Fresco 3

Back in their room, Lestat sighed, staring with a forlorn glance into the mirror. He'd wanted to stay with Louis awhile, but that same depressed feeling was welling up in him again. He knew he'd promised never to go streetwalking again, but he couldn't think of anything else to stop the pain. Still, he'd promised Louis...

"He'd be so upset if I did anything bad. I guess I'll just walk on the beach," he said to his reflection. "Maybe I'll find a few pretty seashells."

He gave a sad laugh and headed for the balcony door, flinging it wide. A salty breeze wafted over him, as if the sea was calling for him to join her. He glanced back over his shoulder, wondering if he should go find Louis and ask him to come with him, but he decided that he'd rather go alone. Lestat vaulted over the balcony and landed on the white sand. The waves rolled soothingly on the shore, relaxing him and making him forget his depression, but only because they sounded like Louis whispering.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he realized there was another sound on the beach. It sounded like someone was crying. He glanced around and, sure enough, there was Daniel on a small mound of sand, his knees drawn up to his chest and his head lowered. His shoulders shook irregularly, and every few seconds he would punch at the sand, as if it were to blame for his problems.

Lestat wandered towards him, sitting beside the young fledgling when he didn't protest. "What's wrong now, Daniel?"

"As if you didn't know," the youngster growled bitterly. "You can't keep him satisfied, so he steals my lover."

"What?" Lestat asked. "Daniel, what's happened?"

Daniel stared up at him, red tears staining his cheeks. "You really have no idea, do you?" he laughed humorlessly. "Guess who Armand decided would make a better bedmate than me."

"Louis?!" Lestat gasped in shock.

"You've been cuckolded," Daniel laughed, a derisive tone in his voice. "How's it feel, Brat? You can go listen at the door if you want. I bet Armand's got him tied up right now, moaning in pleasure." He started to cry again. "It's not fair...how am I supposed to compete with him?"

"My...Louis?" Lestat whispered. I should have known, he thought. Why would he want a clingy cry-baby? Of course he'd rather have a confident lover. And now I may have lost him.

Daniel was vaguely aware of the other vampire weeping alongside him. He had expected him to go off and steal his Louis back, but apparently this had hurt him beyond anger. He stared off into the horizon.

"Do you think he'd miss me if I died?" he suddenly asked in a small voice.

Lestat nodded slowly. "Yes. He would." He wiped his tears away and stood slowly. "Don't do it, child. Armand may be a slut, but he does love you."

"I'll agree with half that sentence." Daniel sighed. "The little whore..."

"Not quite. Louis doesn't pay for it anymore."

That made Daniel laugh.

"I promise I'll separate them," Lestat said. "Just stay here."

"Not like I'm going anywhere. If he doesn't come before sunrise, I'm not moving."

Lestat understood how he felt. It was as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest and salt poured into the hole. He turned around and started back up to the mansion. Once he was inside, he headed straight for Armand's room, but he found he was too late. The door was wide open, and Louis was gone. Only Armand lay on the bed, still naked, playing with the end of a silk rope.

"Armand..."

The boy vampire looked up and smiled. "You know what I've done."

"I'll deal with Louis later," he snarled. Better to remind Armand about his own fledgling to take the "child's" mind off of Louis. "It's only two hours before dawn. Do you know where your fledgling is?"

Armand yawned and settled his head on a pillow. "The music room, probably, listening to that Metallica crap."

"He's on the beach, alone."

Armand sat up and stared at him. "Why?"

"Apparently he wants to see the sun rise."

"What?!" Armand leaned forward, eyes wide.

"He knows what you've done, you loose little slut. He thinks you don't love him. If you do, you'd better get out and bring him in. He said if you don't, he's not going to."

Armand didn't waste time talking. Instead he threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and raced by Lestat, heading for the window at the end of the hallway. Lestat rolled his eyes in disgust. In fact, now that he could see the bed plainly, his anger was starting to grow. Louis never let Lestat bind him, not that he'd ever asked, but every time he brought it up as a joke, he had been flatly and rudely refused. And on the very few occasions Lestat had actually tied Louis down one way or another, his fledgling had sulked for days afterward, not letting him near. Of course, Louis never asked Lestat what he wanted.

And now he's let that little imp tie him up and use him like some trashy-- he broke his thoughts off. He was angry enough without making himself even more depressed. He walked through the hallways, making his way for the bedroom he shared with his fledgling. Fine. If he's going to leave me, then he's going to know damn well how I feel.

Louis had dressed again, a small smile on his lips. He felt guilty for sharing someone else's bed, but then, Lestat had always said their relationship was an open one. Besides, he didn't know about the affair, didn't know the things Armand had done to him. And Louis had fantasized as well as the older vampire, pretending that it was Lestat lording over his bound body.

