Louis yawned and stared up at the sky. A strong arm snaked around his waist, drawing him closer. With a sigh, Louis reciprocated and received a kiss for his efforts.

"How are you feeling?" he asked the blonde vampire beside him.

"All right," Lestat answered. "I'm next to you, aren't I?"

"You sweet talker," Louis smiled. He was glad they'd gone for a walk. Anything to keep Lestat's mind from wandering back to his past. Still, the gnawing in his stomach was reminding him that they needed to part, just for a few moments. He looked around and saw a nice, dark graveyard not too far away. "Lestat, I'll be back soon. I need to eat."

"What, over there? In that cemetery?"

"Yes. What's wrong with it? I'm sure there are a few thieves and besides, you hunt there from time to time."

"Louis, please, it's a very bad part of town. Let me come--"

"No."

"But chere, I don't want anything terrible to happ--"

"Lestat, I said no. I don't want anyone to watch me when I feed, you know that. I will be back in a few minutes and I expect you not to follow me. Don't wander off."

Lestat looked as if he were about to argue, so Louis merely turned his back and walked into the cemetery. He heard Lestat shuffle awkwardly at the gate, then slowly drift around.

Louis rolled his eyes as he wandered along the path, his mind nowhere near feeding. How could Lestat be so insensitive? His maker knew damn well he hated being watched as he killed. This was something he'd rather do privately. Lestat could wait ten minutes.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't know what slammed into him from the side, ramming him into the ground. He had no time to react as what must have been almost a dozen gang members descended on him.

Louis wanted to scream, but his face had been forced into the dirt. Heavy bodies and hands held him down, overwhelming him quickly. He was a vampire, but still, he had limits. Weight piled up on his right arm until he felt a sickening snap, and then the bones seemed to feel as if they were on fire. His clothes were torn.

"Hurry up," a voice growled in the darkness, "this one's fuckin' strong."

"Almost...there!"

Louis stiffened, pain filling every sense. The night exploded into his mind and he tried to push it all away, unconsciously sending a telepathic scream throughout the world. The agony and shame of it all was devastating. His body went limp, unable to defend itself. His head was jerked back for a moment as someone kicked him, and he finally managed to use his voice.

"Lestat! Lestat!" Louis shrieked, calling his maker's name over and over again. Even when they managed to get his face back in the dirt again, he was still screaming. After a few seconds, though, he could no longer pronounce his words and his voice blurred into one long, continuous wail.

"Shit, someone's coming!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

The voices disappeared into the night again, leaving him alone, but he didn't move. His coat fell back over him, but he didn't feel it. He could hear more footsteps coming closer, but he didn't care. As they approached him, he bared his fangs, hissing at the stranger in hopes of scaring him off. It would have worked better if tears hadn't been streaming down his face.

"Oh, God, no," came the familiar, horrified voice, closer as the person knelt down. "Don't cry, chere. It's all right. I'm here now. I'll take care of you."

Lestat gently took Louis into his arms, cradling him like a helpless child, a fledgling out of its mother's wing for just one moment. Rage flowed through his body, but he knew enough to hold himself back. Those mortal bastards could wait. Right now, Louis needed him.

He settled the limp body into a more comfortable position, then ascended slowly into the air. The muggy breeze blew over them, rousing Louis out of unconsciousness. Green eyes stared up, unfocused, not knowing where he was. He gazed without blinking at the sky.

"The stars are nice tonight," he whispered almost incoherently to himself. "No clouds."

His voice died away, following by a choked sob. Tears coursed down his cheeks. Lestat hugged him close, letting him rest his head on his shoulders. So human. Too human! Why should Louis be hurt? He's the most sensitive--

Lestat forced himself to break away from that chain of thoughts. It would only make him angrier.

"It's all right," he whispered, "I'm here."

"Home," Louis whimpered. "Want to go home."

"We're almost there," Lestat assured him. "Just a little further."

He could see the house in the distance, growing larger every second. Finally they landed in the

backyard, startling the squirrels back into the trees. Lestat carried him upstairs, into the bathroom, where he started the water before undressing his lover. Louis made no move to resist, holding still as his clothes were gently stripped away. His head hung in disgrace, tears streaming down his face as he made no move to brush them aside. As soon as the water was ready, Lestat swept up his fledgling and carefully eased him in. Louis actually sighed in relief when he was immersed, and he relied entirely on Lestat's outstretched arm to hold his head up.

