One rainy night
By Bunicula (bunicula@northnet.org)

This is a work of speculative fiction and is purely hypothetical and
not intended for publication or release outside of the
alt.books.anne-rice newsgroup. No infringement of any copyrights
held by Anne Rice or Random House/Knopf is intended.


WARNING!  PROBABLY CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ALL
VAMPIRE CHRONICLE BOOKS UP TO TALE OF THE BODY
THIEF.  I think this could be rated "R". 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked the dark uptown streets savoring the thickness of the
trees around the neighborhoods and the rich smell of the gardens
in rain.

It was two AM by the watch in my pocket and the rain had settled
into a steady down pour now. I stood outside Louis little house
and watched the warm lights that shone behind the few shuttered
windows. Candle lights. Which reminded me, I was standing in
little less than a foot of running water on this side walk.

I crept up to the doorway and slipped in quietly so as not to alert
Louis of my presence. I loved to do this, go hide myself
somewhere in the place and wait for him to come upon me.  But
tonight that little game wouldn't work. I found him in one of the
little
bedrooms at the back of the house. He lay perfectly still on the
the large bed there, a single white sheet clung to his form and his
head turned on one of the pillows towards the cracked window.  A
cool breeze swept through the room and I heard the rain coming
closer again.

Oh, this was too tempting. I stood over the bed and  gazed down
at him for what seemed hours. He was beautifully flushed, which
meant he had killed early this evening. His profile on the pillow
was so perfect.  I kept a silent watch over him, his even breathing
deep and steady. He had no clue what sort of a creature stood
above him.

Well I couldn't stay that still for long, no matter how tempting a
sight it was. I moved around the bed and undressed, all the time
keeping an eye on Louis. He moved only once to roll over on his
back. True this wasn't exactly the best timing for such romance as
I had in mind, what with the flood approaching, but....I'm not one to
discourage such encounters, especialy when it came to Louis.

I lay just over him, letting myself sink against him. He woke
suddenly then realized who was above him and relaxed
completely.  Such trust! I who could easily crush him, burn him to
ashes in seconds with a thought. It wasn't something I was
accustomed to. Pure acceptance of my intentions. Well, just what
were my intentions?

I gave him my prettiest, most evil smile. "Ah, it's you again." He
said in a calm voice. He moved under me, settling us into a more
comfortable position.  I couldn't get that stupid grin off my face. I
just stared down at him, gathering the sheet up around the both of
us. "You were expecting some one else?" I asked, lifting my head
teasingly as he tried to kiss me. "I was expecting you." he
complied at last. I let him have the kiss then, enjoying the warmth
of him and the taste of blood still on his lips.

"You're hair is wet." he said, breaking off from the embrace, his
fingers in my hair.  "It's Noah's Ark out there." I mumbled, letting
my lips caress the pulse at his temple.  His eyes settled on the
window across the room and the path of the raindrops pelting it.
All around us was the sound of a great storm.  The rain rushing
through the gutters and splashing against the rooftop.

"I know." He whispered, as I continued to kiss along the length of
his jaw.  "I was soaked when I came back from killing.  I stripped
and crawled into bed."

"How happy I am you did." He laughed deep in his throat then
stopped abruptly as I returned to his lips.  For a long time we lay
that way, just kissing the storm continuing outside.  At last I lifted
my head, startled by a sudden crash of thunder and a bright flash
of lighting right along with it.  The storm was directly over us now.
Louis's eyes were a brilliant jeweled green in the flash then back
to their normal rich darkness.  I think I winced at the sight of it
and
he smiled.

"My God, your eyes." Louis whisped, reaching a hand up to touch
the side of my face. I laughed a bit and started kissing him again,
"I was about to say the same thing." I said, my lips brushing his,
my fingers tangled in the soft ebony of his hair.  I felt his hands
sliding over my skin, the muscles of my back. I think I groaned
into the kiss.  His heart was racing now, almost as fast as my
own.  I could hear it so clearly, the deep throb of his blood.

He arched his throat to me, offering himself I knew.  Normaly I
would have held out.  Made him wait.  But it had been a long time
and I had him completely at my mercy now. Here underneath me.
And that was an unusual thing in our relationship.  Believe it or not
he was usualy the one initiating things, pressing me to the floor or
accousting me in the empty streets.  He's not as quiet as he
would have every one believe.

I took advantage of the situation and bit into him, just under his
ear, at the very hallow where his throat met his jaw line.  I could
hear his gasp of my name and then his arms were around me,
pressing me closer to the warmth of him.  He was so very hot
against me!  His blood was coursing through my viens.  I withdrew
my fangs slowly, licking at his throat.

Lifting my head I moved to kiss him again, slicing my tongue on
my own fang and pressing my mouth to his.  I could feel his
fingers sliding through the tangled wetness of my hair.  He
returned the kiss, bitting at my lower lip with his own fangs when
all the blood from my tongue had vanished.  Gently he suckled at
my lip then lay back, his eyes losing the glaze that had covered
them.  Though his breathing was still heavy.

"I missed you you know?" he said in a small voice as he looked
up at me.  "Where have you been? What have you done?"  Ah the
same old questions! I loved it too! Always when I return it's this
song and dance. Where have I been? What have I done? Claudia
used to do it too.  I'd go out for a night on the town and return to
her waiting at the gate for me. "where have you been father?"

I smiled down at my disheveled, green eyed angel.  "I've been
around."  He knew that was code for "I don't want to talk about it"
and accepted it.

"Strange I haven't seen you." Was all he said as I settled more
comfortably under the sheet with him.  I nuzzled against him,
letting the lag of time catch up with me that I had been traveling
against the last few nights.  I whispered things against his ear as I
dozed off.  Things I would never admit to saying if asked outside of
this room. But he was content with that.  He didn't pressure me for
any answers and lay snug and warm against me as I fell into
sleep.