(This is a sequel to the Light of Day
episode)
Throughout the rest of her walk, Alex kept peering over her shoulder. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched -- being followed by some unseen person. She tried to convince herself that it was just the remnants of the ordeal she had been through, but her senses told her otherwise; someone was following her! Hurrying back to the House, she stopped one last time before entering it, her eyes scanning the woods to try to see who might be out there. Slowly, she started to open the door to go inside.
Suddenly, she felt the force of the door pushed against her. She jumped, startled by the abruptness. Nick stood in front of her, shock also registering on his face. He hadn't been aware that Alex was on the other side of the door and, seeing her standing there, surprised him. He noted the look of fear and panic on her face and immediately asked, "Are you okay? I didn't mean to scare ya."
Alex did her best to recover and abruptly answered, "Yeah, I'm fine. You just almost hit me with the door, that's all." She tried to rush past the ex-SEAL, not wanting to discuss what she had been feeling; she still felt awkward anywhere near Nick right now -- so soon after everything that had happened -- and she just wanted to be alone. But her junior partner was not going to let her get away quite so easily.
"Sorry," he said, blocking her way. "I didn't know you were out there. I was just gonna head out for a run." He studied the young black woman's face and noticed her downcast eyes. Concerned, he continued, "Are you sure you're all right? If anything's bothering you, Alex, you know . . . ."
"I know," she finished, cutting him off. The last thing she wanted to hear right now was how much she could depend on her associates. She was grateful for all that they had risked to save her from the dark side of herself, but she also felt an extreme amount of guilt for what had happened. Hearing their concern and commitment to her only intensified those feelings of guilt. "I'm fine -- really," she stressed as she brushed past the young man. "Have a good run," she added as an after-thought.
But, as Alex retired to her bedroom to "rest", she began to think about Nick. I shouldn't have let him go out there, she thought suddenly, What if someone is out there . . . stalking me or the members of this House. I just let Nick fall into their hands! She felt uncertain what to do -- part of her wanted to go after Nick . . . to make sure he was all right -- but the other part was too afraid of what might be lurking out there in the woods. Unable to decide what course of action she should take, she finally laid down across her bed and closed her eyes.
Derek had been updating his Journal entries to incorporate the events of the past few days. As he placed the facts on paper, he marveled again at how fortunate he and Nick had been in being able to rescue Alex from the grips of the vampires. He detailed the things that the team had learned about the hypnotic powers they possessed as well as their ability to create a drug that allowed them to move in daylight. All this might someday prove beneficial to future Legacy members faced with the same type of incident.
He was interrupted by a knock on his office door. He looked up as Nick entered. Noting the look of concern on the young man's face, he quickly asked, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure," Nick answered, sitting down in the chair opposite the Precept. "I was about to go out for a run when I ran into Alex -- literally. She seemed really spooked. When I asked her about it, she just blew me off, saying I startled her or something; but I didn't buy it. Something had her scared before I opened the door."
"What do you think it was?" Derek asked, perplexed. He knew that the next several days were going to be hard for his team to get through; they had been through quite an ordeal together and he knew that emotions and memories of the events were going to have to ease and heal before they could resume their relationships. Now, the Dutchman wasn't certain if Nick was being over-sensitive to Alex's reactions or if something might truly be wrong with the young woman.
"I don't know," Nick shrugged. He could almost read his mentor's thoughts and added, "Maybe it's me -- but I could've sworn that she appeared jumpier than usual."
Derek nodded. "She's been through a great deal. I'm sure she probably has some residual feelings about what happened and you just startled her -- like she said. But we'll keep an eye on her, just to be safe." He noticed that his comments did little to comfort the ex-SEAL and added, "Are you all right?"
"Me?" Nick inquired, confused. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just worried about Alex. She . . . she wasn't herself for a while and I just want to make sure she's okay." Seeing that this explanation seemed to satisfy Derek, Nick left the office, heading for his own room. He had lost the desire to go out on the run, wanting to stay close to Alex -- just in case she needed him!
Rachel was in the kitchen, preparing a special hors d'ouerve for dinner that evening, in honor of Alex's safe return. During her preparations, she felt the presence of someone else in the room and turned to see Alex standing in the doorway. "Hi," she said, as she turned back to her pots and pans. "How're you feeling today?"
Alex stood silently for a minute, a rash of anger overcoming her. Why is everyone so concerned with how I'm feeling every minute of the day! her mind wanted to scream. She squashed this outburst, however, and answered, "Fine . . . I just wish people would stop asking me how I felt!"
Rachel caught the undertone in Alex's voice and looked over her shoulder. She could tell that her young friend seemed apprehensive and edgy and dismissed it as being the last remnants of the ordeal Alex had been through. Changing her tactic, Rachel stated, "Well, I'm preparing something special tonight -- a seafood fondue -- to . . . celebrate . . . your returning home to us."
"Some celebration," Alex mumbled, only slightly under her breath.
Rachel turned, having heard the comment. "What is it?" she inquired, sensing that her friend wanted to talk, but didn't know how to begin. "What's bothering you?"
"Everything," Alex spilled. "On the one hand, I just want to forget what happened -- you know, move past it?" She watched as Rachel nodded. "But, on the other hand, I feel like things are never gonna be the same. I've worked so hard to make a name and reputation within the Legacy and I can't shake the feeling that I've blown that somehow."
Rachel took her friend's hand in hers and gave it a gentle, but firm squeeze of reassurance. "You can't think that, Alex. What happened wasn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong; none of us holds you responsible for anything that happened."
