Halloween. The night of myth and legend turned into an evening of frolic and games. A night for common humans to reveal the monsters and princesses that linger beneath the surface. The night for demons and devils to show their true colors.
"Oh, come on Nick. It's just one night," Natalie pleaded.
"Nat, it's too risky. I mean, what if the Enforcers find out?"
"They won't," Natalie assured him. "There won't be anyone there to tell them. I mean, Tracy will be gone and Vachon wouldn't be there without her. Who else could possibly rat you out?"
"Okay," Nick succumbed to her pleading. "But only tonight. Never again."
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Leave it to Captain Reese to throw an incredible Halloween party, in the police station, no less. With exception for several officers and some unfestive detectives, every member of the precinct was present.
Reese occasionally mingled, receiving many compliments on his Zorro costume. He had to thank his wife for the idea, but at the moment she was busy chatting with the tiger formerly known as Officer Crane.
Just as he began to wonder where the hell Detective Knight was, a crowd began to form around the front door. Reese walked over to find Dr. Lambert stroll in, wearing a flowing white Victorian dress that complimented her figure perfectly. Her long auburn hair was upswept in a tight bun with tendrils framing her face. Reese believed that she had never looked prettier.
Following her was Knight, black cape flowing behind him. He wore a pair of jet- black pants and a charcoal silk shirt. To continue the Victorian illusion, he wore a black top hat and in his right hand he carried a gold-headed cane. What finished his outfit was the fake fangs and colored contacts.
"How perfect," thought Reese. "A vampire and his victim."
The couple moved through the crowd, smiling as they received praise on their costumes and pats on the back for their wonderful portrayal of the classic movie characters. Natalie, being the ham that she is, made it a point to mock faint, and Nick, being the seasoned actor that he is, made a big show in catching her. A huge round of applause followed them as they headed toward the punch bowl.
"Great choice, you two," Reese said as he approached them. "Especially you, Knight, with your reputation."
Nick gave the captain a huge grin, fangs and all. "Thanks Captain, but it was Natalie's idea."
"I figured so much." Reese looked Nick over. "Where did you find such old-fashioned clothing?"
"Stuff from my grandparents' attic," Natalie interrupted. "Fortunately, Nick wears the same size that my great grandfather wore."
"The fangs and eyes?" the captain asked.
"A small magic shop at the edge of town. The fangs mold to you teeth."
"They look difficult to talk with," Reese observed.
"Sometimes they are," Nick quirked.
The captain smiled. "Okay then. You two have fun now." With that, he walked off.
"I can't believe you talked me into this," Nick mumbled to Nat.
"Oh, be quiet," Nat slapped him on the chest. "Everyone thinks they're fake fangs and colored contacts. No one knows that they're real. So, enjoy yourself." She then walked off to mingle.
Nick then became the center of attention. Many people, especially females, came over to see Nick, commenting on how real the fangs looked and how they couldn't see the edges of the contacts. One couple commented that he truly looked the part. To humor them, Nick brandished his best French accent and turned to them.
"But I am, madam and monsieur," he said. "Very much so."
Everyone chucked and strolled off. Nick took his brief moment of freedom to grab a glass of punch and to bring it to Natalie.
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Unfortunately, no one noticed that the punch was heavily spiked. Four hours later, everyone, excluding Nick, was pretty smashed. He and Natalie were dancing on the makeshift dance floor, the beat of YMCA playing on the overhead PA system. Several officers were standing on a desk, imitating the Village People. Everyone laughed when one of them fell off the desk. Ironically, it was the one dressed as the cop. He quickly stood up, brushed himself off, and then, for some reason, dropped his pants. Roars of laughter continued as he got back onto the desk and picked up the beat again with his friends.
The music kept playing as Nick went to get Natalie another drink. He thought that she had drank enough, but she insisted. He was actually having a great time, so he didn't want to ruin the good mood by arguing.
Fortunately, the fascination with his costume had worn off. Every once in a while, someone came over for one final look, but they never stayed long. Nick had considered going back to his normal form, but Natalie had said that is would ruin the effect. Besides, what would happen if someone asked to see his "fake" fangs?
Nick picked up a glass of punch and turned back to Natalie, only to see some other guy attempting to "dance" with her. It was more like clinging to her. Nat was trying to push him away, but was failing miserably.
Nick's protective instinct clicked in. He slammed down the cup and stormed over. He grabbed the guy's shoulders from behind, using a little too much strength. The guy spun around to face Nick, who didn't recognize the intruder. Probably someone's date from another precinct.
