Spoiler for all the vamp chronicles except Memnoch. No infringement on the copyrites of Anne Rice or her publishers is intended.
Although Louis and I had woken at the same time that evening,
wrapped in each other's arms as we had for every night that week, when I
was finally ready to face the night he and David were snugly curled up in
armchairs in the living room, like a matching pair of bookends. I was still
not satisfied with my outfit for the evening, asleek Armani suit.
Attempting to decide what to wear had been the reason for my delay, whereas
Louis, who was wearing his usual black rags, had been up and dressed for
nearly an hour.
I watched them both from the doorway, reveling in the sight of
them, my two fledglings. David was lovely, frowning a little as he
attempted to read whatever dusty book was absorbing him, and Louis was
entrancing, the firelight casting little shadows over his face and doing
wonderful things to his emerald eyes. My heart turned over, as I looked at
him, and I had to catch my breath. But as well as the rush of love that
overcame me, I was aware of a darker emotion. They looked so comfortable
together, so contented. And, watching them, I felt a sudden pang of
jealousy.
Just then Louis looked up. He smiled when he saw me, and then a
troubled look crept over his face.
"Lestat," he said softly, his voice making David look up to smile a
greeting. "What is it?"
"Nothing, beautiful one," I hastened to assure him, crossing to his
side and bending to brush my lips across his cheek. "It's nothing."
"Lestat," Louis said again, but this time in a warning tone, he
brushed my fingers gently across my mouth, but the look in his eyes was
stern. "You promised you"d be honest with me, remember?"
"It's nothing, really," I said again, a little embarrassed,
retreating to the sofa and stretching out, trying to hide my dioscomfort.
"It's just that you looked so peaceful together, so content.... And then I
turn up and disturb you."
"That's not true," David's measured tones came from across the
room. "If anyone's surplus to requirements here, it's me." He smiled gently
to reassure me and I felt a little of the tightness in my chest recede.
Instinctively I glanced ovet at Louis, wanting his reassurance too.
He was looking at the fire, an almost impish smile curving those
perfect lips. Feeling the weight of my gaze on him, he raised his eyes to
meet mine.
"Louis?" I asked, feeling the embers of desire beginto heat up as I
watched him.
"Well," he said slowly. "It's certainly true that you"re a
disturbing influence...." he paused agonisingly and I waited. "But I've
decided I like being disturbed," he continued, looking at me in a way that
made me want nothing more than to take him into the bedroom and make love
to him right there. I forced the desire back down, remembering that we had
agreed not to leave David alone so much. Louis' smile grew a little rueful,
as I lay back on the sofa with a pretended ease and he continued in a
softer voice: "You gave us immortality, Lestat. Both of us. How could we
ever fail to love you?"
"For giving you the dark gift?" I raised my eyebrows. "I thought
you considered that a curse, a dmanation..." I glanced back at David who
was looking serious.
"A damnation it may be," he said. "But immortality is what all
mortals long for." His eyes went a little out of focus as he said almost
wistfully: "That is no country for old men...."
"David?" I looked quizically at him and his eyes refocused as he
explained:
"William Butler Yeats...."
"An Irish poet," Louis added and, with an elegant, cat-like
movement, he left his chair and stood in front of the fire. "An aged man is
but a paltry thing..." he recited, his voice steadily gaining power.
"A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
He brushed his black hair out of his eyes and met my astonished gaze with
and intensity that fascinated and seduced me, as he continued, faster now:
"O sages standing in God's holy fire
On the last word he spun round, his hair fanning about his face, turning a
full circle before he caught himself, and smiled at me with a strange
excitement. There was more of the poem, I knew, but Louis seemed to have
forgotten his recitation.
"Lestat," he said, crossing to stand in front of me. "Get up!"
"Why," I asked, as I complied, wondering if he was going to break
our agreement already.
"We"re going out," he told me, turning quickly to look at David.
"All of us!"
"What?" I asked stupidly, bewildered by this new aspect of Louis.
"Out!" he said again, making an expansive gesture. "Into the city!"
"Alright," I agreed, exchanging a puzzled look with David who had
put his book down obediently. "Where do you want to go? A concert, the
opera perhaps?"
"No," Louis positively grinned at me, showing his fangs. It gave
him a feline look, and his eyes were animated and sparkling with
excitement. "I want to go dancing."
"Dancing?" David stood up as well now. "Why?"
"It's an impulse," Louis told him. "You have impulses don't you?"