Oh, well, as long as he doesn't know, he sighed, picking up a book and sitting down on the sofa. He opened it up and started to read, waiting for his lover to come back from wherever he had gone. Louis had been lucky that there had been a would-be thief on the beach, otherwise he might not have made it back from feeding before Lestat did.

Suddenly the door burst open and startled Louis, who dropped his book in fright. He looked up at the intruder and all of the blood drained from his face. There was a burning rage behind Lestat's eyes, a fire Louis had not seen lit since...he shuddered. Since Claudia had been alive. Lestat was livid, and as he stormed in, the heavy door slammed behind him, locking and sealing both of them inside. Louis' first thought was that he was trapped with a madman.

"Lestat, love, what--?" he tried to ask, but Lestat wrapped his hand around Louis' throat, his other hand pushing flat against his abdomen. Louis was dragged into the air, unable to speak as he stared in fear at the glowing blue eyes beneath him. He was amazed that he could still breathe. Lestat's hold on his throat wasn't strangling him, but he was certainly intimidated.

"Love?" Lestat seethed. "Love? How dare you, you--you tramp! You bed that little imp, then turn around and call me 'love'?"

He shook Louis back and forth like a ragdoll as he ranted, and his fledgling had to grip his arms so that he wouldn't fall.

"Why would you do such a stupid thing? How could you take him, you little fool? He doesn't love you!"

"Lestat, please!" Louis managed to gasp out, struggling in his lover's hold.

"Why didn't you tell me? I can't protect you if I don't know where you are!" Lestat abruptly shifted his grip, then threw Louis back down on the sofa. He started to pace in front of him.

"Why, Louis?" he asked, more to himself than to Louis. "Why? I love you. He doesn't. I thought you loved me. Hell, I guess that was just another damn lie, you'd never stay with me, a sluttish butterfly flittering from bed to bed. You never stay with me, always fucking the ones who look younger than you, damn pedophile. I thought I was the loose tramp in the family, but God, was I wrong!"

Louis winced at the vulgar words, then took a deep breath, thinking Lestat was choosing his words to hurt him. "You don't own me, you--you arrogant child!" Louis yelled, leaning forward. It was as if he were following a script. They had done this dance so many times the entire conversation was practically set in stone. "Why should I have told you? All you ever do is try to lock me up and keep me prisoner!"

Lestat whirled and faced him, anger flashing in his face. Louis gave a tiny cry when he saw the sheer rage in such a powerful vampire. He tried to back away from Lestat as he stepped forward, but he was trapped on the couch. Lestat reached for him, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him up, his feet dangling a few inches from the ground.

"No, I don't own you, but you never seem to believe me! You've never listened to me! You shouldn't have been with that bastard!"

"What, do you tell me who I can and cannot sleep with now?" Louis growled.

"Oh, excuse me," Lestat hissed in mock-sincerity, "I didn't mean to infringe on your sexual escapades. Don't let me interfere with your lust. By all means, keep screwing everyone you can get your hands on!"

"You hypocrite, you cheap whore!" Louis hissed back, "You still think I'm your servant! I hate you, I despise you!"

Hurt and despair marred Lestat's eyes, catching Louis' attention, but then Lestat regained control. With a snarl, he threw Louis across the room.

Louis was too shocked to scream, certain that he would hit the wall or crash out the French doors onto the beach below. Instead, he landed safely on the bed's pillows, surprised and wondering if his lover had intended that or not. Lestat stepped rapidly toward him, a vicious look on his face and fingers curled to form claws. Louis got half way up, then saw Lestat and fell back again, covering his face with his arms as he tried to shield himself. He couldn't pretend not to be afraid anymore.

"Don't hurt me!" he begged, crying in terror. "Please don't hurt me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please!"

The expected blows never came. He opened his eyes to find Lestat standing over him, eyes wide in amazement at what he was doing. The blonde vampire knelt in front of him, taking hold of his hand.

"Louis...I won't hurt you..." Lestat whispered. "I promise I won't."

Louis sat up slowly, his body trembling. "You're scaring me," he whimpered, his other hand at his mouth, knuckles pressed against his lips.

"I--I'm sorry...chere, I truly am...I didn't mean to..." Lestat stuttered, calm now. "I was just...afraid."

"You're afraid ?" Louis said, his voice choking. "You storm in here, screaming and throttling me, calling me names, and you're afraid? I haven't seen that look in your eyes since Claudia..." he started sobbing, certain that Lestat was going to hit him.

Instead he felt Lestat's arms embrace him, drawing him close. His tears fell on his lover's shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around Lestat's waist to remind himself that this was his lover, not the monster he had once been. Louis took several deep breaths to steady himself, then looked up at Lestat.

"Why were you afraid?" he whispered.

Lestat sighed and pulled away, so that he and his fledgling could gaze into each other's bloodshot eyes.

"Chere, you were with Armand."

"So?" Louis wiped a tear from his eye, characteristically stubborn. "You've been with other people."

