Notes 1:  This piece was originally released in three installments: "The Book", "Interlude: Past as Present", and "The Dark Wood".

Notes 2: The characters from Forever Knight belong to Sony Tri-Star. The characters from Xena Warrior Princess belong to StudiosUSA and Renaissance Studios. The characters from Mutant X belong to Marvel and Tribune. The characters from Smallville belong to DC and the WB. All other characters are fictitious and are of my own creation. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com.

Preface [Tucson, April, 2005]

Lana writes....

Dear Diary:

Over the course of our lives, we in Smallville seem to run into more difficulties and well--weird things than most folks.  While we've always wondered why that's so, we've just dealt with it.  I guess that's why we can kind of understand Professor Dubois' issues.  We all have dealt with tragedy.  In this case, we share one burden.  One that we all will face together.

I'm glad that Gabrielle asked me to write this down.  While she'll incorporate it into her scrolls later, I need to get this out on paper for my own benefit.  

Chapter 1 [Rowenshire, MA] (Note: For more on this account, please see "Class Reunion" DC 2.2.)

The wind blew ill over the old town in the heart of central Massachusetts. Although the town was over three hundred years old, it never changed or grew any. In its center, the general store sat where it had since the 1860s with its gas pumps and the small post office off to the side. The few children living in the town were bussed to nearby Ware for their education. Those residents remaining behind kept to themselves for the most part, save when a neighbor would stop by for a chat and a cup of coffee.

To the north of town, a white house stood desolate and alone, set away from the road. The weather chipped away at its exterior. Weeds choked the brick walk in front. Around it, the grasses blew tall and freely. An old gnarled tree stood in the northwest corner of the property on the roadside. Finally, a mist seemed to hang over the property, even on the warmest of days. The locals shunned that place due to the dark legends surrounding it. Only once since that day did someone dare to live on that land. A man in search of cheap land in proximity to the Northampton area tore down the old dilapidated house and built the current one in its place in the late 1960s. Strange things happened to him and his family before they finally deserted the house.

Years later, the townspeople remembered a couple heading toward that spot. They thought nothing of it since people often drove up the road on their way toward New Braintree and Athol, but never stopped at the house. Then they heard a dark demonic laughter on the wind. Following that, they heard the familiar banshee scream and knew that the eldest son of the man who had owned the house had returned. While they had kept loose tabs on him in nearby Amherst, the townspeople had hoped he wouldn't return. Now, they heard fighting and someone impact into the tree. When they got to the scene, however, nobody remained and the haze hung over the field.

And so, it remained....

****

[Easter weekend, 2005]

The residents celebrated an Easter weekend together. Breaking with their self-enforced solitude, they held a great feast on Easter Sunday night. They ate and drank happily. Things finally seemed to be on the upswing.

However, trouble brewed even in the midst of the happiness. As the townspeople celebrated, Ali and Mason Eckhart approached the town hall. While the religious singing and symbols made them nauseous, the two Enforcers proceeded about their business.

Ali produced an old key. "Keep an eye out, Mason."

"I shall, Master," the fledgling promised.

The Janissary unlocked the old door and opened it. "Follow me."

They moved quickly through the century old hallways and down the stairs into the basement where the town stored its archives. Once there, it was a fairly easy matter to open the unlocked door and walk into the room.

Looking about the area, Eckhart wondered, "What are we looking for anyhow?"

"A ancient book of spells, Mason," the master Enforcer indicated, looking about the area. Finally, on the top shelf, he spied a book with a figure-8 lying on its side. "Ah here we are." He pulled it off the shelf and gazed at it. "At last. Come. We have what we need."

They walked back up the stairs and relocked the door. Then they disappeared into the night. With any luck, the townspeople wouldn't notice the book's disappearance since his partner had relocked the door from the inside.

However, they would notice the effect of that tome very shortly thereafter....

****

The two vampires alighted in a field nearby. The grasses waved in the spring breeze. A dilapidated old white house sat in this clearing. A few trees stood by the road.

"You spoke of a great power, Master. What would that be? I remember the legends from this town, but they are just legends, aren't they?" Eckhart wondered.

"Not quite," the master Enforcer maintained, walking into the meadow. "Follow me, Mason."

The two immortals made their way through the inky blackness and the billowing grasses. As they approached the gnarled oak, they saw something glowing about it.

"Ali, what is that?"

The Turk smiled. "You mentioned the legends earlier. They are true, my friend."

"There was a witch here, then?"

"There is a witch here, Mason. Her power's imprisoned here," Ali commented, opening the book and reading a few passages. "Sorceress, appear!"

At that command, the wind picked up in intensity, howling at gale strength. Then, a light coalesced, reforming into a woman's shape. "Free at last!" she exclaimed.

"Anne Lichtenfeld, I presume?" Ali asked.

"Aye. And ye are?" the spirit asked.

"Friends and holders of common enemies with you, my Dear. Nicolas de Brabant, Lucien LaCroix, and a certain family who once lived in the house yonder," he continued.

She seethed. "I would be revenged on them all! But what is in it for ye?"

"Our revenge will be sweet indeed. I trust you would like to do more than just taunt people?" Ali queried.

"Aye. I can do more than send my astral form now. Why?" she asked.

"You will get your first chance tomorrow night," the former Janissary promised. "LaCroix will be first. He is in Toronto across the border in what is Canada...I mean, New France."

