Passion and Punishment

Warning: Slash

Spoilers: Qotd

Disclaimers: I don't own the vamps, Anne Rice does. I make no profit off of this.

Daniel strode down the road, growling to himself. It'd only been a few weeks since they'd gotten back together and everything was just about the same again. Armand could be such a bastard at times! The little jerk hadn't spoken to him all evening, no matter how much he had screamed and cried and begged. Finally he had just left the house, and Armand hadn't even batted an eye. Daniel loved him so much, but there were times he wished he could slap Armand until he cried. He wondered if Louis ever felt that way towards Lestat.

He entered the grassy park that he usually haunted when he was frustrated. It was dark, quiet, and not too many people came here. He made his way to the bench by the small pond, then stopped as he saw someone else sitting there. Not human, Daniel realized, one of us. The stranger was dressed in frayed, worn out clothes, though, which was enough to tell him who it was.

"Louis?" Daniel asked. "We've got to stop meeting like this. You all right?"

Louis, startled only a little, smiled sadly as he quickly wiped what Daniel saw was a tear from his eye. "Oui, oui. I thought no one ever came to this place?"

"Very seldom." Daniel sat on the free edge of the bench. "It's Lestat, isn't it?"

The elder vampire was hardly surprised that Daniel knew. All of the coven knew that Lestat was the only one that could drive Louis to tears.

"We had another argument," he sighed.

"About what?"

"I wish I knew. It just grew more and more heated...he called me cold and uncaring, and I told him he was acting like a fool. That was when he..." His voice trailed off, and he stifled a sob.

Almost lovingly, Daniel took Louis' face in his hand and turned him a bit. Just below Louis' eye, several long, red scratches glared out of the soft skin. Daniel winced in sympathy.

"He hit you?"

Louis nodded. "But he didn't mean to hurt me. He's so strong and I am not."

"Don't defend him. He hurt you. There's no excuse for that."

Louis looked at his friend. "And when Armand hurts you? Why do you defend him?"

Gently rebuked, the fledgling held silent. "Yeah, I get it," he said simply. "I guess we're both crazy to love them."

Louis smiled. "Does Armand ever apologize to you?"

Daniel laughed. "I wish. He just shrugs it off like it's my fault. At least Lestat practically begs you back each time."

They stared out over the water for several minutes. Ducks who didn't have the sense to go to sleep glided over the surface of the lake, tail feathers swishing back and forth. The moon reflected on the water, perfectly still save for the ripples sent by the ducks. Daniel glanced across at Louis, studying his face and wondering if he should ask or not. Finally he spoke up, laying his hand on the elder's thigh.

"Do you ever wish that you had a lover who wouldn't hurt you or lord over you?"

Louis looked into Daniel's eyes, understanding exactly what the youth meant. They were the two weakest vampires, and as such knew each other almost better than their lovers did. He raised his hand to Daniel's face, brushing his hair with his fingertips. Both of them had much more than friendship in their hearts.

"Ever since I met you," Louis admitted. "Ever since the interview."

He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Daniel's lips. The younger vampire responded warmly, eager for a painless relationship. As they drew apart, Daniel cut his tongue on his fangs and began to lick at Louis' wounds. His blood, made strong by Armand, healed the cuts quickly. Louis sighed in relief, then turned back to the lake.

"They would kill us if they knew," he whispered.

Daniel shook his head. "No, but they would hurt us."

Louis' fingers traced the smooth skin where the cuts had been. "But they hurt us, regardless."

"Then why are you afraid?" Daniel took Louis' hand in his own, waiting for the other to act. The elder smiled and allowed his love to take over.

"Louis, I didn't mean to--no, he'll never believe that. Louis, I'm begging you--no, no, no, think sincere, Lestat, sincere! Louis, I'm sorry I hit you, but you were acting so damn self-righteous and insufferable--!" Lestat slumped down on the pavement, hanging his head down. "This is not working."

