Written in 2000, this story was inspired by characters and situations created by a certain author who discourages fan fiction.

To contact Wiebke (and especially if you would like to link to this site or any of the stories), email wiebke@juno.com.

The next evening the phone rang. I actually jumped in my chair, the sound startled me so. Although I was next to the machine at the time, I did not even look at it. Phone were simply not my responsibility.

It rang once, twice, three times, four times. Finally Benji appeared at the entrance to the living room and dashed to pick it up.

"Hello?" He gave me a sharp look. Why can't you ever answer the phone? "Oh, hello, David!" He paused for David's response. "Formosus? Yes, he's right here." Benji handed me the phone with a scowl.

Awkwardly, I put the device to my ear. "David?"

"Yes. Formosus?" he asked.

I nodded, then realized my mistake. "Yes. Are you really calling for me?"

"Yes." There was a pause and in the background I heard others talking. An unmistakable peal of laughter. It had to be Lestat. "Forgive me, but the others are distracting me."

"It's fine, David. So why the call?" I asked, deliberately trying to sound a tad modern.

"I called because -" and again he stopped, this time for something that sounded like Louis crying, "Non! Non! Non!" before another peal of laughter rang out. "Oh, heavens, let me get it out. I am calling to invite you over. To thank you actually. You were right. Everything is delightful here."

"Are you sure I wouldn't be interrupting anything?" I asked. "I mean, it sounds like you're having a great time."

"We are. And we would like you to join us." More laughter. "See you soon." The phone call ended.

I handed the phone back to Benji. "You're going over... to see David?"

"To see all of them actually," I replied. I reached out and clasped his arm by the wrist. "Please, Benji, don't take this personally. I simply... can't do anything with you. Not now anyway." He nodded and I was relieved to see that he actually was accepting what I said.

After that I went into the bath and dressed myself. I found Marius in his bedroom and let him know where I was headed.

"Planning on staging an orgy, are you?" he asked playfully, reaching out with the boldness of a child to tweak my nipples.

"I'm not sure about that," I replied coyly.

"No, you're sure." Absolutely no jealousy there, he was simply playing with me.

I nodded. "It is a likely thing. After all, as I recently heard said - although I believe this is cliché, as they call it - 'It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.'"

Marius laughed and so I think that I may have finally mastered the art of modern English language jokes. Full of glee, I kissed Marius good bye and went on my way.

My evening at Rue Royale was predictable. Louis received me at the door and there were embraces all around. We sat down and had a friendly chat. David explained how my advice had helped him to finally reach out to Lestat. Now they were all in harmony. No idea exactly why they hadn't been before, but my words to David had somehow made things right.

"Would you like a reward?" Lestat asked me finally. I was about to reply when the blond-haired devil, hardly to my surprise, interrupted me. "Doesn't matter," he said, "you're getting one anyway. We've decided."

How well they know me.

My readers, I hope you too now know me well, from the inside out. No more going on about my day-to-day life. I think you get the idea.

I also hope you agree with my earlier assertion - that despite the current vogue for labeling, I am not a slut. This is one of the main points I want to get across, for it is a key tenet of my philosophy, such as it is. I receive an ample share of pleasure with an astonishingly beautiful group of immortal lovers, but what, and I ask this sincerely, what else is life for? Everyone needs a purpose in life and not only have I found it, but I get to pursue it each and every day! I sing, I dance, I travel, I read, I take the blood, I make love. This is life!

I am blessed, for I know that I am the only one who seems able to do this, to live so freely in this world. Perhaps it is something I was born with. Perhaps it was all the years I spent alone with no companions and then finally trapped under the ground. Whatever the reason, I am grateful for what I have now and I pray I will remain in the bosom of this great family, in the arms of my beloved Marius, for the rest of eternity.

The End

Look for a sequel in early Summer 2001!