Date: 97-04-12 04:11:50 EDT
This story was inspired by Ros and Marcias encouragement to our wonderful
group. I have only borrowed the Forever Knight figures; they do not belong to me, but I
shall play with them whenever I wish. So there.
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Practice, by SpooferKD (copyright April 1997)
Jean added the finishing touches to the CAD design that was spinning on her computer
screen. She took a last sip of coffee, then wiped her hands on her green sweatsuit as the
printer began to print her design from different angles. She almost didnt hear the
barking of her terrier, Reggie, over the noise of the printer.
She sighed resignedly and strolled towards the living room area of her apartment. "Do
you see another cat from the balcony, Reggie?", she called; then she stopped and
stared at the dark silhouette of a man standing near the balconys open door. A
moment later, Lucien LaCroix strode into the room, looking both fashionable and ominous.
Reggie dropped back and barked louder at the stranger who had appeared so suddenly.
LaCroix paused, then dropped his gaze to the frightened dog. Hastily, the terrier yelped,
then scooted quickly under the living room sofa.
Jean had frozen in place, and LaCroix now turned his gaze towards her. "You are a
Dark Knightie?", he inquired. "Yes, yes, I am", she stammered. LaCroix
tilted his head and smiled approvingly. "Good, because I have a job that I think a
dedicated Dark Knightie would fulfill quite nicely."
She found his attention very unnerving. "You do? What is it?", she asked.
I sound like an idiot, she thought to herself, Get a grip, girl.
LaCroix leaned against the wall, somehow managing to look both threatening and tempting at
the same time. "The Dark Knighties desire for Nicholas to regain and cherish his
vampiric side, do they not?", LaCroix questioned.
"Of course they do", she responded quickly. "Its unhealthy for him to
ignore a large part of himself, and hell never be happy as long as he keeps judging
himself and thinking of himself as unworthy". She fidgeted, suspicious of his
presence in her home. "Excellent", LaCroix replied, genuinely smiling now.
Why does that smile make me nervous, Jean asked herself.
"Then you would not be adverse to helping me get Nicholas to consume directly from
the source of his best nourishment", LaCroix added. Jean stepped back, mulling over
his words in her mind. "The source? You mean directly from a human, dont
you?". Her sense of wariness grew deeper.
"I certainly didnt mean from a bovine, my dear", he drolled. He ambled
casually around the room. "Lets just say that Nicholas doesnt fully trust
in his ability to stop before he kills".
Jean took a step backwards, uneasy where this conversation seemed to be headed. "I
dont trust his ability to stop in time, either", she countered, "Id
like to think that he could, but Im not willing to bet my life on it".
"What if there was no risk to you?", he questioned. "If there was no chance
that he could harm you, would you consent to help our Nicholas embrace his total
nature?" LaCroix advanced steadily towards her. "Or do you merely pay lip
service to your so-called Dark Knightie ideals?"
Jean felt her face flush angrily. "I *do* want to see Nick get better, but I
dont see how that can be accomplished without risking my life. And I dont want
to be a vampire, either!"
LaCroix leaned closer. "I wasnt offering you that gift right now." He
paused slightly, then continued talking. "I have come to the conclusion that Nicholas
just needs practice, under a watchful eye. I could stop him from overstepping the bounds
of what you could offer safely. In turn, Nicholas could begin gaining some much-needed
control and confidence in himself. He would accomplish much, and you would be perfectly
safe."
Jean looked LaCroix directly in his eyes, and considered his proposal. Nick *would*
benefit from this, she thought, and I dont want to back down in front of
LaCroix, and be treated to one of his infamous sneers. Her eyes narrowed.
"Ill do it", she responded, accepting his challenge.
"Wonderful", he replied. Then he looked over her, from head to foot, taking in
her sweatpants, tennis shoes, and her hair pulled back in a sloppy ponytail. "Perhaps
it would be better to dress for the occasion", he added, pointedly.
Realizing her disheveled appearance was the furthest thing she could get from a seductive
demeanor, she felt mortified. "Ill be back in just a minute", she said,
then dashed to her bedroom". She threw open her closet doors and glanced frantically
inside. Im going to meet Nick! Im going to meet Nick! What can I wear?
What can I wear?, she asked herself, pulling outfit after outfit from the hangars,
and tossing them on the bed in a large pile. She finally settled on a red silk blouse and
black jeans, with boots to match. She brushed her hair quickly, then opened the door and
marched through it.
LaCroixs eyes gleamed appreciatively. "A much more appropriate outfit, my
dear", he said appraisingly.
Suddenly, she didnt feel quite so confident. Will he really stop Nick in
time, she wondered, or is this just a little game that hes playing with
Nick? The thought made her falter, and she bumped into a stand of china figurines
that she had collected. Many of them toppled over from the collision, and she grabbed
clumsily for a couple that were headed for the floor.
LaCroix quickly closed the gap between them. She gasped in reaction, and then found
herself frozen again, caught in the intensity of his eyes as they captured hers. She could
hear her heart hammering noisily in her chest, and realized that with his enhanced
hearing, he must hear it, too, quite clearly.
"You *are* nervous, arent you", he rejoined. "Im ready to help
Nick", she countered, tensely. He leaned forward, his lips almost touching her left
ear. "This will not do", he murmured. "I cannot take you to Nicholas in
such a state." He began to circle her, slowly. Directly behind her, he leaned forward
again, and whispered quietly in her right ear, "You must not be afraid when you come
to him. It will not be as bad as you think. Let me show you." He slid his left arm
around her waist, pulling her into his strength, while his right arm crossed her chest,
and stroked the left side of her throat. Her head turned slightly to the left, in
response, then she felt a sudden deep stabbing pain on the right side of her neck,
succeeded by a deep pressure there. Her body arched in surprise, but his arms pinned her
back against him, and the sharp pain was followed by an intense wave of pleasure that
washed over her. She gasped in shock, then closed her eyes in delight.
