Note 1: The characters from Forever Knight are owned by Sony Tristar. The characters from Xena Warrior Princess are owned by StudiosUSA The other characters are mine. They are fictitious and any references to a living person is purely coincidental.

Note 2: For the Xena fans out there, this story's prologue and interlude take place between "Adventures in the Sin Trade" and "Family Affair" (Episodes 4.1-4.3). For my purposes, Callisto does not die at the end of "Sacrifice II".


Prologue (Ancient Greece)

"Gabrielle!"

In the central chamber of Ares' temple, Xena stared down the shaft into the fiery glow. Just minutes before, her best friend, Gabrielle, and their enemy, Hope, had fallen down into the lava below. The Warrior Princess's heart was in her throat. How could this happen? Didn't the two companions always walk away after the battle was over? A tear drizzled down her cheek. 

You have to be strong. You know that life isn't fair.  Gabrielle would want you to go on. She walked out of the chamber towards Argo, her white steed, and rode off to wherever the road would take them.

Moments later, a flash of light illuminated the chamber and a tall, muscular figure with jet-black hair and a leather suit to match entered the scene. Ares, the Greek god of war, surveyed his damaged throne area. True, he had let Dahak, the Evil One, and Hope commandeer his temple. However, as he reminded himself, that was out of necessity.... One always needed to survive and his alliance with those two entities were purely that...necessity. Now, as Xena had disposed of  them, he could set his next plan into action.

"Time to get the followers to work on my temple," he decided and teleported off to find a surviving priest to help him.

**************************************************

Two weeks later, his mortal followers had completely repaired the temple and cleansed the throne room of Dahak's redecorating efforts. Ares brooded on his granite throne. He wanted revenge....against Xena....against his half-brother Hercules and everyone else who opposed him.

"Damn them!" he fumed.

"Now Ares...," a female voice soothed. The speaker, Discord, stepped into the light. This woman was dressed in black with hair and makeup to match. "They did beat you fair and square."

"Discord, I know that!" he muttered low.

"Just like the last time. Remember that?" she continued. She loved to egg Ares on.

"Yes, I know," he seethed. Recently, the two had sent their followers through time to retrieve a Britannic necklace, and a priestess named Cybelle Rogers. His strike force brought the commodities to him. However, Xena had struck an alliance with powerful mortals from that time. These people ventured back in time, and assisted in thwarting Ares' grand plan not to mention taking the Rogers woman back with them. 

"The mortal male sure did have a temper," she teased. "Even half-dead, he still stood up to you."

He hated to admit it, but she was right. Oh, if he could have tapped that mortal's darkness....the results would have been awesome to behold. Just the fireworks from his battle with Cybelle was something else. Then again, what's-his-name would have proven too difficult to handle in any event.....

"I will have my revenge for their interference in my plans!" he affirmed and submarined a fireball which scored a nearby pillar.

"You could go there with the Chronos stone," she suggested.

"I wouldn't be at full power. Still, as the god of war, I should be powerful enough to beat anyone.  Still, it wouldn't hurt to recruit a few allies...But who?" he surmised. Then, one possibility crept into his mind. "Gods, not her..."

Discord sensed his thoughts. "C'mon, Ares, you know that Callisto's perfect for the job." 

"The thought of working with that woman makes me sick!" he bellowed. Then, after a contemplative moment. Ares broke out laughing. "It's brilliant! And with Caesar's troops, we will be invincible!" 

"There's another enemy of Xena's worth considering as well," Discord pointed out.

Ares pondered the thought. Yes. He had heard about a powerful shamaness from the Steppe.  Somehow, she tapped a man's thoughts and fears....and used them against him. In addition, she had masterminded the murder of an Amazon tribe. Obviously, she was not someone to be taken lightly. And if Cybelle were to appear, this woman would balance the sides. "Yes, I agree....Go fetch Callisto," he directed.

She sighed angrily at her companion's order, "Be back."

Ares watched her vanish. After a momentary hesitation, he followed suit.

**********************************************************

Xena shuddered with relief. She had just survived a confrontation with her greatest enemy, Alti the Shamaness. In spite of the physical and spiritual pounding that she had taken, it was the Warrior Princess who stood on the ground and her adversary who swung on a tree bough impaled through her chest. Only with the inspiration from Gabrielle's spirit did she triumph over her adversary. Through this aid, Xena had realized that her best friend was indeed still alive.

"Potadeia!" she exclaimed. "She would have gone home!" With that thought, she leapt onto Argo's back and prompted her horse on a rapid gallop towards the southeast.

