Retribution

by Knightshadowwrtr

Natalie had the night off. Unfortunately Nick was working so she decided just to stay in for the night and relax. It was a warm summer evening and she had the door to her balcony unlocked and open. A gentle breeze caressed her. She was propped on some pillows against the bedstead and had a good book in hand.

Suddenly a cold breeze blew over her and she shivered. She glanced at the door and realized a figure stood behind the billowing sheer curtains. "Nick." She called wondering why he didn't just come in.

Long white fingers pushed the curtain away.

The book dropped unheeded to the floor and Natalie crawled back up against the headboard of the bed until it pressed against her back. Recognizing her intruder she yelled, "Get out of here, LaCroix." Fear struck her to her very core.

He slipped into the room and turned to close and lock the glass door. "Is this any way to greet your guest?" he said sarcastically.

"You are not my guest. You have no right to be here, get out!" Oh Good Nick, she thought.

Natalie saw his eyes rake over her body and she pulled the sides of her thin robe over her breasts. Neither the gown nor the robe would provide her much coverage. She flipped herself suddenly from the bed and rushed for the bathroom door a few feet away. She slammed it shut and pushed the lock around and sighed against it.

Instantly the door tore open and she was flung back against the wall. LaCroix was pressed against her and her hands where captured in one of his and pinned to the wall. His strength was incredible. His eyes were amber and his fangs elongated.

"You can not escape me," he hissed.

"Why?" she begged.

"Nicholas owes me. I am tired of waiting. I will take my retribution from you. I will not kill you, Natalie, but I will make you wish you were dead. I will destroy the love he has for you."

"Your wrong, LaCroix, nothing can stop Nick from loving me. He will destroy you!" She said defiantly.

"He can try." He whispered. He leaned forward and ran the tip of his fangs along her cheek. He felt her tremble against his body. He laughed. He ran a rough hand over her body fondling a soft warm breasts.

"Please don't do this LaCroix, please!" She begged again.

He ignored her, "You are beautiful. I can make you want me." His face came closer to hers again and he let his lips trail against her jaw line.

Natalie turned away and pressed herself into the wall behind her. His hand was still roughly needing her breast.

He nuzzled further along her jaw and suddenly she felt a sharp pain. She realized he had cut her when she felt warmth trickle over the jawbone. LaCroix cool tongue came out to lick it away. His lips sucked against her jaw. "Ah, you taste like nectar, no wonder Nicholas adores you."

"He has never tasted my blood." She cried.

"No, then he is a fool." He sliced her again a little lower for the blood had already stopped flowing.

"No!" she cried out loudly.

He grabbed a wash cloth from the shower door and stuffed it in her mouth, "You alert anyone and they die." He dragged her back into the bedroom. He searched a drawer of the vanity and found a scarf and tied her wrists together then picked her up and placed her not to gently on the bed and tied her hands to the bedstead, above and over her head.

Natalie stared at him and her body trembled with fear. She knew there was no way to escape him. He could do what he willed and there wasn't anything she could do to stop him. Would Nick love her after she was ravished by this monster. Would he ever be able to look at her again.

LaCroix reached for her and she kicked at him.

He easily subdued her and struck her hard across the face. It stunned her and knocked the rag from her mouth. She felt blood trickle from her mouth. His face came close again and she closed her eyes and turned away unable to face his amber eyes. His mouth suddenly covered hers and she felt his suck the blood from the corner of her mouth. Tears streaked her face and he sucked the tears away as well. "Do not struggle so." He told her.

She kicked against him again and he grabbed her foot and snapped her big toe breaking it sending waves of pain up her leg.

"Continue to struggle and I will break each one of them, one at a time," he threatened.

She felt the clothing being ripped away from her body leaving her naked and vulnerable. She opened her eyes as she drew her legs up crossing her feet against her buttocks to try to maintain some sort of dignity.

LaCroix was standing, staring smugly down at her. He started to unbutton his shirt. She watched in fascinated horror as he slowly undressed. He carefully folded his cloths and laid them over the chair.

He was exquisite, hard muscled to perfection. He looked as if he were a Roman statue carved from the finest white marble.

"You approve." He said, returning her gaze. "I will make you enjoy this."

"Please don't do this , LaCroix, Please!"

"Nicholas will never forgive YOU, my dear, never. You will be soiled and used."

"It's you he will never forgive, LaCroix. Never!" she cried. Struggling against the cloth that bound her hands.

"Never is a long time. He will, and I can wait. I have the time."

"Why." She begged again wanting to delay him distract him even for a moment more.

