MORIAH
By: Joni Latham

CHAPTER 1

	Moriah Manley walked down the long, dark hallway to the morgue to discuss a 
murder case that she was investigating with Natalie Lambert, the medical examiner for the 
police precinct where Moriah worked as a detective.  As she walked to the morgue, 
Moriah wondered if Nick would be there talking to Natalie as usual.  Nick Knight was a 
very unusual man.  He was a fellow detective and a vampire.  Although Moriah had 
always thought of him as a cop first and a vampire second, Nick always thought of himself 
as a vampire first and a cop second.  These differences in their views on vampires would 
lead to many changes in both of their lives.  As she walked towards the morgue, the 
memory of the event that led to her discovery of Nick's secret world came flooding back 
to her.
	Moriah had discovered quite by accident the nature of Nick's existence and the 
world in which he lived.  One night, when she was temporarily assigned to the night shift, 
Nick could not be raised by radio and the captain wanted to speak with him immediately.  
The captain told Moriah to find Nick, then bring him back to the station:  pronto.  
Wondering where to start looking, Moriah asked the captain where Nick was last known 
to be, and he told her that Nick had mentioned checking out a lead at a club called THE 
RAVEN.  Innocently, she drove to the club, not knowing that she was about to open a 
door to another world, one totally different from her own.
	Parking the car along the curb, she walked up to the entrance and pulled open the 
door to the club.  Stepping inside, she released the door and took a few steps into the 
interior.  As she stepped out of the darkness of the alcove and into the dim light of the 
club, a shiver ran down her spine.  Moriah looked around her at the patrons milling about 
the bar.  They did not look any different from anyone else, except that they all tended to 
have a rather pasty complexion.  Looking around, she did not immediately see Nick, so 
she took a few more steps into the club.  The chill running down her spine grew in 
intensity, so she stopped in her tracks.  When she looked at the patrons of the bar, she saw 
that they were all staring at her quite intently.  They formed a circle around her and began 
moving toward her.  She, in turn, began to back away from them, but she had stepped so 
far into the club that she had nowhere to go, except against the wall.  She stood her 
ground, as her police training taught her to do.  They all stared at her and she stared right 
back.  They seemed to waiting for something to happen, but she had no idea what that 
thing could be.  The man closest to her smiled a big toothy grin and that was when she 
saw that he had fangs.  As she watched, each one of them opened their mouth to reveal a 
pair of fangs.
	The only people she had heard of who possessed fangs were "vampires."  "Could it 
be?" she wondered as she watched them watch her.  She wondered what they were 
waiting for - were they trying to hypnotize her?  She looked at them, blinking her eyes.  If 
they were, it did not seem to have an affect on her.
	It had been about five minutes since Moriah had stepped foot in the bar, but to her 
it seemed like hours.  Apparently, the standoff was about to end.  The vampire closest to 
her reached out to grab her arm.  As his hand clamped down on her arm, Moriah heard a 
scuffle to her right.  Turning, she saw Nick pushing his way through the crowd 
surrounding her.
	Stepping up next to her, he put his hand on the vampire's arm and pulled his grip 
loose from Moriah's arm.  "Let her go, Dominick," he said.  "She is a friend of mine."
	Dominick and the others took a few steps toward Nick, then suddenly stopped.  
When Moriah looked over at Nick, he, too, possessed a pair of fangs and his glowing 
eyes.  He stepped in front of her, so all that she saw was his back.
	"So.  Nick is a vampire, too," Moriah thought to herself as she stared at Nick's 
back.  "Well, that explains a lot of things, such as why I never see him during the day.  
How he always seems to beat the other officers to the crime scene.  And, why he very 
rarely fires a shot from his service revolver.  How interesting!  Wouldn't the police force 
be awesome, if they all had such special powers?"
	A noise brought Moriah out of her thoughts.  That was when she realized that she 
and Nick were just two against a group of fifteen or more vampires.  She knew that 
although Nick was a vampire, he was not a threat to such a large group.  She heard a 
noise to her right and another individual stepped into the middle of the circle.  The 
newcomer was tall with white hair and possessed a set of the bluest eyes that Moriah had 
ever seen.  His presence mesmerized her as she realized that he must wield some sort of 
power, because the others back away from him.
	The newcomer stared into Moriah's eyes but she just returned his gaze, blinking 
her eyes normally.  As he arched his eyebrow and narrowed his eyes a little, she could hear 
him say to himself, "How interesting!"  He turned to Nick and said, "Nicolas, take her out 
of here for all the good that it will do.  The Enforcers will eventually visit her anyway."
	"Yes, LaCroix," Nick said, grabbing Moriah's hand.  "And thank you."
	Nick pulled her from the club and out onto the sidewalk.  He took her car keys 
from her and pushed her into the passenger's side of her car.  Walking around to the 
driver's side, he climbed in, started the car, and drove towards the precinct.  As they 
drove, Moriah was full of questions, and he answered her, the best that he could.  THE 
RAVEN was a club for vampires; Lucien LaCroix was the club's owner, his master, and a 
very old vampire.  Finally, the Enforcers were vampires sent to silence mortals who had 
discovered their secret.  She told him that she did not intend to reveal their secrets.  She 
found the whole situation quite interesting.  He continued to answer her questions and tell 
her all that she wanted to know, because he knew, sadly, that the Enforcers would come 
to silence her anyway.
	Moriah and Nick were both in for a surprise: the Enforcers never came for her.  A 
week after her discovery of the club and its inhabitants, Moriah was still alive and still 
human.  Nick could not explain to her why they had not come for her.  He went to 
LaCroix and asked him about it, but LaCroix would not or could not tell him anything.  
He would not even discuss the incident involving Moriah.  A far away look came over his 
face as he told Nick that Moriah was a very special human.  This, in itself, surprised Nick.  
LaCroix did not like humans.  To him they were a food source.  Staring at LaCroix for a 
few minutes, Nick decided that it was best not to push the issue any further and left.  As 
he exited the club, he knew all that mattered was that Moriah was safe.
	The fact that The Enforcers did not come for her seemed to spread through the 
vampire community and allowed her to exist alongside them.  Although she did not seek 
them out and had not set foot in THE RAVEN since that night, they never challenged her 
when a happenstance meeting occurred, but, instead, allowed her to continue peacefully 
on her way.  Over the next year, Moriah encountered many of the vampires she had seen 
that night in the club, but she found them nothing like those in the terrible stories she had 
been told as a child.  The vampires she came to know were not the re-animated corpses of 
fiction, but were living, breathing individuals with thoughts, dreams, and emotions.  As the 
year drew to an end, one particular vampire continually crept into her mind's eye.
	Nick was handsome in a boyishly romantic way, and he was nice enough, but she 
found him rather thick sometimes, as well as too morose.  Once she stumbled onto his 
secret, Moriah found that Nick began talk to her openly and often about his secret life and 
its pitfalls.  When she asked him why he liked talking to her, he answered that she was a 
human and not as emotionally attached to him as Natalie was, which allowed for an 
unbiased opinion.  Soon, she grew tired of hearing his constant complaining about being a 
vampire and all of the horrible things that his master, LaCroix, had done to him or caused 
him to do.  LaCroix was the one vampire she encountered at THE RAVEN that night who 
struck her as the most interesting.  She had chanced upon him several times since that 
night, and after every encounter, her interest was piqued that much more.  Nick, 
obviously, saw something in her eyes when she spoke of LaCroix, because he always 
warned her to stay out of his way.  Although LaCroix had an imposing and forbidding 
personality, she found nothing about him that scared her.  She found his intelligence, his 
articulate manner of speaking, his blue eyes, and his Old World manners strangely 
appealing to her.  After several of these encounters with LaCroix, Moriah began to think 
that Nick was using LaCroix as an excuse for his own weaknesses.  Just the same, Moriah 
never went out of her way to seek out LaCroix's company, although there were many 
times that she was tempted to do so.
	Moriah stopped just before she reached Natalie's door and pushed her long blonde 
hair out of her face.  She was five feet three inches tall with sparkling blue eyes, a creamy 
white complexion, and a smile that could light up a room.  When she came to work for the 
police department, several people had commented on how small she was -too small to be a 
cop - but she had proved them all wrong.  Her personality and her zest for life were much 
larger than her size, and it was not long before her ability at handling herself and her zest 
to succeed had moved her from officer to detective status.
	Moriah stepped up to Natalie's door and put her hand up to knock when she heard 
two voices inside.  Recognizing Nick's voice, and wondering whether she should intrude, 
she stayed quiet and listened to the conversation.
	"Natalie, you know that I can't be with you, not in that way.  I will not take the 
chance of condemning you to the eternal damnation which I walk," Nick said.
	"Nick, how do you know that will happen?" Natalie commented.  "Nothing in life 
is sure.  You have to make the best of what you have."
	"I'm afraid that all my past sins, all the things that I've done and that LaCroix has 
tricked me into doing, will eventually catch up with me and destroy you," Nick explained 
rather pitifully, Moriah thought.
	"Nick, you're being silly," Natalie said as Moriah heard the sound of metal hitting 
metal.
	Moriah accidentally bumped the door and they stopped talking.  "Who's there?" 
Nick called.
	Moriah pushed the door open and said, "It's me, Nick.  I came to see Natalie about 
a case."
	Nick took a few steps toward her.  "How much did you hear?"
	Standing in the doorway, Moriah answered, "Enough to know that you waste 
entirely too much energy worrying about what you are, instead of making the best of it."
	"What do you mean?" Natalie asked curiously, leaning on the examining slab.
	Moriah stepped into the room, closing the door behind her.  She looked Natalie in 
the eyes and said, "Nick possesses powers that you and I only dream of having.  There are 
so many things that he could do to help mankind, if that's his real intention, instead of 
standing around belly-aching and feeling sorry for himself all the time.  He also blames 
LaCroix for everything bad that has happened to him.  I will admit that it's possible that 
LaCroix was responsible for part of it, but from the stories that I have heard, Nick was 
very gullible and believed anything that he was told."
	"But you don't understand the power that a master has over his creation," Nick 
stammered.
	"I understand enough to know that you could have refused him many times and 
that you didn't," Moriah said, becoming angry.  "You need to forget about the past, accept 
what you are, and get on with your life or you'll never be happy."  Moriah turned and 
walked to the door.  As she opened it and stepped out into the hallway, she said, "Natalie, 
I'll come back to see you later after Nick's gone."
	Moriah hated these discussions with Nick.  She did not understand why, but he 
always made her angry.  She would have loved to possess some of his powers like the 
ability to fly, the superhuman strength, and the ability to see in the dark, just to name a 
few.
	Since Moriah was on her own time and not on the clock, she walked out of the 
precinct and to her car.  Starting the car, she pulled away from the curb not really knowing 
where she was going.  After a few minutes, she decided she would drive around for a 
while before checking back with Natalie.  Fumbling with the radio tuner, she accidentally 
tuned in to CERK and the Nightcrawler program, a nighttime broadcast that LaCroix did 
from a booth somewhere in THE RAVEN.  For thirty minutes, she drove through the city 
listening to him, mesmerized by his voice and his words.  Suddenly, she knew that she had 
to discover the man behind the voice and the words she found so hypnotic.  Her speech to 
Nick had convinced her that tonight was the night she would approach LaCroix.  There 
would be no more procrastination or excuses.
	Pulling the car up in front of THE RAVEN, Moriah parked it in an empty space 
along the curb.  Leaning forward on the steering wheel, she looked at the club's sign and 
wondered whether she really wanted to go through with this spontaneous decision of hers.  
She thought about all of the relationships and friendships that never came to be because 
people were unwilling to take the chance of approaching the other person first.  She 
touched the cross around her neck, then removed it and clutched it tightly in her hand.  
Opening the car door, she stepped out, then leaned on the car's roof to watch people 
entering and exiting the club.  Occasionally, one of them would turn and look at her, then 
drop his head and continue walking.  Reaching inside the car, she grabbed the keys from 
the ignition, closed and locked the door, then walked up to the club's entrance, gingerly 
laying her fingers on the door's handle.  As she was about to be the only human in a room 
filled with mostly vampires, she knew that she could not afford to exhibit any sign of fear.  
Summoning up her courage, she told herself, "The hell with it," then opened the door and 
stepped inside.  Moriah took a few steps inside.  All the patrons appeared to ignore her.  
Still clutching the cross tightly in her hand, she walked towards the back of the bar.  She 
knew that LaCroix broadcast his show from a booth located somewhere in the back of the 
club, and it was LaCroix whom she sought.
	She had walked halfway around the outer edge of the club, when she spotted the 
radio equipment hidden in a corner.  LaCroix was sitting in the booth, leaning on his 
elbow and talking into the microphone.  As she slipped up to the edge of the booth, she 
stayed in the shadows, hoping that he would not detect her until after he finished his 
broadcast.  Standing there with her eyes closed, Moriah leaned against the wall, listening 
to his hypnotic words.  Presently, he finished and turned off his equipment, then turned to 
face her.
	"What are you doing here, Miss Manley, and how did you make it all the way to 
the back of the club?" LaCroix asked, obviously impressed with either her courage or 
stupidity.
	"I simply walked in through the front door and kept going," Moriah answered, 
leaning against the edge of the booth wall.
	LaCroix leaned back in his chair.  "And the others did not bother you?"
	"No, not at all.  They acted as if they never saw me.  I wandered around 'til I found 
you."
	"Well, that does not surprise me.  The night that you stumbled into my little club, 
no one, not even I, could hypnotize you or bring you into their control."  He paused for a 
moment, then continued, "Now that we have established how you were able to get in here, 
what do you want of me?"
	Moriah, sensing that he meant her no harm, dropped the cross into her pocket.  "I 
just wanted to talk to you."
	"Why would you want to talk to me of all people, or vampires as the case maybe?  
Nicolas is much safer."
	"And very boring.  You may find this hard to believe, but from the few times that 
I've encountered you and heard your broadcast on the radio, I've found you extremely 
interesting.  You have seen so many places during so many different times of history that I 
think that you would have the most interesting stories to tell."  She hesitated for a 
moment.
	"Please continue," he urged.
	"All right.  It's your eyes and your voice too," she said.  "You have the most 
wonderful blue eyes, and I could listen to your voice all night.  As a matter of fact, I tune 
in to CERK quite often."  To prove what she said was true, Moriah quoted him some 
passages from a few of his more recent broadcasts.
	Obviously impressed, he scooted across the booth towards her.  "But why 
approach me now after all this time?"
	"About forty-five minutes ago, I read Nick the riot act again and decided that this 
was something that I needed to do.  I've wanted to visit you for a long time, but I listened 
to him and some of the others who told me to stay away from you."
	"Oh," LaCroix said, arching his eyebrow, obviously becoming very interested in 
what this human had to say.  "Well, since you are here, have a seat and tell me about it."  
Moriah sat down beside him without any hesitation.  "You really are not afraid of me, are 
you?" he asked her, surprised.
	"Maybe a little," Moriah said pulling her legs up underneath her.  "But my curiosity 
about you is taking precedent over my common sense."
	LaCroix raised his eyebrow again.  Moriah would soon discover that his raising of 
his eyebrow was a very common habit with him.  "I do not think that I have ever had 
anyone actually tell me that they find me interesting.  I find that quite intriguing in itself."  
He moved back into the corner of the booth and leaned back.  "Now, tell me what you 
said to Nicolas."
	Moriah related her conversation with Nick and Natalie.  "So, you think that 
Nicolas is basically a cry-baby?" LaCroix inquired, a sly smile coming to his face.
	"That's about it," Moriah concurred.  "I'll agree that you were probably responsible 
for most of his trials and tribulations, but I also think that he could have refused to do a lot 
of what he did.  From what I have been told, I saw as much persuasion used as mind 
control.  You must have had an easy job.  From what I've seen there is not a lot of mind 
there to control.  Even a human can exert a certain amount of influence over him."
	"Be careful," LaCroix warned, narrowing his eyes. "Remember that I did create 
him."
	Moriah smiled nervously.  "I know, and I am sorry," she apologized.  "But he 
makes me so angry.  He has all those powers and complains about it.  The man drinks 
cow's blood, which is not so different from eating a steak.  There are plenty of people in 
the city who work nights and rarely see the daylight.  There are enough vampires out there 
that he doesn't have to be alone.  He just chooses not to associate with them.  Heck, he 
could make his own companion, but he won't, because he would be passing on the 'curse'."  
She ended her sentence by making quotations marks with her fingers as she said the word, 
"curse."
	"My, my," LaCroix said putting his elbow on the table, "you are an opinionated 
little thing.  I find your views quite refreshing."  He smiled and leaned towards her saying, 
"I like talking to you.  You fascinate me.  I will make a deal with you.  You come by 
several times a week and visit me, and I will promise you that none of the other vampires 
will ever bother you in the club or out, and neither will I."
	"I would like that," Moriah said, standing and turning to leave.  She paused and 
turned back towards the booth.  "May I ask you something before I leave?"
	LaCroix arched his eyebrow and moved towards the edge of the booth.  "I 
suppose so.  What do you wish to know?"
	"I was wondering why The Enforcers never came for me. I thought that they 
silenced those who had physical proof of a vampire's existence."
	He stared at her for a moment before answering.  Moriah would swear later that 
she saw a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.  Placing his hands on the table before 
him, he said, "You are a special case.  You do not have any physical evidence in your 
possession, such as Nicolas's friend, the coroner, possesses and I, personally, feel that you 
are no threat to us and mean us no harm."
	"You are correct in one respect.  I would never do anything to harm Nick or you, 
for that matter."
	LaCroix seemed surprised at the last little bit of Moriah's statement, but chose not 
to pursue it.  As Moriah turned to leave, LaCroix asked, "I will see you tomorrow 
evening?"
	"You can count on it," she said, stepping away from the booth.  As she walked out 
of the club, Moriah was relieved that she had finally decided to take the chance and 
contact LaCroix.  Walking to her car, she noticed an unusual bounce in her step.  It was at 
that moment, she realized, that she was very much looking forward to her next visit to 
THE RAVEN.