As the hoof beats faded away in the distance, Ares stepped into view. From his hidden vantage point, he had observed the battle in the treetops.

"Nice fight. Too bad," he admired and waved his hands purposefully. 

Alti's corpse shook briefly and slid off of the tree bough. With Ares' magic, she floated to the ground.

"Now, let's finish the job." he smiled and fired an energy bolt at Alti's body.

The corpse shuddered. Her fists clenched. Her eyes snapped open and she staggered to her feet. Looking at her healer, she scratched her headdress. "Who are you?"

Ares straightened himself. "I am Ares, god of war," he explained. "I need help against a common nuisance." He examined the woman in front of him. She stood about 6 feet tall with intense dark eyes. Animal hides covered her head and body, except for her face and hands. Atop her head, a set of deer's antlers signified her standing as a shamaness. 

Alti nodded. "Xena. Are you planning to go after her?"

"Not directly." he shook his head. "We will go after her friends."

"Friends?" she hissed. "You mean the blonde? I owe her."

"No...not yet. There are others. But where Xena goes, Gabrielle follows," he explained.

An dark smile crossed her face. "Xena and I will meet again..." 

Ares admired this woman's presence. Discord had done well to suggest Alti's assistance in this endeavor. Very well indeed.

"Come with me, then. We go to make our preparations," he elaborated and teleported them both away.

***************************************************

While Ares revived Alti, Discord had retrieved the other participants in their strike force. For one thing, an elite Roman squadron stood outside of Ares' temple. Their commander waited impatiently for his ally's return. Julius Caesar was not a man who liked to be kept waiting...for man nor god. "When is Ares returning?" he ranted.

"Chill, Caesar!" Discord advised.

In the other corner, a lanky blond dressed in revealing leather armor shook her head with disgust at her would-be compatriot. While most people would not dare to do so, there was more to Callisto then the average would think. On the one hand, her fierce anger and hatred for Xena had forged her into a formidable killing machine. And that was before she ate the ambrosia that had made her into a god. She had no patience for this man...and was fighting the urge to teach him some manners. "Oh be quiet!" she lashed out. "He'll be here soon!"

"I hope so!" he hrumphed.

The little man needs to realize how insignificant he really is, Callisto told herself.

Just then, a flash of light brightened the chamber. When it had faded, Ares and Alti stood with the others.

"Good!" Ares approved. "You're all here. Before we get started, this is Alti, our ally against Xena."

The members of the gathering acknowledged her briefly, albeit warily. The war god settled on his throne. "Now listen up," he bade his cohorts. "Here's the plan." For 20 minutes, he outlined his ideas to the group. At the end, he looked around. Caesar, of course, wasn't happy because he had to follow with the others. On the other hand, Alti discovered that she would fit in well with this "Cadre of Vengeance" even if it meant sharing in Xena's defeat with the others. In this case, she decided. The end justifies the means.

"Are we ready then?" Ares inquired eagerly. "If so, let's head outside."

The others followed him out of the temple and down the granite stairs so that they faced the Roman troops.

"Let's go!" he urged and held a glowing emerald stone above his head. "To the future!"

In an lime-green flash, the entire group disappeared. Trouble was definitely headed in someone's direction.....

Chapter 1 (Back in the Duboisverse....)

The trip to South Carolina had been very helpful. As David and Angela Dubois prepared to board American Airlines Flight 5872, they looked back over the past week. Given what had happened to them in recent months, Dave and Angie had decided to visit their friends, Karen and Michael Montoya. While there, the four friends had worked on their psychic abilities as well as other exercises for the mind and body. 

However, Dave's anger had continued to fester just beneath the surface. He did not know what to do. At least their friends thought that he had made progress and counseled both students on their emotional bearing prior to their return. 

Now, Karen stood back in the waiting area, observing her old friends. "Remember to think positive thoughts," she advised. 

"We will," they chorused.

"Dave, I know that you are trying very hard. But, there's still that other side of you that I'm worried about. Please try to come back soon. There is much work for you both to do. Please give my best to Cybelle and Francesca when you talk to them," Karen directed.

Angie took a quick look back at the Montoyas and reminisced over the previous two decades.  For years, Karen and Dave had been friends and more. However, they broke up. Ironically enough, she met and married Angie's former love, Mike Montoya. Then, six years before, they had set up a blind date for Angie up in Connecticut with Dave. However, the final irony came when Dave, Angie, and Karen all learned that they had extraordinary psychic abilities. The shared experiences and abilities had served to bring the friends together even more. 

