Nature or Nurture Ch. 51-56

'It really does hurt a lot, but Catherine was almost in shock, she is so afraid they'll scar my face even worse. And they probably will, but what can we do except hope for the best?'

Since Victor and Adison don't know either, they don't say anything, Victor trying to work carefully, and Adison holding her beloved's hand to support him.

In no more than twenty minutes the door opens and closes, and Mina comes in, looking more than a bit tired, followed by Lukas, who is as cheerful as ever. He goes straight for Adison, bends over her and gives her a hug like he did a week ago, and this time the difference is profound. Her face clears instantly, and she doesn't even check herself from kissing him full on the mouth, somehow that is a logical consequence of what he gave her.

He smiles his broadest smile, then excuses himself to turn to Vincent, taking his hands and asking, 'What happened to you my dear friend? You look like you've been through Hell and back, your Hell, ours is just nasty and grey and boring, not fiery and hot like yours.

Will you let me help you? You'll be fit for the stage again tomorrow.'

As Vincent nods his assent and adds, 'Yes, please, it hurts a lot, and I don't mind scarring elsewhere, but I'd like to keep my face as whole as it still is,' Lukas straddles him shamelessly, then strokes some of the scars on Vincent's bare chest.

'You look like you have been through a lot, Vincent, I'm sorry to see you got hurt so often,' totally ignoring the shudder that runs through the large man as he touches the scars on his chest.

'Adison, are you well enough to watch what I'm doing? I'm sure you can do it yourself if you've seen me do it once, but if you feel in any way unwell, it can wait a little longer.'

His nimble fingers are still caressing Vincent absently, but somehow Adison does not feel the need to warn him of the possible consequences, somehow it is clear that Lukas knows, and doesn't mind any reaction he might get. Imagining him being thrown over Vincent's shoulder and taken to the bathroom, or the fourposter, is kind of funny, the first moment of relaxation she has known since their return.

As soon as Adison has told Lukas she is ready to witness what he is doing, he touches Vincent carefully among the burns, then lights up an incredible lot. The power Lukas has available is difficult to imagine, if Adison had to describe it she'd say he was as powerful as a god. And none of it shows until he uses it.

In Vincent, she can see the flow and the red stuff and the floating shapes she has seen before, and Lukas explains.

'The red is the blood flow, the squares repair stuff, so I'm increasing the bloodflow to the affected bits, and some extra squares, some damaged bits here, see?'

And though his explanation is rather incomprehensible, Melissa was right that he is not very ordered in his language, his actions speak for themselves, and Adison finds that she kind of feels what he means, and thinks she could emulate him.

Pretty soon he says, 'Done,' and takes her back with him to the reality of their kitchen. There she sees him kiss Vincent very enthusiastically, as if he wanted to do that for some time, Vincent leaning into that kiss as if he wanted to do it as much. Well, Adison can image that, she really enjoyed kissing Lukas, such a sweet guy, and so happy to get a little love.

The result of Lukas' healing is stunning, there is absolutely no sign of the burns anymore besides pink new skin where they have healed completely. Catherine and Sir Malcolm are back of course, they have probably witnessed the whole thing, and Lukas immediately shakes hands with Sir Malcolm and introduces himself.

Sir Malcolm introduces himself as Mina's father, which he is of course, but Adison still sees him as Victor's employer, not his father-in-law. He admits to being stunned by all the things he has witnessed today, but he is clearly relieved to see a happy end to this nasty business.

'Please let me take a share of the hassle, you've saved me from a horrible fate at that woman's hands, if indeed that was a woman, and I'd like to return the favour. Let me take the body from the practice, I'll put it somewhere credible, so no-one will think twice about it being left there.'

And since neither of them has a clue what to do with it, they let him take it and gladly.

Mina and Victor see him out, and Lukas walks over to Catherine and holds out his arms to her. She is in them in a fraction of a second, crying, and he holds her close and rocks her like a baby. He murmurs a little song to her in a beautiful flowing language neither of them understands, Greek probably, and then he asks the girl gently, 'Do you want me to take your fear away, Catherine? I can do that, though I'd need your parent's permission, since you are still so young.'

