RPG SPEC: Dagger of the Mind Sequel to "Hollywood Vampires" Parts 72-74, Posts 711-740 --------------------------------------------- Post 711: Antonio As Sting backed up, muttering something about lunch or lack there of, Antonio fought a wave of... un. He had no idea how else to describe it. Unreality, uncertainty, unfocus, unhere, unnow. Un. The entire world seemed to snap back and forth, history, future, present, all tangled into a weave along with the stronger threads of "Them" and "Me". And yet all were tied together somehow, blended like a tapestry. Until there was no past, no future. No Marius, Armand, Gordon or Antoino. All were one. In an instant it was gone. Troubling in the extreme that he had endured something like this. By far more troubling that Gordon had experienced it as well. For Antonio had seen what Gordon saw. A single flash... a Memory. Two of them standing in Senoma, the world about to end. And yet all they felt was the overwhelming love and longing, one for the other. He had seen it. Marius and Armand, about to face Akasha. He had been there, stood where Armand stood, and looked into the eyes of Marius. In a daze Antonio looked around, seeking out the auburn haired vampire, suddenly desperately in need of his deep, assuring gaze. But when his eyes flew to the door he saw not Armand, but Lestat. Dressed in black leather, head to foot, deadly as a coiled viper. On his arm was Louis, which brought a fresh wave of emotion to Antonio's already overloaded senses. He watched as Gordon stared, then straightened, walking in the direction of the entrance. And so it was that he saw Armand and Marius enter, only minutes after Lestat and Louis, and Santino! The entire coven, all counterparts accounted for. Antonio did the only thing he could think of. Softly, but with great depth of feeling. "I want my mother." --------------------------------------------- Post 712: Brad "I want my mother." Tony's mournful plea struck Brad like a blow. "Will I do in a pinch?" Brad stopped at Tony's side, drawing him into a tight hug. He left his arm protectively around Tony's shoulder, hoping that Lestat would reframe from doing anything in a crowded club. Brad did a quick search of the room, looking for Pandora. She was missing in action, and so was David. Brad remembered Pan's tirade against tweed from the previous night, and had a pretty good idea that, considering what he'd been wearing, David was currently undergoing a wardrobe change. "Don't worry, Tony. Lestat won't pull anything... I think. Besides he's busy schmoozing with Sting." Brad looked pleading at Tom who had been hot on his heels when he took off after Tony. "Babe, you said Lestat didn't seem to still be pissed at Tony, didn't you?" Damn it all, all he had wanted was to hang out and have a bit of fun, find a dark corner or two to make out with his lover a little, listen to some killer music and maybe dance some. He couldn't do any of that if Tony was in trouble with Lestat. In the midst of his worry, an idea suddenly occurred to him. Maybe Tony hadn't meant his mother mother. Maybe he'd meant his new mother... who was Lestat's mother mother... He remember his and Tom's phone conversation with his mother before they left the house. A big grin spread over his face. Yeah. Mother power! ::Gabrielle,:: Brad formed the thought carefully, hoping she would receive it. ::Help?:: --------------------------------------------- Post 713: Pandora Pandora ignored David's sputtering and helped him slip into the jacket. "There! You look scrumptious!" she smiled and patted his cheek. "Good enough to eat, my friend." She let her smile grow a little hungrier as the blood rushed through David's veins. He was so tempting! "Pandora really! You can't expect me to go out in public shirtless! I'd be terribly uncomfortable..." "Nonsense. Just pay a visit to the basement club area. The patrons down there are feeling no pain. A sip here and there off those mortals and you won't be able to spell embarrassed, let alone feel it!" Pandora patted the soft lapel of his jacket reassuringly, enjoying the feel of the rich fabric beneath her palm. She snapped her fingers suddenly and dived for her desk. "I know what's missing! Just two little touches..." She rummaged around in her desk drawer until she emerged with a smallish red leather box. She threw back the lid and a dazzling jumble of precious jewels was revealed. She sorted through the loot, picking out several small pieces. Satisfied, she picked two and advanced on David. "Pandora, I'm not wearing any jewelry! I refuse!" David said hotly. "It's just an earring David. Men have worn earring throughout history, you know that! It's a very sedate diamond stud too. Only one carat!" Pandora held out her palm and displayed a dazzling round cut blue-white diamond stud. "It will look divine against your skin, and winking out from among that sinfully beautiful hair of yours." "Pandora, I've already gone without a shirt..." David began. "Please, David. For me?" Pan said quietly. She could