"Speaking of Cybelle, she sends her best as well," Dave replied pleasantly.

"Thank you!" Karen accepted. 

From within the waiting area, Mike's voice interrupted this interchange. "Hey, Honey, let's go!  Your sister's going to have dinner waiting for us!" 

"You've been paged," Angie joked. 

"Better get in there before Mike goes with his stomach...," Dave chimed in humorously.  "Besides, he's got the meter running, and I don't think that you can afford the tab...."

Karen grinned. It did her heart good to hear Dave joke like that. She was concerned about the peaking darkness within her friend. So much potential...yet so much trouble as well. Hopefully, they could work through these things. "See you soon," she told them, and walked back toward her family.

The plane took took off like a shot and disappeared into the night sky. After getting their daughters, Karen, Lauren, and Deirdre, settled into their seats, Dave plopped himself next to his wife.

"That's something isn't it?" Angie commented. "What a week! But, I do feel better."

Dave agreed, "I feel as though I have a better handle on my feelings. Not totally. But at least, I'm making progress...."

She rubbed his arm consolingly. "Look, Dave.  Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is your self-control. Remember what Karen just told us. Take one day at a time. OK?"

He nodded. She could always cut to the chase with him, but she did so in the most appropriate fashion-with love and support. That kind of constructive criticism had been rare commodities for Dave. Rare indeed.

"Come on....The twins and Deirdre are already asleep in their seats. We should get some rest as well, seeing as we have to be at work early tomorrow," she reminded him.

He groaned pleasantly, "Back to life....Back to reality."

*****************************************************

A week later, Dave stared out his office window in the University Library. It was a typical December day for Tucson: sunny, mild and not a cloud in the sky. As was the case for that time of the year, the sun sank in the western sky at about 5PM. Just as he was about to leave, another message flashed across his computer screen from his dean, Caitlin Sommers, concerning the Libraries' Annual Report.

Let's see....The message isn't starred, so it can wait until tomorrow. No instructional sessions until next week....collection development is all caught up until after the new year, and the web pages are all working. Anything else? he wondered.

As if on cue, the phone made its presence felt.

"Figures," he muttered and answered it, "Good afternoon, University Library, David speaking..." 

"Well, hi there!" Angie cheered. "Guess who?"

"Sorry, I don't take sales calls here, Miss," he chuckled teasingly. "State your business. How bad is your boss going to keep you after tonight?"

"Only until 9PM. Then, I will come right home," she promised. "The girls are all set.  Francesca's got them."

"Sounds good," he agreed. "Then I guess that I could go see Nick. Does he have the night off?"

"According to Natalie, he does. And since the two of us are tied up here with our oh-so charming patient here....you might as well go hang out with him," she explained. "Is that okay with you?"

"Sure. I'll see you later. Say hi to Natalie. Okay? Take care. Love you," he closed and hung up.  "Okay it's 5:30. Definitely time for me to make tracks," he thought. He locked his office door and walked out of the library towards the parking garage on Cherry Avenue. Five minutes later, Dave was heading towards Nick's downtown loft apartment.

*******************************************

"Love you too," Angie stated and hung up as well. She meandered over to the coffee pot across the room. It had been an exceedingly long day but she did not mind. Dr. Fishburne, the hospital administrator, had received a request from the Tucson Police Department for assistance in identifying a rare cancer within a victim's corpse. The fact that TPD's newest ME, Dr. Natalie LeBeau, had made this request only increased Angie's enthusiasm for the case. Unfortunately, as Angie was discovering, her stamina was not what it had been in medical school.

"How are you holding up?" Natalie asked.

"Oh, okay. Only another two hours," Angie assured her. "I hope that it's okay if Dave goes over to the loft and spends time with Nick."

Natalie shook her head. "Normally, I would say `no'. Nick usually likes his privacy. However, I don't think that he will mind a visit from Dave tonight."

"I figure that Dave needs help with his inner darkness. Besides, Nick is a super friend," Angie sighed and sipped her coffee. "Mmm...French Vanilla...."

"Working with you definitely has its benefits," Natalie laughed good-naturedly. "Try getting this stuff at the morgue." She rubbed Angie's shoulder. "The company's great too."

"Thanks." Angie smiled and flushed.

Nat coughed and looked around to make sure that they were alone. "Angie, can I ask you a personal question?" she inquired.

"Sure," Angie shrugged. "What is it?"

"Natalie took a nervous breath and then, looked her colleague in the eye. "How's your relationship..." She leaned closer and whispered, "with You-Know-Who?"

"Me and Who?" Angie jumped skittishly.