"He robbed me of the love of my existence and I will rob him of his. He will live with this forever." He climbed onto the bed, forced her legs down and covered her body with his. His heavy erect manhood slid along her leg and stomach stunning her and she cried out against his mouth as he covered her lips. He forced her lips apart and tasted the inside of her mouth deepening the kiss.

Natalie tried to turn away, but he twisted her breast with one hand until she stopped fighting him and lay still. He became more gentle and he expertly stroked her breasts causing her body to arch involuntarily against his hand.

"You are starting to enjoy this, my dear. Give yourself to me and you will experience what you never thought possible," His tongue toyed with the artery at her neck.

'No, please, no." she whispered.

His head moved lower and she cried out as his fangs made another cut over her clavicle. His cool lips sucked at her and his hands explored her breasts, stomach and lower.

He lowered his mouth and captured one of her nipples with his lips and tongue. She cried and moaned against him struggling more against the scarf's feeling it tighten and bite into the flesh of her wrists.

Again her body betrayed her and she thrust her breast deeper into his mouth. He drew back and smiled that evil thin smile, "You are starved for love aren't you." He returned to sucking on her breasts.

"Oh God no, please LaCroix please release me.' One of his hand slid around behind her and under her drawing her up against him sliding his hand down to cup her buttocks. He pulled her up hard against him.

Her eyes flew open as she felt his hard erect member against her thighs. His fangs suddenly dug into her breast and she stifled a scream not wanting any of her good neighbors killed. She did not doubt his word. His hands slid lower and caressed the soft furry mound at the apex of her legs. She tried to detach herself from the feelings but her body was so long starved for sex that it betrayed her over and over. She became wet with desire and his fingers slid gently into the folds toward her inner core. Two fingers suddenly thrust into her and she struggled to pull away. His fingers became harsh and painful. "I can make this torture Natalie, or I can make this the best experience you have ever had. It's your choice."

He slipped a hand down her leg and pressed against another toe snapping it. "Do not struggle again. Her scream was drowned out as his mouth covered hers. His fingers returned to reawaken long dead passion in her body. She stopped struggling and let him take her. His fingers worked her body like a fine tuned instrument and she cried with shame and revulsion as her body orgasmed against his fingers.

"That's my girl." He whispered against her lips. "This is much more pleasant if you to not struggle now isn't it.

Natalie tried to conjure Nick's face in her mind. She forced herself into a place where Nick was touching her. Nick was bringing her body to fulfillment, she saw him and felt him and cried out to him as she organsmed again.

LaCroix snarled and struck her. "See me, feel me." he demanded. He moved to enter her and thrust roughly and deeply into her. He was huge and she feared that he would hurt her. He pulled nearly free and then thrust deeply again. Feeling his body invade hers freaked her out and she screamed and screamed but it was muffled by his mouth. His hand went to her breast again and he twisted it so painfully she was forced to stop screaming and sobbed against him. He suddenly buried his fangs into her shoulder and then he came spilling his bloody seed into her. Horrendous visions swam across her mind for a second or two.

Her body orgasamed again and she cried out in her mind, "Nick!" Afraid if she said his name aloud LaCroix would kill her.

Suddenly he was gone. She drew up her legs and rolled to her side. Her arms still trapped above her head made it hard but she curled up into herself.

She heard the shower and then muffled clothing then he was there his lips pressed to her face, "Thank you my dear." He ran his cool tongue along her jaw and she shrunk back away from him. Then is a soft dangerous voice he said, "Tell Nicholas, his debt is paid in full."

"He will kill you." She hissed.

"He can try." With those as parting words he unlocked the sliding glass door stepped onto the balcony and took to the sky.

Natalie struggled against the scarf that held her hands so tight but it was useless the scarf dug into her wrists and made them bleed.

"Nick!" she cried out sobbing into the pillow.

Elsewhere:

Nick came of duty with a sigh, he shuddered a bit feeling strange as if he could crawl out of his skin. Something was wrong and he couldn't figure out what it was. The link he had with LaCroix was oddly closed off. LaCroix did that occasionally when he wanted to keep his deeds secret from Nick. This made Nick wander what he was up to tonight.

Nick had missed Natalie tonight. He knew she had hoped he would come for a movie and had been disappointed when he'd been called in to work unexpectedly. He decided to drive by on his way home and see if there were any lights on at her place. Maybe they could talk a few minutes. He still had an hour before sunrise.

Nick parked near the rear of her building. It was still pretty dark. He let himself float up and land on Natalie's balcony. The moment he landed on the balcony his nostrils flared and fear gripped his heart and made it beat. He smelled blood and HIM. Nick knew LaCroix had been there. He realized that the curtains to the bedroom were billowing inward. The glass doors where open. He stretched out his senses and heard Natalie's muffled cries. Terror and relief washed over him. She was alive and LaCroix was gone.