see his Britishness surging to the fore. Hard to refuse a lady's request and all that rot and other Briticisms! She knew she had him then, and as she saw his shoulders slump in defeat she swooped on him and had the earring shoved through his earlobe before he could blink. "There! All done!" She grinned at him, then stood on tiptoe and delicately licked at his ear, her fingers straying up his neck to stroke the fine hair that brushed across his collar. "Pandora!" David gasped. "There was blood, David. Couldn't leave it there..." she murmured against his ear. She smiled as he shivered and his hand came up to grasp her waist. Taking advantage of his distraction, she kissed her way down his neck and across the collar bone, her hand sliding inside the jacket and up over his shoulders. She slid the jacket back of his shoulders, effectively pinning his arms. "Pandora, what...?" "One last little detail, David," she murmured, sliding her hands down his now mostly bare torso. She bent slightly and fastened her mouth onto his right nipple, teasing it with her tongue then sucking on it sharply. His flesh was still new enough to react to the expertly rendered stimulation, and in seconds was erect enough for her purposes. "Pandora," David whispered, one of hands moved from caressing her shoulder to wander through her hair. Pandora smiled up at him, then flicked the nipple with a sharp pointy tongue. As his eyes fluttered closed, she swiftly pierced the nipple with the ring she'd been hiding in her hand. "OUCH!" "Don't be such a baby, David." Pandora slowly tongued away the traces of blood before pulling his jacket back up over his shoulders, smoothing it back into place. "Take that out immediately," David said stonily. "No," Pandora said equally stony. "It's sexy." She fingered the small Platinum hoop, tugging on it gently. A equally small platinum ankh dangled from it. "Santino will like this. Trust me!" "I never trust anyone who says, `Trust me,'" David said dryly. "Good for you!" Pandora grinned at him. "I knew you were the sensible one of the family." "Come on now, the party's going on with out us. Trust me, David," she winked at him, "you're going to knock 'em dead!" --------------------------------------------- Post 714: Sting He had only just managed to regain his equilibrium after what had felt like a faint-headed spell when he saw Antonio look up, towards the enterance, and stiffen. Sting followed his gaze at once, taking in the two new comers, two men, tall blonde and brunette, the blonde dressed head to toe in black leather and exuding a sense of 'dangerous ego'. And his companion, walking arm in arm. A cascade of fine, blue-black hair. Pale glimmer of a face, beauty beyond compare. Deadly and yet civilized grace, the face of an angel... No. 'The face of a sinner but the hands of a priest...' That tune again, his own song. And quiet suddenly everything made sense. Antonio was forgotten. Everyone else in the room might as well have disappeared. Sting was in motion, weaving his way through the room, past the tables, his drink deposited on one of them without a backwards glance. His entire focus was locked to that one raven haired figure, and the one beside him. He caught them only a little ways from the door, stepping boldy in front of the pair and making it plain he had no intention of moving. Brilliant green eyes looked at him in startlement, that exact shade and depth of green, he had never forgotten it. He had dreamed of it, the dream finally becoming sound and the sound into song. He took a breath, every ounce of assurance and control flooding back as though any other disturbance of the night had never happened. And with a charming grin and a flourished bow, he found his voice easily. "Good evening, Mssr. de Pointe du Lac. It's a pleasure to see you again." He straightened, then turned to the blonde vision who stood there, just staring at him. The utter absurd reality of it made him want to laugh. "And good evening to you, Mssr. de Lioncourt. It is an honor to finally meet you." On impulse, the sheer relief of finally knowing what was going on bubbling through his veins like a fine wine, he extended his hand. "Gordon Sumner, at your service." --------------------------------------------- Post 715: Louis Louis carefully took the extended hand and shook it. "Mr. Sumner... oh, yes. The musician." His memory was spinning. Had he ever met this person before? One thing was certain, this man known to millions as "Sting", knew him! Louis blinked again. "I am a great admirer of your work." Louis gently released his hand. Sting hadn't even flinched at the icy touch of his skin. He glanced at Lestat. All Louis received was a slight, quizical smile and the lift of an eyebrow. "Are you in New Orleans on business?" Louis smiled politely at the singer. "I'm in the movie." Sting replied brightly, gesturing. "I've been cast as Marius." "Ah! Marius." Louis blinked once more. He couldn't for the life of him remember where they had been introduced. He thought it would be