She snickered, reading his mind and getting the location. "Aye. And this will bring my enemies to me! Thank ye. And what will ye do in the meantime?"

"In the meantime, we'll bait the others back up here. You cannot touch them in Tucson-David Dubois has seen to that, but here, you're all powerful."

"Perhaps. It will be a pleasure to torture him again. Meantime, I'm off to visit my dear Lucien and to repay him for his treatment...in kind," she concluded, vanishing into the cold night air. Behind her, a sinister laughing penetrated the air, letting all know that she was indeed free.

Ali smiled. Soon, Dubois, you will know the meaning of pain. I guarantee it.

Chapter 2

[Toronto-the next evening]

While the mortals celebrated Easter with their families, the vampires enjoyed themselves at the club. On this occasion, they could revel in their nature unrestrained by the need for secrecy. They drank their blood wine, danced to neo-gothic music, and discussed conquests both old and new.

At the bar, Alma, the bartender, dispensed their drinks in an efficient manner. The blonde beauty relished the opportunity to spend the night with other vampires. Nights such as this one were a rare treat indeed. She turned to see a teenaged girl approaching the bar. Then again, she isn't just any girl. "Divia, what can I get you?"

The Roman girl sat on the stool in front of the bartender and declined, "Nothing for now. I'm enjoying the scene. Satisfying, isn't it?"

"Indeed. But who would have thought that you and LaCroix would have worked out this partnership? You two have brought stability to our Community."

Divia shrugged. "Who would want to face Lucius and me?"

At that moment, the music suddenly stopped...

Divia stalked over to the DJ. "What is it?" she hissed.

The young man with the beatnik appearance shook his head. "The turntable's stuck and I..." As he touched it, fire spewed from it, burning him to ashes.

Then the air turned deathly cold.

The girl-Elder challenged, "Whatever it is, I'm not afraid of you!" Looking about the room, she swept it with her senses. In the corner, she felt a dark presence. Allowing her fangs to descend, she yelled, "Come out!"

The lights flickered and went out.

An eerie laughter permeated the chamber.

Divia hissed, her eyes flashing yellow-green.

A light snapped on in the center of the chamber, forming into a woman's shape. The witch's spirit had entered the room.

"Where is he?" Lichtenfeld challenged. "He's close! I know it!"

"Where is who?" the Elder challenged, stepping forward, the blood-bile rising in her throat. "And who are you to dare intrude like this?"

The witch snickered. "Ah, your aura is so much like his. I want Lucien dead, little one." Channeling mystical energy into her hands, she slammed Divia with a mystic charge, throwing the latter backward into the wall. Over and over, she fired, tossing vampires around like so many rag dolls and destroying the inside of the bar.

When her victims lay unconscious, she remarked, "Pity, I thought all of ye were made of sterner stuff."

At that moment, LaCroix stormed into the club and looked aghast at the damage. "Who did this?" he demanded.

"I did," the witch revealed, stepping into his line of sight. "It's been so long, Lucien, and I wanted to repay ye for destroying my opportunities so long ago!"

The General stared at the intruder for a minute before he recognized her. "The Rowenshire witch!" he spat. "But that mortal priest said...."

"That I would be imprisoned forever? He and the others failed. Ye failed!" the witch growled, blasting him with fire.

LaCroix screamed and dropped to the floor-his immortal flesh burning.

"Ye grovel...but it's not enough. For tonight, I leave notice of my return. Soon though, Nicolas will know my wrath, as will my dear Child, the priestess, and my other beloved children of the Plains. Take this to them, will ye?" Her finger glowed brightly as she burned the figure-eight symbol into the back of his hand. "I wait for ye at my field, dear Lucien. Here's something else to remember me by." Passing her hand over the nape of his neck, she stared deeply into his eyes and pulled memories from his past.

Across his mind's eye, he saw the witch pummeling him and Nicholas back in colonial Massachusetts. Then a more familiar litany came to mind. First, he saw Nick driving the burning stake into him at the loft. Cybelle's spell blinded him. His fight with the Child leaving him badly beaten. Xena's chakram scoring his side, causing blood to spew out.

"So," she chuckled. "Ye know of my greatest creation? Remember the curse? The priest's descendants returned and I split one of their souls! Knowing what he's done to ye is all the sweeter!"

He writhed but lifted his head ever so slightly. "Sp..lit...I...Du...bois?"

"Aye. I await him!" she cackled, dropping him to the floor and disappearing.

"Lucius! What is this?" his daughter/mistress asked, trying to sit up in the corner.

"An...old...ene...my. Call Nicholas. We...need help," he stated weakly.

"Alma, do it and bring the phone to me," she told her. "The number's under the bar."

The bartender dialed the numbers quickly, hoping for some answers.

****

[Tucson-Nick's Loft]

At the loft, Nick picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Nicholas, this is Divia. We have trouble in Toronto. The Community was attacked tonight."

He nearly dropped the phone. What can I do?

"Nicholas, the Community. Do something. We expect your assistance," Divia snarled, feeling sharp pains from her burns. "See you soon, Brother." With that, she hung up.

He took a deep breath and glanced nervously over at Alyce. Now was the time for action, but what form should that action take? He recalled LaCroix's admonition: Community matters should stay within the Community. Yet now, he also remembered Dave Dubois' declaration and Brother Tony's affirmation-this is a Community of Tolerance: no one group could stand on its own. Rather, mutants, humans, and vampires would need to work together. Tonight, that motto will be tested.