He glanced back at me and I frowned, still trying to understand what he was
saying.
"You don't dance, Louis," I said finally. "Not even when we were
inRio, remember?"
"Yes I do," he contradicted unexpected. "And I *did* dance in Rio."
"No you *didn't*!" I insisted, certain I would have remembered
something like that.
"Lestat..." his grin became a little sly as he told me: "I didn't
say I danced with *you*!"
"What?" I couldn't believe this, I was finding myself at a loss for
any words except moronic questions. It was really no surprise that Louis
lost patience.
"David, I want you both to meet me at the Inferno in one hour," he
said. "You know where it is." Then he turned and headed for the door.
"Wait!" I managed to gasp out. "Where are you going?"
"To feed, Lestat," he sighed, giving me a look reserved for
congential idiots. "I'll see you in an hour." And then he was gone, before
I could utter another stupid question.
"What was that about?" I finally managed to say, turning to David
in bemusement. "What brought that on? And what's this "Inferno"?"
"It's a club," David told me, sticking to the only question he
could easily answer. "We passed it together a few night ago." Delicately he
neglected to mention what they had been doing, knowing I found it hard to
cope with the fact that Louis would hunt with him and not with me.
"A club?" Suddenly I dismissed all my earlier questions as
unimportant, focusing on the real issue here. "David we have to get
changed!"
"Why?" he asked, somewhat bemused. "Louis didn't seem to consider
it necessary."
"David there are some things that are eternal constnts, even in
immortality," I enlightened him. "And one of those is Louis Point du Lac's
obliviousness to any changes in fashion. But if we are going to a club,
*we* are going to look right." And, with that, I dragged him off in the
direction of my closet.
The club Louis had chosen was located in one of the smarter
sections of town and there was an impressively long line of people waiting
outside. Davdid attempted to join it and I grabbed hold of his jacket
firmly.
"The Vampire Lestat does not queue," I told him, passing the
doorman with a little mental razzle-dazzle.
"Is there any end to your arrogance?" he sighed as we entered the
building, and for once I didn't make an immediate comeback, looking instead
at the sight that greeted my eyes.
The Inferno was circular and around the main dancing floor were
eight concentric rings of galleries holding more dancing space and several
long bars. Above us was a massive black dome with thousands of little
lights twinkling like the constellations. Down here, on the edge of the
dance floor, red and orange lights flickered on the walls, giving the
impression of flames. It was all very imressive and I felt instantly at
home. David looked uncomfortable., but at least he was dressed right. I had
given him some of my own clothes to wear, black pants, balck boots and a
tight black cotton sweater. He looked a little dull, but not enough so to
attract any unwanted attention.
I glanced down at myself, feeling a certain satisfaction with my
choices for the evening. I was wearing tight black leather trousers, with
boots covered with studded chains, and a red silk shirt that rode high on
my waist and fell loosely over my arms. My golden hair was loose, cut so
that it only just brushed my shoulders and I smiled thinking of how Louis
would like my outfit.
"You"re thinking about yourself again, aren't you?" David said wryly.
"How can you tell?" I asked, grinning.
"You've got *that* smile on your face," he said. "It's your 'God,
I'm gorgeous' expression."
"David!" I exclaimed. "That doesn't sound like you."
"I think Armand coined the phrase," he admitted. "Or possibly Daniel."
"I didn't know you knew either of them," I said with some surprise.
"I don't," he shrugged. "But Louis does, and he passed it on to me."
"Did he now?" I said slowly. "I think I'm going to have to have a
little talk with Mr Point du Lac...." Looking around I saw a free table
across the dance floor. "Come on, David," I ordered, taking his arm in a
firm grip. "Let's wait for Louis over there."
We had ordered, and secretly discarded, two rounds of drinks by the
time David noticed that Louis was late. I had been twitching with
impatience long before then, craning to see the doors of the club and
kicking myself for giving David the seat that face the dance floor.
Watching the dancers, some of whom were almost as skilled as professionals,
gave me a slight distraction from wondering where Louis was. The most
impressive of them, a young boy with flame-coloured hair and skin nearly as
pale as a vampire's, had caught me looking and grinned invitingly in a way
that made me wonder if it was time for a snack when David said casually.
"I wonder where Louis is." I turned back to face him.
