A/N: This chapter concerns Natalie's memories of meeting Carlo and how they formed their bargain.

Chapter 10

After Eric left, Natalie decided on something to wear and laid down. But, her mind refused to rest. He was still much too curious about her, she thought. Even if he didn't press her for answers. Natalie didn't remember promising to not keep things from him. Of course, he assumed that was part of the bargain, but he had failed to spell that out beforehand, hadn't he? She was well hidden and safe for now, so there wasn't any reason to keep on running. Perhaps, the king would come to believe her to have met the true death and stop searching for her. The longer she stayed under the radar the better. Now, whether she decided to stay as long as that Viking assumed that she would was another matter.

Her thoughts mused over vampires. Since before recorded history there had probably been vampires or vampire-like creatures. Nearly every culture had some type of myth or legend about blood-drinking creatures that were usually described as some kind of demon, since the term 'vampire' wasn't even popularly used until the early 18th century. The ancient Persians were one of the first civilizations to have tales of blood-drinking demons and creatures attempting to drink blood from men were depicted on excavated pottery shards. Ancient Babylonia and Assyria had tales of mythological lilitu, synonymous with and giving rise to Lilith. The ancient Greeks had the Lamia, who feasted on children at night in their beds and sucked out their blood. And the Estries who were female vampires of Hebrew mythology. Carlo had come from that ancient time before the word vampire was used to describe what he was. Of course, Carlo was just one name of hundreds that he had used. Cyrus and Kamran were some other names he was known by when the Persian empire still held sway. He had been of royal lineage and had been attacked and turned amidst the chaos of warfare. Battlefields were the hunting grounds of vampires with easy prey readily available. But, the vampire who had found Carlo had turned him instead of just draining him for dinner. And so Carlo had begun his long undead life.

Natalie knew when the sun rose over the horizon and closed her eyes and fell asleep. But, her sleep was troubled and restless. She found herself remembering how her path had crossed with Carlo in the first place. It seemed as if she stepped into a page from her past and that she was reliving the last part of her human life.

Natalie sat in a small room off an elaborate foyer. This must be the place they put people when they don't know where else to put them, she thought. It contained a small settee that faced a window, through which Natalie stared out. But though her eyes looked out the window, her mind was somewhere else. Sean was home after another round of chemotherapy. She should be home with him, but the lure of a paying job and some income was too tempting to pass up. Sean's illness had depleted most of their savings even with insurance picking up a sizable chunk of the bills. Of course, he had been battling acute myeloid leukemia, called AML for short, for almost two years now. The five year survival rate for AML was 40% and unfortunately Sean looked like he was falling into the other 60%. She had watched the vibrant and energetic Sean become a shadow of his former self as his illness progressed. Rounds of chemotherapy that seemed as bad as the illness itself had taken their toll on him. They had been college sweethearts and had gotten married once they both finished their degrees. They set up house and believed in a happy future as if it had been their right. And for a brief time, they had been blissfully happy. Days spent at work and nights spent in each others arms. And then Sean had gotten sick. It seemed like the flu, but he didn't get better. Days became weeks and still he was rundown and tired. Natalie finally insisted that he see a doctor. A simple check for anemia had revealed the source of Sean's mysterious illness. From the moment that she had heard the word 'leukemia' Natalie's world had never been the same and each day was lived in fear. Natalie had thought that she would grow old with Sean. Now, their time together was metered out in much smaller allotments. A door opened, dragging Natalie away from her thoughts about Sean. She stood up and held her portfolio tightly.

"His Majesty will see you, now," said a tall, thin man.

Or vampire, thought Natalie, since she couldn't tell the difference. She followed him into a large room. She had expected to be shown to a study or an office, but she was led into a comfortable sitting room. A fire was burning in an old and lovely fireplace and before it stood a vampire. He was facing the fire and Natalie could see that he was wearing a casual, but expensive and tailored suit. He turned around to greet her and she saw a handsome man with dark hair and large brown eyes.

"Mrs. Ryan," he said. "Welcome, please take a seat."

"It's Evans, actually," said Natalie.

"Oh, you didn't take your husband's name?" he asked.

Natalie paused and considered how to answer that and said, "No, I guess I thought that I was too modern a woman for that practice."

"Well, a name is just a name," he replied.

He motioned to the sofa and Natalie took a seat. She moved her portfolio to the coffee table. She was working at photography right now. Doing portraits paid the bills, but she loved to capture more interesting objects with her lens. She found that she saw things from behind the lens of a camera that her eyes just didn't notice and she loved finding those hidden treasures.

"I brought some samples of my work for you to look over, Your Majesty," said Natalie.

