Part 24: A Dream Interlude
As he walking through the fog-covered landscape Nicholas knew he was dreaming and wondered how long it would be before the nightmares he had suffered so many times before began. But there was nothing save shrouded meadow land clothed in mist and heavily filtered light shining from the sky in just enough quantities for him to see well without being uncomfortable.
No, nothing to see, though it was not like Nicholas was complaining about that; it was nice to have a dream where he wasn't running, flying or otherwise moving as fast as he could, scared out of wits from something that was after him.
A whimper came from the direction of his right side and he automatically tensed in response.
Well, the peace had been nice while it had lasted, De Brabant thought as he gave into the urge to investigate.
Warily strolling in that direction, he saw a figure huddling miserably upon the damp ground. A small fire pit was nearby, but either the man didn't know how to make a fire, or couldn't get it to start in all this dampness. Nicholas cleared his throat.
"Hello, sir? Are you hurt?"
The figure looked up and Nicholas took a startled step backwards.
The man was himself-or to be more specific-himself as fully vamped out and looking pathetically haggard despite the ominous glow of reddish eyes and sharp fangs. It/he whimpered again and reached up for him. Nicholas hastily moved out of reach, ready to run.
Run from himself.
The knight took a deep breath. So much for no nightmares tonight! Yet precious seconds went by and his vampiric mirror image only went back to its protective crouch; whimpering to itself.
"What is this?" Nicholas demanded aloud, but not really expecting an answer. He was used to bad dreams that were more straightforward in nature: run away from or fight whatever was plaguing your sleep.
The part of yourself you gained when Lacroix crossed you over.
Nicholas spun around trying to pinpoint this new voice, but it seemed to have come from the very air.
"Who are you?"
Hello, Nicholas de Brabant, son of Henry de Brabant. I've waited a long time for you to hear me. The voice was followed by a good-humored chuckle as it added: Take care of yourself.
"Take care of myself? Wait!" Nicholas called out. But the voice chose not to answer and he felt the first droplets of water begin to fall as the mist coalesced into low rain clouds. A few feet away a simple shelter appeared. It was hardly more than crude bricks and wood with an old piece of heavy cloth tacked on at the top to act as a door. He bent down to enter and discovered that what appeared extremely crude from the outside was still fairly comfortable from within, though somewhat cramped for room. However there was a cheerily crackling fire going in a small stone fireplace and plenty of food supplies stacked on some shelves. Nicholas saw fruits, nuts, baskets of bread, all looking freshly picked and baked.
And they smelled good! Licking his lower lip, De Brabant ghosted his fingers over the simple fare. It had been literally ages since he had found the thought of regular food appetizing even in his dreams. Well, other than that one time when he'd been under the influence of an experimental drug. And for a short while when he'd been shot in the head and suffered amnesia…
Still, it wasn't like he could remember the taste of so many things consumed during his childhood… even vampiric memory had its limits.
A noise from the entry way cut short his inventory of what else might be in the place.
His beast self was there at the doorway warily crouched half in, half out with its eyes glowing as if reflecting the light from the fire. Nicholas could see that it was raining much harder now and that it must have turned even colder outside for the he could see the beast's breath hanging in the chilled air.
"What do you want?" Nicholas grumbled at it in fear and annoyance. The ambience might not be the best in this dream; however, he was 'human' in it-a rare occasion and one he wished to savor for the duration. Unsavory visitors were not welcome.
It. The beast. The Vampire. The savage animal he was forever linked to and wanted so much to be free from whined at him.
"Get out," Nicholas spat at it.
'It' sighed and backed up, letting the cloth fall between itself and the shelter inside.
Nicholas was flabbergasted. The thing had given in so easily? Oh no...it was surely a trick. The Vampire was greedy and selfish. It had to be a deception of some sort to win his complacency. Then the nightmare would truly begin!
Long minutes went by with nothing untoward happening, so Nicholas decided that he might as well eat something in this dream before the circumstances turned sour. He was halfway through a very satisfying meal of dried dates and rye bread when the disembodied words from earlier returned to him:
Nicholas, take care of yourself.
Startled he choked a bit on his last bite of food before managing to spit it out.
"Who are you!" he asked, still not seeing anyone.
Silence broken only by the sound of the wind picking up outside.
Sticking the bite of bread back in his mouth, Nicholas chewed it slowly, considering the command.
Take care of himself? How much more could he be expected to do in that regard? He was warm and dry. He had food and water. What more could the mysterious voice want of him? Nicholas's eyes wandered over to the cloth that hid the outside from view. And what had happened to that hellish beast?
Suddenly curious, he moved the entryway cloth enough to peek outside.
Ah-there it was. Back as he had first seen it, curled up on itself. Only now it was also looking like a drenched rat as the clouded sky emptied itself above them.
