RPG SPEC: Hollywood Vampires 
Part 8, Posts 211-240
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Post 211: Gabrielle and Antonio

Gabrielle jumped to her feet, frightening Antonio.

"What is wrong?" he asked cautiously, extreme worry reflected in the liquid
eyes.

Gabrielle groaned and softly said,

"Armand."

She closed her eyes and focused upon him, taking a deep breath before she
started,

:: I didn't mean what  I said, cher. It was a heartless, horrible thing to
say. I'm sorry for it, you hurt enough without my pain being added to that.
Antonio and I are talking. He would like to speak with you Armand. He would
like it very much so. Please accept it as a peace offering, Armand. There is
nothing to be frightened of....you have me there with you. Please....::

She sent out the silent plea, hoping for a response that wouldn't be too
harsh. She turned to Antonio who now stood with her. She put a hand on his
arm and looked up into his eyes and smiled softly,

"I told him to come. I don't know if he will. But I have issued the
invitation...."

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Post 212: Armand and co.

	Armand stood motionless, listening to Gabrielle.  :Peace offering?:
he whispered quietly into her mind.  :Antonio is his own man.  Leave him
be.:  His mental tone was not as sharp as it might have been.  The assuring
presence of Marius next to him went far to mellow his mood.  :Gabrielle...
I'm coming over.  Marius is with me.:
	Gabrielle turned to explain to Antonio just as Armand and Marius
materialized from the shadows.  Armand glanced uncertainly at Marius,
then moved to Antonio, resisting the urge to stand bodily between him
and Gabrielle.  "I understand you wish to speak with me." he said softly.
	Antonio barely moved, drinking in the sight of him.  "I've seen you."
he finally said softly.  "In dreams.  Even in my nightmares.  I had a terrible
nightmare just last night.  It was about you."

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Post 213: Louis

Louis took the script and settled down to read 'his' part. Yes, the word were
the same as he had spoken that warm Californian night. Somehow, he couldn't
see Lestat speaking 'his' lines with the same passionate edge as he had the
night before.

Louis shut the script shut with a snap.

"He's as changeable as quicksilver," Louis muttered to himself. "What ever
could have taken him from that wonderfully affectionate mood of the night
before, to the tirade of this evening!"

Slowly, it came to Louis why Lestat had 'gone off' like that.

"Mon Dieu! He had a nightmare as well! How could I have been so insensitive?"
Louis was on his feet. "Now, do I stay on the set and wait for him, or go
look for him? If I run off to look for him, he may come back here...no...I'd
better wait, and if he doesn't show up... I'll just go home and wait for
him!"

Louis walked off to look for the director. Perhaps he knew where Lestat
was...

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Post 214: Gabrielle and co.

Gabrielle took a step back from the two. She stood beside Marius and she
realized that she was physically shaking a bit, from fear? She could not
tell. Looking upon these two made one want to cry out, they so alike in their
demeanor. It was frightening.

She had no idea what Armand was going to do her or to Antonio for that
matter! She pleaded with him silently,

: The chance to discuss....that is my offering to you Armand. :

Armand silenced her calls with a look. She was afraid she had made a mistake.
The Antonio said, something about having a nightmare and she gasped. Causing
the twosome and Marius to look at her as she meekly whispered,

"I had a nightmare about you as well....."

Her eyes became wide as saucers, she was considering telling them about
Lestat but could not bring herself to do it. She wanted her son to live past
tonight. Telling them was out of the question. So she just looked on from the
shadows.

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Post 215: Santino

	When the two pairs finally came together, Santino immediately
sensed that this was a moment that he should not be a part of.  But he
came forward nonetheless.  Lestat's warnings of Marius's unusual mood
still rang in his mind and Santino did not dare to take the chance that
the anger that he had caused would find yet another victim, even if that
victim *was* Gabrielle.  And if Marius's mood had somehow changed, well
the what better time to explain to him how much David loved him?
	Santino slowed his pace once he got within shouting distance.
Something inside of him told him to hold back and not to disturb what
appeared to be a fragile moment.  Santino stood and waited where he was.
Marius could see him if he turned to look.  Only then would Santino
finally join him.

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Post 216: Marius and co.

