CHAPTER 10: A Change in the Wind.

Nick and LaCroix left Eris' manor as quickly as they could, the very second in which the sun had set and all the while, Nick was inundated with his masters' sense of defeat and irritation. He knew from experience that the older vampire was already thinking of how to revenge himself on Eris and her children.

"We can't just kill her," Nick said to him as they neared the house. He was very much afraid that LaCroix would do something drastic and, knowing him, dramatic, to send out a message; a message that screamed 'do not mess with Lucien LaCroix.'

"And why not? Do you have any idea how many vampires she's killed? She almost killed you, and she would've killed me; we're due a little revenge, Nicholas," LaCroix replied calmly.

"Maybe it would be better if we just went somewhere else, there's plenty of..."

"Why would we do that?" LaCroix scoffed, "To leave now would be to admit defeat; I personally have invested too much - including, my blood now, to even contemplate the idea; shame on you, Nicholas."

"I just..."

"How many times over the years have we moved to another vampires territory? This is not the only time I've had to deal with petulant children in over their heads; they need to be taught that lands exchange hands."

"Not all of the others had strange killing...things...under their control," Nick pointed out.

"No, but she has still lost."

"We hope."

"I don't hope; I know. I killed the creature myself."

"How can you kill something like that?" the younger vampire asked.

"Like everything else, go back to basics and tear its head from its neck."

"Hm," Nick scoffed, suddenly remembering what 'Spike' had told him, in his youthful wisdom.

"What?" LaCroix demanded.

"Nothing," Nick shook his head ruefully as they entered the house. "Why did we come if you knew there was someone like her here?" he asked.

"You think this was my fault?" LaCroix hissed instantly.

"No..." Nick said quietly.

"Well, good, because if you hadn't acted without thinking - again - she wouldn't have been given such an opportunity to act! You practically handed her your life on a silver platter!"

"I didn't..."

"You didn't think! I know! It's honestly a wonder you're still alive as it is," LaCroix sighed. "Does your desire to live only manifest itself when you're a second from death?"

"Well, I..." Nick frowned; he couldn't finish his sentence because he knew LaCroix was right. He had stupidly, run right into danger without thinking, and he did think about how much he actually wanted to live right when he thought he was going to die. Just as he had done when he'd nearly been fried to a crisp the other day in his own room, and again when Eris and her 'delightful' children had all but drained him dry, and now he was struck by just how strange it was.

Nick didn't want to admit that LaCroix was right...but he was, "...I'm sorry," he said after a minute, "You're right...I didn't think..."

"..." LaCroix opened his mouth to speak but he was so taken aback and surprised by Nick's admission that for one of few times in his long life, he found that words just escaped him. He watched as Nick walked across the living room and poured two full glasses, then he held one out for LaCroix to take from him.

The general took the glass with a steady hand as he regarded his son curiously, but he was still lost for words. Where was his sons' unwavering stubbornness? Why was he admitting that he was wrong so easily? Usually, Nick refused to admit that LaCroix was right purely because of his pride, but now, here he was apologising to his father...And all it had taken was two near death experiences, not that he wanted Nick to have two near death experiences, but still, it was a welcome change.

"So...what are you planning?" Nick asked him.

"Planning?" LaCroix spoke aloud, lost still in thought. He blinked and stared down at the liquid in the wine glass he held, and he swirled the blood around the sides of the sparking crystal.

"Yes, planning," Nick said, "You do have a plan don't you?"

"I always have a plan," the older vampire said with condescension.

"Well, what is it?"

"I'm afraid you need to prove to me that you are not suicidal to hear that, Nicholas," LaCroix replied stoically.

Nick rolled his eyes, "I'm not," he frowned.

"Do forgive me if I don't take your word for it just yet," the Roman vampire said and Nick thought it best not to argue the point and avoid further angering his master, so he said nothing further.

To Nick, each second passed agonisingly slowly and he could feel LaCroix's irritation and derision at his previous action rising off the man in waves and he could practically see the cogs turning in his mind. He knew LaCroix was planning the most devastating defeat for Eris and her children, and he just hoped that it wouldn't involve their brutal, and public murders.

Fortunately for Nick, it wasn't exactly murder that LaCroix was planning. He wanted Eris' defeat to be as humiliating and as devastating as possible, and simply leaving her and her children to rot in their own basement simply didn't fit the description. Unlike him, he couldn't get to Eris through her children; he cared about what happen to Nicholas, but Eris didn't care about what befell her own fledglings. When Nick was injured and close to death, LaCroix felt it deep in his blood and a powerful, primal response was quick to take over as it had before. But he could murder Luca and Amelia right in front of her and she wouldn't feel a thing.

No, it simply wasn't enough to kill them in an attempt to crush her spirit, he would need to strike at Eris herself, in front of the entire vampire community to obliterate her reputation. As a General, LaCroix knew that there were many different fates worse than death, and total humiliation was one of them, if done right. Eris, like him, was proud to the point of arrogance and so a damning defeat was what LaCroix had in mind for her.