"I've been wondering that for the past half hour," I said
acerbically. "Seeing as it was his idea to come here, he could at least try
to show up on time. Being kept waiting isn't my idea of..." My voice
trailed off as I realised David wan't listening to me, his eyes were fixed
somewhere behind my left shoulder and he looked totally pole-axed.
"Oh....my....God," he said slowly and I twisted round in my seat again.
"What is it?" I demanded. "What are you looking at? I can't
see...." I stopped abruptly as I saw what David had seen.
Crossing the dance floor slowly, with a feline prowl, long limbs
shifting silkily as he swayed out of the way of the dancers, was *my*
Louis. He looked as I had never seen him look before, not even in my
dreams, and as he moved past the dancers peol turned to follow him
withtheir eyes. I couldn't blame them. His worn jeans and ancient sweater
were gone, replaced by an outfit that caused delicious shivers to run up
and down my spine.
He was wearing black pants which clung so tightly to his long legs
that they could have been painted on and knee length laced-boots clasped
his lower legs just as tightly, raising his height by several inches and
his smooth ivory skin showed through gaping slits in the black lace shirt
that hung in shred around his chest and shoulders. His beautiful black
hair, usually as loose as strands of raw silk, was teased into a floating
cloud around his head and shoulders. His emerald eyes were outlined in a
startling black, making me realise exactly how long his lashes were. The
animal sexuality of the creature that appeared before us was unsettling, he
was startlingly beautiful and I wasn't the only one to realise it.
Music thudded in the background. A wailing guitar combining with a
teasing drum beat. And, as Louis was half-way across the dance floor, the
flame-haired dancer stepped to block his way. Slowly he traced a circle
around Louis, always in motion, dancing his appraisal of the vision that
stood before him. He moved like water, every gesture fluid and easy,
watching him was like watching poetry and even at this moment I could
appreciate his beauty. He began a second circle, dancing for the crowd, for
himself, and specifically for Louis, teasing, seducing, entrancing with
every movement. Then Louis began to move, and I realised that I had stopped
breathing.
He had held still while the dancer made his first circle, now he
turned with him, copying the boy's movements. They circles each other like
duelist with a naked sensuality that could not have been choreographed.
Hunters, each of them, and showing by every gesture that the other was
prey. And then the drum-beat crashed like thunder, the guitar screamed, the
flame-haired youth slid his arm round Louis like a snake, pressing a white
hand into the small of his back, and pulled him into the dance. They clung
to each other, spun away and were linked again, moving together and apart
like two halves of one being and I was on fire with jealousy as I
worshipped he beauty of it with my eyes. Like everyone else who watched the
display with an addict's fascination, I was overcome with desire. I could
*feel* the emotions of the other mortals around me and they mirrored my
own. My eyes were locked on Louis as he danced, he looked like something
conjured of air and fire, no mortal substance could have composed such
beauty.
The music pounded in the same rhythm as my heart, blood raced
through my veins. I couldn't move. Louis and his companion were dancing for
each other like geishas, ignoring everything else, eyes locked, hands
exploring each other dangerously and I heard myself growling low in my
throat.
"Lestat," David said, but his voice was very small and far away,
and I was already on my feet and headed for Louis, determined to make clear
to him *exactly* who he was here with. As approached, moving out of the
way of the frantically gyrating mortals around me, the red-head suddenly
closed in. He reached for Louis, his hands tangling in that raven cloud of
silk. Louis lifted the boy up and bent his head to close his mouth on his.
They kissed hungrily, before falling apart and resuming the motions of
their dance , and I stood frozen watching them. Suddenlly the jeaousy was
replaced by a white hot passion and I changed my tactics. If Louis wanted
to dance I would show him how it was done.
I saw him coming, allowing myself to watch him through lowered
lashes as I danced. When the dancer who had welcomed me reached to kiss me,
I gave into the embrace willingly, knowing that Lestat was watching. Then,
as I allowed the mucis to take me again, I glanced to see him still there,
standing like a statue on the dance floor, glaring at me. For a moment I
wondered if I had gone too far, tempted his anger too much. And then he
showed his fangs in a demonic smile, his blue eyes flashing a warning, and
stretched slowly, his golden skin rpiling over steel muscles. I realised
the music had changed and I recognised it. Lestat's grin was widening and I
wondred if this was truely a coincidence, for all around me the speakers
were blaring out an electrical cauldron of noise:
You can't resist the Lords of Night
And then Lestat began to stalk me, and all over the dance floor
heads turned. His voice rang in my ears even though he himself was silent
and I felt faint, my blood heating at the sight of him. The rhythm of my
dance faltered and both my companion and I found our eyes irresistably
drawn to the golden figure making his way towards us, as we circled each
other.