Dirt and blood and every other filth were washed away by Lestat's tender ministrations, and his scratches were healed by Lestat's blood smeared into the wounds. His broken right arm would take longer, but it was already on the way to recovery.

Lestat allowed him to drowse in the in the warm water, using the time to arrange the bed with his mind. After a moment's thought, he sent his mind out to a few different humans, planting instructions in their heads and making them hurry to carry them out.

Finally he pulled the plug and let the water go. Louis woke a bit, then relaxed as towels fell over him, drying him before he felt any chill. Lestat took him in his arms again, carrying him into the bedroom and laying him in the bed. He spread the blankets over him, then sparked the single candle's wick, so there would be no harsh electric lights to harm's his fledgling's eyes. Louis rapidly fell asleep, safe under his lover's gaze. An hour later Lestat left his post to answer the expected doorbell. Once he had given the human an amount of money he had not bothered to count, he took the prize up to the bedroom.

The newly delivered teddy bear was completely white, with real sapphires set for eyes and a black silk cape with a bunch of lace at its throat. It matched his instructions perfectly.

Lestat smiled sadly, then quietly entered the room and knelt by the bed. "I know you don't want anyone in your bed, Gentle One, not now," he whispered. "But I also know you're afraid to be alone, so I'm leaving this with you, so you'll know I'm nearby." He lay the bear by Louis and wrapped his arm around it, so that Louis would wake up holding it. "You know your 'RockStar' was always singing to you, chere." Without a sound, he left the room them, locking the door behind him.

The next night he glanced into Louis' room, just to make sure he was all right. Louis was fast asleep on his side, his arms circling tightly around the bear. A small smile lay on his lips.

Lestat locked Louis' door again and made his way for the front door, eager to find the humans who'd hurt his Beautiful One, but he stopped short of turning the knob. He could feel one vampire coming up the walk way. With a resolute sigh, he opened the door before the other could knock. To his surprise, both Marius and David were there, glaring sternly at him.

Well, at least it's not Armand, Lestat said to himself. "Come on in. Shall I throw a virgin on the barbecue?" He was careful to keep his voice low, indicating to the other two to do the same. As they came in, they turned and faced him.

"Where's Louis?" Marius demanded.

"Asleep," Lestat answered. "He needs to be let alone."

"You should take your own advice," David was practically growling. "He only sleeps at night when he's hurt."

David made a move for the stairs and Lestat immediately flattened him with one mental push. Before either of them could begin to yell, Lestat had taken a defensive stance at the bottom of the stairs.

"I don't care what's running through your sick minds, but Louis needs his sleep," Lestat hissed with a dangerous tone in his voice. "Let him be. Your interrogations would only make things worse."

Marius knelt and helped David up. "Then perhaps you can tell us what you did to him?"

"We could hear his mind scream all the way to London," David added.

Lestat was shocked for a moment. "You think that I...that I did this to him?" he asked in a very small voice. Well, why not? I've done just about everything else to him.

"You mean you didn't hurt him?" Marius whispered.

Lestat shook his head. "I found him, brought him home."

Nothing was said for several seconds. All they could hear the was the constant tick of the clock and the water still running in the pipes.

David stared at the floor. "Lestat...I'm sorry. We thought--."

Lestat gave them a tiny smile. "I understand."

"But what did happen, then?" Marius asked.

Lestat lowered his head. "I...can't tell you. That has to be Louis' decision."

"That bad?" David asked.

"Yes."

"Are you certain you don't need any help?" Marius asked. "You may not know exactly what he needs."

"Believe me, I know. I'm the best person to handle this right now." He frowned. "Except maybe Armand. But Louis doesn't need us arguing while he's hurt."

Both Marius and David stared in disbelief. Lestat had admitted that Armand could actually help his fledgling. "Whatever happened must have been terrible," Marius whispered.

Lestat nodded and heaved a tired sigh. Finally the pair noticed the weariness in his eyes and body.

"Lestat, have you eaten tonight?" Marius asked.

The blonde vampire shook his head. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I've just been taking care of Louis, that's all. He probably won't wake up for the rest of the night."