The curator nodded. "Let's get over to Dave and Angie's place."

"Come on," he indicated, looking up and took off into the night sky, followed by his companion.

****

[Dubois Residence]

Meantime, Dave and Angie hosted a dinner to celebrate Adam's appointment to the university. Sitting at the table, the new mutant students, Lydia, Steve, Adam and the Mutant X members started into the food in front of them.

"Congratulations, Dr. Kane," Lana expressed.

"Thanks, Lana, and to all of you. I don't deserve this," the geneticist expressed humbly.

"As someone once told me, you're being too humble," Angie advised, placing another course on the table.

"There's no arguing with her, Adam. Trust me," Dave urged, grinning.

"Listen to them, Adam," Brennan piped in.

Seeing the others agree, the leader smiled and conceded, "All right, thank you, everyone. Still, the students had better be ready for me. Of course, I want to do my best for them."

The other faculty members at the table nodded their approval.

The students, on the other hand, looked at each other anxiously. Given his attitude with the workouts, they could imagine what he would be like as a professor. Still, having him as a professor would be wonderful for everyone.

"It's too bad that Nick couldn't be here," Steve noted.

"He was still getting everything together," Adam excused.

At that moment, a knock came from the door.

Dave looked, sensing Nick's presence. What now? With his mind, he opened the door. "Nick, Alyce, what is it?"

The vampires entered the room guardedly; their concern clearly written on their faces. "We have a problem in Toronto. The Raven was attacked tonight. We need to get up there ASAP."

Eve gasped. "Lucius? Divia?"

"Hurt badly," Alyce assessed.

"Need help?" the medievalist offered.

"I...the Community...would appreciate everyone's assistance. Thank you," Nick accepted.

Dave took a deep breath and, after getting up from the table, went into the study. "Clark and Lana, come on."

The two teenagers looked at each other nervously. Then he took her hand and they followed their professor into his study.

"Brennan, Jesse, Emma, and Shalimar, you're with me," Adam indicated, feeling his nerves churning inside of himself. "Everyone else, keep an eye back here."

Angie requested, "Lydia, can you keep an eye on the twins?"

"Absolutely, but what are you and Francesca going to do up there?"

"Keep Dave in line, mostly," Francesca told her as she followed Angie into the study.

"You heard her," Steve added, checking his gun and crossbow. "I'll check in with Garth as soon as I know anything."

Adam sighed. Another situation.... With one last look at the remaining students, he joined the others in the study, closing the door behind him.

****

[The Raven-A few minutes later]

LaCroix struggled on the floor, trying to get his bearings and forget about the pain screaming through his body. Making his way toward the bar, he negotiated several obstacles with great difficulty. However, the Community was relying on him.

Then his face ran into something hard...and made of leather. A boot.

Managing to raise his head, he saw Xena standing there with her arms folded and a satisfied look on her face.

"Hello, Lucius. Fancy meeting you like this," she greeted, a bit of sarcasm in her voice.

"Mother, please," Eve interjected, leaning over to help her stepbrother up and into a chair. What could do this?

"Thank you," he expressed. "It seems some people...have manners."

"Like you would know?" the warrior snarled.

Seeing Nick enter the room with the others, LaCroix muttered, "What...are they...doing here, Nicholas? This...is a...Community matter."

"I went for help," Nick replied. "This is a Community matter still."

"For once, shut up and take help, will you?" Dave growled.

"Where are we?" Clark wondered.

Steve surveyed the carnage and devastation. "What could do this?"

"Somebody with a big ax to grind-that's for sure. Man, what a redecorating job!" Jesse remarked, feeling a little nervous.

"You got that right," Max concurred.

"Stay sharp-all of you," Adam advised. "Whoever or whatever did this could still be here."

Lana looked around the room, scanning every floorboard, nook, and cranny. This place reeks with death. But beyond the vampires, there was something else. I know that I felt this presence before. "Professor Dubois, do you sense anything weird here?"

"Lana, this is a vampire bar," Clark noted.

She shook her head and insisted, "No. I mean something familiar. Do you remember the fire from Wabash? When we were there, a ghostly longhaired woman and an old accent threatened the Child. She was here."

Hearing her advisory, Dave surveyed the room. Sure enough, a familiar psychic stench set off his instincts. "Damn it!" he hissed.

Emma looked at him nervously, feeling the anger building in him. "What, Dave? What is it?"

The professor ignored her, heading for the bar where Divia rested. "What happened?"

Divia looked into his eyes menacingly. "A ghost...it seems...with something for Nicholas, Lucius, and you as well."

Damn it! He frowned, feeling the Child struggling to get out. "Ah...I...need to know....Woman...with...long hair...glowing white...menacin' laugh....likes fire?"

The girl nodded. "You know her, then?"

Clark shook his head and held his girlfriend tightly against him. Not her again. He did remember the fire and the nightmare encounter.

"What, Dave? Who did this?" Steve demanded.

The Child stared back at him. "Ya know 'er, Petersen."

"I do?"

"Yeah. 'Member when Gram went into the ground? 'Member the trouble we had an' what Ah did later?"

The agent's eyes bulged as he recalled the ghost terrorizing the ceremony. "Her? But I thought you took care of that!"

"Na' exactly. Ah hoped Ah took care of it!" the Dark One snarled. "Ah shoulda known when she popped up 'fore that she was back! Dammit!"