Eris awoke, instantly fuelled with anger and rage boiling in her blood. She was weak and irritated and her foul mood was only worsened when she saw that she was shut up in her own basement and she felt weak as a newborn kitten. She felt tired and she needed blood; lots and lots of blood. Eris' temper didn't improve when she found he two fledglings lying unconscious beside her.

"Get up!" she ordered her children sternly, and kicked them with the toe of her boot. "Get up!" she repeated, her eyes flashing red.

"Mmm," Luca winced as he opened his eyes.

"Ow...my head..." Amelia groaned.

"Quiet! As soon as the sun is gone, get out there and find them!" Eris growled instantly.

"Why do we have to..." Luca began to ask nervously.

"Don't question me!" Eris yelled, "I don't care what it takes!"

"But...maybe we..." Luca said, but Eris backhanded him before he could continue. The force she used was so great that the sound echoed in the room and he was left with a fierce red welt on his face.

"I said do not question me," she hissed, "You are both weak."

"We were attacked," Amelia frowned.

"And so was I, that doesn't mean I'm going to give up!" Eris said, "I will not allow him to win," she added and began throwing her weight at the door as her children sighed - one more so than the other.

When night fell once more, it brought with it two Enforcers who flew silently through the darkness and, without invitation, they entered the house of LaCroix. They lurked in the shadows of the living room as LaCroix held their gaze with anger in his eyes.

Nick spun around and narrowed his eyes as the two cruel looking Enforcers stalked into the room, flawlessly bringing with them an air of superciliousness and condescension as they moved with a predatory gait. They hissed at Nick as though in disgust and deepest hatred. Nick began to hiss back, but knowing how powerful these vampires were, and remembering the consequences of what would happen if he were to provoke and attack, he stopped.

LaCroix on the other hand, flew towards them, "How dare you come here?!" he yelled and they both bared their fangs menacingly at him. "I warned you once already about..." the General began a second later in a more civil tone of voice.

"We do not take 'warnings' from you," one of the Enforcers said.

"I suggest you leave..."

"Be silent," the same vampire hissed at him, and they then turned their attentions to Nick.

"You will stay away from mortals," the vampire ordered.

"You will not attempt to live like them," the other said, "We will not allow it."

"How did you...you've been watching me...all this time?" Nick furrowed his brow. So not only did he have LaCroix on his back, the Enforcers were also watching his every move; Nick was not amused.

"You cause trouble," one of the Enforcers said.

"You threaten our secrecy," the other vampire added.

"It's not me going around killing vampires!" he retaliated, "You should be watching Eris, not me!"

"She is not our concern."

"Not your 'concern'," Nick scoffed, "If she keeps going, she'll be the one revealing vampires to the whole world!" he said confidently, "You do know she's had a pet monster killing our kind for the past few centuries?"

The Enforcers said nothing as they glared at Nick and bared their fangs at him in a show of hatred. "And unless you make sure it's dead, she'll keep on killing vampires, and then people will start getting suspicious...is that what you want?" Nick continued.

"Your only concern is to maintain our secrecy," the first Enforcer said after a minute.

"We will be watching," the second said, before they flew off leaving a tense silence in their wake.

"...Well, that was helpful," Nick sighed frustratedly.

"What did you expect?" LaCroix shrugged. He knew how unhelpful the Enforcers were from recent experience but at least they didn't despise him like they did Nick. "They may be rather stupid, but they are tenacious. I already spoke to them about her and they paid me just as little attention; it is unlikely to change no matter who tells them. And you have been a thorn in their side before, so..."

"...You knew they were watching me...didn't you? Why didn't you tell me?" Nick turned to his master.

"It seemed rather counterproductive," LaCroix shrugged.

"Counterproductive," Nick repeated.

"Yes, if I had told you from the first second you would have rushed head first into danger and tried to confront them; one does not confront the Enforcers," LaCroix said.

"You still should've told me."

"A matter of opinion," the older vampire replied quickly and Nick sighed. It was this attitude of his master that prevented him from fully trusting LaCroix, and always had done in the past; this attitude that liked to keep Nick in the dark simply because LaCroix deemed it 'necessary', or often amusing to do so.

"Why do you always have to be like that?" Nick asked.

"Like what?" LaCroix asked arrogantly, deciding to toy with his son.

"Like that!" the younger exclaimed, "...Condescending!"

"I am your superior."

Nick sighed and turned away from LaCroix. He knew his master saw this as an opportunity to play with his emotions and Nick knew he'd walked right into it, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. He knew that it was this supercilious attitude of LaCroix's which had helped drive a wedge in their relationship. The man had hardly ever shown any respect for him and it made Nick feel inferior, then he'd lashed out in anger which, in turn, usually made LaCroix fight back and then they'd both hate one another. Was it really so impossible for LaCroix to simply acknowledge that he cared...even a little bit? Why did he always have to be better than him?

"You're being foolish, Nicholas," he heard LaCroix scoff, and he held his tongue, thinking it was best to remain silent.

