Chapter 3

[Quebec City—Maison —Ten Minutes after Chapter 1]

Alyce flew over the urban skyline. Spotty overcast provided some cover for her passage. Turmoil jumbled her thoughts. Jealousy, Anger and Concern fought in her heart. She narrowed her eyes. You can lecture Nick later. Right now, he needs you! She spied her destination sandwiched between much more contemporary surroundings.

Almost in response, the seventeenth century chateau's dual chimneys puffed Morse code-like smoke toward her.

She alighted in the alley beside it. As she did so, her mind flowed backward….

[Toronto—Right after "Dark Knight"]

[A/N: Yes, I realize that most fledglings wouldn't grasp these basic survival skills quickly if at all. Let's just go with it….]

Alyce levitated right above the museum's skylight. She peered down into Professionalism's home away from home. Exhibits called out to her. Familiarity sought to wrap itself around her akin to Comforter's cozy folds once more. Nick, his overweight partner, Schanke, and some other woman talked on the stairs. Her hand reached toward the window. An unusual tug drew her closer toward Nick.

Nick….

She winced at this new state of affairs. Newly grown fangs extended themselves. Canary glowed in her eyes. Frustration hissed from her lips. She lingered above the window. Jealousy burned over his connection to that interloper. I love him! I survived LaCroix's attack! I'm like him! Damn it! She'd escaped from the cemetery right after sunset. First Hunger's insanity, however, drove her beyond Reason's bounds.

A German Shepherd and a tan mutt stumbled into her path. They'd snarled. They'd pounced in a suicidal charge.

Instinct took her. Fangs extended. She grabbed onto each attacker. She sucked them dry. She dumped the carcasses in the brush. What? Why did I just suck those dogs dry? Did…Did I do that?

Overhead, Nightingale sang its mournful song. Warbled Notes caught her attention. Then, it took off into the darkness overhead.

Her eyes watched this flight. Since childhood, she'd envied the birds for that aspect. She reached overhead. Unbeknownst to her, her feet floated off the ground. She ascended higher and yet higher. She happened to look down. "What?" I can fly? Really? She levitated in midair. She meandered while getting her bearings. Sucking blood…flying…coming out of coffins? I…Did that LaCroix guy make me a vampire instead of killing me? Her eyes went wide.

A sharp breeze shoved her back toward the city.

Maybe I can do this! Okay. Rather than fight the breeze, she rode it toward Toronto and her destination. As with swimming, she streamlined her arms and legs to mitigate Resistance's drag. She even picked up speed within a couple of minutes. About halfway through her journey, the burning started again. First Hunger raged within her anew. I sucked everything from those dogs. I'm hungry again? Why won't it stop? Her scientific mind struggled to put the pieces together. Get to the museum. Then, you can figure out the rest!

Within minutes, she'd reached her current location. She'd survived….

She'd lost….

She shook her head. Tears drizzled down her cheeks. Anger hissed through her fangs. NO! I'm right here! Nick! I'm right here! She descended to the roof. For several minutes, Sobs choked her throat. Depression swamped any thinking. Hunger, however, pressed her onward. Necessity drove her to find shelter and sustenance. Somehow, she could sense others like Nick and herself. Now what? Nick's a vampire. So's that LaCroix guy? Are there more of them? She shook her head. Maybe that club he went to the other night? Maybe there are others there who can help me? Decision pushed her to follow that sensation toward its source….

[Modern Day]

Alyce shook off Reverie's hold on her thoughts. Nick needs you. She stalked around the corner and up the front stairs. Her knuckles rapped on the weather-beaten front door. She sensed little out of the ordinary. In fact, Midnight/Early Morning cloaked the Rue Cartier in silence and darkness. Then, an aura bobbed closer to the door. She stepped back and in front of the door's peep hole.

The door opened. A slightly overweight woman in a white blouse and a long dark skirt peered out. "Ah! Bonsoir, Mademoiselle Harris. Entrez vous." She stepped aside to allow Alyce to walk in.