He flung the drapes aside and strode into the room. There was a lamp bedside that was on. What he saw shocked him to the core.

Natalie's back was too him. He could see bruises on her body, blood still dripped from numerous cuts and bite marks. Drying bloody semen was smeared over the backs of her legs. Her hands were tried above her head, scarves biting into her bruised wrists. He forced himself to move. He first pulled the scarf and it tore like tissue paper.

Natalie groaned and cried out," NO, NO!!"

He went on his knees before her. There he discovered the comforter on the floor and drew it over her nakedness. He gently brushed the hair away from her face. He was seething inside and wanted only to go tear LaCroix apart but Natalie needed him right now.

"Natalie, " he called gently to her, "Natalie it's me Nick, your safe. He's gone."

"Nick?" her eyes opened, she launched herself at him. Surprised he fell back against the wall of the bedroom and slid with her to the floor holding her close in his lap. She clung to him sobbing curled up against him.

Nick trembled with rage and pain. The vampire begged to be unleashed. The blood on Natalie called to him. He struggled to his feet lifting her with him and set her on the bed. She sat staring at the wall whimpering. It tore at his heart. He closed and locked the glass doors and pulled the curtains against the first signs of morning light.

He went back and picked her up and she clung to him. He took her into the bathroom. He set her down on the toilet and reached to turn the shower on.

"Nat please take a shower, I'll wait outside in the bed room.

"No," she cried clutching at him. She looked wildly around." "Please don't leave me Nick. He said you would leave me. That you wouldn't love me anymore."

Blood tears rolled down Nick's cheeks. He was so stunned by this all. He couldn't believe that LaCroix was capable of this atrocity.

He tried to convince her he wouldn't leave but she wouldn't let him leave the room. He finally sighed and stripped down to his boxers, picked her up and held her under the water in the shower as it washed away the blood. She could only cling to him, her lips pressed against his neck to stop the sobs of pain and humiliation from the attack. He set her on her feet and washed her carefully, horrified at he horrendous bruises on her beautiful, ravished body. He was unable to fathom his father doing this.

"Why would he do this, Nat. Why?"

She looked at him, "He said to tell you your debt was paid in full." She saw that Nick knew instantly what she was talking about.

"Oh God, Nat....I never meant for you to suffer because of me. I would have left a long time ago to prevent this."

She laid her cheek against his shoulder, "Just don't leave me, now, Nick."

"I won't, Nat." How would he get her through this. He would have to call in sick for both of them. No one would believe they were sick. He was aware of the rumors about them and the office pool. But as he held her against him he realized none of it mattered anymore. The job, his life here it was nothing compared to his love for Natalie. Whatever he had to do he would do. This was his fault. No one must see Natalie with all the cuts and bruises. They would want to file a report and there would be an investigation. He couldn't risk that. No one must even notice when LaCroix vanished.

He would plan this carefully and when he was ready LaCroix would die. The water was cold now and he guided Nat to sit on the toilet on a soft white towel and he wrapped another one around her. As he was drying her leg he realized her toes on one foot were black. "Nat what happened to your foot?"

"He broke them so I wouldn't struggle." She said with no emotion.

She'd given in to him. He felt his eyes flare amber and he fought the Beast down as it raged inside of him. This woman was his! LaCroix had no right to hurt her. He fought the beast down until his eyes returned to normal and he held Nat to him as she cried against his shoulder. In his heart he knew she had done the right thing. Fighting LaCroix would have gotten her killed. He would have his own demons to fight over this but he was determined to prove to LaCroix that what he'd done would only make his love for Nat stronger.

"Maybe I should take you to the hospital, Nat, he may have hurt you inside. Your toes are broken."

"No Nick, I can't go. They would have to examine me take samples. You know they might still find something." She pleaded with him until he relented.

"Alright Nat." He took her to a chair in her room and then using his supper Vampire speed he replaced the sheets and blankets on the bed. Then brought her a soft gown and she slipped gratefully into it letting the towels fall to the floor. He helped her to the bed and she crawled in. Do you have some sort of pain pill you can take. Do you want to eat something?"

"Just bring me some juice and the ibuprophen from the cabinet in the bathroom. After she had taken the pills and drank the juice down he tucked her into the bed and turned to find his clothes, "Nick please hold me." she begged.

"Ok, Nat, but first I need dry clothes." He said indicating his wet boxers. He saw her smile a ghost of a smile when she looked at him. He'd never been so undressed before her. He had the courtesy to blush.