He sits down with her, still holding her tightly, and Adison doesn't even feel he's taking over her job, this is not just a reaction to tonight, but months of fear and stress unloading after the battle has finally been won. This is a job for a professional, and to Adison it is clear that Lukas is the real thing, the ultimate healer.

He looks at Vincent first, who nods, and then at Adison, who does the same, and then he lights up again, there is something going on, but it does not make a sound at all. When he is done, they just sit together for some time, and he strokes her hair and kisses her on her chubby cheeks.

'You'll remember everything, but it will be just a memory, it will not have any power over you. Now please try not to worry so much, let mum and dad do that for you, all right? And if you ever need me again, call me as you did tonight, I'll hear you. And no-one will laugh at you for wanting to play with toys, it completely normal for a girl your age. Kiss me?'

He gets a kiss on both cheeks, and a very tight hug.

'I'm off now, you get a good night's sleep, Paul and Melissa will be anxiously waiting to hear whether everything is all right. They were worried when I told them you had called for me, Paul had felt a lot of magic being used, and we knew about your little plan. We'll hear the story when you fetch the bicycles.'

They see him off together, and to their immense surprise he does not unlock a bicycle, apparently he has walked over.

'Where is your bicycle?' Vincent asks, 'did you forget to lock it?'

'No,' is the answer, 'I came on foot, it's quicker. I only ride a bicycle to be sociable, when I'm alone I always run. Ask Mina, she's fast, she almost kept up.

Good night now!'

And off he is, in a blur, leaving them rubbing their eyes, wondering if this all really happened. But they are sure it did, the two adults still taste his kiss on their tongues, and Catherine is exuberant, her worries and fears have been laid to rest on the same night they took out her enemy, and now she can finally enjoy being a child for a change.

'I'm tired,' she says, 'can we go to bed? We'll ask Mina tomorrow.'

And since they all agree on that, they say good night to their dear friends and turn in, Catherine drifting off as soon as her little body touches the bed, and Vincent and Adison staying awake just long enough to hold each other close, feeling the person they love best in the world against them, both free of pain and fear.

Adison awakes early the next morning, ready to open the practice, but as she visits the privy she is intercepted by Victor, who offers to take her patients that morning to allow her to sleep in. Since she would like that very much, she accepts gratefully, and quickly gets back into bed, snuggling against her big man with a relish.

Too bad they almost never get to make love in the mornings anymore, Catherine always wakes early, and though she generally dozes off again, they cannot expect her to sleep through that kind of action.

Still, it isn't such a hardship, with the current enemy dealt with and the house warded, she will probably want to start sleeping in her own little room soon, and they'll have a little more freedom. And besides, she's so sweet and cute, Adison wouldn't go back to living without her for the world. Sometimes she even wonders how it would be to carry a child of her own.

But that is probably not going to happen, still, she can stop taking those Chinese herbs, maybe she will be surprised. Not without talking to Vincent first, though, maybe he doesn't want another child at all.

By now, Vincent has turned around to face her, and he is kissing her and stroking her with heat. 'You are the most beautiful woman in the world,' he says, sleepily, 'and the most wonderful one. I'm so glad you found me.'

Their sounds wake Catherine, who can see that something is brewing, and climbs out of her bed.

'This girl knows when to make herself scarce. I take it Victor is seeing your patients?'

Adison is not going to insult her intelligence by denying their eagerness to make love, so she answers truthfully.

'He offered, yes. You're going to join him?'

'Well, I'm certainly not going to join you!' she says, more like a thirteen year old than a chubby toddler, but then, this is Catherine.

'See you in an hour or so!' and then she adds, softly, 'enjoy, you've earned it.'

She dresses herself, climbs on the bed to give them both a heartfelt kiss, then leaves.

Before the sound of the door closing has faded, Adison is crushed by a very large and heavy body on top of hers. Her heart skips a beat, and she feels a distinct heat rising inside her, he certainly woke up quickly. She feels so loved, and so safe, surrounded by her beloved, his body on top of hers, his mouth exploring her neck and her face eagerly, his eyes on her with pure lust.

'I know I told you already that you are the most beautiful woman in the world,' his voice is decidedly husky now, his hands joining the exploration of her flesh, 'but I want to tell you again: you are the most beautiful woman in the world.'

Between kisses, Adison replies, 'Thank you. You're kind of hot yourself.'