extremely impolite to search this mortal's mind for the answer. He was seriously considering it when he heard Sting chuckle to himself. "You don't remember, do you?" Sting smiled at the vampire. "But then it really wasn't a formal introduction. Merely a chance meeting." Louis was sure Lestat was having a private laugh behind the dark glasses over the entire incident. This mortal, this "Sting" person knew them and what they were... and he wasn't the slightlest bit rattled! "A chance meeting, you say? Hm... well... I have many chance meetings... It must have been a pleasant one, as you survived it." Louis smiled. He was totally intrigued now. "Perhaps you could refresh my memory?" --------------------------------------------- Post 716: Jesse She walked slowly across the floor. What ever vice anyone fancied could be had in this room. A smile flickered across Jesse's face, as she pondered the fact that she was deadlier than any drug that could be had in the entire city. A hand reached out and caressed her thigh as she passed. A tall, androgenous form brushed against her. A man and woman held out their arms to her as she passed by their entwinded bodies as they swayed back and forth on the dancefloor. 'Whoa!' Jesse giggled inwardly, 'This is definitely 'Anything Can Happen Day' in Never Never Land.' "Aren't you a little out of your element, my lamb?" A deep, seductive voice caught her attention. She glanced to the source of the voice. A man with thick silver hair was seated in a booth along the wall. Jesse turned slowly and faced him. His face was concealed under a red satin mask, but his eyes spoke to her... icy blue and heartless. Jesse walked towards him. He held out his hand. "What makes you say that?" She asked, sliding into the booth next to him. "Instincts." He smiled, pouring a glass of champagne for her. "My instincts tell me you are a sweet innocent, here, perhaps on a dare." "Not really." Jesse raised the glass to her lips. "I'm here with... friends." "And where are these ... friends?" He moved closer, his fingers resting on her shoulder. "Around. I left them upstairs. I wanted to experience this room." She gave him an wide eyed look. The man chuckled and draped an arm around her. "Would you like to experience this room with me?" Jesse placed her fingertips under his chin, and let her eyes engulf his mind. "I think the question should be... do you wish to experience me?" She moved into his arms, and began her embrace. His scent was rich and musky... deliciously male, with a splash of expenive aftershave. She felt his fingers pressing against her skin as she sank her fangs into his jugular. The thick blood flooded her being as she drank. Jesse was careful, take enough to sate the hunger, not enough to kill. Pan wouldn't be happy if she left one of her frequent flyers morgue-ready. Jesse drew back from the man. His head lolled to one side, his eyes half lidded. She bent in and lightly brushed his cheek with her lips. "Ciao, darling." She whispered. --------------------------------------------- Post 717: Sting Sting chuckled softly. He could all but see the vampire's mind working, trying to remember where and when they had met. True old world charm and manners. "A hotel," he supplied helpfully. "In the lobby. 1984. You were asking at the desk for any messages that might have been left for you. I nearly bumped into you." He smiled. "I don't expect you to remember. I think you barely even saw me. But I most definately saw you, monsieur, and it made a rather lasting impression." A broader smile, almost a grin. "But then, I assume you've heard the song. A little tribute to that 'lasting impression'." --------------------------------------------- Post 718: Louis "The song... a tribute?" Louis was slightly taken back. "To me?" Sting nodded. Louis was completely at a loss for words. "Oh... I don't know what to say to that! Thank you!" He chuckled self-conciously. "I always thought it was for him... I mean, Lestat..." He pointed a tapered white finger at the figure to his right. --------------------------------------------- Post 719: Sting Sting turned slightly to the silent figure of Lestat, who had stood and watched this whole exchange. Leaning back on his heels a little, he unconciously radiated the same self assured mild-amusement as the vampire. "I wouldn't have dreamt of it," he replied, in answer to Louis but addressing the words to the blonde self-proclaimed Brat Prince. "After all, why compose my own meager musical tribute to a fellow rock star?" --------------------------------------------- Post 720: Marius He did not want to go. Marius did not want to, his feet would not move, his muscles were leaden, he could not take a single step forward. It had *nothing* to do with the building itself, nor the intimidating man at the entrance, not the cacaphony of mortal minds inside, laced throughout by the quicksilver flashes of other immortals, many of them, the entire coven gathered again. That was all nothing. No. None of it mattered. But she was in there. He