"Merci, Madelyne. Où sont Nick et Madame LaFontaine?" Alyce surveyed her surroundings. The narrow entryway opened up into a grand reception area. A staircase wound its way from the varnished oak boards underfoot toward a second floor balcony. Other rooms awaited guests. Memoria reminded her of LaFontaine's sanctum directly in front of herself.

"Madame has not returned. Her travels were quite urgent." Madelyne led Alyce up the stairs. "Par ici, s'il-vous-plait. Je suis sûr qu'elle apparaîtra ici." She stopped at the third door to their right. Her hand turned the knob and opened it. She motioned Alyce to follow her inside. "You remember this place?"

Alyce nodded. "I am grateful for her assistance. I am sorry…."

"Nonsense!" Madeline raised her hand. "You needed her help. Madame was happy to help. Yet you are here tonight? C'est intèressant. You know of Nicolas' situation?" She led Alyce into a guest chamber. White washed wood panels lined each wall. Polished Oak gleamed in Candles' flickering flames. Majestic Four Posted Bed dominated the chamber's center.

"LaCroix told me. I came immediately to find her." Panic seized Alyce's heart. "Where is she?"

Madelyne spat into a metal trash can. "That one?" Indignity sniffed through her nostrils. "He toys with you. Madame senses Nicolas' distress. He calls you? Mademoiselle, je suis désolé. I am sorry. I would not bring up your pain."

"I know. You are a good sister. Help me." Madelyne opened the cabinet to their right. She pulled out a large tarp. "To cover the bed."

Alyce nodded. She picked up her end. Together, she and Madelyne pulled the tarp over the bedspread, blanket and pillows. "That should do." She stepped back from the bed. "How do we know when they will return?"

"One cannot say." Madelyne threw her hands in the air. "Sa soeur. She helps." She spied a few misty wisps over the bed. "They come." She pointed.

Mist's wisps congealed into a full cloud all around the bed. For a dozen mortal heartbeats, it enveloped that area. Then, it thinned and melted away to reveal Nick lying on the bed and Clarise standing beside it.

Alyce stared at Nick's state. "NICK? What did he do? What did LaCroix do?" Horror elicited a gasp. Her hands covered her mouth.

Clarise stiffened. "Alyce? What are you doing here?" Curiosity and Surprise jarred her. "Of course, you would come!" She shook her head. "Le chevalier hurts you. Yet you are here?"

Alyce staggered toward Nick's prone form. "L…LaCroix called me. He couldn't reach you. He wanted me to come here. I'm sorry. I…" Her fingers brushed his cheek. "Oh, Nick!" Anger abated inside of herself.

Clarise exchanged looks with Madelyne. "Very well. I would appreciate your aid. Hold him down." She pointed toward his shoulders. "I will pull the stake out."

"Pull the…? Why didn't you do this in Toronto?" Alyce raised her eyebrows at her hostess. Her hands pushed down against his shoulders. "I can feed him."

"Oui." Clarise grabbed onto the stake with both hands. Her eyes glanced toward the ceiling. "Les choses que je fais por toi, Nicolas! Père, guide nos efforts! Amen!" She crossed herself. Then, she pulled up on the stake.

Alyce winced at Holy Ritual's sanctity. Burning and Irritation reddened her skin. Still, her hands maintained their pressure. "Come on, Nick! Hold on!" She pressed her lips against his forehead. "COME ON!"

Clarise pulled the stake entirely from his chest. "Feed him now, Alyce! I fear I gave him my fill in Toronto." She staggered a few steps back. The last effort sapped her strength. "Madelyne, s'il-vous-plait…."

Madelyne helped Clarise to a chair. "I will bring the bottles." She rushed out of the chamber.

Alyce bore her forearm. Her fangs cut her skin. Then, she settled the wound and its dripping blood over his mouth. "You're not passing yet, Nick! COME ON!" Desperation pinched her fingers together to force yet more blood into his mouth and down his throat.

Everything hung in the balance….