"He's your lover," the boy murmured, brushing long locks of red
hair out of his face, his mouth forming the words clearly, though I could
only just hear their sound.
"Yes..." I breathed the word, watching the blond-haired demon
approach, his every step claiming me. People had paused to watch Lestat,
and others were looking at me, they all knew who he was aiming for.
"He's beautiful," the boy said softly as his lips brushed my ear,
swinging around me and back into my arms.
"Yes..." I couldn't help myself, the word came to my lips
instinctively it seemed. This was the one thing I had never been able to
lie about.
He came closer, his body attuned to the music, his own creation. It
complemented him, completed him. He swirled round other dncers, drawing
them into and out of his dance, always moving nearer. He was dancing his
beauty, his need to possess me, his passion. And I was reminded of those
words he had written long ago 'fatally in love'. If he was fatally in love
with me, so I was also with him, for I ached to surrender even as I exulted
in the thrill of the chase. Lestat's eyes locked on mine, almost violet
with desire. The lyrics pulsed from the walls, burning into my brain.
What secrets have I left to tell
A knot of dancers moved out of the way and Lestat was only yards
away from me. Flame-red hair fell into my face as the dancer reached to
kiss me swiftly, the lightest touch of his mouth, a scent of cinnamon, and
then he was gone, smiling at me as he melted back into the crowd. He
wouldn't stay to contest for me with Lestat. I couldn't say I blamed him.
Lestat's voice cried in my ears:
Yet in love we will take you
I waited, no longer dancing, as he came closer, his silk shirt sliding over
his skin in a lover's caress, as he allowed the music to carry him across
the intervening space between us. Slowly he formed the shape of the next
word:
Surrender.
For one long moment I held still, fought with everything I had, determined
that he would not conquer me. And then I remembered that I loved him, and
there was no shame in submitting when that was what I wanted to do. I
reached out blindly, and found myself in his arms, his mouth on mine, his
tongue forcing my lips apart., the scrape of his fangs as I returned the
kiss passionately. One of his hands caught my hair and pulled just hard
enough to separate our hungry mouths. Looking down at me he smiled
fiendishly and spoke as his alter-ego screamed the final lyrics:
"No one can say you were not warned."
I had wanted to show him a part of myself that he had never seen.
He had given me eternity, the most I could give him was myself. He seemed
to know that I had not finished her and made no attempt to take me away
from the club. Instead he began the motions of a new dance as a scream rang
out from the speakers.
Lestat knows more about rock music than I do, but he plays his CDs
often enouh for me to recognise certain artists and this was one I
remembered. I was tempted to raise my voice to join the singer's but
instead I just listened as Lestat and I danced together, the connection
between us electric.
Tired of the injustice
The words struck within me, hadn't I said it was time for honesty between
us? Lestat and I had been enemies so long, refusing to admit to the
antagonism that could leap into being as easily as desire. Our coming
together in love had changed so much, but there were still questions
unresolved. Lestat was dancing with a controled fury, every movement
deliberate, and yet arising from an inner core of ferocity that could claim
him completely at any moment. He caught my waist and swung me around in a
circle, setting me back on my feet with a wicked grin. As our bodies melted
together and wrenched apart in the dance I sang softly to him, enjoying his
look of surprise:
"Come out of the shadows. Come into the light." Taking up the line
he continued, challengingly:
"You tell me I'm wrong." And I chimed in quickly:
"Then you better prove you're right."
I wrapped my arms around him, and twined one of my legs round him,
letting him support me. Leaning my head on his shoulder I continued:
"You're selling out souls, but I care about mine." The cryptic
words held a ring of truth and he was smiling as his hips melded to mine
and he pulled by head back to see my face. "I've got to get stronger," I
added, knowing what was coming next.
"And I won't give up the fight," he rejoined. I smiled, knowing
that I didn't want him to give up, that I wanted him to beat down my
resistence, forcing me to admit what we both desired. Teaingly, I tilted my
head back further, exposing the column of my throat, wondering if he would
dare. In the background the singer continued, accompanied by another now
that Lestat and I were silent.