	The tension around him was so thick he could almost taste it. 
Gabrielle stood before him, almost trembling, her gaze locked to the 
eerie sight of Armand standing before Antonio Banderas; vibrant, magnetic 
mirror images of each other. Armand's face had gone still, almost blank, 
all expression lost, after first Antonio and then Gabrielle had admitted 
to dreams- no, nightmares- of him. 
	And Armand himself had dreamed, an age old dream that haunted him 
still. He had said so. And Marius...
	"I dreamed it as well," he said softly, stepping forward to place 
a hand against Gabrielle's back in silent support. Armand's eyes 
flickered to him briefly, then back to Antonio, unreadable black pools in 
the moonlight. Marius wished, with all of his being, that he could feel 
Armand, could know what went on behind that silent face. He ached to do 
something, say something, but he could tell nothing from Armand of how 
such a gesture would be recieved and in the most recent of many, MANY 
times he cursed the silence between maker and fledgling. 
	The tableu stood frozen beneath the waning moonlight. Dawn would 
come soon. Marius held his breath, willing Armand to go gentle with this 
mortal who stood before him, with Gabrielle who waited and so obviously 
cared. It was the slightest of motions at the edge of the trees that 
caught his attention, forced his eyes briefly away from the others.
	Santino.
	He stood just beneath the trees, making no move to hide himself 
from Marius. Indeed, he was staring at Marius, a sort of beseeching 
expression, and when he saw Marius he raised one hand, palm out, in a 
gesture of restraining. ::I need to talk to you.::
	Marius slammed up the barriers of his mind, cutting Santino out. 
Talking to Santino was the very LAST thing he wanted to do right then. 
The sincerity rang in Santino's mental voice, but Marius could not stand 
to listen to it. Not yet. Not that night. Whatever Santino had to say, 
whatever explanation he tried to make, was just too painful to listen to. 
Armand had soothed the hurt and Marius could not bear to open the wound 
again so soon. He locked eyes with Santino, then, very deliberately, 
turned away. Back to the others.
	"Dawn will come soon," he told them. "We need to go."

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Post 217: David and Daniel

	David took Daniel's hand gratefully, glad that for at least one
moment, he was with someone who bore no grudge against him.
	"I'm sorry to be acting this way, Daniel," he said.  "But this 
night...  you've no idea what it's been like."
	"I'm sure you and Marius can work it all out," Daniel said.
	"Yes, of course," David said, his proper English mannerisms
putting the words into his mouth.  He pressed a hand to where Marius had
hit him.  *Dear God how did this happen?  How did it all go so wrong so
quickly?*
	"You OK, David?" Daniel asked.
	"I think I need to go somewhere private, to think," David said.
"I need to get away from all of these interruptions."  David sighed.
"I just don't know where I could go."
	"I know a place," Daniel said.  "Come on, it's not that far.
I think you'll like it."
	"Alright," David said and followed Daniel as he began to walk off,
still holding David's hand all the way.

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Post 218: Maharet and Jesse

Threader's Note: Still recovering from that crosspost problem....


	Maharet opened her mouth to greet Lestat, but was abruptly 
silenced as a familiar mind brushed hers. 

	"Maharet? What wrong?" Jessie saw the distracted expression and 
was a little worried. 

	"Hmm? Nothing dear. Something just startled me. Louis, you and 
Lestat make up. Jessie, you go find Jeremy Irons and I'll meet you later."
	
	"Where are you going?" Jessie said over her shoulder as Maharet 
gently pushed both her and Louis in two different directions. She could 
see that Louis was looking a little nervous himself at the thought of 
confronting Lestat.

	Maharet smiled at her child and friend. "I may have a date 
tonight." Her smile was enigmatic and confused the two younger vampires 
as she melted into the shadows and returned to the set.

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Post 219: Louis

Louis permitted himself to be fussed over in the wardrobe trailer. He was a
little shorter than Brad and more slender. The wardrobe mistress chatted non
stop about how Mr. Pitt really couldn't "wear" clothes as well as
"Jean-Louis"... and how much better "Jean-Louis" looked in the black velvet
tux for the concert scene. 

"Oh!" she fluttered, as Louis stood still for her to re-measure the tux, "You
were BORN to wear black velvet."

Louis' mind was not on the wardrobe fittings, nor the hairdresser who fussed
with his silky hair. His mind remained fixed on Lestat. He had to make
amends. He was sure now Lestat HAD been upset by a nightmare, and both his
fledglings had ignored HIS unsettled state while dwelling on their own. 

Louis tried to pick up vibes from the others, but they were having their own
traumas. Louis knew from experience that Lestat would take off at a moments
notice on a whim, but somehow, he felt Lestat was still in New Orleans.

He'd wait on the set until an hour before dawn, and then go home. He wondered
if Lestat would even come home that morning.

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Post 220: Khaymand and Mael

"Mael" Khayman said, "it really is good to see you, I didn't know if I 
was going to see you again". Looking back at Khayman, Mael replies "all 
that happened a long time ago, it was time to forget and move past it. 
Besides, Maharet isn't here, so it's not like we have anything to contend 
for". "Your right" Khayman said giving a moments pause "OK, enough of that 
sentimental stuff, let's get back to set and see what's going on, maybe
Jesse has shown up.

"Khayman, since it is such a beautiful night would you mind if we walked 
back, it really wouldn't take us that much time. Besides I'm not in much 
of a hurry to get back there and I could use the fresh air". Khayman 
smiles and says "a walk would be nice".