"But, Louis, you know what that little monster is like. I was scared he was going to hurt you. I was afraid I would find you half-dead."

"Lestat..." Louis sighed in exasperation.

"I mean it, damn it! That bastard is cruel, you've seen how he mangles poor Daniel! The boy is fortunate to be in one piece. I was scared he was going to take a whip to you, or beat you until you couldn't move or cry for help."

Louis nodded slowly, deciding not to tell Lestat about Armand's fantasies. "I understand. But there must be another reason you reacted as you did?"

Lestat shook his head emphatically, but Louis remembered the despair that had crossed his lover's face.

"You weren't jealous?" Louis prodded.

"My feelings are not important. You can stay with whoever you like. You know you don't belong to me."

"But you wish I did," Louis said softly.

"Yes, I do," Lestat growled, standing. "Is that so terrible? That I want to protect you and love you, that I want you to love me? God help me, I must be an idiot!"

"You think I don't love you?" Louis wondered in astonishment.

"Pity, yes, tolerate, certainly. Love?" Lestat started for the door. "Tonight just makes it more obvious that no one likes a brat."

Louis couldn't speak for several seconds. By the time he got his voice back, Lestat was gone.

He thinks I don't love him, Louis thought. And why shouldn't he? I just cheated on him. My poor prince. A rock star with no confidence. Damn it, I am so insensitive. He didn't need this, not right now. And...oh, God, I called him a whore. I have to find him before he does anything drastic. He got up and

headed after Lestat, knowing exactly where he was going. He couldn't afford to let this drag on for any length of time.

A few minutes later Louis found him sitting on the beach, knees drawn up to his chest with his head hanging down. His shoulders were shaking, showing Louis that he was crying his eyes out.

Louis sat down and settled his arm over Lestat's shoulders, hugging him close. The gesture only made Lestat sob harder.

"You don't have to bother with me," Lestat whimpered.

"Yes, I do have to. I have to because I love you."

"You don't need to lie," was the reply.

"I'm not lying."

"You said you hated me."

"I was angry. I didn't mean it."

"Then you wouldn't have said it."

"Lestat, why is it so impossible for you to believe that I love you?" Louis burst out. "I tell you every night. I turn to you for protection. I will tell you right now, chere, I never feel safer than when I'm in your arms."

"How can you say that after everything I've done to you?" Lestat was moaning every word.

"What about everything I've done to you?" Louis said, gambling that he could force Lestat into admitting that not everything was his fault. "I refused you when you were human--"

"You had good reasons."

"I wrote a whole book condemning you."

"It was the truth."

"I stood by while you were attacked."

"I deserved it."

"I called you a...a..." Louis couldn't say it.

"But I am a whore," Lestat sniffled. "It's true."

"Damn it, Lestat!" Louis sighed in frustration. He gripped Lestat's shoulders and practically flung him back on the sand, leaping on top of him and pinning his hands down.

Lestat stared up at his fledgling in amazement. "Louis, what are you--?"

Louis leaned down, staring into Lestat's eyes. "If I have to manhandle you to get your attention, then I will! I don't know why you have turned so morose lately, but I want my Brat Prince back. Lestat, I love you. You may not let yourself believe it, but I love you with all my heart, and I will not leave you."

"Armand..."

"Damn the imp!" Louis said, and to his delight Lestat gave a weak laugh. "Darling, I was curious and tired, and he wanted me, and you were off somewhere. You left me alone with him."

"Are you accusing Armand of seducing you?" Lestat smiled jokingly.

"Depends. Are you finally in a better mood?"

The blonde vampire's smile broadened. He pushed Louis over and pounced on him, pressing him into the sand with dozens of kisses.

"I think so, darling. Do you love me?"

"Yes, Lestat. I love you. I love you so much that hurts to be away from you." He gazed up into Lestat's eyes. "You do believe me, don't you?"

Lestat nodded. "It may take awhile to sink in, but yes, I do love you."

"I asked if you believed me," Louis laughed. "I suppose that was a little Freudian slip."

"You shouldn't tease me," Lestat whispered. "It can hurt so much."

"Oh, Lestat..." Louis sighed sadly.

Lestat leaned back, allowing his fledgling to sit up. Louis easily pulled Lestat into his lap, setting his head on his shoulder.

"Does everything hurt you so?" he asked.

"Not everything. I like some things."

"Tell them to me."

Lestat sighed reluctantly but obeyed anyways. "Well, I like shopping. I like Mojo." He looked down at Louis. "This isn't really fair. You should tell me your favorite things, too."

"Out here in the open?"

"We could go inside."

"Do you promise not to run if you get upset?"

Lestat nodded. He rose gracefully, then gathered Louis into his arms. Slowly the ascended through the air to land on the balcony outside their room. Lestat undid the latch and carried Louis inside.