CHAPTER 2

	Over the next couple of months, Moriah visited LaCroix at the club at least four 
times a week.  Usually, they sat in his booth and talked, Moriah listening intently to him 
spin tales of the places that he had seen and the people that he had encountered.  As much 
as he liked telling her his stories, what interested LaCroix most about their talks was the 
way Moriah's mind worked.  Many times, he would ask her questions just to see what sort 
of responses his questions would elicit.  Although her opinions were quite radical for a 
human, LaCroix found that many of them coincided with his own.  Moriah became a 
regular at the club.  The other vampires were so accustomed to her presence that not only 
did they not annoy her, but they would not allow anyone else to annoy her either.  As her 
visits continued, another side of LaCroix was beginning to open itself to Moriah.  She 
decided that she liked this side of him very much and wanted to explore it more 
thoroughly.  Never having been exposed to this side of LaCroix, the other vampires never 
fully understood why Moriah visited him so often.
One evening as Moriah and LaCroix sat in his booth discussing composers, LaCroix 
asked, "Have you ever been to the ballet or the opera?"
	"I've been to the ballet once, but never to an opera," Moriah responded.  "Why?"
	"I would like to take you to the opera, the ballet, and a few concerts so that you 
will have a better understanding of what we are talking about.  That is, if you would like 
to go with me?" he inquired, leaning forward in his seat.
	"I'd love to go," Moriah said, smiling.  "Your insight ought to make them much 
more interesting."  She looked at him for a moment, then shook her head.
	"Anything wrong?"
	"I was just thinking about Nick and what he would say if he could see you the way 
that I see you.  I see nothing in you of what he and others have warned me about."
	"Nicolas does not know that you are coming by to see me, then?" he asked raising 
his eyebrow.
	Moriah shook her head.  "Not unless you have mentioned it.  Knowing how he 
feels about you, I thought it best not to let him or Natalie know.  I don't think that Natalie 
would say anything deliberately, but she might accidentally let it slip in conversation with 
Nick."
	"Maybe it is best for your sake," LaCroix agreed with a look of concern on his 
face, a look that surprised Moriah.  "Shall we start with the ballet on Friday night?"
	"That sounds great," Moriah said, pushing her hair out of her face.
	After that first evening at the ballet, LaCroix began to take Moriah to every new 
play, ballet, or concert that came to town.  She was enjoying herself immensely and 
LaCroix was the perfect companion.  Accompanying him around town exposed her to 
many new experiences and he was always the consummate gentleman.  Many evenings 
when there was no formal entertainment available, they enjoyed simply walking and 
talking.  Walking on the streets late at night was not the sort of thing that Moriah 
condoned, but knowing of LaCroix's special abilities allowed her the luxury of enjoying 
their walks without fearing the criminal element.  The relationship was perfect as far as 
Moriah was concerned, and she would have liked it to continue for as long as her human 
limitations would allow, but it was not to be.
	One night after work, Moriah was waiting outside the precinct for LaCroix.  He 
was meeting her after work, then taking her to the opening night of a new play.  Standing 
to the side of the entrance so as not to block anyone's path, she saw Nick exit the building.  
Not knowing that anything was amiss, Moriah was her usual cheerful self when Nick 
approached her.
	"Hi, Nick," Moriah said, smiling.
	"Moriah, I want to talk to you," Nick said, grabbing her wrist.
	Moriah was not overly concerned at the moment.  "What about?"
	A harsh look appeared on Nick's face.  "I heard that you've been seen in LaCroix's 
company many times."
	"Now, where did you hear that?" she asked, while maintaining her smile.
	"It doesn't matter where I heard it.  I just want to know if it's true or not," he said 
in a very low tone of voice.
	Trying to pull her wrist out of his grip, she answered.  "Nick, it is none of your 
business who my friends are, but I've nothing to hide.  Yes, I've been seeing Lucien going 
on two years now."
	Dragging her towards the alley, he grabbed her other wrist.  "It is my business if 
LaCroix is involved.  He can cause you nothing but pain, misery, and possibly death," he 
growled.
	Fear was beginning to creep its way into Moriah's head.  The fear, mixed with her 
anger, made a desperate mixture.  She pulled against his hold on her, which proved to be a 
fruitless effort.  Even a large man would have had no effect on Nick.  "Nick, please let me 
go," she pleaded.  "Lucien is going to be here any minute."
	"No," Nick said, jerking her to him.  "Moriah, I won't let you go with him.  He'll 
destroy you."
	"No, he won't.  He has been nothing but kind and generous to me.  I see a side of 
him that you and the others don't," she tried to explain.  "You're the one that is being mean 
and nasty.  Now please, let me go."
	"You can't be acting on your own.  He must have you under some sort of mind 
control," Nick said, looking at her eyes.
	"No, Nick, he doesn't.  I'm the one that approached him.  He didn't approach me.  
I'm acting on my own, free and clear," she said, straining against his grip, her wrist 
beginning to burn from the friction.  "Nick, you are hurting me.  Let me go!" she 
demanded again with tears in her eyes.
	Moriah heard a noise behind her.  "Release her, Nicolas," LaCroix's voice 
demanded.  "Can't you see that you are hurting her?"  Nick maintained his grip on her 
wrists and showed no sign that he intended to release her.
	"Lucien, make him let go," Moriah pleaded, looking back at him, at which time 
LaCroix could see the tears glistening on her cheeks.
	"Nicolas, you must release her," LaCroix said, trying to calm Nick.  "You have 
dedicated your life to atoning for your past misdeeds against humans, and now you are 
hurting one who has done you no harm.  Your quarrel is with me.  Release Moriah."  Nick 
stared at him, but still did not make any movement to release her.  "Nicolas, do not force 
me to make you release her," LaCroix threatened angrily.
	"Answer one question first," Nick said, looking at Moriah, then at LaCroix.
	"What?" LaCroix inquired impatiently.
	Loosing his grip on Moriah's wrists, Nick asked, "Why do you care what happens 
to a human?  You've destroyed every one of them that you've come in contact with."
	"I am not sure myself," LaCroix answered, looking down at Moriah.  He looked 
back at Nick and said, "Maybe it is because Moriah likes me.  She is one of the few people 
who like me for what I am and does not fear me.  She accepts what I am and has not 
consciously tried to change me.  And I will admit having her around has changed my views 
on a few things.  Now, that I have answered your question, will you release her wrists 
before you break them?"
	Since Nick still showed no signs of releasing his grip on Moriah, LaCroix put his 
hands on Nick's and slowly tightened his grip until Nick was forced to let go of her.  
Moriah quickly stepped backwards out of Nick's reach, rubbing her wrists.  The skin 
where his hands had been was already turning a purple color.  She was going to have some 
outrageous bruises in a few hours.  Looking up and seeing the two vampires talking, she 
ran towards the edge of the alley.  As she stepped out onto the sidewalk, she ran into 
Natalie, almost knocking them both to the ground.
	Moriah turned to walk away, but Natalie put her hand on her arm.  "Moriah, 
what's wrong?" Natalie asked concerned.  "You've been crying."
	Moriah did not turn around.  She shook her head and muttered, "Nothing.  
Nothing's wrong."
	"Yes, there is," Natalie persisted.  "Tell me what it is."
	"Do you really want to know?" Moriah asked, turning around.
	"Yes," Natalie said.
	Moriah pulled back her sleeves and held up her arms.  "Look what your boyfriend 
just did to me, just because he doesn't like the company that I've been keeping."
	"Oh my God," Natalie exclaimed, reaching out and touching Moriah's wrists.  "Let 
me take a look at them."
	"If you wish," Moriah remarked, leaving her wrists in Natalie's hands.  "I just want 
to get away from here and Nick."
	Natalie pulled Moriah under a street lamp and examined her wrists.  "There doesn't 
seem to be anything broken, but you will have some bad bruises for a while.  You say that 
Nick did this to you?"
	"Yes, he did.  I can't believe it myself," Moriah said, looking at her wrists and 
shaking her head.
	"Where is Nick?" Natalie asked, putting her hand on Moriah's shoulder.
	"The last time I saw him, he and Lucien were having a discussion in the alley."
	"LaCroix!" Natalie exclaimed.  "What does he have to do with this?"
	"He's the one that I have been seeing," Moriah explained.  "Nick's just a little 
behind though, I've been seeing Lucien for almost two years now."
	Natalie was shocked.  "You've actually been around LaCroix and he hasn't hurt 
you?"
	"What is it with you people?" Moriah said, putting her hands on her hips, then 
jerking them back because the movement hurt her wrists.  "Everyone acts as if he were a 
monster, but he's not.  He has been the perfect gentleman and companion."
	Natalie wanted very hard to believe Moriah.  She knew that Moriah was fiercely 
independent and the type to do something because someone had told her not to do so.  
She also knew that Moriah was very astute at judging character, which is what made her a 
good cop.  Wanting to be careful and not push Moriah into becoming defensive, she 
commented, "Really?  I have never known LaCroix to show overwhelming kindness.  
Occasionally, I will see him help Nick, when he didn't have to, but nothing to support what 
you are saying."
	"Natalie, please," Moriah pleaded.  "I know what I am doing.  You don't see the 
side of Lucien I see.  No one does."
	Afraid to push Moriah any further, Natalie said, "All right, if this is what you want, 
I'll see what I can do.  I will talk to Nick.  I suppose that it really isn't any of his business 
anyway, is it?"
	"That's what I was trying to tell him when he did this," Moriah said, rubbing her 
wrists.  "If Lucien had not shown up, I don't think that he would've let me go until he had 
broken something.  It's as if he is possessed."
	LaCroix stepped out of the alley causing Natalie to take a few steps backwards. 
Looking at Natalie's reaction, Moriah shook her head.  Walking over to Moriah, he picked 
up her hands, turning them over in his and examining her wrists.
	"Did he do this to you?" LaCroix demanded.  When Moriah looked down at the 
ground and did not answer, he immediately softened his tone.  "Moriah, answer me."
	"Yes," Moriah said barely above a whisper.  Turning towards the alley, LaCroix 
intended to confront Nick, but Moriah stopped him.  "No, Lucien," she pleaded, putting 
her hand on his shoulder.  "Please, let it drop.  I just want to go home and put my wrists in 
some ice.  You don't mind if we miss the play tonight, do you?"
	 "Are you sure?" LaCroix asked, looking at her wrist again.  "Nicolas should not 
be allowed to get away with it."  This was the first time that anyone had tried to hurt 
Moriah in his presence and it infuriated him.  LaCroix did not want to leave things as they 
were, but seeing how determined she was to keep the peace, he did as she asked.
	"I am sure," Moriah said, wrapping her hand around his arm.  "Just take me home 
or to THE RAVEN, I don't care which."
	"I do not mind missing the play.  I will take you anywhere that you want to go," 
LaCroix said, putting his hand on hers.
	Natalie stood in the shadows watching them with great interest.  She definitely saw 
a side of LaCroix that she had never seen before.  The treatment that Moriah was 
receiving at LaCroix's hands was nothing short of caring and loving.  Obviously, the injury 
that Nick had inflicted upon Moriah had made LaCroix very angry, but he was not going 
to punish Nick.  Natalie wondered why.  When it occurred to her that Moriah had stopped 
him, she was very impressed.  Moriah, apparently, had a great deal of influence on 
LaCroix's actions.
	"Excuse me," Natalie said, stepping towards LaCroix.  "But I've been standing 
here watching you and I cannot believe that you didn't punish him for his attack on 
Moriah.  What frame of mind was he in when you left him?"
	"He was still talking and mumbling to himself about having to rescue Moriah from 
me.  I have never seen him like this," LaCroix answered putting his hand on Moriah's.
	Natalie looked at Moriah for a moment, then said, "You go on home or wherever.  
Take care of yourself.  I'll see if I can through to him."
	"Thank you, Natalie," Moriah said, hugging her.
	"You're my friend, and we always help our friends.  I don't see where associating 
with LaCroix is harming you at all; I only see it helping you both, so I'll do what I can," 
Natalie promised.
	Moriah and LaCroix walked away, leaving Natalie standing at the entrance of the 
alley.  When Moriah looked back, she saw Nick emerge from the alley.  Walking over to 
him, Natalie tried to talk to him, but he brushed her off and continued to stare after 
Moriah and LaCroix.  Nick started walking after them, but Natalie grabbed his arm.  
Moriah turned her head back around and sighed.
	"Moriah, I am sorry that you had to go through that because of me," LaCroix said, 
looking down at her as they walked.
	"It's not your fault.  It's Nick's," Moriah said angrily.  "I'm still so angry.  What 
gives him the right to tell me whom I can and cannot see?  He's not my master, thank 
heavens."
	LaCroix glanced down at her with a hint of a smile playing around the corners of 
his mouth.  "You are strong for a human.  I know that some would think that I have lost 
my senses for allowing you to live for so long without killing you or bringing you over, 
but I like things the way they are."
	"So do I.  I've never liked being with anyone as much as I like being with you.  Do 
you think that Nick will continue to harass me?"
	"It is quite possible.  I do not think that I was able to get through to him.  I know 
that I am not one of his favorite people, but I never thought that he would hurt you.  Just 
the same, try not to go out at night by yourself for a while and be very careful if you do."
	"I will," she promised.