David and Marius exchanged looks.

"I didn't drug him or anything," Lestat sighed.

"We know," Marius said. "Listen, David and I will be in Louisiana for awhile, taking care of business. If you need any help, don't hesitate to call."

Lestat gave them a wan smile. "Thank you, but I doubt I'll need to."

After a few more awkward moments, the pair left. Lestat watched them go, then stared up at the sky. It was too late, or too early, rather. The sun would come up soon. He groaned and closed the door. What a night. He slowly ascended the steps and entered the bedroom, staring down at Louis. His fledgling also hadn't eaten, come to think of it. He promised silently to gather up some rats or birds the next night. The gang could wait for a few nights.

He lit a small candle and set it on the far corner. The flame was comforting and reassured him that everything would be all right in the end. He'd always had a love for votives. Now apparently he'd gone from lighting them for himself to lighting them for his fledgling. Not a good development. Knowing he shouldn't sleep beside Louis, or come anywhere near him for awhile, Lestat sat on the footstool, resting in exhaustion against the side of the bed, his head on the blanket and his hand on top of Louis' upturned palm. He stared at the candle, and fell asleep watching the flame.

A day later, he woke up suddenly as the hand beneath his jerked away. Lestat sat up and found himself staring into terrified emeralds stained with blood.

"Please...get back," Louis whimpered, clutching the teddy bear to his chest, "don't touch me... please."

Lestat backed away slowly so he wouldn't spook his lover. He didn't get angry. He just nodded in silence and moved for the door. Behind him, though, he caught the faint trace of another whisper, and he turned back.

"Don't leave me. Lestat? Don't leave, please." Louis' voice was barely audible, even to the other vampire.

Lestat glanced at him over his shoulder, uncertain if he should or not, then sat wearily in the sofa. Louis sat up and watched him, a little intimidated as Lestat gazed sadly at him.

"How do you feel?" Lestat asked.

Louis looked down, first at the bedspread, then at the teddy bear in his arms. "You had this made for me?"

Lestat smiled and let his unanswered question slide. "Yes. I thought you'd be nervous, or that you'd need some kind of 'security blanket'."

Louis gave him a weak smile. "Thank you. It looks like you did on the stage."

Lestat grinned, trying his best to lighten the mood. Obviously Louis was still in the denial phase. Better not to force him into accepting it yet. "Well, I couldn't give you just any teddy bear. The most beautiful vampire in the world deserves the best."

Louis' smile grew a little. He sighed. "How do you know exactly what to say? How do you know what to do?"

Maybe he's out of denial, Lestat realized with a bit of a shock, staring at Louis. "What do you mean?"

"The teddy bear, the bath, putting me right to bed, and the way you didn't argue when I asked you to get away. How did you know?"

Lestat gazed deep into Louis' eyes. "Because it's what I had wanted someone to do for me."

Louis shut his eyes in pain, one hand rising to his lips. "Oh, Lestat...Is this what you really felt?"

Lestat nodded silently.

"I had no idea..." Louis gasped. "And you didn't have anyone to help you."

Lestat shrugged. "It's all right."

"No, it's not," Louis said, his voice wavering. He hugged the teddy bear closer to him, as if it were his only comfort in the world. "You shouldn't have had to go through this. No wonder you were so cold around me. Contact is almost unbearable. Your whole life has been pain."

"Not all of it," Lestat whispered. "You're the only one who's made it better."

The room was silent for several seconds. Louis leaned back against the pillows, obviously concentrating on something.

"Lestat?"

"Oui, chere?"

"Does the pain ever go away?"

Lestat stared at the carpet for a long time. "It takes a long time, and even then it doesn't die. It...hibernates. It can go away for years, and suddenly something could trigger it. A touch in the wrong place, the wrong words said in the right way...and then you'll have to go somewhere to ride the pain out, or drown it out."

"That's what you were doing on the streets."

Lestat nodded, then looked up when he realized what Louis was afraid of. "That won't happen to you, Gentle One. No, your pain will be violent for a time, and then grow fainter and fainter until it is subtle, deep beneath the surface but always there. Your abuse didn't happen over a span of years, and you've never prostituted yourself in your life. And you have someone who will stand by you no matter what."

Louis stared at his teddy bear. "Why are you being so honest?"