"Monsieur Lioncourt, are you carrying me across the threshold?" Louis whispered, only partially in jest, as he shut the doors.

"Not yet, cherie."

Lestat headed for the bed, but Louis shook his head.

"The sofa, darling. Right now, we're just talking. We can enjoy the bed later."

Lestat did as he was told, first laying Louis down, then settling back into his arms.

"I'm not too heavy, am I?" Lestat asked nervously.

"No, of course not. Now, you tell me a favorite thing, and I'll do the same."

"All right. Shopping."

"You said that already."

"Yes, but you didn't say anything."

"Incorrigible..." Louis muttered. "Very well. Feathers."

"Really? What kind?"

"Any kind, really. I think they're pretty."

"Not as pretty as you."

Louis smiled modestly. "It's your turn."

"Oh. Um, dancing."

"Masks."

"Halloween masks?"

"No, the masquerade types."

"I see. The types with feathers?"

Louis rolled his eyes. "How did you guess?"

Lestat smiled, reaching one hand up to caress his lover's face. "Mojo."

"Mojo," Louis repeated, nodding.

"You like my puppy?"

"Puppy! He's nearly as large as I am!"

"He's a puppy at heart."

"*sigh* In any case, yes, he's a favorite. Your turn."

"Rain."

"Rain?" Louis asked in surprised curiosity.

"Yes. In fact, the wetter the better. Maybe I should have said storms?"

Louis smiled. "First edition books."

Lestat snuggled deeper into Louis' embrace. "Ever the collector. Why?"

"The way they smell. The way the pages feel and sound when you turn them. They're wonderful."

"Hot chocolate."

"A roaring fire."

Lestat gave Louis a worried look.

"In a hearth," Louis quickly amended.

"Chere, sometimes you worry me."

"I can't help it. The flames are so pretty, the way they sparkle and dance." He smiled at Lestat. "Don't worry, I won't burn this mansion down. That would be rude."

His maker gave a worried laugh but let it go. "Emeralds."

"Sapphires."

They both stared lovingly at each other. Lestat turned a bit so that he could hug Louis against him.

"Dark, ebony hair."

"Golden hair like the sun."

"A soft, gentle voice."

"A musical, lyrical voice."

"Supple, human skin."

"A body like a marble god."

"The only one who really loves me."

"My only love!"

Lestat gripped Louis tightly, as if he were afraid he would disappear. Louis wrapped his arms around Lestat, pulling him closer.

"My loving protector," Louis whispered.

"My poor, helpless little fledgling," Lestat practically cried, his emotions overcoming him. He burrowed his face in 'his' Louis' chest, weeping softly. "I'll always take care of you."

"Will I always be your helpless fledgling?"

"Even if you were stronger than I, cherie. Even if you were the most powerful vampire in the world, you would still be my vulnerable darling."

Louis smiled indulgently. "And have you ever considered that I might think the same about you?"

Lestat gave him a curious look. "Chere?"

"You can be so reckless and impulsive, Lestat. How do you think I felt during the body thief incident? Or that dreadful Memnoch mess?" Louis sighed, stroking Lestat's hair. "I was so terrified that you wouldn't come back."

Lestat reached up and held onto Louis like a child. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"When you were about to be attacked at that concert, I wanted to stand in front of you, to keep you safe from that blood-thirsty mob."

Lestat's weeping was stronger now. "But Beautiful One, you're too weak, too human! Every night I'm afraid something will hurt you." He held Louis tightly. "You're so fragile, so delicate. I'm so scared that some day, I'll crush you without thinking."

Louis caressed Lestat's face and arms. "But chere," he started.

Lestat cut him off. "Louis, promise me you'll never risk yourself. I'd rather die than see you hurt."

"And how do you think I feel about you?"

"But--"

"But I am fragile and delicate, yes, you said that, but Lestat, which of us do you really believe is stronger in mind, if not in body?"

"You've always been wiser than I am," Lestat whispered.

"You just don't read enough."

"I've lost any love I had for it." He smiled suddenly. "And besides, I wasn't a spoiled plantation owner."

"Spoiled? You know my past and you can call me that?" Louis asked incredulously. "First I'm a brat, and now I'm spoiled?"

"Beautiful One, you had slaves who worked for you. I was the one who worked for my family. Did you ever have to hunt, or else go hungry?"

"Perhaps I had it a bit easier than you," Louis admitted. "Mon amor...why...?"

Lestat looked up curiously at the unfinished question. "Why what, chere?"

Louis took a deep breath. He really didn't want to ask the question now, but he had to know. "Lestat, why do you tell me you love me so rarely? I hadn't heard it for decades, and even now, I've only heard you say it a few times."

Lestat looked down at the carpet. "Because...I'm afraid..."

"Of what?"