CHAPTER 3

	Over the next year, Nick made Moriah's life pure hell.  She never knew when or 
where he would appear.  When she did encounter him, he always harassed her about her 
association with LaCroix.  If Moriah were waiting for LaCroix outside the precinct, Nick 
would come out, yell at her, and grab her wrists as he had done the first night.  He would 
only release her when LaCroix or Natalie arrived on the scene.  She could not go 
anywhere by herself at night without him showing up nine times out of ten.  Shopping 
alone had become totally out of the question, except during the daylight hours.  If she 
were shopping alone in the evening, Nick would be waiting for her when she exited the 
store.  Sometimes, he even had the nerve to follow her as she walked through the stores.  
LaCroix had to come to her rescue more times than she cared to count, and Natalie 
seemed to have no influence over Nick whatsoever.  It had come to the point where 
LaCroix was meeting her after work and walking her home or to THE RAVEN.  Once she 
was home and inside her apartment, she stayed there until morning unless LaCroix was 
taking her some place that night.
	She could not report it to the police.  What was she going to say, "I am being 
harassed by a vampire, who happens to be one of your detectives, because he does not 
approve of whom I'm seeing"? She did not think that would be a wise move.  LaCroix 
tried to protect her, but Nick was part of him and whether he admitted it or not, Moriah 
knew that he cared for Nick and really did not want to hurt him.  Moriah had virtually 
become a prisoner in her own home and there was nothing that anyone could do to help 
her.  She slowly came to the decision that she would have to help herself.
	It seemed that the only option for her was to leave town.  She knew that if she 
stayed in town, she would be tempted to see LaCroix and the harassment from Nick 
would continue.  Leaving town, she decided, would be easier on everyone all the way 
around.  She would never forget LaCroix, but she would learn to live without him.  
LaCroix, on the other hand, would eventually be forced to give her up or bring her over, 
so Moriah made his decision for him.  In Nick's case, it would be, "out of sight, out of 
mind."  If she were not around, then he could not harass her.
	Moriah thought about all of the places that she could possibly go and finally settled 
on the town where she had grown up in Texas.  Once the decision was made she moved 
rapidly.  It only took her two days to prepare to leave.  Packing everything that she could 
take with her, she made plans to ship the rest.  The only person who knew she was leaving 
was the captain, and she swore him to secrecy.  She did not want LaCroix to have the 
chance to try to stop her.
	On the day that she was to leave town, Moriah threw the last few things left in her 
apartment in her car and drove to THE RAVEN.  Pulling her car up next to curb, she 
turned off the ignition and stared at the front door.  This was one of the hardest things that 
she ever had to do.  "Dear John" letters were not her usual style, but neither was existing 
in the world of vampires.  Moriah looked down at the envelope in her hand, then at the 
front door of THE RAVEN.  Eventually, she took a deep breath, got out of the car, and 
walked up to the door, shoving the envelope through the mail slot.  It was the middle of 
the day, so Moriah knew that LaCroix would be inside THE RAVEN.  Leaning against 
the wall, Moriah waited for him to pick up the envelope.  The sound of tearing paper 
alerted her to the fact that the envelope had been picked up, torn open, and its contents 
pulled out.  A few seconds later, she heard him call her name.  Bursting into tears, she ran 
for her car, started the engine, and drove away from him, possibly forever.
	Inside THE RAVEN, LaCroix heard Moriah run to the car, then heard it speed off 
down the road.  Trapped inside by the daylight, he was helpless, having no way to go after 
her.  He turned away from the door and looked into the darkness that surrounded him.  
The little bit of light that he possessed had sped away from him into parts unknown.  
Sitting on a nearby barstool, all he could do was finish reading her letter:

Dear Lucien,

	This is the only way I could think of to put a little peace back into everyone's life, 
especially mine.  Nick is not going to leave me alone.  I can't stay in town and not share 
your company, so I feel that I must leave.  If I knew another way around it, I would do it.  
I realize that Nick is your creation, therefore your child your son.  As your son, I realize 
that there is a certain bond between you, and I don't want to break that bond.  You have 
protected me from him when you could, but short of destroying him, I don't think that 
there is anyway to stop him from harassing me.  I feel as if I have gotten into the middle of 
a family feud and now it is time to step gracefully out of it.
	I can't tell you what your company has meant to me.  You have taught me so 
much, and until Nick started interfering, made me feel so safe.  I don't want to leave.  It is 
breaking my heart to do so, but I can not continue with the way things are.  I know that 
this sounds corny, but I feel as if I have finally found my soul mate and now I am losing 
him.
	I am going home.  I will send you the address and telephone number when I am 
settled.  If you are not angry with me after reading this letter, feel free to call or write me.
	Please do not tell anyone that you know where I have gone.  The less that 
everyone knows the better.

Love,
Moriah

	After he finished reading Moriah's letter, LaCroix stared around the empty bar; it 
suddenly seemed much emptier than it had in the last three years.  He stood up and walked 
across the room, picking up a glass from the bar where he had left it.  Suddenly, 
something in him snapped and he slammed the glass down on the bar.  Dropping Moriah's 
letter to the floor, he picked up several barstools near him and let them sail across the 
room.  If Nicolas had purposely searched for a way to punish him for all the years of pain 
and suffering, he could not have devised a more fitting punishment, chasing away the only 
ray of light and real companionship that LaCroix had had in centuries.  Walking over to 
where he had tossed the barstools, he picked them up and carried them back to their 
proper places.  A flash of white on the floor caught his eye and he reached down, picking 
up Moriah's letter.  Clutching the letter tightly in his hand and staring at the door, he knew 
that his only hope of ever seeing Moriah again lay in her promise to contact him when she 
was settled.