Saints, but it looked miserable out there, Nicholas thought in empathy, and then snorted at the idea of holding sympathy for a vampire. The thing did not feel the cold, would not ever get sick from the wet, and had no real need of anything that was inside. It was fine where it was. Nicholas was fine with it where it was.
Only… it sure looked miserable out there.
Unbidden, the words from Genesis 4 ran through his mind.
'Am I my brother's keeper?'
But that thing outside was hardly his brother.
Nicholas, take care of yourself.
Angry, De Brabant started pacing around inside the small shelter.
"That thing is not me!" he shouted at the ceiling.
Then who?
The question stopped him in his tracks.
He wanted to argue that it was a demon-but he had seen an actual demon and knew that wasn't true. Once... once he had thought it was Evil, but real Evil had proven to be something so much more worse. And now that he really thought about it... this whole dream situation kind of reminded him of...Raleigh.
Raleigh, who had refused to go away and leave him alone even when he had thrown debris at the dog to scare it off. The animal had just looked up at him with those pitiable eyes, begging not to be alone, whining...
Ahhh...
Hell.
"I know I'm going to regret this..." Nicholas mumbled to himself as he crossed back to the 'door' and flung it aside.
"Hey, you!" Damn- what did it call itself? "Vampire!" Yelling at his bestial twin got the dual amber lights of the vampire's gaze turning to face him. Nicholas gestured towards the dry interior of the shelter. "Come on inside!" he told it before letting the cloth fall back in place. Then he hurriedly moved back to the far wall where the dried branches for the fire were stored, grabbing one as a weapon. Just in case... though dream this be.
He hadn't long to wait before his invitation was accepted.
Sniffing and glancing about as if expecting an attack, his almost-doppelganger cautiously entered. Golden eyes settled upon Nicholas… waiting.
De Brabant gestured to where some straw was thickly strewn across the floor and it obeyed, pausing first to shake itself once as a dog would do before sitting down to stare at him again from this new vantage point. It stoically disregarded the water still streaming down from the drenched hair and onto its face.
His face-or near enough, the knight thought; and couldn't help wincing as the excess rainwater slower made its way down multiple paths to drip onto the straw. He'd always hated being caught in an unexpected rain.
Damn.
Snagging a clean wool blanket from a supply of them that had magically appeared on the shelf, he tossed it over.
"Here."
With lightning like reflexes, the Vampire caught the woven material in mid-air and proceeded to rub itself against the cloth like a cat. Well, if the 'cat' had been shaped like a human male of 5' 9".
Tearing off some more of the bread, Nicholas watched 'himself' vigorously-but vainly-trying to get dry with the now rather damp makeshift towel.
Oh well... In for a penny, in for a-
Taking up another two of the wool blankets, Nicholas slowly made his way over. The Vampire blinked up at him; however, there were no threatening moves or sounds as the knight cautiously laid one of the blankets over its head like a cowl and began to gently rub, still half expecting to hear the thing growl at him or maybe lash out with its teeth.
And there was a rumbling sound coming from under the blanket. Nicholas stopped to listen-ready to retreat-when he realized that it was not growling he heard. It was purring-rumbling like some great feline under the blanket!
Mouth quirked in what was very close to a smile, Nicholas rubbed harder-and had to stifle a laugh when the intensity of the sound increased in tandem with his ministrations. Again he could not help but think of the friendly, symbiotic relationship he had had with his powerful canine back in 19th-century England.
The imagery was reinforced even more when his fingers suddenly found themselves clutching nothing but blanket and he looked down to see the other end of the cloth caught between white teeth. The Vampire had let itself fall down into a crouch; weight distributed evenly between the palms of his hands and the balls of his feet. Golden eyes twinkled with mischief above a full, but grinning mouth as a strong tug sent the unsuspecting knight down to his own knees. The human-shaped beast growled in almost a snickering tone.
Oh, yeah... just like Raleigh.
Nicholas grinned back at what was so nearly his own smug face.
Hands down this was the weirdest dream he'd ever had-and he'd had some lu-loos-but what the hey!
"So..." he whispered lowly, tensing his own muscles in preparation, "you want to play, do you?"
Another growl, this time unmistakably of affirmation.
"Ooo-kay!" Nicholas yelled before tugging back for all he was worth.
Two seriously mangled blankets and one shredded cloak later, Nicholas conceded the match and fell dramatically unto what was left of the pile of bedding straw-the rest having been pretty much sent to redecorate the rest of the floor during their roughhousing.
"That's it," Nicholas surrendered. His body was warring with his giggles for its fair share of oxygen. He was panting heavily. Plucking a piece of straw from his clothing and absently tossed it skyward, the knight declared. "I am worn out." His doppelganger moved to crouch over him, whining its concern. "No. I'm fine," he reassured it, reaching up to yank it down enough so he could massage the unruly mop of golden hair that mirrored to his own. The beast purred in ecstasy as it dropping down even more to cover De Brabant in a protective hug.