"Oh no," Alex countered. "You should've seen the way Nick was looking at me earlier today." After saying this, she realized she was being unfair to the ex-SEAL. She had been scared when he opened the door so suddenly, because she was concentrating so hard on the fact that she thought she was being followed. But his constant concern and hovering the past day or so had gotten on her nerves. "He looks at me like I'm gonna turn into a bat or go on a killing spree or something," she finished.
Rachel could tell that there was much more that Alex wasn't telling her, but she let it pass for now. The best thing she could do for her friend was to listen -- offering advice in situations like this wasn't always the most prudent thing to do. But she did want Alex to feel comfortable around all of them and so she commented, "Well, we've all been through a lot and it's just gonna take some time, Alex. I'm sure Nick doesn't mean anything by his reactions. You know how he is . . . he's always looking out after us."
Alex rose to leave Rachel to her cooking; she didn't want to hear any more about Nick's virtues or to talk about "the ordeal" any longer. There was so much of what happened -- what she was feeling about it -- that couldn't be explained . . . not even to her closest associates. "I guess you're right," she agreed, only half-believing the words. "I'll let you finish up." She left the kitchen, feeling even more lost and alone than before.
Dinner was very subdued in the Legacy House as the members all ate in strained silence. Derek kept a watchful eye on his two youngest associates, trying to determine what might be bothering each of them. He was particularly worried about Alex because she seemed so cool and aloof during the meal -- so unlike her normal exuberant personality. Again, he tried to dismiss it as her own way of dealing with the trauma she had recently undergone.
But in Alex's mind, she felt isolated -- even in a room surrounded by her dearest friends! There was a part of her that was so grateful to them for the risks they had taken; yet, she was also embarrassed for having gotten herself into such a situation. Then, below the surface, just beginning to make it's presence known, was the fear she had felt out in the garden earlier that day. She had known someone was out there, stalking her, and a part of her wondered if all this was truly over.
When the meal came to a close, Alex excused herself. The fear and dread she had experienced earlier in the day had drained her and she felt exhausted. As she started to head up the stairs, Nick called out to her. "You sure you're all right, Alex?"
This was the last straw! She turned on the young man and snapped, "I'm fine! Would you get it through your head that I'm fine!?! I don't need a babysitter, Nick and I resent you treating me like you do!" With that she rushed up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door shut.
Derek stood beside the ex-SEAL. He could read the hurt and confusion on the young man's face and rested his hand on the other man's shoulder. "She'll be all right," he assured Nick. "She just needs some time."
"Yeah," Nick responded, not sounding like he believed the words. He then went outside for a walk in the cool, brisk air. The Precept watched the young man leave, concerned for both members of his team. The emotions and memories of what had happened were going to be far more difficult to get over than he had originally suspected.
Alex laid across her bed, tears erupting from within her. All the emotions she had kept pent-up . . . the fear, the gratitude, the anger . . . overwhelmed her as she released them into the softness of her pillow. She thought about the look on Nick's face a few minutes ago and knew that she had hurt her friend unjustly; she would have to find a way to apologize to the young man.
As the emotions drained from her body, the exhaustion settled in and Alex found herself barely able to keep her eyes open. Drifting off to sleep, she had the familiar sensation of flying. She imagined herself floating above the woods behind the Legacy House. She could picture Nick walking slowly in the gardens -- unprotected and vulnerable; she saw herself swoop down upon her prey.
Rising with a jerk, Alex shook her head, trying to clear the terrible vision that had been there. She silently prayed to herself to let it only be a vision and not reality. Suddenly, she was aware of another presence in her room. She stared into the corner, trying to make out the image or shape of the stranger. Finally, from within the darkness of the shadows, a figure emerged.
He was a thin yet well-groomed individual with dark, captivating eyes. He was dressed in what appeared to be mid-18th Century clothing, and yet it fit him well. It was clear that this man came from another time and place and that fact frightened the young woman. Alex could feel the fear rising within her as she tried to decide what to do -- should she cry out or try to run?!
"Don't be afraid," the stranger said, speaking perfect modern-day English. "I' m not going to harm you." Alex stared into his eyes and could feel that all-to-familiar hypnotic spell rush over her. She struggled against it, but found that she was helpless. 'Not again,' her mind wanted to scream, as she felt her body fall under the spell of the stranger.
"Who are you?" Alex managed to ask. Even in her semi-conscious state, her mind tried to remain active -- to fight against what this stranger might be here for.
The gentleman silently approached her. He reached out his hand in a command for her to sit and she felt herself sitting upon the edge of the bed. "My name is Bartholomew," he answered, "and I've come to help you."
Fear rose again within Alex and she struggled to wake herself from this stupor. "What do you want?" she asked, already afraid that she knew the answer.
"Philippe D'Arcy began something in you," he answered, politely, still fixating his gaze upon her. "What I want to know is, do you want that process finished?"
Alex thought long and hard. Again, the young woman felt torn -- was this stranger again offering her a chance at immortality? As appealing as the thought was, she knew that the price it would cost her was not worth the reward and she shook her head as strongly as she could manage; it came out as barely a "no".
The stranger smiled sadly. "So, you wish to remain as you are -- mortal, fragile and vulnerable?" He watched as Alex nodded agreement. "Such a pity," he sighed. "But Philippe had no right to sacrifice our existence for his own selfish gain, and I won't make you pay the price for his mistake." He waved his hand over Alex and she felt her eyelids fall with the weight of fatigue. "You will sleep now, and you will remember very little of your time with Philippe D'Arcy. You will remember only what he was and that you chose not to be like him. You will not remember the internal conflict you've felt, nor will you feel a conflict any longer with your associates." Finally, he added as he disappeared into a puff of smoke, "And you will not remember me."
As Alex drifted into the first peaceful night's sleep she had had since her return from New Orleans, she felt a wave of happiness and comfort wash over her.