"You and Xena. Nick confided in me," she whispered.

"He didn't!" Angie complained disapprovingly. "I'll bet he told his partner too!"

Natalie put her hands on her hips and gave Angie a stern look. "Now wait a minute! He could have, but he didn't. Listen to me, Angie, Nick went out on a really thin limb for you two up in Toronto by keeping Reese and Tracy in the dark as he did. But, he appreciated how you kept his secret. So, other than me, he won't say another word about it, and my lips are sealed too," Natalie lectured.

Angie gulped guiltily. "I'm sorry....I should trust you and Nick, but..."

"...But, it's a big secret. That's okay," Natalie reassured her. 

"Actually, Xena's a big help. She's letting me adjust at my own pace, and her experiences are helping Dave as well," Angie explained.

"Sounds great." Natalie nodded. "Well, I said before, your secret is safe."

"Thanks. I..," Angie replied, her enthusiasm returning. Then, through her psychic abilities, she felt Nick's partner, Tracy Brown, approaching them. "Tracy's coming."

"That's a pretty neat trick. I'll have to ask Nick to teach me that one," Natalie laughed although she could sense Nick's presence for some reason if he was nearby. A side effect of their misadventure during the last night in Toronto perhaps? She shook herself back awake.

At that point, Tracy stuck her head through the door into the room. "Hi, guys." 

"Howdy," Natalie replied pleasantly.

"Hi." Angie smiled.

"Sorry to barge in but I'm going on my dinner break. Chinese takeout. Anyone want some?" Tracy inquired curiously. 

"That's okay. We needed a break," Angie advised and stretched her arms towards the ceiling.  "Goodness me! I guess that the all-nighters don't work anymore like they did in Med School."

Natalie chuckled, "Ah yes....That would be your body telling you that you aren't as young as you used to be. Angie, you're what? 35?"

"Yes," Angie admitted. "Dave would probably quote the opening lines from Dante at this point. `Midway through my allotted three score years and ten...'."

"Geez....he sounds like Nick," Tracy cracked. "So, where is your worse half anyway?"

"Your partner's loft." Angie shrugged.

"Wow! I thought that Nick liked his privacy," Tracy surmised. "I'm glad that he has a male friend to talk to....No offense meant, Nat...."

"None taken," Natalie absolved. "He hasn't had anyone like that since Don Schanke died....."

Tracy smiled. "He's a character....Don and Nick sure seemed like good friends."

Nat gave her friend a perplexed glance. "Wait a minute...You weren't here yet when Schanke was Nick's partner, so how?"

"I met him on the `Other Side' so to speak," Tracy explained.

"The Near Death experience," Natalie surmised. "So, you and Nick ran into Schanke."

"And a woman in white....One of Nick's past loves, I guess," Tracy added.

"Woman in white?" Natalie inquired. She remembered Nick mentioning that he had encountered a woman in white while at Kessel House during the previous year. They had all seen ghosts. Nick's apparition was Alyssa von Strassbourg, his deceased wife. Apparently, she was still protecting him.

Then Tracy thought of something. "Hey...instead of bringing the food back, let's eat there," she suggested.

Nat agreed, "It has been a long day. Why don't we take a break and work a bit later?"

"Well okay," Angie nodded as she grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

Chapter 2

Nick reclined on his antique Victorian sofa, and sipped a goblet of cow blood. His new life as "Nicholas Miles" was going well. Everyone at the precinct was nice to deal with including Captain Ramirez. Having Nat and Tracy here with him certainly made him feel more comfortable. Best of all, no La Croix. He was still far away...not exactly in Toronto but not in Arizona either.

The door buzzer startled him back to reality. Rising slowly from the couch, he crossed the room and pressed the intercom's red button. "Yes?" he asked.

"Nick, it's David Dubois. May I come up?" Dave requested.

"Certainly. Take the elevator up. See you in a minute," he accepted and pressed the blue button.

"Thanks." Dave smiled and stepped onto the elevator. The ancient appliance creaked to the top ever-so-slowly. Finally, the door opened and he stepped into the loft. Amazingly enough, it looked just like Nick's former domicile in Toronto.

"I trust that you like it?" Nick supposed.

"Sure do," Dave complemented. "It has a striking resemblance to your former place."

"That was the idea," Nick informed him and noticed the white paper sack. "I see that you brought your dinner with you."

"Chicken Caesar Pita from Wendy's," Dave chuckled.

"Your usual," Nick observed while returning to the couch. "Take a seat. How is everything going?"