"Steve, get him over here!" Nick ordered.

"Wha' now?" the Child responded, stomping over to the Elders' side.

"LaCroix, show him your hand," Nick requested.

The General revealed the back of his hand and the symbol-scar. "It...seems...we have...a mutual enemy...."

"Lichtenfeld," Nick realized.

"Damn straight," the Child concurred. "An' when Ah find the numnuts who let 'er out, Ah'll..."

"You'll what?" a familiar voice challenged, from the entrance. "You do entertain, Dubois." Stepping into the light, Eckhart grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Hello again, Adam."

"Eckhart, I might have known," the geneticist realized, staring at his longtime adversary.

The Mutant X members tensed, each standing with their powers at the ready, waiting for their opportunity to lash out at the fledgling.

"Aw quit it!" the Child snarled, waving his friends off. "Look, Whitey, even ya'll ain't that stupid!"

"I might disagree with that one," Adam contradicted. "Still, you're right. Everyone, restrain yourselves."

"But he wouldn't act by himself," Xena supposed, her sword at the ready. "And who are your friends, Eckhart?"

"Ah. Yes, my master's allies. Do come in," the former administrator replied.

Behind him, five vampires strode into the wrecked club-each from a different ethnic group, it seemed.

"Lucius, are these your Elders?" Eve asked.

"No," Nick replied flatly.

"The Renegades, I presume?" Steve added, stepping into the forefront, crossbow at the ready.

A red-haired Irish male vampire responded in a thick brogue, "So that's what the Elders call us? Amusing. Put that away, Mortal, before I have to kill you."

The Child sniggered, "Ya'd have to come through me first. That wouldn't be pretty for any of ya'll."

"You really want a civil war, don't you?" Nick posed.

"This is about power, Brabant. You know about that, don't you?" another Renegade, a woman of African descent, asked as she joined her companion. "We're not alone either."

"Leave now, Mortals, or we'll have to escalate this matter," the Irish Renegade challenged.

"Stop this!" Divia ordered, her fangs descending as she stood up.

"You wish to challenge me? Look at you-so weak on your feet."

Divia replied, "I delegate this matter to my fellow Elder, Nicholas."

Nick added, "And my friends are with me."

"So be it," the Irish Renegade affirmed. "Enforcers!"

At the command, the doors opened and thirty vampires zipped into the room, surrounding the Tucson delegation.

"Well now, Adam, it seems you are in a jam now, aren't you?" Eckhart gibed.

The team leader shrugged, not giving his enemy any degree of satisfaction. "Your loss, Mason."

Lana looked around anxiously. Great. Talk about the stuff of nightmares. "Brennan, can you charge me up?" she requested.

The electrical mutant nodded, generating a blast and hitting her with it.

Eckhart chuckled, "Interesting strategy, Mr. Mulwray. She's on your side, isn't she?"

Brennan shrugged. "Just wait and see what she does, Smart Ass. Ready, everyone?"

"Let's rock," the Child growled, raising his hands to the ceiling. From the air, streams of glowing ebony energy flowed into him. He wailed the now-familiar banshee cry and then hissed, "How d'ya like yer Enforcer? Ah think extrie-crispie." Aiming his hands, he released a streamer of flame, hitting the Renegades before they could react. "That's fer embarrassin' us!"

The wannabe Elders screamed and ran around like chickens with their heads cut off, looking for water. One by one, they collapsed, disintegrating into ash.

"Good job," the Warrior Princess complimented, flinging her chakram into the air.

The weapon careened, caromed, zipped, and dipped throughout the area like a pinball on a sailor's holiday, slashing vampire opponents' backs, skulls, necks, and other vital anatomical parts. Before returning to its mistress, the weapon had dispatched a dozen adversaries.

Standing guard over her fallen stepbrother, Eve slashed away at the competition, taking down several other Enforcers.

Mutant X struck out at their opponents through energy bursts and hard fists, wrecking their share of havoc.

For her part, Lana struck out furiously with electric bursts and spirit attacks, taking out her fair share of the immortal adversaries.

At her back, Clark pounded away at them, disposing of several more enemies.

Nick and Divia took out a few others as well.

Only ten minutes later, the Tucson delegation stood in the midst of an ash pile. Around them, the remaining vampires of the Toronto Community stared in wonder at the fighting force that the former Crusader had assembled in the Old Pueblo. For the first time, they realized that perhaps this so-called "Community of Tolerance" could work. Perhaps, they had judged too hastily.

Meantime, Alma and two other vampires dragged the Irish Renegade and Eckhart before the group. "They were leaving, or so they thought."

Nick stepped up to the two defeated enemies. "For what you've done, you should be staked."

"They will...be staked," LaCroix interceded, propping himself on one elbow. "I demand it."

"Or dispatched," Xena concurred, raising her sword. "You know, we still owe ya for those fights."

"Hang on there," the Child interceded. "Irish here needs stickin'. Whitey can bring a message to Ali-Turk. That boy an' Ah've got some serious shit goin' down. He released the Bitch after Cybbie and Ah put 'er 'way. That boy's gittin' a serious whuppin'!"

Tucson's Elder considered those words. Granted, letting the fledgling go would send a mixed message, but the Child made sense in his dark Machiavellian logic. "I agree with that."

Eckhart quaked fearfully, knowing how his master felt about failure. "You wouldn't...."

