"Nick, how can you just blindly agree to this? This has LaCroix issue bullshit written all over it!" Natalie demanded.
Nick sighed grateful for the fact that this conversation was taking place over the telephone.
"I am not just blindly accepting this, Nat. Magdalena has never lied to me and I doubt she'd start now." Nick argued.
"Well as sweet as that sounds have you forgotten that Magdalena has been truly dead for close to eight hundred years? This woman could be nothing more than someone LaCroix bullied into the role. You've said yourself that he has used other vampires to trick you before." Natalie pointed out.
"He would never allow anyone to assume Magdalena's life. The pain of her death was ten times worse for him than it was for me." Nick growled.
"Why is that?" Natalie asked her tone a little more gentle.
"Because the night she died the two of us had been separated. LaCroix was forced to choose his wife or his son. Magdalena screamed across their bond for him to save me and he obeyed. As grateful as he was that I was safe LaCroix never forgave himself for failing to save Magdalena and neither did I. As soon as I was old enough I entered Lord Delabarre's service merely to put distance between the two of us. I don't expect you to understand." Nick answered.
"Look, Nick, I'm sorry but I…" Natalie stammered.
"I didn't call so you could judge me, Natalie; I called because I didn't want you to worry about me." Nick said bluntly.
"I'm worried anyway, Nick. What if this whole evil warlock thing is just a lie? What if this all just part of LaCroix's plan to get you back?" Natalie replied.
"Yeah well what if it isn't? Until I know otherwise I'm going to assume that Magdalena and LaCroix are telling the truth. Magdalena is going to help me develop my abilities as a warlock. LaCroix will help me to polish my vampire powers." Nick said bluntly.
"Nick, come on. Warlocks? Magic spells? Those things are nonsense." Natalie said firmly.
"Just because you can't dissect it doesn't mean that it's just a story, Nat. I'll see you in a month." Nick snapped before hanging up.
Nick sighed as he rubbed his temples feeling every inch of his eight hundred years weighing down on him.
"What troubles you, mon bebe?" Magdalena asked softly as she laid her hands on his shoulders.
Nick snorted, "I'm nearly eight hundred years old, Maman. I think I've outgrown that term." he muttered.
"You'll always be mon bebe to me, Nicholas. Now what vexes you so? A woman? Your lover?" Magdalena inquired.
"Natalie and I are friends. I care for her deeply but we're just friends." Nick said firmly.
"Denial is not very becoming of you, Nicholas." Magdalena said bluntly.
"Are you channeling LaCroix now? Natalie and I are just friends. That's all. She's helping me to find a cure." Nick stated.
"A cure? You're not sick are you, mon bebe?" Magdalena asked clearly puzzled.
"No. Natalie believes that she can cure me of my vampirism. I could be mortal again." Nick answered.
"So you see this Natalie as a means to an end? You're more like your father than you think, Nicholas. Why would you want to be 'cured' anyway? You have what mortals crave above all else. Eternal youth and power. You are blessed with a gift, my son, not stricken with leprosy." Magdalena rationalized.
"You don't understand. I want to be free of this curse, Maman. I want to stay in one place for decades without people questioning my continued youth. I want to grow old and die as I was meant to before LaCroix bit me." Nick snapped.
Magdalena sighed, "Not all of us are meant to die at a ripe old age, mon bebe. If your father had not brought me across I would've died in a pool of my own blood. Is that what you would've preferred? To grow up motherless?" she demanded.
"No of course not. But I…" Nick said quickly.
Magdalena shook her head, "I will hear no more of it. I suggest you hurry up and dress. The hour is late and we have much to do. You'll find suitable attire in the wardrobe."
"Yes, Maman." Nick replied feeling guilty for upsetting her.
"One last thing. If this Natalie cannot come to terms and accept what you are then she doesn't deserve you." Magdalena said stiffly before gliding out of the room.