"There are sweats in the bottom drawer of the dresser," she said.

He went to the dresser and rifled through the sweatpants, there were pink ones and baby blue ones, finally he found a dark wine colored one. He didn't look back but slipped the wet boxers off and was into the sweats in a second. He turned to find Natalie watching him. Fresh tears on her face.

He crawled into the bed and pulled her against him, spooning himself against her.

"Your beautiful, Nick." She whispered. She turned over a bit carefully and painfully, "Make love to me Nick, Please make love to me."

Nick opened his mouth to protest but saw she needed him to accept her. "I will Nat. I want to more than anything, but you have to heal."

"Please Nick, " She covered his mouth with hers kissing him hungrily and roughly. Her body trembling against his.

He held her gently, kissing her back, tasting her mouth. Gently probing it with his tongue. He then placed light gentle kisses on her face and eyes. "Nat, sleep. When you wake we will talk about this some more, I promise."

The fear and adrenalin rush she had been through, were catching up to her. Bathed, warm and safe with Nick she nodded sleepily and laid her check against his chest and taking one of his hands she laid it against her breast.

Nick was surprised but gently caressed the bruised hot flesh and the bite marks. Anger flared in him but he did not let Natalie see it. He gently held her and lulled her to sleep.

He would never sleep again until LaCroix was dead. Despite all the things that had happened to them and between them over the centuries Nick still had loved LaCroix as a brother, father, mentor. But now he'd hurt Natalie. There was and would never be forgiveness for this deed.

He cried for her and for the loss of his father and friend. He was betrayed in the worst possible way. Worse than he could have ever imagined.

His beautiful Natalie ravaged and raped, abused physically. He would never have imagined LaCroix would stoop this low. He held Natalie and began to plot his revenge.

A Scream jarred him from his thoughts. Natalie was thrashing and screaming in his arms, 'No, oh God No!! Please let me Go Please, Nick ! Nick!" He fought her even as he fought his own Beast down."

"Natalie! It's Nick Please stop, your safe. I'm here." He Kissed her face gently and called to her "Natalie, I'm here."

She woke and clung to him, "Nick oh Nick." She collapsed against him trembling against his chest. He held her close stroking her hair. Her hand roamed and stroked his back and she pressed kisses against his chest. Nick held her stroking her hair

"Nat, huh, Nat....please..." he tried to gently pushed her away. He found he was suddenly ravenous. "I need to feed."

She sighed and stopped..."Kitchen, back of frig."

She felt a swish and found herself alone in the bed. She trembled and slowly looked around her room. She would never feel safe here again. Never.

She climbed stiffly from the bed and hobbled to the bathroom. She relieved herself and then took a warm shower. It helped to relieve some of the stiffness and she scrubbed at her already clean skin, still feeling dirty. She was shocked when she looked into the mirror. One eye was swollen half shut. Her face was bruised, her lips torn, she had numerous bits and cuts. She looked at her body and found her breast purple ,blackened and bite. How could Nick stand to look at her. Yet she remembered his gentleness and his kisses. He did love her. He wouldn't leave. LaCroix had lost. That realization gave her a feeling of power.

Yet she understood now why Nick did not want to touch her, she was a sight and she knew he would never do anything to hurt her. But he was here and she was barely dressed and he'd held her close. She grabbed a clean gown and slipped into it. Nick was sitting on the bed when she opened the door still dressed only in the sweat bottoms.

She felt tears burn her eyes, she was so grateful to see him there.

He held out his arms to her smiling at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She hobbled painfully forward and he enveloped her, gathering her close and she sobbed against his chest. Crying out in pain and horror at what had happened to her.

Nick held her and stroked her hair and kissed her face and after nearly an hour she stopped crying and just breathed against his shoulder. After a time he went to get her a breakfast of eggs and juice and coaxed her to eat about half of it. He then put her back to bed holding her close as she slept.

There was no rest for Nick. His thoughts were tortured by images of Natalie with LaCroix. Finally he slipped in to a restless sleep about high noon. His vampire body was unable to stay awake any longer with the sun high outside the curtains. He woke a few hours later and call work, he explained to Reese that Natalie has a serious case of the flu and he had to stay with her. He could hear the skepticism in Reese's voice. Yet he also heard Reese encourage him to take all the time they needed. There was a satisfaction there. Nick knew Reese had a stake in the office pool.

Nick also checked and found out Grace was off. He made sure that Natalie would sleep the rest of the night and then he had Grace come sit in the apartment. He used hypnotism to convince Grace not to look in on Natalie and if she did, not to see anything other than the flu. He moved onto the balcony and took to the sky. He flew swiftly to the loft. There he gathered some weapons, things he had conditioned himself to be resistant too, but he knew LaCroix would have no tolerance for. He was grateful that LaCroix had not killed Natalie but he still had to be destroyed.

