RPG SPEC: Hollywood Vampires Part 9, Posts 241-270 _________________________________________________________________________ Post 241: Louis The scene swirled around him again... the laughter, the mocking voices. In the mirky darkness, surrounded by the shadowy figures, Lestat slumped in an armchair. Armand stood before him. "Are you satisfied?" Armand's voice echoed off the walls and back at them. "Yes." Lestat's voice choked. Louis could see the agony on his face, the blood tears staining his white face. Their eyes met. "Louis..." Lestat began, "...Please, you must listen... you must come back..." Santiago's dark, murderous laughter seemed to surround them. Armand was telling Lestat to get out of Paris, he was an outcast... Louis relived the scene... he relived grasping Lestat by the black wool lapels of his coat and pulling him up from the chair... "Where is she? Where is she?" The laughter continued to echo around him. Louis saw the door to the air shaft and slowly moved toward it. There was only one barely recognizable figure this time. Louis reached over and touched the charred hand... it disintegrated as he touched it... the large onyx and gold ring fell to the stone floor. "LESTAT!" Louis sat up on the bed, his face streaked with tears and bloody sweat. He covered his face with this hands. "Lestat..." he whispered. "Where are you?" Louis lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes, exhausted. "I have to find him..." Louis whispered. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 242: Louis Louis permitted his mind to seek out the others... He hated to break into their privacy, but he felt he hadn't a choice. What id Lestat's nightmare was worse than his? What if he was alone? He touched David's mind and found only turmoil and vague references to Daniel. No. He wasn't with Lestat. Louis sighed. "Gabrielle... have you see Lestat?" She was still sleeping, her thoughts were tangled with images that unsettled him. He left her alone. He wouldn't disturb Armand or Marius...They were too powerful at shielding, anyway. "Santino..." he breathed, perhaps he saw him last night. Louis concentrated and touched the mind of the Italian vampire. Santino murmured in his sleep and inadvertantly sent the image of Lestat, fast asleep at his side... taking up most of the bed and all of the covers. Louis' eyes snapped wide open in shock. "Lestat? ... and Santino?" _______________________________________________________________________ Post 242.5: Lestat and Santino Santino opened his eyes and shuddered. He'd had another dream of Marius, only this time it had been worse than the one he had had the day before. He ran a hand through his hair *Armand must have had another one,* he thought. The memory of the nightmares brought with it the memory of the night before, and of his new suitemate. Santino looked up and found Lestat sitting in one of the chairs by the bed, having turned it so that it faced out towards the window with Lestat's back to him. "What was that about it being worth the risk to know me?" Lestat asked, his voice sarcastic. Santino got up and walked over to him. From this position he could see that Lestat was dressed only in a pair of pants, apparently having started to get dressed, but stopping midway. "Don't do this to yourself." "It's already been done," Lestat said, not turning to look at him. "Everyone must adore me right now." Santino considered his words carefully. "Did you make Armand have another nightmare?" Lestat shook his head slightly. "No." A flicker of helplessness flashed in his eyes. "I don't know why this happened. The command should have kept it to last night, no more. I don't know why they started again." "And if you don't know why they started--" "Then I don't know how to make them stop, either," Lestat finished. Santino could see his knuckles turning white as he clenched his hands into fists. Santino took all of this in. Then, softly, he asked. "What was your nightmare today?" Lestat's voice was devoid of any emotion. "I dreamt I was my father." "Oh God," Santino whispered. "Not exactly," Lestat said, turning his mouth into a mocking grin. He got up from the chair. "I've decided that it's best for me to go. Perhaps once there's some distance between me and everyone, all of this will end." "Lestat, you're not thinking clearly," Santino said. "You can't go. What about Lo--" "Don't say the name!" Lestat said, sharply. "Don't." "Proof enough that you still care for him." "It doesn't--" "Matter. Yes, so you keep saying to me. I disagree." "Didn't keep you from having a nightmare either," a small laugh escaped Lestat. "You're just lucky that you and Armand aren't that close, otherwise you'd want me to leave just as much as I do." "I would want no such thing," Santino said. Seeing that