CHAPTER 4

	Down in Texas, Moriah found a house near her hometown and a job as a police 
officer in a neighboring town.  With all of the unpacking and getting acquainted with her 
new job, it was a little over a week before Moriah was able to mail a letter to LaCroix.  
She dropped the letter containing her address and telephone number in the mailbox.  She 
hoped that he was not so angry with her that he had decided to forget about her and go on 
with his life.
	A few days after she mailed the letter, Moriah arrived home to the sound of the 
phone ringing.  She ran to the door and fumbled with her keys.  Finally, she managed to 
unlock the door.  Dropping everything in her arms on the floor, she dove for the phone.  
She untangled the cord and placed the receiver against her ear.
	"Hello," Moriah puffed.
	"Hello, Moriah," the voice on the other end said.
	Moriah did not recognize the voice right away and she was about to ask, when she 
realized who it was.  "Lucien!" she cried.
	"You almost did not recognize my voice," he said softly.  "You have not been 
away that long."
	"You must remember that we've never talked on the phone before," she said, 
twirling her finger in the cord.  "How would I know your telephone voice?  Besides, I 
wasn't sure that you'd call.  I thought that you might be angry with me."
	Moriah heard surprise in LaCroix's voice.  "How could I be angry with you for 
something that is not your fault?  Now, I was angry at the way that you left.  You did not 
even tell me to my face.  I realize now, though, that you did what you thought was best."
	"I miss you terribly," Moriah said softly, stretching out on the couch.  "There's no 
one here to talk to, and no one can talk intelligently about the things that we discuss.  I 
stay pretty much to myself.  Work, come home and read or watch television."
	"I must say that I am not sorry to hear that," he said, and she could hear a hint of 
satisfaction in his voice.
	"Miss me, do you?" she teased.
	"Moriah, you know I do.  There is no one here who likes me enough to talk all 
through the night or day with me, take walks with me, or go to the opera with me."
	Moriah was quiet for a minute.  "I really didn't mean to punish you, but I honestly 
couldn't take it anymore.  I was about to break and do something really stupid."
	"And what might that be?" LaCroix asked curiously.
	"Stake his ass," Moriah said point blankly.
	Moriah heard him laughing on the other end.  "You really think that you could do 
that?"
	"No, that's why I left.  I couldn't destroy Nick anymore than you could.  The way 
my luck's been going, I'd have been killed instead."
	LaCroix hesitated for a moment.  "Would you mind if I came down for a visit?"
	Moriah was thrilled and it showed in her voice.  "No, not at all.  I was hoping that 
you would.  I've already prepared for that possibility.  The whole house, except for a 
couple of rooms, can be blacked out."
	"You sound like you were sure that I would contact you," LaCroix mused.
	"As I said earlier, I wasn't sure.  I just hoped that you felt about me the way that I 
felt about you, that's all."
	"And how is that?" he asked, teasing her.
	Moriah was not quite ready to say the words.  "You know," she said quietly.
	"I have no idea," he replied.
	LaCroix was making it hard on her.  "I love you," she whispered into the receiver.  
"Is that what you wanted to hear?  I love you, Lucien LaCroix."
	LaCroix's end of the receiver grew silent and remained silent for several minutes.  
After a few minutes of listening to the nothing but air and getting no response when she 
called his name, Moriah decided to hang up the telephone.  Reaching over, she replaced 
the receiver on the cradle, then she walked back outside to close and lock the car.  Before 
going back in the house, she stood out in the yard for a moment, staring up at the stars 
and thanking them for the call that she had just received.  Walking into the house, she 
closed and locked the door behind her, then walked to the bedroom.  She removed her 
clothes and changed into an old shirt and knee socks, then walked to the kitchen to make 
herself something to eat.  As Moriah was sitting down on the couch with a plate and the 
television remote in her hands, the phone rang.  Setting her food and the remote on the 
coffee table, she reached for the phone.
	"Hello," Moriah said.
	"Moriah, why did you hang up?" the voice at the other end asked quietly.
	Moriah chuckled to herself.  "Lucien, I didn't think that you were there anymore," 
she explained softly.  "You hadn't said anything for almost five minutes. I thought you'd 
hung up because of how I answered your question."
	Moriah heard LaCroix pause and take a breath.  "No," he said.  "I did not hang up.  
It is been so long since I have cared for anyone who has actually cared for me, that I was 
in shock."
	"So, did I scare you?  Are you still coming to see me?" she asked hesitantly.
	"Yes, I am still coming.  I have to.  As for the scared part, I am finding things out 
about myself that I did not know still existed."
	"Such as?"
	"I love you, too, Moriah " he admitted.  "I think I do.  Anyway, it has been so 
long, that I am not sure what love is anymore.  I do know that I am miserable without 
you."
	Moriah sighed.  "Now, are you going to flake out on me like Nick?  I realize that 
human/vampire relationships are supposed to be doomed from the start.  I have no 
problem with letting things go on the way that they have been for a while longer."
	"I am supposed to be the master, but there is one thing that I have learned from 
Nicolas.  He worries too much about being fair to Natalie.  Even though she tells him that 
it does not matter, he is putting a strain on them both."
	"How is Nick by the way?"
	"Since you left, he has calmed down, but now he feels badly about forcing you to 
leave."
	Moriah shifted the phone to the other hand.  "Face it, Lucien," she said.  "The poor 
guy's never going to be happy.  It's always going to be something with him.  One day he 
may get his mortality, then he will want his immortality back."
	When Moriah finally hung up the phone and looked at her watch, she discovered 
that they had talked a total of four hours.  Sleep came to her much easier that night, 
because she knew that LaCroix was not angry with her and that he would soon be with her 
again.
	Moriah arrived home late one night, four nights after LaCroix's telephone call.  
Before she even got out of the car, she knew something was wrong.  Looking carefully 
around her, she slowly climbed out of the car and carefully walked towards the front door.  
Suddenly, she realized what was wrong.  There were no night sounds; there were no 
crickets chirping, no frogs croaking, and no locusts clicking in the trees.  As Moriah 
neared the front door, she had the feeling that she was being watched but when she 
turned, she did not see anyone.  Her first thought was LaCroix, but she dismissed it 
immediately for she knew that he would not try to scare her this way.  Less than two 
minutes after letting herself in the house, she had searched the house and locked all the 
doors and windows.  With herself locked securely inside, she reached for the phone.  
Moriah dialed the number that LaCroix had given her to reach him at THE RAVEN, if she 
needed him.  The person who answered the phone said that LaCroix had left for parts 
unknown a day earlier.  She thanked him, hung up the phone, and prepared herself for a 
long, sleepless night.
	Moriah turned off all the lights and looked outside occasionally to see if there was 
any movement.  Although she had not heard any rumors of vampires in the area, that did 
not mean that they were not there.  Something was outside her house.  It had caused the 
night creatures to silence their songs.  Sleep was definitely out of the question.  Luckily, it 
was Friday night and she did not have to go to work the next day.  To keep her company, 
Moriah turned the television on but kept the sound low so that she could her anything 
unusual happening outside.  Curling up on the couch with her knees pulled up to her chest, 
she waited impatiently for morning to arrive.
	Just after midnight, Moriah heard a noise on the porch.  Pulling the curtain and 
looking out the window, she saw nothing.  As she turned to sit down, there was a knock 
at the door.  Grabbing a heavy stick that she kept by the door, Moriah slowly walked up 
to the door and peeked out the window.  Flinging the door open, Moriah threw herself 
into LaCroix's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.
	"My, my," LaCroix exclaimed as his arms wrapped around her.  "I am happy to see 
you, too."
	When Moriah realized what she had done, she pulled herself away from him and 
stepped back.  Over the three years that they had been together, Moriah had never 
initiated any of the physical contact, except an occasional touch on the arm or shoulder.  
Knowing that the wrong movement could trigger a very unwanted reaction, she had let 
LaCroix decided what was proper and when.
	Moriah looked up at him and he could see the fear in her eyes.  "I'm sorry, Lucien" 
Moriah apologized.  "I shouldn't have done that, but I've been so scared all night."
	"There is no reason to be sorry.  Simply hugging me will not cause any unwanted 
reactions," LaCroix said smiling.  "What I want to know is, why are you so scared?  You 
were not this scared when Nick was harassing you."
	Moriah started shivering, so he put his arms around her and pulled her back into 
his embrace.  "I wish I knew," she said, laying her head on his chest, already feeling much 
safer.  "When I arrived home, there were no night sounds, and I have the feeling that I've 
been watched all night.  My first thought was vampires.  Did you sense any when you 
arrived or landed, as the case may be?"
	LaCroix turned his head and looked out into the woods surrounding her house.  
"There are definitely vampires in the area, but I do not feel any here at this time."
	"At least with Nick, I knew what I was up against.  He made me angry, but he 
never really scared me after that first time."  Realizing that they were still standing on the 
porch, Moriah grabbed his hand and said, "Where are my manners?  Come inside."
	LaCroix grabbed his bag and after taking another look into the woods, he followed 
her inside the house.  Once they were inside, she closed the door and turned all the locks.
	"You really are frightened," LaCroix observed as he walked around her living 
room, looking at the locks bolted on the windows.  "This house is locked up tighter than 
the freezer at the back of the club."
	Moriah turned and watched him walk around the room.  "I had no idea what was 
outside, and I still don't know for sure, but at least you are here now."
	Leaning against the wall, LaCroix asked curiously, "Moriah, does my being here 
really make you feel safer?  Most women would be scared to death to have a vampire as a 
house guest."
	Nodding her head, Moriah replied, "Yes, Lucien, you do.  I know that you 
wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt me.  There is no way that I could ever be afraid of 
you.  All I need is for you to give me your ground rules."
	LaCroix cocked his head and looked at he questioningly.  "Ground rules?"
	"Yes, what I can and can't do around you to keep from triggering some unwanted 
instinct or reaction," she said crossing her arms over her chest.
	LaCroix walked towards her smiling.  "Oh, that is easy.  You can hug me, you can 
hold my hand, and I can put my arms around you."
	Moriah looked up at him and asked softly.  "Can I put a kiss on your cheek every 
now and then?"
	LaCroix smiled down at her and wondered how he had gotten so lucky.  "I think 
that would be perfectly fine."
	"That's all I need to know.  Now for my ground rule."
	LaCroix laughed.  "Just one?"
	"Yes, there's only one.  You will drink only cow's blood while you're here," Moriah 
said, pointing towards the kitchen.  "There's several weeks worth in the fridge."
	LaCroix smiled at her.  "I think that I can do that easily enough, since I have not 
actually drunk human blood in quite a while anyway.  It is much easier and safer to obtain 
the bottled kind these days."
	Moriah walked towards the kitchen and said, "There are only two rooms that you 
do not have access to; one is the kitchen and the other is the main bathroom.  I couldn't 
get them dark enough.  I will make sure that the kitchen door is closed before you come 
into the living room.  Come and I'll show you your room."
	LaCroix picked up his bag and followed her through the rest of the house.  She 
opened the doors and showed him the rest of the rooms, ending with his room.
	"Settle yourself in.  I'll be in the living room, if you want me," Moriah said.  After 
taking one last look at him to make sure that he was indeed in her house and that she was 
not dreaming, she walked towards the living room.
	Moriah walked down the hallway feeling much better.  Just knowing that LaCroix 
was in the house made her feel safer.  She walked into the living room and curled up on 
the couch.  Picking up the remote, she turned the sound up on the television, then piled 
some pillows against the arm of the couch and made herself comfortable.  The sound of 
the television began to lull Moriah to sleep.  When she was halfway between 
consciousness and sleep, something jolted her awake.  Listening closely, she realized that 
the night sounds had stopped again.  She jumped off the couch and ran towards the 
hallway to get LaCroix, but he met her at the living room door.  As she opened her mouth 
to speak, he put his fingers over her lips.  Instinctively, she knew that he was sensing the 
presence of other vampires.  Walking towards the door, he grasped the doorknob firmly in 
his hand.
	Moriah followed him to the door. "Will you be all right?" she whispered.
	LaCroix nodded his head.  "I am very old and very ancient," he whispered.  "It will 
take more than a group of youngsters to harm me.  Moriah, you must stay inside, though.  
Do not come out under any circumstances, do you hear me?" 
	LaCroix released the doorknob, grabbed her shoulders, and looked into her eyes.  
His eyes were flashing and the shade of blue had changed to a light cornflower color.  
Knowing that he was angry, Moriah was not about to defy him.
	"Yes, Lucien," she promised.
	LaCroix opened the door and walked out onto the porch.  Closing the door and 
locking it behind him, Moriah walked over to one of the windows and peeked out.  Since 
she wanted to see and hear what was happening, she sat under the window and cracked it 
a little.  Standing on the porch, LaCroix looked out into the trees surrounding her house, 
then he took a few steps off the porch.  There was movement in the trees as about ten 
figures emerged and stepped into the front yard.  The figures were all men, or at least 
Moriah thought they were men, dressed in jeans and old flannel shirts and T-shirts
	"Howdy, neighbor," one of them said.  "Whatcha' doin' in our neck of the woods?"
	"Oh great," Moriah thought, throwing her hand up to her forehead.  "Just what I 
need redneck:  vampires."
	"I am here visiting a friend," LaCroix answered.  "And I must insist that you leave 
her alone."
	"He wants us to leave her alone," another one of them laughed.  "The fancy man 
wants us to leave that sweet young thing inside alone."
	Still a third one growled, "You don't come into our town and tell us what to do."
	LaCroix narrowed his eyes and stared at him.  "And you do not harm or harass 
someone who is under my protection."
	"Ooh, I'm scared," the third vampire replied, faking a shiver.
	Moriah never knew what happened next, because there was a flash of light and she 
hid her eyes in her hands.  There was a great deal of yelling and a flashing of lights.  When 
the noise died down, she slowly lifted her head and peered out the window.  All she saw 
was LaCroix standing alone in the front yard.  Since she promised him that she would stay 
inside, she had to wait by the door for him to come inside.  When she heard footsteps on 
the porch, she looked out the window to make sure that it was him.
	Following LaCroix's orders, Moriah did not open the door until she heard him say, 
"Moriah, you can open the door now."
	Moriah pulled the door open and stepped out onto the porch.  "Are they gone?"
	"Yes.  I doubt that they will be back tonight, but you are not safe here.  They are 
determined to take you over to the other side."
	Moriah wrapped her arms around herself.  "Why did they show up tonight?  Do 
you think they knew that you were coming?"
	"No, that was just a coincidence.  They have been watching you, since you 
arrived," LaCroix said, pushing her hair away from her face.
	She looked up at him and LaCroix could see the fear in Moriah's eyes.  "Lucien, 
promise me that you will bring me across before you let some redneck who does not even 
know what a ballet is own me," she pleaded.
	Watching the fear grow in her eyes, LaCroix wished that he could make her feel 
better, but he could not do so.  "I do not know if I can.  I do not want to bring you over.  
I will only promise that if there is no choice, I will try."
	A promise would have really made Moriah happy, and she felt almost insulted that 
he did not want to bring her across, but she felt that she would have to be satisfied with 
what she received.  Looking out into the woods, she realized that the night sounds had 
begun again.  "I suppose that we will cross that bridge when we come to it," she said, 
sighing.  "For now, how about sitting on the porch and enjoying an early morning in the 
country?"
	Knowing that he had not said what Moriah had wanted to hear, he welcomed the 
opportunity for a distraction.  "All right.  I have been in the city for so long that I have not 
experienced a cool country night in a long time."
	Moriah led him over to the porch swing.  The swing began to move back and forth 
slowly as Moriah sat down on one end.  Before he sat down, LaCroix watched her 
swinging and thought how innocent and child-like she looked.  To him, her appearance 
was very deceiving, because her personality was anything but weak.  He sat down beside 
her and leaned back, putting his arm over the back of the swing.  Moriah started the swing 
moving back and forth, then leaned back.  The movement of the swing relaxed him and 
before he was aware of what he was doing, he had his arm around her shoulders and she 
was leaning against him.  After an hour of sitting quietly and listening to the sounds of the 
night, Moriah looked up at LaCroix.  Noticing that his eyes were closed, she studied his 
face.
	LaCroix did not open his eyes, but he could feel Moriah watching him.  "What are 
you looking at?" he asked finally, opening his eyes.
	A smug look crept over Moriah's face.  "I was wondering what your vampire 
friends would say, if they could see you now, sitting here with me in the front porch 
swing, like a couple of old folks."
	There was a silence, then LaCroix said in all seriousness, "I am an old folk."
	The hilarity of his comment hit Moriah and she tried to stifle a giggle.  As age 
goes, he was around two thousand years old and the oldest living, breathing, and speaking 
person that she knew.  By trying to stifle the giggle, Moriah almost choked herself.
	Although LaCroix was fully aware that Moriah had wanted to giggle, he chose to 
ignore it and continued talking.  "Do you realize that since you started coming around, I 
have not harassed anyone or interfered in anyone's life?  The regulars think that I am sick."  
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Now, the day that you left and for two weeks 
after, I ranted, raved, slammed things, and threw things to the point that no one wanted to 
be anywhere near me or the club.  Nicolas was the only one to come around and that was 
because he felt guilty about you leaving.  I blamed him for you leaving and almost 
retaliated, but then I realized that you would not have wanted me to do so."  He reached 
over and touched her cheek.  "I thought that you were running away from me, because 
you could not handle having a relationship with a vampire anymore and used Nick as an 
excuse."
	His comment obviously hurt Moriah.  "Do you really believe that I am that 
shallow?  After three years with you that I thought were good years, you think that I 
would throw it away because you are a vampire?  I have never been treated as good as 
you treat me by any male of any race or species," she said, turning so that she could see 
his face clearly.
	The hurt showing on Moriah's face tugged at LaCroix.  "I am sorry," he 
apologized.  "I spoke without thinking.  I just thought that once you were away from me, 
it would be a case of 'out of sight, out of mind', but I was wrong."  There was a pause 
while he placed a kiss on the top of her head.  "Then your letter showed up and I knew 
that you did not run away from me.  No one knew why, but they were very glad when I 
calmed down and became semi-agreeable again."
	"Does being around me really make you change your personality that much?" 
Moriah asked lightly touching his cheek.
	LaCroix shook his head.  "It does not change my personality. It is just that you 
make me feel not so alone, so I am not as prone to make others as miserable as I am.  
When you have been around as long as I have, you become quite lonely and search for 
companionship.  Loneliness can make you do mean and nasty things."
	"So, my theory was correct," Moriah said tapping her chin.  "I thought that if 
someone really liked you for what you were, you would not be half as nasty as I had heard 
that you were."
	Leaning forward and turning towards her, LaCroix inquired, "And when did you 
know this?"
	"Well, you remember the first night that I stumbled into THE RAVEN?" Moriah 
asked, chuckling.  When LaCroix nodded, she said,  "Well, it was not that night.  It was 
after my next two encounters with you.  There was just something in your eyes that led me 
to believe that you were not a mean man.  You were just a very lonely one.  It took me a 
while to dismiss what I was being told and act on what I knew."
	Standing up and stretching, LaCroix commented.  "I, for one, am glad that you 
did."
	Moriah began to yawn.  "I think that it is time that I go inside," she said.  "I have 
had a long day and night.  Do you mind being left alone?"
	"No, I don't mind," he answered.
	Moriah stood up and walked over to the front door.  Reaching inside the door, she 
produced a key and handed it to him.  "Here is a key to the house," she said.  "You don't 
have to come inside.  Go enjoy the rest of the darkness.  I will lock myself snugly inside."
	He looked out into the trees and narrowed his eyes.  He did not like what he was 
detecting.  Not wanting to leave her alone, LaCroix took the key from her, but said, "I've 
changed my mind.  I'm a little tired myself after the journey.  I think that I will go inside 
with you."
	LaCroix never did go out on his own.  He did not want to let Moriah out of his 
sight at night with the redneck vampires around, as Moriah had started calling them.  The 
only town that offered their sort of entertainment was over a hundred miles, so they did 
not go out very often.  Many times when Moriah had to work overtime, LaCroix would 
wait at the station to accompany her home.  The other vampires did not have a chance to 
capture Moriah with LaCroix keeping watch.  There was talk of Moriah coming home 
with him, but she said that she could not deal with Nick again.  The talk shifted to him 
staying with her, but Moriah said that he would stagnate and eventually tire of her in a 
place without any intellectual stimulation or other vampires with whom to visit.  He 
pointed out that there were vampires about and she asked him what they would talk about.  
"How old the cow patties were?"  It seemed to be a no-win situation, which was soon to 
be solved by an act of desperation.


