Well, I also tried my hands on a Merrick chapter. I didnīt pick up exactly after these....um....how to say it nice....very "interesting" and in noway confusing ....um......oh my.... never thought that I would be ever loose for words.... uh damn it I donīt know the english word for it so I shall be nice and call it narrative, but focused on a part of it that seemed more interesting to me. But, see for yourself.

Spoilers: Itwv-Merrique äh Merrick ( I canīt even spell that stupid name proper...where is the difference anyway?)

Dedictated: To all those brave who are going to buy Merry Rick and acctually read it. (And beside to all those brave that read my crap...)

Characters: David (narrator), Louis, Lestat (minor)

....... Desperatly I shake his shoulders, screaming his name in his face, trying to wake him up. A endless moment he is motionless, completly still, his head lolling back and forth like a ragdoll as I shake him. Fear grips my heart, fear that I have loose him too, but heavy lashes flutter open for a brief moment, revealing dull eyes, just a small, nearly invisible green ring around wide black pupiles, to fall back nearly instantly.

"No, Louis! Stay awake!

Helpless I smack him into the face, his head falling to one side. A painfull moan comes from his throath and slowly his soul seems to come back to his body.

"W...hat..."

His voice is nearly unhearable, more speaking to himself, than to me, maybe not even regocnizing me, for his halfclosed eyes travel to the side, one hand unconcious coming up to brush over the red inprint of my hand on his cheek.

"Louis, Louis, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

I want to shake him again, but before I can touch him he is on his feet, taking a few stumbling steps in the direction of the figure lying on the floor.

A strangled sound comes to my ears as he sinks to his knee, one shaking hand outstreched to touch the blond mop of curls, but stopping mere inches before them.

"No...please...no..let him...go..."

His hand falls back, a white stain against the dark marble floor.

Slowly I step next to him, looking down at his kneeing figure and the body of Lestat, lying soulless on the floor.

As I came here I had found both in this state, my dark brother cradled in the arms of our maker, both bodies motionless. Only in Louisī were traces of concious feelable, barely. But Lestats were deserted, just like after the Memnoch accident. I made it to pull Louis out of his embrace, earning a broken jaw in the action. Lestatīs body still reacted if sensing danger, even in this state, but Louis was limp. I donīt know what made him going back into this state again, this time even taking Louis with him. The only one to give me answer is my dark brother.

"What has happend?"

No answer.

"Louis?"

His shoulders are shaking slightly, a small forlorn sound making its way to my ears, his head are bowed, black, dusty tendrils of hair hiding his face. I sit down next to him, placing a hand on his back.

Once again I ask him, this time softer, my voice only a wispher.

Slowly he turn his head to me and I am suprised to see tears on his face. I have never seen him cry, to be true he seemed most of the time emotionless to me. Bloody tears falling down his face, painting nearly black traces on his ghostly white cheeks. The eyes wide, glazing over, his arms wind around himself, hugging the black sweatshirt closer to his slender frame. A moment we just stair at each other, before he slumps forward, crying on my shoulder.

Two hours later we sit infront of each other, he on the couch, knees pulled up to the chest, his head resting on his knees. Even as he looks at me I have still the feeling that this green eyes look straight throught me, not seeing me at all. The silent surrounding us is nearly deafning, stressing me. Six times I have tried to make him speak, but the only answer I get is a sad look, making me fear that he will burst into tears any moment again. Maybe...even if I donīt want it to be true...maybe he is going insane. The last few years have been torture for him and as far as I know he is the only one of the elders who wasnīt underground. Maybe finally...

"I saw Claudia."

His words strike me like a lightning, taking me by surprise and pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What?"

"I said I saw Claudia. Acctualy I also spoke with her."

His voice is calm, matter of fact, like talking about something like the weather. Cold eyes, emotionless, burned out, like gems, looking at me, waiting for my reply.

"Are you sure?"

"Hm...so sure as one can be."

Interesting. Lestat wrote of seeing Claudia too, before he left his body.

I try to ask another question, but he interrupts me, suddenly speaking in a rush.

"I saw her as I woke up to night, sitting next to Lestat on my bed, waiting for me. She smiled at me, telling me that I should join them. I didnīt know what she meant, rather thought that she wasnīt real, that I was still sleeping. Lestat pulled me to my feet, escorting me out of the house to follow Claudia, who led the way laughing. Like we used to in the old times, as we still lived together. She brought us to the chaple, asking us to join her, being a family again. That this life that we lead now are nothing more than a scenery, that we have become poorly actors like the vampires in the theatre. That we should join her in our true life, should follow her back into a happy time. She reminded us that we once promised to be always there for her, her family, that I would take care of her. We have left her alone so long time. And that I ... that I even started to forget her. We agreed. I donīt know what really happend than, just remember a dark feeling, like something cold touched the very self of me, something pulling me deeper down into unknown darkness. Her laughter was still in my ears, Lestat calling me, but..but you pulled me out of it....Now...I can still hear her, sometimes see her, sheīs right here, accusing me as traitor once again, that I broke my promise again. But this time not only betraying her but also Lestat. I canīt stand it! Since we left the chapel I hear her, her voice in my head. Nagging me to join them. I wont! I want to forget her, but she wont allow it! I...I..."

His last words vanish in a strangled scream, as he burries his head in his knees, his hands tangled in his hair.

"Stop it!"

tbc?

Ok, this wasnīt...really good. I am just bad at writing David...donīt like him. Nonthless c&c is welcomed.

Dani