Hey guys! Chapter 2 up and ready! :D I was really pouring over this chapter trying to make it perfect, I hope I did ok. ^^' Once again if LaCroix and Nick are way out of character, let me know! I will strive to make them as close as possible to their characters as possible. I was a little worried I had made LaCroix too infatuated with Elisia on this chapter, my only thought was that in the episode with Fluer LaCroix had a certain love at first sight as well, and there was something about Elisia that reminded him of her and that was why he felt the way he did in this chapter. So please no flames if you don't agree. :) At any rate, please enjoy and review! I would love to hear from you. 3
When they finally arrived, Nick pulled up to the curve in front of The Raven. The building was pulsing with music.
"Alright we're here. Let me buy you a few drinks." Elisia finally smiled at his offer.
"I believe that was the point of us being here in the first place, was it not?" Her voice held a musical property, as her eyes held a small, hidden glimmer of light that perhaps one day she'll be able to except the reality of her brother, and that whether she liked it or not, she would never be able to see him again.
Maybe.
Nick opened his car door and swiftly walked over to her's and opened it before she did.
"Watch your step, madam," he said as a joke but really, addressing her like that just made him miss the days when gentlemen had respect for the people they met, and for the women they courted.
Nick opened the door to the club for Elisia to enter, he came from behind her and placed his hand across her back to the opposite shoulder.
"Just stay close to me and no one here will bother you, I promise. They know me here."
She wanted to roll her eyes at the detective, she was starting to see a pattern here as he tried to flaunt some kind of male dominance, and not only impress her, but to boost his male ego. Elisia forced down an irritated sigh. The hand he placed on her was like ice, it made goose-bumps run down her arm. Taking a good look around, the décor of the club was dark and lighted in green, red, and blue spotlights. The whole room was thick with soft rock, smoke, and sex. It matched the setting perfectly.
Nick had guided her to the bar in the far back of the room.
"What will it be?" The heavy accent came from the bartender behind the counter.
European? She thought.
"Hey Miklos, whatever she wants –"
"It's on the house."
Elisia turned at the same time Nick did to see a tall albino man carrying a wine glass, walking up to the two of them smiling. He had pale blue eyes that seemed to illuminate the man's powder white skin and hair. Elisia had no recollection as to why she couldn't tear her eyes from his, but from what she could see from the corner of her eye Nick had a completely different reaction than her.
"Ah, Nicolas, I can't seem to recall the last time you came for a visit twice in one night."
The man's cold eyes shifted from Nick back to Elisia, as if to devour every ounce of innocents her eyes held, taking it and cutting into her being with depriving darkness. And yet, she didn't turn away, she wanted to, but a part of her wanted to touch the flame that she knew would burn her.
"An alluring flame, is still a flame, my dear…" The man walked up to her, resembling a rattlesnake, enticing his prey to come to him.
Did he just...?
"LaCroix, please not tonight, this time it is for a friend." Nick said exasperated, He had hoped LaCroix would be else were in the club when came here, perhaps doing his radio show by now, but no such luck he should have known.
LaCroix turned to Nick once again, irritated at the tone his son had, especially with his guest. "Nicolas, I own this establishment, and as such, I have every right to be wherever I wish to be. Have I answered you question?" He said in matter-of-fact voice.
The albino man turned his head quickly back to Elisia, allowing a slow, quiet smile to creep onto his ghost-like features. "LaCroix, at your service, Miss…?"
Despite Nick telling her not to talk to anyone in the club, she felt an uncontrollable urge in the back of her mind to tell him everything that this LaCroix wanted. His bright blue eyes were haunting and so beautiful, Elisia felt herself drowning in them.
"Don't indulge him, there's no need to tell him your name or anything else of personal value. As owner of the Raven, don't you have some obligations?" Nick pursued, wanting to keep LaCroix as faraway from Elisia as he could, both mentally and physically.
LaCroix closed his eyes as if to restrain himself, and clicked his tongue. "Is this how you act in front of all your lady-friends? Really Nicolas, I'm appalled." LaCroix hated being interrupted, Nicolas was no exception.
"Now then," LaCroix bowed his head curtly and faced Elisia one last time, hopping that this would be the last of his son's outbursts.
"I do apologize for Nicolas's interruptions, and if I may, shall we start once more?" LaCroix offered.