"You have a right to know."

"Lestat?"

"Oui?"

"Do you love me?"

"Yes, I love you."

"Even after this?"

"Would you stop loving me?"

Louis shook his head slowly. "But...I feel so..."

"Dirty? Worthless? Cheap?"

Louis nodded.

"You're not. You're beautiful and pure. You're important to me. And you're not alone, Louis."

"It was terrible. It's the worst night of my life...almost."

"Almost?" Lestat's eyes widened. "Good grief, what was your worst?"

"Burning you, when Claudia and I were running."

Lestat smiled gently. "Chere, I deserved what I got. You have never gotten what you deserve."

"And what's that?" Louis asked somewhat bitterly.

"True happiness. Simple joys. You always have some crisis to face, some problem to deal with, a bratty vampire to endure."

Louis chuckled, then yawned. "Why am I so tired?"

"I would be more surprised if you weren't. Go back to sleep. I'll bring you back something small to feed from in a few hours."

Louis nodded, his eyes closing as he lay back down with the teddy bear still clasped in his arms. Lestat stood and, once he was certain Louis was asleep, brought the blankets up to his throat. "Goodnight, chere," he whispered, brushing the hair from his eyes. "Sleep well. I'll keep you safe, I promise."

Nights later, Lestat sadly came through the front door after a few hours of searching. He just couldn't find that gang. It was beginning to test his temper, he wanted to incinerate the bunch as soon as possible. He might even see if Louis would want to, it would be great therapy. And if Louis needed anything, it was something to make himself feel better. He was just as melancholy and depressed as he had been the first night.

"It's not something that will disappear in a few days," he whispered to himself. "But that doesn't matter. Even if it takes centuries, I'll stay with him."

Lestat pushed the door open and looked cautiously inside. Louis seemed to be asleep, so he closed the door and quietly sat down, waiting for him to wake up. He sighed, remembering how distraught Louis had been that night.

At his sigh, Louis stirred, groaning as he turned on his back. His eyes fluttered open and focused on Lestat, never wavering as he sat up. There was so much anger, so much hatred and fire in his stare, that it frightened Lestat.

"Louis, are you all right?" he whispered.

"All right?" Louis glared viciously at him. "All right?!" He was out of the bed and at the sofa so fast that it startled his lover. His fingers curled tightly around Lestat's throat, cutting his air off as he throttled him. Lestat only put his hands on Louis' arms, not once trying to push him away. "I was raped, you bastard! What, does that offend you?" he laughed maniacally, noticing Lestat's wince at the word. "It hurt! It still hurts, and you have the audacity to ask if I'm all right?"

He let go with one hand, then slapped his lover as hard as he could. Lestat's head snapped to one side, and he gave a small cry of pain, unable to push it down. His pain fueled Louis' hate, and he began to slash at Lestat with both sets of claws, drawing blood from his face and chest. He struck out as hard as he could, and beat against his lover with all of his strength.

"Why weren't you there?!" Louis was literally shrieking irrationally, enraged by the tears trickling down Lestat's cheeks. Why the hell should he be crying? "You always promised you'd protect me! I screamed for you and you didn't come! Where were you?" His eyes narrowed, and he slashed Lestat's throat. Blood flowed from the severed veins. Lestat made no move to defend himself.

"I hate you!" Louis screamed over and over, far beyond hysterics. "Were you screwing some mortal, is that why you weren't there?" He backhanded Lestat and smiled when he heard the strong bones crack. "Answer me! Were you fucking some human?"

"No, Louis," Lestat whispered. "I love only you."

"You liar! Slut! Monster!" Louis called Lestat every name he could think of, slapping him with each word. "Whoring around for a cheap screw! I hate you, I hate you!"

He couldn't keep the pace up for long, though, which Lestat fully knew. His weak strength, already greatly diminished, started to fail. His hits faded and slowed and could no longer draw blood. Louis sank down on his knees, still hitting his lover. Frustrated tears coursed down his cheeks and he lay his head on Lestat's lap, hugging him close as he sobbed. Lestat reached out and gently held him, stroking his hair.

"I'm sorry," he whimpered, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "Lestat, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Lestat whispered. His wounds were already healed. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"I've hurt you," Louis murmured.

