A/N: This chapter deals with Natalie and Lukas and how they ended up in Christophe de Montbard's hands. There is a little Eric and Pam moment at the end, too.

Chapter 26

I

Natalie waited for the sun to rise, which meant that her captors would have to retire for the day. She was worried about Lukas and hoped that he wasn't too scared. She was sure that they had placed him in another cell for the day. She waited for the moment that she could seek him out. Inside herself, she felt a coiling anger that grew with every passing moment. Think clearly, she told herself, and don't let your emotions take over control. But, it was so hard. She wanted to fly out of here and find Lukas. And, she admitted that she wanted to lay waste to her enemies. While she might have felt the same feelings as a human, she knew that now she had the means to fulfill those dark wishes. Was it wrong to fight what you were? Maybe, she thought, but not in this instance. Even though Lukas was not her child, she felt a mother's fierce protectiveness for him. He had no one except for her. That's why these vampires had chosen him in the first place. He didn't have any parents to fight for him. There was no one to even wonder where he was or wonder about his fate. That was utterly the saddest thing, thought Natalie. But, that was in the past. From the moment that she had heard his cries, both of their lives had changed.

She was chained by a light silver chain, just the barest of restraints, because Christophe couldn't imagine her as a threat. She was only a young vampire to him who was hardly more dangerous than Lukas. Like most older vampires, he paid her little critical inspection or he might have noticed that the silver wasn't cutting into her flesh like it would on other vampires. True it was still uncomfortable and an irritant, but it did not completely incapacitate her. She was in a circular brick cell. The round wall rose up at least three stories. It was open to the sky and Natalie knew that she had been placed here so that the sun's rays would reach her and burn her away. At least, that was what Christophe expected. Now, however, she could see the twinkling stars and, as she gazed upon their beauty, she remembered the events that had led to her being in this cell.

Just after Eric had left, Natalie had been making a snack in the kitchen for Lukas. She was busily making a sandwich and perhaps she had not been listening as hard as she should have been. She heard the boy's voice and knew that something was wrong.

"Natalie," Lukas said.

She turned to see a close-shaven vampire holding Lukas by a hand to the throat. His fingernail was poised over the child's jugular vein and Natalie knew that with a mere flick he could open the boy up. Natalie knew that even with her vampire speed she couldn't get to Lukas before that happened. Two other vampires stepped through the doorway behind the first one. One was male and the other was a female. They both looked as without mercy as the first.

"Calm down," said the male vampire. "If you call the other vampire here, we will kill the boy first."

With an effort, Natalie relaxed. "Killing him would be the worst decision that you ever made," she said.

"As long as you cooperate, the boy will not be harmed," he replied.

He had been made vampire in his late twenties and he had long dark hair that brushed the collar of his jacket. A part of Natalie knew that he really just wanted an excuse to slaughter them both because he obviously had orders not to harm them.

"What do you want?" asked Natalie.

"You and the boy are to come with us," he said. "But, first, we must do something about your boyfriend."

He nodded to the female vampire. She also had long dark hair and was dressed in black jeans and a leather jacket that was hip length and tied snugly around her waist. She drew out a dagger from one of her jacket pockets. It was in an engraved metal scabbard and the hilt had a large red stone set prominently set into it. In the light of the kitchen, it seemed to flash blood red with menace. The vampire stepped to her.

"Hold out your hand," she ordered.

"Why? Tell me what that is," replied Natalie.

"Just do it," said the first vampire. He nodded towards his accomplice who tightened his grip on Lukas, causing the child to gasp.

"Stop," said Natalie, holding out her hand.

The female vampire took hold of her hand and made a cut across her wrist. It wasn't overly deep, so they weren't trying to bleed her to death, thought Natalie. She gazed down as her blood welled up in the clean cut. The female vampire began to speak. It was some sort of incantation and, in those spoken words, Natalie could feel the power of the spell touch her. She grew afraid and she couldn't stop her hand from trembling.

"From time immortal, so has it been. Magic and blood bound together as one. I call upon the power of this ancient blade to break the spell between these lovers. From this vessel, I exorcise the foreign blood. As the blood flows out, so is the magic undone."

Suddenly, Natalie felt a tingling inside of her, as if some sort of creature was crawling through her veins. She gasped in fright as she watched dark blood flow out of the cut and drip down to the floor. She wanted to pull her arm away, but the female vampire held it firmly in her hands. She knew that it was Eric's blood that was flowing out of her and that their connection was being broken. Like a ribbon being cut, her tie to Eric was cut. His presence was being banished from of her mind and she was alone within herself. The loss left her reeling long past the moment that the cut had healed.

"Eric," she called out, but she knew that he could not sense her pain.

The female vampire dropped her arm and Natalie felt numb. Why would they sever her bond? She didn't want to die alone and her eyes became unfocused.

"Natalie," said Lukas, as he struggled to get to her.

"Oh, she's alright," said the first vampire.

"Let him go," said Natalie. "You can glamour him so that he isn't a threat to you."