Stop pressuring me
Lestat's upper lip drew back to expose his fangs as he stared at me. I
leaned back further, his hands supporting my waist as i arched back, my
hair falling to almost touch the ground. And then he was bending over me,
his mass of golden hair hiding his face as his fangs sunk into my neck. I
gasped, feeling him drink from me. But it was only a brief taste. Even
Lestat found this a bit too public for such intimacy and in seconds he had
pulled me back up and into his arms. I disentangled myself from him and
spun away, my hair fanning out around me in a wild cloud. He caught me
quickly, holding me close as we danced. He raised his voice slightly,
though from the expresson on his face I could tell he wasn't wholly
serious:
"Tired of you telling the story your way. It's causing confusion.
You think it's okay."
I laughed out loud, then looked up to glare at him in mock anger.
It was a somewhat out of date complaint, considering that he had written
three books to my one. I concentrated on looking furious, and I saw his
lips part involuntarily. Lestat loves it when I get angry, likes the way I
look when I glare at him. He pulled me hard against him, one hand sliding
over my thigh. I could feel the warmth of his hand through the thin fabric
and realised that he also had fed well that evening. Abandoning my pretence
of anger, I grinned as he had earlier.
"You're changing the rules while you're playing the game..." I had
intended to finish, but he beat me to it, his eyes darkening as he
continued:
"I can't take it much longer.... I think I might go insane."
The feeling was mutual, a heat was rising through my body and I
remembered the pain of our earlier joinings uncomfortably. The flood of
desire was always preceded by the pain of our prenatural flesh wakening to
desire. I began to feel that this setting was too exposed.
Louis and Lestat were still locked in each other's arms, at the
centre of a crowd of dancing people and I tried to keep my eyes on them,
craning to see past the dancers who got in the way. They looked perfect
together, black hair against blond, ivory skin against pale gold. Their
dance was teasing, tantalising, an echo of their centuries long
love-affair. I suppressed my envy.
Not jealousy, because I believe strongly that Lestat and Louis
belong together, they complete each other's souls. But I felt an
indescribable longing to have a love like that myself. Both dancers were
caught up in the beat of the music, eyes wide and wild, when suddenly a
spasm of what looked like pain passed over Louis' face and I saw him fall.
I hastened to my feet, trying to see what had happened. Lestat was on his
knees beside Louis, bending over him, and then I saw him shake, a tremor
running through his body. He arched his back, his hands curving into claws,
and his fangs showing ominously. Louis had managed to get to one knee and
he suddenly wrapped himself around Lestat, letting his mane of hair shelter
them both.
I was ready to run to their aid, when suddenly Lestat stood and
Louis rose with him. Their eyes were locked on each other, and looking at
them I reallised that everything that had happened before was merely a
prequel to the main event. Lestat was dancing, the raw sexuality of him
compelling, and Louis came to meet him in the dance. I had seen them moving
in concert before, but now there was an additional aspect to their union.
An electricity between them that was almost painful to watch.
The first beats of a new song had started in the background. As if
unable to help himself any longer Lestat raised his voice, loud enough for
me to hear him on the other side of the dance floor and drowning out the
voice of the singer.
Burn out the day
His hands were moving over Louis' body, and Louis was writhing in the
compulsion of the joint commands of Lestat's exploration and the music that
still claimed him. Throwing his head back, he sang out the next line.
Burn out the night
I hadn't even known that Louis *could* sing, but his voice was as true and
clear as Lestat's and I was lost in admiration for the creatures before me.
Marveling at the twist of fate that had made me one of them. And then they
were moving like mirror images, singing together now:
I don't see a reason to put up a fight
Lestat, ever the exhibitionist, swung away. I couldn't stop staring at him,
a tornado of whirling red silk and golden hair. Could any mortal dance like
this? The next line was his again and it seemed to tear out of his soul.
I'm living
And then Louis was whirling in the same motion, circling Lestat like smoke,
vapourous, impossible to catch hold of. His green eyes flashed as he met
Lestat's in a challenging stare and completed the verse:
I'm burning
My view of them was abruptly cut off by passing dancers and I stepped past
them to see what was happening. They were in each other's arms and kissing
franticaly. Louis tearing Lestat's silk shirt from his body, Lestat ready
to rip Louis' tight black pants from him. And then Louis was out of
Lestat's arms and half-way across the dance-floor, heading for the back
exit. Lestat shot after him, an arrow loosed from a bow-string and I
followed quickly.