"Louis, every time I tell someone that I love them, they leave me. Half the time they die, or I never see them for decades..." A tear started to build in his eye and his voice rose hysterically. "I didn't even tell you and you left me. I was so cruel and you never knew how good I felt when I was around you, that you completed me. And then...when she tried to...and they killed her...and you wouldn't come back...the only reason I went back on stage was to call you back to me."

Louis stroked Lestat's hair, calming him down. Slowly Lestat stopped whimpering and just hung onto Louis, afraid that if he let go, his fledgling would disappear into thin air.

"I've always been so afraid you'll leave again," Lestat whispered. "I've never lived with so much fear in my life, not even when Magnus made me."

"Chere, why didn't you tell me?" Louis asked. "I could have set your fears to rest."

Lestat shook his head. "I couldn't admit to myself that I was afraid for a long time. I've never known what I want. Everyone has to tell me."

"Did someone have to tell you that you want me?"

Lestat smiled softly. "No. I've always known it in my heart. I knew it when I first saw you in that tavern. I knew you were meant to be mine."

Louis sighed. "Will I always belong to you?"

"Yes, forever, just like I belong to you."

Louis had to admit it didn't sound so bad when he put it that way. "Lestat, forever is such a long time."

"Mmm-hmmm, plenty of time to just lay in your arms." Lestat snuggled up against his lover, soaking up the love. Louis smiled and hugged him close. The dawn was coming, but with the window covered, there was no need to move.

It was only a week later that Lestat was on the streets again.

He was dressed in his usual clothing for the occasion. He'd left Louis in the library, saying he wanted to relax alone for awhile in their room, but instead he'd put on his jeans and boots and gone out, finding a corner that seemed promising. He didn't like lying to his lover, but the pain was overwhelming him, he needed to drown it out.

Why do I always break my promises to him? Lestat brushed the beginnings of a tear from his eye. He leaned against a streetlamp, running his fingers restlessly through his hair. He wished the night was over, that he was asleep spooned up against Louis...but then the car pulled up in front of him and the door was opened.

"Hey, pretty, get in," the older man ordered, leering as Lestat seated himself in the passenger seat with a fake smile.

"Where you taking me?" Lestat purred into the mortal's ear, his hand drifting to the man's thigh.

"Ain't you eager?" the man laughed. "The Corner Motel, right here." They pulled into the parking lot and Lestat followed the man in, pretending to be interested in his dilapidated body. Everything was blur until they were in the shabby bed, the man's putrid breath around his face, the crude hands roughly exploring him. Lestat said everything he knew he needed to, following the script he had created over decades. He closed his eyes as the man attacked his chest, biting and tearing at his body, trying to hurt him.

Now that he was on his back, his mind began to wander. Lestat thought of what Louis would do once he found out. Maybe he would be disappointed. Maybe he'd cry and think that he'd failed to watch his maker. Maybe he'd be angry. Maybe he wouldn't want a prostitute for a lover anymore. Maybe he'd hate him. Maybe he'd leave. Lestat started to cry in regret. He felt like there was mud everywhere, clinging to him, staining his skin black.

"No, stop," he whispered inaudibly, "I don't want this. Stop." He felt the touching cease, and thought that he'd finally achieved what other prostitutes had told him about, getting out of their bodies. There was no sound, no feeling, just a void of nothing, save for the sickness welling up in his stomach. Then he heard a car pass by, and he realized that he hadn't left his body at all. But then why had the man stopped?

He opened his eyes and looked to his right. The man lay on the floor in a heap, and standing above him, mouth still bloody, was Louis.

Lestat opened his mouth to stay something, but nothing came out. Before he could regain control of his body, Louis stooped, gathered the discarded clothing from the floor, and threw them at Lestat.

"Get dressed," he said curtly. "Then get in the limousine outside. You'd better be out in two minutes." He turned and walked out the door.

"Louis?" Lestat whispered, but his lover was gone.

He choked on his tears, yanking his clothing on and stumbling out. The limousine was there, but when he opened the door, Louis was sitting with his legs and arms crossed, pointedly staring out the other window. Lestat sat down wordlessly, and the moment he shut the door, the car started back to the mansion. He glanced at Louis every few seconds, but Louis never once turned his head to even acknowledge his presence.

When the limo finally pulled up the circular driveway, they both got out, neither of them speaking. At last Louis looked at Lestat, but there was no pity or sympathy in his eyes. Only anger and disgust. "Fly upstairs to our room and take a shower. I'll be there in a few hours."

"Chere?" Lestat asked, coming closer, searching for any glimmer of love in his fledgling's eyes. Instead, Louis backed away a few steps.

"For God's sake, Lestat, you still smell like him." With that, Louis whirled on his heel and started down the path to the beach.

Lower lip trembling, Lestat slowly rose in the air and landed on the balcony of their room, stripping off his clothes and leaving them where they fell. He didn't turn on the lights, showering in the darkness. His body seemed more tolerable if he didn't have to see it. Once he was out, he dressed again in different clothes and threw the other ones away. He walked up to the balcony and stared out the open doors, gazing across the beach for Louis. All he could see was a long stretch of undisturbed sand. He turned and started to move toward the bed. Halfway there his legs wobbled weakly until he crumpled onto the floor and lay without moving, tears on his cheeks.