couldn't feel her, could never break that utter silence, but the silence itself spoke volumes. He didn't need to see her or touch her to know that she was there. And dear gods, how many times had he sworn that he would not come crawling back to her once again? And how many times had he done it, no matter how he swore, or what shields he thought he had errected around his soul? To walk into this building now, HER building, HER home, to calmly walk forward knowing that he would see her, and those dark eyes would turn on him and one of those slender pale hands would beckon and he would loose every scrap of control, could already feel it slipping from his desperately clutching fingers... No. He couldn't do it. Armand's words fell on deaf ears. The gentle hand placed against his back, urging him on, might have been pushing against a brick wall. He simply couldn't do it. It was child's play to simply stop, refuse to move, only feet from that gaping maw of an enterance. Some scrap of dignity, seeking desperately to stall, found words and placed them in his mouth. "What of Lestat? And Louis? Should we not wait for them?" Armand shook his head, smiling gently in a way that was meant to be reassuring. "They are already within, padrone. We should join them." No help for it. None at all. "Of course," he managed, rather faintly. And then, woodenly, numbly, one foot placed after the other, he walked through the door and into Pandora's domain. --------------------------------------------- Post 721: David David and Pandora moved through the crowd, oblivious to the blissful mortals around them. At the end of their destination stood the man they had both loved and resented. He was surrounded by the rest of their family that seemed to gather to offer him thier love and support. When Pandora seemed as though she would stop and turn around, David had firmly put his arm around her waist and urged her on. If Marius could come here, then they too must be strong and meet his move. David had never seen her as nervous as she was tonight. It was probably the reason he allowed her to dress him. Deep down, he knew that Pandora still loved Marius, David did too. One could never stay truly angry with him...there was something about Marius' ancient and kind eyes that made him forget past injuries. And who of them were really responsible for any of it? Perhaps it was only the passage of Time that tore assunder and rejoined all things in an endless cycle of misery and ecstasy. As they reached the end, of what seemed an eternal journey, Pandora let go of him and went to greet her guests. His eye's caught hold of Santino as she embraced him. When she had let him go to move on, Santino had turned to see David. He stared for a moment. Whether it was from contempt or shock of David's appearal, was not to be known. Both Santino's and David's attention turned back to Pandora. He watched as she bravely meet each one of the coven with warmth and-- She sneered at Lestat...as he did at her. Nothing came of it...yet. David would have to keep a watch on that. She moved on to finally meet Marius. "Greeting Marius. Welcome to Pandora's Box." --------------------------------------------- Post 722: Daniel As Jesse left to grab a lite snack, Daniel made his way back to the table to greet Johnny and Peter O'Toole. He stopped in his tracks. There, at the door, stood his maker, his lover, his demon familiar. He had never dreamed that Armand would show up here tonight. Especially since he had no love for Pan. And with Marius?! It must have been some special occasion to get the two of them in here. Perhaps to announce to the coven that they were now wed. It didn't matter, they were here now! Even in black and white Armand was a divne sight! He ran over to the table, grabbed Chris by the shoulders and spun the poor boy around to face him. "My eyes, do they look okay? Are they still real bloodshot?" Chris stared at him blankly, blinked a few times and then answered. "Look fine to me." Daniel pushed him back down and addressed the other two men. "He's no help! Either of you still sober? These eyes look okay or should I go with the glasses?" --------------------------------------------- Post 723: Johnny Johnny blinked when the young man assaulted their table, descending on Chris like a commet and demnading to know if his eyes were alright. When Chris, who was having trouble focusing himself, assured him they were fine the man turned to him and Peter. "He's no help! Either of you still sober? These eyes look okay, or should I go with the glasses?" He waited, eyes rather wide and frantic, for an answer. Johnny was not too certain, at that point, whether the word 'sober' was quite accurate as he had lost track of the number of beers he had downed. He was on his... second cigarette? Or third? He couldn't remember, which was a bad sign as far as sobriety went. But he looked at the man's eyes anyway and helpfully said "They're violet." "But are they bloodshot?" the man demanded. Johnny squinted a little, looking closer. "Yeah... flush 'em out with water, they'll be fine." The man snorted and jammed his glasses back on. --------------------------------------------- Post 724: Peter Daniel leaned in very close next to Johnny and opened his eyes wide. "They still look bad, or not?" Johnny continued to stare without saying a word, wrapped in the "look" of violet fire that snared him into complete submission. Peter became alarmed as he noticed the glossy gaze that swept over Johnny's face and pulled Daniel over to him. The young vampire was probably not even aware of what he had done. "Johnny and Slate seem to be a bit... tanked right now, perhaps you better let me take a look." Peter said politely. He looked into the fledglings eyes -even he felt a little woozy!