Lessons Paris 1228 Something tickled his nose. He stirred in his sleep trying to turn away from the irritant. It didn't help. Finally, with a soft growl, he opened his eyes. The room around him was tinted gold and for a moment he didn't know where he was. He blinked and the golden haze faded from his vision. Then he saw Janette's smiling face above him. She had been teasing him with a strand of her raven hair. "Nicolas, you sleepy-head, lèves-toi." She turned to get up from where she'd been sitting on the bed but suddenly found herself pinned down on the cushions, her mouth ravished by eager lips. She gasped in surprise but quickly regained her composure. She shoved him aside. "Not now, Nicolas." She slipped from his embrace, stood up and smoothed down her dress. He looked up and admired her graceful movements. He remembered the passion they had shared during the day and at the thought his eyes flared gold again. Janette laughed. It was a deep melodious sound that did nothing to lessen his excitement. "Nicolas, it's time to get up. Lacroix will be back soon. Tonight will be something special, your first hunt." He almost jumped out of bed. The moment he had waited for, and dreaded at the same time, had finally come. Up to now, Lacroix had always provided nourishment for him, had hunted alone and brought his prey back to their lodgings. Janette had stayed with him at all times and together they had taught him the principles of his new life. A life in the shadows, in the night. The life of a vampire. Suddenly the door burst open and Lacroix practically flew into the room. "Janette, ma chère, I see you are ready for the big night." "Oui, mon maitre. But it was very difficult to wake him." She had spoken in jest but Lacroix's piercing stare wiped the smile of her face. He cupped her chin with his hand and whispered so low that only she could hear it, "Don't wear him out too much during the day. He needs his wits about him." Janette only nodded and swallowed the reply. Who said it was she who wore him out. Nicholas had finished dressing and greeted his master by kissing Lacroix's ring. "Don't worry, mon protégé, the daylight tires out every young vampire. You will get stronger soon…. Are you ready for your first hunt?" Nicholas swallowed hard. One thing he'd already learned during his first week as a vampire: it was better not to disagree with Lacroix. "Yes, my master. I'm ready." Lacroix gently petted Nicholas's cheek. "Very well then, mon fils, let's go." *** Lacroix led them through the dark streets of Paris, keeping Nicholas close behind him. Although the sky was cloudy and a mortal could hardly have seen far beyond the tip of his nose without a torch, Lacroix kept to the shadows. "Remember, Nicholas, a single mortal is no match for one of us, but if they're allowed to pack together they can become quite hazardous. As long as you're young and inexperienced, it is better to remain hidden. Later you will see that a bolder approach is more satisfying but needs to be prepared carefully." Nicholas found it difficult to pay attention to Lacroix's words. His sharp vampire senses were assaulted with too many sensations at once. He'd spent the last nights with Janette practicing his new gift of flying in the quiet of the woods, and now the noise and the stench of Paris nearly overwhelmed him. Everywhere around him were the enticing sounds of strong human hearts pumping sweet blood. Hunger bolted through him and again the golden haze settled over his vision. He blinked in surprise when he felt Lacroix's hand on his neck. The master vampire shook him harshly and pinned him to the nearest wall. "Listen to me, Nicholas!" the elder one snarled, "Or I'll make you listen. This is vital knowledge, or do you want to end up in a pathetic heap of ash?" Nicholas cast his eyes to the ground. Never before had Lacroix been that harsh with him. "No, Lacroix," he muttered almost inaudibly. Lacroix pointed to one of the buildings on the other side of the road. "You will see, Nicholas, that the most convenient, though not necessarily the easiest, prey are the outcasts of society. They are hardly missed once they are gone. That's a brothel over there. I'm sure we'll find something palatable there." He motioned to Janette that they would be going alone. Janette only nodded. She would find prey on her own and she would enjoy the thrill of the hunt after a week of baby-sitting Nicolas. *** Outside the brothel the women were waiting for customers. Lacroix crossed the street but signaled to Nicholas to remain where he was. Nicholas understood. He was to watch and learn from Lacroix's example. Lacroix picked a slender redhead. He talked to her and Nicholas could see that her eyes glazed over. Slowly Lacroix led her away from the house and back to where Nicholas was waiting. "See, Nicholas, how willingly she followed me? Well, I used a little persuasion to make it more pleasurable for her and thus safer for me. You see, the risk of her screams attracting unwanted attention is too great even out here. Usually I prefer my prey a little more resistant. Fear sweetens