A/N: We meet Max in this chapter.

Chapter 21

Eric looked back and gave Natalie a reassuring glance. They had just gotten out of the car that had been sent for them. The car had driven down a long driveway until it stopped in front of a very old looking stone building. It was several stories high and its dark windows seemed to stare down at them with foreboding. Natalie was wearing a dark purple dress that flowed over her figure and somehow managed to reveal it as well. It plunged in the front and for a moment Eric was distracted by much more pleasant thoughts. He felt as if he could gaze at her all night, but then the front door opened and a servant ushered them inside. Coming inside, they found Simone dressed in a red dress. Natalie passed her eyes over her and looked at the vampire standing next to her. He was handsome with dark hair and eyes. He was also old, she thought, older than Eric. He was formally dressed and he appeared as comfortable in these clothes as many men do in tee shirts and jeans. He looked at home in this chateau and Natalie wondered at the intrigue and dark acts that had happened here. He must be this Max, she thought. Max quickly passed his eyes over Eric.

"Eric," was all he said.

Then, Eric saw Max turn his eyes to Natalie and he gave her an intense study. It was then Eric realized that Natalie was the reason that they had been summoned here, tonight. This was unexpected and Eric felt a wave of nervousness pass over him. He had been prepared for many possible reasons for Max to summon him, but this interest in Natalie wasn't one of them. Max gave Natalie a warm smile and stepped forward to her.

"What an enchanting child," he said.

He took her hand in his and kissed the top. Yet, he didn't let go of it.

"They didn't do your beauty justice when they described you to me, Mademoiselle Evans," he said.

"You are too kind," demurely replied Natalie.

"I assure you that I am not," he said with a wicked grin.

He pulled her closer and turned back to Eric. With a smile, Max said, "I'll just steal your delightful ward away from you, Eric. I haven't given anyone the grand tour of the chateau in such a long time. You will indulge me, won't you, Mademoiselle?"

"How could I refuse such a generous offer?" replied Natalie. "I hope that you have lots of stories about all the interesting things that have happened here."

"Do you want the historical tour events or do your tastes lie with the more scandalous happenings?" inquired Max.

"The wickedly scandalous, of course," replied Natalie.

"Oh, Eric, I can see why you been hiding her away," purred Max. "If you're not careful, I just might decide to keep her."

Max chuckled at his little joke, but Eric saw the threat in the words. Natalie must have felt his emotions and she looked at him. Max watched this silent interplay with interest. He twirled her away and flashed Eric a wink as he drew Natalie down the hallway.

"Don't worry about your little princess," said Simone. "She's in good hands."

Simone moved to the hallway and said, "Come, I'll find us a drink."

Inside a formal room with high ceilings and antique furniture, Simone poured him a glass of fresh blood from a carafe. She waved at a settee and, as Eric took a seat, she passed the glass to him. Her fingers touched his on purpose in the exchange. She turned away with a smile and seated herself at a baby grand piano. She began to idly tap the keys.

"I never knew that you had a taste for redheads," said Simone.

"After you, blondes lost their charm," replied Eric.

"Ouch, that hurt, Darling," said Simone.

Simone slowly started to play a tune and focused her attention on the keys.

"You deceived me," said Eric.

"Take that up with Max," replied Simone. "Is it somehow depressing to find out that you aren't the center of the universe anymore?"

She stopped playing and turned to look at him. "What Max wants, Max gets. It was foolish of you to bring her here. So don't try to blame me for this."

"You aren't exactly broken hearted about it," replied Eric.

"Can I help it if I'm a little jealous?" said Simone.

She got up and moved towards him, but diverted course and moved behind him. She leaned over the settee and trailed a finger across Eric's ear.

"You just up and left Paris after turning your child," she said. "No goodbyes. Nothing. I deserved more than that."

"That was a long time ago," replied Eric.

"Not so long that I've forgotten it," said Simone. "Tell me, how is darling Pam these days?"

Simone giggled and said, "I heard that she developed a taste for girls. I wonder how long it will be before this one moves on as well. Maybe, your sex skills aren't as fabulous as you think."

"They are good enough that you would still take a roll in the hay if I offered to service you," said Eric. "Which I'm not, so don't get your hopes up."

"You arrogant bastard," hissed Simone.

Eric moved in a flash and grabbed her arm. He leaned in and lethally whispered in her ear, "If you attempt to harm her in any way, I will take care of you personally."

Simone wrenched her arm away, "You forget who you're dealing with, Viking."

It was then that Max and Natalie arrived back. The air was heavy with menace and Natalie stared between Eric and Simone.

"My goodness," said Max. "What has been going on in here, Simone? Eric and Natalie are our honored guests."

Simone nervously fidgeted and smoothed her hair. "Nothing, just a little reminiscing between old friends."

Max squeezed Natalie's hand and said, "Simone is a sore loser, I guess."

"How dare you," said Simone.

After she said the words, she realized what a major mistake she had made. She immediately backpedaled when she saw a frown crease Max's face. "I….I didn't mean that. I spoke without thinking."

"Yes, you do that sometimes," replied Max, giving her an intense study. "But, the fact is that the boy has moved on, my dear."

Max kissed Natalie's hand again and said, "I can see why he is so smitten. I apologize, Mademoiselle, but it seems as if your lover has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. You might be wise to guard you own heart more closely."

Simone seemed to struggle to remain calm and Max watched her with amusement as Natalie walked over to Eric and stood by his side.