Bartholomew easily carried the corpse to the edge of the bay and tossed the body in. He had learned centuries ago that it was important to try to hide the victim's of his appetite in order to remain safe. Although he knew that the Legacy was aware of the existence of vampires, he didn't want them to be aware that any still remained in the City of San Francisco; not unless he decided to make his presence known to them anyway.
He retired to his hiding spot within the caves off the coastline not far from the city. Again he played over in his mind the tragedy that had occurred for his race in the past few days. Part of him desired revenge against those that had killed so many of his brothers and sisters, yet he knew that the fault laid more with Philippe than with anyone else.
Bartholomew had chosen the young man years ago to be a sort of leader amongst the growing colony of vampires. However, greed and selfishness -- such human emotions! -- overcame Philippe and, in the end, he risked everything for his own personal satisfaction. That proved to be his -- and others -- downfall!
The young man from the 18th Century had been a Master Vampire for centuries and knew that he would have to rebuild his following in order to survive. He thought again of the young woman -- Alex -- that Philippe had pursued. But upon meeting her, he knew that she would never have had the strength to survive the required lifestyle. In the back of his mind, he wondered if he might find the next "Philippe" in San Francisco.
Rachel noticed how sleep had been coming to her in fits that night. She was tossing and turning again when she felt someone in the room with her. Rachel didn�t believe anyone had gotten into her house, but just in case, she sat up with caution. Scanning her room, she found it was empty.
In the shadows, Bartholomew sat and watched Rachel. She couldn�t see him yet because he wasn�t ready to be seen. Waiting for the perfect moment, Bartholomew let his thoughts wander. He wondered if any of Alex�s friends would be strong enough to make the transition. It was a question he might as well pose to Rachel when he made his move.
Finally, the moment came. Bartholomew knew Rachel was nearly asleep. In this current state, it would be easier for him to do his work. Coming out from the shadows, he made himself visible again. Moving closer to Rachel�s bed, Bartholomew stirred her ever so slightly with his own mind.
Rachel awoke, only partially, to find Bartholomew at the side of her bed. �Who are you?� she asked.
Bartholomew cracked a smile and revealed his fangs to Rachel. �Who do you think I am?� he replied.
Rachel felt the fear rushing through her body yet outwardly she was perfectly calm. �What do you want?� she asked. There was a hint of fear to her voice.
�Do you want to live forever?� he whispered in Rachel�s ear as he leaned down towards her, �I can arrange it, if you do.�
Rachel�s mind flooded with thoughts of her daughter. Katherine was the only thing that could keep Rachel from welcoming such an offer. �No,� she quietly replied, �No, I don�t.�
Bartholomew stood upright again. He had known she would give him such an answer. This woman had a young daughter to raise and couldn�t embrace what he had to offer because of the girl. �Nevertheless,� Bartholomew said, �I have something else to offer you.�
Rachel wondered what else the vampire could offer her. Sitting up in her bed, she said, �What is it?� Her eyes sparkled with excitement and fear.
Bartholomew let a soft laugh escape his lips. �I can take away all the memories that haunt you in your dreams,� he said, �The memories about Alex . . . about what you did to place her in harms way.�
�It wasn�t my fault,� Rachel muttered, �I -- I wasn�t myself.�
Bartholomew nodded. �Yes, I know that, but your mind isn�t quite up to accepting that fact yet,� he replied, �I can take away your memories so that you can rest at ease again, Rachel Corrigan.�
Rachel stared at him, wide-eyed. She didn�t remember telling him her name. �You want to help me?�
�Yes, if you want me to,� Bartholomew answered, �Do you want me to help you, Rachel?�
Rachel took a deep breath. �Yes,� she whispered, �Help me.�
Bartholomew made his way back to Angel Island. Once there, he would confront Dr. Derek Rayne. Bartholomew knew there wasn�t much Derek would want to forget about the ordeal, but he had to wipe away as much of the pain from each of them as he could before it destroyed their friendships.
Landing and shifting form, Bartholomew silently walked towards the castle. �Where are you, Derek Rayne?� he asked aloud, �Can't you sleep tonight?�
Walking through the front door without a sound, Bartholomew listened intently for Derek�s presence in the House. Looking around him, he again wondered if Derek would accept either of his offers. Finally, hearing Derek in the library, Bartholomew made his way to him.
�Dr. Rayne,� Bartholomew stated, �I�m here to help you.�
Startled, Derek turned around. Looking over the man, Derek knew that something wasn�t right with him. �Who are you?� Derek asked.
�Call me Bartholomew,� he replied, �May I sit down?�
Derek cautiously nodded and sat down himself. �You said you were here to help me,� he said, �What do you want to help me with?�
Bartholomew smiled slightly. �I want to help you get over the ordeal you had not so long ago,� he replied, �I�ve already helped Alex and Rachel with it. Now let me help you, Derek.�
Derek stared at Bartholomew. There was something familiar about this man. It was as if Derek had seen him before, but he couldn�t place it. �What are you talking about?� he asked.
�First let me offer you something far more exciting,� Bartholomew stated, �I want to offer you immortality, Derek. You could live forever.�
Derek suddenly realized what was so familiar about Bartholomew. . . he was a vampire! �I want you out of this House . . . immediately,� Derek roughly ordered.
Bartholomew laughed. �I�ll be back again, Derek,� he said as he stood up. Clearing his throat, Bartholomew added, �You never even let me offer you my assistance, Derek.�
Derek paused for a moment. �What kind of assistance?� he asked, intrigued by the offer Bartholomew was making.
�I can help you forget whatever it is you want to forget,� Bartholomew explained, �I can take away all your pain so you can sleep again at night. I can help you be able to face your friends again without second guessing yourself.�
Derek narrowed his eyes as he stared at Bartholomew. �What�s the catch?� he asked. Derek figured that there had to be something that he would have to give up besides all the pain and bad memories.
