~January 1193~
It was a calm night. The clear velvet blue sky was populated with a multitude of sparkling stars and a brilliant full moon. Highlighted by this celestial glow was the imposing stone structure of Chateau de Brabant a foreboding black monolith against the deep blue snow.
Narrow slits of flickering orange light provided sparse relief to the black structure and bestowed a sense of comfort and warmth to the rooms within but in the confinement chamber of Lady Claire de Brabant the atmosphere was rapidly becoming cold and tense.
The young noblewoman was calmly sitting upright in her bed while a midwife and a maid lay crumbled on the stone floor. The steady rising of their chests the only indication that they still lived.
"Bonsoir, Monsieur LaCroix." Claire said cordially.
"Bonsoir, ma bonne." LaCroix replied as he stepped from the shadows.
Seeing that he was carrying nothing caused Claire's pulse to quicken and a very unladylike urge to fidget threatened to overcome her.
LaCroix smirked, "You need not worry, ma bonne. The birth was successful and the boy was born safely. He will be given to you shortly but we have terms to discuss first." he stated.
Claire nodded, "What ever you wish."
"First of all you will sign over a parcel of your father's land and the towns on it to me. I will collect the tariffs and taxes and use them as I wish. You will acknowledge my wife and I as the child's godparents. When he is old enough to begin his training as a knight you will place him in my care. You will also call him by his given name Nicholas." LaCroix said absently as if he were talking of the weather.
Claire's face fell as she realized that she could never just dismiss Lucien LaCroix like a bad dream.
"I'm afraid not, ma bonne. Just remember that I am your angel of mercy and the terms I have set are quite simple. Comply and you will escape the horrors of the brothel." LaCroix replied coldly.
Claire quickly regained her composure and nodded, "Everything will be done as you have asked provided that you have held up your end of our bargain. I wish to see my son now."
"Magdalena." LaCroix said stiffly.
Magdalena stepped out of the shadows with all the grace and regal air of a queen. Her head was held high and her face was fixed into an emotionless mask. In her arms she gently held Nicholas, who was oddly quiet.
Claire's eyes sparkled when she saw the child and could hardly believe that he was actually there.
"Bring him to me." Claire said fighting to keep her voice steady.
LaCroix's eyes turned gold and with a vicious snarl displayed his thick fangs, "Speak to my wife like that again and we will take the child faster than you can blink. You serve us, Claire de Brabant, never the other way around. You are merely a nursemaid and that is all you will ever be. Never forget it." the vampire hissed.
The next thing Claire knew she was alone in her chamber with the slowly awakening servants and the now wailing child in her arms.
A sudden frantic knocking at his door jolted LaCroix from his musings. Snarling he gingerly tucked the necklace back inside his jacket and stormed to the door.
"This had better be good." he grumbled.
Throwing open the door LaCroix was greeted by a very nervous vampire, who LaCroix recognized as Derrick Blake, Lawrence Merlin's fledgling and assistant.
"Sorry to disturb you, your Generalship. Larry said I should come see you." the younger vampire stammered.
"What is it?" LaCroix demanded.
"You know how Larry's got that hotline for vamps in need?" Derrick asked.
"Is this going to be a short story or a novel?" LaCroix hissed.
"There was a drive by shooting just a few minutes ago outside the University of Toronto. Two vampires were shot at. The cops are getting nosy about why they weren't hit. No one was killed so we can't count on Nick to whammy everybody and Larry says that you're the next best choice before the Enforcers." Derrick said quickly.
A mock smile played across LaCroix's face, "So nice to know that I can be of some use. What's the address?"
Derrick mumbled out an intersection and before the fledgling could blink his elder had vanished.
The blinding snowfall had dissipated by the time the Elder landed in an alley near the scene. The section of sidewalk was swarmed with police cars, an ambulance, bystanders, and even a news van.
LaCroix cursed under his breath as he pushed his way through the crowd of onlookers and then whammied his way to the two vampires. Both were sitting on the back of the ambulance pretending to huddle into thick gray blankets.
One of them was a young woman barely out of her first century. The other was also a woman but LaCroix couldn't sense anything more from her. She had to be older than at least three hundred to be able to block him so efficiently. The rest of her features were obscured by a thick scarf wrapped around her face and hair.
LaCroix couldn't help but wonder at that. Granted Canadian winters were harsh and resident vampires had to keep up appearances but this woman's attire was a bit of overkill.
"General! I'm so glad you came! I tried to whammy them but there were too many. I…" the first vampire explained.
"You did the right thing. I spoke with the good detectives and they're now convinced that you ducked out of the way. Though if either of you did get hit I would suggest paying a visit to the good doctor Lambert." LaCroix replied silencing her with a wave of his hand.
LaCroix locked gazes with the second vampire who'd remained silent. Alarmed yet oddly familiar brown orbs met his cool blue eyes causing a sudden sharp pain to flare between his eyes but LaCroix was careful not to let it show.