"I am Lucien LaCroix. The pleasure, is truly all mine." He spoke with a sound of husk and silk meshed together, adding it to his already alluring deep voice. As he gently and gracefully grasped her hand and bent forward to brush his cold lips on the back of her warm, delicate hand. All the while his eyes never leaving hers.
His position did not move for what seemed like minutes, like he was savoring the moment his body had contact with hers before he lift himself upright again.
"D'Aubigne, Elisia D'Aubigne." Elisia softly spoke, the music muffled her heavenly voice but LaCroix still heard her, loud and clear. Nick sighed in aggravation.
"Ah… Elisia D'Aubigne, a very lovely name. If I may, you are a very rare and beautiful woman indeed. Am I right in thinking you are French?" The syllables of her name fell off the tip his tongue like honey, they were smooth and addicting. Elisia blushed at his compliments, "thank you LaCroix and –"
"Please, I must insist, call me Lucien." He interjected.
"O-oh, of course… Lucien." Elisia stammered at first, She felt a little awkward that she found herself being so friendly with someone she didn't know, right after being so lost and broken not ten minutes before meeting the man. It felt so wrong to feel so drawn to a man so soon, like she had been taken away right in the middle of her mourning process. The way he spoke screamed 'Old-world', and his eyes seemed to hold knowledge beyond one lifetime. Elisia found herself wanting know what he knew, wanting to listen to his voice, wrong or not.
"And yes I am, but only on my Father's side. My mother was from Rome, you see, and I must insist that you address me as Elisia then." She spoke the truth, and yet still dodged the subject. LaCroix's smile grew.
Something wasn't right in his master's eyes, Nick decided. It was as if the LaCroix he knew was gone without a trace while he was talking to Elisia, he couldn't fathom how much that small detail disturbed him.
"How about that drink, huh Elisia?" Nick said with a little more exaggeration then he intended as he fought for his position in the conversation once again.
Elisia turned to the detective, she had nearly forgotten he was ever there. "Oh, yes of course, Detective." She said nonchalantly.
Nick turned to the bar with a dark frown and nodded his head to get Miklos to come over. He had planned on getting to know Elisia more, however it seemed LaCroix was doing a fine job of doing that for him. What was he thinking bringing her here, he should have known better. The only thought in his mind was wanting them to both leave then and there.
"Yes?" Miklos bent over the counter to hear Nick better over the music. He nodded his head in Elisia's direction,"Get her the strongest you got, and the usual for me." The man shook his head and went straight to work. Meanwhile LaCroix and Elisia were still engaged in their casual conversation,
"You surprise me, Lucien." LaCroix raised his brow.
"Oh, how so?"
LaCroix was now sitting in a red leather bar chair on the left side of Elisia, he had his elbow resting on the table his finger circling the elegant crystal glass. He wanted to make sure that he was able to keep an eye on his brooding Nicholas and have his much enjoyed conversation with the rather charismatic Elisia. He found it very strange to have such interest with a human, when he saw his son walk in with a female companion he only wanted to torture Nicolas and simply entertain himself with his human friend. He knew how much Nicholas tries to keep him away from his human companions, so naturally he wished to introduce himself. Only when she turned around did he admit that the woman was quite breath taking.
"I was brought to your club by the detective to get drunk." Elisia said, cocking a lazy smile.
"And yet not a drop of liquor has passed your lips." LaCroix finished the sentence of her dilemma. "I completely agree with you, and the blame should squarely be placed on my shoulders for having denied you that pleasure for this long." He said.
LaCroix looked up, in search for Miklos who was already walking towards Elisia with one of the Raven's most potent of alcoholic drink, LaCroix's eyes slid over to the hunched over cop, who was sipping his substitute blood.
Elisia chuckled at his antics and his profound apology, she really had no idea what was going on in her head, was she really flirting this man? This was never her scene, she didn't go to bars and she certainly didn't go after bar owners. She was always alone and married to her job, she was happy that way, it made things easier. She wasn't going to give him anything, and besides, the way he handled himself how the air around him was powerful, it was all very strange to her. It felt like they were all signs and warnings of a dangerous man, and someone she should avoid at all costs. Although in spite of this, she still couldn't stop the gravitational pull this LaCroix had on her, it was frighting.