He looked down the street. Still no sign of Louis, and he head been searching for three hours. He'd checked all of the bars, clubs, and concerts, and then he'd finally thought of looking in the libraries and book stores. No luck. Louis would not have left the Island so quickly, so where in hell was he?

"Come on, where are you, chere? I'm sorry, already." He sighed and leaned back against a streetlamp.

"Well, well, the brat prince himself," came a familiar voice. Lestat didn't bother to look up.

"What do you want, Armand? I'm in no mood for games tonight."

Armand sighed impatiently. His stupid fledgling had run off and now he had to go chase after him before Daniel did something drastic. Daniel would pay for inconveniencing him like this. "Lestat, your mood makes absolutely no difference to me whatsoever. I'll leave you be, though, if you can tell me where Daniel is."

"I'm happy to say I have no idea. Perhaps you might know where Louis is?"

Armand opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. They suddenly realized that if both of their fledglings were missing, then they might be together, and if they were...

"Oh, no," they both whispered, knowing that both of them had given their lovers good reasons to run.

"The park," Armand suddenly said. "Daniel sometimes goes to the park if he's upset."

"Louis likes it there, too," Lestat nodded.

The two shot off immediately, racing towards their lovers' favorite place.

"You don't think they would have--?" Armand started to ask, afraid to speak his fear.

"Louis better have not," Lestat growled. "I've been behaving, but if he's had the idea to get it on with your imp--"

"Daniel is not an imp!" Armand snarled.

"Please, both of you are imps," Lestat rolled his eyes. "And your sex lives! For crying out loud, Armand, the Marquis de Sade didn't have your perverse tastes!"

Armand shot a glare at him. "And what do you know about our sex lives? Have you been eavesdropping on us?"

"Oh, as if I have nothing better to do than listen in on your sordid affairs with--hold on, there's the park." Lestat pulled to a halt at the park entrance. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and then started his search.

It did not take long. Louis and Daniel were radiating so much pleasure that they pinpointed their exact location. Lestat jerked to a stop when he saw them, and Armand pulled up just behind him, stunned into silence. They both watched for a few minutes as Louis and Daniel kissed, both of them being so gentle it almost disturbed them. The two fledglings turned their heads after a moment, and softly drove their fangs into each other's throats. Armand gasped nearly inaudibly, and Lestat's jaw dropped a little as he watched Louis share with Daniel what he had always denied to him.

He swore he would never drink a vampire's blood, Lestat thought, half-despairingly. He felt as if he had been gut-shot. He wouldn't drink mine. Maybe he doesn't want me anymore. Maybe he prefers Daniel. Maybe he isn't coming home. Oh, God, life without Louis?! Have I truly lost him?

As he drank, Daniel's face tilted a bit. He caught something out of the corner of his eye and turned even more. When he realized who was standing there, he slid out of Louis' hold. Puzzled, Louis looked up and saw Lestat standing a few feet away, a look of absolute betrayal on his face. Louis paled as much as he physically could.

"Daniel," Armand started to growl, anger rising up inside of him.

Daniel smiled one last time at Louis. "Sorry, gotta run!" He gave him one more kiss, he might as well earn his punishment, then stood and raced out of the park. Armand followed close behind.

Louis looked up at his maker. "Lestat, please, let me explain," he tried, but Lestat didn't listen. He merely closed his eyes, turned, and walked away. He had disappeared before he had taken five steps.

Louis stared back over the pond and another tear filled his eye. No matter how many times Lestat had hit him, his blonde brat had never told him he loved someone else more. True, he had made David, but he had made it clear the Talamasca man was not a replacement. And now Louis had been with another vampire. He had shared his blood. Louis sighed and stood up, then began walking home.

~*~

Lestat stared out of the window stubbornly. The was nothing vaguely interesting outside, but it was better than looking inside. His favorite fledgling sat on the floor beside his chair, trying to gain Lestat's attention. There was a pleading tone in Louis' voice that tore at Lestat's heart, but he did his best to hide his feelings.

