Chapter 12: Not Alone

Disclaimer: Written in 2001, this story was inspired by characters and situations created by a certain author who discourages fan fiction.

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

Wolfgang groaned and allowed his head to backwards heavily on the back of his chair. "If only I had known!"

"You wouldn't have known," Louis assured him. "I am very discreet, invisible almost. After the book came out, I was actually in hiding."

Wolfgang shot his companion an enquiring look. "In hiding?"

"Yes, from the other vampires who were angry with me for, in essence, exposing us to the mortal world."

"Oh," said Wolfgang, seemingly nonplussed. His eyes veered off as he appeared to be remembering something. "You must have had it hard. I remember that at one point the city was absolutely teeming with vampires. Even I noticed it."

"You did? When was that?"

Again, the searching look appeared in Wolfgang's eyes. "Oh, around... and don't laugh -- around my 225th birthday."

"And when was that?"

"1984," Wolfgang replied, smiling. "Actually it started that year and lasted through most of the next. Vampires everywhere, so blatant that even I could recognize them. I rarely can -- as should be obvious by the fact that I've now been attacked twice."

Louis thought back on those heady days, when Lestat had burst back into his life, filling the airwaves with his videos, telling his story to all the world, and spawning the culture of the Vampire Connection, fledglings flaunting their fangs... until that fateful Halloween concert. That had put an end to that particular chapter of San Francisco history.

He decided to skip the history lesson. "Yes, the city was quite full of... our kind at one time. There was a catastrophe. Most of them were killed."

"Killed?" Wolfgang appeared incredulous. "How?"

"Long story," Louis replied. "Much too long. But many of my kind were killed, not only in San Francisco but all around the world. It was cataclysm." Louis noticed that Wolfgang was wearing a stricken look. "What is it, Wolfgang?"

"I -- I was just wondering, did you lose many of your loved ones?" he asked.

"No, Wolfgang, I didn't. All my loved ones were either saved or... they were already dead."

Wolfgang nodded. "I see. But you have companions now? Other vampires?"

"Yes, I do. Not many, but a few. My maker is one of them. Another fledgling of his also lives in New Orleans. And there are other--"

"Excuse me, did you say fledgling?" Wolfgang asked. "As in... baby bird? A child?"

Louis realized suddenly that of course Wolfgang knew next to nothing about vampires. "Oh, excuse me, yes, I meant another 'child' of my maker. Vampires make other vampires."

"I see," said Wolfgang slowly, his fingers drumming soundlessly on the arms of his chair. "And have you done this?"

Louis was caught unawares by the question. He straightened in his chair. "Once, Wolfgang, only once. That was more than century ago. It was against my will. I was... tricked. Since then, I have vowed. Never again."

Wolfgang thought on this. "Never?"

"Never."

A bitter laugh escaped the Austrian's lips. "It's funny, Louis. You have the opportunity to make immortal companions but you don't, and I wish I had the opportunity but it's not possible."

"Are you sure you would want immortal companions?" Louis asked.

"Absolutely," Wolfgang replied. "It's all I think of."

"Well, I suggest you begin comforting yourself immediately. You have at least one immortal companion."

"And who's that?"

"Louis de Pointe du Lac."