- There was power in this one's gaze. Deadly power. But mixed with a genuine good nature. "They're a bit blood- shot, but nothing disfiguring. I'd go without the glasses, it's already rather dark in the room." He stopped talking when he noticed Daniel was no longer paying attention to him. He was focused on events that were taking place near the entrance of the club. Peter turned around to take a look. So all the family is here! Peter thought. "Yes, it would seem you are correct." Daniel said picking up the thought. "Thank you." He said absent mindedly and he headed off to were the action was. He brought no attention to himself, he simply leaned against the wall, put his hands in his pockets... and watched. --------------------------------------------- Post 725: Louis Louis could feel the dangerous undercurrents flowing from Armand and the uncharacteristic disquiet in Marius' soul. He could feel a spat brewing in the least... and all out war at worst. With a charming smile, he placed a hand on Sting's shoulder and turned him toward the milling group of guests. "Why not sit down and have a meal? We will talk later. I am most intrigued as to where our meeting took place. Why not come over to our table... later this evening." Louis said, pleasantly. He watched as Sting made his way to a table and sat down. This gentle mortal taken out of harm's way, Louis turned his attention to Marius... and Pandora. --------------------------------------------- Post 726: Pandora She wondered if David knew he was the only thing that kept her moving. He had seen them all the same moment she had, and while he seem almost reluctant to go forward, he kept going - and kept her going as well. Left to her own devices she would have simply stopped. Stalled. Froze. Quit. Ceased. But here they were, meeting and greeting, and there was no help for it. She's couldn't freeze up now.. Brad was in an uproar about Lestat being in the same room with Antonio and Louis, Gordon seemed to have discovered the truth in her absence, and here stood the rest of the family, arriving unannounced and certainly unprepared for. She turned on a serene smile and, letting go of David, drifted through the group, moving to Santino first. As always, he stood a little aside and apart from the rest. "Tino, it's about time you showed up. We've been missing you." Pandora hugged him and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. ::I'm warning you, Monsignor, if you don't stake your claim on the luscious David Talbot, and definitively, I shall be forced to make off with him for a century or two! You can thank me for that outfit he's wearing later.:: Pandora moved next to Louis, "Louis, my dear. So glad you could visit my little club. If, there's anything you need, cherie, let me know." "Lestat," Pandora nodded as she moved past him... to Armand. "It's good to see you, little one. I was worried for you during your troubles. I did what I could to keep your Daniel safe and well while you were dealing with him," Pandora again nodded her head in Lestat's direction. "I think he'll be fine now, as he has much to occupy his mind." The wished there was someone else to greet, but there wasn't. She couldn't put it off a second longer. Slowly her head turned and her eyes lifted to meet those the color of a hot summer sky. "Greeting, Marius. Welcome to Pandora's Box." --------------------------------------------- Post 727: Marius "Greetings, Marius. Welcome to Pandora's Box." She was right there. Right in front of him, he could have reached out to touch her. When she had sailed into the room with David his entire stomach had done a nauseating lurch, and had tightened with every step forward that she took until he was positive he would be ill. He had stood frozen in place, watching her greet the others, the entire coven gathered, all the varied little mortals, and then finally approaching him. Last. Of course. That was the way of it. And no kind words or endearments here... those had been dispensed with a long time ago, and if he wished them now he would have to earn them, perform for her pleasure. Just a cool and distant greeting. He could feel Armand's hand tighten against his back, but it meant nothing. The entire room meant nothing, and his entire universe had shrunk to a pair of