"Mon amor, please...don't do this to me...just a word, just a look. Please, Lestat, please answer me. Mon Dieu, I never thought I would be starved for your voice. Please, mon amor, I need you, I love you."

It had been several hours since Louis had started begging, without any response, but now Lestat condescended to glance down at the crumpled figure near him. "Is that what you said to him?"

"Lestat?"

"'Mon amor, I need you,'" Lestat mocked, imitating Louis' voice, "'I love you.' Is that what you told that little creature? Does his blood taste better than mine? Or maybe you think I'm ugly?"

"Lestat, please, don't..." Louis stared up at Lestat with red, weary eyes. "I can't live without you! I need you beside me."

"You certainly didn't need me tonight. I suppose your vow to never drink vampire blood only applies to me. I suppose your lust is more important than..." Lestat leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes in regret. "Dear God, Louis, the one thing I desperately wanted to share with you...my blood, my memories, my life and love...and instead you waste it on that child! 'Yes, Lestat will always be around, the faithful dog waiting for his master'."

"No...Lestat, I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you." Louis tentatively reached out, his hand on Lestat's. "I didn't think...I--"

Lestat swatted his hand away as if it was a viper. "I'm trying hard not to hit you, so don't push your luck. I'm already livid enough. I thought I could trust you, and instead I find out you're unfaithful. You probably wouldn't notice if I walked into the sun. No, you would notice," Lestat quickly amended, and Louis looked up hopefully.

"You'd notice and promptly jump into bed with some other vampire. Forget all about me...no one's ever cared about my feelings..." Lestat's voice trailed off and a sincere tear started to build in his eye. Louis tried to hold him again, but this time Lestat jerked away.

Louis moaned and fell back. The rejection hurt more than any of Lestat's hits ever could. "But..." he struggled to find anything to say. "Lestat, Lestat, I love you!"

"I can't believe that." Lestat turned back to the window. "How dare you say you love me when you betrayed me so...so...cruelly?"

There was no reply. As if he had been struck down, Louis retreated back into the dark corner and pulled his knees to his chest. The room was deathly silent for several minutes. After a moment, Lestat looked down and was astonished to see blood tears flowing down Louis' eyes and cheeks. Louis rarely cried, and even less so passionately. The younger vampire sat with his hands over his face, trying vainly to hide the tears that squeezed out from between his fingers. His shoulders shook as he sobbed, his tears staining the rags that he called clothes. He looked like a lost child, huddled in the shadows. Louis was certain Lestat would run him out of the city, or worse, leave him forever.

Lestat considered walking out at that moment to punish his lover, to teach him never to take the brat prince for granted, but after another look at Louis' tormented face, he shook his head to himself. Even a brat had limits to the torture he could put his fledgling through. Still, he almost smiled. He was satisfied. Louis had learned his lesson.

Lestat slid out of his chair and sat on the floor beside Louis. He wrapped his arms around Louis, startling him slightly. He had moved so quietly not even the other vampire had heard him. With his superior strength, he forced Louis to face him, pushing his hands away from his face. Gently, Lestat kissed away the tears as he held his lover against him. Louis leaned gratefully on Lestat's chest and sighed in shaky relief. Lestat had forgiven him, at least partially.

"Mon amor," he whispered, raising his hand to the one Lestat had on his face. "I'm so sorry. I'll never, ever--"

"I know, lover," Lestat interrupted softly. "There's no need to say it. I know. All is forgiven."

"I love you," Louis said suddenly, and the sentence was so full of sincerity that Lestat almost felt guilty about hurting Louis further.

"And I you. I could never torture you, not to any extreme. You always force me to be gentle." A sudden grin broke out over his face as a devilish thought came to him. "Although Daniel does not have that ability with Armand."

"Oh no," Louis gasped. "Lestat, Armand will torture him! It's all my fault..." He started to cry again.

