RPG SPEC: Hollywood Vampires Part 15, Posts 421-450 _______________________________________________________________________ Post 421: Armand and Marius Armand and Marius made their way across New Orleans to the set of the Vampire Lestat. Turmoil boiled all around them, as though it were an ants nest, recently stepped upon. Armand looked around in confusion. "It wasn't like this before... was it?" "No." Marius replied at once. "Though I can only imagine what losing Tom Cruise did to the production." "Not to mention Louis and Lestat." Armand agreed grimly. "This can't be easy for Antonio." "Speaking of which..." Marius nodded slightly to the left. Armand looked to see Antonio and Gabrielle in an animated discussion. Gabrielle appeared nervous, almost frightened. "I would have thought it to be the other way around." Armand said thoughtfully as they approached. "I thought she'd be ranting, and _he'd_ be frightened." Then he caught the end of her words. "...If you only knew how much I wanted to do it. You may be asking the wrong vampire." Her words disturbed him, though he wasn't sure why. He made no attempt to shield his presence, as he normally did, but rather walked directly to them. Gabrielle saw him and her eyes widened - her shields immediately slamming into place. He favored her with a long, measured look. "Good evening, Antonio. Gabrielle. I trust we're not intruding?" _______________________________________________________________________ Post 422: Gabrielle and co. "Oh God...what have I gotten myself into?" Gabrielle murmered to herself when she saw Armand walking their way. She slammed every shield she had into place. She did not want Armand picking up her thoughts right now. She could feel his presence as he continued walking towards them, a strange tingling sensation taking over as she glanced between Armand and Antonio. "Good evening, Antonio. Gabrielle. I trust we're not intruding." the voice said softly. "Not at all." Gabrielle commented, looking around for someplace to hide. She took a step back from the puzzling Antonio and towards Marius, she heard his voice in her mind, :: Gabrielle, you look like you've seen a ghost. :: She stared at him, :: I might have. :: She turned her attention to the two standing merely feet apart, studying each other with extreme curiousity. Antonio cleared his throat, "Armand it is a pleasure. We were just disussing you." Gabrielle watched as Armand's expression stayed in place except for one eyebrow that arched in response. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 423: Antonio and Armand "Armand," Antonio said, feeling as though he had been caught doing something illegal, "it is a pleasure. We were just discussing you." "Oh?" Armand replied, his voice as carefully neutral as his expression. His gaze flickered momentarily to Gabrielle. "With all of the events happening around us, how is it that I was the topic of discussion?" If anything, Gabrielle's eyes grew wider and she took another step toward Marius. It was Antonio who answered. "Gabrielle told me of Lestat's disappearance. It must be highly upsetting for you." Armand raised both eyebrows at that. "You really think so?" "Oh yes." He had unconsciously dropped into "Armand" mode, his voice and motions perfectly matched to that of the vampire. "Lestat drives you to passion. This I have known for years. As he said, I read between the lines." A dangerous stillness eminated from Armand. "Passion may be dangerous at times." he answered at last, his voice barely above a whisper. "True." Antonio replied, equally as soft. "But even in the fires of hell... there may be pleasure." Armand moved like lightening. At once his fingers tangled in the actor's hair, forcing him to his knees before him. He abandoned words for pure thought, boring into his mind. ::Who are you?:: he demanded. ::Open to me. Show me your thoughts:: Against such an onslaught most vampires would have stood defenseless. Antonio never stood a chance, nor did he desire one. At once he gave over to Armand, matching his stare. ::You tell me!:: He answered in return. ::Who am I? And who are we, to be connected as we are?:: Armand pushed harder, delving deep, past the surface memories, into his childhood. Then beyond, further, digging deeper still. Antonio's eyes grew wide and he stiffened under the vampire's hands, and still Armand probed - searching. Antonio began shaking. He raised his hand to clutch at Armand, rather than push him away. Finally, with a shattering force that ripped cries from them both, Armand broke through the final barrier. He saw thundering hooves all around him/them... and heard the scream of a child. With sick facination he watched Antonio's memories pour forth... centuries old. He watched his life replayed in excruciating detail - until the night he was brought before Marius. After that, there was nothing but a void, lightened by only the most recent of memories, of life in Spain, his career, his move to America, two disasterous marriages... and always vampires. A deep interest in the theatre, an intense love of life, a passion for beauty and sensuality. Finally, trembling, Armand let Antonio go. When contact was severed Antonio dropped like a rag doll at his feet. Armand stood only slightly longer, before he sank beside him, unconscious. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 424: Gabrielle and co. Gabrielle did not hear herself scream, or least she didn't think so. All she felt was the tightning of her chest, the sound rising in her throat. All she could think about was stopping Armand. She was rivited in place and when both had broken the final barrier, the one that no mortal or immortal should ever break. It was as if she watched the whole thing in slow motion, her screams hardly heard to herself came out in one long moan. She could feel the heat of her blood tears screaming down her face. The most horrible thing about it was that she was still standing....even though she had felt it all. She feel to her knees inbetween the two, not knowing which to attend to. Marius made the decision for her as he dropped beside Armand and cradled him in his arms. She alternally took Antonio in her arms, pressing his head to her chest, rocking him back and forth. She turned to Marius and practically screamed, "What do I do....How can he survive that, how can EITHER of them survive that....." She brushed Antonio's hair away from his face and turned to Marius, the madness threatening...the madness