Arriving onto the set, Khayman notices a change in Mael. "Mael what is 
it, what's wrong?" Mael turns and faces Khayman "it is what I feared". 
"Mael, just tell me what's wrong." "Maharet is here" Mael whispers. 
"Maharet is here?" Khayman replies "but where, where is she?"

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Post 221: Louis

Louis sighed as he looked up at the sky. He was losing the night,and still no
sign of Lestat. He found his car that he had left the previous night, and
drove back to the French Quarter.

The flat was dark. Louis lit the lights in the back and front parlors,
changed the water in the many vases of flowers and settled down in his room
to read.

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Post 222: Armand and co.

	Armand glanced briefly again at Marius, then to the sky.  "We have
an hour, perhaps." he said softly.  "There is still time."  He turned slowly
to regard the group gathered around him.  "You all dreamt of me?  All had
a nightmare - of me specifically?"
	Antonio shook his head.  "Not of you - you were not the threatening
presence within my dream.  But you were the main focus of it."  He swallowed.
"Terrible things were happening to you."
	Armand turned to Gabrielle.  "And you?"  She nodded, not speaking.
"Marius?  You as well?"
	"Yes, Ragazzo.  A terrible vision."  He hesitated.  "Of the fire."
	His stillness reminded those around him of ice, a figure sculpted
from something frozen.  Then he said, quietly, finally, "This was no
coincidence.  And I know of only a very few powerful enough to cause
such an incident.  Of those... only one might have any sort of misguided
motive."  He turned to Gabrielle, and his expression turned dangerous.  
"Where is your son?"

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Post 223: Santino

	The rejection was physically painful.  There had been no words, no
gestures, save for the simple actions from Marius which spoke so loudly
that they were deafening:  I neither see you, nor hear you.
	And for the first time that night, but not for the first time in
his life, Santino felt what Lestat had felt earlier upon seeing Gabrielle
and Louis amusing themselves in the mess tent.  Once again, after
centuries of painstakingly trying to build his vampire friendships, Santino
was told that, as far as the others were concerned, he did not exist.
	It proved too much.  He couldn't remain in the clearing any longer.
He told himself it was because the sun would rise soon and he had not yet
hunted, but in his heart he knew that he could not stand there and face
his failure.
	He unconsciously mimicked Marius's actions as he slammed 
unbreakable shields down on his mind and turned away.  He walked casually
at first, not wanting to give the other vampires the satisfaction of
watching him flee.  As soon as he was out of sight, he put on a burst of
preternatural speed, making his way into a dark corner of New Orleans
to take a victim, then running straight back to his hotel suite where
Lestat waited for him.

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Post 224: Gabrielle and co.

Gabrielle trembled violently, her mind replaying her nightmare. The extreme
disorientation and the suffocation was closing in. She could feel Marius'
light touch on her back, it was her only link to reality, that and Armand's
question of where Lestat was. 

She knew that look in Armand's eye and she answered as cooly as she could,
shivering in the warm night, her eyes distant and lost,

"He has been punished enough, Armand. No violence." she cried, blood tears
threatening to run down her ivory cheeks.

Armand's eyes still locked onto her own, fierce with determination, "Tell me,
Gabrielle. Where is Lestat?"

She could feel the icy touch of his mind trying to break into her own. With
an unconcious effort, she pushed it away and glared.

"I DON'T KNOW!" she screamed before slumping to the ground and drawing her
knees to her chest and rocking back and forth, remembering the horrible fight
she had with Lestat the same evening. It hurt more than she realized, "I
don't know..." she whispered.

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Post 225: Armand and co.

	Normally, in that state of mind, Armand would not have thought
twice about Gabrielle's suffering.  He simply would have sought out
another way to find Lestat.  But the look on Marius' face drew him up
short.  His distress, both for Armand and Gabrielle, caused him to
freeze once more, this time not in anger but in uncertainty.  Everything
within him screamed out to find Lestat, to punish him for the pain he
had caused.  But when Marius sank to his knees to comfort Gabrielle...
	His blistering mental oath caused all around him, even Antonio
to wince.  Then he, too, dropped to his knees beside Gabrielle.  :Forgive
me: he whispered once more into her mind.  :I did not intend to hurt you.:
	But even as he held her he made a promise to himself.  One way
or the other, Lestat would account for this.

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Post 226: Gabrielle and co.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Armand's small body, this time with no
passion involved, just the simple comfort of being held by a friend. her mind
still racing with images of Les innocents and Lestat, she shivered. It hurt
too much to think about it. Time would heal the pain. As long as Armand
understood...it didn't really matter. She whispered to him,

" Thank you...so very much." she smiled and looked at Marius over Armand's
shoulded, "Both of you. It means much to know that you are there. I do not
know what came over me. Too many hurtful things in the past few days."