Lestat rocked him gently, still smiling. "Non, ma petit, he brought it on himself. The little imp had the option of saying no, although I know why he didn't."

Louis looked up at him with red eyes. "Lestat?"

"Please, Louis, you're irresistible. It's why I brought you to me in the first place." Lestat placed a soft kiss on his fledgling's lips. "It's why I forgave you. And it's why I'm going to take advantage of your weakened condition right now."

Lestat swept Louis' body into his arms and carried him to the bed. He set him on the soft, silk sheets, removing the frayed sweater and ripped jeans from his body and tossing them into a corner. Once Louis was undressed, Lestat forced him beneath his body. His own clothes vanished in seconds. Since the light was already off, he pulled the blanket over them, ignoring Louis' adorable comments about being exhausted.

"But Louis, why else do you think I want to do this now?" Lestat smiled broadly and pinned his lover's shoulders down with his hands as he stole a kiss. "You're at your best when you can't fight back."

Finally Louis stopped struggling and let Lestat do as he wished. He would never admit it, but he loved it when Lestat overpowered him.

"And just think, this is the worst you're going to get." Lestat let out a low chuckle. "Little Daniel is probably getting the whipping of his life from that pervert he loves."

Louis almost succumbed to another wave of guilt, but the caresses he was receiving drowned out any other feeling except pleasurable abandonment.

~*~

"I thought I could trust you," Armand growled, looking in the ballroom for his fledgling, who had opted wisely to hide. Since neither of them could "hear" each other, Daniel had a fair chance of getting away without harm for the night, something Armand wanted to prevent. "Instead I find you in the arms of another vampire! To think my Daniel is nothing more than a common slut!"

"No more than you," came the sullen whisper to his right.

Armand whirled and threw open the closet to reveal his fledgling, kneeling on the floor. Daniel looked up in shock just in time to see the thin rod in Armand's hand fly towards his face. He felt the sting across his cheek and then the heat as a welt rose. He yelped, then gasped as Armand grabbed his throat and hurled him across the ballroom floor. Daniel slid across the polished surface to the other door, twisting around to get a grip on the carpet outside and drag himself out. He could hear Armand close behind him, the rod whirring menacingly through the air. Daniel knew what that meant. He was in for a whipping, but with each swish of the rod, he could also feel the sheer strength that would accompany those blows. Armand had never used his full strength on Daniel, and only half of it could make his fledgling sincerely beg for mercy.

"Armand, please, no!" Daniel raced up the stairs of their Night Island home, trying to escape from his maker. He stumbled on the steps, then started scrambling and clawing his way up. "I'm not as strong as you, you might kill me!"

Armand stood at the bottom of the steps. A fierce snarl flashed across his face. "You might have thought about that before you saw Louis behind my back. Get back here, you worthless whore!"

"Like hell," Daniel called back, running down the upstairs hallway and turning left. "Louis was in tears. He said Lestat hurt him! He needed what I gave him!"

"Anything for an excuse!" Armand hissed, following closely behind. "Anything to get out of a whipping!"

"You're just pissed I got him first," Daniel said. "Why are you so damn possessive?" He turned into the first door he found and locked it behind him.

"You arrogant, little..." Armand growled. "You betray me like this and then try to put the blame on me? Don't you dare lock me out, boy! Come back right now!"

"You're gonna have to work for your kill," Daniel replied.

"You're only digging your grave deeper." Armand raced around the hall and found the second door to the room. He turned the knob and opened it just in time to see Daniel pull up in front of him, too late to lock the door. His fledgling gasped in fear and backed away, looking wildly around the room for any kind of escape. There was nothing. Armand locked the door behind him. It was as good a room as any. There were "supplies" beneath every bed in the house.