"Never. I love you." Lestat reached down and pulled Louis into his arms. Cradling him like a child, he brushed away his tears. He glanced at the teddy bear and levitated it, dropping it in Louis' lap where it was scooped up and cuddled. "Cry it all out, chere. I won't let you go."

"I'm so pathetic," Louis said suddenly, and the thought made him cry harder.

"No, you're not," Lestat replied in a firm voice. He lay his hand on Louis' chin and made him look up. "You're not pathetic, or stupid, or worthless or anything else like that. You are, however, perfect, beautiful, gentle and the best friend and lover I'll ever have."

Louis started to wail and buried his face in Lestat's hair. His entire body shook violently, quickly sapping the rest of his strength. Finally, after several minutes, he merely sat quietly in Lestat's lap.

"Chere?"

"Oui, Lestat?"

"Do you want to go back to sleep?"

Louis shook his head. "No...bad dreams."

"Downstairs, then? I could read to you."

Louis' eyes seemed to brighten. "Fairy tales? Would you read me fairy tales?"

Lestat smiled. "As many as you want. But first, a bath." He carried Louis in to the bathroom and lay him in the tub, gently taking away the teddy bear Louis still had in his arms. Lestat set the bear on the sink in full view and in easy reach. Louis sighed as the first drops hit him, then utterly relaxed into a near sleep as the torrent flowed over him, rinsing blood away. Lestat scrubbed away dried blood on his love's nails and soft, limp hands. He didn't want Louis to wake up and see Lestat's blood on his fingers. As Louis dozed in and out in the warm water, Lestat washed the blood on his own body away, leaving the wet mess on the tiles to clean later. Then he toweled Louis off and took him downstairs along with the teddy bear, where he set him, still naked, on the sofa and covered him with a soft blanket.

Removing his own torn shirt, he sat down and eased Louis' head onto his lap. He glanced aside at the fireplace, and the wood inside suddenly burst into flames, heating the room and giving him enough light to read by. The fairy tale collection appeared in his hand and he looked down at Louis.

"Which one do you want to hear first, darling?"

"The Frog Prince," Louis said promptly, hugging the bear against him.

"Why do you love that one so much?" Lestat asked curiously. "You always read that."

Louis smiled. "Substitute 'Lestat' for 'frog'," he laughed. "It reminds me of you."

Lestat rolled his eyes.

"And after that, Bluebeard, Hans my Hedgehog, and East of the Sun and West of the Moon."

"Very well." Lestat smiled in indulgence, opened the book, and began to read. "Long ago, when wishes were all true, there lived a king whose daughter had a ball of purest gold..."

"...and so the prince and princess freed the prisoners, left the troll castle east of the sun and west of the moon and lived happily ever after," he finished an hour later. He glanced down. Louis had fallen asleep only a few moments ago, and he seemed to be sleeping peacefully so far.

"Still, you'll probably sleep better if you keep hearing my voice," Lestat whispered. He turned the page to the next story, The Twelve Ravens, and continued reading. After that story, though, he knew he'd have to go out and feed. Healing after that beating had taken a toll on him, although he could never let Louis know. His darling was just too fragile right now to hear anything bad.

After feeding, and then several more hours of reading fairy tales, Lestat gathered his fledgling into his arms and took him back upstairs to bed. The sun would be rising in a few hours, and Louis needed to be in bed before that happened. Louis mumbled incoherently as he was carried into the bedroom, but his eyes opened the minute he was covered up in his blankets. He watched as Lestat blew out the candle and shut the window.

"Don't leave, Lestat." Louis glanced off the edge of the bed. "I don't want to be alone."

"All right." Lestat sat on the side of the bed, and when Louis did not protest, took his slighter hand in his own. He caressed it with a feathery rhythm and leaned down to kiss the back of the knuckles. "What are you thinking about, mon amor?"

Louis hesitated, then took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "I want your blood," he said suddenly.

Lestat almost dropped his hand.

Louis noticed the shock in his lover's face. "Just a drink, Lestat, nothing deep. Please? I...don't want this to happen again. I don't want to be weak." His eyes narrowed. "Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't ask for your soul. You've always wanted me to take some." He was rapidly going from anger to sadness. "Would you rather I stay helpless? Or...you don't want me anymore. That's it. Yes, I see now. Who wants damaged goods?"

