It was time. He had to act, he had to act now. This was his last chance to save his newest friends from the cruel wrath of his master. Closing his eyes he allowed the change to come over him, his fangs grew as beneath his eyelids his eyes began to glow amber. With a snarl he bared his fangs, initiating a challenge to his master's authority, before pushing himself forward and flying across the space that separated him from LaCroix. It seemed that his master was by no means forced off his guard by this attempt at an attack. He could feel a hand wrench his jacket and throw him towards a nearby wall. As he impacted with the wall he grunted in pain and fell to the ground. Stunned, but not beaten yet, he got up again. LaCroix hadn't changed his position and still held Kit firmly across his shoulders. Kit's neck was out of the danger zone from LaCroix's fangs but it would only take a very slight movement to change that.

Standing again, Nick released a guttural growl. It was met with the sound of another, an answering growl that hadn't come from his master. Confused he looked around the room, it took him two attempts to spot who had answered his threat to LaCroix, when he saw who it had come from he took several steps back in fear. Instinctively he looked to his master who stood his ground but he could detect the slightest tremor of fear working its way to him through their immortal bond. Both vampires watched in silence as the new arrivals in the shop emerged from the shadows.

They were Enforcers, secret police for the Vampire Community. It was their job to see that the code was upheld and that any infractions on it were punished. Both Nick and LaCroix knew that their visit wasn't a friendly one; each held a sharpened stake in their hands that they wouldn't hesitate to use for a moment. One of the Enforcers growled once more which forced Nick to retreat further, a movement that brought him closer to LaCroix. In respect for their vulnerable position at that time both men pushed down their vampire, allowing their features to return to a human normal. Showing the vampire was showing aggression, something that would get them killed quickly.

Keeping his tone even as he spoke, LaCroix broke the silence. "What brings you here gentlemen?"

The first Enforcer growled shortly and pointed at Robyn.

"What is it you want with her? She poses no threat-"

The second Enforcer hissed, interrupting what LaCroix was saying.

"She knows about us, I realise I should have done something to alter that but I was prevented."

Another growl.

"She has an ability, she can single us out with a simple glance. There was nothing I could do. If I tried I would have failed."

Silence.

LaCroix shook his head, "I won't kill her. I refuse."

In answer to this the second Enforcer stepped forward, raising his stake he indicated that LaCroix had no choice.

Doctor Cole stared at the bed in utter shock. After a few moments he began to move. He dropped a file full of papers from his hands as he ran from the room. Skidding to a stop by the nurses' station he ordered them to call security while he sat down. He couldn't deny that he was getting too old for cross-ward sprints, it had been a long time since he'd even considered running and he didn't regret it for a moment. When he thought about it, he didn't regret it either.

Two burly security men arrived at the ward just minutes after they'd been called. They stood beside Doctor Cole's chair and awaited their orders.

Doctor Cole took a deep breath, "A patient has gone missing from room five, you have to find him. He's in no fit state to be out of bed."

One of the security guards nodded, "Do you know where he might have gone?"

"To be honest I couldn't tell you a thing. If he's left the hospital you'd be better off calling Lazytown Police, in fact, call all three police forces. If Greentown Police don't get hold him Crazytown will."

"We'll check our security tapes first to see if he's left the hospital, if he's still on the grounds we can get him."

Doctor Cole nodded and watched breathlessly as the two security guards left. He hoped that they'd find Sportacus, if they didn't he knew there would be trouble. As an afterthought he asked a nurse to hand him the phone and dialled a phone number he knew backwards. His call was answered with a startling speed that threw him quite off his guard. It was some time before he could recall what he was going to say.

LaCroix looked at Robyn and then back at the Enforcers, their intentions were clear. He closed his eyes briefly, a submissive gesture that told them that he would do as they required him to do. Bending down he dropped Kit on the floor and swapped him for Robyn who was still unconscious, blissfully unaware of what was about to happen to her.

Nick couldn't watch any longer, "Wait! You can't kill her. You can't kill either of them. Too many people are looking for them. They ran away from home, police forces where they live and here are looking for them. If they're found dead there will be too many questions, too much publicity."

The second Enforcer looked to his comrade. A good point had been made that they couldn't deny the validity of. Publicity was something they wished to avoid as much as possible. It was a volatile entity that could very easily threaten their work and discover their kind to the whole world, something they fought very hard to prevent. In silent discourse they made a decision; the second Enforcer lowered his stake.

Both Enforcers backed off slightly before making their exit. LaCroix and Nick heard a 'swoosh' sound as the Enforcers took to the air. Sighing in relief both men looked to each other, their fight was forgotten for the moment. Something more important had come between them, something that gladdened Nick. As unwelcome as the Enforcers were their intrusion had offered him all the help he could have hoped for, LaCroix seemed to have lost all interest in harming either Robyn or Kit.

Thinking that they were now alone, they realised that they were wrong when they heard a light footstep on the tile floor. This was a footstep belonging to a woman with a favourability for high heels. They both watched as Janette emerged from the shadows, accompanied by two men in uniforms. Without a word or look to any of the people in the room the two uniformed men walked straight past all obstacles until they reached the two people that they had come for. Once both people were secured one of the uniformed men talked into a radio before lifting his passenger. His colleague did the same and both men left. No one resisted or obstructed their departure.

When both men were out of earshot Janette spoke, "They're from the Network. They're two of the men that were at the Raven earlier. I was driving past them when they stopped me, I offered them a lift. It seems we timed our arrival right."

"You did." Nick replied nodding, "Are they taking Robyn and Kit home?"

"Yes, they're taking them straight to the airport I should imagine. One of them is a doctor apparently. Their friend was outside, the large one, he ran beside the car as I drove. I was quite surprised that he managed to keep up. What did the Enforcers want?"

"To make sure that Robyn and Kit don't say anything, they're lucky they're being taken home soon. Hopefully they won't get to them there."

LaCroix shook his head, "They can get to them anywhere. You know how it is, Nicholas, they can be anyone, anywhere. I do hope that you are right though, they were two most intriguing people."

Readjusting himself slightly, LaCroix left the shop. They heard him fly off after a few moments. Left alone with her brother, Janette walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead. He had been rattled by the night's events but that would pass. For herself she knew that there was very little that could be done until LaCroix returned. Something told her that he wouldn't be around for a while. Cain's blood had inflamed him almost to the point of utter insanity. Wrapping an arm around her brother's shoulder she led him from the place, the sun would be up soon.

As if someone had hit him Nick looked at Janette in utter disbelief, "You drove here? You never drive anywhere!"

Frowning slightly in mock anger Janette punched Nick on the arm, for that comment she wouldn't let him spend the day with her.