brought on my being connected to these two creatures, "I'm going to do it.....there isn't another way." ______________________________________________________________________ Post 425: Marius and co. Marius tensed as he saw Gabrielle draw Antonio into her arms. He held Armand's limp form in his own arms, very gently. The stillness of the slight weight had made his heart skip a beat, his lungs seizing up for several dreadful seconds until he had felt the small, almost imperceptible spark of life within the body he cradeled. The entire scene had shocked him to his core; the moment when Armand had broken through Antonio's mind, the wash of memories spraying out like droplets of liquid fire from an eruption that spanned centuries. He had felt it all from the mortal, battering at him, and when it had abruptly cut off his first and only instinct had been to dart to the fallen form of Armand. Now he forced his attention away from the body he held to the one in Gabrielle's arms. He saw her indicision and the desire that burned in Antonio, drawing her in like a helpless moth. His thoughts cracked out like a whip against hers; ::Gabrielle! Wait!!:: But even as the words leapt out he could not have said whether he meant to stop her, or assist her. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 426: Antonio and co. Antonio moaned, low in his throat. He felt arms around him and remembered being held. Held too often, with awful familiarity. With a hoarse cry he woke, trembling in Gabrielle's arms. At once he looked around, wildly searching for Armand. When he saw Marius holding the still form, he moaned again. "Is... is he...?" "He's not dead." Marius answered gruffly. Antonio relaxed at once, but could not stop shaking. Without thought he turned into Gabrielle, letting her draw him closer without protest. _____________________________________________________________________ Post 427: Gabrielle and Antonio "Antonio..." Gabrielle whispered, brushing the hair away from his face, he trembled violently in her arms. The sight of one so powerful reduced to this frightened her. It only served to remind her of Armand's powers. He had ripped Antonio's mind apart, he would never be the same. No mortal can go through that. Suddenly, it didn't matter what Marius thought or if Armand cared. She could not be frightened anymore, it was his, if he chose to take it. If not..... She tightened her grip, drawing him closer to her, so close she could feel his ragged breath on her face, "What he has done....you shall go mad unless...." she took in a deep breath and pressed a light kiss to his forehead and stared deep into his eyes, "It is yours, if you choose to take it." _____________________________________________________________________ Post 428: Antonio and Gabrielle Antonio felt as though he were drowning, the memories clawing at him. Then, suddenly, he saw eyes of sapphire blue above him, the face of an angel. She whispered to him... offering salvation. "... choose to take it..." she said gently, kissing him. "...yes..." he croaked. "... please... I choose..." he could speak no more. He could only look up into the eyes so close to his own and silently plead for salvation. _____________________________________________________________________ Post 429: Gabrielle and Antonio Gabrielle heard his words, his acceptence of the Gift. She breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing what laid in store for either of them. She glanced up at Marius once, who nodded, and then she never looked back. She turned back to Antonio, gazed deep into the liquid eyes, she heard his pleas to be saved and she put a singular finger to his lips and whispered, "I shall grant your wish....shhh. Listen to my words, concentrate on the beating of my heart, it is the sound that shall bring you through." She inhaled and it brought the hunger and desire she was looking for. She could smell the blood, the mortal blood which called to ever fiber of her being, the smell that would bring her to this. She paused for a moment to let the hunger crest. She pulled Antonio to her so that they were pressed tightly together, she kissed his lips lightly, feeling him shudder beneath her touch. She trailed soft kisses down from his lips, along his jaw and then slowly to the neck. Her lips rest on the pulsating vein that was becoming too addictive to ignore. She kissed it lightly, hearing Antonio moan softly. She pressed his back and brought her hand around his neck, holding him in place, she whispered, "I wish it could've been more than this, cher. I love you." With those words dying on her lips she drove the two hot shafts into the vein, feeling Antontio arch up against her. And they came, the memories and they were a mixure of Antonio and *him*..... People and events passed before her eyes, blinding her, becoming lost in them. They surrounded her, swirled in an endless cycle as fierce as the force of hurricane winds. His mind being shattered open by the immortal kiss, the fragments flying in every direction, piercing her with the ferociousness of glass. She witnessed his birth, his childhood in Spain, the people he loved and worked with but always Armand....always pain. It threatened to attack her this shattering pain being transmitted. As if Armand was causing it himself. She suddenly realized that she was not only reliving Antonio's life, but Armand's as well. She saw every moment of Armand's mortal life mixed with parts of Antonio's. She could feel the life passing out of Antonio, slowly like the sand in an hourglass. She pleaded with him, :: The heartbeat, concentrate on the heartbeat! :: She could feel his strength, his will to survive encompassed her. She watched and felt his amazement when they had met, the love he felt for her....for them. And then final blow that she had been waiting for came, Armand's attack. It was enough to almost make her stagger, the hurt which shot through her being. She pressed Antonio closer than humanly possible, his warm blood still flowing through her veins. She felt his mind being ripped apart by Armand, the memories that were so deep that they were not meant to be viewed. The feeling of violation and ecstasy that had ripped through Antonio....the feeling of euphoria. And then came the memories of the blue eyed angel.... It was nearly at an end, she could hear his heart slow dangerously. She was reluctant to stop, afriad of what would happen. Slowly, she withdrew her fangs and Antonio shuddered. She said