When she opened the portfolio, she was surprised when the vampire took a seat next to her. Slender and graceful fingers reached out and examined her photographs. He paused when he reached a selection of photographs that Natalie had taken of young club goers. Their smiles and poses set off a an eccentric collection of outfits. She saw his mouth twitch in a smile. He moved through her photos again and this time paused at a series of portraits that she had taken at the cancer center. Raw pain, tempered with strength gazed out from the eyes of some of her subjects. Acceptance or hopelessness were reflected in the eyes of others.

"Your work is very powerful, Natalie," he said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," began Natalie.

"It's just Carlo," he replied.

"Um, Carlo, I'm very flattered about being personally requested, but I'm not exactly sure what it is that you want me to do," said Natalie.

"My home is being featured in an upcoming article," said Carlo. "But, I don't want the typical photographs of lifeless furniture and antiques. This is an old home and I believe that it has presence or personality of it's own. I want you to capture that."

"I see," replied Natalie, dubiously.

Carlo smiled and said, "Your work that you brought for me to see is beautiful, even the ones that illustrate sorrow. If anyone can bring a heart to this home, you can."

Natalie looked down and said, "Then, I graciously accept, Your Majesty."

"I understand that you have other obligations," said Carlo.

Natalie looked up in surprise and he added, "My sincerest wishes for your husband's health."

"Thank you," replied Natalie.

"So, you have complete flexibility to complete your work. You have been given full admittance to the house and grounds," said Carlo. "Just call my secretary before coming."

Natalie began putting her pictures away, but Carlo put his finger on one and held it down.

"This one is your husband, is it not?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Natalie.

She gazed at the photograph. It showed Sean after all his beautiful hair had fallen out. His eyes were slightly sunken and rimmed with dark circles. Yet, he gazed fiercely out of those eyes and they gave testament to his will to endure.

"He's a fighter," said Carlo.

"I've never seen anyone fight harder," softly said Natalie.

"Perhaps, he has something worth fighting for," replied Carlo.

Natalie scooped up the picture and put it away with the others. She stood up and Carlo did as well. He took her hand in his and Natalie couldn't help but notice how cool his fingers were. He surprised her by leaning down and kissing the top of her hand. It was such an old-fashioned gesture, she thought.

"Goodbye, Natalie," he said.

Natalie nodded and hurried out of the room.

And so began her acquaintance with Carlo. Her work had been recommended to him by someone who had seen an exhibition of her photographs. It was the custom to have everyone investigated before allowing them access to the mansion, so that had been how Carlo knew about her situation. Carlo made a point to getting to know her when she came to work on the photographs. Finally, she had met with him to deliver the finished product. He looked through them and praised her creativity. They were very good, she thought, not without a little pride.

"Excellent work," he said from behind his desk.

"Thank you," said Natalie.

"It's a such a shame about your husband's illness. He is so young," said Carlo.

Natalie looked down, not really wanting to discuss this topic with him.

"That is one thing about being a vampire, one never has to worry about sickness," said Carlo.

"That must be a relief," replied Natalie.

"Yes. Our blood has remarkable healing properties as well," he said.

Natalie looked up at that comment, but he didn't elaborate any further. Natalie decided that it was time to leave.

"Don't hesitate to call on me, Natalie," he said. "If there is any way that I can help you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," replied Natalie who quickly left.

But though she left, his words stayed with her, as he had known that they would. She went home and took care of Sean. And the days became weeks and weeks became months. And just when they had begun to hope again, Sean became gravely ill again. Sean who had fought so bravely before, decided that he didn't want to go through another bout of chemotherapy. He had finally chosen to accept his fate. Natalie who had been there with him every day understood his reasons. And though she cared for him and did her best to comfort him, inside she fell into a pit of despair. With little options left to her, she returned to visit Carlo and that thread of hope that he had given her.

She sat in his study and stared across his huge ornate desk at him.

"I'm sorry to come on such short terms, Your Majesty," she said.

"It's Carlo, and you're always welcome," he replied. "In fact, I have missed seeing you."

"I...I have another reason for seeing you," Natalie said. "I don't know another way to say this, so I will just come out with it. Did you mean what you said about vampire blood being able to heal?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Were you offering to help me?" asked Natalie.

Carlo sat for a moment and Natalie added, "If I am speaking out of turn, then forgive me. But, if you could help my husband, I would do anything to repay you."

"I wish my nature was as selfless as your's," replied Carlo. "You shame me, Natalie."

Carlo looked down and Natalie began to cry. In a flash, he was beside her and pulled her into his arms. Normally, Natalie would not be so familiar with someone like him, but she found herself feeling comforted within his arms.

"A life for a life," said Carlo. "That is the usual price for such an intervention."

"You...you want to kill me?" asked Natalie, unable to stop from trembling.

Carlo gently sat her back in her seat and handed her an tissue. He looked down into her frightened eyes.

"No, not exactly," he said. "I want you to become my child, a vampire, and in return I will cure your husband of his leukemia. I will treat you gently and as a daughter. And I wouldn't turn you for several years if you desire to wait. Years that could be spent with your husband."

