Subj: The Rainbow Bridge Pt.3
Date: 1/30/00 3:13:32 PM Central Standard Time
From: marcos1

Willie Loomis sat in a dark corner of the Boars head Pub. He was waiting for his friend, Nicholas Blair to arrive. Nicholas was really more like a brother than a friend. Many years ago, Hubert Loomis, Willie's father, had found a baby wrapped in onyx colored cloth. The baby was on the front steps to the Loomis families cottage. Attached to the baby was a note: Please take care of Nicholas. I have heard that you have a loving heart. I would keep him, but can not. His very birth would label him a fire-brand. And because of that, he would never be allowed to grow into the powerful man, that I know, is his destiny. So it is kismet, that I leave him with you. Love him as your own son. Many blessings upon you--Isabella Blair.
So,Nicholas and Willie weren't brothers by blood, but forever connected because of the love of a family.

"Willie," Nicholas said smiling, as he walked past the nervous patrons of the drinking establishment, "Like I said earlier, there is much to discuss." He sat down. The waiter brought him a mug of mead.

"Did you go there, huh," Willie whispered, "underground to the Darkling World?"

"I did," Nicholas replied, "and it was interesting beyond my wildest dreams."

Willie sipped his cup of mead. He listened with a glow in his eyes.

~~

Collinwood-deep underground in the Darkling Kingdom

"When do you think my gentleman friend shall return?" Millicent Collins asked. She was sitting in the drawing room sipping blood tea. "I just know that he shall...." She giggled nervously. "Then he shall ask cousin Joshua, if he may marry me."

Naomi Collins sat quietly and listened. She just wasn't sure about the stranger. He had seemed nice. But would he really be interested in Millicent? She didn't seem his type at all. Could he be trusted? She drank her blood wine and sat on the ugly green divan.

"He had better not," Joshua said, walking into the room. Naomi almost spilled her drink, when he entered. She didn't expect him home so soon from the nightly hunt. "We know little to nothing about this man," he added, "except that he isn't a vampire...nor a member of any known warlock clan. I suspect that he is a mere fortune hunter, looking to use a lonely, simple minded vampire female to serve his own ends."

"Joshua," Naomi said, "I think you owe cousin Millicent an apology."

Millicent burst into angry tears, "there is no need to apologize at all. Nicholas Blair loves me very much. He shall return to marry me. And I don't care what Joshua says...vampire and warlock can marry. Nicholas is my dark prince. We will live happily ever after. I just know it." She ran out of the room.

"She is a fool," Joshua said. He sat down on his chair, wiping blood from his hands with a damp towel. "It was a good hunt. We caught two villagers, a man and woman. Ben is preparing to draw their blood right now. We should have a good meal, before dawn and our resting."

~~~

In the barn, Ben Stokes sharpened his knife on the rotating stone. It was important to have the blade very sharp, in order to make the proper cut. The cut must be very exact, because the food must be kept alive for as long as possible.

"Please I beg you," Nathan Forbes said, "release us. I'm an officer in Pop's navy. I have money and power." The handsome man was wearing only tattered clothes, torn and stained with blood. He had fought long and hard with Joshua, but he was no match for vampire strength and speed.

Suki Forbes leaned against the bars. She licked her lips. "Surely, there is some pleasure that I can offer you for our freedom. I know every inch of a man and how to make him, moan with pleasure."

"Sorry, Miss...not interested," Ben said, feeling the sharp edge of the knife. It was ready. A small drop of blood fell from his finger. "The only way I can keep Mr. Joshua from feeding on me...is to be his loyal servant. Besides, a human doesn't live long down in the Darkling kingdom...even if one could escape--"

"Ben," Millicent said, throwing open the barn doors. She had been crying. Her face was red and her eyes swollen and puffy.

"What is it, Miss Millicent?" Ben asked. "Has Mr. Joshua been mean again to you?" Ben felt his heart rise up into his throat. He secretly loved Millicent, but knew he'd never be anything but a nice servant to her.

"He has," Millicent said. "He said my handsome gentleman doesn't love me. That he won't come back to marry me."

"Miss," Ben said, "I warned you about that myself. Blair seems too much of a dandy, to marry anyone. Mr. Joshua is probably right about him. He won't come back." Ben looked around for his blood buckets and couldn't find them. The buckets were probably up at the main house. He looked at Millicent. She had thrown herself down on a pile of hay. She
was sobbing. He had to say something. It bothered him to see her hurting. "But Miss...old Ben could be wrong. Maybe
Blair will come back."

"Do you really think so?" Millicent asked, looking up from the bed of hay.

"Aye, I do," Ben replied with a touch of humor in his voice. "What gentleman wouldn't come back for a lady as lovely as you."

"Thank you, Ben," Millicent said, drying her eyes. "Funny, I'm starting to feel hungry now. When will the blood buckets be ready?"

"Must be up at the house," Ben said. "Do you mind staying here and watching the food, while I get them?" He walked towards the door and turned around. "Not that those animals are going any where. That cage is locked and the key is hanging on the far wall. They can't reach it."

"That is not a problem," Millicent said. She smoothed out her long blond hair. "The male food is rather pretty. I won't mind watching him." She eyed Nathan hungrily.

"Thank you, Miss," Ben said as he walked towards the great house.

Nathan looked hard at the female vampire. He knew that he only had one chance. His time was running out. "I know Nicholas Blair and --" he said with a pause.

"What do you know about him?" Millicent asked. "You are nothing but grunge food. How could you possibility know about a darkling?"

"I know him very well," Nathan replied. "And if you let me go, I'll find him. And make sure he returns to you."

"But cousin Joshua will be very mad, if I let you go," Millicent said. She smiled slightly. "You are probably just lying anyway...most food doesn't want to be eaten."

Nathan thought for a moment. He remembered a fable told to school children. Who knows? It might work with this creature. She doesn't seem that smart, rather stupid actually. Nathan smiled broadly. "But I want to be drained of all my blood. In fact, I've dreamed of it, all of my life."

"No, surely you jest," Millicent said. "All living things want to live. I don't know why...but that is always the way it is."

"I don't," Nathan said, adding, "and my father didn't and neither did his father. We dream of being fed upon by Darklings. It has been and always will be...the goal of our lives." He moved closer to the bars, exposing his neck. "Feed on me now...please. Of course, then, I won't be able to find Nicholas. But then I'm sure he'll come back on his own. You are such a beautiful vampire."

Suki smiled, "yes, let us go. We will find Nicholas for you."

"I don't know," Millicent said. She paused thinking a moment. "If I let you go, will you promise to come back, after you find him?"

"Of course," Nathan said. "I wouldn't miss being your food for anything in the world." He smiled. "But please let me tell you something in private. Come closer." Millicent moved close to the bars. "Closer." He whispered something into her ear.

A moment later, Millicent opened the iron cell and released him. But when Suki tried to leave, she pushed her back into the cage. "Why?" Suki cried. "Why don't you release me, too?"

"You don't want to be food. And so you won't come back," Millicent replied. "Your husband Nathan told me."

"He is lying!" Suki said. "Lying about everything...the bastard."

But it was too late. Nathan Forbes had already left, searching for a tunnel to the surface. He thought about the story. It was called 'The Tar Baby'. He was glad his Aunt had told him, that one. Very glad.

To be continued