natalie turned her head and gazed thoughtfully at Morag sitting in the bow. Then she looked back at Nick and shook her hea