She squeezed Armand, "Yes, cher. Lestat shall be punished. Our wrath so far
has killed him quite enough. Lord knows, he barely survived my wrath this
evening. He's hurt too many of us this time. And he is paying for it dearly."

She pulled back, holding Armand at arm's length, staring into his fathomless
eyes. She wiped a ruby tear from her eye and smiled tenderly, "You deserve
more."

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Post 227: Armand and co.

	The impact her words had upon him startled Armand.  "To know
that you are there... you deserve more."  He had always considered himself
outside the coven, even during the fiasco with Akasha.  But suddenly
there was Marius, his warmth and strength shielding him.  And Gabrielle,
no daggers drawn, thanking him as he held her.  Somehow it only increased
his fury.  He shielded strongly, allowing no hint of the anger burning
within him to show.  But as he brushed yet another tear from Gabrielle's
cheek, he thought to himself :Lestat, you will pay for the pain you
have caused tonight.  We are too close to happiness for it to be ruined
so carelessly.: 
	Following on that thought was a wave of guilt.  Look what he
had reduced her to!  Gabrielle, the picture of strength, shivering 
and weeping in his arms.  Guilt and anger mixed freely within him as
he held her closer.  He did not trust his mental voice, so he
said "Come back with me, to my hotel.  You can't return to Rue
Royal, not like this."

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Post 228: Marius and co.

	Marius stiffened. The very mention of Rue Royale brought back 
thoughts of David. It took him a few times to find his voice, though he 
could feel Armand's questioning eyes on him. "I... I need to go. I don't 
have a room here, I'll have to get one." There was no way in Heaven that 
he could return to Rue Royale. Not now. And Armand was right, Gabrielle 
needed companionship, it would be better if she went with Armand. He 
sighed, then reached out and brushed his fingers over first her cheek, 
then Armand's, before rising to his feet. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

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Post 229: Armand and co.

	"Marius!" Armand called at once, more anxious than he intended.
"Please... don't go.  My suite is large enough for all."  He looked at
Gabrielle, tightened his arms once to assure her, then released her,
walking back to Marius.  "Please don't leave.  Not now.  Too much has
happened."  He risked a small smile.  "If I awake tonight and you're
not there, I'll think it all a dream."

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Post 230: Marius and co.

	Marius hesitated, then managed to summon a small smile in return. 
"We couldn't have that, now could we?" he laughed softly. He cupped 
Armand's chin, lifting his head slightly and pressing a light kiss to his 
forehead. "Beautiful one," he whispered. "Of course I'll come, if you 
want me to. I've never been able to deny you, you should know that."
	He stepped back from Armand, went to offer a hand to Gabrielle 
and draw her to her feet. "Madame de Lioncourt? Your carraige awaits," 
he joked gently, managing to coax a small twitch from her full lips that 
might have been the start of a smile. "Shall we go?"

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Post 231: Gabrielle and co.

"Stay with you?" she had whispered and then she nodded. She needed his
strength, to know that he was close. She couldn't go back to the hurricane at
Rue Royal. In addition, Louis and Lestat would have to work this out. They
did not need her in the way of things. 
       She heard Marius say something about finding a room of his own, and
suddenly, she did not want him to go. She did not want either of them to go.
They were complete, these two. They needed one another and Gabrielle
acknowlegded this. Two finishing pieces of a puzzle, one not much use without
the other's help.
      She felt Armand leave her, and she watched  Armand as he asked Marius
to stay with them. 
      A cool wave of calm spashed over her as Marius told Armand he would. He
was such a strength, always was there, just helping.
    She smiled as she took the hand he offered,
    "Shall we go?" he asked.
     She smiled slightly and hooked her arm through his and Armand's and
said,
     "Of course. Lead the way."

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Post 232: Armand and Antonio

	Armand sighed in relief.  It meant more to him than he had realized,
to have Marius with him.  He immediately pressed a small key into Marius'
hand.  "I'm at the Pontchartrain, of course.  I'll meet you there soon.
Go on without me."  Marius was about to object when Armand glanced
significantly at the silent member of the quartet, nearly forgotten in
the rush.  At once he nodded.  "Don't be long." was all he said, pausing
to brush another kiss, feather light, against his cheek.  "I'll be waiting."
Then Marius escorted Gabrielle from the set.
	Slowly Armand turned to Antonio, watching him with wide, grave 
eyes.  "The dawn approaches." he said at last.  "I must go."
	"Of course you must." the actor responded at once.  "I understand.
There will be time enough later for our conversation."
	At first Armand thought Antonio mocked him, so perfect was his
inflection and choice of phrase.  But upon brushing his mind once more,
he could find nothing but wonderous curiosity.  He slowly nodded.  "I 
truly would like to speak with you.  Perhaps later?"
	"Yes.  But go now.  You're making me nervous."
	The comment was so unexpected that Armand had to laugh, the
quite sound rich with mirth.  "After all you've seen tonight, the
thought of me facing the dawn is what makes you nervous?"
	Antonio sobered at once.  "Yes."  He made a gesture, as thought
to reach out to Armand, then stilled.  "Should anything happen to you...
it would distress me greatly."
	Armand found himself holding his breath.  It had been a night
full of surprises, indeed.  But then the sky paled another shade.  He
looked apologetically at Antonio, who simply shook his head.  Then, as
silently as he had arrived, he fled to the safety of the Pontchartrain.