CHAPTER 5

	One evening Moriah had to work late and it was dark when it was time for her to 
leave for home.  LaCroix had made a habit of meeting her, but for some reason that night, 
he was not outside waiting when she walked to her car.  LaCroix had always headed off 
any encounter that Moriah might have had with the redneck vampires; hence, she had not 
seen them since that first night at her house.  Since she personally had not seen them, she 
thought nothing of driving home alone.  Shrugging her shoulders, she climbed in the car 
and started the drive between the town where she worked and the town where she lived.  
Moriah had taken all the necessary precautions to keep safe, rolling up the windows and 
locking the doors.  She thought she was safe, but she had not counted on a stray dog 
helping the vampires' cause.
	The first part of the drive went without any problems, which lulled Moriah into a 
false sense of security.  Halfway between the two towns, a dog darted in front of Moriah's 
car and she swerved to miss it.  Although she missed the dog, the car skidded into a ditch.  
After revving the engine several times, Moriah concluded that the car was firmly stuck in 
the ditch.  Wanting to determine how bad the damage was, she climbed out of the car.  As 
Moriah was walking around the car, she heard noises behind her and instinctively jumped 
back inside the car, locking the doors.  Thus, the car became her prison.  It would not 
move out of the ditch and there was not place else for her to run.  Looking out the front 
windshield, she saw something stepping out of the trees and walking towards the car.  As 
it drew closer, she recognized it as the redneck vampires.  There had to be something in 
the car that she could use to defend herself, but all she could find was the cross around her 
neck.  It was such a tiny cross, but she clasped it in her hand anyway.  When the faces 
started pressing against the glass, she buried her head in her lap.  Pounding on the 
windows, the vampires eventually broke through the glass, then hands came through the 
windows grabbing at her.  She moved into the middle of the car and as far away from the 
hands as she could get, but it did not deter them for long.  Moriah heard a loud crash, then 
a pair of hands grabbed her, pulling her from the car.
	Moriah turned around to see who was pulling her from the car only to discover 
that it was the ugliest of the redneck vampires.  As the vampire carried her towards the 
trees, the other vampires circled them, grabbing at her.  Kicking and screaming were out 
of the question.  What good would it have done except sap her strength?  Luck was with 
Moriah, though, as the vampire carrying her tripped and dropped her to the ground.  She 
jumped up and tried to run, but she did not get very far because the other vampires circled 
her immediately.  Her only hope was that LaCroix was looking for her and would find her 
in time.  The vampires closed the circle around her and began to creep closer to her when 
they realized that they had not decided which one of them was going to bring her across.  
A discussion followed of whom was going to get the privilege and.  Fortunately, the 
discussion turned into an argument, which bought her some time.  They finally decided 
who would take her, but when they turned to face her, they were in for a surprise.  
LaCroix appeared in front of their eyes, placing himself between them and Moriah.  
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close to him.
	"I thought I told you to leave her alone," LaCroix said to the group that 
surrounded them.  "Are your heads made of cement or have you been drinking bad 
blood?"
	Moriah noticed that there was something different about the redneck vampires 
tonight.  They seemed stronger than they had appeared before, but LaCroix was very old 
and ancient, therefore much stronger.  If Moriah had not been there, he would have 
defeated them in no time.  As it was, he could not take his eyes off of her, for fear that one 
of the other vampires would sneak up and take her.  Using a few smaller illusions, LaCroix 
managed to gain enough time for them to run to an abandoned barn.  Once inside, they 
closed and barred the doors, then moved to the middle of the barn.
	Moriah turned to LaCroix with terror in her eyes.  He had never seen her terrified 
before.  "It is time, Lucien," she cried, grabbing his shoulders.  "You have to bring to me 
over.  You cannot let them take me.  Please!"
	LaCroix hesitated.  "I do not know.  I do not want to condemn you to a life that 
you might hate."
	The tears were beginning to well up in her eyes.  "I would rather be yours, than 
theirs.  Look at me," she demanded.  "Can you honestly imagine me spending an eternity 
with one of those goons, never seeing a ballet or an opera again.  Never hearing Mozart or 
Bach again.  Please.  I'm begging you not to let them take me."
	Moriah and LaCroix heard pounding on the doors and the sides of the barn; the 
other vampires were trying to break through.  Moriah turned to him.  "They are almost 
here.  If you won't bring me across, then kill me," she begged.  "Afterwards, you can just 
fly away, but please do something."
	"I could never kill you," he said, looking down at her and shaking his head.  "I 
suppose that I must bring you over and hope that you do not end up hating me."
	"I could never hate you, unless you allow me fall into their hands," she said, 
placing her hands on his chest.  Then he heard her softly say, "Please."
	As LaCroix reached for her, Moriah ripped off her cross and threw it to the 
ground.  Leaning over her and looking into her eyes, he saw the fear replaced with some 
emotion that he did not recognize, but it made her eyes shine.  Slowly bending her head 
back as the noise from outside grew louder, he prepared to bring her across, but nothing 
happened.  All Moriah saw was the glow of his eyes.
	LaCroix stood over her for a minute, then turned away and said, "I cannot do it.  I 
am sorry, My Little One, but I cannot do it."
	Moriah looked around the barn at the wood splintering from the walls.  "No," she 
said, shaking her head while her eyes filled with tears.  "No," she repeated, as she sunk to 
her knees in the hay.  Looking up at him, Moriah said, "What are you still doing here?  
Find yourself an escape route and fly away.  That is unless you want to watch one of them 
bring me over.  Maybe they will let me pick the one.  At least I can choose the lesser of 
the evils.  Just remember me and that there was one time when you were really loved."  
Dropping her head in her hands, Moriah silently let the tears flow.
	The sight of Moriah on her knees crying ripped into LaCroix's very being.  He 
dropped to one knee and knelt beside her.  Taking her hands away from her face and 
lifting her face to his, LaCroix whispered. "Moriah, I said that I could not, not that I 
would not."  He rubbed his cheek against Moriah's tear streaked cheek, then whispered in 
her ear, "You have to help me bring you across."
	LaCroix's words opened up Moriah's last bit of hope.  He wiped away the tears on 
her cheeks with his sleeve.  The noise outside was growing louder as Moriah leaned 
forward and very slowly kissed him.  This was the first time that she had ever kissed 
LaCroix and it was under the most stressful of circumstances.  Turning her head, Moriah 
kissed him again, but she could not break through LaCroix's icy reserve.  His lips would 
not respond to hers.
	Moriah lifted her head and looked into his eyes.  "Please, My Love, let me in," she 
whispered.
	LaCroix's reserve melted when he saw the love and the desperation in her eyes.  
This time he covered Moriah's mouth with his and he kissed her.  She responded to him 
immediately, and he continued kissing her deeply, ravenously.  Moriah had never been 
kissed the way that he was kissing her, and she did not want him to stop.  Once when she 
glanced up, she saw that his eyes glowed a pale yellow-green color.  With her arms 
wrapped tightly around his neck, he lowered her gently until they were lying in the hay.  
LaCroix moved from her mouth to her neck then kissed her neck from one side to the 
other.  There was a tension building up inside Moriah, unlike any that she had ever felt 
before.  It finally built up to a point where all she wanted release from the feelings building 
inside her.  When she thought she could stand it no longer, LaCroix turned her head to the 
side, exposing the creamy white flesh of her neck to his waiting fangs.  She felt the points 
of his fangs touching, then puncturing her flesh.  A release of all the tension that had built 
up inside her swept through her entire body and she lost consciousness.
	LaCroix sat up and looked down at Moriah lying in the straw.  Even in her present 
condition, he could still see her inner strength and innocence shining through.  He had 
sworn that he would never put her through this, but there was a part of him that was glad 
the deed was finally done and she could now stay with him, forever.  Reaching down, he 
gently picked her up and cradled her in his arms.  Laying her head against his shoulder, he 
started slowly pulling the pieces of straw from her hair, stopping occasionally, to place a 
kiss on her forehead.  The last of the boards on the sides of the barn were being torn away 
as she began to stir in his arms.
	When Moriah regained consciousness, she was disoriented for a moment, not 
knowing where she was.  Looking up into LaCroix's face and hearing the sound of 
splintering wood, the events of the last few hours came flooding back.  There was a warm 
feeling on her neck.  When she reached up with her hand, she felt two small puncture 
wounds.  Pulling her hand away, she discovered that it was covered with blood.
	Moriah looked at LaCroix and smiled weakly.  "Am I?"
	Smoothing back her hair and running his hand across her forehead, LaCroix 
whispered, "Yes, you are one of us now.  I hope that I never have reason to regret this."
	"It had to be done," she said weakly.  "There was no other choice except death, 
and neither of us could do that."
	Moriah fell back against his shoulder and LaCroix wrapped his arms around her.  
"I have to get you home, where you can rest," he whispered, placing his lips against her 
hair.  "The transformation is a totally draining experience.  After I deal with these idiots, I 
will take you to the house.  When you are strong enough, I will take you home where you 
belong.  There is no reason to stay here anymore."
	The redneck vampires had broken through and were slowly walking towards 
Moriah and LaCroix.  Adjusting Moriah in his arms and standing up, he prepared to face 
them.
	"We want the girl," the ugly one that had grabbed Moriah said.
	"Too late," LaCroix said smiling at them.  "She is mine as she was always meant to 
be."
	"He is lying," another one said.  "He would never bring her over."  Then in a 
mocking tone, he added, "He loves her."
	Moriah lifted her head and turned to look at them.  The glow in her eyes was 
enough for them to know that LaCroix was telling the truth.  After showing them her 
eyes, Moriah slumped back against LaCroix's shoulder.
	"He did it," the one that had mocked him said.  "The old guy actually did it."
	There were bales of hay stacked in the shape of a chair over to the side, LaCroix 
set Moriah on these bales, then turned to face the redneck vampires.  "Now that I do not 
have to worry about her anymore, you are going to experience the full fury of my anger.  
You caused me to do something that I had not planned on doing for a very long while, if 
at all."
	As Moriah watched, LaCroix stretched himself up to his full height.  "The fools," 
Moriah thought as the redneck vampires surrounded LaCroix and moved in closer.  One 
by one they charged at him and one by one they fell at his feet.  For LaCroix, dealing with 
these upstarts was as easy as swatting flies.  All of the redneck vampires fell to their knees, 
squirming on the floor until they all became very still.  LaCroix walked around the lumps 
on the floor.  He shook his head and rolled several of them over with his foot.
	Staring down at them, LaCroix shook his head again and said, "The quality of 
today's vampires is definitely in a decline.  Maybe you will think twice before you take on 
an 'old guy' again or try to harm someone under his or her protection."
	There was silence in the air again, and Moriah thought that it sounded so good.  
Home and her bed sounded even better.  Leaning forward, she leaned her arms on her 
knees and put her head in her hands.  As she was about to lose consciousness again, 
LaCroix rushed over and caught her.
	Picking her up, LaCroix whispered, "Now to get you home."
	"What did you do to them?" she whispered.
	"Just incapacitated them for a very long while.  They will think twice before they 
challenge me or another old one again."
	LaCroix carried her out of the barn and down to her car.  When he saw what the 
redneck vampires had done to her car, he shook his head, but then he realized that she 
really did not need it anymore.  Surveying the damage, he found that all of the glass was 
broken and scattered within the car's confines.  There was a clean place on the ground a 
few feet away, so he set Moriah down, while he cleaned out the front seat of the car.  
After sweeping all the glass out of the front seat, the dashboard, and the floorboard, 
LaCroix picked Moriah up and set her gently in the passenger's seat then closed the door.  
Walking to the back of the car, he lifted up the back of the car and pushed it out of the 
ditch, pointing it towards the highway.  When he looked in the window on the driver's 
side, Moriah's keys were still in the ignition, so he climbed in and turned the key.  Luck 
was with them.  The car started immediately.
	"Can you drive a car?" Moriah asked weakly.
	"Yes, I can drive," LaCroix answered.  "I just do not do it too often."
	Pulling the car out on the highway, LaCroix drove towards Moriah's house.  In the 
corner of the car, Moriah was cold and shivering and wanted to be close to LaCroix.  
There was not enough strength left in her to allow her to move over beside him.  Seeing 
the shape that she was in and that she wanted to be near him, LaCroix reached over, 
opened his coat, and pulled Moriah close to him then wrapped the coat around her.  
Snuggling up next to LaCroix and laying her head on his chest, she rode the rest of the 
way home going in and out of consciousness.  When they reached town, LaCroix left her 
car at a repair shop just a few blocks from her house and carried her the rest of the way 
home.
	Earlier in the evening when LaCroix had left to look for Moriah, he had not only 
left the front door unlocked, but he also left it standing wide open.  Now holding Moriah 
tightly in his arms, he was able to walk through the door and into the house without 
fumbling for a key.  Once on the inside, he reached back with his elbow and pushed the 
door closed.  LaCroix walked into Moriah's bedroom and, while he held her with one arm, 
pulled down the covers with the other hand.  Trying not to disturb her, he laid her gently 
on the bed and pulled the covers tightly around her, then he left her to rest.  It would be a 
while before Moriah would need him, so LaCroix went to the kitchen to obtain a few 
things that he knew she would need when she woke.  Looking around the kitchen, he 
realized that she would no longer be able to walk into the kitchen in the daylight.  He 
decided to occupy his time while waiting for Moriah to wake up.  Finding paint and a 
brush in the utility closet, he painted the windows until they were opaque.  When he had 
finished painting, he went to the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of blood and a shot glass 
from the cabinet, and he carried them back to the bedroom and sat beside the bed to wait.