"Thank you," Dave accepted and sunk into the nearby Ottoman. "I'm okay but there is the usual issue."

"Your inner darkness," Nick guessed.

Dave nodded. "Last weekend, I had a talk with some old friends. They are very concerned. I thought that you might have some advice on how you deal with yours." 

Nick scratched his head thoughtfully. "Well, it isn't easy...But just as you did at the Raven, every challenge needs to be faced as it comes up. As far as I'm concerned, you have been doing great." 

"Have you had any serious setbacks?" Dave pushed farther. 

"Yes. Nat would be able to tell you more," Nick admitted. "But again, each challenge as it comes."

"Well, enough about me." Dave grinned. "How's everything in your world?"

"The job's fine....It's great having Nat and Tracy around. Life is pretty much back to normal," he surmised.

"It must be great not having to do the `You take the front routine' with Tracy anymore," Dave indicated.

Nick smiled. Yes, Tracy's understanding of his true nature did have its benefits. "It does make things easier." 

"What about LaCroix?" Dave probed still farther.

"He's not here," Nick explained. "I sense that he has moved on from Toronto. He's still far away."

"Will he come here?" Dave wondered.

"Who knows?" Nick shook his head. "Still, I don't know if Tucson is big enough for both Xena and LaCroix. Not to mention you and him as well."

"Especially after our last dance in Toronto," Dave quipped with a shudder. He remembered how being in the elder vampire's presence had pushed him to the edge. Only through using all of his mental willpower did he teeter on the edge without falling into the abyss.

"Yes," Nick agreed and turned towards the big stuffed envelope resting on the end table. "By the way, I read your paper."

Dave tensed. "And...?"

Nick picked up the envelope and felt its weight. After a moment of consideration, he handed it to his friend. "It was very interesting to say the least," he commented, rose from his chair and walked across the room. As he moved, his face glazed over with the flashback look.

"Hey, Nick?" Dave tapped his shoulder.

"Huh? Oh right," he remembered. "Interesting piece. Reading it took me back to Cairo and Mansura."

Once again, Dave was amazed at his new friend. As a student of the Medieval world since childhood, he was fascinated with the people that Nick had known and his experiences in that society. He made up his mind that he would write Nick's biography one day. Of course, that account would only include his mortal life. No need to get the Enforcers ticked off. "So you actually met her?" he prodded.

"Shajarat al-Durr? Oh yes....during the negotiations for King Louis' release. She was quite the woman. You want to hear what happened?" Nick smiled enticingly.

"What do you think? Of course!", Dave laughed incredulously. 

"You were amazingly accurate in your biographical sketch," Nick noted. Then, he started to tell his friend about the story.....

************************************
[Cairo 1250]

It was February 1250. Nicholas de Brabant wandered the streets of Cairo waiting for the banquet at the sultan's palace. The French king, Louis IX, had been captured three months before by the Mamluks at Mansura, and all efforts to ransom him, thus far had proven futile. Now, the queen had asked Nick as a trusted crusader, to secure her husband's release. A meeting had been arranged between him and the dowager sultana.

Finally, at the appointed hour, he walked to the palace. At the gate, a giant mountain of a man approached him.

"State your name and business, Sahidi," the guard demanded emotionlessly.

"I'm Nicholas de Brabant, a crusader, here to speak to the sultana about my king's release," Nick stated.

"Ah yes," the other agreed. "She is expecting you. I am Mahmud, the leader of the Bahri Mamluks." He snapped his fingers and six other Circassian troops appeared. "Your escort."

Nick smiled and bowed. "Thank you," he accepted.

The other nodded his head and returned to his post.

Nick, accompanied by his escort, wound his way through the labyrinth within the palace to the harem. They stopped before a great stone door watched over by two more hulking men with fearsome scimitars.

"Prepare yourself, Christian," the leader of his escort advised Nick. "You are about to be admitted to the presence of our deliverer. A miraculous woman indeed like no other....Shajarat al-Durr." The doors swung open and Nick entered the chamber. There, reclining on a throne of obsidian, was a woman of radiant beauty. Circassian like her guards but lacking their height, nevertheless her presence was unmistakably powerful. Her gaze could pierce to the very heart of a man's soul. She wore a beautiful strand of pearls, no veil, and her hair streamed down her back with more pearls catching the light's sparkle.

"Greetings, Sir Nicolas," she acknowledged.

"My Lady." he bowed before her. 

Shajara smiled favorably and motioned for him to rise. "My thanks for your coming and accepting your queen's invitation to negotiate in her behalf. My late husband, the Sultan, always spoke well of you." She hesitated and held her hand to the pillows just to the right of her throne.  "Please sit."