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Post 233: Lestat and Santino

	Lestat was lying down on Santino's bed when Santino returned to
the suite.
	"There *is* another bedroom, you know," Santino said.
	"I know," Lestat said.  "I just didn't want to be alone."
	Santino understood.  Even though the suite had been empty when
Lestat had returned to it, at least Santino's bedroom was filled with
clothes and books and all of the other hints that someone lived there
and would come back.  The other bedroom was bare, save for the furniture.
	"Do you mind?" Lestat asked, moving his hand in a way to indicate
that he was now asking if Santino would be bothered if they shared the
bed during their daylight sleep.
	"No," Santino said.  He went over to the bed and lay down beside
Lestat.  "I don't want to be alone either."
	"Things didn't go well with Marius?"
	"He wouldn't even look at me."  Santino shut his eyes, feeling
tears threaten.  "All that time on the set and not one member of the damn
coven would talk to me."
	Lestat touched Santino's arm in understanding.  "You've got me,
Santy.  You always will."
	Santino smiled.  "Thanks, Brat.  What about you?  How are you
doing?"
	"I don't want to talk about it."
	"That bad, huh?"
	"Shut up," Lestat said, but not as harshly as the words implied. 
There was a long moment of silence, before Lestat asked "You didn't see 
Louis, did you?"
	"No.  Not after we saw him with Gabrielle."
	"Oh."  Lestat turned over to lie on his back.  In the darkness of
the bedroom, Santino could see him fighting off tears of his own.
	"If it means that much to you, Lestat, why don't you go to him?"
Santino asked.  "There's still enough time before the sun rises.  He's
probably worried sick wondering where you are."
	"It doesn't matter," Lestat said.
	"Of course it does," Santino propped himself up on his shoulder
so that Lestat could see him.  "You've been in sheer misery since this
night began.  Don't try and tell me that it doesn't matter to you."
	"I didn't say that it didn't matter to *me*," Lestat said.  "I
said it didn't matter."
	"What does matter then?"
	"I hurt him," Lestat said softly.  "He had one of those hellish
nightmares, all because of me."
	"Yes," Santino said.  "But you didn't *mean* to hurt him."
	"That's the whole point!" Lestat said.  He turned to face Santino
again.  "If I had meant to hurt him then this wouldn't be a problem
because all I would have to do to make it stop is to not want to hurt
him.  But I *didn't* mean to hurt him, and he was hurt all the same.  I
hurt him without even thinking about it."  The tears were in Lestat's eyes
again.  "He isn't safe around me."
	Santino took Lestat by the shoulder.  "Stop it!  Stop thinking of
yourself as this hideous monster!  You are no more monster than I am.
And I can assure you that Louis agrees with me."
	"Didn't stop the nightmare though, did it?"
	"It's not your fault Armand leaks like a sieve."
	"But it *is* my fault that the nightmare started in the first
place!" Lestat said.
	"Lestat, the outcome of what you did could not have been 
predicted," Santino said.  "It's easy to second-guess now that we know,
but there was no way of knowing before it was done."
	"So there is no way of knowing that what I do in the future
won't hurt Louis as well," Lestat said, daring Santino to contradict him.
	"Yes, but--"
	"*Yes*," Lestat repeated.  "But...?"
	Santino sighed, trying to find the words to change Lestat's 
self-destructive mindset.  "I don't know what to tell you, Lestat.  I
can't deny that the possibility exists that something like the nightmares
could happen again.  But I can tell you this:  I would not care about you
as much as I do or for as long as I have if I did not completely believe
that you would die rather than let harm come to those you love.  Yes,
there is the chance that harm will come whether you want it to or not,
but I would much rather take that chance, then chance never having known
you at all."
	Lestat considered this.  "Thank you, Santy."
	"Have I changed your mind?"
	"No.  But thank you anyway.  It was very nice to hear."  Lestat
kissed Santino on the cheek.  "Just remember that I feel the same way
about you.  You don't have to keep proving yourself to me just because
of your past mistakes.  Of course, this is in part because I really have
no right to judge another by past mistakes, but it's still true."
	Santino laughed.  "Ah yes.  Shared guilt, the bond that keeps
us together."
	This elicited a chuckle from Lestat.  There was a pause, then
Santino felt Lestat move closer to him.  "Speaking of together," Lestat
said playfully, whispering into Santino's ear as he did so. "Remind me 
again why you and I never had an affair of our own?"
	"Because we both agreed that we'd kill each other in a week,"
Santino said, pushing Lestat away just as playfully.  "And we knew it
would destroy our friendship."
	"Really?"  Lestat settled back into his side of the bed.  "When
on earth were we ever that rational?"
	"Back in Italy, when we first met," Santino said.
	"That quickly?"
	"Well we were drunk at the time."
	"That would do it," Lestat said.  "I'd never make that kind of
decision otherwise."
	"Neither would I," Santino said.  "Shall we stick with it?"
	Lestat shrugged.  "May as well.  If for no other reason than
to drive the rest of the coven crazy wondering if we ever *have* slept
with each other or not."
	"I love the way your mind works," Santino said, laughing.  Then
a thought occured to him which made him serious once more.  "Lestat,
Louis is part of the coven too.  Are you sure you want to chance a
misunderstanding like that with him?"
	"I refer you to my earlier comment about it not mattering,"
Lestat said.  "Because it doesn't."  He put his head down on the pillow
and closed his eyes.  "Good night, Santy."
	"But--"
	"Good *night*, Santy."
	Santino sighed.  "Good night, Brat."