"That's up to Christophe," he replied. "Now, your lover will still come here, so it's time to go."

He held out his hand for the boy and the moment that he was handed over to him, the female vampire plunged a stake from behind into the other vampire's back. He erupted in a gush of blood and Lukas screamed in fright. Natalie stared in disbelief.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"Take off your blouse," he said.

"What?"

"Now, before I lose my patience," he said.

Natalie fumbled with buttons, but her fingers were shaking. When she finally got the shirt open, the vampire pulled it off her in aggravation. He threw it down into the blood pool on the floor. Natalie wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to cover herself. The female vampire smiled.

"Oh, she's shy," she snickered.

She drew out a tee-shirt that she had on her person and threw it at her. Natalie quickly pulled it over her head. The minute that was done, a silver chain was wrapped around her hands and she was pulled out to a waiting car. She noticed for the first time that the two vampires were wearing gloves. Lukas was picked up and carried by the male vampire. He looked back at her with wide tear-stained eyes, but he was either too brave or too scared to cry out loud. Natalie was pulled into the back seat and the female vampire took a seat beside her with Lukas being held on her lap. The other vampire took the wheel and they drove off into the darkness.

"If you think that my death will stop Eric or Max from hunting you down, you are mistaken," said Natalie.

"We'll take our chances," she said.

"Who is Christophe?" asked Natalie.

"We work for him," she replied.

"Gina, silence," said the vampire from the front seat.

"She's going to find out who he is very soon," replied Gina.

Gina began to pet a frightened Lukas, but it wasn't to reassure him. The child trembled in her hands.

"Stop tormenting him," hissed Natalie.

As the female vampire made a movement to strike Natalie, Lukas bravely tried to attack her. She laughed and held him still like he was a weak kitten.

"I remember how sweet you taste, little human," she said. "Maybe, Christophe will let you come back with us. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"Natalie will save me from you," he insisted.

"Humans just aren't very smart," she replied.

"Let him go," said Natalie. "He can't go anywhere in the car."

She let Lukas loose and he crawled across the seat and snuggled against Natalie. "You can have him, he smells anyway," she said.

The car roared down the darkened roads as Natalie's mind raced equally fast as she tried to think of way to keep both her and Lukas alive.

The car pulled inside a walled estate and a large, imposing stone building loomed ahead. The car stopped in the circular drive and Lukas and Natalie were pulled inside. Natalie saw a large foyer that was starkly furnished. Her eyes took in her surroundings and, as she looked up a stairway, she saw another vampire watching her. He must be this Christophe, she thought. He was made a vampire in his forties. He was old, but not ancient. But, he had the vampire arrogance down pat. Cold gray eyes examined her as if she was a used car on a sales lot. Natalie wondered if he was going to come down the stairs and kick the tires. She also wondered if he was expecting her to grovel before him.

"So, you're the one who stuck her pretty nose where it didn't belong," he said.

He slowly began to descend, but his eyes never left her face. "Thanks to you, I have Max sniffing into my business."

"Maybe if you weren't some sort of child kidnapper and torturer, you wouldn't have to worry about Max," she replied.

"Max is only interested in this affair because of your involvement," replied Christophe. "The fate of some dirty, little human means nothing to him."

"I don't believe that," said Natalie.

"You have no idea just what kind of vampire, your charming Max is," he said. "He's had century upon century to get that look of false concern down pat."

"Killing me isn't going to curry any favor with him," she said.

"With your death, he will stop looking so hard," said Christophe. "Things will go back to normal after a while. I brought you here because I want to find out just who is helping you."

Natalie looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand."

"The boy was taken in the daytime. Obviously, that is beyond your abilities," he said. "Tell me who it is and I will let the boy go unharmed."

"The boy isn't a threat to you," said Natalie. "Just glamour him and let him go."

"I would be more inclined to listen to your request if you tell who your accomplices are," he replied.

"I found the boy already free in the park," said Natalie. "No doubt, your incompetent minions didn't secure him properly."

"I know that's not true," hissed Gina.

"I'm a stranger to this place," said Natalie. "I don't know anyone here besides Max."

"There is Simone," said Christophe with a little smile.

"Simone wouldn't lift a finger to help me," replied Natalie.

"It goes a little farther than that."

"What does that mean?" asked Natalie.

"You have a powerful enemy," he replied. "But, enough of these games. There is one other person who knows the truth."

Natalie watched in apprehension as he turned to the boy still being held by one of the vampires.

"Don't hurt him," pleaded Natalie.

Christophe ignored her and he took the boy's chin in his hands. He raised Lukas's head and stared into his eyes. The child stared back and his face slackened as he was glamoured.

"Who rescued you from the tunnels?" asked Christophe.

"Natalie," he said.

"Who came down into the tunnels in the daytime?" persisted Christophe.

"Natalie," he said.

Uttering a hiss of aggravation, he let go of Lukas. "Obviously, the child is mentally damaged, since it could not have been her. She is probably right about you imbeciles."