"Thank you," he accepted and, after waiting for her to settle on the throne once again, sank into the satin's softness. "My condolences about your husband. He was a great warrior."

"Thank you," she replied. "Unfortunately, Allah has chosen to recall as-Saliah to His bosom.  Your king chose to shatter the peace of this land. Praise Allah that my husband's generals were up to the task of defeating his forces."

Nick cleared his throat and posed his next question. "Is the King well?  My apologies, but my Queen instructed me to ask."

Shajara laughed, a sound like the wind chimes from the countryside, "Does she think that we are barbarians? Of course, he is being treated well!"

"Again, my apologies Sultana," he apologized.

"That is not necessary, Sir Nicolas. You are only following your queen's instructions. As for the terms of his release, tell her to pay us one million of your francs. Secondly, all of our lands must be returned to us which his army took along the Nile. Finally, he and his people must leave Egypt forever. If he agrees, then he will go free. When will your queen arrive?" she dictated the price of peace to her friend.

"On the morrow," he informed her.

Shajara smiled again. "You have done well, Sir Nicholas. As such, and as the friend of my late husband, you are exempted from the ban as long as you keep peaceful motives in your heart. The Umm-Khalil has spoken!"

Nick rose from his seat and bowed once again. "Then my thanks as well," he acknowledged and left the room and palace...

***************************************

Dave sat transfixed by the tale. When Nick had reached the end, he asked, "Did you ever see her again?"

Nick nodded. "I made it into the room just after the second sultan's death and just prior to her capture in 1257." He walked across the room towards an antique wooden cabinet. After pulling on a pair of white gloves, he opened the doors and removed two objects which he brought to Dave in a hurried fashion. "I thought that you would like to look at these heirlooms."

"What are these?" Dave asked curiously.

"Souvenirs from the medieval past," Nick explained and unwrapped the items. One was an aged book with a mahogany cover, an Arabic inscription and finely gilt trim. The cover edges, chipped by time's passage, bore the burden of heavy use. The other bundle contained an old wooden cross comprised of two crudely-cut pieces of wood bound together with a slowly unraveling strand of twine.

As Dave held these artifacts, he felt an electric charge jolt his system as if pieces of his soul were being restored to him after a long absence. "I feel as if I should know these people," he assumed.

"You do...sort of. The book was Shajara's Qur' an and the cross belonged to Jeanne d'Arc.  I thought that you would like to see these items for yourself," Nick agreed.

"Indeed," Dave noted excitedly. He carefully studied the artifacts and their vibrations.  Slowly, his vision blurred and a link formed. Visions flashed across his mind's eye. Images of a deadly fall...the dread of the final impact against the stones rushing up from below....The feeling of flames scorching his flesh and smoke choking his lungs. Then, a great blackness enveloped his consciousness and another picture dominated his vision. In it, Dave saw Roman centurions surrounding the library. He and Nick were facing an unknown opponent of awesome power. He felt the dominance of the Child and knew that it was in control once again at that point. Their adversary hit them with some energy followed by pain...horrible excruciating agony....

Nick shook him out of it. "Dave? Dave? Are you all right?"

The other nodded hesitantly. "Yes...I just had a vision," he shuddered.

"Of us? Is it accurate?" Nick pursued.

Dave shrugged painfully, "I can't tell, but let's just say I have a bad feeling."

Nick nodded in agreement. Somehow, he too shared his friend's discomfort. "Meantime, you have that talk coming up at the library in two days. Right?"

"That's right," Dave yawned and looked at the clock. "10:15. Well I guess I had better be heading home before Angie sends the dogs after me. Thanks for sharing these items with me. It means a lot."

"Are you sure that you're okay to drive? I can bring you," Nick offered.

"That's okay," Dave advised. "I'm fine. Thanks." He walked towards the elevator and opened the door. "By the way, if you want to stop by the library for the talks, consider yourself, Natalie, and Tracy invited."

"I might do that." he smiled. "Now go on before your wife comes looking for you."

Dave waved and closed the elevator door. Once downstairs, he headed for the car.

Nick watched his friend's headlights fade into the distance. Once alone, he wondered what Dave's vision would mean to them. Something was going to happen at the library...and during that session. He made up his mind to talk to Ramirez about it at the first opportunity.

Meantime, I need to check in at the lab, he ascertained. Opening the window, he sensed that nobody was watching him. Then, he took off for the Precinct.