the mention of Louis had somewhat weakened Lestat's resolve, Santino reached out and tentitively touched Lestat's arm. "Lestat, you're exhausted. You didn't feed yesterday and your sleep today was hardly restful. At least lie down for a little bit and get your bearings. Even if it won't change your mind, you have to admit that you're hardly in any condition to travel." "I suppose," Lestat said, the tiredness showing in his voice. Santino nodded and gently guided Lestat back to the bed. "Good. Get some sleep." Lestat lay down, then looked up at Santino. "You'll stay with me? Even after all I've done?" "You're talking about past mistakes again," Santino grinned. "And yes, I'll stay." Lestat nodded, accepting this, then closed his eyes. _______________________________________________________________________ Post 243: Louis Louis jumped out of bed and paced around the room. "How *could* he?... I just don't understand! Just the other night..." Louis stopped in his tracks, shaking with anger and dispair. Quickly, he went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. It didn't help much... The hurt green eyes stared back at him. He knew where they were. Hotel St. Louis. "Oh, I bet he had a good laugh over that!" Louis snarled as he went back to his room and dressed. Inside, he knew he wasn't in any shape for a confrontation, between first dreaming about Gabrielle coming in and then the nightmare. But he had to confront them. It didn't take him long to make a preternatural dash to the hotel and ascertain what room they were in. He went up to the 3rd floor and knocked loudly on the door. A groggy Santino opened it a crack and Louis pushed his way in. He stood at the foot of the bed and glared down at Lestat. "Room Service." He growled. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 244: Gabrielle ** Alone....all alone. No, don't leave me, not here, not now. The Devil's Road....take me. No we cannot, we must not. Would only hurt you.... Damp, thick smell of the Roman Coven, only torches for warmth, to warm the chilling blood of the preternatural. He lay, backed into a corner, the flickering firelight reflecting a golden halo over the auburn curls, tangled with blood. Arms wrapped about himself, the icy touch of the mind. No, don't go there. Must not, can not. Hands from every direction, pulling him down, away from the fire. Their faces unknown, covered by the large black hoods. The vows, tell them, say yes to everything they say. "To serve Satan." "Yes." And another yes, and yet another. Where had the master gone, must see the master, must take him away from the flames. Hands stroking him, seemingly stone hands encased in silk gloved. Droplets of the blood being offered, small kisses. Being thrown into the dance, the maddening screaming and twisting. No master....no fire...only this. Wails, shouts...yes...children of Satan, children of Darkness. Alone, empty....** "Armand!" she said loudly, breathless as she banished the last shreds of the deep sleep. Forcing herself to think, not become lost again. Her eyes scanned the room and she saw him, encased within Marius' arms. She pulled herself up from the bed with any strength she had left, willing herself to move to them. "Oh, Armand....." she whispered as she stroked his hair from behind. Marius locked eyes with her for a moment, : Another nightmare? : he asked. : Yes, not as clear as before however, faint imagery.: She turned her attention back to Armand, whispering softly as she had done to comfort Lestat so many times in the past. "Shall be allright....we will help. You have us." Tears welling, to see him like this. She fought them back, no use for them now. They need your strength, Gabrielle, both hurting terribly. _______________________________________________________________________ Post 245: Armand Armand allowed himself the luxury of being held until Gabrielle approached. When he felt her first tentative touch upon his back he stiffened, and drew away. He saw the look of remorse on Marius' face, but did not relent. He needed his strength now. At once his mind became sharp, calculating. He gracefully stood and looked down upon his companions, suddenly the very essence of the Coven Master. "Thank you. I'm fine now." He turned and shut himself in the bathroom without another word. Once there, however, he did not shower, though he turned on the water for effect. His mind was fully veiled - with luck they wouldn't know for some time. Then he began his quest. Lestat... no. No luck there at all - his barriers were every bit as formidable as Armand's own. Who then? Who has seen the Prince of Darkness? Give me your thoughts... Louis. Ah... and agitated. Louis had found him. Very good. He immediately opened the window and dropped to the pavement below, homing in on the signal of Louis... and therefore, Lestat. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 246: David David knew that it was time to talk rationally to Marius. He couldn't let it go on this way anymore. If anything, he had to at least know where they each stood in the relationship...if they could still have one. He sent out his call to him, hoping for any response. ::Marius! PLEASE answer me! I'm so sorry for yesterday. We must talk!:: ________________________________________________________________________ Post 247: Louis, Lestat, and Santino Louis siezed Lestat's ankle and pulled him out of the bed in one swift motion. Lestat landed on the floor with a thud. "It's... it's not what you think, Louis." Santino stepped forward. "Ah, then if this is all quite innocent, then why are you stammering?" Louis placed his hand over Santino's face and gave him a shove backwards into the wall. Louis folded his arms across his chest and glared down at Lestat. Lestat glared back at Louis, raising himself up on his elbows. He started to laugh. "Do you realize how ridiculous you look when you're angry. You're about as baleful as a garden variety mole." Lestat found himself being pulled to his feet and given a strong shake before being thrown into a chair. "I'm glad you still have your sense of humor, Lestat. But I suggest you put it aside right now. I've got some questions and I'd really like some answers." Louis stood in front of him, trying to control his anger. Lestat casually crossed his legs. "Oh, God, Louis. Must you make a scene so early in the evening?" "Yes, I intend to. How long has this been going on, answer me that much." Louis began to pace. "What? *This*? Oh, this is nothing. Nothing at all." Lestat started to laugh again. "Go away. Louis and take your pettiness with you." "I waited on the set last night, hoping to appologise and then when I found the apartment empty, I was actually worried about." "You should be the one with the appology, Monsieur." Lestat was on his feet, pooking Louis' chest with a slender finger. "Now it's MY turn for a little righteous anger." Lestat grabbed Louis by his shoulders and drew him nose to nose. "Just *What* did you think you were trying to do last night, kissing Gabrielle *IN PUBLIC*!" "What?" Louis asked "YOU HEARD ME, you miserable two timing fledgling." Lestat growled. "Lestat... she kissed me! But That has very little to do with what went on here last night!" Louis replied. "You know..." a voice in the door way startled them." I'd actually pay money to see this!" Armand reached in his pocket and tossed several coins on the floor at their feet. "Oh, this is bloody marvelous!" Lestat pushed Louis from him and took a step towards Armand. "Just the person I was looking forward to seeing. Louis, put on the radio and see if someone's playing 'You Light Up My Life'." "This should prove most interesting..." Armand regarded Lestat cooly. "But first, may I ask, are Louis and I overdressed or is this a new trend in what to wear - or not ot wear to a war of words?" _______________________________________________________________________ Post 248: David There was no reply from Marius. His shields were probably up. Not ready to deal with the situation just yet. David wasn't sure he was either, but it had to be done. He sent another message, this time he made it general so that anyone in the coven, save Lestat, would pick it up. Hopefully someone would tell Marius he was calling. What would he say to him once he had his attention? That he still loved him and wanted to return? That they had to start talking more about thier true feelings instead of bottling them up inside? And what if Marius would never hear what he had to say, or decided to stay with Armand? But what was he thinking of, he forgot about Santino! He had wrecked the uneasy friendship Santino and Marius had formed together, and then just forgot about it! "Poor Santino!, I have to speak with Marius, if for nothing more then to mend thier friendship." He scanned the area for Santino, he was back at the hotel...and Lestat, Louis and Armand were all there! "This doesn't look good!" He sat back for a moment and wandered if he should go there to help calm things down...as if he was in a position to do that in his present state. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 249: Armand and co. Armand stepped into the room, every motion deliberate. He nodded politely. "Louis, so nice to see you again." He eyed the Italian vampire cooly. "Santino." "Armand." Santino said slowly, his inflection slightly insulting. "What a... surprise." Armand ignored him completely, instead turning to Lestat, who had hastily shrugged into a robe. "Lestat." The word was like a dagger. "I think we should talk." "Cut the drama, Armand and get to the point." Lestat snapped. "Have you been having nightmares?" he replied sweetly. He was gratified when all three of his fellow vampires reacted, Louis concerned, Santino troubled and Lestat... guilty. Covered quickly enough, but there. "I take it that's a yes." His eyes narrowed and glittered dangerously. "It might interest you to know that I was not the only one affected by this little gift of yours. Marius and your beloved Gabrielle fare no better than myself." He resisted the urge to throttle Lestat, knowing it would do no good. "What have you done?" he hissed. _______________________________________________________________________ Post 250: Lestat and co. "What have I done?" Lestat asked. "Why, had a little bit of fun, of course. All of it at your expense. And I loved every minute of it!" :Lestat!: Santino's voice in his mind could not be ignored. :Don't do this!: :Too late,: Lestat sent back. "Lestat, what are you talking about?" Louis asked. "The nightmares," Lestat said. "Honestly, Louis, pay attention. Yes, I sent out the nightmares. The first set was meant only for Armand. I have to admit to quite a bit of surprise that others in the coven were affected by them. But once I realized how I really felt about all of you, how could I resist but to send out a second set?" :LESTAT!: Santino again. Lestat mentally batted the thought away. Santino glared at him. "He's lying," Satino said aloud. "He didn't send the nightmares today." Lestat laughed. "Well of course you'd say that, Santy. After all, why would I send *you* one of those awful dreams? But you see, the others did, in fact, have nightmares today. Unlike you, for the obvious reasons." "Lestat, how could you do this?" Louis demanded. "How could I pass up the chance to break through the minds of my *adoring* Children?" Lestat countered. "Besides, it brought all of you so close together the first time, I thought I'd make you all inseparable." His smile was cruel. "I'd think you'd thank me for all I've done." _____________________________________________________________________ Post 251: David David tried to scan Santino's and Louis' minds when he was cut off suddenly by both of them. The last glimps he caught was that Armand was going after Lestat for sending the nightmares ::That explains why they have been more intense the past few nights. What has that *brat* started now:: He decided to check out the situation himself...try to calm the waters before the hurrican would hit. Armand, Louis and Lestat could bring about Armageddon with thier arguing, and poor Santino was caught in the middle. He must go if for no other reason then rescue Santino from their wrath. As he got to the hotel, he began to pick up parts of their 'conversation'. He flew upstairs and plowed open the door. "Ah good, your all here." He said with a slight uneasiness in his voice. "Before you do something we'll all regret, why don't we try to discuss this rationally." ______________________________________________________________________ Post 252: Gabrielle and Marius Armand stalked his way into the bathroom without another word. He had stiffened at her touch, she was at a loss for words. She stood from where she knelt, her eyes glassy, reflecting the image of someone who's not quite there. She looked up at Marius, "What did I do?" Marius sighed, "I have no idea. Armand....." "Yes, I know." came the clipped reply that she hadn't meant to be so. She scanned the bathroom for any trouble.....and found that Armand was not there. "MARIUS!" She exclaimed, "He's not in there." His eyes opened wide, "Then where is he?" "YOu know how he is, I could hardly find him if I had to. I'll scan the others." she closed her eyes and concentrated, and through Louis' eyes, she saw the warzone. She stood up quickly and got dressed, she grabbed Marius by the arm and tugged him to the door, "Come NOW!" she hissed, "They're ALL in Santino's bedroom, they're ready to kill each other. And how could the mother and father of the clan miss this?" _______________________________________________________________________ Post 253: Armand and co. Armand felt the fury within him settle cold into his heart. "You did this deliberately?" His voice was low, dangerous. "You struck out at the entire coven simply to hurt me?" He stepped closer. "Shall I tell you I'm flattered?" "Tell me anything you like on your way out the door." Lestat answered, the warning obvious within his voice. "You're lying, Lestat." The simple statement echoed like a silent explosion. "You are in over your head again, as usual. And now, to cover it up, you offer us this pathetic story - unworthy of you." "You'd like to think so." Lestat shot in return. "If I'm lying, then I didn't set out to hurt you, or Louis, or anyone." He was suddenly nose to nose