La Femme Samhain
by Kim Colley
copyright (c) 1998
copyright (c) 1998
DISCLAIMERS: La Femme Nikita and its characters are the property of USA Networks, Joel Surnow, Warner Bros., etc. No copyright infringement intended, all rights reserved. Now, on with the story, such as it is:
DING DONG!
"Trick or treat!"
Paul opened his front door, then grimaced in disgust. He set the bowl of candy back down on the hallway table and shut the door in the faces of the impudent trick-or-treaters.
"Honestly," he thought. "Some people need to get a life."
He harrumphed his way back to the easy chair, settled in, and clicked the remote. Soon the video of his evening with Madeline was replaying its way into his memory and the cold remains of his heart.
DING DONG!
"Trick or treat!"
Michael ignored both the bell and the call. He slouched down on the couch, and pulled a long swig from the bottle of wine. When the bell rang again, he raised the volume on his stereo. Nikita sang to him in Sheryl Crow's voice:
"I am strong, I am able,
I spill milk on your table.
Then I cry like a baby,
Just to see if you save me.
I am sweet, I am ugly.
I am mean if you love me.
I try hard just to please you
when I say I don't need you.
I dress up with a conscience
when I think you'll be watching.
I say all the right things.
I don't know what I mean.
Am I . . . am I . . . getting through?"
There was a tentative knock on the door, and then a loud, raucous male voice called out again, "Trick or treat!!!"
Michael threw the bottle at the door, and they went away.
DING DONG!
"Trick or treat!"
Madeline had her hand in the plastic jack-o-lantern, already grasping the candy, when she looked twice at the individuals before her. Their eyes twinkled with mischief from behind their masks. There was something there she thought she recognized. She smiled calmly, and dished out a handful to Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
"Happy Halloween," she said softly.
Nancy hesitated, her eyes growing serious. "Happy Halloween, Madeline," she whispered.
Ronald was suddenly watchful. Madeline's eyes turned to him, and recognition glowed there. Her gaze not straying from the gray-blue eyes behind the mask, she murmured, "Beware of evil spirits, Nikita, Jurgen."
She smiled serenely and then closed the door.
"Did you have fun, ‘children'?"
Nikita went to the mirror and removed her mask. She looked into Adrian's reflection, her eyes dark blue with trouble.
"Madeline recognized us."
Adrian took a deep breath, but said nothing. Jurgen went to his wife where she stood before the mirror, and placed his hands on her shoulders. He placed a soft kiss on her neck before turning back to Adrian.
"I don't think we have anything to worry about from her. You were right, Adrian. She loves Nikita too much to betray her."
He returned his gaze to Nikita's worried look in the mirror. "There's nothing to be concerned about, Angel," he told her, his voice rough with desire, as his arms wound around her midriff. She could feel his need pressing against her back. "It's time for all good and bad spirits to go to bed now."
The worry in her eyes was replaced with passion. She smiled and let him lead her to their bedroom. Across the continent, Michael couldn't get drunk enough to blot out her memory.
==30==