Chapter 3

Natalie and Angie pushed onward through their evening workload. Tracy's dinner had been great, but they knew that it had gone on far too long. 

Angie looked at the clock. "10:25! Oh gosh!" she realized. "I didn't know that it was so late!"

"Dave and Nick are probably having a great time I wouldn't worry," Natalie assured her.

Angie dialed her home number on the cell phone. "I had better check in," she told her associate. Four rings and the message machine later, she hung up. "He's not home. I wonder where he is."

"He's on his way," Nick advised from the doorway. "He just left my place."

"How did tonight go?" Natalie inquired.

"All right. We talked for about three hours. I filled him in on some details and showed him some artifacts...," Nick started.

Natalie watched his brow furrow. "But...?" 

"But....he had a vision. Dave said that something was going to happen at the library. But, he didn't know what," he continued.

Angie sighed, "Usually when Dave gets bad feelings, they're on target, but having visions.... I don't know about that. These abilities are still a new experience for both of us."

"Did he give you any details?" Natalie interjected.

"Yes, the library was surrounded by Roman troops of some sort. Also, some woman was attacking him and me. Other than that, it was cloudy."

Angie considered this premonition for a minute. Then, she put her index finger in the air. "Um, Nick, did he drink anything?"

"No," he shook his head.

"Why?" Natalie asked.

"I was wondering.... He's been hyped up lately with that panel at the library. I wonder though...you said Romans?" Angie pressed her point.

"That's right," Nick nodded.

"I hope that I'm wrong....I wonder if any of Xena's foes are behind this dream. If so, that would present problems for us. Big problems," Angie concluded.

"As I told Dave, we'll have to be vigilant," Nick advised.

"You got that right," Angie concurred and looked again at the clock. Now it was 10:45.

"Go on, Angie. I'll finish," Natalie assured her.

"Are you sure?" Angie inquired uncertainly.

"I'll be fine. You need to check in. I'll see you tomorrow. Take care," Natalie told her.

"Okay," Angie agreed. "If you say so." She grabbed her coat. "See you both later." She left the room and headed for her Nissan Sentra.

Natalie turned to Nick. "What exactly happened to trigger this episode?" 

He shrugged. "I really don't know. I let him handle the cross and the Qur 'an. I did expect a reaction from him, but not like that."

"Like what?" Natalie quizzed.

"He had a link to Jeanne d'Arc and Shajarat al-Durr by handling their personal items. It was almost as if he had previously established a connection to them," he postulated.

"Do you think that those items amplified his powers somehow?" Natalie proposed.

He nodded. "It's a definite possibility," he agreed.

"If something happens at the library, what are we going to do about it?" she inquired.

"Ramirez won't have any extra men to spare. But maybe, he might beef up patrols," he stated. "Tracy and I will do extra patrols ourselves when possible too."

"Let's hope that it comes to nothing," Natalie hoped.

He commented, "It will all work out. Now, I'll let you finish up. See you tomorrow."  Having said that, he left the room.

Natalie walked back to her desk and sat down. She took a sip of cold coffee and reclined back in her chair. Nick, I hope you're right.  Despite his reassurances, she had a bad feeling about Dave's premonition. Something was going to happen....Something big.

Chapter 4

The wind howled across western Massachusetts two nights later. The icy needles bit into all travelers, forcing them back into their homes. On this particular evening, Cybelle Rogers and her husband, Mike, entertained her father, Stuart Dubois. Although they had tried everything to cheer her father up, the latter still brooded in the corner.

"C'mon, Dad," she requested. "Show some holiday spirit."

"I can't," he sighed. His life had recently taken a major turn for the worse. His engineering firm was on the verge of financial collapse. His creditors were pushing him hard. Worse still, he had not seen his son, David, in three year, nor had he ever met his three granddaughters. He cursed the pigheadness of his son and daughter-in-law.

"Stuart," Mike reminded him. "This is supposed to be a happy visit."

"I can't believe that he's being so stubborn! All he has to do is apologize!" Dubois maintained.

Cybelle shook her head. "Funny, he says the same thing about you." 

Dubois turned away from them and stared out the window at the light snow falling from the sky.


*********************************

After taking a few weeks to heal his wounds and settle accounts, LaCroix had packed his possessions and moved on. A van would take his belongings from the Raven in a few days.  However, he wanted to scout around a bit. As with the elder Dubois, he brooded over his son, Nicholas, and desired the latter's companionship. Unfortunately, children could be so stubborn at times....