with Armand, his voice a feral snarl. "But the truth is, I enjoyed hurting you so much, the knowledge that you were writhing in the grips of a nightmare of my creation please me so well... that I did it again today. And I'm going to continue to send the dreams, one after the other, until you go mad." No one moved. Then - the door burst open, to admit a very flustered David. Armand barely heard him. "... why don't we try to discuss this rationally?" As one Armand and Lestat turned to him. "Shut Up, David!" Before Armand could even open his mouth to speak again, Gabrielle and Marius burst into the room. Lestat rolled his eyes. "Anyone else coming? I'd hate to have to repeat myself." _______________________________________________________________________ Post 254: Daniel Daniel finally decided to get out of bed. It was nearly midnight and he was still dozing off in the bed he'd shared with David that day. They had spent the day together, loving each other... Daniel had never meant for it to happen. Well, he *did* feel attracted to David, but he had not come to him with that purpose. He had come to David because he wanted to comfor him, help him to ease the pain, the emptiness in his chest after the fight with Marius. And then, one thin had led to another. First they were hugging, a brotherly hug, a fraternal kiss...It was all wrong from the beginning! Daniel had not been able to restraint his passion, his hunger for love, the lusty desire burning his entrails, and that sickening attraction he felf for this other vampire, David. David, former Superior General of the Talamasca, late 60's when he had been made. All the experience and knowledge of his mortal years were trapped inside that delicious mortal body, a 26 year old man with dark skin and silky brown hair. Well, what did you expect, Daniel? He thought. Did you really think you would resist him? Of course not. It had been a memorable experience but it was time to forget about it. He had no chance with David; he knew that. Besides, the entire coven was a mess already! Marius and Armand, and then Marius and David... And Santino? What was going on with Santino? Better not ask, he thought. Now it was David and him. What would he tell Armand? Marius? "Oh God! Why do I always have to be caught in the middle of all this!" He yelled, raising his hands to his aching head. "Dammit! It's always me!" He wanted to get out and disappear. Why was it that everytime the coven got together their reunion turned out to be a nightmare? Why couldn't they just get along like a normal family... "A 'normal family'," He laughed. How ironic! "How normal can a vampire coven really be? A normal family of vampires...Yeah, that makes sense!" Better to get out now before he went crazy. He had to find Armand and tell him about the nightmare. He felt really bad about lying to David. "Yes, I slept well...The Hell I slept well!" But he could not tell David about his nightmare. It was too painful, too personal. This one, he could only share with Armand. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 255: Daniel Daniel ran out of the room. He was now outside, walking the dark street of New Orleans. He directed himself to the set of The Vampire Lestat. Surely the entire coven would be gathered there. He really needed to speak to Armand. This nightmares were driving him crazy. The set was empty! What in the Hell...The director was fumming, yelling: "What do you mean Cruise is not in his trailer?! Get him and Pitt in the set right now!" "Sir, Mr. Pitt isn't there either..." the poor boy whispered, obviously intimidated. "WHAT! Did I hear you right??? Where the fuck did they go? Ah, just watch me firing their asses!" He stamped out of the set, furiously throwing his sunglases in the floor. "What are you doing there, you idiot!" He turned to the boy. "Move your butt! Help me to find them!" Daniel couldn't hold his laughter. This was too funny! But what could he expect...wherever the coven went, there would be trouble. Now the question was...Where were they??? _______________________________________________________________________ Post 256: Daniel Daniel saw the dark glasses laying on the floor. Nice, he thought. No one would claim them. And besides, Martin had left them there, threw them to the floor, right? He probably didn't want them anymore. Daniel picked them up and tried them on. Perfect. He liked them alright. It seemed they were made for him. With his new pair of glasses, Daniel walked out of the set. Why did Martin wear dark glasses at night, anyway? Oh well, he didn't have to worry about that anymore. He just needed to find Armand. Where could they be??? Oh, but of course! The Rue Royale. ______________________________________________________________________ Post 257: Daniel Daniel was