CHAPTER 6

	Sitting in a chair beside her bed, LaCroix watched Moriah sleep and thought about 
how much this little wisp of a thing had changed his life.  Moriah offered him 
companionship and love, without ever asking or expecting him to change.  Now that he 
did not know whether everything could ever be the same again, he was worried that when 
she woke up and realized the full ramifications of what he had done, she would hate him. 
Moriah began to wake interrupting LaCroix's thoughts.  He stood up and sat on the edge 
of the bed.  Moriah's hair still had bits of straw in it.  He pulled her hair out, laid it behind 
her on the pillow, and proceeded to pick out the last pieces of straw.  As he pulled the last 
piece of straw from her hair, she opened her eyes and smiled faintly at him
	Moriah's smile did not look like the smile of someone who hated him and LaCroix 
could not believe it.  He rubbed her forehead and said, "Hello, My Little One.  I know that 
you are feeling very weak and light-headed, but it will pass.  You will also go through 
some more cold chills and shivering."  Reaching over, he picked up the bottle from the 
table and poured a little in the shot glass.  "Drink this," he said, lifting her up and holding 
the glass to her lips.  "It will help."
	The smell of the liquid in the glass made Moriah feel even sicker.  "Is this what I 
think it is?"
	"Yes, it is blood, but it is the cow's blood from your refrigerator," he assured her.  
"I will never do that to you.  You must drink it though.  It will help calm the chills and 
shivering."
	Holding her breath, Moriah drank the contents of the glass, shuddering as if she 
had taken some foul tasting medicine.  It occurred to her that it was a medicine and that 
she would need it from now on to survive.  "How much will I need to live?" she asked.
	"Just a small glass about the size of a wine glass and, depending on how much 
energy you have expended, you may not need it but every other day," LaCroix explained, 
setting the glass down behind him.
	Moriah sighed.  "I've so much to learn," she said, laying back against the pillows 
and pulling the covers up around her.
	LaCroix leaned on her pillow and said, "That is what I am here for - to teach you, 
if you still want me to do so?"
	Moriah turned on her side.  "Why wouldn't I?"
	"I thought that you might hate me, now that the deed is done."
	When Moriah looked at him, LaCroix saw all the love in her face that had always 
been there.  "Do I look like I hate you?"
	LaCroix leaned over and kissed the top of her head.  "No.  I was so afraid that you 
would."
	Moriah reached for his hand.  "You said that you never had any intention of 
bringing me across.  What were you going to do with me?  Just disappear in a few years 
when I was too old for you."
	The hand in his was so tiny that it was hard for him to believe that the owner was 
so strong.  LaCroix had always been honest with her, so there was no reason not to be 
honest now.  "There is a part of me that wanted to bring you across, so that I would have 
you with me forever, but there is also the master side.  That side tells me who are good 
candidates to bring across and who are not.  You are not someone that I would not 
choose to bring over as a fledgling.  It was this side that I was trying to obey."
	"Why?  Was the master side the side causing you so much trouble trying to bring 
me across?"
	LaCroix shook his head.  "No.  I have never had trouble biting anyone.  You are 
the first.  It was not the master; it was the man.  I did not want to expose you to the dark 
side or allow you to see me as I appear in my most animalistic form."
	"I saw, but it does not change my feelings for you.  I still love you," she said 
smiling weakly.
	LaCroix looked at Moriah and wondered again how had he managed to be so 
lucky.  "The reason that I would not choose to make you a fledgling is, you are too 
strong.  Your personality is too strong and your life force is too strong.  A master never 
brings across one who has the potential of someday being his equal or stronger," he 
explained while he gently rubbed her head.
	LaCroix saw Moriah's eyes brighten.  "I have potential?"
	In spite of himself, he had to chuckle.  "Yes, but it is impossible to tell how much.  
But I am not too worried.  You have one of the nicest and sunniest dispositions that I 
know of.  You could actually bring some light to our dark world."  He paused for a 
moment then remarked, "You are not acting like this is the end of the world.  Why?"
	Moriah smiled and her eyes lit up. "Think of all the advantages and all of things 
that I'll be able to do.  The disadvantages are not that bad.  Nick makes too big a deal out 
of them.  I've seen him handle crosses and if he can do that, then to me, he's not damned.  
I honestly believe that as long as human blood does not cross my lips, then I'm not damned 
either.  Living forever might be a little of a drag, if you don't have someone to share it 
with."
	"As I said earlier, what a sunny, optimistic personality," he said, smiling.
	The chills and shivers that LaCroix had warned Moriah about suddenly descended 
upon her.  Her teeth began to chatter and her shoulders and arms began to shake.  "The 
chills that you were talking about are starting.  I don't suppose that you could lie down 
and hold me," she said, shivering underneath the covers.
	Turning off the light and putting them in darkness, LaCroix laid on the bed beside 
Moriah.  Using the covers as a cocoon, LaCroix wrapped her up tightly; then he wrapped 
his arms around her and held the cocoon close to him.  The layers of sheets and covers 
moved and rippled as Moriah's body shivered and jerked underneath.  The more violent 
the shivers, the tighter LaCroix's arms held her.  Two hours after they began, the shivers 
subsided and she fell into a slumber.  LaCroix was afraid that he would disturb her if he 
moved, so he lay very still, holding her in his arms and thinking.  It amazed him how easily 
Moriah had made it through the worst of the transformation.  It usually lasted much 
longer.  Eventually, he decided that she would be a force with which to be reckoned.  
Nicolas had better beware.  It was not long before his thoughts began to wane and he, too, 
closed his eyes.
	When Moriah woke a few hours later, she could not determine whether it was day 
or night.  As she attempted to sit up and move around, she became very dizzy and had to 
lie down.  Finally, she was able to sit up and lean back against the headboard.  Discovering 
that LaCroix was still laying by her side, she reached over slowly and gently touched his 
shoulder.  Suddenly, LaCroix sat up.  His eyes were glowing, and his fangs were showing.  
A gasp escaped from Moriah as she scooted to the other side of the bed
	Moriah quickly said, "Lucien, it's just me.  Everything's okay."
	The fangs slowly disappeared and LaCroix's eyes returned to normal.  "I am sorry.  
That was exactly the sort of thing that I did not want you to see," he apologized, 
obviously a little embarrassed.  "Usually, when someone wakes a vampire from a slumber, 
it is to put a stake in its heart.  I am not used to having anyone wake me."
	"That's all right," she said, laughing.
	"You look much better than you did last night," he said, sitting up beside her.  
"You are doing better than Nicolas did at this point."
	"Please, don't compare me with Nick," she said.  "We are cut out of totally 
different material."
	"That is obvious.  It will not be long before I can take you home."
	Wondering what LaCroix meant by 'home,' Moriah pensively asked, "And My 
Love, where is home?"
	LaCroix picked up her hand and held it in his.  "With me at THE RAVEN, if you 
wish it to be."
	Those were the words that Moriah wanted to hear.  "I would really like that, if you 
don't mind," she said, smiling.
	"I would have it no other way," he said softly, kissing her hand.  "Now that it is 
possible, I would like to have you with me."
	LaCroix laid her hand down on her jeans and that was when Moriah realized that 
she was still in the same clothes from the night before.  "Yuck, I need to get out of these 
clothes."
	When Moriah started to move, LaCroix put his hand out and stopped her.  "Do not 
move too fast," he advised.  "You body is not what it used to be.  It will take a little time 
to grow accustomed to its new form."  He helped her sit up on the edge of the bed.  
"What do you wish to wear?"
	Moriah reached towards the end of the bed.  "The night gown on the bed post will 
do," she said.
	LaCroix handed her the nightgown, then turned his back to her.  "After you have 
the gown on, I will help you stand so that you can remove the rest of your clothes."
	Moriah laughed as she pulled off her shirt and slipped the gown over her head.  
"Why is your back turned?"
	"I do not know.  I do many things that I do not understand when I am with you," 
he answered, shaking his head.
	Moriah dropped her jeans to the floor and let the gown fall to her ankles.  "I am 
ready," she said softly.  "You can turn around."
	LaCroix walked over and held her up, while she removed her jeans.  After fluffing 
the pillows, he set Moriah back against the pillows.
	"Is it daylight?" she asked.
	"Yes," he said.
	"I have to call Johnny," she said.
	"Who is Johnny?" LaCroix asked, exhibiting a little concern.
	"Don't worry.  Johnny's just my boss.  Could you hand me the cordless phone on 
the dresser?"
	On the top of her dresser sat a cordless telephone in its base.  LaCroix reached 
over and picked up the phone, and, after handing it to her poured another glass from the 
bottle and set it on the nightstand.
	LaCroix walked towards the door.  "While you are making your call, I will clean 
up and change out of these clothes.  You might want to drink the glass that I poured, if 
you start feeling weak while I am gone."
	"All right," she said, watching him walk out of the room.
	After he left the room, she looked at her hands, her feet, and the rest of the body.  
Unfortunately, she would not be able to see herself in the mirror anymore, so make-up and 
hair would have to be simple and done by touch only.  The last few weeks, Moriah had 
been practicing putting her make-up on without a mirror.  Although she never understood 
why she did it, now she was glad that she had.  She crawled around on the bed a little and 
noticed that her body felt much lighter; otherwise, she did not feel that much different.  
Settling back against the pillows, she punched the button to turn on the phone.  The 
number for work was programmed in the speed dial, so all she did was push one button, 
then she heard the ring on the other end.
	"Hello," the voice on the other end said.
	"Linda, this is Moriah," she said softly.  "Could I speak to Johnny?"
	"Where are you?" Linda asked.  "Everyone is worried sick."
	"I really need to talk to Johnny," Moriah said firmly.
	"Okay," Linda said, obviously, miffed.  "I will transfer you."
	Moriah heard the transfer ring, then she heard someone answer on the other end.  
"Johnny, it that you?" she asked.
	"Moriah," Johnny said.  "Where the hell are you?"
	"Home," she answered.  "There was an accident last night and I will not be in 
today."
	"Oh," he said curiously.  "Are you OK?  Is there anything we can do for you?" he 
asked, sounding concerned.  "Will you be able to return to work soon?""
	"I doubt that I will be."
	"He got you, didn't he?" Johnny demanded.
	"Johnny, what are you talking about?"
	"My brother and his so-called gang.  They attacked you last night, didn't they, and 
initiated you into their gang?"
	Moriah noticed that Johnny was choosing his words carefully.  There must be 
other people around on his end of the phone.  "Just a minute, Johnny," Moriah said as she 
hit the mute button, then she called, "Lucien, pick up the extension.  You need to hear 
this."
	Moriah waited until she heard LaCroix pick up the extension in the living room 
before hitting the mute button again.
	"Johnny?  Can you say that again?" Moriah requested.
	Johnny cleared his throat.  "I said that my brother and his gang attacked you last 
night and brought you into his gang.  Billy told me that he was going to do it, the first time 
that he saw you."
	"Could you describe your brother?" she asked.  She listened closely as he 
described his brother, Billy.  Moriah recognized the ugly vampire that had pulled her from 
the car.
	"Yes, Johnny, it was your brother's gang that attacked me and pulled me from my 
car," she confirmed.
	"You realize that there are others functioning as regular members of the 
community," he said.  "I can always put you on the night shift."
	"Thank you, Johnny, but I think that I'm going home."
	"But you can't leave.  You're one of them now, they won't let you leave."
	"I'm not one of them.  I agreed that it was Billy's gang that attacked me.  I didn't 
say that they were the ones that brought me over."
	"If you are not initiated, then why are you calling in?" he inquired.
	"I was definitely brought across, but not by them.  I have a friend visiting from 
home.  He stopped them from bringing me over, but to save me from becoming a 
permanent redneck, he had to do it."
	"Wait a minute," Johnny said surprised.  "Are you telling me that you already are 
friends with those type of people."
	"Yes," Moriah answered.  "Where I come from, they are quite plentiful, but they 
have a lot more class and are a lot nicer than your brother's gang."
	"I'm so glad to hear that.  I don't mean that you were brought over, but that Billy 
or one of his gang didn't get the chance to do it," Johnny said.  "I just couldn't picture you 
stuck with them for eternity.  I wished that I'd known that you knew about those sorts of 
people, so that I could have warned you in the beginning.  I stopped warning people years 
ago because they thought I had lost my mind whenever I mentioned it.  I assume that you 
will be leaving when you are strong enough."
	"Yes.  Can I ask why your brother is a vampire and you're not?"
	Johnny laughed.  "He always wanted to be different from his big brother.  This was 
his way of doing it.  If he made me part of his gang, then I'd be just like him, and he would 
not be special anymore."
	"That's a drastic move to make, just to be different.  Who's his master?  No one in 