Adoration, protectiveness, and admiration: the sense of wanting to be near Elisia, the hightlight of the night. All of these emotions came from Nicolas as LaCroix tapped into the link he shared with his children. LaCroix's first reaction to such feelings was to always scoff and ridicule his son for such foolishness… but right now, at that very moment, he felt like ripping his beloved son's head off.
LaCroix stared at his drink, the thoughts that now ran though his mind greatly irritated him. He could almost feel the anger glazing over his icy blue eyes. No, he would forbid Nicolas in this. He felt... his old heart was feeling an emotion he swore never to feel again, and it scared him, more so than anything in this world. LaCroix wanted to rip his heart out and smash it, throw it to the ground and repeatedly stomp the already stilled organ. For that is where such nonsense comes from, does it not? From the heart; did it really matter weather it beat or not?
Lucien looked over at Nicolas as he, that sorry excuse for a vampire, kept watch on Elisia. He thought to wipe LaCroix from her memory.
Now that made him chuckle.
"Oh, did I… say something funny?" Elisia said, bringing LaCroix back from Nick's thoughts.
LaCroix shook his head at his impoliteness, as he saw Miklos finally arriving with her drink. "forgive me. I merely was lost in my thoughts, here you are my dear." Taking the martini glass from Miklos and shooing him off with a simple gesture of his head.
"For you," he lowered the neon-pink colored beverage into her receiving hand.
"Oh, and careful, this particular drink tends to have an unexpected… Kick to it." LaCroix cautioned, as Elisia graced him with a smile.
"Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed you like to speak in riddles quite often." She asked.
"Yes, in fact you might say he has quite a knack for being a little, twisted…" Nick's voice came from the other side of Elisia.
She turned to face him with a look of irritation and indignation. She knew sarcasm when she heard it, and to be frank, it offended her. She couldn't understand why it ate at her from the inside, she convinced herself it was because of the rudeness of it, and that it being directed at Lucien wasn't the only reason.
"I see that I have already out warmed my welcome, sadly enough." LaCroix pretended to be hurt.
"No-" LaCroix shook his head.
"Yes. And I suppose it is best in any case, conveniently Nicolas's little intervention has reminded me of the time. I have to be on the air in ten minutes."
Elisia was disappointed he was leaving so soon, she blamed half of it on Nick and the other half was placed on Lucien's apparent radio station. Though it helped her mood in some way that she had been able to squeeze one last bit of information from the enigmatic man.
LaCroix reached for his half empty glass as he stood up, Nick and LaCroix's eyes met; Lucien's was the only eyes that held mirth. Fused with power, and the promise of retribution, should Nicolas interfere in this affair. He has woven his trap, and Elisia DeLuer will be ensnared, and she will be his.
"M-maybe we'll meet again… sometime." Elisia asked.
Lucien stopped before he left her person on his way to the back room.
"I will be sure that it very well does. This I swear," Lucien vowed.
He looked at her long, keeping her eyes locked to his, and then his cold, white hand brushed the pocket of Elisia's old, but still fashionable black jacket. "Turn to the CERK station if you ever feel so inclined, it would be an honor." LaCroix's voice was dark and entrancing, he nodded his head and continued his way to the booth, giving Nick a stern look.
"You will not touch her memory, Nicolas." He ordered all the while never slowing his stride.
Elisia watched his back until he became one with the darkness that collected in the back, and entered a padded room with a long glass window.
Once LaCroix had completely vanished from the scene, Elisia turned around in her seat to pick up her drink. Forgetting Lucien's advice, she took one big gulp of the drink ordered for her and swallowed it forcefully. The liquor hit her hard, one drink and two minutes later and she could already feel her body swaying, nearly teetering off of her stool.
"Ahg, God… he wasn't joking." Elisia murmured softly, it seemed a little too unreal for any alcohol to take such extreme effect that fast.
What was in that glass anyway? She really needed to take more consideration about the things she puts in her mouth.
"Heheh... that's what she said." Elisia slurred, Lucien warned her though, she thought bitterly and it was her fault for not listening properly.
Nick turned to Elisia to see her head slumped down, her forehead in her hands. Concern shadowed his mind.