softly, " Concentrate on my voice. Listen to it. You must take this...." With a deliberate guesture, she tore a small wound in her wrist and held it above the glassy-eyed Antonio. She let the liquid fire drip into his lips, drop by drop, intoxicating him until he latched onto her wrist and began to pull. She moaned, the wave of passion begining, the feeling of the blood flowing between them lifting her to another plane. The wave that crashed upon her violently, shattering her walls and leaving her mind open. She whispered, "Yes, mon Antonio....drink, be strong..." _______________________________________________________________________ Post 430: Antonio He felt the void reach out to claim him. It would be so easy... to drift into it. To be lost forever and forget... but somehow, he could not. There was something he must do. He promised he would not - that he would listen. So he tried as the beating became fainter. He did not taste the drops which fell upon his lips. He knew nothing of them. But his body knew. One moment he was passive, waiting for death. The next he had latched on to the lifeforce of his darling, his creator... drawing her essence into him with feverish haste. When the blood was wrenched from him he cried out at its loss, reaching for it instinctively. Gabrielle caught him, held him close. Eyes closed, his breath came rapidly now. He feared looking around him. What if the stories were just that - stories? Legend. What if the world appeared exactly the same? Gabrielle caressed him lovingly, whispering words of comfort. Her voice! Had the most sublime music ever seemed as sweet? It was pure, the sound of bubbling water from a hidden stream. "Open your eyes, love." she urged gently. "Look around." He shivered, then did as she asked. He opened his eyes and saw as a vampire. At first he could not focus. The world was the same, and yet... the bark of the tree is what he noticed first. Never had he realized that bark had such depth! Such intricate pattern! Even at night, tiny insects scurried up and down. He followed the trail of one into the grass. Had grass ever been this green before? It had been mown some time ago... the edges rough from the blade. In wonder he ran his palm over the frayed top of the grass, watching as it moved beneath his hand. Gentle hands guided him. "There will be pain, love." she whispered. "Terrible pain. But it will not last long. I promise. And then your new life will truly begin." Pain? The thought was quickly lost in the tidal wave of new sensation. He looked at the tree again, following its branches up... into the sky where the moon glowed like pure silver. that such beauty could exist in the world had never occured to him and he wept silently. Suddenly he doubled over, his muscles cramping violently. It was as though his new nerves had been touched by pure fire. Gasping, he leaned forward, supporting himself on his hands. Gabrielle was there once more, holding him, comforting him as best she could. He leaned into her embrace gratefully as the second wave hit him, leaving him weak and gasping. In a daze he looked around, seeing Marius watching silently, the still body of Armand still cradled gently in his great arms. At once his pain was forgotten. Armand... the face of an angel, the soul of a demon. "I can feel him!" Antonio gasped. "He... Marius, help him." Marius' eyes widened. "Help him how? What can you feel?" "He is lost." Antonio shivered again. "He.. is lost." ______________________________________________________________________ Post 431: Gabrielle and co. Gabrielle's eyes widened as Antonio proclaimed that Armand was lost before doubling over with the horrible pain of mortal death. She held him in her arms, whispering to him softly. It was then when the painful realization came over her that she would never hear his thoughts again. And at once, Armand came back to her, "The dark trick never brings love, only the silence" She shivered as she looked down upon Armand who was helpless in Marius' arms. She thought to Marius, :: Marius, if he awakens....I don't know how he'll react to me, to Antonio. We will need your help if he lashes out. :: She took Antonio in her arms, holding him as the death pains came and went. His thoughts were most obviously locked on Armand, he was still linked to him. Now more strongly than ever before. She told him, "Watch how far you go into Armand's mind. It is too early. He will drag you down with him if you are not careful." Antonio nodded and Gabrielle implored the unmoving figure of Armand, :: Break free, cher....come back to us.:: ______________________________________________________________________ Post 432: Marius and co "He is lost..." Antonio's words pierced Marius to his soul. That this fledling, still wracked by the pain of his own death, could tell more of Armand's state then Marius could was more then irritating. And the words themselves were horrible, they left him cold inside, made him hold the limp body closer to himself. Gabrielle darted a quick glance to him, to Armand, but her attention was forced back to Antonio as he shuddered with another of the death seizures. Useless to split her attention in such a way, better if she concentrated on this, her first fledgling. And better if Antonio had distance between himself and Armand, Marius could feel the link between them becoming stronger. "Gabrielle," he said softly, and then, when she didn't answer, repeated it louder. "Gabrielle." Her eyes flickered up to him, wordless question in her thoughts. Marius nodded his head towards Antonio, who crouched, doubled over, in the grass. ::Take him away from here, Gabrielle. I will see to Armand.:: He indicated the bustling set with a jerk of his chin. ::Too close to all of that, you'd do better to take him somewhere quieter.:: Gabrielle hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded. ::Yes. But... You? Armand?:: ::I'll take him back to our rooms. If there's any change, I'll let you know.:: So saying, Marius rose to his feet. Armand's body was only the slightest weight in his arms. With a last look at Gabrielle and Antonio, Marius rose into the night air. Away from them, his attention returned to Armand. "Amadeo," he whispered softly, looking fearfully down into that still and empty face. "Come back to me, my love. Please, come back..." Never before had he cursed the silence between them so much. The pain in his heart was almost physical, his grip one of desperation as though the strength of his