NAME OF SPEC:THE OLDEST FRIEND.
BY:JORDACHE QUADES
E-MAIL:jordax79@hotmail.com

DISCLAIMER:This is a piece of non-profit fan fiction and is not meant to 
infringe on the copyright of Anne Rice or her publishers.

SPOILER:This spec includes characters from Anne Rice's vampire 
chronicles.This spec in particular is set from the tale of the body 
thief,at the part just before Lestat accepts the offer of Raglan 
James.In his book,Lestat made no mention of Armand in this matter but I 
thought it would be interesting to imagine a scene with them.I hardly 
think Armand would care about Lestat and the body thief but I know that 
the relationship between those two vampires is a very intriguing 
one...it is love and hate at the purest level.

SUMMARY:Concerning Armand and Lestat in the offer that Lestat cannot 
refuse..
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                 

The rain fell lightly on the Rue Royale as Lestat approached the gate to 
his flat.He had fed well.There was no cuisine quite like that of New 
Orleans.He could almost taste the sugar cane in the blood.
He always stepped back to look at the way the flat seemed to rise out at 
him as if from a dream.The intricate lace patterns in the wrought 
iron,the glimmer of light behind the silk drapes..why,he could almost 
imagine his bourgeouis beauty sitting in the parlour,reading Webster.
But Louis wouldn't come tonight.Louis had thought it a sick joke to 
refurbish the place.Yet Lestat knew that this what Louis had always 
subconsciously wished for.For that reason,he knew he would see Louis 
here from time to time.It was a wonderful trap he had made for his 
beloved. 
Laughing to himself,Lestat willed himself up to his door.All the locks 
were in place.No one could tresspass his lair.It was all his to enjoy 
until the sun drove them away like rats into the earth.
Striding into the parlour,he froze.
The clouds were passing over the moon at that moment and the room was 
enveloped in darkness.In a wave of shock and anger,Lestat glared around 
the room,finally resting his contemptuous glance upon a figure standing 
in a perfect attitude of serenity and indifference.It blende in with the 
furnishings of the room.
An etheral beauty.A lover and an enemy.Armand.
The name died on Lestat's lips.
"Good evening,Lestat."
It was the master of seduction himself. A vision in black silk. He 
locked eyes with Lestat.
"How very unelegant,how very unlike you,Armand,"spat Lestat,"to show up 
uninvited."
"Oh,am I uninvited?I was not aware that I needed an invitation to a 
place that was once my lair and God knows still is."
"Oh and what do you know of God,Armand?",came the reply.
"I am no stranger to New Orleans,Lestat.Not any more than you are a 
stranger to Paris."
"Spare me the particulars,Armand.I am in no mood for your whining 
tonight."answered Lestat with a scowl,as he dropped leisurely unto a 
black leather couch.
Armand walked slowly around the room,regarding,sucking everything in 
with one breath.
"You obviously had nothing better to do,Lestat.To be so bored with 
eternity that you come here to rebuild the past,that is very 
amusing.Hmm..was it all really like this,your fine french coven 
house?Ah,I can even smell the chrysanthemums....she loved chrysanthemums 
didn't she-"
"Stop it,Armand."
"Ah,now this is even more amusing.You recreate this and you expect to 
simply....conveniently...leave out a part of it.And she was quite a part 
of it,not so?"
"Don't try me,Armand.",said Lestat with another scowl.
"You must bother yourself to think that I even want to,Lestat."
"Wonderful.Then,pray,enlighten me on your appearance this evening."
There was no response and after a moment of silence,Lestat burst out 
laughing.
"Don't let's do away with words just yet,Armand.Your thoughts humour 
me.",said Lestat.
"Then I shall repeat...in words...I don't like what you're involving 
yourself in.I know your plan,I know your emptiness invites you to 
cocncoct yet another explosive rendezvous for us all." 
Lestat erupted into laughter.Sinking further into the couch,he wiped the 
blood tears from his face and studied Armand.
Such a picture of a seraph.An apollo par excellence.How he would have 
courted him if he were a mortal man,if they both were.Ah,mortality.He 
would have it.Sitting up he said,"Ah my oldest friend,don't make me 
laugh so much tonight."
Without waiting for a reply,Lestat added with a smirk,"Oh and don't give 
me that 'I haven't always made you laugh.'expression.Frankly,I'm sick of 
it."
"Laugh all that you desire,Lestat.God knows that you might be the only 
one left laughing at the end of the world."
Lestat laughed harder still."Oh come now,what's this?It tickles me to 
hear "God" in your vocabulary..when did that come about?And that pretty 
sentence,the end of the world....the eloquence is escaping you,Armand."
"Calm yourself,Lestat.I came with no intention of starting a hearty 
reunion party.If you would allow me to continue....."
"Oh this is too much,Armand,"said Lestat,on the verge of another 
fit,"but please...sit down.Don't be afraid to use my furniture."
"How generous of you,but no.I won't waste your time,or more 
importantly,my time.I have come only to tell you that I am disgusted 
with your plans.You startle me with your stupidity on this matter."
Lestat only smiled.
"So why are you here?Why do you care,Armand?"
"Because I once told you,my friend,to remember my warnings,not my 
curses.You quoted me on that in your first damned book."
"Is that so?Don't tell me you dwell on this.It still stings you,doesn't 
it?Ah but you should be grateful I even gave you an entire chapter to 
yourself."
"I would have it that you listen to mw warnings,Lestat.Inevitably,you 
will.Raglan James is your newest playground.You failed at the Gobi 
desert.And now you seek to avenge that.You are blind,you are a mockery 
of us all."
"Alors! This is Bartok to my ears.I find it hard to believe that you 
come to release such nonsense upon me,Armand.Don't be so bored with 
yourself to start analysing my adventures."smirked Lestat,closing his 
eyes and pretending to sleep on the couch.
Armand laughed softly and said,"Don't flatter yourself,Lestat.I have 
only a few sentences for you.You don't need mortality.That is the dark 
trick on you..and perhaps the dark curse on the rest of us.You procced 
with this experiment of yours and be prepared  to become more of an 
outcast than you already are."
With an exaggerated sigh,Lestat rose from the couch and stood facing 
Armand with a wicked little smile.
"What is it,Armand?Do you want to try this little experiment yourself?Is 
that it?I find it hard to believe that you would so sweetly warn 
me.No,that's not it.You want mortality.You have always wanted it.You 
never got enough of it.And now...you want to vhallenge me with YOUR 
plan.Shall we now compete for Raglan James?"
Armand said nothing.
"Young Amadeo,"mused Lestat,"the temptation of Amadeo."
Armand turned his eyes away with a soft sigh.
"What is it?"laughed Lestat,"Have I angered you?Have I disturbed a still 
river in your soul?Your soul is dark and mysterious,Armand,but you are 
no mystery to me.Leave me alone.Be wise and keep out of my path."    
Soundlessly, Armand went to the window,where he seated himself on the 
sill,with his face to the night sky.
"The moon closes its curtains,"he whisphered.With a blank look he turned 
to Lestat and said,"I have fallen at your feet too many times...once 
right here on a rooftop in New Orleans.You won't see me there again."
The curtains blew softly in the wind.Armand was gone.



                     THE END.  


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com