He showered and changed into his normal clothing and was busy working on his cufflink as he came down the stairs, he had felt LaCroix arrive a few minutes earlier.

LaCroix was impeccable dressed in black as always. He had a smug look on his face. "Oh Nicholas, your home. I am a bit surprised to see you here."

"Why," Nick asked still fidgeting with the sleeve, "I live here." Nick walked past him as if nothing was wrong.

LaCroix taunted him, "She was good Nicholas, so good. She was starved for love." His voice was low and dangerous.

Nick held control of his anger by an iron will. "Father," he said, slightly disarming LaCroix, "She is but one woman in a thousand. I told you I did not love her." He gave LaCroix a look, "I seem to remember I owe you one."

He saw LaCroix's eyes flare amber and his face came close, "Your lying to me, that woman is your life."

Nick turned with tears in his eyes, "No father, you are my life."

LaCroix was over whelmed with doubt and pain. Had he made a mistake. Did his son actually not love Natalie. Secondly did he really love him. He found Nick was suddenly close reaching for him. "Father nothing you do will change my love for you. I am part of you. No mortal woman can take that from us."

Nick reached up a hand and placed it on his shoulder sliding it up toward his neck and then he brought his other arm around LaCroix and drew him close. He felt LaCroix relax and lean against him. He had so disarmed his father that LaCroix never saw or suspected that Nick had a weapon. A slim very sharp knife slid from his sleeve and landed in his hand. Nick held LaCroix close blood tears stinging his eyes. He sliced deeply into LaCroix's back cutting his spinal cord in two. LaCroix sagged in Nick's arms. His eyes were wide with shock.

Nick lowered him to the floor, "I know this will not kill you father, yet it will incapacitate you long enough for me to destroy you once and for all." Tears stung his eyes. His voice was cold and unemotional. "I knew you were capable of a lot but never of such cruelty. He went to a side cabinet and brought out a box.

With a rag to hold the object dangerous to him, he took a large cross from the box and placed it on LaCroix chest. It wouldn't burn him through his clothing but it should help to immobilize him longer.

"Nicholas, I demand you stop this and let me go,' LaCroix managed to whisper.

Nick saw the real fear in his eyes. "Did you stop when Natalie begged you to stop." Nick pulled LaCroix's hands over his head and cuffed them together with titanium cuffs. He then pulled one of LaCroix's shoes off. He took wooden tooth picks from the box and shoved them under two of LaCroix's toe nails.

The vampire raged and his fangs were barred but he couldn't even scream or move his neck. "Did you stop when she begged you not to break her toes."

"She's a mere mortal. You can have any woman you desire. Your so afraid of her and what you are capable you have denied yourself passion all these years. She was nothing to me. A means to an end Nicholas.

Nick came close to him, "She is the woman I love. You have stolen something very precious from her and from me. You think that you have driven me away from her." His voice was low and dangerous, "You think wrong." He hissed into LaCroix's face. "I will care for her and love her the rest of her life. Free from your meddling. We may have lost the first innocence of new love, but we will make up for it. I am not afraid to love her anymore." Nick turned and took a mallet and stake from the box.

LaCroix's eyes became wide but he still could not use his body to move. "She was sooo good Nicholas. Her blood so pure. The taste of her so fresh.' He taunted his son. I have plucked her un-ripened fruit. She was exquisite," he taunted trying to delay Nicholas's course and make him angry enough to make a mistake.

"She was so good, her body responded to me willingly. She came three times. She cried out my name."

Nick slammed his fist into LaCroix's face breaking some of his teeth. "Shut up!" He took the stake and placed it over LaCroix's heart. "You are a lying filthy monster." He growled low. "Not even you should have been capable of that atrocity."

"She was so soft, so willing." LaCroix continued to bate him. Feeling a tingling in his arms. "Her eyes told me how much she wanted me."

Nick threw the mallet down and raised the stake preparing to plunge in into LaCroix himself.

"Nicholas, stop." LaCroix shouted again his voice was stronger and more demanding.

Nick hesitated feeling his masters mind trying to take over his will.

LaCroix suddenly realized that his legs worked and he kicked Nicholas in the back hard, knocking him away. The stake flew from Nick's hand and clattered across the floor skidding away. He pulled himself shakily to his feet. He turned toward Nick.

j"You hesitated to long. You will die tonight Nicholas and I will have Natalie over and over again until she dies."