exotic, liquid brown eyes and a cold pale face. "Pandora," he managed, his voice tight and strained in his own ears. So much harder to speak, when it was not to the dim and glassy gaze she had turned to him those years ago on Night Island. No, this was truly Pandora, the other had been only a shell. This was his first fledgling, his mistress, his first great love in all of her fiery glory. And he was helpless to keep from burning himself in her inner fire once more. The words came slowly, almost unwillingly, polite and ordinary words. "It's... been some time. I am glad to see you well." --------------------------------------------- Post 728: Lestat World? What world? What world, what club what anything? Lestat's eyes saw only one thing. Marius. It didn't matter who he was talking to. Lestat did not care. Not while he watched the eyes of his friend/father/should have been his maker and knew that those eyes reflected pain. Lestat did not like pain. Not in those he loved. In fact, he disapproved of it quite strongly. And the disapproval of one Lestat de Lioncourt was never, the recipients of it could tell you, something pleasant to get. Lestat gave the bitch just a few more minutes before he would step in. But only because Lestat liked the look of sheer terror in his victims' eyes when he pounced on them in the very second they felt most --------------------------------------------- Post 729: Sting The tension level in the room had escalated a thousand times the moment Ms. Pan - who could not possibly be any but Pandora herself - had entered the room. The current that arched between her and the door had made him turn and look... and stop. Louis was saying something pleasant and had placed a cool hand on Sting's shoulder, turning him away from the grouping of vampires near the door and pushing him slightly towards the dining tables. Saying something about talking later, but none of it mattered. He went, his feet moving on automatic to sit at a table, but his eyes never left the pair by the door, newly entered into the club. Beautiful, breathtaking auburn haired boy, face of a true angel, surely not old enough to enter into a place like this. The green of his shirt picked out the highlights in his hair and the curls cascaded over his shoulders. Flicker, flashes, those same curls tumbled out across white linen, the soft, silken feel of them wrapped around his fingertips, heat and hidden depth in those dark eyes. 'Amadeo', his mind echoed, and it never even occured to him to doubt it. This was Armand, this was Amadeo, this was death masked behind the ultimate beauty. And beside him... Sting could barely stand to look at the other. Still, almost stiff with the tension around him, tall and commanding and utterly... inhuman. And yet all too human. An immortal man. He stood still as Pandora approached him, and the tension was entirely between them, a cable that drew them together almost visibly. Marius. This, without question, was Marius. Whom he was to portray. And just looking at the man made Sting's gut wrench and twist, deja-vu, looking into a mirror and seeing another pair of eyes reflected on top of and within his own. But he couldn't look away. And then Pandora turned at last to greet her maker and he had seen the small emotions flicker across that still and impassive face, impossible tiny movements in an ivory statue. And Marius had slowly and inexorably come alive, replying, impossible to hear from where he sat but he knew it was just polite talk, nothing more... and his world fractured for a second and he could hear that rich, deep voice that he would forever try imperfectly to mimic, the words flowing in a rush of consonants and vowels, pleading, desperate, and though the words slipped away like sand he knew the meaning behind them and felt, for one dizzying instant, the burning terrible desperation and pain that they came from. And then the world came back to focus and he was tense, dizzy, no more then a lone and insignificant mortal watching raptly as a group of elegant and beautiful but very VERY deadly creatures talked amongst themselves. --------------------------------------------- Post 730: Pandora "The first time ever I saw your face, I felt the sun rose in your eyes, and the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave..." the words from a long forgotten song drifted through her mind as she looked at him. Yes. The sun, her sun, rose in his eyes. Hot, blue-white eyes, like the sky over the desert when the sun was at it's peak. Each time she saw his face was like the first time. His voice struck her like daggers, and she bled. Her shredded heart bled. "Pandora." No one ever said her name in quite that same way. A plea, a curse, a caress all wrapped up in three soft syllables. "It's... been some time. I am glad to see you well." Not glad to see her, but glad to see her "well." "Yes, Marius. I've been...well...for a while now. No need to concern yourself. I've been keeping myself busy, looking after the children. I don't have to tell you what