He didn't know how long he stayed there, but then he was lifted into gentle arms and one hand came out of the darkness to brush away the tears, caressing his face, the fingertips resting on the line of his jaw while the thumb swept the last red moisture from Lestat's eyes. Lestat exhaled slowly, and his shoulders drooped, as if all the weight of the world had been placed on him.

"It's all yours," Lestat suddenly said.

"What?" Louis asked, confused.

"The money, the house, the funds, it's all yours. My lawyers know that if I disappear, even for a few days, it's all to be signed in your name. It's all yours. Just let me get the ring you gave me last year from my dresser, and I'll leave. You won't ever see me again."

Louis' jaw dropped in shock as he understood what Lestat was saying. "Lestat, what...why are you saying this?"

Lestat shut his eyes and turned his head away. "I won't force you to endure my presence anymore. I'll go to ground and you won't have to think about me again."

Louis gripped Lestat's shoulders and actually shook him back and forth. "Damn you, why do you keep playing with my emotions like this?"

Lestat looked at him with broken eyes. "You don't love me anymore. I understand. It's all right. It lasted longer than I ever thought it would. God, it was wonderful while it did."

Louis eyes started to fill with tears and he snarled in frustration. "No, no, Lestat, you're so fucking wrong--how the hell did you get so screwed up?"

Lestat looked at him, surprised that he would curse like that. "Louis?"

"I love you, Lestat, I always have, I always will. My feelings haven't changed, they never will. Why do you insist on believing I don't love you?"

"But...right now, at the motel...and the ride back...you wouldn't even come near me."

Louis growled, rattled not only at his lover but, also for bringing this about himself. "No, it's just...Lestat, I was so angry I was afraid I was going to explode and kill the driver. I couldn't come near you because the smell reminded me of that sick man, it made me want to kill someone else. Lestat, I was afraid I might hurt you. I hate the idea of people taking advantage of you, it drives me to an insane fury every time I think of it."

Lestat shook his head slowly, bewildered tears building up. "I--I...no, you...I mean, you didn't..."

Louis could see that Lestat was ready to fly into a crying jag, so he embraced him and gave him a soft kiss. "Hush, darling, we have all of eternity to discuss this. Right now I'm putting you to bed, you need your rest. You've had a very trying night."

Lestat was in no condition to stand on his own, so Louis helped him up and into the bed, removing his few clothes and covering him with the blankets. He walked around the side, discarding his own clothes and climbing in beside Lestat, making him curl up against his cooler body.

"Louis?"

The green-eyed vampire gazed down at him and kissed his forehead. "Oui, mon amor?"

"How did you know where I was?"

Louis pulled a pillow down and placed it under Lestat's shoulder and neck before answering. "You tend to gravitate to the worst parts of town. When I found out you were gone, I started combing the back streets. I saw you get into that man's car, and I ran behind, following you to the hotel."

"Then...you saw...?"

Louis nodded. He stroked the back of Lestat's head, trying to relax him. "I came in just as you told him to stop. He didn't seem like he was going to, so I made him stop." He paused. "I don't think you should leave the mansion for awhile. I wasn't too merciful with him. There will probably be police searching for a beautiful prostitute matching your description."

"What did you do to him?"

"All but tore his throat out," Louis said lowly. "But he deserved it. He wanted to kill you."

Lestat breathed in sharply in surprise and looked up at him. "He what?"

"He had a knife in his pocket. He intended to torture you to death, stabbing you several times before you passed out." Louis pulled his lover closer to himself. "He'd done it before."

"Louis--"

The fledgling shook his head. "No, Lestat, no more questions. You need to sleep. Tomorrow we'll decide what to do. For now, you just rest."

Lestat sighed, edging his face closer to his bedmate's chest, relishing the cool skin that enveloped him. The night wouldn't be over for a few more hours, but nothing could have persuaded him to leave the bed.

"Hey, are you two awake in there or what?!"

Louis opened his eyes and sighed. "Daniel, stop shouting, it's enough to wake the dead."

"Good thing, huh? Listen, the painter called, she can't come today, so you can sleep in all you want."

"Which is why you woke us up so rudely?"

"You can't tell me you two weren't up already!"

Louis groaned at the youngster's brashness. "Thank you for the information, good-bye Daniel."

Outside the door he could hear Daniel's footsteps as he turned away and walked down the hall. "Geez," he mumbled, "you try to be nice to some people and look at the thanks you get..."

Louis ignored the mutterings and turned to Lestat, who was oddly still asleep. He reached over and lay his fingertips on his maker's cheek, his cool skin rousing Lestat out of his slumber. Slowly the blue eyes focused on Louis. Lestat gave a small sigh of relief as he recognized that he'd been dreaming and smiled up at his fledgling.