finally at Rue Royale. No one was there. Where could they be? They didn't have anything to do with Cruise and Pitt disappearing, now did they? Daniel was terrified, letting his imagination fly...Armand and Lestat had KILLED the actors! Yes, that was probably it. And then, they had fled to hide the bodies. Oh, and the press would be all over! They would find the bodies and then they would know that they had been killed by vampires! Daniel widened his eyes. This was not good... _____________________________________________________________________ Post 258: Daniel Oh, how stupid he felt! Why hadn't he thought about that earlier! All he had to do was scan for the coven and he would find them. At least one of them would be around! He concentrated, tried to focus on...David. Yes, he could read David, and surely, David wasn't alone. "Oh my God!" Daniel cried. "This is crazy!" Yes, he had been right. David was not alond. The entire coven was with him. They were ALL at Santino's room. "This is disaster...I better get myself there right now!" _____________________________________________________________________ Post 259: Daniel and co. Daniel bolted the door open. There they were, all of them. Santino and Lestat to the left. Marius and Gabrielle, and David. Louis was there as well, and so was Armand. "Oh, just what we needed!" Lestat threw his head backwards and laughed. "Welcome to the party, Daniel!" "What the hell is going on here?" Daniel asked. "I would watch my language, insolent fledgling. I'm not in a very good mood right now," Lestat hissed, fixing his steel cold blue eyes on Daniel. "Uh...I'm sorry!" Daniel stepped backwards. "You should be!" said Lestat. "I would hate to turn you into a pile of ashes!" "You touch Daniel and I shall kill you with my own hands!" Armand's voice chimed in. "Alright, boss. It's ok! Nothing happened here!" Daniel smiled trying to cool things down. "I was just passing by and I thought I would say 'hi' but since you're not in a good mood, I'm outta here! Armand, would you like to come with me?" He said cooly. "Not so quick, Daniel!" Armand held Daniel's arm. "You don't have to go anywhere. I have some unifinished business with Lestat." _____________________________________________________________________ Post 260: Armand and co. Armand physically placed himself between Lestat and Daniel. As dangerous as it was to have him in the room, it may be more dangerous to have him roving about. Lestat could strike at him no matter where he was - at least this way, should harm come to Daniel, he'd know about it. "Have you lost your mind?" Armand demanded of Lestat. "You're attacking us all? The entire coven? Why?" He suddenly thrust Daniel into David's waiting arms and advanced once more upon Lestat. "Why? You must tell me. This isn't about me - it's gone too far for that. Now Tell Me What's Going On!" ______________________________________________________________________ Post 261: Khayman & Mael When Khayman awoke the next night his first thought was that of Maharet. "Why had she come?" A smile appeared on his face "well, perhaps she had missed me". Mael was starting to stir he opened his eyes and looked at Khayman "I take it you'll be leaving soon?" Ignoring what Mael was saying Khayman jumped in the shower, he wanted to be nice and fresh before he saw her. As Khayman approached the door, Mael stepped in front of him "I think we need to talk". With a slight glare in his eye, Khayman replied "I don't think so, your up to your old tricks and I don't want any part of it." "Khayman I swear to you", Mael said "I didn't know she was here. I sensed her only when we arrived onto the set. You just have to believe me." "Mael I really don't know whether or not to believe you, but because I really don't feel like arguing let's just say I believe you. If you want, you can come with me, I'm sure she would be happy to see you." As they started to leave, Khayman picked up the Lestat's infamous "brat voice". "Mael I think we need to make a slight detour". "I think your right Khayman". As they entered the room, everyone was yelling at everyone. "What the HELL is going on in here?" Khayman said as he stepped further into the room. "Can't you people ever get along?" ________________________________________________________________________ Post 262: Gabrielle and co. Gabrielle rolled her eyes at her son's arrogance, "Oh, SHUT UP LESTAT!" All eyes in the room turned on her, "Yes, I told the brat to shut up and if he doesn't watch it, he'll get a spanking in front of the ENTIRE coven." she smirked and it looked as if Lestat was going to speak, "Don't do it. I don't much care for what you have to say. You did this all because of me, and I don't appreciate. Don't give them a lot of bull about *liking* the fact you hurt