Standard Disclaimers

For all those who are reading

Until the day........sequel to Memories of the night

Smiling I climb up the staits to the first floor, humming a tune. Such a wonderful night, really perfect. The sky is clear, stars sparkling in the velveten darkness, the air fresh, smelling of sun and full of the fragrance of the summerflowers. A perfect night really, perfect to celerbrate with my beloved fledgling. It is only one time that someone reaches his 210 year as an immortal and since I missed his 200 I will drag him out tonight. May to the opera, theater, cinema. Everywhere he wants to go. Just out of the flat. Lately he has spend far to much time alone in his room, time to show him that he is still alive, not dusty and old like most of his books. And later I donīt care if he locks himself into his room, after we have gone out, as long as I am in the same room. David is out for the next nights and may will not be back for two weeks. Much time to spend uninterrupted with my beautiful one. Lately we havenīt done many things together, to be true I havenīt seen him for the last two days. That will change, sure. Now that David starts to stand on his own I will spend most of my time with Louis, I have a promise to keep. In this century we will have each other like never before... And I intend to keep that promise.

I stop before his door, raise my hand to knock against the wood lightly.

"Louis, are you awake? Hey! Lou, come out! We are going into the city. Just the two of us. Louis?"

I try the doorhandle as I get no answer, the door opening soundless, giving way to Louisī room. Unlocked. Thatīs uncommon. Louis normally is very carefull considering his safety, never leaving his door unlocked. I step in, looking around in the deserted room. The bed unused, windows wide open, the curtains billowing gentle in the faint breeze carrying the smell of the garden. He didnīt leave throught the window today? I would have noticed it, if he did. Which mean he wasnīt even here this day, had sleeped outside and didnīt came back by now. For a moment I ponder what to do. Stay home and wait for his return or go out and search for him.

Moments later I am on the streets, stroolling throught the mortal crouds, scanning throught Louis favourites huntinggrounds and hideouts, nothing. I keep on searching, no longer caring where but let my feet direct the way. Just on and on, leaving New Orleans behind and walking over beautiful meadows, flowers brushing against my legs, through the woods, on and on, lead by strings unknown and invisible. Stumbling on and breaking at a clearing. Moonlight falls on grey stone, once white now darkend by the claws of weather and time. Falling on a stoneangel, the wings broken, tendrils growing over the stone, wildroses blooming between dark leafes and thorns. A small building, with broken windows, a cross laying shatterd on the ground, which once were placed on the roof of the small chapel. Pauls, if I am not mistaken. This is the chapel of Paul, build so long time ago by Louis. I remember it. But, that means, I am on the ground of Pointe du Lac, back where once everything started. Without knowing my feet have let me here.

I step over the stones of the cross, going into the chapel, that is only barly illuminated by pale moonlight that falls throught the gaping holes where once has been glass, dust dancing in the air. The hole atmosphere seems unreal, like I have stept into a other world. A world in which magic rules, where the ghosts of past are alive. Slowly I walk throught it, to the fallen and rotten cross, let my fingers brush over the remainings, that are lying at the feet of the altar. Brushing away dust to reveal the small plate with the graving INRI, before I turn round, wanting to leave the place and see a figure kneeing in the hall, the hands clasped together in silent prayer, the head turned to the ground, black waves of hair hiding the face, falling on small shoulders, hide under a white poets shirt, the ruffled sleeves gently billowing in a faint breeze.

"Louis, there you are. Come on. Lets go home. Itīs no good to stay here."

I take a few steps into his direction, but stop deadtrack as he raise his face to look at me. The face of a mortal Louis, gently smiling at me, the cheeks flushed, faintly glowing in a warm inner light, lips soft and red like rosepetals. Beautiful, even more beautiful than as vampire, soft and warm. He gets to his feet, without a sound, going throught the hall to the entrance of the chapel, just stopping a moment to look at me. Green eyes, brillant like emeralds, stairing at me sadly. Sparkels of leafgreen mixing with the color of the deep lakes, vanishing under thick lashes as he turns round again, takes a step an simply vanish. I canīt believe my eyes, in a rush I hurry out of the chapel, looking around.

"Louis?"