"What do we do if he says no?" Divia insisted.

Nick looked at Adam and Mutant X. "I think we let his former quarry deal with him."

Adam frowned but understood. I have to remember that Eckhart's no longer human-he's a vampire and this is vampire justice. "Clark and Lana, stay back."

The two students nodded, retreating back to the bar.

Meantime, Mutant X encircled the kneeling vampire, giving the fledgling dirty, knowing looks.

"Let's fry him," Brennan suggested, allowing the current to spark in his hands.

"I second that," Shalimar agreed, recalling all of the torture within Genomex.

For a minute, Eckhart locked glares with them before realizing that this wasn't an idle threat. At least, Ali won't kill me. "Fine. I'll do it. But, whatever my master visits on me, I'll repay you all for a thousand-fold."

"At least ya're walkin' outta here, Whitey. Stick it!" the Child spat.

"As for your friend," Nick pronounced, walking purposefully over to the head Renegade. "I don't like executions or murder, Irish, but in your case, I'll make an exception."

"Do your worst, Brabant!"

Nick shook his head as he twisted the defeated Renegade's arm behind him. "Oh, we will. Divia, as co-Elder, it's your privilege."

After receiving a stern nod from LaCroix, Divia grabbed a stake and held it in plain sight. "Ago gratias tibi, Nicholas." Turning to the prisoner, she asked, "Any last words?"

He spat blood at her.

"Such insolence," Divia responded, slamming the stake through his chest. "And so ends your pitiful rebellion."

The prisoner collapsed to the ground, disintegrating into ash and joining his comrades.

"My thanks to you all," Divia expressed, putting the stake away. "Perhaps you'd all care to stay for a while?"

"Thanks...but we do need to be heading back," Adam declined.

"Yeah, Ah guess," the Child concurred, allowing the change to happen.

"We should bring LaCroix as well. He can stay at the Gato until he's healed," Nick indicated, helping his former master up.

"And I can make sure he's all right," Eve indicated.

"If you say so, Auntie," Divia relented. "You will let me know if anything happens. And, Dubois?"

"Yes?" Dave asked.

"Take a pound of flesh out of that witch for me!" she requested vehemently.

He smirked. "If there's anything left once the Child and I are done with her, fine." Opening the portal, he added, "I have about five years of torture and thirty years of Hell to pay her back for in the meantime."

She nodded. Although she didn't understand his exact meaning, she knew that in matters of vengeance, she could trust in Dubois' darkness, especially when it was personal. After the group had vanished, she thought, If you don't, Dubois, I will.

Chapter 3 [Tucson-One night later]

Lydia stood in front of her evening class on Southeastern Europe, discussing the region's economic tendencies in the late fourteenth century. In the course of the lecture, she spoke to recent advances in the discipline, taking the students on an expedition of dizzying facts and persons in addition to leaving the students wondering about a promised surprise at the talk's end.

The group of about fifteen students scrambled to scribble these items down as she went. Clark, Lana, and Chloe wrote furiously. Fortunately, the professor agreed to let the blonde reporter record the lecture. Still, the notes remained important. So they kept going.

In the back of the room, Dave and Nick observed the lecture with keen interest.

For Dave, the session was updating his knowledge of the region. It's been fifteen years since I took this class from Lydia. The format has changed-that's for sure.

As he listened, Nick's mind flashed back and forth between his current location and the region in question. Unlike everyone else in the room, he had experienced this material firsthand. It's amazing she's managed to reconstruct it so precisely given the ferocity of the Turkish attacks and the fact that the repositories were destroyed in the battles. He remembered fighting with a Serbian army against the Ottomans in 1389 and the Christian loss of Kosovo. During that campaign, he and Ali had crossed paths for the first time, swords clashing furiously for twenty minutes before the Janissary fell. Unfortunately, LaCroix's little snack later made sure Ali would be around for a while.

At that point, Lana asked, "Professor Coltrane, how did the Turks get so much territory so fast?"

Lydia glanced at Nick. I should let him answer, given that he was there. Come on, Lydia, you can't make him blow his cover. "Well, Lana, the Ottomans had several advantages, and better trained troops. In addition, the Janissaries were fanatical."

Indeed they were, Nick concurred to himself. Then his senses picked up on another vampire presence close by. "Dave," he whispered.

"Yeah, I know," the medievalist agreed low. "He's been out in the hall for a good ten minutes." Looking at the door, he braced himself for the coming confrontation.

At that moment, the door opened, allowing Ali to walk into the room. He wore his full Janissary gear-robes and large helmet. Under his arm, he carried the stolen tome. "Fanatical is a little strong, isn't it? For that, I'll have to kill you."

Lydia stared at the intruder, recognizing him from the duel in Istanbul. Figures, he'd show up.

The students stared at the intruder, recognizing his garb as that of a fourteenth century Janissary from the pictures in the textbook.

"No, I'd say it's right on the mark," Dave interjected, shooting him a glare. "How's your student?"

"Shut up, Dubois. This doesn't concern you...for now," Ali hissed.

"And such bad manners too.  Nice costume-trying to impress a date or what?" Dave continued to press. "I asked you a question, Ali." Seeing the Smallville trio tensing, he shook them off before staring into the other's eyes. "You're in my territory, Turk. That makes it my concern. So what's a terrible little mamluk like you doing here?"

