DISCLAIMERS: This is a speculative story written for fun. No infringements intended to AR, the cities of New York and New Orleans, and any other person or company of who I am not aware of but who may have any rights on the characters and may feel offended by what I wrote. I don't have the money to pay you, so please don't sue me. I am using Mirabella Pointe du Lac with her creator's permission.

For those who don't like seeing two male vampires sharing blood... the epilogue is not for you! You read it on your own risk. Don't go crying to your mother after you've read it, blaming me for it. But I think you can safely read the rest of it.

DEDICATIONS: To my friend Andreea and to her infamous alter-ego Mirabella. Do keep pestering me, mes amies! And to my French friend that never leaves my side - you know who you are! Thanks for inspiring me. (She says I'm welcome, btw!)

by Alice Montrose

September 25, 2000

He found himself lying on the white sand of a sea he could only hear and smell. He had slept during most of the flight, as he usually did when his lover and him were travelling together. He had no idea where Lestat had gone, as he didn't know where he was. The breeze was spreading an undefined scent of salt and smoke around his body.

He stood up. What he could see astonished him. The whole beach was full of lighted white candles, shining gently in the night as fireflies over a field of roses. The sea still held some of the red shadows of dusk, and the candles drew fascinating traces on the vastness of the ocean. He heard music, in an undertone; notes flowing from an invisible piano filled the air.

What had happened? Why was he here? Then he remembered. Lestat had told him he had a surprise in store for him that night. If this was the surprise, then he was happy. Yet, something was missing. SOMEONE was missing. Where was his lover? Puzzled, he looked around. He saw nothing but the burning candles, and the sea whispering an undefined melody, which accompanied the tunes of the piano.

"Lestat, where are you?" he shouted. No answer. "What is the meaning of all this? Why did you bring me here?"

Silence. A penetrating stillness filled his body with doubt. What if Lestat wasn't here? What if he was all alone? Maybe his maker had left him here; maybe this was Lestat's way to take his revenge. But then, why the candles and the music? No, it wasn't that. Lestat loved him, he knew it. He would NEVER hurt him. Then where was he?

"Lestat, come on, get out. I know you're here somewhere."

Still no answer. God, he was growing tired of this game. Then, it occurred to him his lover might not be a part of it. Maybe it was just the atmosphere around. That has to be it, the surprise. The splendor surrounding him. That must be it.

He turned away to look at he lovely sight of the waves; he thought they were whispering his name. Of course, it was all an illusion. Still, he let his soul fill with the memories he had about Lestat...

<<<<>>>>

<<<<>>>>

But, after 55 years of darkness, HE was back. Stronger than ever, Lestat had risen from his tomb of sorrow and was now defying the rules once again. And he had let the written words tell the story he had never told. And Louis understood. He had now some of the answers for his questions. And he searched for Lestat. The night he had found him, all he could feel was love. And everything that had happened afterwards, the concert, the killings, Akasha's death, the body thief, Memnoch, it was all nothing compared to his love for the devilish creature that had created him. The Brat Prince had been there for him, he had forgiven Louis' faults, he had told him he would always love him, no matter what...

He had almost lost him again one month ago. And all because of a wondering creature, a distant relative he now loved; but not as much as he loved Lestat, no. Their love would be eternal, he knew that. They were soul mates, they could withstand anything, as long as they were together. The refreshing breeze made the candles' flames quiver and ravished Louis' long, ebony hair. The waves were still whispering his name. 'Louis... Louis... Louis...' Suddenly, he realized it wasn't the ocean. It was something else. Its presence stroke him right through the heart. It was another one.

"Lestat..." he heard himself murmuring, as he turned, his green eyes glittering in the dark, only to see the tall silhouette profiling in the shadows.

He was there. Wearing a red velvet costume and a black silk shirt, and leather boots. His hair was loose, surrounding the perfect face like a saint's aura. In a way, Lestat was a saint, wasn't he? Well, not really, but he was to Louis. He was just standing there, looking at Louis, and his eyes were full of blood tears. He had seen Lestat cry before, but only when he had been desperate.

::Why is he crying now?:: he asked himself. ::We are together, and nothing can tear us apart.::

"Lestat, what's wrong? What happened?" he managed to ask.

"Louis..." the blonde vampire replied, his voice full of emotion. "I... I didn't want to hurt you. Back in New York, when you created Mirabella, my heart broke in two. I thought you... you didn't... love me any more. I thought I would die."

Louis went towards him. He had never seen this side of his lover; he didn't know Lestat could even have such feelings. His voice trembled, as he finally managed to talk.

"Lestat, we've been through this before. Mirabella is for me what David is for you. She's only a friend, a distant relative. She could never replace you! Besides, I'm too in love with you to leave you for somebody else, you should know that by now."

"Mon amour" said Lestat, while openings his arms to receive Louis' fragile body, "je t'aimerai pour toujours. Tu est ma vie, la lumierre dans le chaos de l'eternite. Mon beau ange de l'obscurite!"

"Et tu, tu est le soleil qui rayonne les ciels de la nuit. Mon propre diable. Je t'aime comme je n'ai jamais aime quelqu'un d'autre."

As Lestat held him in his arms, he felt his soul fill with joy. He knew that he was safe in these arms, that nobody would dare to harm him ever again. He felt Lestat's arms caressing his back, his lips kissing his hair, his forehead, his eyelids, his mouth...