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Post 234: Khayman and Mael

"It's too late now Mael to find her". Khayman said "you and
your walks, fresh air you said, you probably knew this whole
time that she was here didn't you? Mael tries to answer but
Khayman interrupts him. "Now the sun is going to rise and we
barely have enough time to make it back to the hotel. I rented 
a room in the St. Louis, we better get going."

Mael tries to explain that he really didn't know, but Khayman
doesn't seem too interested in what he has to say. He keeps
repeating "where is she... where is she and why has she come?"

__________________________________________________________________________
Post 235: Louis

Louis sat in his leather chair in his bedroom. He wasn't used to being alone
at this time of the morning. He closed the script and put it on the table,
rubbing his eyes. 

There was a slight tap at the door. Louis was on his feet instantly. He
pulled open the door to see Gabrielle standing in front of him.

"Oh." He turned back to his chair. "I thought it might have been Lestat."

"He hasn't returned, Louis? Is this like him?" Gabrielle followed him into
the room, slipping an arm around him.

Louis shook his head. "Only when he is very angry with me. It looks as if
I've done something quite unforgivable. I know what it is, too."

"I'm sure he'll come in like a whirlwind at any moment." She yawned.

"No. Listen, the birds have begun their dawn chorus. Lestat would have been
in by now. He's found himself someplace safe. He could disappear for days,
weeks if he's that upset with me." Louis shook his head and looked miserable.

Gabrielle made little concerned noises and kissed his cheek. "Oh, mon cher...
he will be repentant..."

Louis turned toward her. "Why should he be? I'm the one who has hurt him, I'm
the one who is at fault." He sank down on his bed and sighed. "I can't
even*find *him so that I can appologise."

"Louis, he's the one who gave us the nightmares."

"Oui," Louis continued to stare into space. "And *he* had one as well, and
did we even think to comfort him? No. We were too concerned for ourselves and
Armand. We should have sorted him out first. After all, I've loved Lestat for
years..." 

Louis' voice trailed away. 

Gabrielle shook her head. "Go to sleep. Cherie. You'll feel better tonight."

Louis listened as the door closed. He rose from the bed and checked the
flat's security system and then returned to his room. How horribly empty it
was.

Louis stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. 

"Where are you, my love?" He whispered into the darkness.

		*		*		*
Out of Character---
I made a screw up on the Louis post. IGNORE  GABRIELLE! She's not there! Louis' 
just by himself, OK? GEEEEEZE!!!! Five lashes with a wet noodle!