Nick was stunned that the cross seemed to have had no effect in stopping him from regaining his feet. He glanced to see the stake laying a few feet away. He lunged for it but LaCroix beat him to it. He moved back But LaCroix pursued him, but was hampered by new raw nerves that weren't quite healed he made a movement to plunge the stake into Nicholas but his body didn't move quite fast enough and it only pierced Nick's shoulder. The younger Vampire pulled the stake away.

"No son betrays a father this way and lives, Nicholas." LaCroix screamed, The vampire in full rage.

They fought, Nick was thrown away but managed to swing a foot up. It caught LaCroix in the neck and shocking the newly healed nerves and LaCroix went down. Nick, vampire raging, plunged the stake into LaCroix's body. The elder vampire screamed his horror and pain and lay dying." You are not my father, you never have been, You are only a monster." Nick felt the tears that burned his eyes and slipped unleashed down his cheeks.

LaCroix his hands still cuffed tried to claw at the offending object protruding from his chest. Blood bubbled out around the stake. It felt like liquid fire. "Nicholas, you are going to remove this aren't you?" he asked a bit fearful.

"No, father, I'm not. Not this time. I could have forgiven anything but not what you made Natalie endure. I have loved you with a part of my heart that nothing and no one could have changed until now. You ceased to be my friend and mentor and most of all my father when you took her so brutally. She will be scared by this the rest of her life.

He sat down on the floor to watch his master slowly die. It might take hours but he wanted to watch every minute of the torture. His heart seethed with such hate for this man.

LaCroix's face became gray and he gasped for breath. LaCroix's cries for Nick to help him got to him and he moved away covering his ears for a time. Despite what LaCroix had done Nick was no longer a cold blooded killer and this was tearing him up inside but he would not and could not relent. Letting LaCroix go would mean his and Natalie's death and he would not risk her life. He was an exterminator not a murderer. He had to believe that or he might have lost his mind.

The sun would be up soon and Nick decided he would end this one way or another. He moved back to LaCroix who opened his eyes as his son neared. "Nicholas, please, I will go away and leave you to her. I made and error an grevious mistake....'

"That's right you did." He bent slipped his hands under LaCroix's shoulder and slowly drug him across the floor until he had him before the windows. LaCroix's eyes became clouded with pain.

"I will grant you more Mercy than you gave Natalie. I will stop the pain, once and for all time."

LaCroix looked at his son hopefully, not realizing the dangers he'd been put in. "I will leave Toronto I promise Nicholas."

Nick went to raise the shades.

LaCroix watched him realizing then what was happening.... "You mean to finish this then."

"Yjes." Nick said firmly.

LaCroix cried, "I am sorry, Nicholas."

"Are you really?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, it was and atrocity, I do not know why I did it. I hurt so much over the centuries from losing Fluer, I snapped last night. I wanted to end the pain, to forget for a few hours. Retribution seemed the way."

"I do not believe that you are sorry. You know that her blood can save me...don't you. True love can destroy the vampire like it did in Janette. You hoped to spoil my love for Natalie so that it wouldn't work."

LaCroix's eyes sharpened a moment," Yes," he smiled, evily "She was taking you from me, you were my property, my son. I could not let her take you from me."

The sun was coming up a warm glow started to enter into the loft.

LaCroix looked at it, fear plain on his face. "Nicholas, I demand you close the shutters and release me."

Nick hardened his mind to LaCroix's please. "No, LaCroix this must be done to insure Natalie will be safe."

"Nicholas," he screamed as the first rays of light touched him.

Nick crawled back into a corner out of the light.

LaCroix snarled at him, "You are an ungrateful brat. I should have drained you that first night. You have been nothing but a thorn in my side......arrrgh.....she was so good Nicholas.....she responded to me....she wanted me...". his voice faded with each word.

Smoke rose from the ancient vampire in a thick cloud. "I will always be....there.... with ....her.....she wanted.....meeee." He screamed as the flames took him.

Nick felt such overwhelming pain from the broken bond that he pulled his knees up and clutched his body to himself. He looked back at the place LaCroix was and saw the ancient shimmer in the light and fade....until there was just a stinking pile of smoking clothes.

Blood tears fell un-headed down Nick's cheeks. He let his forehead come to rest on his knees and sobbed. He sat for as long as he could stand the light of the sun and then pushed the controls on the shutters and they slowly slid shut taking the pain of the light with them. He sat staring at the pile of clothing for a long time....unable to believe he had been able to do that.....it was for Natalie. He was a destroyer of evil...but he did not believe it. He had killed his father and his one time friend.....somehow he would have to live with that. He finally crawled to the refrigerator and took a bottle and drank it. His strength started to return. His injuries healed.