Just as suddenly, the pressure was gone, leaving an empty feeling behind. Jean stared at
LaCroix, startled and shaken, expecting to see a look of triumph or satisfaction in his
eyes. Instead, they were somber, and searched hers for reaction. This isnt a
game to him, she realized. She could suddenly relate to the Cousins interest
in him.
He gazed into her eyes a few moments longer, then said, "Good. It is time for us to
go now". She realized that he had been holding her up, and she straightened. LaCroix
walked to a nearby coat rack, and unfolded a cloak around her shoulders, and draped a
scarf tenderly over her wounded neck. She was bemused over his tender care. Then he leaned
closely to her ear and murmured in hushed tones, "I bit the right side of your neck.
Nicholas generally prefers the left". She giggled in response, and knew that his bite
had removed her fear of Nicholas biting her. She felt eager to repeat the experience.
LaCroix drew her to the balcony, then bent down and scooped her into his arms. She wrapped
her arms around his neck and smiled up at him, expectantly. Then air rushed around her,
and she was speeding past the buildings of Toronto. Minutes later, Jean found herself
descending to the floor in Nicks loft. Nick was staring, broodingly out the windows
at the Toronto streets below, but quickly turned as soon as their feet touched the floor.
"What is this, LaCroix?", he demanded to know. "Is this another of your
little games?" LaCroix had his hands on Jeans shoulders, and he stiffened in
response to Nicks accusation. "No, Nicholas. I have brought you a gift. This
lady is here to help you to learn control over your
..little drinking problem. She
has volunteered to let you drink from her directly, and I will stay, to ensure that you do
not take too much." LaCroix stepped back from her.
Nicholas stared at Jean, as if noticing her for the first time. "You volunteered to
let me bite you? Of your own free will? Are you crazy?" His voice rose in anger.
"Dont you know how dangerous that is?" His hands closed over her shoulders
as if he longed to shake her. He turned her, so his back was to LaCroix.
"Its not so crazy", she argued. This was not the response she had been
expecting, and she felt angry and defensive. "What are you going to do, Nick? Live
your life in fear of really losing control sometime? LaCroix can help you to stay in
charge of your beast. Isnt that better than your constant state of
fear?" His eyes widened, then he considered her more closely. "Youre
really prepared to try this, of your own free will?" Jean lifted her chin higher.
"I really believe that its the only way you can have any peace", she
replied.
Nick held her face between his hands, and looked into her eyes. Satisfied with what he saw
reflected there, he leaned forward and kissed her lips softly. She closed her eyes, and
smiled as she felt him placing a series of light kisses on her cheeks, forehead and
eyelids. He pushed her scarf and cloak off her shoulders, then kissed the left side of her
neck, as they hit the floor. She slid her arms around to his back, and leaned her head to
the right, allowing him more access to her vulnerable neck. He licked her neck slowly, and
she felt her pulse quicken. She decided not to open her eyes, knowing that she would see
Nicks eyes turning golden, and perhaps his fangs would have extended, too.
That might be a little more than I can handle right now, she thought.
Better to keep my eyes shut, stay calm and wait for the
Deep, stabbing pain blinded her thoughts. She inhaled sharply, and her body tried to pull
backwards, away from the pain and pressure in her neck. Nicks arms tightened,
cutting off any retreat. He shook his head and new pain exploded in her neck. His grip
made struggle impossible, and she panicked. Then a surge of pleasure struck her, followed
closely by another, and another. She felt as if she was drowning in pleasure, and she lay
limp in his arms. She felt that everything that she was and that she hoped for was flowing
from her, into Nicks embrace. She was dimly aware of LaCroixs hand on
Nicks shoulder. "Enough, Nicholas", he said. Then, more sharply, his voice
commanded, "I said enough!", and he shook Nicholas.
Nicholas pulled his face from her neck and snarled in answer to LaCroixs demand. He
was holding her up by her arms, and she couldnt seem to get her body to do more than
sag in his embrace.
"Nicholas, let her go now, or you *will* kill her", LaCroix reminded his son.
Nicholas took a few deep breaths and then his vision cleared. LaCroix stepped forward and
lifted Jean from Nicks arms. Nick seemed to collect himself then, and glanced down
at the woman that LaCroix held. He placed a kiss on her lips and brushed the hair from her
face gently. "Thank you", he said. Jean saw that Nicks brooding expression
was gone and he seemed to be at peace with himself. She smiled and responded, "Your
welcome". She felt content to be in LaCroixs arms. He flew her home to her
apartment, and placed her on her bed, ignoring the few yips of protest from
Reggie, still under the living room couch.
"How do you feel?", LaCroix inquired, bending over her. She breathed in the
marvelous scent of the cologne he was wearing "Sleepy, but very satisfied". He
lay the blanket on her bed over her.
"You did well", he confirmed. He straightened and started to leave. Near the
door, he turned and asked, "By the way, there *are* over 50 Dark Knighties,
arent there?" "Yes", she answered. "Why do you want to
know?" LaCroix smiled secretively and responded, "Practice makes perfect".
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The End
All complaints, comments and constructive criticism can be sent to me at
spooferkd@aol.com. I hope that you enjoyed this little Dark Knightie interlude.