"Elisia, Elisia are you ok?" Nick picked up the glass from which she drank from and brought it to his nose, Nick cursed, Scarlet Moon. The most intoxicating thing here given to mortals. He could tell that Elisia doesn't go out drinking very often, and it was his doing for ordering it for her. A hand jerked up and grabbed Nicks wrist, pulling him from his thoughts.
"I'm fine. I want another..." A slurred voiced came from the face planted head that was lying on the counter-top.
"Listen, Elisia. You are very intoxicated. I'm sorry, it's my fault I shouldn't have brought you here. But now I think it's time to go." His voice was strong and almost forceful, he wanted to make sure her slowed mind had comprehend that he was not going to take no for an answer.
"I'm not done yet. I say when I've had enough, what was it called again?" She rasped, squinting her eyes at the man that had her glass.
Oh, it didn't matter. All she cared about was getting that guy with all those lovely bottles of liquor to pour it in her glass. What was his name again? She couldn't seem to recall… Elisa grabbed Nick's wrist as he tried to take her glass away. "Elisia this is very strong and it's already affecting you like you just had 10 shots. I think tonight has been enough for you, lets get you home, ok?" Nick said gently, hoping it would get him somewhere.
"Don't tell me what to do." She snapped.
removing her hand from his wrist to snatch the used crystal from his hand, nearly missing but she managed snag the slim neck of the cup, Elisia jerked it out of Nick's hand, then raising it in the air for Miklos to refill it.
"Elisia! Listen to me, you don't know what your doing. I need to take you home now!" Elisia neck snapped as she whipped her head around to face Nick, giving her a pound headache from the quick movement.
"You do not presume to tell me what to do, Detective! Do not think that I will let a stranger come into my home and feel like you the right to flip my world upside down and think they can get friendly with me!" Elisia dry throat rasped, trying her best to sound threatening.
Frustration was swelling within her, adrenalin kept her heart pumping, telling her to take it all out on Nick, the one who just waltzed into her house and was now trying to take away her rights and the respect she had for herself! So what if her drunken state was doing the talking, all she cared about was that the turmoil tangling its self up inside her mind and dropping weights on top her heart, making her chest feel heavy. it had to be released, the lump in her throat made it hard for her to release her voice Ever since the moment she heard her older brother was gone, that he was dead, everything changed for her. There was no one left in this world for her to be with, her mother was gone, her father disappeared… not wanting anything to do with the family he left them behind, and now Jacques. The one person she was closest to, the one she cared the most about. Now all that she had, was herself.
Nick's hand found Elisia's shoulder, "Elisia…"
"Don't touch me."
She shrugged off his hand violently, her voice was cold and dead, a glimpse into her soul. "I'm sorry, I didn't –" Nick tried to apologize
"Is there a problem, ma'am?"
Miklos saw the scene playing out on the other side of the bar and walked over with the newbie's order that LaCroix had specifically told him that it was on him. Setting the drink down, Miklos starred at the vampire, he came in here quite often and was a good friend of Janette's, the old owner, he rarely ever caused any trouble – which was why he didn't want to have to get physical with the guy.
"Sir?" The bartender asked again, waiting for Nick to back off.
But he didn't…
Elisia's head laid on the cold marble of the counter; in a stupor-like state. Wrapping a strong arm cross her back and placed the other under her legs thrusting her up from the bar stool and in to his arms, close to his chest, then he bolted out of the club as fast as he could without raising suspicions among the mortals around him. Elisia's head now rested on Nick's shoulder; he couldn't reprimand himself enough for the utter fool he had been for even entertaining the thought of bring someone like her to the Raven, a nightclub owned by his master…
LaCroix watched his son carry Elisia out of his club, he continue to stare off even after they had left. How was he felt like this, his fluer was the last to ever make him feel like this and he sworn to never let it happen again. Yet when he saw Elisia, spoke with her, it felt like an old flame being rekindled. She was different than his Fluer, and still something in her reminded him so much of her. They would meet again, he would make sure of it. LaCroix flip the switch to the mic and began his broadcast.
"The past is to teach us, the present is to test us, and the future is the result. They say that we are forever doomed to repeat our past, because we do not learn from our mistakes. Have you forgotten? Have you not learned? Will you let your heart feel pain once more? If you haven't, here let me give you this one piece of advice, rip it out, crush it; I thought I had centuries ago...