"What the hell do you want?" the man asked the vampire who stood before him.
"It's not what I want. I think she wants you to leave her alone," Nick replied, grabbing Natalie's hand and pulling her toward him.
"What are you, her father?" the guy remarked. "Mister Big-Bad-Vampire?"
"Look, we'll just leave," Natalie said, slurring her speech a little.
She and Nick started to walk for the door. Just as the music changed to "Kung-Foo Fighting," someone yelled, "Jim, don't!" Nick then got slammed in the side of the head with a hard right punch. Nick turned to face his attacker and stepped toward him, but Natalie grabbed his arm.
"Nick, let's just go, okay? This isn't the place," she said, looking around.
Nick sighed, nodded, and continued to walk with Natalie to the door. He didn't tell her that Jim was following them out. Hopefully, they would make it to her car before he faced a confrontation.
As Natalie put her key in the door, Nick spun around just as Jim rushed him and slammed him into the car. Nick pushed him off, barely remembering to use mortal strength. Nick looked behind Jim to see four of the man's friends watching to see if Jim would take down Knight.
Nick wouldn't let that happen.
As Jim swung a sharp left, Nick caught his fist, holding it still and applying pressure. Jim's face contorted in pain, and just as he was about to fall to his knees, he brought up his right leg and kicked Nick in the groin. Nick released Jim's hand and doubled over, eyes squeezed shut, and he groaned in agony.
Natalie tried to rush to his side, but Jim's friends held her back. "It's better not to get involved," one of them told her.
Jim stood over Nick. "You know, I almost thought that you would beat me," he told Nick. "That would be a first." Jim checked to see who was watching then turned to his friends. "Grab the girl and let's go."
"What about him?" one of his friends asked, pointing at Nick.
"He can't do anything to us," Jim chuckled. "He's just like the others." Jim walked over to his friends, and they started to walk off, dragging a struggling Natalie behind them.
"Not like the others," came Nick's voice from behind them.
They spun around to watch Nick slowly rise from the ground and snap his eyes open. His normal vampiric green eyes were now changed to a furious red. "Let her go," he demanded.
Jim laughed. "What are you going to do when I don't?"
"Wrong question," Natalie said.
Nick charged right at Jim and threw him into the brick wall of the police station. Nick pinned Jim to the wall by squeezing Jim's neck between the wall and his arm.
Jim quickly looked at Nick's eyes, and then started laughing. "You're really lost in the part. I mean, color-change contacts and moldable fangs. Please." John scoffed. He reached up to pinch one of Nick's fangs. "Let's break the illusion, shall we?"
He tried to pull out Nick's fang. When it didn't budge, Jim concentrated harder and gave it a better try. His smile slowly vanished from his face. Suddenly, Jim's fingers slipped, and Nick's fang sliced Jim's thumb.
Jim pulled back his fingers in pain and watched as Nick traced the line of Jim's blood on his fang with his tongue.
"Oh, shit!" Jim cried, a look of dread on his face.
Nick smiled a sly, devilish grin then grabbed Jim by the throat and lifted him off his feet. One of Jim's friends screamed and they all ran off, leaving Natalie by herself. After they were gone, Nick lifted Jim above his head and, with a ferocious roar, threw Jim about twenty feet away from himself and Nat.
Jim landed with a thud in a dark alleyway. Nick turned to Natalie. "Get in the car," he hissed. When she complied, he faced Jim's direction again and headed into the alley.
Originally, he only intended on hypnotizing Jim, making him forget about the entire conflict. But then he remembered Jim's word: "He's just like the others." How many people had he done this to? Nick's rage returned full force. He had to put a stop to this. Against his better judgement, he called for Natalie to drive away, even though she had drunk a little too much. He waited until he knew that she had driven off.
As he walked down the alley, he couldn't see Jim's body, but he could hear his heartbeat.
"I know you're hiding," he called to Jim. His eyes glowed with a more intense red. When he had first tasted Jim's blood, the beast inside had been aggravated, and it was yearning for more. Since he was already in his vampire form, he possessed less control over his urges. Nick hoped that Jim had a chance to get away before he got a hold of him, but Nick hated to admit that he secretly wanted a chance to get at Jim.
Suddenly, Jim jumped out from behind a dumpster with a gun in his hand. He aimed it at Nick. "I don't know who you are, but you're not getting anywhere near me again."
With that, he pulled the trigger.