As Eris had ordered, Luca was out in the city; he and Amelia had been told to feed and then to find young, unattended vampires to bring back to feed to her dying pet monster. Unlike his sibling though, Luca wasn't planning on luring an innocent child to their death. He couldn't keep doing it.

Luca frowned in confusion as his heart beat loudly against his ribs. Although Eris was his master and he knew that he should obey, part of him was very worried that this business had driven the older vampiress over the edge. Though he had once loved her deeply and he knew he'd had some small claim on her affections, Luca was well aware that he no loner held any of it, and it was out of habit, rather then duty, that made him remain with Eris now. But in truth he was tired of her anger. He was tired of her endless lust for murder and violence and he wanted out.

He knew Amelia was too young and foolish to think for herself so she'd never agree to even listen to him, let alone consider his ideals. She was a puppet for Eris and she had no mind of her own, but Luca knew that he had been the same when he had been younger. To Eris, her fledglings were playthings and once they began to develop thoughts of their own she discarded them. Luca remembered such a situation just before Eris had brought Amelia across, when he'd tried to ask his master to think twice about a brutal murder of a young girl they'd found in the streets. Eris had practically mauled him almost to the point of death for even speaking up, he dreaded to think about what she'd have done if he'd acted on his thoughts.

Even now, it was sometimes difficult for him to comprehend planning to leave Eris, but after watching her these past few weeks, he wasn't so sure that he had it in him to remain. Luca had grown tired of her arrogance, he couldn't bear it any longer. All she'd had to do was give over her territory to another, much older vampire, and she'd done so several times as he'd seen, but what he didn't understand was why this one meant so much to her. Why had this driven her to such extremes? He didn't understand it at all. He also didn't know what to do.

If he chose to abandon her now and she eventually triumphed over LaCroix then she would surely kill him, but as soon as she found out about his plans, he'd be dead anyway. Many of his scenarios ended with his death, but Luca was at his wits end. It wasn't easy - keeping his thoughts of betrayal to himself, but what else could he do? He wasn't strong enough to stand up to Eris; she was much to powerful even when weakened he stood no chance against her...but Lucien LaCroix did.

Luca sighed into the shadows and made his choice on the spot; he was going to abandon Eris. He flew quickly through the sky and towards the house where he knew the Roman General lived. Enough was enough. It was time for a change.

It didn't take him long to reach the house and he took a deep breath before throwing caution to the wind and knocking on the door in a very human gesture. In under a second the door was flung open and Luca was pulled inside and onto the floor; clearly the other vampires had sensed his presence and they weren't best pleased.

"Wait!" he cried.

"What do you want?" LaCroix demanded.

"I...I am betraying my master...I need to speak to you..."

"A trick," LaCroix scoffed, "Another low tactic; sending in her child as a diversion."

"No," Luca said.

LaCroix growled in irritation and he lifted the vampire from the floor and pinned him against the wall, holding him there by his neck in a vice like grip.

"I will hear no more of this!" he hissed.

"If you kill me, you won't know what she's planning."

"I don't need you to tell me how to wage war," LaCroix replied, tightening his grip, "I am a General!"

"The creature still lives!"

"Lies! I killed it myself!"

"No..." Luca breathed as he felt his neck reach its limit, "I...it...it lives...barely..."

"LaCroix," Nick stepped forwards. While his master was lost in his anger, Nick could see something familiar in the younger vampire, and he had a strong feeling that he was telling the truth, "Let him speak," Nick said to LaCroix.

"Nicholas!" the General rolled his eyes.

"Just for a minute."

"...30 seconds," LaCroix agreed, "Then he dies," he added and instantly he released Luca from his grip.

Luca fell to the floor and breathed deeply, "I suggest you speak quickly," LaCroix told him.

"You...you wounded it...but it still lives. Eris ordered us to find food for it...but I came here instead," the young vampire said.

"Why?" Nick asked, genuinely curious.

Luca sighed deeply and stood slowly as his head spun from lack of air, "She is my master...I should obey her but I...I am not her puppet. I am no ones puppet."

"Brave words," LaCroix raised an eyebrow, "But I am not so easily convinced."

"I didn't expect you to be."

"What exactly did you expect?" the older vampire asked rhetorically.

"I want to help you...honestly...she doesn't know I am here...once she does find out I don't expect to live...but I refuse to be her plaything any longer."

"LaCroix," Nick began, "I think we should listen to him; I think he's telling the truth."

"It's too great a risk," his master replied strategically.

"One that will more than likely pay off."

"If you are going to kill me, allow me to at least say this," Luca sighed, "I believe she will use your fears," he said, looking at Nick, "...A French man, I think, and she plans to destroy you in front of your master."

"Why would he be telling us that if he hadn't betrayed her?" Nick asked LaCroix.

"I told you; it is a lie!"

"I don't think so."

"I swear to you by all I hold dear, it is not a lie," Luca insisted, "I beg you to believe me."

"Well..." Nick waited patiently to hear his masters' thoughts.