Armand, that you did it delibertly to hurt him. I know it's not true, is it, Lestat?" She started to pace, her mind awash with frantic thoughts, trying to become communicable. "Look, Lestat. Before all these nightmares began, I ran home to the Rue Royal in, let's say not a good state." She glanced over to Armand who refused to meet her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued, "You asked me what he did to me, I never gave you an answer. I suppose you thought you didn't need one to go off half-cocked in anger as usual." Lestat crossed his arms and glared, tapped his foot impatiently, she smiled, "Now, I don't for ONE MOMENT, believe you can't stop this. There is a way, and you can't stand to see us like that, you know it. Look at Louis, Lestat." Gabrielle walked to Louis and put a kind hand on his arm, "Look him in the eye Lestat....tell him you don't care. Go ahead try it." "Or more importantly..." she continued as she walked about the room, staring every coven member in the eye, "Tell ANY ONE of them that you don't care." She walked straight up to Lestat and rose his chin up, forcing his eyes to meet hers, "Stop feeding us these lies, Lestat. What was the command...what were the conditions? Look me in the eye and tell me. You want this to continue?" she waved her arm to indicate the coven She awaited his answer. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 263: Louis and co. Louis glared into Lestat's face. "You just don't care, do you? I thought you had changed... I thought what we had together..." Louis was interrupted by the pager hooked to his belt. Lestat laughed out loud. "Oh, my god... he really is the yuppy from Hell!" "Shut up, Lestat, it's the studio. Dammit. They want me for the filming." He bowed to Armand. "I've seen quite enough. Monsieur... rip his heart out for all I care, that is if you can find one." Louis turned to go out the door. He stopped and glanced at Santino. "He's your's, Monsieur..." And Louis left for the movie set. _______________________________________________________________________ Post 264: Lestat and co. "Wait, Louis," Lestat said before Louis was completely out of the door. "My mother made a request of me and it would be rude of us both not to respond, don't you think?" Louis paused in the doorway once again, but remained silent. Lestat folded his arms and stepped forward so that he was standing in the center of all of the coven members present. They all looked at him silently, even Santino who had given up trying to stop Lestat from doing what he was determined to do. "Now then," Lestat said, "I'm not sure if all of you have the patience to stand here and watch me carry out her full request so I shall cut to the chase and hopefully end this little arguement once and for all." He turned to Gabrielle. "Mother, you do not know me. You never knew me. And you never will know me. I have accepted this fact long ago, but since you require me to prove myself, here it is." Lestat walked over to Louis and looked him straight in the eye. "I don't love you. I don't care about you. I caused your nightmare and I'd do it again in a second. And my feelings about you will never, ever change." _______________________________________________________________________ Post 265: Lestat and co. Lestat watched in macabre satisfaction as Louis turned away and left without a word. He suddenly felt like laughing. This was too easy! The painful words had come so naturally to his lips, all he had to do was say them. And now that Louis was gone, the others in the coven would be like nothing at all. Just a few short words and they'd all go away.... "Does that prove it for you, Mother?" Lestat asked. He turned around and let some of his laughter show on his face. "Are you convinced now? Or do you truly want me to say it to everyone here? I'd think that would take too long, but I'll do it if I must. I'll do whatever it takes to make you all leave my life for good. "Go on. Take the hint! I don't want you here. I don't want you anywhere, quite frankly, but since it would be messy and require far too much of my energy to actually kill you all I'll settle for never having to look upon any of you again. "You look disappointed, Gabrielle. Why is that? Is it because I'm not throwing the tantrum you're so desperate to see me do?" Lestat shrugged, still smiling. "I'm sorry I can't oblige. But you see, none of you even mean enough to me to get angry over. I think the best you're going to get out of me is a laughing fit, which of course is being directly caused by the looks on your faces." From the corner of his eye, Lestat saw Santino looking down at the floor. :You've gotten very quiet, Santy. Cat got your tongue?: :I find myself at a loss for words when I am forced to watch one of my dearest friends killing himself.: Lestat's mind stumbled at that. Outwardly, it only showed as a brief flicker in his smile, but inwardly Lestat felt a rush of pain. *Fight it!