Daniel couldn't hold back a tiny cry of terror as Armand stepped quickly up to him. Without any warning Armand reached his hand back, and then severely backhanded his lover. Daniel collapsed to the floor with the force of the blow, his jaw feeling strangely unhinged and throbbing with sudden pain. Tossing the rod away for the moment, Armand stood over his fledgling, then knelt on top of him, straddling his chest and pinning Daniel's arms to his sides with his legs. Now Armand began to strike Daniel, beating him cruelly. Daniel cried out in agony and fear, not knowing when it would all end. The blows coming down on his face and head were unimaginable. His face snapped to one side as Armand slapped him viciously. He couldn't even raise his arms to defend himself. His face was soon full of cuts where Armand's claws had sliced his skin. Stars danced over his vision.

"Armand, please..." he moaned.

To his surprise, the beating stopped. The pressure on his chest disappeared, but his maker gripped his wrists and pulled him across the floor to the bed, where he was flung face first onto the pillows. Before he could think to move, he felt a harsh nudge in his back, pressing him down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Armand pushing his knee down into his back. Now Armand grabbed Daniel's right wrist and tied nylon rope around it. Once he was certain that the knots were secure, he tied the other end to the bed post. He did the same to Daniel's left wrist, and then moved down to his ankles. After a few seconds, Daniel lay prostrate on the bed, unable to move.

Daniel felt Armand's hands on his jeans, tearing the thick cloth away from his legs. His shirt and other clothes were torn away as well until he lay completely vulnerable to whatever his master wanted to do to him.

"Armand?"

"I trusted you," the deceptively young looking vampire said. "I have never been so cruelly misled in my life!"

"What?! You mean one little affair with Louis is worse than--" he broke off and screamed as he felt the rod cut across his bare back. Another lash fell on his spread legs, and then another, and another...they came so fast and so hard that Daniel could not heal fast enough. The only things faster than the whip were his cries of pain.

Blood ran down his back and legs, and soon his arms. He could tell that Armand was using all of his strength to hurt him. He must have angered his lover more than he had first imagined, but he wasn't sure why. He'd kissed other vampires, why was Armand doing this? It was hard to think. He could only focus on the pain of the welts and cuts all over his back.

"Armand...please stop...oh, God, please...I'm gonna pass out..."

"You're not getting out of what you deserve!"

Daniel tried to jerk his arms down or move out of Armand's range, but the knots held firm. He only tightened them by pulling. He thought he heard Armand laugh at him, and he tried to compose himself. It was impossible. He shut his eyes, but the tears still fell out in a torrent. The whip came down on a piece of skin that had already been sliced open, and he screamed again. After several minutes he stopped struggling, completely exhausted. He lay still as the lashes rained down on him, hardly breathing. He knew he would be sick from the pain alone, never mind the damage. He just wished it would be over.

And then it was.

He was scarcely aware of Armand untying his wrists and ankles, or of the older vampire crawling on the bed beside him. Daniel just knew he could not stop crying. He couldn't move. His body felt racked and numb at the same time. Armand drew his teeth over his tongue, making a deep slice, and then proceeded to lap at the blood on Daniel's back. The wounds began to partially heal as Daniel gave a shaky sigh in relief. Armand worked from his hands to his legs, easing his fledgling's misery. He had been so enraged that he had not been aware of the damage he was doing until Daniel had stopped fighting.

When Daniel's skin was finally seamless again, Armand lifted him up into his arms. Daniel huddled against Armand, too weak to do anything else. He was still crying, and he lay limp in his lover's arms, but at least the pain had dulled.

"I'm sorry," Armand whispered, but Daniel shook his head.

"No, no..." he replied faintly, trying to tell Armand he had nothing to be sorry for. He could hardly speak, though. His jaw was broken.

"You will not be able to move for several nights," Armand told him sadly. "But you do know you deserved this, yes?"

Daniel nodded silently.

"And you will never betray me," Armand asked, "or lie to me again?"

"Never," he whispered.