Bartholomew moved closer to Derek. �There is no catch, Derek,� he replied, �I just want to help you all. You�ll live a happy and productive life and forget that you ever saw me here.�
Derek took a deep breath. There was little he wanted to forget about what happened with Alex, but he had been second guessing himself lately. He couldn�t believe that he hadn�t realized Philippe was a vampire sooner. Shaking his head, Derek said, �There�s nothing I want to forget.�
�Oh how you lie,� Bartholomew teased, �You�ve been second guessing yourself, Derek. I know -- I�ve seen your mind.�
Derek felt anger rush up inside him. As he prepared to lash out, he felt a sudden wave of calm fall over him. Bartholomew smiled as he continued to squash whatever anger Derek had against him.
�Do you want me to help you?� Bartholomew calmly asked, �It�s all I want to do.�
Derek sat back down, suddenly feeling very tired. �Yes,� he whispered, �Help me, Bartholomew. Make me forget my mistakes.�
Bartholomew smiled and did as Derek had requested. He walked away from the sleeping man he had just assisted and made his way upstairs. There was only one person left for Bartholomew to see . . . Nicholas Boyle.
Nick was sleeping, but it was a fitful sleep at best. Images of Julia hanging on the scarecrow stand, Karen being dragged across Pier 3's dock, Alex circling him as if he were a prize turkey at a banquet -- all of these floated through his mind, causing his sleep to be tormented.
He awoke with a jerk and knew instantly that he wasn't alone in the room. "Who's there?" he called out, not seeing anyone. His trained eyes searched the shadows, but he saw nothing. Only his keen instincts told him not to trust his eyes. He slid his head under one of the pillows and gripped his revolver. "I know you're in here," he said, a cocky-sound in the tone of his voice. "And if you won't come to me, I'll have to come to you."
Excellent, Bartholomew thought as he smiled at the young man. That's just what I want you to do, Mr. Boyle. Come to me! He remained invisible in the corner, but admired the ex-SEALs tenacity at searching the room. How extraordinary, he remarked to himself. He knows I'm here but has little fear in searching for me. He's the one I�m searching for!
As Nick continued to roam throughout his room, searching every nook and cranny for the presence that he felt, he found that his eyelids were suddenly feeling very heavy. He had to fight to stifle a yawn from escaping him and it felt like every muscle in his body was carrying an extra 40 pounds of weight. Still unable to find anything or anyone, he allowed the strange exhaustion to wash over him. He slumped back down on his bed, gun in hand and fell into a deep sleep.
"Soon, Nick," Bartholomew whispered to the young man. "As soon as I have a safe place established to rebuild my colony, I will come back for you." He spread out his arms and changed into the form of a bat. He was satisfied with what he had found . . . a new leader for his army! And there was some self-satisfaction that it was a member of the very own organization that had hunted his kind!
Nick ran that morning more from pure habit than from desire. He still felt the waves of exhaustion hitting him and he struggled with each stride to push them out of his mind. I must be coming down with something, he guessed as he stopped for the fourth time to catch his breath. I've never been this outta shape! He walked for a while, enjoying the solitude of the woods. He actually dreaded going back to the House, although he didn't feel much like remaining out here on this run either.
Alex had been so cool, so distant from him since everything had happened, and he found that it really bothered him. He and Alex had been good friends while he and Julia had been dating. Since her death, they had become closer somehow, sharing their silent grief at her loss. But now, he wondered if things would ever be the same between them. He knew she was feeling guilty over what had happened -- and he knew how hard overwhelming guilt was to let go of -- but he hoped he could find a way to ease her conscious.
Slowly, he headed back up to the mansion. As it loomed closer, he dreaded the confrontations and arguments that the day would probably bring and mentally began to steel himself against them. There was no way he could have prepared himself for what the day would really be like, however!
Rachel was surprised at how good she felt when she awoke that morning. She quickly prepared a hearty breakfast for Kat and then shooed her off to school. Checking the time and noting how early it was, she decided to head over to Angel Island and prepare a surprise breakfast for her Legacy friends. There would be times when Rachel dreaded going over to work with her newest associates, but today was not one of those times.
She was pleased to note that everyone still appeared to be sleeping -- all except for Nick, whom she was certain was already up and out of the House. Quietly, Rachel went about the task of preparing a light, simple breakfast. As she finished squeezing some freshly cut oranges, Nick walked in. She looked up and had to laugh at the surprised reaction on his face.
"What's the matter, haven't you ever seen anyone squeeze fresh orange juice before?" she laughed openly at the expression on the ex-SEAL's face.
"It's just . . . I've never seen you do it before," he covered. He wondered if Rachel was feeling all right -- she had been so down the past few days . . . ever since the stuff had happened with Alex. "Is Kat okay?" he asked, unable to shake his feeling of concern.
"Yeah," Rachel asked, becoming a little perturbed now with Nick's shocked behavior. "She's fine. I just thought I'd do something nice for all of you. We've been working very hard lately and could use a nice meal to start the day. You act like I'm committing murder or something . . . lighten up, Nick!"
Nick shook himself out of his stupor and sighed, a nice homemade breakfast did sound good and so he decided to let his feelings of unease go. They quickly returned, however, when Derek arrived in the kitchen.
"Goot morning everyone," Derek said in a bright and chip per tone. Quickly, t he Precept walked over and looked at the simple breakfast Rachel was preparing. He breathed deep, savoring the smell of the bacon sizzling and picked up a glass, helping himself to a glass of fresh orange juice. "This looks wonderful, Rachel," he exclaimed. "That was very thoughtful of you to go to all this trouble."