I caught up with Lestat just before he reached the swinging steel
door of the fire exit.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I don't know!" he said, his eyes strange and alien. He looked
caught in the grip of a religious fervour and we stepped outside to see
Louis with his back to us. He was shaking, gasping for breath, but he heard
our approach and turned suddenly, throwing himself at Lestat with a force
that pushed the other vampire up against the wall of the club. They kissed
fiercely, and when they drew apart I saw blood on their lips.
"Take me home, Lestat!" Louis hissed and Lestat's eyes widened even
more than they had already done.
"Louis...." he began, but I would never know if it was meant to be
a protest or an agreement.
"NOW LESTAT!" It was virtually a scream and Louis was tearing at
Lestat like a wild thing. There was a blur of motion and then they were
gone, Lestat lifting his lover high above into the clouds. I couldn't see
them anymore, but a few whisps of red silk floated down to where I stood. I
considered for a while, then I headed back into the Inferno. My immortal
companions would not be wanting my presence at home for some time and I
found myself wondering what had happened to the boy with the flaming hair.
We crashed through the french windows in a shower of glass, and I
shielded Louis as much as I could from the flying fragments. They scattered
around the windows and we got three paces further on before we fell to the
ground. Louis was on top of me, almost snarling as he ripped the last
remnants of cloth from my body. I tried to perform the same service for
him, but couldn't co-ordinate my hands to do anything more than run them
over his slender form, feeling the strength of his muscles as he held me
down. He pulled away for an agonising moment and stripped naked, the blood
rising in me at the sight of him.
He was so gorgeous. His white skin almost translucent in the
moonlight that streamed through the open windows. I had been stunned by his
beauty in the club, now I found it nothing short of heart-stopping. I
hadn't known it was possible to feel such love and such desire for another
beig. I had barely even noticed the pain of my arousal, so focused was I on
my immortal lover.
And then he was back on top of me and I could already feel the
pressure of his erection. His hair was a mess, getting everywhere, but
through the tangled cloud of black silk I could see his beautiful green
eyes, luminous with passion. He held me down firmly, and though I could
have thrown him off, I had no wish to do anything other than continue
squirming beneath him. My body was slick with the blood sweat, partly from
the heat of the club and partly the resut of the sensations he was inducing
in me. Normally Louis would have taken more time to prepare than this, but
he had lost any semblence of control, and I couldn't wait any longer. There
was a sudden thrust and my body stiffened as I felt him enter me, both of
us crying out with the initial pain. We had worked out that it was easier
if we went slowly, but Louis no onger had the control to remember this. He
thrust deeper inside me violently, and then there was nothing but the
pleasure which was so intense that it was worse than the pain. I arched up
against him, not caring anything for my dignity or how I migt appear. All I
wanted was Louis, my lover, bringing me closer and closer to that powerful
climax.
He lifted himself up and I moaned as he held himself poised there,
waiting for some silent signal. I pushed my hips up against his, trying to
pulh him back down to me, wanting him inside me.
"Louis! Do it!" I choaked out, my throat closing on the words. He
held himself there for another second, then he blinked once and for a brief
moment his eyes were rational again.
"I love you," he whispered before the passion took him and he
thrust down to meet me with a scream. I was split apart by the sword of his
desire, impalled on the sharp point, and I screamed with him. Then merciful
darkness claimed me as my merciful death had and I was lost to everything
but the night.
I withdrew from Lestat with care. He had fainted in the pleasure of
orgasm and, although I hd yet to achieve a similar climax, taking him had
helped to ease some of my raging lust. I looked down at him with the
thought that our roles had been reversed. He was usually the dominant,
demanding partner, I more submissive.
I had never expected that violence of desire from myself. At first
it had been as frightening as it was arousing. But Lestat's unequivocal
surrender had made it enjoyable for both of us. I smiled a little at the
thougt of exactly *how* enjoyable it had been, thinking that after this I
would never blush at his advances again.
But now he was unconscious in my arms, his blond hair slicked to
his face with blood, his long lashes closed. I kissed his shut eyes gently,
finally realising why he liked to watch me sleep. He was so beautiful, so
perfect, and I wanted to protect him, to shelter him from the world.
I laughed at myself, wondering what Lestat would think of my wish
to be his protector, and the long brown lashes drifted upwards to reveal
eyes of so deep a blue that I felt I could drown in them.
"I've exhausted you, lover," I murmured, forcing back the flame of
my own needs.
