Disclaimer: Characters belong to Anne. M/M smooching and stuff. Louisians please don't flame me. =P Thanks to Marlena (my own personal Louis) for Beta-reading! Huggies!

"From my stone pillow I have dreamed dreams of the mortal world above. I have heard its voices, its new music, as lullabies as I lie in my grave. I have envisioned its fantastical discoveries, I have known its courage in the timeless sanctum of my thoughts. And though it shuts me out with its dazzling forms, I long for one with the strength to roam it fearlessly, to ride the Devil's Road through its heart."
- The Vampire Lestat

The seat of the wooden booth beneath me was anything but comfortable as I sat in the mortal bar awaiting the arrival of my guest. How can mortals endure remaining in such positions for even a few moments I will never know, and once more I shifted uncomfortably. It was two hours past sunset, surely he would be awake by now and on his way. I stared at the garishly colored frozen drink I had hastily ordered, marveling in the tiny ice crystals and the prismatic quality of the water droplets forming outside the glass. In my time, priests would have proclaimed such production of water from seemingly nothing as a work of the gods. Now I know the scientific explanation, and as I sat in the darkened booth I was almost sorry for the excess of knowledge. Condensation. Amazing to think what explanation mortals can conceive for even the simplest things, as though by giving it a name and a supposed reason they hope to control Nature herself. I smiled to think of what my angel lover would say of these thoughts, then actually chuckled at the entire situation.

Lovers. Imagine!

A woman nursing a noisy baby nearby gave me a strange look and, scanning her casually, I discovered that she thought I had become drunk. I shook my head and could not help but feign a drunken and potentially menacing smile in her direction when next she looked. The reaction was predictable and I chuckled again, this time more loudly, as she hurried away to pay her tab. Ah, I believe he is rubbing off on me.

Well we certainly can't have that now, can we?

I smiled, my face lighting up more than it had since leaving Maharet those many years ago. "Lestat. I was wondering where you were. Have trouble finding a meal?"

He flashed one of his breathtaking smiles in return and once more I am taken aback by the sheer brilliance of his face. The generous and all too seductive lips, the golden halo of hair wafting around his head, the way his leather jacket clings to his body in ways that make me want nothing more than to give in to my carnal delights. He slid smoothly into the seat opposite me, and I couldn't help but brush my lips against his in the darkness of the booth. He smiled, lips turning up around mine temptingly as I pulled him to me. My grip is enough to crush even a two hundred-year-old vampire such as he, but his blood is strong enough so there was no fear, only pleasure as our tongues dueled. Finally he pulled back, sliding his tongue across my lips teasingly before settling into his own seat. "So, Khayman, finally found time for me in your busy schedule? Maharet isn't so thrilled about you having a secret lover I gather? Especially not me."

He smiled a rather sad smile, as though he had expected more from this entire thing. I sighed. "And I suppose your precious Louis would be decidedly happy to welcome a new lover into your long list? Has he been keeping count or does he even care?"

I knew he was hurt and trying to rouse anger in its place. I shook my head. Khayman you are an old fool! I am truly out of practice in the art of socializing, let alone pleasing anyone. I hadn't had a lover, let alone a companion, since Maharet. We had not been lovers long and had drifted apart years ago, yet still she watches over me as though being the most powerful of the tribe makes me some sort of a threat to her. As though by opening her heart to me she has somehow betrayed her duty. But how can I blame her for those few eccentricities? She has been working hard since Akasha's death to keep order in a group that never has and never will have any sense of order or peace. Sometimes I wonder why we even bother with the idea of a coven. Couldn't we just be friends instead of a monarchy?

But what would I know.

"I'm sorry, Lestat. I didn't mean to..."

"Yes well you did so just forget about it."

I tried a new tactic, smiling as I did so. "Look, I'm really sorry. That was rude. But look, I have a surprise for you." I didn't even need to see his face to know I had peaked his curiosity and I tried not to give the game away, keeping my mind locked up tight and my body language untelling. "I thought it was something you'd like so I simply bought it." He was practically dripping with curiosity now and I dropped my eyes, lowering my gaze in a way people on television might do in this modern world. "But... now that I've seen you aren't in the mood..."

"No. Show me please? I'm in the mood!"

I pretended to consider it, then shook my head slightly and in that elderly fashion so often used by Marius to annoy the poor little brat. "No. No. I really don't think so."

"But... I really want to see. Let me be the judge. Khayman, it's not fair to taunt me like this!"

