By Jodi Marie Johnston
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Forever Knight (though if I did, things would have turned out differently!), they are property of Sony/Tri-Star and I am merely borrowing them and promise to put them back relatively unscathed when finished with them. No copyright infringement is meant and I incur no financial gain by the posting of this story. It is merely for entertainment purposes only.
All other characters are my creative works.
Chapter ThreeNick walked into the Raven. He caught the eye its owner Jeanette and she nodded to him from across the room. But for once he wasn't looking for her. He scanned the bar. Bell had to be here he had followed her scent inside. Someone touched his shoulder and Nick nearly came out of his skin.
"For a vampire you sure are jumpy." Bell said.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Don't worry I won't tell anyone." Bell gave him a wink.
"You're joking right there is no such thing as vampires."
Bell smiled. "Then how come this club is crawling with them? Revelata'Credno!"
There was a small burst of light as a strange purple light momentarily illuminated all the vampires in the bar and then it was gone.
"Don't worry most humans can't see that little trick and those that can...well they usually ignore it."
"Doing something like that could get you killed in here."
"I highly doubt that."
"Then you are a fool."
"No I'm not. I just live my life very different from the rest of the world."
"Is that what you meant by living in this world but not being of this world?"
"Yes."
"So you don't live by societies rules either?"
Bell smiled again. "I live by the laws of society detective, even if you don't. Besides I know why you are here."
"Really?"
"Yes, you think I planned to kill those people. Nothing could be farther from the truth."
"Then what did happen?"
"I already told you but living in the world of duality you will never really understand what I told you or how to get out of your predicament either."
Nick stared at Bell. What she was saying made no sense to him at least not yet. Was she crazy like Don thought?
"Nicola, who is your new friend?" Jeanette asked. She came and curled her hands around Nick's arm.
"Your sister I presume?" Bell asked looking at Nick then back at Jeanette.
"How did you know?" Nick asked.
"The same blood runs in both of you, I can see it." Bell said.
"My aren't you a clever one. Then you know how dangerous it is for a human such as yourself to be in a place like this." Jeanette said.
"I know more than you will ever allow yourself to know Jeanette."
Jeanette paused for a second. "I highly doubt that."
"Why do you devalue yourself so much? How does that serve you to play the role of master manipulator when all you ever wanted was to feel safe and secure? How many times have you offered yourself up to whomever or whatever in order to gain that fleeting moment of peace that never lasts?"
Instantly Jeanette's hand encircled Bell's neck and she shrieked back in horror as her hand began to burn.
"What are you?" Jeanette hissed.
Bell smiled. Nick had his hand on his gun.
"You seek that same peace that Nick does yet neither of you will allow yourselves to have it. When you are willing to end your judgments, seek me again and I will show you something only few have known. Until then, good day."
Both Jeanette and Nick watched as Bell headed for the door. Just then Skanky opened the door and nabbed Bell. He put her in handcuffs and signaled to Nick. Before he headed over Jeanette grabbed Nick and whispered into his ear.
"Nicola it was the strangest thing, like holding a cross. I have never known a human who could do such a thing."
"Its strange when I was interrogating her, I could touch her." Nick said but then again he had never touched Bell's skin as Jeanette had.
"Perhaps it had something to do with me attacking her. She did hit a nerve."
"I don't know."
"She is dangerous Nick, whoever she is whatever she is, she can sense our kind and hurt us."
"Jeanette she has offered us no threat. In fact she has offered to help."
"You call that helping Nicola, look at my hand." Jeanette held up her blistered hand for Nick to see. It indeed looked as if she had touched a cross or holy water.
"Jeanette if she could do that, just think about what she could have done to all of us at the club, but instead she chose to leave and even offered us to help once we got rid of our judgments whatever that meant."
"Nick she's dangerous, and if you don't do something about her, I will."
"We are taking her to the station right now. I will find out what she knows."
"You better."
"Partner!" Don shouted. Nick headed over to his partner and the trio ducked out of the club.
"What happened in there, Knight? She almost got away!" Don said.
"She evaded me, I know. I'm just glad you nabbed her."
"He didn't 'nab' me." Bell said from the back seat.
"Miss Nightshade I suggest you zip it until we get to the station and you get a lawyer."
"Whatever." Bell said.
The rest of the drive happened in silence but Nick couldn't help but glance back and stare at the woman in the rearview mirror. Who was she? How could she do this? What the hell was going on?"