Lestat finally regained control of his body and lay his hand on Louis' mouth, stopping him from talking, but the tear-stained eyes spoke even more.

"No, Louis, don't say that. Don't even think that. Why wouldn't I love you? You just surprised me, that's all." He sat back and let out a breath. "I'll give you anything you want, chere...but not yet."

"Why not?" Louis whimpered.

"I don't want you to make a choice like this--"

"When I'm not thinking clearly," Louis interrupted bitterly.

"No," Lestat insisted, "when you're hurt and scared. Just wait a little while, a week or two, when the shock is less. It may be you still want a drink, but less, or perhaps more, than you want now."

Louis looked up through his lashes at him. "Are you afraid I might become stronger than you?"

Lestat smiled. "No, chere. I look forward to the day you can overpower me. My favorite fledgling should be better than me in every way."

"Oh, Lestat," Louis sighed. "I love you so much..."

Lestat closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Louis, no matter what happens, you know I'll always stay with you. I'll never let you go."

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do."

"Say it."

Lestat leaned forward and lay a very gentle kiss on Louis' lips. "I love you, Louis de Pointe du Lac."

"Again."

"I love you. I love you more than life itself."

"Again. Don't stop."

Lestat obeyed, filling the room with words of love, affection, and absolute devotion. He caressed Louis' hair, pushing it back a little so he could touch his cheek. Louis smiled and reached up to his lover.

"Stay with me," he whispered. "Sleep beside me. I think I can handle it, I think I need you beside me."

"Are you certain?" Lestat asked cautiously.

Louis nodded. "Please."

"If you feel uncomfortable, let me know," Lestat whispered. He disrobed and slipped into the other side of the bed. Louis snuggled close up to his side, resting his head on Lestat's shoulder.

"I love you," Louis whispered again. "You're so warm." He tightened his hold on Lestat. "You always make me feel safe."

There was no reply. Louis looked up and was astonished to see a tear slipping from his maker's eye.

"What's wrong?" he asked, rising on his elbows. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry, chere," Lestat whispered. "I failed you."

Louis smiled. "No, love. I sent you away. Neither of us is to blame." He paused, then repeated himself slowly. "Neither of us is to blame."

Lestat stared at him. "Louis, you didn't blame yourself, did you?" he asked.

"I think I did, for awhile." Louis gazed at Lestat. "Did you, at first?"

Lestat closed his eyes, knowing Louis didn't mean recent events. "I did blame myself. I mean, I knew, rationally, that it was his fault, but...I let him use me..."

"Could you have stopped him?"

"He was so much stronger than me, and he could just push me down into the mattress...I could feel his hand on my neck...I was only nine..."

Louis lay beside Lestat and hugged him close, letting Lestat do the same. "I think I understand you a little better now, darling. Maybe now we can start to heal each other."

"Just don't leave me, Louis, please, never leave."

"I won't, Lestat. I'll stay with you for all eternity."

Two weeks later, Louis no longer needed his little teddy bear to comfort him, but the cuddly plaything had its own special spot on the nightstand. The nightmares had abated, although Louis still wanted to hunt down the mortals that had hurt him. He hadn't confided that wish to Lestat, though he was certain Lestat wanted the same thing, he just didn't have the time to go out hunting. One thing had not changed, however. Louis still wanted Lestat's blood.

Lestat sat beside Louis, taking up his hand. "Are you certain you want to do this? There's no way to reverse it once its done."

Louis smiled and leaned over and kissed him. "I'm sure, Lestat. I want this. Not as quite as strong as you, but not as weak as I am now."

"Then lay down."

They both settled side by side, wrapping their arms around each other. For a moment nothing was said. Louis loved just feeling his lover in his embrace, knowing nothing could separate them now.

Lestat leaned back and stared into his fledgling's eyes. "Louis, when we do this, you'll be able to see straight into my soul. I've...never really let anyone that close to me before."

Louis smiled in understanding. His lover was afraid, but then, so was he, a little. "It's all right, mon amor. I'll be gentle if you are."

Lestat smiled back. "I suppose we should start, then."

Louis nodded. "Slowly, though. Let's work up to it." He lay a soft kiss on Lestat's lips, then worked down to his chest and shoulders, forcing his maker's arms down so he could touch him with out any interference.