"You do believe that I love you, yes?"

Louis smiled in partial confusion. "Of course I know you love me. Why would you doubt that?"

Lestat sat up and leaned forward with his head in his hands. "Just nightmares, darling, that's all."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"No, that's all right." Lestat glanced at the digital clock beside the bed and his eyes widened in shock. "Dammit, we're late! How on earth did I oversleep? Get up, Louis!"

Louis grabbed Lestat's hand and shook his head. "Not tonight, the artist isn't coming. Lay back down."

Lestat grinned and propped the pillows up before settling back, dragging Louis gently into his arms. "Comfortable?"

"Always." Louis cuddled against Lestat's body and lay his head on his shoulder. "For something so hard, your body is remarkably cozy."

Lestat chuckled. "I believe that is the first time anyone's ever used that word to describe me."

"Fine by me, it means I get to keep you all to myself. Now, I think we should talk about last night."

Lestat cringed on the inside. "Louis, I'm sorry, I didn't--"

"You didn't mean to break your promise, you felt terrible during it, and you swear you'll try to never do it again. Am I correct?"

Lestat nodded once, not willing to answer.

"Lestat, this is not something you can just stop. It took two hundred years for this to develop, it might take two hundred more years to end it."

"I just get so tired of fighting it..." Lestat sighed.

Louis nodded. "You've been fighting it by yourself for all this time. I believe it's time for you to let me help you."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't do anything like that when I'm around you. You said it yourself, no more street-walking as long as I'm here."

"Louis, you can't be with me my every waking moment."

"No, but I can put a leash you."

Lestat looked down in surprise. "Chere, you don't mean you're going to take me out for walks?"

Louis smiled. "Of course not, I mean that you should have a pager or cellular phone which only I know the number to. That I can keep an eye on you when you leave the house without me."

"What, would you check up on me every half-hour?" Lestat laughed.

"If that's what it takes," Louis said seriously. "Or maybe you can stay in the house, except for one or two trips each night."

"Or we could stay in bed and never leave the house at all," Lestat grinned, his mood improving.

Louis chuckled. "Then you agree?"

"I agree. I would just hate to have it ring while I'm seducing my next victim, that's all."

Louis smiled, then yawned. His eyes fluttered a bit, signaling to Lestat that his fledgling was about to fall back asleep. Lestat grinned. Couldn't let that happen.

"Wake up, Louis, you're not allowed to go back to sleep."

Louis grumbled drowsily and closed his eyes. Almost immediately a warm hand drifted across his chest, playing with each little crease or curve of the skin. He groaned as the fingertips flickered over his most sensitive spots and sweetly tormented him.

"Oh, not now," he moaned and burrowed his face in Lestat's throat and hair. "Lestat, I'm too tired...I woke up too early..."

Lestat turned his face slightly and kissed his lover's forehead. "Shh, don't let me keep you up...just ignore me...don't pay any attention to the kisses, or my touches..."

Louis shut his eyes up tight and struggled to do just that, pushing every erotic stroke out of his mind as best he could. It didn't work. After ten seconds fighting was useless. He relaxed his body and gave himself up, eased down onto his back as Lestat rose up over him.

"Tonight's the night, cherie."

"What?"

"Remember your surrender when we flew here?"

A gasp of realization escaped from Louis. He stared up with wide eyes at Lestat, who was now grinning like a proverbial Cheshire cat.

"But the others--" he started.

"They won't hear us."

"Mentally--"

"I'll shield our thoughts."

"The whole night?"

"What a wonderful idea!"

Resigned for the night to come, Louis tried to adjust himself into a more comfortable position, but Lestat reached his hands onto Louis' waist and pulled him back down, grabbing his wrists into one hand and holding them down above his head. With the other hand, he started to examine his prisoner's body, exploring every inch of skin with his fingertips and sometimes even his fangs. Every struggle to free himself just frustrated Louis and drove Lestat into a sexual frenzy. Lestat's hand grazed the skin behind Louis' knee, and the leg gave an involuntary jerk.

"Louis, why do you keep fighting me? The more you resist, the more I want to use you."

"This isn't fair...I can't fight back..."

Lestat laughed. "Oh, say that again."

"Absolutely not. I'm not trying to get you off."

"Could've fooled me."

"Apparently that's not so hard to do."

Lestat smiled at his favorite fledgling. "Louis, I wouldn't be so cheeky if I were you. You are on the bottom, after all." His smile broadened as a new idea occurred to him. "Brace yourself."

"For wha--mmf!" Louis got a facefull of pillow as Lestat turned him onto his stomach. Immediately he felt his maker's hands over his rear and thighs, handling them as if he owned them. Louis started to object, then stopped as the pleasure overrode his indignity. The hands drifted down to his ankles and suddenly he felt tickling kisses on the soles of his feet. He laughed despite himself, always surprised that Lestat could make him happy while he was supposed to be irate. He tried to pull away, but Lestat just took a good hold on his ankle and tugged him back.