the blood much more than willing surrender. At least I think so." Lacroix took the girl's hand and brought her wrist to his lips. She didn't resist, her will having been completely obliterated. "Ah, such a sweet scent. It's a shame really, she's a real treasure. But I think I'm doing her a favor to release her from this life." Lacroix nipped at the girl's wrist and licked up the slight trickle of blood. "You have to appreciate your prey, Nicholas." The girl had closed her eyes and soft moans escaped her lips every time Lacroix drew at the wound. Then he pulled her close, slowly tilted her head to the side and bit deep into the pulsating artery. A look of utter bliss swept over the girl's face until she went limp in Lacroix's arms. Slowly he led her slide to the ground. "Now to the more important lesson tonight. Nicholas, give me your dagger!" Nicholas drew the dagger from his belt and handed it to his master. "It's always necessary to conceal the marks of feeding carefully or you stand a good chance of facing an enraged lynch mob very soon." In a single swift stroke he drew the dagger across the girl's neck, then licked the last remnants of blood from the blade. He handed Nicholas the dagger and pointed back towards the brothel. "It's your turn, mon fils, time to prove that you can provide for yourself." Nicholas swallowed. While watching his master feed, his eyes had turned red with excitement. Now nervousness set in and his knees felt weak. At least that made the vampire in him retreat. "I can't hypnotize people yet, Lacroix. How am I supposed to get her to follow me without making a fuss?" Lacroix chuckled. "You do it the usual way. Give her these…," Lacroix put a couple of coins into Nicholas's palm, " …and I'm sure she'll follow you willingly. And don't underestimate yourself. Nature gave you everything women find attractive." Nicholas smiled although he felt utterly foolish. After all, it wouldn't be the first time he'd bought himself some company. But ever since coming across he felt like a virgin in many ways. He took a deep breath although he didn't need to and crossed the street slowly. Almost immediately the women tried to get his attention. "Hi there, sweetie, need some relaxation?" "I can give it to you cheaper than that bitch." Etc. He ignored their vulgar calls and let his eyes wander. His gaze fixed on a petite blonde who stood half-hidden in the shadows. She was the only one who wasn't trying to lure him. He walked over to her and without speaking gave her some coins. She mustered him carefully, then nodded and licked her lips. She obviously liked what she saw. She put the coins into a small leather purse on her belt and followed him. Lacroix was nowhere to be seen but Nicholas knew he would be watching. "Well, pretty boy, what will it be for you?" She cocked her head coyly, "I think I will even allow you to kiss me." At that he pulled her close and whispered, his voice already hoarse with arousal, "I want it all, everything you are." She laughed throwing her head back thus exposing her throat. His vision focused on the pulsating spot on her neck where the vein beneath the skin was throbbing in a steady rhythm. His vision turned blood-red and he knew his eyes were blazing with a hungry fire. His fangs fell into place. He licked his way from her chin down her neck, nibbling and sucking on the delicate flesh. The girl moaned and clung to him. Then he spun her around and pulled her into a tight embrace. She pressed her body into his and rubbed against him. He brushed her hair aside, slowly tilted her head back, pulling the skin taut. With a snarl he reared his head back, then struck and sank his fangs deep into the soft flesh. The sheer ecstasy of her blood spurting into his mouth, warm and sweeter than everything he had tasted before. No comparison to the unconscious victims Lacroix had supplied. He tasted the whole world in her blood, the rage, disgust and anger at the many men who had had her, and he tasted the lust and delight of being in his arms. He drew heavily and slowly the images faded from her blood as her body became heavy in his arms. When her heart beat the last of her blood into his mouth, he slowly recovered his senses. The last shudder of ecstasy subsided and the world turned from red back to black. He dragged her behind some shrubbery and quickly slit her throat with his dagger. Suddenly Lacroix was beside him again. He looked down on the girl who was nothing more than an empty shell now. "And she went with a smile… Very well done, Nicholas, it seems you're a natural. I commend you on your choice. Just one more thing…," Lacroix wiped some blood from Nicholas's chin and licked it off his fingers, smiling at the taste, ".. make sure you don't make a mess of yourself." Nicholas once more knelt down beside the body and cut the purse off her belt. When Lacroix arched his brows he said, "It will make it look like robbery." "Very good thinking, mon protégé. What will you do with the money?" Nicholas only smiled. He was sure Janette would be very grateful for a gift. In her own special way. -Fin-