"Well, it's nice someone appreciates it," she said, nodding her head in Nick's direction. "Nick there looks at me like I'm a 'Stepford Mom' or something." Derek looked over at the uneasy expression on Nick's face and immediately became concerned about the young man. Something in Derek's memory reminded him that he had been concerned . . . very concerned . . . about Nick recently.
He walked over and placed a hand gently on the young man's shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned for his young associate. "You look . . . pale?!"
"Am I okay?!" Nick repeated, astonished at Derek's behavior. "Yeah, I'm fine it's you two I'm worried about." He watched as the Precept and Rachel exchanged worried glances. Nick began to feel a rush of panic overtake him -- something was definitely not all right with these two. He wondered suddenly what Alex's attitude would be like. He didn't have to wonder for long.
Alex walked in at that moment and, like Derek, exuded a bright and cheerful attitude, happily greeting everyone. Nick rose from the table where he was sitting and backed up into the wall, staring at his three associates. Alex immediately noticed Nick's strange behavior and looked at the concerned faces of Derek and Rachel. "What's going on here?" she asked, becoming concerned herself. "Nick . . . are you all right?"
"I'm fine," the ex-SEAL shouted. Truthfully, he was becoming frustrated and a little more than frightened. Yesterday, everyone could barely talk to each other because of the tension they had all experienced; Alex had nearly taken his head off for talking to her -- and now, they were all acting like nothing had happened. "I'd just like to know what's going on here," he finished.
Derek slowly approached his associate, his hands open and stretched out in a friendly. non-threatening gesture, trying to calm the shaken young man. "That's what we'd like to know, Nick. What is going on here?! Something is obviously troubling you and we'd like to help you with it." Nick continued to back away, slowly sidling his way to the kitchen doorway. He knew that he had to get out of there -- go someplace to think or straighten out his thoughts; this all had to be a dream or something, he tried to assure himself.
As he reached the open doorway, Nick answered, "You're right . . . something is going on here, Derek. But not with me . . . something's wrong with the rest of you!" He then turned and headed out of the kitchen and out of the House. He ran back into the woods, although his body ached from it's previous run. His mind was whirling, trying to figure out why his friends and associates were acting so bizarre. Nick knew that something had definitely happened during the night, but he couldn't put his finger on what!
Bartholomew woke from his slumber within the cavern he had located in Oakland. He could feel the stirring of trouble and he quietly concentrated on where the feeling was emanating from. It was Angel Island! He had made a mental connection with his next intended leader of his people -- Nick Boyle -- and now he felt that something was greatly disturbing the young man.
With the wave of a hand, he changed his 18th Century garb into the modern-day clothing of a gardener and stepped out into the sun. The warmth of it burned his skin, but only slightly. The alchemy that he and his followers had perfected long ago continued to do it's job well. Stretching out his arms, he became a raven and headed out to meet with his newest subject.
Inside the kitchen of the Legacy House, the three remaining members stood in silent worry. They had never seen Nick act so irrationally before and each of them tried to figure out what might be troubling the young man.
Rachel finished preparing the breakfast she had started and placed it in front of her companions, however, everyone seemed to have lost their appetite. "I wonder what's bothering him," she voiced aloud. "He came in like that this morning."
"Maybe he had another one of his nightmares," Alex offered. She felt an unusual bond inside with Nick. They had always been close friends, but now . . . inside . . . she felt something more for the ex-SEAL. This puzzled her even more than his strange behavior had. She decided to keep this fact silent, however.
"I think it's more than that," Derek responded in a serious, thoughtful tone. "I can't put my finger on it, but I do think that Nick might have a point."
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked, feeling totally confused. "Everything's fine. In fact, I slept better than I have in weeks."
"Ahh," Derek exclaimed, "but that just goes to prove my point. I had the best night's sleep I've had in years. I imagine the same is true for you, Alex?" The young, black woman nodded her head slowly, seeing where Derek was heading with this. "See. The three of us are usually haunted or troubled by cases we've worked on in the past, and yet something caused us to sleep soundly for the first time in years!"
"Right," Alex stated. She then decided to confess her "attraction" for Nick to the other two. "And . . . well, I'm not quite sure how to say this, but . . . when I first saw Nick this morning, I had this unexplainable bond with him -- almost like I was . . . attracted to him in a way that I've never been before."
"I don't understand," Rachel cut in. "You're saying something is wrong with us because we had a good night's sleep?! That's ridiculous, Derek!"
"No, it's not. Under the circumstances we work each and every day, a good night's sleep is what's rare, Rachel. I believe something has happened -- something has made us forget something that Nick has not forgotten -- and his reaction to us this morning would attest to that!"
"All right," Rachel conceded. "So, if it's true, what do we do?"
"Read your Journals," Derek answered. "Perhaps the answer is in there."
Nick sat down on one of the many assembled stone benches scattered throughout the gardens. His mind was reeling, trying desperately to fathom what had occurred in the kitchen earlier. It was clear that none of his companions had any recollection of the events that had taken place recently -- of their fight against Philippe D'Arcy and his vampiric friends; of their commitment to rescue Alex from the path she had started down; of what had happened between himself and Alex during the incident.
Suddenly, Nick heard the crackle of a twig behind him and he turned sharply, prepared to defend himself against whomever it might be. He caught the startled look on the gardener's face and immediately apologized. "Sorry," he said, sitting back down. "I didn't hear you walking up."
"I should be the one to apologize to you," Bartholomew answered. "It seems I startled you more than you did me." Both men, nodded silent agreement and Bartholomew walked past Nick with his gardening tools, prepared to dig into the fresh Earth. "I'm not disturbing you, am I, Sir?"
