Nick clung to the shadows as he stretched his vampire senses to scope out the building. His vampire hearing quickly identified the rhythmic beating of three hearts nearby as well as several security cameras. Nick's task would've been further complicated by the presence of the cameras had his mother not shown him a way to outwit the technology.
Concentrating Nick allowed himself to enter a meditative like state which enabled his aura to travel outside his physical form. Following the sound of the nearest heartbeat along with the raw energy of the ceaseless machines Nick made his way to the central control station.
The lone guard watching the cameras was easily coaxed into deactivating the system before falling into a deep sleep. Nick quickly scanned the guard with his mind's eye and was disappointed to find that this wasn't the guard with his badge.
Sensing that time was of the essence Nick quickly left the station and glided back to his body. Thankfully only a momentary spell of dizziness ensued as Nick's aura rejoined his physical form.
According to his mother the longer Nick's aura was outside his body the harder the transition would become until it was impossible. Magdalena had dedicated an entire lesson to explaining the dangers of staying outside the body too long and how many young reckless witches and warlocks had stayed had done so. All of them doomed to spend eternity cut off from the physical plain unable to return or die. Not exactly a fate that appealed to Nick.
Quickly overcoming his slight fatigue Nick glanced at his watch and cursed under his breath. Ten minutes had passed already. Using his vampire speed Nick hurried through the dark hallways towards the closer of the two heartbeats.
On his way Nick spotted something that could make his task quite a bit easier something with a long history with the supernatural. A mirror. As he lightly tapped his gloved fingers on each of the mirror's corners Nick couldn't help but chuckle softly as he reflected on the earlier lesson that had enabled him to use this skill.
~Two days earlier~
"Scrying is a forgotten art, mon bebe. Its good name tarnished and dragged through the mud by simpering ignorants. No secrets are safe from a true scrying master no questions that can escape being enlightened…"
It was then that LaCroix asked the question that Nick was far too embarrassed to ask.
"Then enlighten me. Why are you conducting this lesson in the lavatory?" LaCroix demanded from the doorway.
They were indeed in the bathroom just off Crepuscule's master suite. Magdalena perched on the toilet had seemed oblivious to this until LaCroix spoke up.
Calmly locking gazes with her husband Magdalena replied, "Because you are a nauseatingly traditional bastard who doesn't have a mirror anywhere else in the house and I am making due with what I have."
"Touché." LaCroix conceded as he left the doorway and lounged on the bed.
"Something wrong, mon bebe?" Magdalena asked.
"I'm sorry, Maman; its just I always thought that scrying through mirrors was just fairytales and nonsense." Nick confessed.
"Just like vampires? Mon bebe, surely you have lived long enough to know that the world is not constrained to what you can perceive with your physical senses? Simply allow your mind to wander and let the mirror do the rest." Magdalena instructed.
"His mind wanders just fine without the aid of a mirror." LaCroix spoke up from the bedroom.
"Lucien, this is an A and B lesson. C your way out." Magdalena snapped.
"Such intellect, ma cherie." LaCroix replied.
"It won you over, Caesar." Magdalena said smugly.
'Just another day with Maman and Papa.' Nick mused as he tapped the mirror's center then stepped back.
As he allowed his mind to wander Nick felt a thin mental tendril slowly reaching out to him. It was the soul of the mirror reaching out to him lured by the scent of his half witch blood. Magdalena had explained that mirror souls were the camcorders of the spirit realm. They quietly observed the events of the world and waited with everlasting patience for a person with magical blood to share their secrets with.
'Think of the mirror as a small child eager to show its parents what it has learned. A master of scrying is patient and receptive and as a result the mirrors are more than happy to show you what you seek.' Magdalena had suggested.
The mirror proved to be no exception to this rule and proudly showed Nick what it had observed earlier that evening. The museum had just closed and the newest addition to the night shift had wandered by the mirror to check his appearance and much to the mirror's disgust to pop a zit.
The guard never noticed a cloaked LaCroix come up behind him. The young man's eyes became clouded as the vampire's ancient power rolled over him and ordered him to relinquish his badge and pin Nick's badge in its place. LaCroix tossed the guard's badge into a nearby decorative fountain before vanishing.
The guard's eyes became clear once more and he shook his head as if trying to clear a massive headache. His pain subsiding the guard stepped out the of the mirrors line of sight but not before Nick got both a good look at his face and had memorized the unique rhythm of his heartbeat.
Pausing only to check his watch Nick couldn't help but smirk. He had more than thirty minutes left and now that he knew who he was looking for Nick could easily retrieve his badge then make it to the roof with time to spare.
More than enough to coax a small sign of approval from his normally stoic father. Nick firmly pushed those feelings aside knowing that they would impede his progress. Still he couldn't help but wonder why suddenly after nearly eight hundred years did he suddenly care once more if LaCroix acknowledged his accomplishments.
Nick hadn't been concerned about getting an accolade since he was a boy and such things from his revered father and mentor were more precious than gold. Assuring himself that he would dwell on those feelings later Nick focused on following the sound of the young guard's heartbeat.