He smiles sweetly, the new skin on his face and chest where the burns were already less pink, less visible against his white skin. Strange how that works, his new skin is exactly the colour of other people's new skin. But somehow it turns white after a few days.

A pair of yellow eyes breaks her musings, and the husky voice complains, 'You're studying me, I'm not your patient this time, only my doctor may study me like that.'

'Your doctor yesterday evening didn't look or act as if he wanted to study you, my gorgeous beastie, he looked as if he wanted to kiss you, like this.'

And she kisses him hungrily, feeling him respond with eager tension.

'And then he wanted to tease you, like this.'

She runs her hands through his hair, brushing the scar on his temple tantalizingly, making him nearly burst with anticipation, the veins in his neck swelling, his breathing quick and shallow, his expression one of total exhilaration.

'Then when you were totally at his mercy,' she continues, and he shows her he is, her servant, her slave, as long as she keeps touching him, 'he planned to turn you loose.'

Tracing the scar with her hand she is instantly overwhelmed by the creature's immense physical strength, and as she gives herself up to him, enjoying the total release of fear and tension that he always manages to give her, she slowly starts to realize something is different.

Her creature is always slightly needy, aware somehow that he is the underdog, only allowed out when Adison sets him loose, or Vincent can no longer hold him. But not now, this gorgeous wild lover is not on the loose, taking what is offered to him, his dominance a game they play until he is back under control, this time he is the one pulling the strings, and he gives her an ecstasy she has not tasted before, a combination of roughness and intense tenderness, bewildering at first, but so incredibly hot that he has her panting and moaning in total bliss, actually begging him for more, offering herself to his ministrations with relish.

They crash together, totally spent, out of breath, sated with love and with passion. Adison lies on top of Vincent, kissing him gently.

'If that is being overwhelmed without warning, you can do it to me anytime. I was as shameless as a cat in heat. I'll never think of myself as a civilized being again, you made me behave like savage, and love it.'

'This was just a little taste of what is yet to come. You started it, remember?'

He smiles at the memory, that was so good!

'Next time you will not see it coming, and then you'll know everything the creature has to offer you with me not holding him back, but backing him up.'

'I'm looking forward to it,' Adison says, and she stays on top of him for a little longer, then they shower and dress, ready to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before Vincent has to walk to the theatre for rehearsals.

When he gets back just before dinner, after his first teaching appointment with Lord Douglas, he is wearing a brand new coat.

At Adison's inquiring look he says, 'I got some weird looks at the theatre, I suppose they all have several winter coats in case one gets burned and torn by a witch, but no-one commented on its sorry state. Then when I got in the carriage, Lord Douglas picked me up at the theatre himself, he looked at me that same way, but he didn't hesitate to ask what happened to it.

I told him it got damaged by fire, and he clearly didn't believe that. He gazed at my face intently, those burn spots are still a tiny bit visible, then drove off without saying anything else. But it turned out he didn't drive to his home, but to his own tailor, a very clever chap who keeps several models in several sizes in stock, then adapts them to his client's figure on the spot.

Lord Douglas told me to choose a model, and he'd buy me the coat in exchange for that day's lesson. I objected, for those coats must be very expensive, but he didn't take no for an answer, he said he could afford it and he wanted me to have it. I gave up and picked a model, but the tailor objected in his turn and had me try this one on as well, and he was right, this one looks much better than the one I chose.

He didn't have to adjust much, apparently I don't have that extraordinary a figure, so we were done rather quickly, and had a good trip to Lord Douglas' home and an even better practise session. I enjoyed myself hugely, it's such a treat to teach someone that advanced.

I couldn't refuse a glass of excellent wine afterwards, and Mr Wilde didn't show the entire time. The young Lord asked me how well I knew the craftsmaster's apprentice, and I told him not very well, which is true. I think he is truly smitten, his expression became positively soft when he described how shy the boy had been, and how sweet.

It was pretty difficult to play the fool, I rather like him, but I can't very well tell him Lukas isn't half as shy as he looks. The way Lukas kissed me yesterday, Adison, somehow he does turn me on a lot, and I'd swear he knows it and encourages me.'

Adison can't resist his helpless look as he tells this, so she admits, 'I feel the same way, Vincent, I'm afraid we're just two among his numerous victims. He's not like Dorian, it's not a spell, he just has a very enticing personality. As proven by Lord Douglas' reaction to him.'