a job that can be. It certainly keeps one busy." Her smile was just a slight creasing at the corners of her eyes, and the corners of her lips. "Please, all of you, avail yourselves of the amenities of my establishment. There is music and dancing, and all manner of earthly delights. But if you will excuse me, I must see to my guests." Pandora turned away, unable to bear it any longer, only to pause, looking back over her shoulder at him. She studied his calm face. She knew that tight control well. So careful he was, so constrained. She moved back to him, stopping close, very close. "It is good to see you as well, Senator." She smiled softly at that old, old joke, and leaned in to place the lightest of kisses against his lips. "Oh, and Marius, please try to keep that one," another toss of her head in Lestat's direction as she moved away, "marginally under control. He's not the youngest anymore by a long shot, and the fledglings don't know where to turn when he gets up a head of steam." With a real smile at Louis and Armand, she was gone - off to settle Brad down and check on stray actors. So she was really fleeing him. So what. It was better than pulling her hair out by the roots and screaming 'till she had no voice. She'd done that before, more than once, and it had not done her one bit of good. She could still not get him to see her, just Pandora. Not lover, or fledgling, or object to be worshipped and later placed under glass and maintained like some priceless, ancient vellum. Just Pandora, the woman who loved him and always would. For the rest of her days. --------------------------------------------- Post 731: Marius Pain ripped through him. Surely it was not possible to feel this much pain and remain standing, facing her, watching her turn and walk away from him, dismissing him yet again. Surely not. Yet he was doing it. And her voice, that soft, smooth, rich voice... it had ripped him to shreds with every syllable. Cool and easy dismissal - "Yes, Marius. I've been...well...for a while now. No need to concern yourself." No need for him, no need for her to even tell him she had risen, no need at all. And then she had turned away, telling them she must see to her guests, and he, her slave, could claim no more of her time at all. Of course not. He never had. She had turned back, just for an instant, and his traitorous heart had leapt so painfully in his chest, hoping against hope. "It is good to see you as well, Senator," she had said, a smile curving her lips, and had leaned in to give him just the lightest kiss. Exquisite ecstasy, the brief touch, and then she was gone again. Mocking him, the old jokes, throwing them in his face for all to see as she turned away once more. Something else, about Lestat who hovered close, and then she had truely turned away and was LEAVING him, dismissing him once again, nothing, less than nothing, meaningless to her. And the pain ripped through him, as fresh as the night she had first left him, all those many years ago. He actually stumbled back from it, one faulty step, catching himself against Armand's hand. And then, pain driven, surging forward, hand outstretched, reaching, grasping, the whisper of ultimate pain and self betrayal on his lips, breathed almost soundlessly into the air. "Pandora..." Don't leave me. Don't leave me again. Don't turn away. Please, Gods, don't do this.... But it was too late. She was gone, yet still the pain drove him, and it hurt all the more to reign it in, to keep from screaming out her name and throwing himself down once more at her feet, sobbing, begging... the others eyes on him, witnessing that final and ultimate defeat. Dear gods, no. Please no. And by some miracle he managed to not do it, to stop himself, letting her go even as his heart and soul dripped out, invisible life's blood running away upon the floor, tracked by every step of her delicate feet. He was nothing. Nothing at all. And in the empty silence of his heart, the pain screamed. --------------------------------------------- Post 732: Lestat Words were spoken. It did not matter what they were for he didn't hear them. But he saw. He saw Marius's pain in that fraction of less than a second before his father could hide it again. Then he saw that Armand was with Marius and ready to take care of him. Good. Lestat liked being able to focus. Then he saw her and made a line straight for her, standing in her way faster than the mortals filling the club could see. His voice, beautifully accented, was cold enough to chill the Gobi. "What did you do?" --------------------------------------------- Post 733: Jesse In the flicker of an eyelash, Jesse was standing next to him, slipping her arm through Daniel's, leaning against him, raising on her toes to touch her lips to his cheek. "Hi..." Her warm lips pressed against Daniel's cheek. Jesse felt his arm creep around her waist and tighten. "What's up?" "Armand's here..." Daniel whispered."