fingers might call Armand's mind back from where it had fled to. The cold night wind carried away his tears. _____________________________________________________________________ Post 433: Lestat and Louis "WHAT?" a burst of real emotion exploded out of Lestat's shock. Louis remained calm. "I said I wanted you to kill me." Lestat swore, ripping the curtains off their hanger in his rage. He turned on Louis then, grabbing him by the arms and shaking him. "Damn it all, I'm trying to *save* you! Don't you see? Don't you understand?" "No." The word was oddly simple compared to the violence of Lestat's actions. Horrified, Lestat let go of Louis as though burned. He wrapped his arms around himself tightly, not trusting himself to leave his hands free. His breath came hard, as though he had just run a marathon. "How can you not understand when I do things like *that* to you?" "You don't do them all the time," Louis said. "But I *do* them!" Lestat found that he had backed into a corner. He leaned against the walls for support. "I do them and you get hurt and it's all my fault." "The nightmares being an example of this?" "The nightmares being a perfect example of this." "But you didn't send a nightmare to me," Louis said. "You couldn't. That was an accident." "The first time was a mistake," Lestat said. "I should have known better. But the second time...." Lestat pressed his eyes closed, trying not to lose himself in helpless tears. "I didn't do anything the second time. The command shouldn't have lasted until the second time." "I believe you," Louis said. "It's not a matter of belief!" Lestat lifted his head to look at Louis. "It's a matter of control! And I clearly don't have any!" "Now *that* I don't--" "I cannot control this or me," Lestat said. He advanced on Louis, his despair replaced once again by the threatening anger. "I unleashed my power on the world and now I can't call it back and because of that, *you* were hurt. And even if what you say about the nightmares ending is true, it does not matter because there is no way of knowing what will happen next. And I REFUSE to take the chance of my giving you another nightmare, or hitting you, or lashing out at you, or of waking up one night to find you DEAD because a random neuron in my brain decided to set something on fire! I WON'T DO IT! I won't be like--" Lestat looked away. "Like who?" Louis asked gently. "Like that," Lestat finished, still not looking Louis in the eye. He was silent for a while, thinking. "Alright, I admit that my original idea was flawed. I should have known that you would see right through my leaving in that way. So I'll appeal to your reason now." His grey eyes met Louis' green. "Let me go. I've never done anything for you that deserved this devotion or your love. Let me do the closest thing I can to being worthy of you by getting the Hell out of your life and letting you finally have a chance for real happiness, the kind that you deserve." ______________________________________________________________________ Post 434: Louis and Lestat For what seemed an endless moment, Louis gazed into Lestat's eyes.Then slowly, he moved forward. He took Lestat's hand in his and slipped his other hand along Lestat's shoulder to the nape of his neck under his hair. He leaned forward and touched his forehead to his lover's. Louis' voice was gentle. "I would rather die here and now than go through eternity without you. You and I are bound together. If you didn't feel this way, you wouldn't be tearing yourself apart. Stay with me. Please. " "I can't," Lestat managed to choke out a reply. "I've lost control of my powers. I won't put you in danger." "You've never lost control of your powers before..." Louis drew back and tried to get Lestat to look him in the eye. "What if it wasn't *you*? What if the nightmares were dream transfers? You had one too..." Lestat his eyes locked on Louis. "What are you saying?" "What if it was sent inadvertantly... " Louis took a breath and continued hesitantly. "...By another on the edge of madness. " He looked away from Lestat's eyes. "Lestat, I've been gathering thougths of great turmoil ...from Armand." _____________________________________________________________________ Post 435: Lestat and Louis Lestat could feel himself begin to tremble. The feel of Louis so close to him was maddening. What was it about Louis that felt so *right*? That made Lestat feel as though he wasn't complete, wasn't really himself unless he held Louis in his arms? He longed to press his lips to Louis', kiss him and never let him go. But he knew that if he did that, then *he* would never go. He'd never be able to leave if he gave in to that. He hardly heard Louis' words as the tears that had been threatening finally fell from his eyes, coating his cheeks in red as he gave himself the luxury of brushing his lips against Louis' eyes, forehead, cheeks, jaw, never getting close enough to Louis' mouth to make temptation too great. He didn't hear what Louis said, but he heard enough to know what Louis' intent was. "Don't," Lestat whispered, silencing him. "Don't make up excuses. Don't make it easy for me to stay because I will. And you know that I can't. I don't want to hurt you." "*This* hurts me," Louis said. "The thought of you leaving hurts me. I can't bear that. Lestat, please, if this must end, then let me die so--" "NO!" Lestat's trembling was getting worse. He pulled away so that he would not inadvertently start shaking Louis again. "Don't you understand? *You're* not the one who has to go. You're not the one who's hurting others. Nothing would change if you.... if you...." Lestat couldn't say the words. "It wouldn't do anything. *I* would still be here. If *anyone* should die it should be--" Lestat's body became cold, the realization that he'd been avoiding from the start finally came upon him. When he spoke again, his voice was less than a breath. "It should be me." ______________________________________________________________________ Post 436: Louis and Lestat With those words from Lestat, Louis felt as if all the life had been suddenly taken from him. He gazed at Lestat's tear stained face, shaking his head in disbelief. "No..." Louis whispered, barely audibly. "No...don't ever *say* that...don't even THINK that!" He reached out his beautifully formed hand and touched Lestat's face."If you were to.. to *die*," the words caught in his throat and came from him as a sob. "Don't you know that I would go into the sun? Don't you know that *life*, this wretched life, would be unspeakable torture without you?" Tears streaming down his cheeks, Louis took Lestat's face in his hands,and searched his eyes. "How could I even go on one more night without you at my side?" He asked, his voice breaking. "Lestat, you *are* my life! You're the very fibre of my being! You are my soul." Before Lestat could react to these words, Louis suddenly pulled him into his arms. "I love you," he wept, and captured Lestat's mouth in a violently passionate kiss. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 437: Lestat and Louis Blackness swam before Lestat's eyes as the feel of Louis' lips against his brought with it a pleasure so heady that he nearly passed out. He felt himself sway, lightheaded. Louis immediately held him tighter, supporting him. Whether it was this support or the fact that Louis' lips had parted slightly while doing so, something inside of Lestat snapped and he found himself clutching Louis tightly, his mouth greedily devoring Louis' and holding Louis so close to him that he lifted him off of the floor. It felt so wonderful to kiss him. To feel that soft mouth open as Louis wrapped his arms around him and let his body say everything that Lestat longed to hear. The tears still flowed down Lestat's face. Louis kissed them away, his tongue darting out to taste the blood. "Shh," Louis said. "It's alright. I'm never going to let you go." Lestat didn't know if Louis meant physically or figuratively, but at that moment he didn't care. He crushed Louis' mouth under his again, kissing Louis roughly and thrilling to the feel of Louis responding in kind. "God I want you," Lestat said, hoarsely. He picked Louis up completely and half-carried, half-threw him onto the bed. Climbing on top of him, Lestat was about to begin his attack whole-heartedly when something in him failed. "I can't," he whispered, reality making him feel ill. He buried his head against Louis' chest, curling up beside him as he gave in to helpless sobs. "I can't do it." "Do what?" Louis stroked his hair tenderly. "Protect you," Lestat said. "Everything I do will hurt you. I can't leave, I can't stay, I can't die--" Lestat's voice cracked and it was a long moment before he could speak again. "I'm the worst thing that ever happened to you. Oh God what's wrong with me? What did I do to deserve this? What did *you* do?" Lestat turned to look at Louis through tear-filled eyes. "I love you more than life itself but the very fact that you know me is destroying you. God DAMMIT!" Lestat pulled away to sit on the side of the bed, covering his face with his hands, sobbing so hard that he could barely speak. "I thought... I tried so hard... but you were right all along, weren't you?... I hate you more than anything, why do you get to be right?... everything I've done... why *you*? why do *you* get this? why?... I should... I should have never been born..." ____________________________________________________________________ Post 438: Daniel and David David didn't hesitate. He surrendered to his own passions, to Daniel's sweetness and candid charm. They made love under the moonlight; in a savage and desperate manner at first, tearing the soft skin of each other's necks, painfully pleasuring one another. And the passion was replaced by tenderness, and care. They trusted each other. Daniel smiled happily, entwining his fingers in between the dark curls of David's hair. "I am happy, David. I don't know for how long, but I'm happy right here and now..." he whispered in David's ear. David drew Daniel's face to his own and silenced him with a lingering kiss. "Say no more, young one....Love me!" _______________________________________________________________________ Post 439: Daniel and David They remained in each others arm for what seemed like hours until David felt something going on. There was more trouble in the coven but it wasn't about Lestat this time. He shot up and scanned for any minds that were open. He found Marius and registared sorrow and pain for the one he loved. Armand was in trouble! "What is it?" Daniel asked a bit startled. "Daniel...First, don't get excited." "About what? TELL ME!" "It's Armand, he's in trouble. But don't worry just yet, he's with Marius." Daniel jumped to his feet and started dressing as fast as he could. "You must take me to him David! I have to see if he's okay!" "Maybe we should wait until--" "Take me to him NOW!" David nodded. He got dressed and when he was finished he gathered Daniel into his arms and took to the sky. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 440: Antonio and Gabrielle Antonio felt, rather than saw Marius take Armand away. It was as though his very soul was being torn from his body. He cried out sharply as they rose into the air and pulled himself to his knees in a vain attempt to follow. Gabrielle held him easily, trying to soothe him. "Hush now. The worst is over. Let him go." "I must be with him. You don't understand..." "Marius will care for him. There's nothing you can do now." The world seemed to be fading in and out, tumbling end over end. The madness which had threatened after Armands attack seemed to ebb and flow, distant, then overwhelming. In desperation he turned again to Gabrielle. "Please, take me to him. He needs me..." "No, love." she said firmly. "Not now. We need to leave here. You are known, and they may come looking for you." He saw the wisdom in that. Prying eyes were the last thing he needed. Except... "Gabrielle?" He suddenly stilled, his eyes narrowing as he considered the proximity of the mortals for the first time. "I'm hungry." ___________________________________________________________________ Post 441: Armand Heat and Darkness. He thrashed, yet could not move. He screamed, yet heard nothing. He burned... yet lived. ********** Alone. Utterly alone. ********** Dead. ********** He woke, staring at the ceiling with eyes that did not blink. No soul. No life to call his own. He was nothing. ______________________________________________________________________________ Post 442: Gabrielle and Antonio Gabrielle took a deep breath and smiled, "I knew you would be." She saw the frantic look in Antonio's eyes, obviously still very upset over Armand. Armand and he were connected unconciously somehow. "Antonio, look at me. Shut Armand out. You must, you cannot have his madness touch you. Slam down the walls, you have the power to do this now. Shield yourself, it takes only