A week after his confession to Natalie Nick was at the Raven to drop off the now completed portrait for LaCroix.
Nick was particularly anxious about this visit. For the past week rumors had been swirling throughout the community that the General's mood was unusually light even his broadcasts were upbeat.
Some said it was because LaCroix now had a new love in his life. Nick didn't believe that one. Lucien LaCroix may not have been a monk but the master vampire hadn't had love since Nick's mother had died and he had said as much. Something was causing LaCroix to be cheerful and what put his father in a good mood had a habit of making Nick miserable.
Heaving a sigh Nick parked the Caddy in the alley next to the Raven and with the portrait he made his way inside. Janette was at the bar chatting with Miklos. Upon seeing her younger brother she smiled.
"Bonsoir, Nicolas. It's been at least a month now." she remarked dryly.
Nick smiled and kissed her tenderly, "Je suis desole, Janette. No rest for the wicked. Is LaCroix here?"
"The back room." Janette replied.
"Thanks, Janette."
Nick worked his way through the dancing and gently pushed open the door to the back room. LaCroix was lounging in an armchair but rose to his feet when Nick entered. A pleased smile was plastered across the Roman's normally stoic face. Nick didn't know whether to return the smile or to squirm.
"Nicholas, so good to see you. The portrait is finished?" LaCroix asked cordially.
Nick slowly nodded, "Yeah. I just finished it a few days ago. I even found a frame for it."
Nick pulled aside the sheet that covered the painting to reveal the family portrait now incased in an ornate vintage gold frame.
"Magnificent. The great Holbein couldn't hold a candle to you, Nicholas." LaCroix praised.
"You seem to be in a good mood. Schanke said that your broadcast last night was almost bearable." Nick observed.
"I'm flattered. Don't you have cause to be chipper as well, mon fils? Your eight hundredth birthday is next week." LaCroix replied.
"Oh joy. Look, LaCroix, I have to go." Nick said bluntly.
"Oh yes duty calls. Nicholas, you really should stop to smell the roses. You're immortal. Enjoy it. At least have a drink with me before you go. It's a rare French vintage AB negative." LaCroix remarked as he took a sip from his glass.
Nick fought to keep from drooling. AB negative was considered a delicacy among vampires because of its rarity. The younger vampire blushed as his stomach began to growl and ache with hunger. Nick hadn't fed yet and his sire could easily see it.
"There is no alcohol mixed in, Nicolas, just pure AB negative. Think of it as an early birthday present." LaCroix prompted.
The small part of Nick's brain not yet seduced with the thought of consuming such a treat screamed that it was a sin to consume human blood. That it would destroy all that he and Natalie were working towards. The larger part merely reasoned that it was his birthday and he deserved the chance to indulge himself.
"All right but just a few glasses." Nick conceded.
"That's my boy. Help yourself." LaCroix replied brightly.
By the time Nick could stop himself he had drained the bottle. His appetite more than sated Nick was content to lay back on the sofa like a lazy cat.
LaCroix smiled as he draped a blanket over his son and moved a stray strand of hair back from his face.
"You're tired, mon fils. Sleep now." he gently commanded.
Nick was quickly losing the battle of trying to stay awake but at the moment he didn't care. Allowing the urge to overcome him the vampire slipped into a content dreamless doze.
Strange visions and sensations haunted Nick as he slept.
He felt as if he were being cradled in someone's arms wrapped in a cocoon of warmth. The chill of the winter air as it hit his cheek. A dark stone room illuminated only by massive flickering torches. A hunched yet menacing figure swathed in robes of blood.
Nick couldn't help but gasp as the figure turned and a pair of soulless black eyes and the grotesque wrinkled face of an old man fixed on him.
"You are MINE!!!!!" the figure shrieked as he leaped forward enveloping Nick in a shroud of blood.
Nick's terrified screams were answered by a sudden stream of white warm light breaking through the shroud and chasing the snarling figure away. In the figure's place stood a beautiful woman wearing a long flowing white dress.
Nick gasped as he realized who it was.
"Maman?" he asked softly.
An angelic smile graced Magdalena's face as she held out her hand to him, "It's all right, Nicholas. He cannot hurt you now. Not while I'm here, my precious son. Come with me."
Nick eagerly took her hand and allowed her to lead him further towards the light and the soft familiar notes of his father's rebec.
It was the mournful music that guided Nick back to waking. A sudden pounding headache made him regret doing so forcing Nick to shut his eyes and wait until the pain cleared away before he could examine his surroundings.
Nick was in his pajamas lying on a large four poster bed and tucked beneath layers of warm blankets. Thick curtains were drawn around the bed for both privacy and warmth. Nick was most definitely not in his loft.
The vampire grew still as memories of the previous night caught up to him replacing his confusion with anger.
Once again his father had tricked him. Nick was ashamed of how easily he'd been seduced and by a bottle of rare human blood no doubt heavily laced with curare.
Sensing another presence beyond the curtains Nick angrily tried to sit up but a wave of sudden nausea caused him to moan and fall back against the pillows. It suddenly didn't matter if LaCroix saw him like this.
Nick smirked, 'It'll serve that old bastard right to see the pain he's caused me.'
Nick shut his eyes against the spilling light as the bed curtains were gently pushed aside and beside him the mattress sank as someone too small to be LaCroix sat down. Nick felt the tension flee from his muscles as a warm hand began to stroke his temple and move his unruly hair back in a soothing motion.
Nick sighed softly as the memories drifted up. Memories of a happier time while he was still mortal when LaCroix was not only his father but his mentor, whom he admired and idolized. A time when his mother was alive and a source of limitless strength and unending love. How he missed her.
"I have missed you as well, mon bebe. You've grown so handsome." Magdalena whispered.