Cathy

___________________________________________________________________________
Post 236: Armand- The Next Night

	Heat.  The sweltering heat smothered him.  The airless room
in which he had been abruptly thrust had no windows, only the narrow
door - bolted from the outside.  There was no light, but he hardly 
needed light to know his cell.  It was barely wide enough for a boy
to sit with his legs stretched before him.  He could not stand without
stooping.  The walls were thick, solid, rough against his tender skin;
the floor beneath him was dirt.
	He sat huddled against the far wall, his knees drawn to his
chest, his arms over his head, trying in vain to block out the muffled
sounds audible even through the door.  He could hear it... the high
pitched screaming, even in his dreams now.  It was the only sound he
had heard for days.
	Suddenly the door burst open, the light blinding one who had
been so long in darkness.  Rough hands reached in, dragged him forth.
He was too terrified even to cry out.  At once he was held, a torch
thrust in his face.  Still he could see nothing but the flames, and
the darkness beyond.  But the sounds were not what he expected.  He
had thought to hear screams.  What he heard instead were the excited
voices of many men, all talking at once, and then the sound of metal
upon metal - coins changing hands.
	He was shoved so violently that he was on his knees before he
knew he had moved.  Once again he was restrained, this time tied 
rather than held, so that he lay prone and spread before them.  Cruel
hands ripped away the peasants garb he wore, exposing him to 
probing eyes and hands.  Tears of shame rolled down the boy's cheeks,
for the hands allowed him no modesty.  He bit his lip to keep from
crying out against the intimate invasion.  Then the hands withdrew, and
he chanced a quick glance around, trying to see what was happening
without moving.
	When they approached him once again, the sight was so unbelievable
that at first he failed to make the connection.  They were coming for
_him_.  But... that was only done to animals!  And yet, there could be
no mistake.  The flaming iron was tested a moment, approved by one
of the men, then they moved behind Armand, where he could not see.  His
terror was so complete that he could not move, could not breathe, every
muscle in his body locked and rigid.  
	Nothing could have prepared him for the pain.  It exploded as
the iron seared his flesh, branding the mark of his new owner deep into
his skin.  And he was screaming, and screaming.... "MARIUS!!!!"
	"Amadeo!  I'm Here!"  It was as though from a great distance,
but he heard a responding call.  Suddenly it was his adult form which
was restrained, held against the burning iron, and he was helpless to
free himself.  Frantic, he looked around for the voice.  "MARIUS!" he
cried out again.  Then the scene shifted, as is often the case in dreams,
and... he saw Marius.  But he knew he could not help... 
	Marius was burning...

__________________________________________________________________________
Post 237: Marius

**It was dark, the lights flickering, and the touch of the proprietor's 
hand on his was distastful. But the boy he had seen, the one he was taken 
to now... exquisite. Delicate and pale, an angel's face framed in loose 
auburn curls that picked up the firelight and shone back in blazing 
copper. Graceful, beautiful, even beneath the dirt and bruises. And the 
eyes- dark limpid pools of vast emotion. And when the boy raised them to 
meet his own he knew a shock that went through him, and almost brought 
him to his knees. Emotion, memory, thought, lashing through him like a 
whip. Pain, fear, humiliation, shame, pain, fear, fear, fear... It beat 
in him like a drum, drowning out all else, and all from this exquisite 
small boy, a pain that he had never felt and that broke through his every 
shield until it was _he_ who stood, the floor cold beneath his feet, 
shivering and feeling the pain in every bruise and cut, looking up to 
this, his newest master. Master for a night, a night of pain and shame 
that went on and on, forever... He could not block it, could not escape 
it, memory after memory pouring in on him and he knew that he could never 
leave this child here, could never feel sorrow for himself again in the 
face of this all encompassing pain that screamed endlessly in his mind 
and heart, over and over, a scream of pain and terror...**

	Marius jerked himself up, a cry strangling in his throat. Dream, 
it was a dream. Another dream. But it wasn't, because the scream of that 
dream was continued now, echoing in his ears, and in that foggy state 
between sleep and waking it was the cry of the child in memory who 
screamed as the brand was touched to his skin, the flesh curling, 
blackening, agony shooting through his body...
	"Armand!" Marius was across the bed in a single leap, over the 
stirring Gabrielle to Armand's side. "Armand! Amadeo, ragazzo, it's only 
a dream! I'm here, you're safe!"

___________________________________________________________________________
Post 238: David

	He was sitting in his study at Talbot manner pretending to be
busy again. Some relatives were living with him, taking care of him till
his heart would finally give out. "They're in it for the money." he gumbled
to himself. Was it true?  They were never around till the doctor told him
he had a weak heart. His life of adventure was over, now all he had left
was to look forward to dying quitly in a room full of people he bearly
knew, and didn't care to know. "Not with a bang but a whimper. So much
left undone. I should have took Lestat up on his offer, I should have
joined him."
	"Ah, but you didn't."  Who was it?  "Don't you recognize me?"
David looked at the door. There standing in the passageway was a tiger.
"I could have given you the world, and you denied me. Why David?"
	"Because I was afraid of what I might become."
	"More then death David?  Do you fear it more then death?"
	"No Lestat, please, take me with you now, I'm ready to go. I
don't want to die!"
	"So you would become a monster like myself?"
	"No, I mean, you are no monster, I see that now. Please don't let
me die, not like this!"
	"In the old days I would be outcasted for making one as old as
you. The gift is for the beautiful David. Look at yourself, old and
wrinkled, Why would I love someone as ancient as you? Perhaps I love you
the way I loved Magnus. He took me against my will, as I would have taken
you. Too bad you got away from me."
	"But I offer myself to you now!"
	"I can't take you now David, you wouldn't help me remember? I have
this new form. Remember when you hunted David? There will be no more hunts
for you now. Your time is nearly up."
	David felt a tightness in his chest, he grabbed his arm and fell
over in pain. "Help Lestat! Help me!"
	"I cannot mon cher, this is your choice, this is what you wanted."
	"No, please!"  He gasped for his breath, this was the end, he was
going to die. He looked up and the tiger image of Lestat was gone, replaced
with the tall godlike figuare of Marius.
	"David, don't worry, we'll talk about this later. It will work out."
		*		*		*

	David awoke from the dream. He didn't make a sound, he was used to
this dream already.