"No," Nick responded, his mind still on his friends and the morning's dilemma. "Not at all." He watched silently as the gardener began his preening and pruning. Something about the man -- the quiet way he moved -- filled Nick with a sense of unease and he studied him even closer. Finally, he commented, "You must be new . . . I don't remember seeing you around here before."
Bartholomew sat back on his knees and, wiping the dirt off his hand, extended it to Nick. "I'm sorry; I should've introduced myself. I'm one of the new gardeners Dr. Rayne hired. My name is Bartholomew."
Nick extended his own hand and replied, "I�m Nick Boyle. Sorry to act so suspicious, it's just . . . . ."
"No need to apologize," Bartholomew cut in. "This is an exquisite old place and I'm sure security needs to remain tight with all the wonderful things lying about."
Nick could feel something pulling him into the conversation with Bartholomew, but he wasn't sure what it was. The feeling was somehow . . . familiar to him; and that familiarity frightened him.
"There's no need to be concerned, Nick," Bartholomew gently said, as if reading his mind. "I'm a friend who's here to help you. Now, why don't you tell me what's bothering you."
Alex sat in her room and began paging through her Journal. She didn�t know what she was looking for, but she searched it nonetheless. Sighing, Alex got up and walked over to the window. She knew that Derek was right. Something had happened last night and if it wasn�t in her Journal, it was locked away in her own mind.
Realizing that she wasn�t getting anything done by staring out her window, Alex walked back over to her bed. Staring at her Journal, Alex wondered what secrets it would unlock about last night. Flipping to her last entry, Alex read all about her encounter with Philippe. Shaking her head, Alex refused to believe what she was reading.
�No,� she whispered, �Phillipe was not a vampire and I would never have embraced the thought of immortality.�
However, Alex read on. Realizing that the words on the paper were the words she herself had chosen to place there after her ordeal, Alex took a deep breath. She still didn�t clearly know what had happened to her last night, but she began to have a bit clearer picture in her mind now.
Rushing downstairs to talk to Derek, Alex suddenly felt something was wrong. It was Nick! It had to be Nick! Torn over what to do first, Alex decided it would be best if she saw Derek first. Still, the feeling of dread didn�t leave her as she went to see Derek; instead, it only grew stronger.
Derek sat, stunned by what he had found in his Journal. He found it difficult to believe that he couldn�t remember some of the events he had documented in the pages of his Journal. When Alex suddenly burst into the room, Derek was startled. Placing his Journal down on the table, he looked up at his colleague.
�What did you find out?� Derek asked. He was almost afraid to hear the answer.
�A lot more than I thought I would,� Alex replied. She sat down across from Derek. Her mind kept wandering to that dreadful feeling inside.
Noticing Alex�s distant stare, Derek said, �What�s wrong?�
Alex shook off the feeling. �Nothing,� she replied, �So, what did your find out?�
�Nick was right,� Derek answered, �Something strange is going on around here. When I was reading my Journal, I couldn�t quite recall all of the events I had documented. I don�t know why, but I can�t remember everything that happened.�
Alex nodded. �Neither can I,� she said, �and that�s what worries me. Why did we suddenly forget everything? What happened last night that made us forget?�
Rachel walked into the room. �This is just the strangest thing,� she stated, �I can�t remember writing any of this. I can�t even remember any of this happening!�
�Well, you�re not alone,� Derek said, �So, the question is, why wasn�t Nick affected?�
�Maybe whatever -- or whoever -- made us forget didn�t get to Nick last night,� suggested Rachel.
�Where is Nick anyway?� Alex requested, �I haven�t seen him since he stormed out of here earlier.�
Derek shook his head. �That�s a good question,� he said, �I haven�t seen him since then either.�
Suddenly Alex felt it. She couldn�t shake the feeling this time. It was more powerful then most of her visions had ever been. Gasping, Alex reached for something to steady herself.
�What is it?� Derek asked.
Alex slowly looked up at Derek. �Nick�s in danger,� she replied, �We have to find him. We didn�t kill all of the vampires that night. Now, one�s after Nick.�
�What?� Derek said. He was a bit surprised by Alex�s statement.
�We have to find him before it�s too late,� Alex replied, �and we have to start looking . . . now!�
Nick felt disoriented as he looked around at his strange surroundings. Somehow he had gotten to the far side of Angel Island and was in a cove on the beach. He looked around quickly to ascertain whether or not he was alone, and found that he was. Instinctively, he touched the bandage still covering his neck where Alex had bitten him and found it securely in place.
How the Hell did I get here? he wondered as he wandered around the area, uncertain of the best route out of the steep cove. The last thing I remember . . . .
�Was talking to me,� Bartholomew voiced from somewhere nearby. Nick quickly spun around, trying to locate the person the voice belonged to, but couldn�t see anyone. �In here,� the voice called out from deep within a cave located in the cove.
Nick steeled himself for whatever might be waiting inside and ventured in to find the owner of that familiar-sounding voice. Just past the entrance shadows, he saw Bartholomew leaning against the cavern wall; however, the mysterious new gardener was now dressed in turn-of-the-century clothing instead of his previous �gardener clothes�. As he moved closer, Bartholomew began to applaud.
�Well done, Nick,� he cooed, �I�ve certainly made a wonderful find in you. You�re fearless and yet inquisitive; bright and yet bold. You�ll be the perfect person to begin my new . . . family.�
Nick felt a sick dawning fall over him. He had suspected -- after his discussion with Philippe D�Arcy while he was strung up like a prized turkey -- that Philippe was not the one ultimately in charge of that vagabond vampiric group, and now, before him stood whom Nick knew must be the true leader. Pushing down any fear he felt inside and remembering Derek�s advice to stay focused when dealing with a vampire, he bravely replied, �So, you�re the one who was pulling Philippe�s strings. I didn�t think he was smart enough to organize that whole fiasco!�
Bartholomew allowed a laugh to escape his lips as he stepped forward and faced the young ex-SEAL in front of him. Nick certainly was proving to be everything Bartholomew had hoped for in a future leader for his chosen people, but he also knew the importance of putting the novice in his place as well. He had mistakenly given Philippe too much freedom recently and that had proved fatal for many of Bartholomew�s �children of the night� -- including his own brother . . . Marcus!