"You aren't fighting me," he whispered, only half in surprise.

"Tonight belongs to you, love," Lestat sighed, eyes closed. "And hopefully tomorrow I won't be able to fight you."

"Be careful what you wish for," Louis laughed, nipping at his earlobe.

For several moments, Lestat merely gave himself over to his fledgling's caresses. Every touch was like silk that sent electric shocks through his body. Louis had to be the most seductive creature he'd ever experienced.

"So gentle..." he whispered, almost involuntarily.

"Your Gentle One," Louis whispered back.

"Yes, mine," Lestat said. "You belong to me, and I belong to you."

Louis didn't answer. Instead, he lowered himself halfway down Lestat's body and gently pierced the skin just behind his elbow. Lestat groaned in pleasure as his fledgling sipped at his blood. A moment later Louis switched arms, then turned Lestat over on his stomach.

"Louis?"

"Just relax, darling." Louis leaned down and nipped behind Lestat's right knee and drank from there, then moved to the other leg. Lestat just moaned, clutching the pillow to his chest. After an eternity, Louis let him turn back over and climbed up to stare into his maker's eyes. "You know I love you, yes?"

"Yes," Lestat sighed. "I'm just so afraid something is going to happen to ruin this..."

"Nothing will happen," Louis promised. He reached up and brushed a few golden strands away from Lestat's throat, then nuzzled the silky skin. "Ready?"

"As much as I'll ever be."

Without another word, Louis plunged his fangs into his lover and took several great draughts from him. A multitude of thoughts, previously barred from him, flooded over his mind.

Louis wanted to cry. Lestat, Lestat my love, bite into me...drink.

"But it'll hurt you," Lestat whispered.

Obediently, Lestat bit down into Louis' throat, reclaiming the blood that had been stolen. And Louis just kept drinking, taking it back. Each of them was locked in the circle, knowing the first to break would be helpless in the other's arms. With that in their minds, they each sank their fangs in a little deeper.

Louis was the first to break. He took his fangs out and fell limp into Lestat's embrace.

When Lestat woke up, he looked to his right at his sleeping fledgling. Louis' skin seemed even whiter, if that was possible, his hair even darker, with rainbow streaks running through it. His fingernails were like mirrors. What truly surprised him, though, was that the jeweled eyes opened mere seconds after he had.

"Lestat?" Louis asked, his voice smoother than silk.

"Yes, chere, I'm here," Lestat whispered, holding him close. "Are you all right?"

Louis closed his eyes and considered. "I do not feel any different. Are you certain it worked?"

Lestat smiled. "Oui. I just woke up myself."

Louis' eyes widened as he grasped the implications of that statement. He got up and went to the mirror, examining himself. He gazed into his eyes, which seemed more like emeralds than ever. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the desk lamp and gently twisted it to the right, then straightened it again.

"It's worked, then. I am stronger."

Lestat stepped over to stand behind him. "Much stronger, my love. Stronger than Daniel, than Armand, perhaps David and maybe even Marius."

Louis turned and put his hands on Lestat's face. "I want to try my abilities out. I want to know what my limits are."

Lestat nodded solemnly. "Let's get dressed. Then we can go outside."

They both dressed quickly, although Louis accidently tore a shirt with his new strength. He kept his arms close to himself on the stairs, afraid he'd break something, and only relaxed when they were in their backyard. Lestat pointed at a large stone a few feet away.

"Try to lift that, but slowly."

Louis nodded and concentrated. The stone rose gently, floated several feet across the ground, and then settled back down. He smiled. "That was simple."

Lestat grinned. "Now make it explode."

"What? We can do that?"

Lestat nodded.

"But I thought we could only make things catch fire."

Lestat shook his head. "Just let the pressure build inside of it. Watch me." He stared at the rock for a moment, and then it suddenly shattered violently. Shards were hurled at them, and Louis cringed in fear. When he looked up, though, he saw all of the pieces held motionless in the air. Lestat lay his hand on Louis' shoulder, and dropped the fragments.

"That rock over there," he pointed, "try to blow that one up."

Leaning back into Lestat's embrace, Louis did his best. Minutes passed. He was about to give up when he felt a shock go through him, and then the rock burst apart, though not as violently as the other had.