"But, Sir," began Gina.

"Shut up," he replied. "I have had to clean up your mess, so I don't want to hear your excuses."

"Let the child go," said Natalie. "You don't have to hurt him."

"He's a loose end and I always like everything neat and tidy," replied Christophe. "Max has an arsenal of spies and sooner or later they will follow the trail to this child. But, if it will make you feel any better, I'll make sure that you go first."

"Savage," hissed Natalie.

"I have a special place for you," said Christophe. "I've used it for hundreds of years and it's very effective at getting rid of problems without a trace."

Christophe smiled and said, "It's a room with a view. I'm sure you'll find it to your liking, although it does get a little warm in the daytime."

"If you let me and the child go right now," said Natalie. "I won't seek any retribution against you."

"That's funny, you threatening me," chuckled Christophe. "Take them and lock them away downstairs. And then, I want you two out of my sight."

She was dragged downstairs and Lukas was separated from her. She was thrown into this cell and she hoped that Lukas was just in another cell. She looked up to the lightening sky. It won't be long, now. She was glad that Christophe de Montbard had never heard of an Estrie or he might have chosen something more traditional for her demise. For the first time, Natalie was thankful for what she was. Only her unique abilities could save both herself and Lukas. She laid down and waited as her eyes drifted to the heavens. She wondered if Eric was looking up at these same stars. Did he think her dead? Was he mourning her? Even though she knew that he could not feel anything from her, she sent him her thoughts and her love. Love was like the four-letter word that they didn't say. She didn't press him because with the bond that they had shared, she knew what he felt about her. His cold heart was an open book to her and she found that she wanted to memorize every page.

II

Eric stood on the balcony of his apartment in Paris. For some reason, he just wanted to gaze at the stars before retiring for the day. The sky was lightening and it made the stars harder to see, but his vampire eyes were very sharp. Somewhere out there, Natalie was alone and afraid. He should have insisted that she accompany him back to Paris. But, hindsight is always 20-20, he thought. She might just want to kick him to the curb for his lackluster performance as her bodyguard. But, he knew where to look for her and tomorrow at sunset, he would either find her alive or he would avenge her death. Whatever had become of her, he knew that she had met her fate with a brave heart. She would fight to the last and he knew that she had advantages that were unknown to her enemies. She was a formidable force to be reckoned with. Harm that child and Christophe de Montbard might just find out how potent an Estrie's fury was.

He felt Pam's arm on his shoulder and turned to his child. Before Natalie, she was the closest thing to his heart. But, Natalie had not pushed out Pam. Instead, he found that he could love them both, just in different ways. He saw Pam's eyes were clouded with worry and he touched her chin.

"What's this?" he said. "You know that I love you better when you are cold-hearted."

"I know you well enough to know that isn't completely true," replied Pam. "You don't have to bear this burden alone."

"It's my burden to bear and I am not weak," replied Eric.

"You are the strongest person that I have ever known," said Pam. "But, let me help you."

Eric touched her soft, blonde hair. "You already do, more than you know."

Pam gave him a faint smile. "Come, the sun is almost up. Natalie will kill me if I let you stay out her and get burned."

Eric let her lead him into the chamber where his coffin was. Since, there was only one, Pam would spend the day with him. She pulled him inside. Eric settled to one side and isolated himself. She knew instinctively that he was hurting, but holding it in for her. In all the years that she had known him, she had never seen him care for another except for Godric and herself. He had always been so strong for her. As much as she liked to brag about letting go of her human existence with glee, the truth was that she was as frightened as any freshly turned vampire. Eric had been everything to her. He was a father to her, as he showed her how to adapt to this new life. He had been her lover and they had many years together as such. While they were no longer lovers, that intimacy was still there between them. Now, he was almost like a brother and her friend. She could not imagine her life without him in it. He was the one vampire that she could trust completely. She moved close to him and slipped her arm over his waist. He would never ask for it, she knew. But, he needed someone to be strong for him, now. It was her turn to carry him for a little while. Slowly, his hand sought hers and he gripped it tightly. She also knew what he might be thinking.

"I don't think that you're going soft," she whispered.

"Natalie's captors will find out how soft I am tomorrow," he replied.

"Together, we will finish it," said Pam. "And bring Natalie home."

"How did I get so lucky to find two women such as you and Natalie?" he asked.

"You're a Viking vampire god, go figure," replied Pam with a squeeze.

"Pam, I, ah," began Eric.

"Shhh, rest," replied Pam. "Let me take care of you this time."

The sun rose above the horizon and Pam held Eric as they drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Okay, I just love Eric and Pam's relationship. I'm so sad that they are on the outs at the end of season 4. Hopefully, that won't last long and they will patch things back up.

But, their moment together was really sweet in this chapter and I love how their relationship is still close, but it has evolved to a different plane beyond romantic or physical love.

The sun is rising and Natalie is up. As Eric say's she's more than capable of taking care of herself with her unique gifts.