Before Nick knew what had happened, he found he was suspended in the air, held up only by the thin arm of Bartholomew. A deep, guttural growl escaped the ancient Master vampire as he stated, �The first thing you need to learn, my dear Nick, is some respect for your elders!� He gently applied just enough pressure on the young man�s throat in order to force him to lose consciousness. As Nick�s body slowly sank to the ground, Bartholomew resumed his cordial manner and said, �Tonight, we�ll complete your enrollment in the club, Nicholas . . . then you will be mine -- forever!�
Alex�s visions -- and her uncanny tie to her j unior partner -- pro ved invaluable as she was quickly able to ascertain that the ex-SEAL hadn�t left Angel Island. Following her hunches and her senses, Derek and Rachel . . . armed with remnants from Derek�s previous �vampire kit� . . . followed Alex�s intuition to the far side of the Island. Derek was concerned about the timing of this �rescue� because nightfall was almost upon them; he knew that this was the worst possible time to go �vampire hunting� and yet they had no choice -- tomorrow would be too late for Nick!
Once more, Derek tried to convince Rachel to leave -- to stay safe and sound in the Legacy House until morning in case anything went wrong, but she refused to do so. They were a team and they would stay and fight this thing together. Nick had saved not only her life but Kat�s life as well on many different occasions and she didn�t want to miss the opportunity to return the favor.
Arming themselves with the staked crossbows, crucifixes and courage, they ventured forth to the top of a bluff. Looking down, Alex pointed to a cavern located in the cove below. �They�re in there,� she stated matter-of-factly.
Bartholomew had sensed the presence of the Legacy members long before they approached. He knew that the blood-tie Alex had shared with Nick made her perceptive in finding her would-have-been victim and felt a sense of rage that she had used this �gift� against him. He had hoped that causing them to forget the past few days with Philippe would have given him the time he needed with Nick.
He had succeeded in making the ex-SEAL feel separated from his partners in order to draw him here and that part of his plan had worked perfectly. However, something had sparked Nick�s associates� memories and they were going to prove more trouble then Bartholomew had suspected. He didn�t want to alienate his newest acquisition by making him watch his former friends die, but he also realized he might have no choice in the matter.
Looking back once more at the oblivious form, he turned and quickly transformed himself in a bat. He hung at the top of the cavern, waiting for the intruders to arrive and fall into his trap. All he could do now was hope that Nick remained unconscious until he had resolved the impending matter with his uninvited guests. Then, he would start building his new family!
Derek reached out, helping Alex and Rachel down the steep sides of the cove. Several times, he had to catch Alex from falling; it was obvious that she was sharing some kind of connection to Nick and he suspected it was due to the fact that Alex had chosen him as her first vampiric victim.
�
�Are you all right?� he asked her again, as she had to grab the side of the hill as they descended. He could tell that she was growing agitated and was worried about any remnants she might be experiencing from her brush with immortality.
�I�m fine,� she answered in barely a whisper. �But we have to hurry, Derek. Nick doesn�t have much time.�
Derek glanced up at the reddening sky and thought, Neither do we. He nodded his agreement and they quickly finished their descent to the cove. Following Alex�s lead and preparing his crossbow, Derek followed the young black woman to the mouth of the cave.
Grabbing her, he motioned to let him go inside first and Alex stepped aside, prepared to follow the Precept into the mouth of Hell to save her friend. As they entered the cavern, they quickly noticed the ex-SEAL�s body sprawled out on the ground against the wall. Rushing over to him, Rachel promptly ascertained that there were no recent bite marks on his throat or wrists -- only the scars from Alex�s previous attempt were present.
�He�s all right,� she informed the two anxious associates. �He�s unconscious, but there doesn�t appear to be any new wounds. We�ve got to get him outta here!�
As Derek bent to pick up his unconscious friend, he heard a flapping sound from above him. The image flew toward the cave opening and, suddenly, the image of Bartholomew appeared, blocking the entrance.
�You�re not taking him anywhere,� Bartholomew challenged. �Not if you value your life!� He watched as Derek began to aim the crossbow in his direction. With the wave of his hand, the flimsy weapon flew from the Dutchman�s grip and shattered against the hard-stone surface of the cavern. �Your weapons are no good here, Derek,� he taunted.
Baring his fangs for the first time, he allowed his eyes to reflect the evil that inhabited his being as they burned brightly. He noticed the fear in the three Legacy member faces and knew he had won! He slowly approached them, saying, �I offer you a deal . . . your lives for his!� He nodded in Nick�s direction.
Derek stood his ground, attempting to focus his energies and his will against that of the Master Vampire. �No,� he stated, �I won�t let you have him!�
What sounded similar to a laugh escaped Bartholomew�s body as he replied, �Let me have him?! I can take him with or without allowing you to live. But I believe Nick would grant me his �undying� loyalty if I spared your miserable, meager little lives. Therefore, the choice is yours, my friends -- leave him and live or stay and perish!�
�We won�t leave him!� Derek exclaimed, pulling out the crucifix from his pocket and holding it up to Bartholomew. The momentary adverse reaction it received from Bartholomew faded as the cross began to burn and glow in Derek�s hands. He could no longer stand to hold the heating object and was forced to drop it to the ground.