I smiled. "Oh alright. Come here."

He stood and slid into the seat beside me, possibly expecting me to be searching through a pocket or to magically reveal a shopping bag or box. I did nothing, and he stared at me for a long time expectantly before jutting out that lower lip in the pouty way he has and drawing his golden eyebrows together. "Well?"

"Well what?"

Now he was irritated. "My gift! My present! Whatever you brought for me that I am in the mood to receive!"

"I don't have one. Sorry."

He sighed, rolling those gray-violet eyes in a parody of exasperation, and not for the first time I was amazed at the expressive capabilities of such a seemingly chiseled face. "You are perfectly impossible! If the others knew how you act around me, they'd promptly strip me of my title and hand it over to you."

"I'm sure."

"And then you'd be followed by fledgling wannabe's gaping and pleading and groveling..."

"Lestat?"

"... and the women scream 'Oh! It's the vampire Lestat!' PLOP! And they faint all over my feet, and scuff my boots -- my Italian leather boots of all things! -- and I have to just keep walking and hope they don't recognize me but no! Not that! That would be too convenient!"

I grabbed his arm, startling him out of his tirade, and pulled him close. Our eyes met and before he could open his mouth to speak I had brought my lips to his, slipping my tongue in his eager mouth, deepening the kiss quickly. He made as though to move away, but I held him tight and soon his squirming was no more. His arms wrapped around behind my neck and chest and a moan escaped his lips as I pricked his tongue of his empowered blood. I suckled for a moment before slicing my own tongue on one of his wolfish fangs and letting our blood mingle.

So much power enclosed in two simple fleshy vessels, it is truly a wonder that we had not come together before. No danger of accidentally bestowing too much power made us hold back. No fear of crushing our lover nagged at our minds. Our true emotions were allowed to show, and we could adventure together as no other vampires could. We could hear one another's thoughts and coordinate appropriately. I had dreamed of the two of us travelling the world on great adventures. In these dreams we hunted together, crossed oceans together, shared a bed in the earth together. Like Grecian statues buried beneath time and dirt we clung to each other by day while on such trips, but only when we could get away... from our "other interests".

I emerged from me reverie as we pulled back, neither breathless because we had no need of breath, and watched each other. After these many weeks we were still wary of our collective motives. I wondered if he was using me as a means to gratify himself in ways that the far weaker and more fragile Louis could not. He questioned my motives, my staying power, and was afraid on some level that I would hurt him. Human weaknesses. Human fears. And yet they had a potent effect upon our relationship, and I wondered if I could ask the question. Best to try though. Make the best of my chances and all that, and I could no more ignore my feelings than he could quench his curiosity. "Lestat?"

He smiled, obviously enjoying the way I pronounced his name with my ancient Egyptian accent. "Oui?"

I could think of no way to form what I wanted into coherent speech, and then a long ago passage of his biography returned to me and I could think of no better way. "'From my stone pillow I have dreamed dreams of the mortal world above. I have heard its voices, its new music, as lullabies as I lie in my grave. I have envisioned its fantastical discoveries. I have known its courage in the timeless sanctum of my thoughts. And though it shuts me out with its dazzling forms, I long for one with the strength to roam it fearlessly, to ride the Devil's Road through its heart.' I have to know, Lestat, have you found anyone able to join you since that passage was written? Have you walked the Devil's Road with another, trusted another, since Gabrielle left you to your own devices so long ago? Do you think you could still want anyone and ... " I paused for a moment, my conviction wavering before I continued, "And if so... would you consider me?"

He was shocked and a little confused, possibly even embarrassed at having his own words thrown back to him, and I realized I may have made yet another of those annoying social blunders. His eyes misted ever so slightly and I needn't read his thoughts to know it was Louis or David who had come into his mind.

I decided I would take it back, say my good-byes, and leave him before I started any more trouble. Cowardly as it was, I could think of no worse crime than to make this stunning being sad or to cause distress in his heart. I made as though to stand, trying to be swifter than he could follow, but I had forgotten his power and before I could stand fully erect his hand caught my arm in a desperate grip. I cringed, loathe to meet his gaze but it seemed to be what he wanted and so, hardening my heart and features, I looked upon him. His eyes were blood-misted but not from sadness, and he squeezed my arm affectionately as his lips formed the words he wished to say. "I have trusted few since Gabrielle left me. I have trusted fewer since my daughter drove a knife into my heart. But... I think I could trust you."