He made himself move. He had to get back to Natalie. He dressed in the dark black clothing he wore when he needed to drive in the sun. He knew he looked strange so he took all the back roads so he could to get back to Natalie's apartment house. Finally he drove into the parking garage and heaved a sigh of relief.

He found Grace sitting in a chair watching TV. She greeted him with a smile, "Nick, I haven't heard a peep out of Natalie. She's sleeping quite soundly."

"Did you look in on her?"

"Yes, but she was sleeping and I didn't want to disturb her."

Nick smiled, "Thanks Grace, you go home and sleep. I'll take over."

Grace nodded, put on her hat and headed out the door.

Nick smiled slightly, "At least she's not a resistor." He went into the bedroom and undressed, showered, put on the sweat pants and slipped into the bed with Natalie.

She didn't wake but snuggled up to him and whimpered.

"Shhhh, Nat. I'm here."

She turned toward him and buried her face in his chest, pulled her knees up and cried.

Nick let his own tears fall. She was so traumatized he wondered if they would ever get through this. He was feeling free and hopeful for Nat and himself. At the same time tremendously guilty for destroying LaCroix's life. His father was gone, by his own hand. He'd know for centuries now that one day he would destroy LaCroix or LaCroix would have to destroy him. It didn't make this any easier. LaCroix had been a monster yet Nick had loved him. If only they had been able to get past Fluer. Nick forcing LaCroix's to walk away from his sister had started the spiral to destruction that had ended today. Had he been wrong. Would Fluer have saved LaCroix with her blood. Since Fluer's death so few years after they'd left her that fateful night Nick had regretted making LaCroix leave her. He'd seen the pain and loneliness LaCroix had faced. After Fluer's death LaCroix had become bitter and angry. Possessive to a fault.

Nick caressed Natalie's face, the bruises where a bit paler and the swelling was down. He kissed her eye lids and mouth and felt her respond, and her sobs stopped. Her arms slid around him and she responded eagerly. "Nick, you're here. I thought it was a dream."

"Natalie, I am here. I will never leave you again."

Her eyes opened and she searched his face, "What did you do?"

"I destroyed a monster." He admitted.

Her eyes widened, "How?"

"We fought, I staked him and then dragged him into the sun."

She looked over his chest and saw a slight redness where the stake had pierced his shoulder. She ran her fingers gently over the spot. "You were hurt?"

"Yes," he rolled on his back pulling her with him. Holding her close, "Its over Nat. He can't hurt either one of us again."

"Your wrong Nick," she said with tears running down her face. "Every time I close my eyes I feel him here with me."

He held her tightly, "I know Nat, I know, but we will make his image fade with our own memories and one day he will be gone."

"How did he die, Nick. How?"

"You don't really want to know." His body shuddered, as he remembered LaCroix slipping down into his arms, of the look of bewilderment and betrayal on his face.

Natalie caressed his face and kissed him, then she held him close and they cried together. They finally fell asleep in each other's arms. Natalie had now slept a good part of two days and was starving when she woke up. She went and relieved herself and took a quick warm shower to help relieve the pain and stiffness in her body. She scrubbed herself hard and still felt him with her. The swelling on her face was nearly gone and the bruises on her breasts was green now. Natalie could bare to look at herself now.

She dressed and went into the bedroom and looked down at Nick. The pillowcase had dried blood tears on it. Yet his face was flawless the blood must have reabsorbed into his skin. They both had scars from that monster. She went to the kitchen and fed Sidney and got herself some food. She held the large cat close after they'd eaten enjoying his warmth.

She was so amazed and thankful to have Nick with her, to share her bed with him. She was glad LaCroix was gone for good, but would knowing that help her? She could still feel his hands and his tongue taking the blood from her face. She put Sydney down and went back to bed. She snuggled up next to Nick and he drew her close. She was content to stay there for right now. This was the only place in the world right now that she could feel safe. Sleep took her again.

The next two weeks they stayed in the apartment. They slept and ate and just held each other and cried. Some time they talked about how they felt deep into the night. Nick had supplies sent over and he kept well feed so that Natalie's constant companionship wouldn't stir up the beast inside him. Many Nights or days Natalie would wake screaming for Nick, screaming out the pain and rage she had against LaCroix. On this particular night it was so real.......

Natalie tried to move her hands and found them tied rough hands needed and twisted her flesh, she tried to get away and couldn't. She thrashed against the cords that bound her, against the weight that held her down and the hands and body that violated her......She woke screaming "Nick, oh God, Nick help me...!!!!"

"Nat, Nat, I'm here, your safe. Your okay. He held her close and she clung to him.