�So be it!� Bartholomew spewed as he began to approach the three Legacy members. He had decided their deaths should be quick and as painless as possible -- just in case his young intended awoke during the process. Unfortunately for Bartholomew, Nick was already awake.
Before the Master Vampire could reach out and grab any of his three intended victims, Nick rushed forward and blocked his approach to them.
�Nick!� Alex shouted, �you�ve got to get outta here. You�re the one he�s after . . . you have to save yourself!�
�No,� he responded, staring down Bartholomew. �Let them go. You want me, you got me . . . just let them live!�
Bartholomew considered the request (since he himself had hoped for that earlier), but rejected it now, knowing that these particular members of the Legacy would never give up. He stared long and hard at Nick, regretting what he was about to do. �So,� he replied in a slick and condescending tone, �you�re willing to sacrifice your life for your friends, Nicholas?�
The question didn�t deserve a response, so Nick refused to give him one. He merely stood his ground, sure and unafraid as the Master vampire drew ever closer to him. His only thought and concern now was the safety of his associates!
�But you do know,� Bartholomew continued, �that they won�t accept your sacrifice as graciously as you�re willing to make it don�t you? They�ll simply choose to hunt you down and terminate your life.�
�They won�t have to,� Nick answered. �I�ll turn myself over to them. I couldn�t stand to live as one of you -- to live off the life and blood of other people. So, either way you lose, Bartholomew. If you kill them, you�ll have to kill me as well; and, if you transform me, I�ll make sure that I�m killed. Either way, I want no part of your �master race�.�
Bartholomew paused his approach towards Nick, considering his options. Before him stood the perfect being to lead his people through the next century; and yet, he knew that he could never truly have a man of Nick�s obvious integrity. Momentarily, he toyed with the idea of seeking his revenge upon this group for the death of his people and his brother, but simply chose to let them be. He felt somehow he owed Nick that much.
��Such a pity,� he sadly stated as he backed toward the entrance of the cave. �You would have made a wonderful Master Vampire someday, Nick.�
�No thanks,� the ex-SEAL responded, still uncertain what was about to happen.
�Mores the pity,� Bartholomew replied as he spread out his arms. A great and terrifying wind engulfed the four Legacy members and they could feel themselves being swept up into a void. Trying to fight their way out, they found they were only able to barely cling to one another instead. Well, at least they were all together!
Abruptly, they felt themselves falling and their bodies connected to the firm Earth below them. They were in the Legacy gardens, near the back entrance to the castle. Making sure that all four of them truly were together and that no one was missing, they each looked around, stunned.
�What just happened?� Rachel inquired, feeling shaken and confused.
�He let us go,� Derek answered, sounding as astonished as he felt. �He just . . . let us go!�
�Did he?� Nick asked skeptically, �or is he just gonna show up sometime to take any one of us?!�
�No,� Derek answered, certain of the answer deep within himself. �He was touched by your integrity, Nick. You saved us! It�s true -- he could have taken any of us whenever he wanted, but he must be a creature of integrity as well. Somewhere inside of him still remains the traces of humanity.�
�So it�s really over this time?� Alex inquired, agreeing with Nick�s concerns.
�Yes,� Derek replied. �This time it truly is over!�
As Nick sat struggling with what he would enter in his Journal for that night, he heard a soft rapping on the door. �Come in,� he called, not sure if he really heard anything or not. Alex poked her head in and he smiled. �Come in,� he repeated.
She walked over and sat down on foot of his bed as he leaned towards her from the chair. �Got a minute?� she asked, needlessly.
�Sure,� he responded, �what�s up?� He could tell that the young woman seemed ill-at-ease so he rose and sat beside her on the bed, gently rubbing her back with his hand.
�I just . . .� she stopped, uncertain of how to continue.
Nick could almost read her emotions and quickly said, �Hey, you don�t need to say anythin� ya know. What happened, happened, Alex. It�s not anybody�s fault . . . it�s just the way things go.�
�I could�ve killed you, Nick,� she replied quickly. �God knows that I wanted to!�
Nick couldn�t help but laugh. Noting that she was put out by his sudden burst of laughter, he strengthened his grip on her and drew her into a close hug. �Well, �God knows� that�s not the first time you�ve wanted to kill me . . . right?!�
Alex couldn�t help but laugh as well. She gently, but playfully slugged Nick on the arm and then held him in a tight embrace, allowing her body�s emotions express all the words she couldn�t say. She was amazed at how tightly he was holding onto her as well! Finally, she broke the embrace and stated, �Well, I guess I better head off to bed. Who knows what�s gonna happen tomorrow.�
�Nobody,� Nick answered sincerely. �But isn�t that the exciting part?!�
Reviewing her own Journal entry for the evening, Alex re-read the part she had just written. It was difficult for her to admit that she was beginning to have romantic feelings towards Nick, but it was even more difficult to deny it. Although they had always had a close friendship, she could feel her urges and desires calling for more with the ex-SEAL and she expressed these feelings in her most secret spot -- her Legacy Journal. She only hoped that someday she might be able to share them with Nick as well!
Watching from high above in a tree, Bartholomew felt satisfaction. Though he had lost his recent group of followers and a wonderful potential new leader for his next following . . . he was happy that he had met mortals who still embodied the values of old. As he prepared to leave Angel Island and San Francisco for good, he wondered to himself if the �L� on the door stood for �The Legacy� or for the �loyalty� the family inside had for one another!
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Authors' Notes: As usual, we don't own the rights to P:TL or their charcters so we're merely borrowing them for the story you just read! The authors are: Sherri Smith and Tracy "Scout" Hollenbeck. Comments are, as always, welcomed! We'd like to thank the creators of P:TL for creating such amazing characters and such a great story line in both Darkness Falls and Light of Day to work with. We hope you enjoyed the story!