ACT II
A brilliant white light greeted Nicholas de Brabant as the pain of the
stake in his back and heart was replaced by a sense of peace, safety and
warmth he hadn't felt in over 800 years. As he lay there, trying to assess
his surroundings, it became apparent he was not alone. Sitting up, he saw
Natalie next to him. The quiet, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest
reassured him she was only sleeping.
Her soft brown hair was draped over her shoulders. She looked so peaceful.
Gently, he brushed aside the locks covering her neck, expecting to find
confirmation of hazy memories. The area of her neck he had "kissed" was
uninjured. Somehow, he was not surprised.
Natalie stirred and called his name as she began to waken. "Shh...Nat, It's
ok. It's me, Nick. Natalie, wake up." He spoke in a soft, comforting
voice. He stroked her face, and she reached for his hand as she opened her
eyes.
His ocean blue eyes were the first thing she saw as she awoke. She smiled
in recognition and started to sit up. "Nick? What happened? Where are we?"
She looked around. Everything was white. There was no end to the room they
were in. There were no doors, no windows.
Nick was excited. "It's exactly as you said it would be. I'm here with you,
Nat. We're together."
She closed her eyes in remembrance of the last moments in Nick's apartment.
She could remember him holding her, kissing her, and then...nothing. "What
happened?" she asked Nick. "How did we get here?"
"I took too much, Nat. I couldn't stop myself. And I couldn't condemn you
to the life I have despised for so long."
"But?" she started.
Nick cut her off. "I know, I know, but I couldn't bring myself to sentence
you to the darkness I have lived with for over 800 years. You were willing
to believe in me. You dared to take a chance on me with your life. At the
moment I thought I lost you, everything you said about faith made sense. It
all came together. Lacroix came in just as I laid you on the floor. He p
ushed me to decide to bring you across. I couldn't. Your voice kept ringing
in my ears. 'You must have faith, Nick.' I wondered, could it be possible
that I, a vampire for all these years, still have faith? Lacroix kept at
me, telling me it was time to leave and start again. But I couldn't leave
you behind. He kept telling me it was foolishness, this faith. But there
you were on the floor in front of me, a product of your faith in me. I knew
then I did have that faith, Natalie, to believe in you and your belief that
we would be together, forever, no matter how it ended. I asked Lacroix to
finish me once and for all. You took a chance on me; I had to take that
chance on you."
Natalie looked at him in disbelief. "You mean he??"
Nick beamed at her and nodded. "Uh, huh. And I can show you where my back
is still sore."
She stared at him, trying to comprehend what he had just told her. She
could not imagine Lacroix taking his beloved son's life. But here they
were, and the excitement and love in Nick's eyes told her it did happen.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
At that moment, it occurred to them that they were not alone. Standing
before them was a figure clad in white and gold. He had the figure of a
human, though later Natalie and Nick would not be able to agree on whether
it was male or female, tall or short, thin or heavy. All they would agree
on was that the strange entity's presence was overpowering.
"Neither of you belong here." The mysterious figure said, obviously upset.
"This was a big mistake. The timing is all wrong."
Nick stood, holding Natalie's hand. "Who are you? What is this place?"
"I am who I am," was the cryptic reply. "This place is where it should be,
but you are not." It stared at them shaking its head. "It is way too early
for either of you to be here. You should be here much, much later. This is
wrong."
"What are you talking about?" Natalie questioned nervously as she rose to
stand next to Nick. "Why should we be here later?"
"Both of you belong here, yes, but not now. This is not right," the ghostly
figure kept repeating. "You both have too much to do. Things haven't
happened yet. People to care for. Family."
"What are you saying?" Nick demanded, trying to make sense out of this
creature in front of them. "Where should we be?"
"Hush now! Must think. Must plan how to get you back to where you belong."
It paused and looked upward. "How long have they been here?" The figure
appeared to be listening to an answer. Then it nodded and smiled in
understanding. "Yes, yes, I can do that. Yes, I can take you back." It
looked at the very confused Nick and Natalie. "You need to come with me,
now!" The being ordered.
"Wait a minute," Natalie practically screamed at him. "We are not going
anywhere until you explain a few things. Where are we? What do you mean,
you're taking us back?"
The strange figure motioned them through a door that appeared out of
nowhere. "I will tell you what I can, but we must hurry. Time is short.
GO!"
End Act 2
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