~~ooo000ooo~~~ooo000ooo~~~ooo000ooo~~~

They were caught in a kiss that seemed to last forever. Then, Lestat started to unbutton his green silk shirt, slowly, like he was afraid not to break a precious porcelain antique. Louis felt he ice-cold palms touching his preternatural skin, making him shiver. Bu he didn't want it to stop. Instead, he practically tore Lestat's jacket and shirt off, moaning. Lestat giggled, surprised. He had never seen his lover so... aggressive? Well, there was a first time for everything. What was a shirt compared to the beauty in his arms? He laughed, but it was not one of his laughing fits; no, this time he laughed because he was happy. Happy as he had never been before. He knew Louis was now his for all eternity.

Slowly, he kissed every part of Louis' neck, then his arms, his torso... It felt good, and Louis was sighing with pleasure.

They were all alone in the immensity of the Caribbeans, and this privacy was just what he needed. Not bothering about shielding or anything else, he could dedicate himself body and soul to Louis. He wanted this to be perfect.

But there was one thing he could never ask for. He couldn't ask Louis to drink his blood. If he did, his lover would most likely refuse, as he had done before. ::Come on, Lestat,:: he thought, ::this isn't important. It has never been, remember?::

"What's bothering you?" asked Louis.

"Oh, nothing, mon amour, absolutely nothing. I was only wondering if you like all of this."

"You know I do, cher. I must say, you have outdone yourself tonight. You know, I never expected anything like this when you told me you had a surprise for me."

Lestat could feel the desire rising in his body. He had to go away. He couldn't do it alone; one needs two so it can work.

"The tape is over; I'll go turn it!". He forced himself to pull away from Louis. But, as he wanted to leave, he felt his fledgling's hand holding him, in an attempt of pulling him back.

"Lestat, leave it. We don't need music to do it."

He turned to Louis, surprised.

"Wha.. what are you suggesting to me?"

~~ooo000ooo~~~ooo000ooo~~~ooo000ooo~~~

Louis didn't answer, he just drew himself closer to the marble body, holding it near, caressing the hairless chest. As his hands reached the base of Lestat's neck, the decision was already taken. He wanted it so badly; the need was stronger than any lust for mortal blood. He would probably grow stronger if he did it, but it didn't matter any more. Hesitating, he sank his teeth into his maker's throat, gasping when he felt the warm blood filling his mouth. He swallowed it, longing for more. Lestat's body pulsed, then he felt two strong hands grabbing him, sliding up on his back, and his lover's fangs sinking into his neck. They felt on the soft sand, locked together in love.

Images assaulted his mind. He saw Lestat's childhood, his flight to Paris. Gabrielle and Nicolas, and Armand. Marius and Akasha, and then himself. He felt the pain, the desire to abandon the fight after he and Claudia had left... The excitement of the concert in San Francisco, and then the killings at Azim's temple, sorrow and anguish. David's creation. All pictures of sadness, of hurting and betrayal. It was as if Lestat's soul was trying to set himself free, to let go of the pain, to revive in a new life. And Louis understood now he had never really known Lestat. It was like rediscovering himself in another one's memories. For what he could feel now was what he had felt ever since Lestat created him. And he hadn't known his anguish had been Lestat's anguish, he had never seen how they were... similar in a certain way.

::Why? Why are you letting me know all this?:: he wondered. And then, he heard it, Lestat's silent voice whispering inside his mind.

::I wanted you to know, so you could understand me. So you could see my past, and decide if you still want me. I can't promise I'll change. In a way, I will always be the brat you've always known. You are free to leave if you wish, I won't try to stop you.::

::What makes you think I WANT to leave?::

::You don't?::

::No way. Not now, not ever. I want to spend my whole life together with you, no matter what the cost. You are my soul mate, and you will always be!::

::Oh, my beautiful one...::

They laid on the beach, the blood ring continuously flowing between the two of them, the burning fire inside their glacial bodies taking over all their feelings. All they could feel now was passion, endless passion... Finally, Lestat felt Louis pulling away; he let go as well, and remained on his back, his head buried in the sand, holding Louis in his arms protectively.

~~ooo000ooo~~~ooo000ooo~~~ooo000ooo~~~

He had no idea for how long they remained like that. The candles had melted on the sand. It was almost dawn. They could both feel it, the light of the sun, and the death sleep. Lestat felt Louis putting his arms around him, as he whispered:

"Mon amour, the sun... We must take cover."

"Not necessarily." he chuckled. "We can fly somewhere else and start over. If you want it, of course." he added, afraid the night had been too challenging for Louis.

"What about Paris?" came the swift answer, as a pair of glittering emeralds flashed in the dawn light. "As far as I recall, all the others are visiting Maharet in Rangoon. We shouldn't have any... unwelcomed guests, don't you think so?"

"Why not? But we'll have to stop and buy some clothes, since I don't think the Ritz would allow us in like this." he said, lifting Louis' body off the ground.

And they took of, as the first rays of light covered the ocean and the small island. They were all by themselves, and they were in love for eternity.

Small French glossary (for those of you who don't speak the language):

"My love, I shall love you for all times. You are my life, the light in the chaos of eternity. My beautiful angel of darkness!"

"And you, you are the sun that lightens the skies of the night. My own demon. I love you like I have never loved anyone before."