There, a faint white glimmer throught the leafes and tendrils, vanishing in the woods. I follow, breaking throught the undergrowth, the shimmer just a few steps ahead. Finally I leave the woods behind, once again stepping on a clearing, this bigger, ruins of a once magnificent building of marble. Now burned down and grey, only reminders, good or bad I canīt tell, mixed feelings for this monument of my past. The place where my love stepped into the darkness. Slowly I go around the remainings, stepping throught the high grass that seems to overgrow everything, heading for the back of it, to the steps.

They are still there, nearly unchanged and sitting on them...

"NOOOO!!!!!!!"

I scream, the loudness of my voice frightening some creatures in the wood, birds flying up distrubed. I fall to my knees, my weight suddenly to heavy for my legs, my fingers clawing into the grass. Sobs rack my body, tears flowing over my face unhold, falling to the ground.

"No...no,no,..no..." I whimper, my hands forming to fist, hitting them helpless against the ground. NO! Please, please donīt! Donīt let it be real! Donīt...

Still sobbing a stumble to my feet, making a few steps to the figure. Beautiful, so beautiful, even now. The long legs gracefully streched out over the stone, the fine body supported by elegants hands, which ly on the steps. The face raised to the sky, a happy smile on the sensous lips. So happy like I have never seen it before. Fine hair brushing against a black sweater which hides nothing else but ashes.

"No..." I cry at his feet. No..why Louis. Why have you done this? WHY? Why do you had to face the sun! Tears run down my face as I lean forward, pressing a last kiss to the cold mouth, the ashes crumbling under my lips, blown away by the wind. I cuddle his remaining clothes, crying in them, the fragrance of him making me cry even harder. Why, why, why!!!!

Images of him come back to my mind, of days long gone. A mortal Louis, stumbling drunken throught the streets of a victorian New Orleans, the youth that searched death as companion. A vampiric Louis, freshly born into the darkness, the spellbinding eyes stairing curiosly into the wonders of the night, him angry, throwing insults at my laughting face, the black hair touseld and the green of his eyes burning, sad, drenched and miserable, hunting rats and resting unpeacefull, laughing happily, spinning around with our daughter, looking lovingly down at her, the love in his eyes as we met in Carmel Valley, a silent laughter echoeing in the air. His laughter and his smile, both so rare. And his last smile he presented the sun, one so happy, I have never saw him smile that way.

I sit there, on the stairs, the same place he sat, still with his clothes, still crying. Why, Louis? Why do you had to go? Why didnīt you come to me? Come to talk. What made you do this? Everything was alright! And now, now you are gone. Gone to never come back. Left me alone.

"Lestat..."

Soft voice, barly audiable, a whisper behind me. I spun around, stair into soft green eyes.

"Louis!"

I hug him, press him against me. Donīt care that I may crush his rips, just hold him close so that he may never leave again. His slender frame pressed against mine.

"God...I thought you were dead...Louis...I thought...god... what ..."

He hushes me, his finger pressing against my lips, while the other whips away bloody tears. His face, so sad, tears brimming in the darkness of the green lakes.

"I...I came to say goodbye."

"What?"

Effordless he pulls himself out of my embrace, his lips gently touching mine as he stands up gracefully. I try to grasp his hand, put mine goes throught him, his body becoming transculent.

"No!"

I am crying again, sitting crumbled on the steps.

"Donīt cry, Lestat. Please. Itīs alright."

"Nothing is alright! Nothing! You...you are dead!"

"Why do you care...why do you cry that much? You have David."

His voice sounds sad, hurt.

"But I donīt love him! I love you!"

Quietness, only quietness follows my admition.

Suddenly a drop falls right before my feet and as I look up I see his face tearstained.

"God, I love you too."

A hug, a kiss, tender longing, his sweetness against my lips, a endless second.

"Louis, it is time to go."

He pulls away, looking to a blond haired boy that stands at the top of the stairs, wearing the clothes of a priest, soft features, holding his hand out to Louis. Slowly he pulls away, leaving me behind on the stairs, taking his place next to the boy which hugs him close. He smiles at me, his frame slowly vanishing.

" I wanted to say goodbye to you and thank you! Thank you for the time you gave me! I will wait for you! One day! I love you! Always!"

His last words, words of love. For the first time spoken, for the first time we both admit it. But for which price. He needed to loose his life before we both let down our pride. Now, he is gone. But one day, one day we will be together again. One day I will say these words into his face without crying, without tears. And he will wait for me, even when it takes all eternity. He will be waiting for this day...

Until than, goodbye, ma cher. Finally find your peace.

I love you.