the gang appeared old enough."
	"We thought it was pretty drastic, too.  As for his master, he was just passing 
through this area.  Somehow, Billy tricked him into initiating him.  The master was so 
disgusted with his progeny that he left and left us to Billy's stupidity," he said.
	"That sounds very irresponsible.  At least my friends have more sense than that."
	"It's not too bad, really.  Every now and then, he gets a wild hair up his ass and 
goes after someone like you."  Johnny laughed.  "It's nice that he finally met his match.  
There has never been another vampire through here to challenge him or his gang.  Do you 
suppose that I can come and see you before you leave?"
	"Sure, if you really want to," she agreed.
	"I need to bring you your last paycheck, plus I just want to see you one last time.  
You tell that friend of yours to take good care of you.  You are very special."
	"You've already told him," she said, smiling.  "He's on the extension."
	"Oh," Johnny said.  "What is his name?"
	"Lucien, Johnny," she said, introducing them.  "Johnny, Lucien."
	Johnny cleared his throat.  "I'm glad that you were there and were able to keep her 
from my brother.  Take good care of her."
	"I will," LaCroix told him.  "I realize just how special she is."
	"Moriah, I need to go," Johnny said.  "I'll see you later."
	Moriah pushed the button on the cordless and laid it on the bed, then reached over 
for the shot glass that LaCroix had left on the nightstand and picked it up.  Although she 
knew that she had to drink the contents of the glass to survive, Moriah still found it foul 
smelling and foul tasting.  Shrugging her shoulder and holding her nose, she poured it 
down her throat and slammed the glass down on the nightstand.  She shuddered and 
screwed her face up until the flavor subsided.  Beginning to feel drained again, she slipped 
back under the covers and closed her eyes.
	A few hours later, Moriah woke up and stretched her body.  "How long had she 
been in bed?" she thought.  It felt like days, but she was sure that it was a little more than 
twenty-four hours.  It did not really matter how long.  Her back was hurting from being in 
bed so long.  Moriah knew that she had to get out of bed and move around, no matter 
how weak she was.  Sitting up was no problem and neither was putting her feet on the 
floor, but when she tried to stand up, she became dizzy and had to sit.  After waiting a few 
minutes, she tried it again more slowly.  This time she was able to remain standing, so she 
tried to walk.  She took a few steps before she had to sit down again.  Moriah stood up 
again and this time she was able to walk slowly to the door, then into the hallway.  By the 
time she reached the bathroom door, she was almost walking normally again.  It had been 
at least a day since she had washed or run a brush through her hair.  LaCroix had darkened 
the bathroom for her; she also noticed that he had removed the mirror.  Let the others talk 
about how horrible he was, she loved him and he, obviously, cared for her.  After pulling a 
wash rag out of the cupboard, she started the shower running.  She dropped her gown to 
the floor and stepped slowly into the shower, letting the warm water run all over her body.  
The water felt good flowing over her body and her head, so good in fact that she had to 
wash and get out before she fell asleep.  There was a robe hanging on the door, so she 
grabbed it and wrapped it around herself.  As she walked out of the room, she picked up 
her comb from the cabinet.  Leaning against the living room door, she slowly ran the comb 
through her hair, undoing the tangles that had accumulated over the last twenty-four 
hours.
	LaCroix stepped out of his room and walked up behind her.  "What are you doing 
up?" he scolded.  "It is too soon."
	"I am all right," she said, turning to face him.  "See."  She walked up slowly and 
down the hallway a couple of times.  "I was tired of the bed and wanted to come sit up for 
a while."
	"I suppose it is all right," he said.  "You are adjusting faster than I thought."
	"You said yourself that I am special," she said, winking at him before walking into 
the living room and curling up on the couch.
	Moriah covered herself with an afghan and started running the comb through her 
hair.  Watching her from the doorway, LaCroix shrugged his shoulders and walked over to 
the couch.
	"May I?" he asked, taking the comb from her hand.
	Moriah was surprised at his request, but she relinquished the comb.  Placing the 
comb in her hair, LaCroix slowly and carefully pulled it through her hair until her hair was 
smooth and shiny.
	When LaCroix handed the comb back to her, Moriah covered his hand with her 
own and turned to face him.  "Your hair is so beautiful," he said.  "It is so soft and reminds 
me of the sun."
	Moriah set the comb on the coffee table and picked up the television remote.  "I 
don't think my hair really does the sun justice, but I'm glad that you like it, since you are 
probably going to have to look at it for a very long time."
	Moriah punched the remote to turn on the TV and soon found a movie, then laid 
the remote on the table.  LaCroix propped his legs up on the table and leaned back in the 
corner of the couch.  Grabbing her afghan, Moriah moved over beside him.  After making 
herself comfortable, she leaned against him.  She laid her head on his chest, pulling the 
afghan up around her.  At first LaCroix stiffened, then he looked down at her and thought 
how small and helpless she looked curled up beside him.  They were both adjusting: she to 
life as a vampire, and he to her and her obvious affection for him.  Finally giving in to the 
inevitable, he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him.
	Some hours later, Moriah was not sure how many, there was a knock on the door.  
She looked at the clock on the VCR to determine whether was day or night.  The clock on 
the VCR showed 8:00 p.m.  LaCroix's arm was still around her, so she looked at him to 
see if he heard the knock.  Since his eyes were still closed, she carefully moved out from 
underneath his arm.  Tying the sash around her robe tighter, she got up and walked to the 
door.  She pulled back the shade on the door and it was dark outside, but she could see as 
plainly, as if it the sun were out, the enhanced vision was going to be rather convenient.  
Johnny was standing on the porch, so she opened the door.
	When he started to talk to her, she placed her finger to her lips and motioned him 
to follow her to the kitchen.  Following her into the kitchen, Johnny noticed that she 
looked no different than she had before and thought that she should have no trouble 
mixing in with humans.  Once in the kitchen, Moriah turned on the light and stood a few 
feet away from Johnny.
	"Have a seat," she said quietly.  "Would you like something to drink?  I haven't 
cleaned out the refrigerator, so there are still sodas in it."
	Johnny sat down at the table.  "No, thank you," he said.  "I am not thirsty."
	As Moriah sat down at the table across from him, she realized that this was her 
first encounter with a human.  She expected to have some sort of feeding urges or 
something, but she felt nothing.
	Johnny looked at her with concern in his eyes.  "Am I the first person that you 
have seen since that night?" he asked.
	"Yes," she said, sitting back in the chair.
	"You were expecting to feel some overwhelming urge to bite me, weren't you?" he 
said, smiling.
	"I suppose I was, but I didn't," she said, cocking her head.  "Aren't you afraid to be 
in a house with two vampires?
	"No, I'm not afraid of you or your friend. My brother's gang is much scarier than 
you or anyone that could be your friend," Johnny said, reaching for her hand.  "As for the 
feeding, you won't want to bite every human you see as long as you stay fed and are not 
hungry.  Don't worry about it.'
	"How do you know so much?" Moriah asked curiously, pulling her hand out of his.
	"I had to learn because of Billy," he said.  "After all he is still my brother.  We still 
talk a lot and help each other out."
	"Oh, I have so much to learn," she said, looking down at her hands.  "Do I still 
look the same?  I don't know, since I can't see myself anymore."
	"You look just fine," Johnny assured her.  "You were very fair to begin with, so 
you really don't look that much different."  He placed an envelope on the table and pushed 
it towards her.  "Here's your last paycheck.  I'm going to miss you.  You're a good cop."
	"Thank you," she said, reaching for the envelope.  "I'm ready to go home though."
	Moriah had a strange tingling sensation in her head.  Touching her hand to her 
temple, she looked up and saw LaCroix standing in the doorway with his arms folded 
across his chest.  "Lucien, this is Johnny," she said.
	LaCroix walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I thought as much."
	Johnny looked at LaCroix, then at Moriah.  "He's more than just a friend, isn't he?  
You can see it in his eyes and yours."  Johnny paused while Moriah nodded her head.  
"Well, he's definitely a better alternative for you than Billy.  Your mind would've stagnated 
with Billy.  I love him, but he is a mindless idiot."
	"How is Billy?" LaCroix asked slyly.
	"He's doing okay, but you gave him a healthy new respect for others.  He won't 
bother you anymore while you are here.  As a matter of fact, I don't think that he will 
harass anyone for a while," Johnny said, laughing.  He stood up and said, "I had better go 
now.  I promised the kids some ice cream."
	"Thanks for everything, Johnny," Moriah said as LaCroix help her out of her chair.
	'You are very welcome," Johnny said.  He extended his hand to LaCroix and said,  
"It has been a pleasure to meet you.  Anyone that could shut Billy up for a while is fine in 
my books."
	Moriah watched amazed as LaCroix actually shook Johnny's hand.  He did not like 
humans as a rule.  Except for her, he had always looked down on them.  She walked 
Johnny to the door, and LaCroix stood in the kitchen door watching them.  After Johnny 
left, she closed the door, locking it behind him.
	Moriah turned to LaCroix and said, "I thought that you did not like humans yet, 
you shook his hand."
	"Maybe I am becoming soft," he answered, crossing his arms across his chest and 
arching his eyebrow.  "If there was one human out there like you, then it is possible that 
there may be others."
	Moriah walked over to the couch and laid the afghan across the arm.  "I don't want 
you to think that you have to change for me," she said.  "I have always liked you the way 
you are.  I like your arrogance."
	"I know that," he said.  "When I am around you, I want to do things differently."
	Moriah sat on the arm of the couch.  "The tingling that I felt in my head, when you 
entered the room.  Was that the vampire telepathy that I have heard about?"
	LaCroix sat on the coffee table facing Moriah.  "Yes, it develops at different levels 
for different individuals.  You will always be able to find me using it and I, you.  
Depending on how strong you are, you might even be able to contact me if you are in 
trouble.  As fast as you are developing, I think that may be a very good possibility."
	"Johnny said something about as long as I stay fed, I will not be tempted to bite a 
human.  Is that true?" she asked.
	"Do not worry about it," he said, smiling.  "It is true.  Humans will be safe around 
you unless are hungry or they have made you angry, but I do not think that you will have 
much trouble with anger.  You are too good-natured, except when it comes to Nicolas."
	Standing up and walking over to the window, Moriah said.  "Speaking of Nick, in 
a sense, he is my brother now, isn't he?"
	"Yes, in a manner of speaking, you are both my children."
	Moriah pulled the curtain, then the shade and looked outside.  "How do you think 
that he will react to this?" she asked.
	"I do not think that he will be pleased," he answered.  "I think that it would be 
better if we stayed here until you have mastered the basics, then I will take you home.  
There are those who might try to use you to hurt me, so I think it best that you be able to 
take care of yourself before we go back."
	"They never bothered me before," she said questioningly.
	"Before you were human and of no consequence. Now you are one of them and 
are far more dangerous to them."
	"I like the sound of that," she said.
	"You are more like me than I thought," he said, raising his eyebrow.  "You are 
drawn to the power and control aspects of it, too."
	"Yes, to a certain extent.  I have always had a problem when something is out of 
my control."
	LaCroix gave her a sly grin.  "So do I."
	The next few weeks were full of lessons and practice.  It amazed LaCroix how fast 
Moriah learned everything that he offered her.  Once she mastered something, she asked 
to learn more.  None of his other fledglings had ever been this eager.  He never had one 
that embraced the situation with such enthusiasm.  She took her lessons seriously and 
learned everything that he tried to teach her.
	One evening Moriah went out on her own, flying to the barn where LaCroix had 
brought her over.  This trip had a specific purpose.  She was looking for something that 
she had lost that night.  The object of her search was very small and shiny.  As she walked 
over to the area of the barn where they had been, she looked down into the hay for any 
glint of metal.  The enhanced eyesight that she had acquired would help her find the object 
for which she was looking.  The moonlight glinted off of several objects, but both times 
they were false alarms.  As she was about to give up, she saw something reflecting out of 
the corner of her eye.  Reaching down in the hay, she carefully touched the object.  The 
chain felt rough in her fingers.  She turned her head away and pulled it out from under the 
hay.  When she felt the heaviness on the chain swinging back and forth, she slowly turned 
her head.  She stared at the charm on the chain and it did not bother her eyes.  Reaching 
out with her other hand, she touched it with one finger and it did not burn her or make her 
feel uncomfortable.  The cross might be of use someday, so she dropped it and its chain in 
her pocket and headed back to the house.