Armand ran his fingers over Daniel's hair. "My poor little fledgling. I'm afraid I'm much harsher to you than Marius ever was to me." He lay Daniel back on the bed, on his stomach, so that he would not feel too much pain. As he stood to leave, Daniel reached out and tried to hold Armand's hand down.

"Don't leave, please don't," he cried. "Don't leave me."

"I never would, Daniel. I'll be back soon, I promise." He bent down and kissed his fledgling's knuckles, then eased a light sheet over him. "Just rest."

Armand left the room quickly, off to feed before dawn broke, so that he could give his child something to ease his suffering. He knew he had been too violent. It was only one small indiscretion. Still, he couldn't help the smile on his face as he remembered his love bound down so exquisitely on the bed, crying for mercy. He wondered how Louis had fared with Lestat.

~*~

Louis woke up still laying on the bed Lestat had carried him to. He glanced to his side and noticed that he was alone, but that did not bother him too much. Lestat had always been an early riser.

He sat up and pushed the blanket back, about to get up, when he heard a metallic clang at the foot of the bed. He leaned forward and groaned when he realized the source of the noise. A long chain clasped around his ankle and attached to the bed.

"Merde," he cursed to himself.

"Honestly, Louis, such language," came a familiar laugh from the door.

"Lestat, really," Louis sighed. "Is this necessary? It's humiliating."

"Oh, don't worry, David isn't coming over tonight. No one will see you."

"And you say Armand is perverted...Lestat, let me go right now."

The blonde vampire smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Louis, you broke my heart once already. I may forgive but it's hard to forget."

Louis looked down at the sheets, unable to look his maker in the eye. "And when will I be allowed out again, master?" he asked, purposefully stressing the last word.

Lestat flinched. "Louis, don't..."

"You're trying to turn me into a slave again--!"

"No, I am not!" Lestat growled. He suddenly pounced on Louis, pushing him back onto the bed. Their faces were only inches away so that Louis could see the tears welling up in Lestat's eyes. "You hurt me when you went to that little creature, Louis, you really hurt me! I thought you didn't love me, that you hated me. I was afraid you'd never come back. Dear God, I have never been so afraid before! You tore my heart to shreds, you beautiful bastard!"

Louis was too shocked to reply. Lestat had never opened up like this.

Lestat continued to rant. "I hate pain. I've had enough of that in my life. So excuse me when I lock my lover up to protect myself! Everything I've ever loved I've lost, but I will not lose you. Not again. You are too precious to lose!"

With eyes as wide open as a child's, Louis reached up and placed his hands on Lestat's face. "Then...you did this because...you love me?"

Lestat nodded.

Louis wrapped his arms around his lover and pulled him down on top of him. Lestat gave his fledgling a long kiss, releasing him only after several seconds. He smiled sadly.

"I'll be back soon," he said. "I promise to bring you something nice."

As he started to walk out the door, Louis got up and moved after him, forgetting about the chain. A few feet from the door, the chain suddenly ran out and he started to topple. Just before he could hit the ground, however, two strong arms came under him and caught him. He glanced up into Lestat's amused eyes.

"Goodness, Louis, you really must stop throwing yourself at me like this," Lestat started to laugh.

"I may not be able to resist the temptation."

Louis did not smile. "Lestat, how do I know you aren't seeing someone else while I'm locked up here?"

Lestat was stunned into silence, a rare occurrence. After a moment he regained his composure, though, and smiled broadly. "And they say I'm the damndest creature. Well, you simply won't know, will you?" He stole a fast kiss from Louis' stern face and set him down on the floor gently. "As Daniel likes to say, I'll see you when I see you."

Louis watched as Lestat disappeared down the stairs and out of the house. He sighed angrily, then retrieved a small book of poetry from the nightstand and began to read on the bed. It was several minutes before he realized that this book was brand new, set out for him to find. A gift from the one he had hurt. He glanced back at the door.

"Merci, mon amor," he whispered. "Sometimes I can be so much like you."

