Chapter 1

Toronto Canada

The Raven Nightclub Owned by Janette DuCharme

Lucien LaCroix - 2,000 year-old Master Vampire/leader of the Vampire Community of Toronto Considered an Ancient (not the same as the Interview Ancient) Vampire father to Nicholas Knight (deBrabant) and Janette DuCharme
Was a Roman General in the Emperor Nero's Army in his mortal life. Very old and very powerful.

Janette DuCharme 1,000 year-old vampire Vampire Daughter of Lucien LaCroix Vampire sister to Nicholas Knight Wife to Nicholas Knight for 97 years, now divorced

Nicholas Knight - 800 year-old vampire. Vampire son of Lucien LaCroix Fought in the Crusades Wants to be mortal again to atone for his sins. Feels very guilty

Dr. Natalie Lambert - The coroner who is trying to cure him, and who is secretly in love with him.

Donald Schanke Nick's mortal police partner, and best friend.

Javier Vachon A 500 year-old Spanish Conquistador, who is in love with the mortal trainee of Nick and Schank, and she is also the Commissioner's daughter, Tracy Vetter, who knows what Vachon is, but not Nick.

Tracy is not in this chapter.

This was written by me, and two other people on the DS Mailing List, and I want to finish it with their permission already given.

The Raven was busy as usual on what was a supposedly normal night in Toronto. The Raven was an unusual nightclub owned by Janette DuCharme. Its business consisted of both mortals and vampires. The mortals, oblivious to the uniqueness that surrounded them. Janette DuCharme was a 1,000 year-old vampire, whose beauty was legend. Leonardo DaVinci had painted her portrait, and the portrait now graced the Raven. Her vampire father, Lucien LaCroix, had remarked she was so beautiful that DaVinca could not capture it on canvass. Janette was a tall slender raven-haired elegant vampire from the Renaissance. LaCroix had saved her from a brothel, and they had been together ever since. The vampire bartender, Miklos, had noticed an unusual mortal in the crowd. She was a red-haired attractive woman in her early to mid-40's. She seemed to be watching LaCroix's kid, Nick Knight. Nick was brought over by LaCroix in 1228, a Knight of the Crusades. Miklos was concerned enough about her behavior to mention it to Janette.

 Janette walked over to the red-haired woman, and the red-haired woman was stunned by the beautiful vampire. She had never seen anyone, that she could remember as beautiful as the woman who stood before her now.

"You seem to be looking for someone" Janette asked in her broken French accent.

"I am looking for Dr. Natalie Lambert, and the Coroner's Office where she was supposed to be, said I might could find her here.

"Well, that is not likely," replied Janette softly.

"Who is that?' the red-haired woman asked? "That is Detective Nicholas Knight of the Toronto Police Department."
 said Janette.

"Oh, do you think he would know where to find Dr. Lambert? I understand she knows him quite well, " said the woman.

"Well, it is a possibility. Might I ask who you are, and why you are looking for Dr. Lambert? asked Janette.

"I am Dr. Julia Hoffman from Collinsport, Maine. I had heard of some unusual research she was doing. And it might be of help to a patient of mine," replied Dr. Hoffman.

Janette arched one of her gracefully fine eyebrows. Doctor Julia Hoffman. A name that was well known in her world. She smiled politely at the woman.

"Enchante Doctor. Is Barnabas well?" She asked. Startled, Julia nodded as she wondered when and where her handsome vampire lover had met the beautiful French woman.

"I met Barnabas in Paris many many years ago. I was married and devoted to my husband," Janette said,as her eyes strayed to where Nick was standing with his partner Don Schanke.

"Are you married still?" Julia asked.

"No. But we are still close," She said.

"Oh, I see." Julia said.

"Come Doctor. I will introduce you to Detective Nick Knight," Janette said with her customary distance dropping to something close to being genuine warmth. Julia followed the dark haired woman vampire to where Nick and Schanke were making small talk with Miklos.

Nick, where did Janet go?" asked Schanke.

"She's over there talking to some woman. And if I were you Schank, I wouldn't let her hear me call her Janet." replied the handsome vampire detective, Nick Knight.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, you're right, " said an agitated Schanke as he noticed LaCroix' approach.

"There comes that creepy Nightcrawler guy. I know you're related, but he gives me the creeps, " said Schanke in a whisper, unaware that probably every vampire in the room could hear him.

LaCroix changed his route before approaching the two detectives, and walked over to the two women, who by now seemed engrossed in conversation. LaCroix's curiosity was piqued.

Janette made the introductions, an LaCroix and Dr. Hoffman exchanged pleasantries. Upon learning that the two ladies knew Barnabas Collins, Julia inquired of LaCroix if he knew of Barnabas.

"Collins, you say. I don't know Barnabas Collins, but I do know of a Quentin Collins. Do you suppose they are related, Doctor?" asked LaCroix.

"Yes," replied Dr. Hoffman, "they are cousins. Now, might I ask you when you were in Collinsport?"

"I don't recall." answered LaCroix in a very soft and sensuous voice.

Julia Hoffman was definitely listening carefully. "Then might I ask where you met Quentin Collins?" the doctor pressed on.

"Of course. My dear doctor, I had the good fortune of meeting Quentin Collins in Alexandria, Egypt. He was with a beautiful blonde, he introduced as his sister-in-law." the voice of this very imposing man was saying. Julia was mesmerized by Lucien LaCroix.

Janette was getting disturbed by what was happening, not wanting to anger her father, but not wanting this to get out of hand, she reached out and touched his shoulder with her slender graceful hand, and said "LaCroix!"

The entrance of Barnabas Collins did not go unnoticed by the patrons of the The Raven. The usual noise of the Raven was replaced by a hush, as the patrons parted the way for the tall, dark-haired vampire to pass. He had an aristocratic air about him. His chiseled features were handsome, and his hair stylishly long Janette looked at him appreciatively as he was approaching Dr. Julia Hoffman. She noticed that LaCroix had left his broadcasting table, and walked to the window of the booth staring at the stranger causing the hushed silence. A smile on his face, watching to see what would occur, Janette walked over to the band, and instructed the long-haired Spaniard to play something. The tinkling music of Josette's Theme resounded throughout the club. The powerful amplifiers amplified the strains of a song from long ago, giving it a haunting sound.

Barnabas turned swiftly, and was immediately met with the smiling face of Janette DuCharme.