...with Marius, Louis and The Brat Prince." They watched as Pandora turned and sashayed away from the dazzling quartet of vampiric beauty. In the next instant, Lestat had placed himself in the path of their hostess. "What did you do?" They heard Lestat's voice... controlled, tinged with ice. "Oh... my... God..." Jesse breathed. "Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets..." Daniel covered her hand. "Five bucks on the blond rocker..." Jesse whispered. "Safe wager, Jess..." He grinned. --------------------------------------------- Post 734: David David's heart sank as Lestat made his move. Pandora had done nothing to Lestat... except blow him off, which might be considered a capital offense to the Brat Prince. Still, to the rest she had been the perfect hostess. She had remained much more composed and controled than David thought she would be. To upset her now would be a big mistake. "What did you do?" Lestat sneered at Pandora. David intercepted Lestat and the startled Pandora, and stood between them. "Lestat, I'm glad you're here, I've been meaning to talk to you for quite some time now." "Not now David!" Lestat stammered. David remained stern "Oh I think now would be the perfect time." --------------------------------------------- Post 735: Daniel Daniel's grin fadded as he noticed David jump between Lestat and Pandora. If David had gotten involved, things were far more tense than he first anticipated. He tighten his grip on Jesse, careful not to take his eyes off the situation. "You think we should start evacuating the place?" Jesse asked, half joking, half fearing the answer was yes. "I'd be ready to yell 'fire' at any minute." He replied. --------------------------------------------- Post 736: Lestat Lestat's eyes never left Pandora's, nor did his posture change one hair. The only thing which changed was the sound of his voice, which became so quiet and deadly calm as to make the noise of the club fade into silence. "David, I am talking with Pandora. You are standing in my way. Rethink this decision before I challenge your claim to immortality." --------------------------------------------- Post 737: David "My claim on immortality, Lestat? That was something you saw to, not I. And you are welcome to take back anything you did not wish to give me." David said these things with a calm voice that masked the fury that was now raging inside of him. He spoke softer now, lower so that only another immortal could pick up his words. "This is niether the time nor place. This establishment is Pandora's and she has welcomed all of us here. Whatever is between Marius and Pandora, is their business and doesn't need two-thousand years plus us to complicated it further. Please Lestat! Do you think Marius wants to watch a battle between you and Pandora? Don't you think enough has happened already? --------------------------------------------- Post 738: Lestat Lestat's eyes still did not waver from Pandora, nor did his posture change, but suddenly, subtly, there was a change. If David had meant to talk to his friend, that chance was gone. The Vampire Lestat stood before them both now and had sighted his victim. Anyone standing in his way was expendable. But first, a final warning. His voice was quiet, almost a caress. "David, go away." --------------------------------------------- Post 739: David David had played the gambit and lost, Lestat would not back down. He had seen this look in Lestat's eyes before. The decision was made, there would be no arguing. With that, he simply said, "No." --------------------------------------------- Post 740: Marius Lestat. Of course it would be Lestat. Newly acknowledged child of his heart, flashing into the midst of them like a streaking comet and bristling like a lioness over her only cub. For him. Protecting him. It took Marius' breath away. Violence and tension hung on the air like a scent, and the feel of it forced his own pain away, submerged it beneath the cover of the statesman and diplomat, the peacekeeper, the Keeper of Those Who Must Be Kept. He had been that too long to abandon it now. Before thought could even be registered he had let go of Armand, surged forward the few quick steps needed, and interposed his own body between that of his son and his former lover. "Stop it." He barely recognized the voice as his own. Tight, strained, but somehow steady. Almost cool. Low and forceful. The hand he held out to physically stop David was rock steady and he could feel the tension of keeping his expression just as smooth. Only the hand that reached behind, lightly touching Lestat's chest, betrayed him. It trembled, placed against the slow rise and fall of Lestat's breath, the small shivers working down his arm and out through the palm and fingers of that traitorous hand. But his voice was still controled, though how he did not know. He heard himself speaking the words almost by rote, assuming the mask of elder even as his entire body still ached with the pain. "I will not have bloodshed between us. I will not have fighting! Leave it be." --------------------------------------------- [ Back ] [ Home ] [ Next ]