concentration." Antonio nodded and feel into a deep concentration and for a moment he was silent before smiling up at her, "Better, though not very much. It will help. Right now, I must feed." "Yes, you must. Would you like help or shall you do this on your own? Try not to take an innocent, take the evil-doer. I may not listen to my son much, but in this regard I do. Do you believe you can do this on your own, cher?" ____________________________________________________________________________ Post 443: Antonio and Gabrielle "I can... but I don't wish to. Not yet." He knew without being told how to place walls around his mind. It was so easy now... and once they were in place sanity returned. Along with horror. "He's mad, you understand." Before she could reply, he stood and looked around. His attention focused to one terrible purpose - to seek prey. Evil-doer? Who was he to judge evil? Was he evil, now? Was the beautiful woman who stood next to him, so grave and silent? Armand...? He resolutely turned his back on the set and quickly left the grounds, heading into the city. Gabrielle followed uncertainly, not sure if he wanted her there or not. After a few moments he stopped, then gathered her to him, his arms around her slender shoulders. Yes, he wanted her there. More than anything, he did not wish to be alone now. The horror of Armands madness still snapped at his heels. With every step he took, the hunger increased, a raging beast within his heart. It was unlike anything he might have imagined, before, and yet frighteningly familiar. There was a bond between him and the lost demon still - no walls could seperate them entirely. He knew this hunger, in some part of his soul. He opened himself to that part now, allowing it to come out - take over. He paid no attention to where they traveled. So it was with some surprise that he looked up at a warehouse on the waterfront. They had traveled some distance. Slightly confused, he looked around. What were they doing here? Then - he saw him. A nondescript mortal, nothing to attract the eye. And yet - he was infinitely beautiful to Antonio. "Come here." he said softly. There was no fear in the man's face as he did as he was told. Suddenly Antonio knew. "You wish to die, si?" The mortal's eyes grew wide, but he nodded. It was all he needed. The hunger drove him beyond reason - into pure desire. The blood... it thundered through him, washed over him. Nothing could describe, nothing could compare with this single act - life, death, life again... in a beautiful, unending circle. It was all Gabrielle could do to drag him away. "Not into death!" she said with quiet authority. "Not yet! It would kill you, as you are now. Stop before death, Antonio." New strength coursed through him, clearing his thoughts as his limbs woke to new power. "I understand." he said quietly, the new timbre of his voice finally regestering. "What do you suggest we do now?" __________________________________________________________________________ Post 444: Gabrielle and Antonio Gabrielle had watched her new fledgling with undisguised terror. She should have been prepared for the fact that he would take on Armand's hunting style. It still shocked her nonetheless, she could have been watching Armand hunt there, except for the fact that she now could look at Antonio and seperate the two somehow. Speechless, she gathered this newborn to her, needing to feel him close. Her fledgling, how the term sounded foreign to her. Suddenly something Lestat has said to her came rushing back, "Go ahead, make another child that you shall have no responsiblity for, it certainly wouldn't be the first time." She shuddered and made a promise to herself that this was to be different.....She stared up at Antonio, "My first thought is to find Lestat, but he would not accept me and he would not accept you." Her voice trailed off and she tentively reached out with her mind, knowing she shouldn't but she had to confirm it for himself. She touched the fringes of Armand's mind and then drew away as if she was burned. She shivered and she felt Antonio hold her tighter. "You are right, he is mad. And Marius shall have no idea. You are connected to him, you may be the only one that can bring him back." Gabrielle closed her eyes and carefully touched Marius' mind, :: Marius....he is lost, truly lost and mad. Antonio and him are connected, he may be the only way to get through. I shall only bring Antonio if you tell me to. :: She opened her eyes and found Antonio staring down upon her, "What do we do now?" "We wait." _____________________________________________________________________________ Post 445: Marius Marius sat, and watched, and silently wept. He lay, unmoving, unspeaking, eyes open but unseeing. Marius had tried everything to reach that still figure, to break through that glass eyed coma. Nothing. He might have done nothing, for all the good it did. And Armand's mind was closed to him, forever locked from any attempts he might have made to recall his lover's soul. Marius had had to admit defeat, and in defeat had collapsed against the side of the bed, the tears blinding his eyes, his fingers twined through Armand's cold, lifeless ones as though he clung to a lifeline. Gabrielle's voice came to him as though from a great distance and it was only with difficulty that he could hear her words through his pain. Harder to respond, to form words past the tears of body and soul. ::Gabrielle? Can he really help?:: Glimmer, the faintest glimmer of hope. ::Please, Gabrielle, bring him here! I can not reach Armand at all, I can do nothing! If Antonio can help, bring him here! I beg you!:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 446: Antonio and Gabrielle Antonio drew a long, shuddering breath. "Then may we wait together?" The question seemed to surprise her. "Do you think I would leave you, now?" Her voice carried a sharp edge which surprised them both. "I don't know. Your son is missing - Lestat is in trouble. Should you not go to him, if you can?