"I accept your apology, but my heart is a private matter between Mr. Northman and myself," said Natalie.

"Spoken like a true lady," replied Max.

A servant appeared with a tray of fresh blood in champagne glasses. It was so freshly poured that there was a bloody froth still on the top. At a signal from Max, the waiter offered the blood to Natalie and Eric first. As Max and Simone took theirs, Max raised his glass and watched Natalie over the rim.

"To my enchanting guest, Mademoiselle Evans," he said. "May this visit be the beginning of a new friendship."

"I'm honored," replied Natalie. She drank the fresh blood as if she did it every day and Eric was impressed with her calmness when he knew that she was well aware of the deadly undercurrents of this situation.

"May I be so privileged as to call you Natalie?" Max asked.

"Yes, of course," she replied.

"I have one of the finest private collections of art," he said. "I would be honored to show it to you."

Max waved at another servant who stood by the door. Natalie looked up at Eric and then left the room. Max turned his eyes to Simone.

"Leave us, as well, Darling," he said.

Simone tried her conceal her aggravation at being dismissed and walked to the door, but Max called after her.

"And stay away from that child," he said. "I won't tell you again."

Max watched her leave and turned to Eric. "She certainly can hold a grudge."

Max then smiled and took a seat. He stared up at Eric and said, "Oh, lighten up. You're making the poor girl nervous, since she can sense your emotions."

"What do you really want, Max?" asked Eric.

"The girl," he replied. "Is that plain enough for you?"

"I'm her guardian and it's all perfectly legal," said Eric. "The AVL itself gave her into my care."

"AVL?" sneered Max. "That's the AMERICAN vampire league. We do things differently on this side of the pond."

"The AVL is the mouthpiece of The Authority," replied Eric.

"I never took you for such a loyal subject," said Max. "But, you always did like to play both sides, didn't you?"

Max got up and looked out the large floor to ceiling windows. The ornamental gardens were carefully illuminated and he stared out at them in thought.

"The blood is sacred, Eric. And none is more sacred than those ancient bloodlines, since there are so few of them. That child is all that remains from Carlo's bloodline, since you conveniently disposed of his other child. That vampire princess should have been turned over to us and her bloodline joined with an another appropriate ancient line," said Max.

Max turned back to Eric and added, "Now, we have an upstart Viking in our midst and there are those who have called for your assassination for your presumptiveness."

"Are you threatening me?" replied Eric.

Max moved back to the settee and took a seat. He studied Eric and a slow smile formed. "Now, Eric, you're lucky that I like you. I smoothed those ruffled feathers and put in a good word for you."

"You can't take her away from me," said Eric.

"You've made sure of that, haven't you?" replied Max. "Does she know that you have in essence married her by our custom? Except, you forgot the formal part of the ceremony. Or, did you just tell her that bonding with her was necessary for her protection?"

Eric was silent and Max's smiled deepened, "You sly dog, Eric. Now, what's done is done. I need to know if you can be trusted, Eric. I have nothing but respect for your maker, but Godric seems to care little for our affairs these days."

"What exactly are you getting at?" asked Eric.

"There is a powerful cartel of those of us who harbor the most ancient of blood. Your little ward, despite her age, has automatic inclusion in our group. Therefore, by default, so do you as her guardian and consort."

"You aren't asking me," replied Eric.

"No, I'm telling," said Max. "Welcome to the club, Viking."

On the drive back into the city, Natalie looked out the window and spied the Eiffel Tower all lit up in the darkness. She smiled and turned to Eric.

"Tell the driver to let us out here," she said. "I want to see the Eiffel tower tonight."

The driver heard her voice and automatically obeyed. He pulled over and let them out and Natalie pulled Eric along to the tower.

"We are miles from the apartment," said Eric.

"We are vampires, remember?" replied Natalie.

They had reached the foot of the tower and Eric moved to take her to the elevator that would take them aloft, but Natalie stopped him. She gripped his hand and smiled.

"We are vampires who can fly," she said.

She began to rise and pulled Eric along with her. She pulled him close into an embrace and they rose up as they made slow revolutions. They hovered over the top of the tower and Natalie smoothed his hair with her hands.

"I hope that I'm the first girl to kiss you on top of the Eiffel Tower," she said.

"No one else holds that title," replied Eric.

Natalie kissed him softly and slowly the kiss lasted as she darted her tongue inside Eric's mouth. She giggled and nibbled on his lip. Eric smiled back at her and raised an eyebrow.

"There are other things that I can think of that I also haven't done at the top of the Eiffel Tower," he said.

"Oh, what would those be?" asked Natalie.

Eric leaned into her ear and whispered. Natalie gave a mock shriek at such licentious comments.

"Are you saying that you don't want to?" asked Eric, smirking.

"Now, let's not get carried away here," said Natalie. "That second thing you mentioned is rather interesting. But, how would the mechanics of that work in this weightless environment?"

"I don't know," said Eric. "But, I'm sure that I could find a way."

"You are a dirty, wicked vampire," replied Natalie.

"I'm a dirty, wicked vampire who knows exactly how you like it," he said.

"Do you?" replied Natalie. "You might just have to prove that to me."

"I prove my devotion to you every night," said Eric.

He pulled her in closer and kissed her again. His hand moved under her dress and after a second her hands moved to his zipper.

"We could get arrested for this," Natalie cautioned.

"Let them try to catch us," replied Eric. "We can fly, remember?"