~*~

It was later that night that Marius decided to drop in unannounced to visit his fledgling. He had not seen Armand or Daniel for several nights now, and he was worried that his Amadeo might think he was being neglected. He was also concerned about his "grandchild" and how he was holding up with Armand.

~The boy is so weak,~ he thought, ~but so beautiful.~ Marius loved Daniel as much as he loved Amadeo. The fledgling was charming in a strange way, so unconstrained and yet so completely dependent on Armand for love and affection...it was rather sad, actually, considering how coldly Armand often treated the child. ~Still, no matter how many times they separate, they always return to each other.~

As he walked down one of the many hallways of Armand's mansion, he heard muffled sobs coming from a room on his left. At first he wondered if it was his Amadeo, but then he realized that he could feel this vampire's presence. He also recognized the voice.

Marius quietly entered the room, slipping through the darkness to sit beside Daniel, who was still laying face-first on the bed. The young vampire didn't notice him until they were side by side, and by then it was too late to hide the tears, although he certainly tried.

Marius leaned down and lay his hand on Daniel's head, softly stroking his blond hair. The worst that went through his mind was that Armand had probably refused to speak for several nights. "Danny? Are you all right?"

Daniel, startled a little, nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry. I just...um...I just--"

As he tried to explain, Marius absent-mindedly set his hand down on Daniel's back. The youngster winced and gasped before managing to stifle his outcry.

"Daniel?" This time the vampire's voice was more insistent and demanding, even if it was still concerned. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, honest," Daniel lied, thankful that the lights were off. "I just..uh...tripped down a flight of stairs, that's all."

"It would be the first time that has happened," Marius said darkly. He concentrated, and then slowly raised the lights. Daniel buried his face in the pillow, shielding his eyes from the glare.

As gently as he could, Marius pulled the thin sheet off of the naked young vampire, gasping as he saw the full extent of the damage. Daniel's entire back, including his arms and legs, was completely bruised and matched the color of his eyes. It was as if his skin was purple and not pale. He could still spot long welts criss-crossing the skin, but if they were welts now, that meant that they must have been cuts before. No, not cuts. Slashes.

"That little monster..." he started to growl.

"No," Daniel cried, "not his fault. My fault. I was getting it on with Louis."

"There is no excuse for this, child," Marius said in a stern voice. "Especially not jealousy. I whipped him before, but never this severely, and...I always healed him afterward."

"He...didn't mean it to be so bad," Daniel still tried to get his lover off the hook. "He was angry. He didn't know what he was doing. And afterward, he tried to heal me, but he didn't have enough strength in his blood."

Marius shook his head. "Daniel, this is beyond anger. Even I don't have enough power to heal all of this. You're not safe here. I'm taking you back with me."

"No!" Daniel started to cry again. "He'll be angry, I can't afford to make him angry again. If I do, he'll...he'll...oh, Marius, please...I'm so scared."

"It's all right, child. I'll protect you." Marius wrapped the blanket around Daniel and carefully pulled him up into his arms. "Armand will never treat you like this again, not when I'm through with him."

"Please...don't hurt him," Daniel begged, leaning gratefully against Marius.

"He'll survive, Danny," Marius reassured him. "I promise. Now, let's get you out of here before he gets home." Daniel nodded faintly, his eyes beginning to close. "Go to sleep, child. You'll be safe when you wake up."

Marius kept his word. When Daniel opened his eyes again, he was in a soft bed covered by a feather blanket. A large pillow cushioned his head, while a single candle kept the light dim enough for his eyes to handle. He tried to sit up, but he was still too weak. Instead he settled for relaxing back on the pillow.

"You're awake," came the familiar voice to his right. "I was worried about you."

Daniel smiled slightly, glancing at the figure sitting beside him. "I'll be all right. Eventually. Does...does Armand know?"

Marius shook his head. "Not yet. Soon, though. I'll phone him in a few minutes."

"What're you..." Daniel took a deep breath, speaking was still difficult, "what're you gonna do?"