On this night, LaCroix flew over the Connecticut River Valley, heading southward. Suddenly, he detected a faint vibration. It was oddly familiar.  Strange.  Most decidedly peculiar. He followed the psychic trail through the city of Amherst, discerning that its source was a little brown house on the town's eastern edge. He alighted on the snowy sheen covering the ground. The witch here?  The trail led here after all....A sudden burst of anger shot through him. I will be revenged on her. But, others are there. This is not the time.  he decided and walked up to the door. He rapped sharply three times.

Mike rose from his chair and answered it. Upon seeing LaCroix, he turned to his wife, "Hey, Hon, do you know this guy?" 

Cybelle felt the vampire's presence and dropped the coffee beans which she was grinding on the counter. Darn it! I have been too preoccupied! How could I have let LaCroix get so close?

"Cybelle, do you know him?" Mike repeated his question.

"It's okay, Mike," she advised. "Have our guest come to the back room, so that I can take his coat."

He nodded and started to point the way.

"I can find it. Thank you," LaCroix indicated. Having said that, he walked down the hallway purposefully toward the spare bedroom where Cybelle awaited him. "Is this where I am supposed to say 'Good Evening'?" he inquired half-seriously.

"Usually it is. But, what brings you here?" she replied matter-of-factly.

"You actually. We have a score to settle," he hissed.

She smiled wickedly. "Remember what I did to you in Toronto? That happened on your turf. You're in my domain now. Imagine the surprises that I cook up in here," she threatened. A flick of her wrist brought a little bag into her hand. "Got it?"

LaCroix saw her point. "For tonight. You know where Nicholas is." 

"I might. But even if I did...I wouldn't tell you." she shrugged. "Keep your distance from him." Her eyes stared right through him. "And as long as you conduct yourself with decorum, nothing will happen."

LaCroix stifled his instinctive drive to tear her throat out. Cybelle had bested him rather easily in Nick's former loft. He had no wish to repeat the experience.

"Now then," she continued. "Will you take some wine?"

"White, if you would," he accepted.

"As it happens, we have some on hand. Please take a seat in the living room and I'll bring it to you," she advised him.

He followed her instructions, albeit very grudgingly. After settling on the living room couch, he observed his surroundings with great care.

Mike walked over to his new guest. "I'm Mike Rogers. And you are...?" he introduced himself and offered his right hand.

"Lucien LaCroix," LaCroix replied pleasantly and shook his host's hand. "Your wife and I met recently.

"Yes, at UMass. Remember, Mike. Dave gave a talk there," Cybelle added half-truthfully.

"That is correct," LaCroix confirmed. "It is a fascinating topic."

Dubois snickered rudely in the corner. 

LaCroix turned quickly toward him, but placed a quick hold on his temper. No, there would be plenty of time to deal with this insolent mortal later.

"I suppose that he made her up," Dubois baited.

LaCroix considered this man and his attitude....It did seem familiar. "Oh, I assure you that she was quite real. My son studies her artifacts as well," he replied dryly while sipping his wine.

"As if she had any real power....," the other seethed.

Those words made LaCroix realize why this man's manner was familiar. Ignoring the last taunt, he cut straight to the chase. "I have seen anger like yours, in your son. You instilled it in him," he observed.

"You mean attitude," Dubois spat.

LaCroix snickered incredulously as he drained his glass, "You know so little about him."

"And I suppose that you do?" the other challenged.

LaCroix glanced at Cybelle expectantly, before continuing, "We met last month. The boy does have a vicious temper to say the least. He is torn between guilt and rage."

"He owes me respect," the other ranted.

LaCroix sighed. Looking at Dubois was like staring into a distorted mirror. How many times had he felt this way about Nick? His mind flashed back to the conversation with Janette after Nick's departure from Paris during the . He had used the same words and tone at that point as the man in front of him employed now. Despite his personal feelings on the matter, however, time...and Nick, had taught him that the times had indeed changed. "No, my dear man...Respect has to be earned....as much as it galls me to admit it. One cannot expect such things...from our children." Despite the resolve in his voice, his speech caused his stomach to churn.

"Ungrateful," the other stewed.

"Yes," LaCroix agreed. "They are ungrateful, aren't they?" He stared at Cybelle once again and then, continued. "Just remember, our best intentions are not always received as such....Despite our wishes to the contrary."

Dubois stared at the other man. He had heard enough of this lecture. Still this man, LaCroix, had given him some excellent food for thought. He got up from his chair, said his good nights, and departed for his home.

The vampire master had much to consider as well. He stared out of the window into the heavy snowfall. He felt a dread. Something was about to happen....something disastrous for them all.

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