___________________________________________________________________________
Post 239: David and Daniel

	It was the next night and David awoke from his sleep with a
little surprise in his arms. Daniel was huddled close to him. He had
done it again, taken consolation in the arms of who ever would take time
to listen to him. This time it wasn't the wild reckless abandonment as it
was with Santino, but the slow gentle love making of two that had been
threw much torment. Two fledglings that had felt forsaken by their
perspective lovers. But Daniel would go back to Armand. To him, he was    
completely devoted. Daniel had explained to David that Armand didn't
understand fidelity of the flesh, it was who you loved in the heart that
mattered. This made sense coming from Armand, who had been repeatedly
used for the sole purpose of providing pleasure to whoever could afford
it. The matter was a little more complex for David.
	"Why is it?"  He said quitly aloud to himself. He looked down
at the young man in his arms. In mortal years, Daniel's body was older,
he was also older as a vampire. But in mind, David was far his senior.
"Plays with the mind." he murmured again. "I am part of the part that at
first was all, part of the darkness that gave birth to light, that
supercilious light which now disputes with Mother Night her ancient
rank and space, and yet cannot succeed; no matter how it struggles, it
sticks to matter and can't get free. Light flows from substance, makes it
beautiful; solids can check it's path, so I hope it won't be long till
light and the worlds stuff are destroyed together."
	"That was pretty morbid." Daniel opened his eyes and smiled at
David. Those _eyes_! No wonder David couldn't resist him.
	"Just remebering my _Faust_. How did you sleep?"
	"Perfect. You and I should get together more often."
	"If you like, not like I have anyone else to go to."
	"Thanks" 
	"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I don't know what I mean any
more. The more I think, the more fuzzy everything becomes."
	"I know the feeling. Twelve years I didn't know what was going on
in the world or in my personal life. I walked in a fog and just let every-
thing happen around me while I remained oblivious."
	"But that was all before this...this transformation. Everything was
clear before this happened to me. I had regrets, there were things I still
wanted to do, but I accepted that I missed oppertunities, that my heart would
give out, and I would die. Now...I have this new life...this vast power,
and I have no idea what to do with all of it. I thought I could build a life
with Marius, but that won't happen now. I'm not like Armand, I couldn't
share him with the rest of the coven...though it was I who was unfaithful
first. I couldn't help it Daniel! Marius never talked to me! He never
asked me how I felt, or remembered what I liked or which of the damn books
I appeared in. Whenever I brought it up, he said he was sorry and took
me to bed. Never did he tell me what was on his mind!" Daniel jumped back
a little startled by David's sudden agitated state. "I'm sorry I'm going
on again aren't I?"  Daniel kissed him on the lips and smiled at him.
	"It's okay, this all takes getting used to. I still work myself
into frantic states at times. And Lestat! He still throws his fits."
	"Don't remind me."  David rolled his eyes as he said it. "Sometimes
I regret my choice of helping him get his body back."
	"Do you you really?"
	"No...But I like to think I do." Daniel laughed at the remark.
	"We should get back to the set before Armand starts to wondering...
forget I said that."
	"Actually, I want to get back...I need to sort a few things out, and
I want to find Marius and see if I can set us straight...just stop the feud
before it gets anymore out of hand."   

__________________________________________________________________________
Post 240: Armand and Marius

	Armand heard the voice grow louder, sharper, as he screamed,
thrashing against the bonds which held him to the fire.  "I'm
here, you're safe!"
	With a final desperate cry he launched himself up and away
from the pain, away from the arms which held him down, until he struck
the far wall, landing in a trembling heap.  "Armand?  Mi Amadeo...
can you hear me?"
	At once Armand stilled, as though frozen in place.  His mind
spun frantically.  Was he dreaming?  Was he awake?  Did he dare look up,
to meet the eyes of his master?  Who knew what terrors awaited, if he
looked up?
	"Amadeo?"  It was the barest of whispers, so compelling he had
little choice but to glance around, furtivly, in the direction of the
voice.  Marius was crouched very near him, but did not touch.  One hand
reached out to him, almost pleading.  Armand blinked once, twice, then
his mind cleared, and he understood where he was.
	He did not reach for Marius' hand.  Instead he straightened into
a more comfortable position.  "I had another nightmare." he said needlessly.
"I'm fine now."
	Marius smiled gently.  "No you're not.  Neither am I.  Let me hold
you..."
	The words, so simple, ripped into his suddenly fragile defenses.
He gazed steadily into the sapphire eyes, finally shutting down his 
thoughts completely.  "You're right." he gasped.  "I'm not fine."  Then
he was in Marius' arms.