Louis felt Lestat's body slide up on top of his, the strong arms circling around him like twin pythons, and he was the mouse. Then they both rolled to the left so that Lestat was sitting up and Louis was helpless, his arms trapped in his lover's grip. He squirmed his legs a little, and Lestat tightened his own legs around Louis'.

"Not so tight," Louis whimpered.

Lestat unwound just a little bit, nuzzling Louis' throat, then pierced the soft skin and drank in little sips. Louis sighed and let his head fall back even more. He raised one hand as much as he could and twisted his fingers into Lestat's hand, which closed encouragingly around his. Louis felt Lestat's lips loosen and begin to slip away, so he lifted his other hand out of Lestat's relaxing arms and lay his hand on his maker's hair, pressing him harder against his neck.

"Don't stop..."

Lestat couldn't break to answer, so his reply took the form of deeper drinking. For both vampires, time and space blurred into everything until nothing was important except for the blood, which composed their world. Finally, for fear that he might hurt his fledgling, Lestat drew back and simply held Louis, who breathed deeply.

"And just think, sweet, the night's not even halfway through yet."

The next morning Lestat and Louis staggered out of their bedroom in their period clothing, leaning against each other for support. Fortunately they were the first ones in the drawing room, so they just collapsed into their designated couch and groaned.

"My body feels like I got a suntan," Louis said as he stretched out.

"No, it doesn't," Lestat said knowingly. "Ugh. I didn't think we were so acrobatic last night, but I'm so sore."

"Enjoy your little bed-time fun last night?" Daniel laughed as he walked in.

"How do you know about that?" Louis mumbled. "Lestat, you said you were shielding us."

"I was. Daniel, you weren't eavesdropping, were you?"

"It was kind of hard not to. You guys were pretty obvious. Don't worry, I'm the only one who knows. I only heard you two because I was walking down that hall early in the morning."

"Oh, dear," Louis covered his eyes with his hand. "What did you hear?"

"Not much. I didn't stay to listen. Mostly just, 'Lestat, not so hard, a little lower, right there!', and 'hold still, chere, relax, stop fighting'." He smiled. "And I heard the bed springs bouncing like crazy. I'm glad we've got iron beds."

"Iron beds?" Lestat asked.

Daniel nodded and plopped down on his couch. "Armand invested in bed frames made of iron and finished with a wooden facade. They don't break as easily as wooden types."

"How many beds did you have to break before he bought them?" Louis smiled.

"Five," Daniel admitted.

"Five what?" Armand asked as he entered.

"Um...five...five...fingers!" Daniel exclaimed, knowing it was stupid and not caring. "Isn't it amazing we have five and not six, or four? And they can move with such dexterity, aren't they neat?"

Armand smirked. He knew damn well Daniel was hiding something, but his fledgling was so amusing that he let it slide. He just took his place at his side and leaned into Daniel's arms.

Marius was the next to come in, followed by the royal entourage, then the rest of Lestat's fledglings and Pandora and Mael. A few minutes later the painter came in and sat down at her post.

"Um, could you two sit up?" she asked to Lestat and Louis.

They glanced at each other, then groaned and sat straight. Daniel chuckled, and suddenly Armand figured out that the 'five' Daniel had spoken of were the beds they'd broken together. He reached over and forced his fledgling's head next to his.

"You shouldn't talk about our little secrets without my permission," he whispered so that only Daniel could hear him.

"I'm sorry, boss," Daniel whispered back, "it just sort of came up."

"Oh, Danny, you'll get your punishment later."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

At that point Marius elbowed Armand as a sign to sit back up, so Armand gave his fledgling his five fingers under his rear again.

Lestat grinned and glanced sideways at Daniel. So how many couches have you broken, Danny?

Daniel let loose a giggle, which Armand thought was directed at him, so his fingers went even wilder. Daniel squirmed a bit, then resigned himself to his fate and leaned back, letting go of an occasional muffled whimper. The artist raised her eyebrow in confusion at him, then shrugged and went back to her work.

Louis glanced at Lestat, then reached over and held his hands. "Are you all right?"

Lestat stared at the floor, thinking, then smiled. "I think so, chere. As right as I can be. You know, I think I'll buy an iron bed as well. It sounds like a sensible investment."

Louis smiled. "Are you sure you want that? We might wear it out."

Lestat laughed lowly. "If I'm not allowed to leave the house without you, we won't wear it out, we'll destroy it."

His fledgling thought silently for a moment. "I will be happy when this painting is done," he whispered to Lestat. "Then we will try your new toy out."

"Then you admit you are a wanton, darling?"

"Only some of the time, Lestat, only some of the time."