By now, the other students were getting nervous. If this was the surprise, they didn't want to see the maniac medievalist's response to it.

Lydia sighed. He's at it again. "Dr. Dubois has a point. This is my classroom. Answer the question."

"I have a delivery to make...a book of secrets...to Miles here. Your discussion was interesting, flawed a bit, but for these rabble close enough."

"And how would you know?" Chloe snapped, ticked off by the insult.

His eyes glowed at the students. "Because I was there, child. Miles can confirm that, can't you?"

Nick thought on his feet before replying, "The rolls put you there. Your point?"

"My point, as you put it, is that we were dedicated soldiers fighting against the Infidel," the Enforcer snarled.

"Dedicated pains in the ass, you mean," Dave muttered. Seeing the symbol on the book's front cover, he demanded, "Where did you get that?"

"A friend procured it for me. Why?"

The medievalist chuckled. "You have no idea what that book can do."

"And you do, don't you, Dubois? Tell them of the power in it," Ali taunted, grabbing him by the throat and pinning him to the wall.

"Professor!" Clark exclaimed, springing to his feet and taking a step toward them.

"N...now, this ain't nice," Dave gasped, lapsing. "Better than tell them, I...Ah'll show 'em."

After the change happened, the Child grinned at the Enforcer. "Git offa me!" His hands glowed. Gripping the attacker, they burned the other's hands.

"Damn you!" Ali hissed, setting the book down as he vamped out. "Now you die!"

" Ooooh....Ah'm so scared!" the Dark One retorted sarcastically. "Git lost! Ya'll released 'er, didn't ya?" He fired two blasts, knocking Ali into the wall. Turning to the students, he bellowed, "ALL OF YA, GIT!!"

The students took off like scared rabbits. The stories surrounding Dave and the terrorists still remained fresh around the campus. Watching him deal with this nut ball definitely wouldn't be helpful to either their grades or health in any event.

Clark, Lana, and Chloe moved to the front of the room, shielding Lydia from danger.

Meantime, the former Janissary threw himself at the Child. "GRRAARRRGGHH!!!!"

The Child shook his head. Another burst of fire singed the Turk, dropping him to the floor. "Whitey shoulda told ya. Ah'll deal with the witch mahself. Too bad, ya'll won't be 'round." With a final burst, he blasted the Turk to the ground before breaking off an oak leg from the chair he was sitting on. "Say howdy to Mustard Boy fer me an' Big Bro.!" He thrust the stake into the vampire's chest.

"She...will finish you...all," Ali asserted weakly before expiring and turning into ash.

"So much fer 'im," the Child accessed.

"Ummm...do you mind letting Dave out? You've done enough for tonight," Nick suggested, picking up the book.

"Yeah, Ah guess. Jus' don't let that book outta yer sight!" the Child relented, letting the change happen again.

Dave looked around to see the students staring at him. "Uh, so where's Ali?"

"Take a whiff," Lydia commented, pointing to the floor beside him.

He saw the ash pile with the oak leg-stake sticking from the middle of it. Shit. The Child must have disposed of him.

"What's the book about?" Lana asked, feeling the negative energy coming from it.

"Don't touch it," Lydia advised. Judging by his reaction, that thing's really serious trouble.

"A curse," Nick told them, looking at his colleague. "Dave, you want to put it somewhere safe?"

"Absolutely," the professor agreed. "Uh, Clark, bring the girls to my office in a few minutes, will you? I want to talk with you all." Seeing the farm boy nod, he instructed, "Dr. Miles, you're with me."

Clark looked at Lana and Chloe before shaking his head. When he said life never got dull around here, he meant it.

****

[Dave's Office]

An hour later, Dave sat in his office, flipping through the dark tome and scanning its contents. This thing should have been destroyed. I can't believe that those jackasses in Rowenshire left it unguarded. A shudder passed through him as he recalled the drive he and Angie had taken there, as well as the witch's attack. Fortunately, the Child worked with Cybelle that day.

"Professor Dubois?" Lana asked. "Can we come in?"

He nodded to Nick, who opened the door for the trio and Lydia.

"Okay, what happened up there?" the latter wanted to know.

Nick shut the door and stated, "A very old curse."

"My curse," Dave added.

The vampire asked, "Your curse? The man cursed died 267 years ago. How does that...?"

"The man in question was Ricard LaFontaine, my ancestor. Tell me, Lydia, growing up in Braintree, what did you hear about a woman named Anne Lichtenfeld?"

"The eighteenth century witch? But she's only a legend," she assumed.

"She was real, trust me," Nick told her. "LaFontaine helped me and LaCroix to defeat her."

"But she escaped, right?" Clark wondered.

"It's a long story," the medievalist growled, tapping his finger on the desk. "I'm buzzing Dr. Kane. Chloe, can you get a hold of Lex and get the other students together? I know it's late, but he has direct experience."

We all do, but that's another matter. Lana mused, watching Chloe leave.

Then Lydia asked, "What does this have to do with you, Dave?"

"When the townspeople executed her, Lichtenfeld cursed LaFontaine and his descendants. When the family touched her land again...and they would...the family's fortunes would sink and the eldest child would split in two."

"Your personal issues stem from there? Did you see her?"

"I sure did. She was the one who taught me the fire tricks you saw up there tonight..." Dave recounted. His brow furrowed and his mood darkened. "...when she tortured me. I aim to pay her back for that."

