Timeless (8a/?) by Elisa P. Black "Nicholas," LaCroix' voice whispered mockingly from the darkness. Nick tried to get up and prepare for whatever his master might throw at him. It was impossible; his muscles felt like jelly and he appeared to be strapped down. "What are you dreaming, Nicholas?" He tried to speak, but his mouth wouldn't move. "What do you want, Nicholas?" Suddenly, LaCroix' glowing eyes appeared inches above his face, seeming slowly to light the blackness around them. "Oh, you do have such a vivid imagination, my boy." He found himself staring helplessly into the brightness of those eyes. In their relentless glare, he somehow found a mortal heartbeat rising, tramping, whirling into the march of many feet. All of a sudden, he found himself sitting up ramrod straight, yet still unable to move a muscle. An army of toy soldiers marched towards the right about a foot in front of him and finally came to a halt before LaCroix. He almost laughed at the sight of his master turning each of the toys into a vampire. When they had all been brought across, LaCroix cried, "To the right, march!" The scene changed to that of a bright cheery neighborhood made of dollhouses. The vampiric soldiers ran amuck, attacking pretty female and male dolls along with other residents like the spare teddy bear. Screams filled the air, and suddenly, it was all very real. He was sitting up in a hospital bed in the middle of the street, unable to intervene in any way. He could only watch as a real live soldier-vampire took first the Schankes', then Nat. NO! Schanke, Natalie, no! He struggled harder to free himself from the invisible bonds but to no avail. All his cursed vampiric strength and he couldn't use it to save his friends. Every victim looked at him, accusing silently, damning him. He moaned. Instinctive guilt washed over him. No, this was *not* his fault. He pushed it away and found himself jumping up. "No! I didn't do it! I'm not guilty!" LaCroix looked down at his sleeping son and smiled. The dear boy was thrashing about in agony. It was so nice to know that Nick dreamed of him. "Soon, Nicholas," he whispered to the his unhearing son. "Soon you will learn the true meaning of anguish." End of Part 8a