CHAPTER 7

	One day about two months after Moriah had been brought over, she and LaCroix 
were sitting in the living room talking.  Moriah curled up on one end of the couch while 
LaCroix sat on the other end.
	"I think that it is time that we go home," he said.  "You have mastered all the 
basics and some.  I have never had such an enthusiastic or adept student."
	"Why thank you, master," Moriah teased, smiling.
	LaCroix shook his head.  "Do not call me that.  I do not like it when you call me 
that.  I do not want to be your master, ever.  I have never controlled you nor do I ever 
want to control you.  I realize now that is how I drive my fledglings away from me."
	Moriah's expression softened.  "Am I just a fledgling?" she asked softly. 
	LaCroix had become very sensitive to the changes in Moriah's emotions.  "No, you 
are more than a mere fledgling," he admitted.  "I call you my child and fledgling, because I 
do not know what else to call you.  Before all of this happened, I told you that I loved you 
and I still do, but it is different now."
	"How?" she asked 
	"Before it was a vampire in love with a human, and now it is a vampire in love 
with another vampire.  The whole situation is different now."
	"I don't understand.  How?" Moriah asked, moving across the couch and sitting on 
the edge of the couch facing him.  "I have already been brought over."
	Moriah sat up on her knees and put her lips on his.  When she kissed him, LaCroix 
kissed her back without hesitation.  She moved closer to him and he tightened his arms 
around her.  Suddenly, he pushed her away and shouted, "NO!"
	Moriah slipped off the couch and fell on the floor, landing on her bottom.  Her face 
showed the shock she felt at being shoved so violently.  "I am sorry," she said quietly, 
touching her lips.  She picked herself up from the floor and ran to her room.
	Moriah closed the door and curled up on her bed, pulling an afghan over her.  
What had she done that was so wrong?  Although she realized that they were both making 
adjustments, she did not understand LaCroix's reaction.  Sure, there were feelings and 
emotions that he had not felt or dealt with in hundreds of years and they were now 
flooding into his being, causing much confusion on his part, but that did not explain his 
reaction.  One of the drawbacks to being a vampire, she discovered, was that she was a 
prisoner of where she happened to be during the day.  Her bedroom was the only place 
she had to go right now.  Once she had asked him if she could go out during the day if her 
skin and eyes were fully covered.  LaCroix told her that he had heard of some vampires 
who had done that, but he personally had not nor had he known anyone who had.  One 
day in the future, when she was either brave or foolhardy, she thought that she might try 
it.  She started feeling tired, so she closed her eyes and fell into a slumber.
	When she woke, she found LaCroix sitting on the edge of her bed, watching her.  
"What do you want?" she asked, sitting up.
	"I wanted to explain my outburst," he said, pushing her hair back out of her face.
	"You don't have to," she said.  "You never explain yourself to anyone else."
	LaCroix put his hands on her shoulders.  "I do not care about anyone else," he 
said, raising his eyebrow.  "Just you.  You looked so hurt that I feel I owe some sort of 
explanation."
	"All right," she said.  "I'm listening."
	LaCroix touched her cheek and looked into her eyes.  "Try to understand that 
human lovers make love much differently than vampire lovers.  In the human world, it is 
soft, tender, and, well, human.  In the vampire world, it is a primal instinct.  Vampires 
were created to be, basically, animals.  The act of bringing someone over also doubles as 
the sexual act between two vampires.  Remember all the feelings that you felt the night 
that I brought you over, just before you fainted?" he asked.  Moriah nodded her head and 
he continued, "That is sex between vampires and those feelings must culminate in a bite.  
As much as I desire you, I just cannot expose you to it, not yet anyway.  You do not want 
to use your fangs, and if I had let it go any further, you would have had to do so.  You 
may be a vampire now, but to me you are still so innocent."
	Taking what LaCroix had just told her and thinking about it for a few minutes, 
Moriah decided that she had to agree.  "You're right.  I don't think that I am ready."  She 
thought for a moment longer, then asked, "Do I even have fangs?  I've never seen them or 
felt them."
	"Yes, you have them," he assured her smiling.  "You have not had any reason to 
use them yet.  You are well fed and you have not had any reason to become angry."
	Moriah studied his face for a moment, noticing that it looked different from when 
she had first met him.  Somehow, his face was softer, but it also showed some signs of 
stress.  "Poor baby," she said, forcing him to lie back on the bed.  She rubbed his head, 
then said, "You are going through as much or more than I am, aren't you?  I have totally 
disrupted your life.  For so many years you have been this imposing, dreaded force with 
which to be reckoned.  Now, I come along and cause you to experience and do things that 
you would have never dreamed of doing.  I realize that you could have gotten rid of me a 
long time ago, so obviously, you were ready for something different."
	Smiling up at her, LaCroix commented.  "I have never been anyone's 'poor baby'.  I 
think that I like it."  Closing his eyes as she rubbed his head, he added, "You are right.  I 
never had to allow you to invade my little world, but I did and I am glad."
	Moriah sat quietly, rubbing his head until she detected no movement from him, 
then she laid down beside him with her head on his chest and pulled the afghan up over 
both of them.  The silence in the room and the fact that she was not tired stimulated her 
thought process.  Everyone would assume that he was taking care of her because he was 
stronger and the master, but in reality, they would be taking care of each other, if he 
would allow it and she thought he would.  LaCroix and Johnny asked her why she 
appeared so happy.  It was because she was.  At least she was with someone who loved 
her and did not want to control her.  She possessed talents and powers now that she had 
only dreamed of before.  If she had been brought over by the redneck vampires, she would 
have hated it, but she would have made the best of it.  There was no reason to make 
yourself miserable about something over which you had no control.  When LaCroix 
moved and put both his arms around her, she stopped thinking and closed her eyes.
	LaCroix decided that they would drive back to Toronto so that, Moriah would be 
able to keep her car.  They packed the things that Moriah was taking with her in the car 
and crated everything else for shipment.  Moriah had night deposited the check that 
Johnny had brought her and, using her ATM card, had cleaned out her account over the 
last few days so that they would have cash to take with them.  Leaving just after the sun 
set, they drove until just before dawn, then found a hotel to stay in during the day.  
Carrying an overnight bag and a change of clothes, they walked into the lobby to check in 
with the desk clerk.  While LaCroix registered with the desk clerk, Moriah stood behind 
him, looking around the lobby.  From the outside, the hotel had looked run-down and 
seedy, but inside, it was quite elegant and old worldly.
	LaCroix walked away from the front desk with the key and Moriah was surprised 
to hear the desk clerk say, "Mr. LaCroix, I will make sure that no one disturbs you and 
your wife until this evening."
	When Moriah glanced up at him, he smiled down at her and said, "It seemed like 
the least complicated thing to do at the time."
	"I'm not complaining," she said, taking his arm.  "Actually, I don't mind at all.  
We've been together longer than most married couples."
	They walked down a long hallway to their room.  Unlocking the door, LaCroix 
held the door open for Moriah.  Before Moriah let him close the door, she reached behind 
her and hung the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the outside of the door.  Moriah dropped the 
clothes on the bed and looked around the room.  The amenities were a television set with 
cable, a king size bed, and a small refrigerator.
	Taking the overnight bag from LaCroix, she unzipped it and removed a bottle.  
"This hotel is a lot nicer on the inside than it is on the out."  Walking over to the 
refrigerator, she said, "Thank goodness that there is a fridge.  I can't drink this stuff 
warm."
	As Moriah put the bottle in the freezer compartment, LaCroix hung up their 
clothes.  He remarked, "You really cannot stand to drink blood, can you?"
	"Not really, it tastes so horrible, just like a medicine that my mother forced down 
me when I was little.  But if drinking blood is the worst of my worries, than I really have 
nothing to worry about.  At least I will never be a pig and drink more than my share or 
more than I need."
	LaCroix set the overnight bag on the dresser and stretched out on the bed.  "You 
adjust too easy.  I want to hear you complain about something."
	Moriah sat down beside him and thought for a moment.  "Okay, Mr. LaCroix, this 
is your wife speaking.  I hate all this driving.  I want it to hurry up and end.  I want to get 
home.  How's that?"
	 "I suppose that will have to do, but it really does not qualify as a real complaint."
	"I could start in on Nick?"
	"Never mind," he said, reaching up and laying her down next to him.
	Moriah was tired after the night's driving and curling up in his arms, she closed her 
eyes.  LaCroix tightened his arms around her and marveled at the difference that she had 
made in his existence.  Sleepily, Moriah stretched up and kissed his cheek, then she laid 
her head back on his chest and closed her eyes.  Placing a kiss on the top of her head, he 
laid his cheek against the top of her head and closed his eyes.
	When she woke later, Moriah was hungry.  Carefully crawling off the bed, she 
walked over to the refrigerator and pulled the bottle out of the freezer compartment.  The 
bottle was icy cold and had just started to crystallize on the outer edges.  After staring at 
the bottle for a few minutes, she took the cap off and poured a little of its contents into 
one of the hotel glasses.  Picking up the glass, she walked over to the sink and drank it 
down, then washed the glass thoroughly.
	Moriah walked over to the dresser and pulled her gown and robe out of the 
overnight bag, then walked into the bathroom.  A few minutes later, she emerged with her 
hair in a towel and wearing her gown and robe.  Not wanting to disturb LaCroix, she 
turned the television on, but kept the sound low.  She curled up on the couch and watched 
television while she dried her hair.  Daytime television was not something that Moriah 
usually watched and now she knew why.  Her only choices on regular television were 
game shows and TV magazines.  She was glad that the hotel had cable movies.  Flipping 
through the channels, she found a decent movie, then settled back on the couch to watch it 
and dry her hair.  It was not long before she began to nod off to sleep, missing the last half 
of the movie.
	Sometime later LaCroix woke up and, noticing that Moriah was not in bed, found 
her on the couch.  He pulled back the covers on the bed, then carried her over and gently 
laid her down, pulling the covers back over her.  Going to the closet, he pulled out his 
robe and pajamas then went into the bathroom to wash and change.  When he walked out 
of the bathroom, it occurred to him that he had not turned off the television.  Walking 
over to the couch, he pushed the off button on the remote, then walked over to sit on the 
edge of the bed.  Every time he watched Moriah sleep, a peace came over him and he 
forgot about all of the things that he had done in the past; he hoped that he never gave her 
any cause to regret her decision to stay with him.  He also hoped that when they arrived 
home, she and Nick could come to some sort of understanding.  They were both a part of 
him and he did not want to see her go through anymore abuse at Nick's hands, but he did 
not want to totally lose Nick either.  Suddenly, he was aware of his thoughts and realized 
that he had never really admitted to anyone, not even himself, how much Nick meant to 
him.  Nick caused him a lot of trouble just as he caused Nick trouble, but LaCroix would 
miss him if he were gone.
	Moriah opened her eyes and smiled.  "You are thinking too much again.  Nick and 
I will be fine," she said closing her eyes.
	LaCroix stared at her.  "Had she heard him thinking?" he thought.  Leaning over 
he gently touched her shoulder.  "Moriah, Moriah, wake up," he whispered.
	Moriah moaned and rolled over.  "Huh? What? What's wrong?" she asked 
drowsily.
	"Nothing is wrong.  You said something a few minutes ago that I wanted to ask 
you about."
	She propped herself up on her elbow.  "What?"
	The expression on his face was a very serious one.  "You said, 'You are thinking 
too much again.  Nick and I will be fine.'  Did you hear what I was thinking?" LaCroix 
asked.
	Looking at him curiously, she asked, "What are you talking about?  I have been 
asleep."
	"Are you sure?  I was thinking about you and Nicolas when you looked at me and 
made that statement."
	Moriah thought for a moment.  "Come to think of it, I did have a dream.  In the 
dream you were saying that you wanted Nick and I to get along.  Could that be it?"
	"That is exactly what I was thinking," LaCroix said.  "Have you ever had any 
telepathic episodes before as a human?"
	"Not that I am aware of.  A few feelings of deja' vu occasionally, but that's all.  
Honest."
	"I am not doubting you, it just seemed very strange, that is all."
	Moriah put her hand on his arm.  "Stop thinking and lie down," she said.  Pulling 
back the covers, he laid beside her, turning on his side to face her.  "That's better," she 
said, moving closer to him, towards the head of the bed.  Moriah put her hand on his 
forehead and slowly rubbed her hand back and forth.  "Now, turn off the brain and rest.  
We have another twelve hours on the road ahead of us."
	As Moriah rubbed his head, he closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep.  Just 
before he fell asleep, LaCroix wrapped his arms around her, so Moriah slid down beside 
him, laying her head on his chest.  Moriah reached down and pulled the covers up around 
them and they both fell a sleep.  A little later, Moriah woke with a start, but had no idea 
why.  Looking around the room, she saw nothing out of place and she felt no tingling.  
She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it would be three more hours until 
the sun went down.  Shrugging off the feeling that woke her, Moriah snuggled close to 
LaCroix and closed her eyes.  LaCroix, without waking up, tightened his arms around her 
and she fell back to sleep.
	They woke about thirty minutes before it was time to leave.  Sitting up, Moriah 
looked down at LaCroix.
	"Hello," LaCroix said smiling up at her.
	"Hi," she said shyly.
	"Are you ready to go home?" he asked, sitting up.
	"We would be home tonight, if we were flying, wouldn't we?"
	"Yes, but I thought that you would want to keep your car," he explained.
	Moriah touched his cheek.  "I do, but I am ready to get home and work out this 
problem with Nick.  As much as his attitude bugs me, he really is a nice guy underneath.  I 
just don't understand why he gets so mad at me."
	"I do not think that he does either," LaCroix commented, kissing the hand that she 
had placed on his cheek.
	They changed clothes and put everything back in the overnight bag.