"Good," Lestat praised him. "The dead branch on the tree. Make it catch fire."

Louis thought hard once more, and it did. But Lestat's next command caught him by surprise.

"Now put it out."

"What?"

"Yes, it is the same process, just in reverse. Just try, chere, but do not force it."

Somewhat unsure, Louis tried anyway. He focused intently on the branch, but instead of lessening the flames, he stared to feel uncomfortably hot. With a groan, he fell back into Lestat's arms, gasping for air. The flames disappeared, but he knew Lestat was doing that.

"Shh, it's all right, I put the fire out. I suppose we know what your limitations are now, Beautiful One. Now all that remains is for you to reguage your strength."

Louis shook his head determinedly. "No. There is something I need to do."

Lestat closed his eyes tight. "Will you let me come with you?"

Louis considered for a moment. "Yes, but you must not stop me, whatever I decide to do."

"I promise, chere. I promise."

They left the house, wandering the streets for a long time. Neither of them mentioned the fact that they were ravenous. Both knew that they would have a feast this night. Lestat knew Louis would find them. He knew what their minds sounded like. All Lestat had to do was follow behind.

"Here," Louis said, stopping at the cemetery. "They've returned. Lestat...I thank you for coming with me this far, but...you do not need to see me do this. I know you treasure the thought of your Merciful Death..."

"Hush, Louis." Lestat leaned over and kissed his forehead. "I treasure you as you are. I merely want to 'watch your back' as humans say."

"Thank you, my love."

Without any other words, they both entered the cemetery, Lestat several yards behind his lover. The action unfolded and finished almost before he could watch it.

A dark shape darted out, trying to knock Louis over. Prepared for it this time, however, Louis sidestepped, then caught the offending teen and sank his fangs into the boy's throat. There was an upcry from the rest of the group, and he tossed the boy aside as the rest swarmed towards him.

He crouched down and sliced open the stomach of the nearest one, and rolled to his right, plunging his hand through another's chest. Before they had even fallen, he was on the third, ripping his throat open with his teeth.

About that time the gang figured out they were no longer in control. They ran screaming, but Louis was now far too fast for them. He caught one in each hand, lifted them high into the air, and threw them across the cemetery. One hit a tombstone, his neck loudly cracking, and the other landed on the pavement, his body tearing into pieces.

Louis stared at three running together down the path. His eyes narrowed. One burst into flames, one simply burst, and the third was ground into the dirt by an invisible hand. His face was gone by the time he stopped moving. Two more left.

He noticed an iron bar on the ground and picked it up. One of the gang members, obviously in his late twenties, was trying to climb the iron fence. Louis reached back, aimed, and threw the bar like a javelin into the man's midriff. The human stiffened, then went limp. His body fell back, but the bar caught in the fence and he hung like a perverse piece of art. One more.

Louis turned, then frowned. Lestat was holding this one tight in his arms, keeping the gun pointed down at the ground. This one had taken the time to think about fighting back, but against two vampires?

"Want to share this one?" Lestat asked softly. "Or do you have something delicious in mind?"

Louis smiled darkly. "That's as good an idea as any." He came closer, too sophisticated to enjoy the human's groaning, but savoring it anyway. With a vicious thrust, he stabbed his teeth into the rich vein. On the other side, Lestat did the same, taking the trickle that Louis left. Within moments, it was done.

"Better?" Lestat asked.

Louis glanced around himself. Eleven bodies littered the cemetery. The stains would take weeks to wash away. Not a sound had been made. No one would know about it until morning.

"Yes. Much better. I feel...safe. Free." He sighed and his shoulders sagged. "Tired."

"Would you like to go home?" Lestat wrapped his arms around his lover, kissing the mouth that still tasted of blood.

"No, not home. I'm a little tired of home. I want to go somewhere. I don't know where, though."

Lestat grinned. "I know where we can go. There is a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream playing downtown. Would you like to see it?"

Louis smiled, and leaned against him. "Only if you carry me."

"Don't you want to see if you can fly?"

Louis shook his head. "I'll leave that to you. Just make certain no one sees us."

Lestat examined both of their clothes first. "Well, it seems our clothes are spotless. Let's go, then."

He gathered Louis into his arms and slowly ascended into the sky.