* he told himself. *Pay no attention to what Santy says. It's best if he's not around me anymore as well. Just remember that, it's best for everyone if I'm not around. All I have to do is keep saying the words, then everyone will go away... just keep saying the words for a little while longer....* _______________________________________________________________________ Post 266: Armand and co. Armand felt his eyes widen with shock. Lestat had turned from him to Louis, and told him unbelieveable lies. Louis had left without a word, the stony look on his face more tragic than any painful expression might have been. At once he felt the anger drain from him, to be replaced with an eerie feeling, as though someone had punched him in the guts. It was all he could do to blink, to breathe, in the face of Lestat's performance. Finally he mentally shook himself. He had no idea what was going on, but it obviously went much deeper than he had ever dreamed. :Lestat.: he finally whispered. :Don't do this. Please, I'm begging you. If you hate me that much, I'll go. Be gone from your life forever.: He winced at the pain that little declaration caused, but continued on doggedly. :But don't do this to yourself. Don't drive them all from you, just to strike at me.: Then, before he could really help himself, he added, :What did I do?: ______________________________________________________________________ Post 267: Lestat and co. Lestat turned and looked Armand directly in the eye. :What did *you* do? Mon ami, don't flatter yourself.: _____________________________________________________________________ Post 268: Marius and co. Marius watched Louis walk out of the room with a feeling like having been hit in the gut with a sledgehammer. The words Lestat said to Gabrielle barely registered. He could see his own shock mirrored on the faces around him, Armand stunned, Gabrielle hurt, Daniel, Khayman, David and Mael shocked. Santino would not meet anyone's gaze. Lestat was looking around the room with a hateful smile playing over his lips, his blue eyes cold and bright. Marius stared at him, feeling the shock slowly wash over him. And then it all clicked. Marius' eyes narrowed. With two quick strides he was across the room, before Lestat. And before Lestat or anyone else in the coven could react Marius slapped Lestat, hard, across one cheek and then the other. He would have slapped him a third time but Lestat's hand shot up, catching Marius' about the wrist. Both of them froze. Lestat slowly reached up and rubbed his cheek and jaw. "Was that a challenge?" "No," Marius snapped. "It's how you treat a hysterical child. Which is what you're acting like. Are you going to drop this playacting and start saying something that isn't a lie, or should I *help* Gabrielle spank you?" ______________________________________________________________________ Post 269: Lestat and co. "I would like to know," Lestat said, calmly, "why everyone here constantly assumes that I am both 'hysterical'--which I shall assume to be a variation on Gabrielle's desire to see me throw a tantrum--and that I am lying." He let go of Marius's wrist, opening his fingers one by one, then moving his hand back to his side. "Tell me, Marius," Lestat said, meeting the older vampire's blue gaze. "If you are so good at discerning the truth, then let's do another version of Gabrielle's earlier request. Look into *my* eyes as I say to you that I want you to leave and tell me if there is any lie in them. Can you truly look at me and say that I speak falsely when I tell you to go?" Lestat stood still for a moment, giving Marius a chance to respond, before he turned away irritably. "I'm tired of this game," Lestat said. "And I'm tired of all of you. Either all of you leave, or I will." ______________________________________________________________________ Post 270: Armand and co. Armand stood in shock as Lestat's words washed through him. But nothing could have prepared him for either Marius' actions, or Lestat's response. For Marius to resort to physical violence was almost unheard of - reminding Armand once more, though distantly, of how little he really knew the man now. But Lestat... his reaction was ice. Calm, deliberate. It reminded Armand of himself, suddenly, and that was perhaps the most frightening thought of all. "All of you. Get out." He spoke quietly, his voice giving no hint of the raging emotions within. He MUST be calm now. He continued to look at Lestat while speaking to the others. "Daniel, get out now. All of you. Leave me alone with him." Then he fell back on his faith of 500 years and prayed that they would listen.