"You're going to want to meet at the El Gato, aren't you?" Nick asked.

"Yes. I just need to go check on Angie and the twins first, then get word to Cybelle," Dave told them, picking up the book. "And this is going to be a heated discussion, so be prepared. Lydia, this stays here. Sorry about the scene upstairs, I didn't have a choice."

"Meaning?" she asked.

"Meaning he would have killed you for your knowledge of the Community and the duel. Then there would have been the matter of the kids and me revealing ourselves to save the class," Nick commented.

"Was this tied to last night?" she inquired.

"You could say so," Dave replied, putting his coat on. "We took out about thirty Enforcers and those punk Renegades--the guys who have been orchestrating those attacks on us here." Focusing, he squinted for a second before concluding, "Cybelle knows. She's going to meet us at the apartment. Come on, Nick."

The Elder followed him out the door, knowing that this was going to be a long night indeed.

Behind them, Lydia locked the office door and headed for her own office. Legends like the Rowenshire witch are true. What next?

Chapter 4

[Faerie Realms]

From her throne, the Faerie Empress watched the proceedings with concern. So it has finally come to pass. Yes, Lydia Coltrane, what will be next for all of you? Walking out of the room, she entered her grand cathedral of crystal. At least there is a place where good memories exist for David and Angela still. After the events of this night, they may need them. Once Cybelle lifts the spells from Angela and Lana, there will be no going back.

****

[Dubois residence-Tucson]

Angie looked at the clock. It's after nine. Dave should have been home by now. I knew there would be trouble. Seeing the mists form in the corner, she asked, "Deirdre?"

"Not quite, Angie," Cybelle stated, striding into the room. "It's been a busy night as Dave will tell you."

"Busy night?" Angie wondered, placing some tea water on the stove to heat. "We took care of the Enforcers and Renegades last night. What else could happen?"

"Ali apparently crashed Lydia's class tonight," the priestess reported. "Tell me, Angie, what do you remember of the first class reunion in Amherst?"

The oncologist frowned. Those events remained hazy in her mind. "I remember riding with Dave in the Subaru for much of the morning. Then I fell asleep. The next thing I recall is waking up in your house. Why?" What is she not telling me? What else happened on that day? Seeing her husband's headlights through the curtains, she was determined to get the answer.

"Angie?" Dave asked, walking into the apartment with Nick, Clark, and Lana close behind.

"What's going on, Dave? Cybelle just told me about Ali. Where is he?"

"Checking into Hell, I'd imagine," her husband assumed. "He attacked me. You Know Who charred him up a bit, and then staked him."

Seeing her skeptical look, Clark and Lana looked at each other nervously, not wanting to get in the middle of an argument.

"This happened in front of the students? Dave, that's brilliant...I gotta tell you," she countered sarcastically.

"He didn't have much of a choice," Clark interjected.

"That vampire attacked us right in class," Lana added.

"He is dead though?" the priestess asked her brother.

"Staked, crumpled into ash-the whole nine yards," the medievalist declared, sitting in his favorite chair-a nervous look on his face.

"I'll have the priestesses scatter his ashes. Meantime, is that what I think it is?" Cybelle queried, sensing the evil emanating from the tome at his side.

"It is, but..." he started, motioning to his wife.

"What is this about, Dave?" Angie demanded apprehensively, stalking over to him. "What is this thing?"

"Don't touch it!" he ordered, pulling it out of her reach. "This is what set me off last night at the Raven."

"A book setting a librarian off? Oh that's a good one!" she chided him.

"It isn't just any book, Angie," Cybelle interjected. "Stand still for a minute." She put her hand on the doctor's forehead and recited a few lines in Gaelic. "There. Now you know what happened."

Angie felt the fog lifting from her head. She remembered driving through the dark woods and stopping in front of a forsaken white house. She heard Dave telling her not to step on the grass.

She saw a glowing woman approaching them before everything went black.

"Who was that?" she asked, shaking with fear.

"That was the witch," Dave pointed out. "You'll hear more in a few minutes. Genaria's on her way to watch after the twins. In the meantime, we have a meeting to attend at the Gato."

"Meeting now? About what? Dave, why didn't you tell me about this before?" Angie demanded.

"That was my fault." Cybelle jumped in to protect her brother and prevent any lapses on his part. "I didn't know if you could handle it."

"Lady, after what I went through a year later-I think I could have handled anything. So, what else happened there...after I....uh...fainted," Angie requested.

"She scorched me...kind of like what she did to LaCroix last night. The Child erupted and was holding her off. From what he tells me, Cybelle showed up, they took the witch on together. Finally, our priestess here drugged him and got us all back to her place," he recounted, fixing them each a cup of tea.

"And it was a close call," Cybelle agreed. "That's why I wasn't sure if you could handle it. Tonight, you and everyone else will have the answers that you seek." Looking at Lana, she analyzed the younger woman.

"What is it?" the former cheerleader queried.

"You are under a spell as well," the high priestess assessed.

"How can that be?" Clark demanded, stepping between his girlfriend and the priestess.

"I am attuned to such things, my alien friend. Relax, I will not harm her. Rather, I seek to discern the hidden truth," Cybelle asserted.

"Clark, it's okay. I've had these feelings like I know this ghost since the fire. Cybelle, go ahead," Lana assured him.

Clark stepped back. You better not hurt her.