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 447: Gabrielle and Antonio Gabrielle was about to answer Antonio when Marius came through like a bolt of lightning. Along with the words came the horrible suffering he bore. Antonio watched as she closed her eyes and concentrated on the voice. Immediately without warning, she gathered him to her. "We are needed, or more *you* are needed. There is no way to reach Armand, only you have the connection. We must go. Hold onto me tightly, I do not know if you have this power, I do and will explain later." She hooked an arm around his waist and rose in the air as he gasped. She plotted her course directly and deliberately until she located the right window to the right room. She flew through the open pane and landed in the sitting area of the hotel room and she heard Marius' tearful voice, "Gabrielle....please, help him!" _____________________________________________________________________________ Post 448: Antonio and Gabrielle Antonio felt the earth spin once more, but this time it was due to flying. They were hurling through the air, and in spite of himself, he let out a small, startled laugh. "You can't fly, Gabrielle!" "It's a story for another time, cherie." she said softly. Then they were through the window, and into the room, and Antonio gasped. Marius had aged within the space of minutes. He was slumped beside Armand, holding his hand. Worry etched deep lines across his chisled features, his eyes were dark with tears. But as bad as Marius was, Armand was worse. Armand lay like a literal corpse, eyes open and unblinking, focused sightlessly on the ceiling. Stunned, Antonio looked from Gabrielle, to Marius, then back again. "Are you sure he's not dead?" ________________________________________________________________________ Post 449: Marius "He's NOT dead!" The words leapt out of his mouth like a whiplash and Antonio jerked back, eyes wide. Marius sucked in a deep breath, bringing his free hand up to cover his eyes and wipe angrily at the tears which stained his cheeks. "Forgive me, Antonio. Please." He rose slowly, gently placing Armand's hand on the bed and stroked the back of his fingers over the cool, still cheek. He was trembling when he turned to Antonio again, his hands visibly shaking as he reached out to the man. "Please. If you can..." His voice broke in a betraying sob and he had to fight to get the words out. "If you can do anything for him... Please..." __________________________________________________________________________ Post 450: Gabrielle Gabrielle reached out for Marius and drew the sobbing man into her arms for his support, "Shh....we will help him Marius. It is allright." Over Marius' shoulders she indictated for Antonio to approach Armand. ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 437: Antonio Antonio reached out without thought, taking Marius' hands within his own. Then he drew the elder vampire into a cautious embrace - still new enough with the concepts to be slightly wary of a being two thousand years old. "Peace, friend." he said softly. "I'll help him if I can. I can reach him... this much I know." He released Marius, urging Gabrielle with a look to take up where he left off. Then he climbed onto the bed, next to Armand. The last time they had tried this, both had passed out. At least this way he'd land comfortably. "Well, Armand." he said softly, not touching him. "Dark brother. Look what has become of me. And now I wonder, was it my dream, or yours all along? I have so much to tell you - I need answers now. You must come back to me. Marius weeps for you. I know what that means, to have proud Marius weeping for you." He leaned closer, but still did not touch. "What did you see... what did you take from my mind which drove you from yours?" With a deliberate effort, he dropped the barriers between them. Instantly he was engulfed, surrounded by roaring heat and blinding darkness. Reason evaporated and he screamed... When he became of his surroundings once more, he lay in Gabrielle's arms. Marius once again sat beside Armand, his expression one of profound defeat. Antonio locked eyes with him. "Do you wish to go in with me? I believe it can be done. Perhaps together, or even the three of us, may be strong enough to pull him back." __________________________________________________________________________ Post 438: Gabrielle "Do it." Gabrielle said softly, "I will not allow you to be hurt Antonio, I must go in with you. I owe Armand this much." she bowed her head in silence as Antonio looked at Marius expectantly. ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 439: Marius Marius swallowed slowly, drawing himself up and pushing his hair back from his eyes with trembling hands. "Go... go with you?" He wet dry lips with an equally dry tongue, trying to force his mind to deal with the concept. "Is that... is it possible?" "I believe it should be," Antonio replied. Marius let out a shuddering breath. To go into Armand's mind through this fledgling. To see into that soul that he had not known for over four hundered years. Most importantly, to call back the mind that had fled from them. To bring Armand back. He was not crying. No more tears would come. "Yes," he breathed. "Yes, do it, anything. We have to bring him back!" ________________________________________________________________________ Post 440: Antonio Antonio sighed deeply. "I have no idea how to do this, and I am tiring. If I can get you into his mind, you may have to lead the way from there. This night has been eventful..." At once Gabrielle moved to his side, holding him close. "I understand, mon cher." she said quietly. "We'll not leave you. Trust us." He looked into her lovely sapphire eyes. "Of course I trust you." Then he bent, brushing his lips against hers. Then he joined Armand on the bed once more. "Marius, please. Join us?" Wordlessly Marius lay on the other side. "Gabrielle, focus on Marius. And you, Marius, focus on me. I will focus on him. Perhaps..." He had no idea what would happen. He only knew he had to try. At once he felt the reassuring presence of Marius, brushing the outermost fringes of his thoughts. Then, with a sigh, he once again sought out Armand. ::Come, my brother:: he thought. ::Once more into the breech. I wonder if you understand Spanish:: At once the heated maelstrom engulfed him. There was no sense of direction, only that of free falling through endless void and heat. Then, suddenly, he felt the strength of Marius, calling him, anchoring him. All at once they were standing together in the darkness. ::Gabrielle?:: She was there - her sparkling essence seeming to appear out of the very depths of the void. ::Where are we?:: ::I don't know.:: Antonio replied, somewhat breathlessly. ::Within his nightmare, I believe.:: Before either could reply, a scream echoed around them - that of a child in terrible pain. __________________________________________________________________________ Post 441: Inside Armand's Mind/Gabrielle :: Where is the screaming coming from? :: Gabrielle asked, blood sweat beading on her forehead as she looked from Marius to Antonio. All three looked around and Antonio could only answer, :: There is no direction here.....only a whirlwind of nothingness. :: The scream pierced the air again and Gabrielle covered her ears and screamed to the others, :: That is Armand.....no doubt in my mind, that is Armand. :: __________________________________________________________________________ Post 442: Inside Armand's Mind/Marius ::AMADEO!:: The cry was ripped from Marius' very soul, in desperate answer to the scream that trembled in the very fabric of the darkness around them. The sound of that pain tore at him, a scream from the child Armand had once been, the boy Marius had held and comforted through long, nightmare ridden nights. His response was instinctive, a mesh of parent and lover, until he could no longer distinguish one love from the other. ::Amadeo! Ragazzo, caro mio! I'm here! I'm HERE! Let me help you!:: The scream rang out again, shuddering through Marius like the scrape of a thousand fingernails over a thousand blackboards. Shuddering, he dropped to his knees, pouring all of his being into the call. ::Amadeo! AMADEO!!:: ________________________________________________________________________ Post 443: Inside Armand's Mind/Armand The scream cut off as abruptly as it began. The maelstrom died, leaving the trio alone in the sweltering darkness. Then a faint light shimmered, illuminating their surroundings. They stood on a featureless plain, the red/gray gloom nearly unbroken... Only in one spot did the light seem marginally brighter. And from there, could be heard a *stillness*, almost an expectant hush. ::...padrone?...:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 444: Inside Armand's Mind/Marius A sob broke from Marius. Only Gabrielle's hand on his arm kept him from throwing himself forward to that faint light. He held out his arms, reaching forward, beckoning. Pleading. ::Amadeo? Caro, I'm here. Ragazzo, you're safe. I'm here. Nothing will hurt you. Amadeo, I'm here for you...:: __________________________________________________________________________ Post 445: Inside Armand's Mind/Antonio Antonio stepped forward, clearly shaken. "We must go to him. He'll not come to us." "If we go to him, he'll run." Marius protested. "If we do not, he'll hide." Finally it was Gabrielle who took the first hesitant steps forward, toward the light. The men followed, first Marius then Antonio, growing more pale by the second. ::Ragazzo?:: Suddenly, the wind returned, and this time it carried not screams, but laughter. Not the laughter of a child, however, but that of insanity. Almost sing-song. Impressions followed, rather than words. Disbelief, and relief. Finally, madness. At long last, welcomed like an old friend. For Marius to be here - madness at last. Sweet... ________________________________________________________________________ Post 446: Inside Armand's Mind/Marius "No..." Gabrielle whispered, shuddering. Marius moaned deep in his throat. ::No, no, caro. No madness. Safety. Please, Amadeo...:: He took a step forward, and then another, slowly, letting the wind buffet him. He could feel the others behind him; Gabrielle, her steps growing slower, and Antonio, his hesitancy backed by an iron strength. And before them that faint light, like a will'o' the wisp, dancing just beyond reach. ::Amadeo, please. Come to us. Come to ME. Let us help you...:: ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 447: Inside Armand's Mind/Armand Armand stood before Marius. How he had gotten there none of them were quite sure. But suddenly he was... taller, stronger... more calm. In fact, he looked remarkably like Antonio. ::Help me?:: this vision said. ::I am beyond your help, phantom. I am mad.:: His smile was full of knowledge - secrets. It was not assuring. ::So are you, to think you can help me.:: He dismissed Marius at once. ::You are not real.:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 448: In Armand's Mind/Marius Marius swallowed, took a deep breath. Before Gabrielle or Antonio could reach to stop him he stepped forward, taking Armand's shoulders in his hands. ::Not real, Amadeo?:: He shook Armand, a rough little shake, and watched in satisfaction as Armand's eyes widened just the smallest bit. ::Is this not real? Am I a phantom?:: He caught Armand's face between his hands, forcing his head up until their eyes met. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 449: In Armand's Mind/Armand Armand grinned. It was not an expression common to him - almost feral. ::No. You're not real. You're here, aren't you? Within my madness - within my mind, Padrone. What further proof do I need of my madness? You can not be here - no father ever spoke to his child!:: ::No... that is true.:: Antonio moved from the shadows. ::He is here through me, my brother.:: With a startled gasp Armand tried to step back, but was held fast by Marius. At once he shifted, changed, becoming more like his own self - the eternal youth. ::Who...?:: ::Do you not recognise me?:: Antonio asked quietly. Armand shook his head. ::Vampyre? Who...?:: Gabrielle joined them. ::Mine, Armand. My child, now.:: Armand's form shimmered again, becoming identical to his physical form. Then he gazed up at Marius. ::Padrone?:: he whispered. ::You're truly here?:: ::Ragazzo, I am truly here.:: Marius assured him quietly. ::To bring you back to us.:: His expresion changed from disbelief to desperation, to relief, so quickly it was hard to follow. ::You're here...:: suddenly, his look was one of wonder. He moved into Marius's arms... Armand blinked, then, with a gasping sob, turned into Marius' body, curling around him on the bed. _____________________________________________________________________ Post 450: Marius Marius woke with a gasp, his mind exploding back into his body with a shock that ran through him. And with the mind came memory, and awareness... awareness of a slender body curled against his, hands clutching at him. "Amadeo!" Marius caught him up, crushing Armand to him. Relief so great it was dizzying swept through him. He held Armand close, wanting never to let him go, never to release this sweet and alive presense in his arms. He was crying again, tears of relief and thanks. "Amadeo... Ragazzo, you scared us. Don't leave again, don't ever leave me..."