Of course, Nicholas mused, it was also a possessive hug but he suddenly found he did not mind. For to his chagrin the knight discovered that he actually liked this creature that would not leave him. All this time he had only looked on its predatory side-and in his disgust had refused to look further.
Or perhaps he had not looked further because he had not wanted to see that it had this side to it?
Nicholas frowned at that thought. Was he the angry herdsman refusing to give up on the cherished 'Big, Bad, Wolf' fairy tale because he did not want to know that canis lupus was a devoted parent and family member as well as a killer of livestock?
Was he his brother's keeper?
Yes. Or at least, he had tried to be as part of his atonement.
And who was his brother?
Scripture dictated that answer.
Everyone.
And how did you treat a brother?
You treated him as you would treat yourself.
Well, he'd done a lousy job of that hadn't he? He was satisfying one side of very being while caging and starving the other.
It was time to stop.
"Vampire?"
It opened its golden eyes to gaze adoringly into his blue, the last centuries of animosity between them forgiven and forgotten in just one hour of play.
Nicholas lowered his wrist to its eyes in silent offer.
He felt the tender lick of a tongue upon his palm and then the twin prick of fangs gently inserting themselves; smiled in contentment at the pull of it taking himself into itself.
Taking himself into himself, Nicholas mentally corrected.
And for the first time in 800 years... felt wholly at peace with who he was.
But of course it could not last.
It was the Vampire that warned him.
The happy purring had changed in timber, becoming deep and challenging. Nicholas opened his eyes just in time see his other-self jump up to stand over him, snarling in a rage at something outside the door. The knight realized that it felt a threat approaching, not understanding what it was, but sensing the magnitude of it. His animal side was reacting to the instinctual need to protect itself and those of its family at any cost.
Nicholas shivered, wishing he could stay where he was. For this strident change in the dream could only mean that it was time to wake up into reality.
And he knew without a shadow of a doubt that this time it would be the waking that would herald the start of the true nightmare.
TBC
A/N Note: The events of the dream were not written to be homoerotic. (It rather was a case of Ego calls truce with Id.) What is my stance on homosexuality? I am an equal opportunity person: I give equal disgust for violent bigots looking to boost their tiny egos as I do those who abuse the definition of 'phobic' to the point it is unrecognizable from that of the Webster's Dictionary because their world outlook is just as black white as the 'opposition' whom they rant against.
(God loves all the nutcases, no matter there agenda. This doesn't mean I can't roll my eyes at the lot of 'em.) There... now I've probably made enemies on both sides. Fortunately, I don't care as I have more Earth shaking things to worry about than social stupidities. (Like, keeping this computer from dying on me before April. Must purchase more baling wire and chewing gum!)
Review Responses:
To: Wanderer D: Nope, never read The Land of Nod. The title sounds familiar, though... is it a sleep aid? Lacroix is a love/hate character. In my case, I love the way he protects Nicholas, but hate it when he baits him. And I will never forgive him for the dog episode. Never. Kyer loves doggies.
To: Dracowar: That's a logical idea. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be doing one as have recently discovered the world of Harry Potter and have developed a thing for Severus Snape. Yes, yet another lonely, angsty guy with supernatural abilities. (Am beginning to question my upbringing that I am drawn to such characters. Freud would undoubtedly blame my mother.) I do love werewolves though. A pity that since the movies came out with them rather than the Lon Chaney type 'wolf man' makeup, they got so gory. I can't stomach gore. Heck, I can't even watch cooking shows. Ugh.
To: Superfan: I incorporated who from where? (This is clearly a case of There Is Nothing New Under the Sun. Dangitall. And here I thought I was being original!) Honestly, the title you gave sounds vaguely familiar. Like maybe a video game or a book I saw at the store years ago. But I've never seen or read it. Actually, I'm not a true vampire fan. Before Forever Knight caught my attention, I only had some late nite run-in's with Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price, and Love at First Bite (All being comedies, but only the last one intentionally.). Somehow, I don't think those were good background research material. grins Most of the ideas that hit my brain come to me via insomnia. I come up with a 'fact' then work backwards to try to make a logical excuse for it. Hopefully, my logic doesn't get picked all to shreds, but it's a fun process coming up with possible scenarios that will fit my need.
For the sake of my ego, I'm just going to take it that great minds think alike. laughs On the plus side, since this work is decidedly non profit, that other guy can't sue my for copyright infringement!
To: FuFuMira: Thank you, but as you might have read above... someone else beat me to the copyright explanation of vampire existance! I am so bummed. Unfortunately, this is also not the first TBAA and FK crossover. I think it was preceded by two others. (The draft of this story was written back in 1999.) You can possibly find the others by doing a Google as I don't think they are posted at