"Oh no," his wicked grin was back. "But you certainly tried." I had
forgotten how swiftly he recovered his strength and was a little shaken as
he stood up, helping me to stand. The contact was too much for me and I
leaned into him, buring my face in his neck. I could taste the blood on his
skin and ached to drink from him. That was forbidden, I had determined to
avoid it, even in our new closeness. I feared it too much. But there was at
least one other thing that could help me.
"Lestat..." I said shakily. "I need...." His mouth covered mine
instantly, promising, teasing. He was taking me into the bedroom, out
bodies still joined, my tongue exploring the warm cavity of his mouth, the
sharp little fangs. He gasped and suddenly I was forced back against the
wall, Lestat unable to wait to get is to the bed.
"How did you do this to me?" he askd hoarsely, trailing kisses down
my throat and across my shoulders. I couldn't speak, and he was moving
lower down. His teeth fastened on to one nipple and bit hard, drawing
blood, before he sank to his knees. His tongue trailed fire down my
stomach, lower still.
"Please..." I whispered, wrapping my hands tightly in his hair,
bringing him to me.
And then his warm wet mouth closed over the heat of my desire, our
substances combining with a strange alchemy. I couldn't tell if he was
taking blood or not, there was only the ecstasy. My head was thrown back,
my throat to raw to voice the screams that wantd to force themselves from
me. Lestat was not so gentle now, his fangs scraping me, knowing exactly
what to do to drive me deeper into passions insanity. Our joining was more
beautiful and more sexual than anything a mortal could have achieved, our
vampire natures allowing us to feel every sensation multiplied a
hundred-fold. His fangs grazed my sensitive skin again and I could feel the
climax raging to meet him. My body writhed in orgasm, and with the blood
rumming in my ears I couldn't tell if I had cried out or not. When he
released me I collapsed.
He caught me before I hit the floor and carried me over to the bed,
falling on to it together. We reached for each other at the same moment and
burrowed under the blankets, cuddling together for the warmth, althouh our
bodies were rapidly cooling. It was some time before either of us managed
to speak.
"You dance beautifully, Louis," he said finally, and I laughed at
the unexpectness of it. "Really," he told me."But if you *ever* dance with
anyone else again..." He left the warning hanging and I raised an eyebrow.
"Even David?"
"Well, maybe David," he said grudgingly. "Just make sure you ask
permission first."
"Permission?" My voice incredulous, I brushed the har out of his
face so I could see his eyes properly. They were alight with laughter and I
smiled back at him. "Oh, so you are my master, then?"
"No, Louis," he lifted a hand to brush my mouth, looking at me with
a sudden seriousness and such love that I felt dizzy. "I am your slave...."
he whispered and I held him tighter. Such an admission from the vampire
Lestat. But it was not what I wanted, I didn't want to overpower him, only
to love him.
"Not that either," I told him. "My lover, nothing more, nothing less."
"Louis," he reathed, and abandoning words as insufficient, kissed
me lengthily. When we finaly came up for air, his eyes held a familiar
gleam. "You know," he said slowly. "The night's not half over yet."
"I think we'll have to feed again, if you want a repeat of our last
performance," I told him. "I'm tired."
"I think I can revive you," he said, his hands beginning to rove
over me. I waited expectantly, when suddenly he paused, and then smiled.
"What is it?" I asked, distracted for my own exploration.
"I've remembered how it ends," he said. He bent to kiss me briefly,
then propped himself up on one arm, looking down at me gently, he recited:
"Out of nature I shall never take
As he finished I reached up to stroke his hair, curling the tendrils around
my fingers.
"My golden Prince," I said softly. "You are the sunshine, the
purest metal."
"And you are my Emperor," he replied. "Do you think I'll be able to
keep you awake?"
"Oh, I think so," I said, as he leant in to kiss me again. "I'm
sure you'll think of something....."
The music played at the Inferno was:
Part One:
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own munificence:
And therefore I have crossed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium."
As in the gold masaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity."
Part Two:
Part Three:
They have no mercy on your plight
In your fear they take delight
Now I hold you in my spell?
This is the truth that comes from hell!
And in rapture we will break you
And in death we will release you
If at our caprice you....
Part Four:
Tired of the schemes
Kind of disgusted
Just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me
Makes me want to scream
Part Five:
For giving
The devil his due
I'm burning
I'm burning for you....
Part Six:
Part Seven:
My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come."
FINIS
One of the songs from 'The Vampire Lestat' slightly altered.
'Scream' from the album 'Dangerous' by Michael Jackson
'Burning for You' by Blue Oyster Cult