"Nick, Oh God, Nick, I feel his hands, his body pressing against mine....please Nick, Please make love to me. Please give me new memories of love and gentleness, please Nick." She pleaded with him.

She curled up against his chest and he held her very close. He found he wanted her as much as she wanted him. He tilted her face up toward him and kissed her gently. His arms slid around her neck and body and he drew her close to him. He knew no matter how much he wanted to just take her that he would have to go slow and be very gentle. He was determined to make this a wonderful experience to dull the pain of her last physical encounter. He turned his attention to her gently probing her lips with his tongue and she opened her mouth eagerly and their tongues explored and caressed each other. She tasted sweet and spicy. He drew her gown off with his hands and caressed her newly healed flesh, gently touching her breasts and smoothing the recently injured skin. She was so beautiful.

"Nat, I will have to take your blood. I will see what happened to you and you will see how LaCroix died. What I did to him." He caressed her lips in between his words.

"I need to see how that Bastard died. I need to see it, Nick." With trembling hands they took his sweat pants off and their bodies entwined.

Natalie gasped with the pleasure of feeling Nick's desire hard against her stomach. She arched her back a bit so Nick could suckle at her breasts. He was so gentle so tender. They carefully explored each other, caressing and tasting each other's flesh.

Nat said, "No matter what Nick, please know I love you. He made my body respond but he could not make my heart respond. Please Nick remember if I fight you, it's not you Nick, but him and the vision of him. You must take my blood Nick, you must show me." She said breathlessly between kisses.

"Alright, Nat."

Nick rolled her on her back and she readied herself to join with him. She took his large erect member in her hand and caressed its length. Nick groaned with pleasure. "Natalie," he moaned.

"Take me Nick, please take me." She guided him toward her inner warmth. Very carefully he pressed himself into her.

He moaned with pleasure as he buried himself deeply into her. He stayed there a moment to see if she would stop him. He was amazed at his control. He knew it was because he was more concerned for her well being than he was about his pleasure of her. He gently withdrew and thrust. She smiled up into his face and he gained strength and desire from her pleasure. He began to increase his thrusting and got into a rhythm. He felt her hands on his buttocks.

She cried out, "Faster, Nick, harder." She urged him.

Nick didn't let himself become mindless with pleasure but he was only too glad to accommodate her needs. They thrust at each other. Nick plunged into her inner core. Natalie clung to him feeling such pleasure and desire. She urged him to go faster.

He increased his rhythm and she wrapped her legs around him crying out with pleasure. Her body building toward orgasm. One so amazing and so powerful it made all other experiences pale. She was where she was meant to be. Here in Nick's arms, here sheathing him inside her. She saw his eyes go amber and she turned her neck and cried out his name, "Nick, take me!"

He struck burying his fangs into the soft flesh at her neck. She felt him orgasm inside her even as her body reached its climax. Suddenly she froze and images of LaCroix's death assaulted her. She saw Nick seeing the torture the monster had put her through. She screamed as the images came back to her. His hands, his mouth, his body possessing her.

The filthy words he'd spoken to Nick as he'd died. They both screamed their pain and the enormous pleasure their bodies were taking together overrode the pain and washed it away. There was only their love for each other, their devotion and the incredible pleasure.

Nick pulled his fangs from Natalie's neck licking the wounds closed. He covered her mouth with his kissing her deeply even as the last of his seed pumped into her.

They kissed deeply holding each other tightly, gasping for breath between kisses. Natalie's heart pounded against Nick's chest.

Nick started to move away but Natalie held him tightly to her not wanting to break that precious connection they had. Nick caressed her face with his nose, "Are you okay?" he asked huskily.

"Oh yes.....better than okay..." she snuggled against him smiling her eyes filled with love.

He laid his cheek against hers. "That was amazing, Natalie. I was in control the whole time. Even when the vampire appeared."

"I know," she laughed out her joy at his triumph. She let him go now and he rolled to the side drawing her with him so she could lean against his chest looking down into his face.

"Thank you, Nick. Thank you for loving me....and for showing me what happened."

She saw a cloud pass over his eyes at he mention of what happened.

"I was right to destroy him Nat, after what he did to you."

She stopped him with a kiss, "Lets talk about it tomorrow. Right now I just want you to hold me."

Nick pulled her closer, "Alright, whatever my lady wants." He knew now no matter what they had to work out, they would get through it together and eventually Natalie's love would change him. They would be able to walk in the sun and have children. He knew finally he had the faith in the universal God and love. He had them all. He kissed Natalie's forehead and felt her smile against his chest, "I love you Natalie."

"I love you, Nick," she whispered as sleep over took them.

The end