Vincent feels some relief, he truly loves Adison, why does he feel desire for other people? First Mina, now Lukas, what is wrong with him? He decides to ask Adison, he doesn't want any secrets between the two of them, and she replies with a smile.

'I think that is just natural, love, you're very passionate, loving people makes you want to love them physically. But if that makes you bad, I'm no better, for I'd make love to Victor in a second if he offered, which of course he won't. And I kind of like the looks and feel of Lukas myself, not to love as I love you, but to make love to sometimes...I wouldn't say no.'

'In that case, I will not feel as guilty anymore. We'll just enjoy his friendship as far as it takes us, and hope for Lord Douglas he doesn't break his heart over a shy Greek boy.

Now I'm presentable once more, let's go to the theatre tonight! I feel like having some fun together, celebrate our victory.'

Catherine comes in with Victor and Mina, and she practically throws herself at her father, who lifts her high and hugs her tightly. Her delicious cheeks just need to be kissed, and he gets more than a few kisses himself.

'Is that a new coat?' she asks, spying the heap of black cloth hanging over the back of a chair.

'It is, I wanted to show it to you before I put it away. Lord Douglas kidnapped me to his tailor when he saw my old one. It was a disgrace, but I didn't have time to order a new one before I left for the theatre. This one is much nicer, though.

He puts it on, and Catherine's eyes shine.

'It's beautiful dad, you look great in it. As tall as Sir Malcolm. You know I used to dislike him, I thought he looked mean, but he was very nice to me yesterday, when I was scared about you two and Victor and Mina were busy. Oh, sorry Mina, I forgot he is your father. I shouldn't have called him mean.'

'No offence, Catherine, I've thought him mean-looking at times,' Mina laughs, 'you're so cute I could even forgive you if you called Victor mean.'

Catherine acts shocked, and runs at Victor, taking his hand and accepting a few kisses from him, returning them with a relish.

'I'd never call Victor mean, he's so handsome, and cute. I love him! He should buy such a nice coat too, he'd look ravishing.'

'He'd be broke,' Victor retorts, 'have you any idea what such a thing costs? Next time you decide to go witch-hunting, or blade-catching, Vincent, wear the old one.'

'Can't,' Vincent admits, 'Lord Douglas insisted on the tailor throwing it out. He did it with pleasure, he was very outspoken anyway, wanted me to wear a camel coat, said black washed me out.'

They all laugh at Vincent's comment, but he adds, 'If it is really that expensive, I'd better buy a cheap one to wear to dubitable occasions, I'd hate to have to face Lord Douglas with this one all cut up or shot full of holes.'

'Don't say that, Vincent,' Adison almost whispers. 'I don't ever want you in danger again. I love you and I want you to be safe.'

'We are all safe now,' he says soothingly, embracing her with the beautiful coat still on, wrapping it around her, a safe haven for his precious girl, 'tonight we'll go to the theatre, have some fun, and next week I want to go to one of those dances with you. Catherine will be safe at Sir George's, very confusing to have two Georges in our acquaintance all of a sudden, they even look a bit alike. Though George Alexander hasn't got a clue about children, I'd never leave Catherine with him. She'd wrap him around her finger in minutes.'

And from the look in her eyes, that is exactly what she would do.

'And now I want to know about your fetching Lukas yesterday night, he told us to ask, Mina,' Vincent says.

'You will not believe me when I tell you what happened, but I'll tell you anyway. I ran in the direction Victor told me to, as fast as I could, which you know is very fast, especially with your blood strengthening me. About halfway down, I ran into Lukas, he was coming towards me, and if he hadn't recognized me and slowed down, I swear I would not have seen him at all. He was a kind of blur.

He smiled at me in that way of his, and told me he was on his way because Catherine had called for him. Can you believe that? Then he told me to try and keep up and ran off, not blurring this time, I think this was his leisurely pace to be sociable and stay with me. I managed, but I was worn out by the time we arrived.

That's it, you know the rest.'

'I did, you know. I did call for him,' Catherine says, 'when I saw the damage in dad's face, and mum didn't respond anymore, I panicked, and called out for him. How could he have heard that? That's not possible, is it?'