Natalie wiped at her eyes and looked back at Carlo and said, "I don't know much about vampires, but I do know that what you are offering is considered an honor, especially from someone of your distinction. Why do you want me in that way?"

"You are special and I have grown to admire you," said Carlo. "Perhaps, you should take some time and think over my offer."

"There is no later, not for Sean," she replied.

"Very well," he said. "Do we have an agreement?"

"Yes," said Natalie, even though her stomach twisted in knots.

He lifted his receiver and hit a button.

"Yes, send me an insulated drinking container," he said.

In a matter a minutes, a servant appeared with the container and Carlo dropped his fangs. Natalie had never seen them before and she flinched back. As she watched, he bit into his wrist and two jets of blood flowed into the container. He filled it until his wrist stopped bleeding and then closed the container and handed to Natalie who gingerly took it from his hands.

"Make sure that he drinks all of it," he said.

"And this is it?" she asked.

"His leukemia will be cured, as by our agreement," he said.

Natalie gazed into his eyes and for the first time she was afraid of him. She hurried out of the study and raced home. Thank goodness, Sean couldn't see what was in the container, she thought. So, Natalie had forced Sean to drink it, telling him that it was some homeopathic remedy to ease his fatigue.

Sean went to bed, sick and dying, and he woke up cured. It was a miracle, proclaimed his doctors. Rounds of repeat testing only confirmed that Sean's leukemia had vanished. He was his old self again and in the days and weeks that passed, Natalie couldn't have been happier. Every day was a gift and they spent it together. Every night was a means to physically express the love that they bore each other. They made love to each other with a passion that seemed to grow stronger every time. She had not thought it possible, but she felt her love for Sean grow deeper. And slowly, she began to forget about that promise to Carlo. Why worry about some far off future when the present was so wonderful?

And then, her world came crashing down. After a doctor's check up, Sean stepped into a crosswalk and was struck by a truck who's brakes had failed. He was killed instantly. Natalie was devastated. She had thought that he was safe and that they once again had all the time in the world. But, it was as if fate refused to be cheated out of his death and had found another way to take him from her. She had gone through the motions at the funeral. To be honest, she barely remembered it, since her grief was so overpowering that she wasn't sure if she was coming or going. She stayed home and didn't leave the house afterwards. She stopped going into work. She stopped answering the phone because she couldn't cope with people calling to see how she was doing.

It was then that Carlo had called on her at home. She had answered the door in her robe and pajamas.

He stared at her a long moment and Natalie chose to look down at her feet.

"I was worried about you, Natalie," he said.

"Oh, I'm fine," she replied.

"You don't look fine," he said.

"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but is there a point to this?" asked Natalie.

"Yes, Natalie, it's time for you to move into the mansion and fulfill your obligation," said Carlo.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, but the fact remains that you made a deal with me," he replied. "And I fulfilled my part of it."

"But, surely you can't expect me to honor that arrangement," she said. "The only reason that I agreed to that deal is gone, taken from me."

He gazed at her with a pained expression and said, "I am sorry. But, I do expect you to comply. I only expect you to move in at this time."

"No, I refuse," Natalie said. "You can't make me."

"But, I can, Dearest Natalie," said Carlo.

Natalie had gripped her robe in fear and felt hot tears stinging her eyes.

"I...I don't want to be seen like this," she said. "Give me a few days to prepare myself."

"Very well," said Carlo. "In two days time, my driver will come and pick you and your things up."

He added, "I am sorry about Sean."

The next day, Natalie had cleaned her home. She got her meager affairs in order. She sat down with a glass of wine and looked through her wedding album. And then, she had taken a kitchen knife and sliced her wrists open. She found that she couldn't spend a few weeks without Sean. How could she be expected to spend all eternity without him? That vampire couldn't hold her to her promise. As she began to grow drowsy, she vaguely remembered someone banging on her front door. And that was the last thing she remembered until she woke up in the void which may or may not have been a figment of her imagination. Carlo had found her and decided to finish the process that she had started. Perhaps, he felt that she might succeed some other time and cheat him out of his due.

Natalie tossed and awoke from her restless thoughts. She knew that the sun was still up, but she got up and put on her thin robe. She left her room and moved to the seating area and turned on the television. Her thoughts once again returned back to her last moments as a human. Of course, she realized now that she had been clinically depressed and Carlo's insistence that she comply with their bargain had tipped her over the edge. She wasn't normally suicidal. And surprisingly, she hadn't considered ending this new life. She missed Sean, but she still carried a piece of him in her heart. Maybe that piece was all that there was left of him.

Natalie fell back into the cushions. She had dwelled on the past enough for one day. She had plenty of time to think over what Carlo had done to her. Was it part of the bond that made her want to forgive him? At least, she wasn't tethered to another vampire like that, now. No one could command her or had an inside track on what went on inside her head. And she planned on keeping it that way.