"I'm going to bring him here, break him apart, and then put him back together." He noticed the terrified look on Daniel's face and smiled, shaking his head. "Not literally, Danny. Well, not physically. My little fledgling used to be such a kind-hearted child, but all those decades as a coven master have warped him. I should have done this a long time ago."

"Will he be...all right?"

Marius smiled and stroked Daniel's forehead, smoothing his hair back. "He should be fine after awhile. It will take some time, though. I have to remind him just what he's putting you through, and make him remember how much he hates that sort of pain."

"Marius?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"Thank you."

The elder vampire almost laughed sadly. The child was so utterly tied to Armand...Hopefully he'll be as tied to Amadeo, Marius nodded to himself. He looked down at Daniel again, weak and helpless on the bed, his head thrown back a bit, revealing his soft throat and the upper part of his chest, the line of shoulders...He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the young one's lips, pulled back a moment, then took another, deeper, kiss from the boy. The fledgling didn't resist, but both of them knew he had no choice. It was only out of love and concern for his health that Marius didn't press the issue much further, aside from a few caresses over his upper body. Daniel was so used to yielding, to being the submissive partner, that being used gently was wonderful in itself.

Finally Marius drew back, rising. "I'll be back to feed you, I promise. Right now, I need to start with Armand."

"Good luck," Daniel sighed.

Marius nodded. "I'll need it."

Marius sat at the table, staring at the phone. He was certain he was out of Daniel's hearing range. That was important. He didn't want the little one to hear what was about to be said. With a resolute sigh, he picked up the phone and dialed.

After only one ring, the phone on the other end picked up. "What is it?" came Armand's voice in a rush.

"It's me, Marius," he answered. "Daniel's with me."

"Oh, thank God. I was going crazy looking for him. He's all right, of course?"

All right? You atrophy his body and he's all right? Marius nearly started yelling at that, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I saw the wounds on his back, Armand. You nearly killed him. If I hadn't found him, he might have died from starvation alone. He still can't hunt."

"I was upset, padrone," Armand tried to explain, casually using Marius' nickname as if meant nothing to him. "I found him in Louis' arms! Of course I was angry. He needed to be punished."

"For getting to Lestat's fledgling first?"

The line was silent for a moment. "Marius, where is Daniel?" This time Armand's voice was colder and demanding.

"I am not going to tell you."

"Dammit, he's my fledgling, you have no right to take him from me!" Armand was screaming and whining at the same time. "Where is he? If you don't tell me, I'll get one of the others to tell me where you are."

"Don't bother, I've already told them not to tell you anything." Marius heard something over the line, like a chair falling or a vase breaking.

"Marius...I need Daniel here. I want him here right now."

"You malicious brat," the elder snarled. "I am never going to let you see him again. Not after what you did to him."

"He deserved it!"

"You shut him out, wouldn't talk to him, wouldn't even look at him, but if he so much as kisses another vampire he must be condemned?" Marius stood up, trying to contain his rage. "You are not going to see him for a long time, boy!"

"Marius...Marius, I admit, I...I may have been too violent with him..." Armand was close to panicking. "I...you're right...I know it was just a small transgression...but I was very angry..."

"That's no excuse!"

"I didn't know what I was doing..."

"Oh, then he didn't deserve the punishment? I don't think he deserves a creature like you, either."

That did it. He heard his fledgling struggling to keep from crying, and shook his head. Armand really did love Daniel, but it was impossible for him to express it. Centuries of repression kept it squashed deep beneath the surface.

"Marius...please...I...I need him..."

Marius nodded even though Armand couldn't see him. "I know, but I can't trust you near him."

"Please...anything..."

"Very well. Come to my castle, the one in Germany. And don't bring anything."

"Why?"

"Just don't." And Marius hung up. He looked at the phone for several minutes, then wiped away a single tear. He hated causing his fledgling pain. He stood up, then started out. Daniel would need to eat tonight if he was going to heal.