He'd been dealing with these strange pains off and on for the past month and was loath to tell anyone of it. Nicholas (if he could be bothered enough to care) would've insisted that his father pay a visit to the good doctor and LaCroix would rather have the entire Roman army marching on his skull than let that mortal shrew touch him.
"Did either of you see anything?" he asked as the pain began to ebb away.
The first vampire shook her head, "No. We were both just leaving. I'm attending a night class and she is my professor. We were both just walking along talking about an upcoming exam when suddenly a car zooms by and bullets start flying. We figured out we were both vampires when we were able to get up."
"Can't you vultures leave these girls alone for half a minute? Unless you've got a badge you shouldn't be near them." a paramedic snapped as he put himself in between LaCroix and the two vampires.
The first vampire looked at the paramedic as if she were expecting LaCroix to strike him dead. LaCroix decided on a more subtle method.
Locking gazes with the mortal the ancient vampire spoke calmly, "I am a friend. I have come to take them home."
"Okay." the mortal replied.
When the mortal walked away LaCroix motioned for the vampires to follow him. Both tossed their blankets aside and gathered their things. The second vampire grabbed a silver cane along with a large messenger bag. As she rose to her feet and began to walk her eyes (the only part of her body not covered) closed tightly as if she were in great pain.
LaCroix narrowed his eyes but chose not to say anything. This vampire was a dedicated actress indeed.
"I suggest the both of you accompany me back to the Raven. You'll be safe from whoever did this as well as the media. Anything you need from your homes will be brought there." LaCroix ordered.
Lucien LaCroix would never let it be known that he was lax in his duties and responsibilities as the Elder of Toronto.
The three vampires snaked their way past the mayhem and into another dark alley. LaCroix watched the first vampire take flight and turned to see the second vampire still limping towards him.
LaCroix sighed impatiently, "There is no need to continue your act here. We are alone."
The vampire's warm brown eyes twinkled as she smiled, "I've been waiting centuries to hear you say that, Lucien." she replied.
The blood in LaCroix's veins froze when the woman spoke. He had not heard that rich alto voice outside of his memories for centuries. It was the voice of his beloved wife.
"Magdalena?" LaCroix gasped.
The vampire blinked away tears as she slowly peeled away the scarf revealing the unmistakable delicate face of Magdalena de Sang.
LaCroix shook his head and stepped back dreading that soon he would awake from this dream. His precious Magdalena nothing more than a bittersweet memory.
Magdalena stepped forward, gently took LaCroix's trembling hand in her own, and pressed his signet ring to her soft lips.
"Is it really you, ma cherie?" LaCroix whispered.
Nicholas had once confessed to LaCroix that the spirit of his dear friend Erika had visited him on several occasions following her suicide. Nicholas had remarked on how when Erika held him it had felt as if she was still alive. However, Erika had visited Nicholas just hours after her death while Magdalena had been dead for close to eight hundred years.
A serene look of understanding graced Magdalena's face as she held LaCroix's hand to her warm cheek.
"Oui, mon amour. I assure you are not seeing ghosts." she replied.
"How do I know then that you are truly Magdalena? You could easily be a trickster in disguise." LaCroix said more to himself than to her.
"Then ask me something that only I know." Magdalena suggested patiently.
"What is the name of our firstborn son?" LaCroix asked.
"You named him Matthias James after two fallen comrades. He was such a beautiful little boy but sadly he lived less than a month. You carried his coffin down to the crypt and sealed it yourself. Despite our heartbreak neither of us wanted to give up and two years later we welcomed our second son Nicholas Brynn. Those few years that we shared were the greatest of my life. I've been through hell without you, Lucien."
"Ma cherie…" LaCroix said as he pulled her close.
The two vampires embraced with a crushing force their lips locked into a passionate kiss expressing the surging wave of emotion far better than words were able. When they finally pulled apart husband and wife were content to simply hold each other savoring their long missed closeness.
Blood tinged tears streamed down LaCroix's normally stoic face but at the moment he didn't care. His Magdalena had returned to him and that warranted tears.
Magdalena lapped at the tears moaning lightly at the taste.
"More intoxicating than I remember. I'm so sorry, mon amour. I never wanted to leave you. I…" Magdalena said sobbing.
LaCroix pressed a finger to her soft lips, "Shhhhh. There will be time for explanations later, ma cherie. Tonight the two of us must first be properly reacquainted. Don't you agree?" he asked stroking the side of her face.
A coquettish smirk graced Magdalena's face, "Why not? I'm sure I can spare two minutes just for you, the great Lucien LaCroix."
LaCroix chuckled as he swept Magdalena into his arms, "What I have in mind will take much longer than two minutes, ma cherie, and flattery will not end it any sooner."
"Dammit." Magdalena said teasingly.
Without another word LaCroix took to the skies with his wife cradled in his arms.