Plot Twists (2/3)
by Sandra Gray
Place: The loft
Time: Thursday, July 12, 2001, later in the afternoon
after "Plot Twists (1/3)
Everyone used with permission

Note: LaCroix is in Nick's body.  Just remember that
'coz I just can't call LaCroix "Nickbody." :)


LaCroix took inward pleasure at using his vampire agility
and strength to hold himself upright.  None of these
absurd women was going to bring him down.  He held his
ground even as he became more entangled with the other
players.

"Hey, Nick's playing Twister," said Kristin.

*So young,* thought LaCroix, eyeing the young Knightie.
She was tall and thin, with long, dark blonde hair and
brown eyes.  In another time, Nicholas would have relished
that young flesh.  *I could relish it.*  He wondered what
her name was.

At that moment, Brooksie lost her footing and plunged to
the mat, taking the other two women with her.  LaCroix
laughed a Nicholas laugh as he stood, inwardly smug at his
triumph.  He turned to see several other Knighties had
entered the room.

"Oh, can I play?" asked Tracey.  "It'd be a good way to
see if my yoga sessions are paying off."

"Me too?" said Gemsong.

More voices chimed in.

"Sure.  We can take turns," said Katrinka.  "That's okay with
you, right Nick?"

*Please no,* thought LaCroix.  He kept a small smile on his
face.  Katrinka was looking expectantly at him.  He looked
around at the hopeful faces of Nicholas' followers.  Turning
his gaze back to Katrinka, he said, "Okay."

Katrinka picked three new players, calling them by name.
*At least I'll get to know their names,* thought LaCroix.
Some of them he remembered from previous wars, but there were
new followers he did not recognize.  Katrinka spun the arrow
and started a new game.  In a short while, LaCroix emerged
victorious again.  A new game with new players began.
LaCroix soon was gaining the upper hand--er, foot--over his
opponents again.  One or two more moves and...

Katrinka frowned at LaCroix and tapped on the cardboard.
"Someone's not playing fair!" she said.

"What?" asked LaCroix, wondering if he had been found out.  He
forgot to hold a Nicholas expression, but, unbeknownst to him,
wound up wearing his son's typical innocent look.

"Nick!" chided Katrinka.

LaCroix rolled his eyes upward.  *Of course.  Nicholas would
even the field.*  "Sorry," he said, favoring the woman with a
"forgive me" smile.  Katrinka smiled back.  Then she spun the
dial and said,

"Right foot red."

LaCroix held back on his powers.  He fell first, and the
three players fell on top of him.

Many mind-numbing games later, LaCroix had had enough.
*Nicholas' job!* he thought suddenly.  He glanced at the watch
on Eowyn's arm.  Surely Nicholas would be starting to get
ready for work by now.  Surreptitiously taking two of his
opponents with him, he plunged to the mat, ending the game.
As they all got up, he said, "Enough."  He laughed a Nicholas
laugh.

Katrinka indulgently decided that Nick had been a good sport.
But she couldn't resist seeing him on the mat one last time.
"Puppy pile!" she shouted.

*Puppy pile?* thought LaCroix.  Every Knightie in the room
launched herself at him.  He slipped to the mat, buried by the
women, who were all pushing in to give him a huge hug.  The
display of Knightie affection left him speechless and thoughtless.

to be continued...


--Sandra Gray, forever Knightie
--sandragray@rica.net