Cybelle shook her head at him. Have faith, young one. Goddess, help us both. With that, she touched Lana's brow and muttered a few more words in Gaelic. Then her eyes bulged. "You have felt the Witch's power as well!"

"What?" Clark asked fearfully.

Lana slumped into a chair, her memories swirling. Suddenly, the fuzzy ones from the meteor shower coalesced into focus. She saw her parents die from the meteor impact. But then, the fuzzy part came into focus. She saw the woman from the fire, floating there-mocking and jeering her. She shuddered, the tears cascading down her cheeks. "N...no, it can't be!"

Clark was at her side in a flash. "Lana, I'm here."

His girlfriend clamped onto him, not daring to relinquish the safety of his grasp. "It's awful." She buried her face in his chest and sobbed incessantly.

Dave glared at his sister. "What the Hell did you do?"

"I did nothing but remove the block on her memories. The curse, it seems, hit Smallville as well," Cybelle declared.

"Through Lionel and me," the medievalist hissed. "Damn it! That bastard's done it again!"

"What?" Angie demanded. "But she was trapped in the...." Her sentence went unfinished, as the realization sank in. "She was at the fire so she broke free of that trap too!"

"Not exactly," Cybelle clarified. "She can't do any harm. However, it seems that her spirit can travel the astral realm. The curse, it seems, was put into place before Dave and the others entrapped her."

"Enough for now," Dave stated. "You'll hear more later at the El Gato."

Genaria entered the room through the mists. "I'm here if all of you want to go. Deirdre will meet you at the vampire place."

"Okay," Dave agreed, picking up the book. "Come on, guys."

His sister opened another portal and ushered them through. As she stepped through, she told the other priestess, "Nothing happens to the twins."

The younger one nodded as her superior disappeared. Enough has happened already.

****

[El Gato Negro]

LaCroix slowly made his way out of the back room, heading for the bar. Despite the pain he still felt from his burns, the Elder determined to appear strong. Besides, if his senses were correct, much had already happened on this night. An Elder is dead. Ali, you fool. You were so determined to get even for Dijon. At the bar, he saw Eckhart sipping on a blood wine. Pathetic fledgling. Now-without your Enforcer brethren or your master, you are nothing.

As if sensing the other's thoughts, Eckhart turned. "He'll return sometime tonight."

LaCroix's brow arched. Classic denial. How quaint.

Janette cast him a knowing look. Now was not the time to be provoking the young vampire. "I'm sure he's right, LaCroix."

The General chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Eckhart demanded.

"Ask your friends, Eckhart," LaCroix advised, pointing to the front entrance. "I have company of my own coming soon."

"Friends?" The fledgling sensed the mortals entering the club. Them? Here? He saw Adam and his bunch of rogue freaks descend the staircase. "What are you doing here, Adam?"

"When the Elder calls, we listen," the team leader declared.

At that moment, Steve, Garth, Karen, Lex, and the new mutant students entered the club, joining Mutant X at their table and taking two adjoining ones.

"Do you know what this is about, guys?" Brennan asked.

"Judging by the pyro stuff we saw in class tonight, the professor's really annoyed at something," Clark suggested.

"Or someone," Martin clarified. "An ancient evil walks the Earth once more. There was a major battle last night, was there not?"

"I'm glad we weren't anywhere near there...judging by what happened tonight," Chloe remarked.

"It was pretty bad in there," Clark admitted.

"Especially from my point of view," Lana agreed.

"From everyone's viewpoint, Lana," Dave added, appearing from the mists with Angie, Cybelle, and Deirdre. "Get comfortable, everyone."

"Where is Ali?" Eckhart demanded.

"Your Janissary friend got creamed by the Professor," Lana told him.

"No!" the fledgling protested. "I'll kill you for that!"

Nick grabbed him in a bear hug, restraining him. "No. Not here...not now."

"This is why you didn't stake me last night! You knew this would happen!" Eckhart ranted.

Adam shook his head. "Mason, we didn't know it would happen, all right? You were to bear a message. That's it."

"Besides, after what your boys did to us, you think I would kill anyone's parents unprovoked? No, Eckhart, he attacked us. Besides, he revealed himself to the mortals in the classroom. Kind of goes against the Code, doesn't it?" Dave countered.

"My boys?"

"GSA, all right?" Angie snapped. "My parents' farm destroyed-loved ones killed. We were there! Now, your so-called master dug up the ultimate boogey-person! You are the last person who should talk about murder and torture! What about your pod farm? What about the mutants that you tortured?"

"This is serious, Eckhart," Lex added. "The last time she got free, it was a catastrophe for the towns of Rowenshire and Amherst."

Not to mention Smallville. Lana shuddered.

"Why?" Chloe asked them. "What could be so serious?"

The entrepreneur shuddered and looked at the medievalist. "The downfall of so much for so few. Your grandfather and grandmother, my mother and the town...."

"The town?" Clark asked.

Seeing the vampires getting restless, Nick urged, "If we're going to talk about this further-the back, now. Eckhart, if you want to stay here, behave yourself."

The former administrator scowled but returned to the bar to do as Nick advised.

"Deirdre, umm...maybe we can get coffee if you get my drift," Miranda requested.

"Good idea. Auntie, we'll be right back," the priestess said. "Lana, Clark? We could use some help."

The two teenagers followed the cousins through the portal.

"Meantime," Janette indicated. "Let's get ready for this conversation."

Onto the next part