Disclaimers: I don't own these vampires, Anne Rice does. I make no money off of this. I don't own this plot, but the original teller is probably long dead by now. I've tweaked it a little so it would fit. And yes, Lestat can turn into a hawk in this.

Spoilers: Up to QotD, I guess.

Warnings: Some violence and graphic descriptions.

Once upon a time, there lived a very cruel miser who had amassed a tremendous fortune and bought a huge castle and surrounding lands. He had no taste for women, and since he was so very wealthy, he was able to select a young man from the former landholders for his consort.

With eyes like emeralds and skin like cream, Louis was a beautiful creature that the miser turned into a slave for his own enjoyment. He bought him from the boy's family for a tiny amount and took him unwillingly to his castle, where he locked him up in the highest room. There were times when he would have to tie the boy to the bed, but as time went by, his slave lost any hope he once had, and took to sitting by the tiny window without saying a word. The miser never bothered to learn his slave's name, and sometimes forgot about him for weeks on end. Only the servants kept him from starving.

It was during one of these respites that he found relief. Louis leaned against the windowsill, watching the activity beneath him. He couldn't make himself feel anything but disinterest in the world outside. Even his passive outlook toward life had disappeared when he'd been dragged up here in chains. There was no hope he would again return to the town surrounding the castle. All he could care about were the birds, the usual sparrows, who occasionally nested up here, in the crooks of the gargoyle's arms.

It was one of these birds that he thought he heard one night, flying in a little late. He managed to lift his head to stare at it, but instead found that it wasn't a sparrow but a golden hawk. It's feathers seemed to be gilded, and its eyes were the color of the sky after a storm. It flapped its wings as it came closer until it finally landed right next to him.

Louis sat back in surprise and watched it preen a few of its feathers before it stopped and stared directly into his eyes. It cocked its head curiously and hopped forward a little, then hopped even closer. Louis held still as it jumped onto his hand. Its claws sparkled in the moonlight, and while they weren't piercing his flesh yet, if he startled it, it would certainly draw blood.

Suddenly it fluttered down to the floor, and as Louis watched, its body began to shimmer and fade. He blinked, and before him stood the most beautiful prince he'd ever imagined. His hair was just as golden as his feathers, and his clothing was spun of blue silk so fine even the miser couldn't afford it. His slippers were embroidered with gold and his cape was made of velvet.

Louis drew back from him, afraid of what he might do. This thing was obviously unnatural, it could be a demon spirit here to swoop him down to hell. He pressed himself up against his chair, shutting his eyes tight.

Gentle hands wrapped around his shoulders, and a soft kiss gave him the courage to open his eyes again. He looked up as this prince bent down, caressing his face and hair.

"It's all right, I won't hurt you," he whispered.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Lestat, Brat Prince of the Blood Circle. I saw you in the window..." Lestat kissed him again, lingering on his lips. "Who are you, my pretty?"

"I...Louis," he answered, suddenly self-conscious of his shabby clothing, the tattered rags the miser kept him in.

As if he had read his mind, Lestat smiled and shook his head. "No, you are beautiful. Your clothes cannot hide what nature has given you. But why are you here all alone?"

"My master bought me and keeps me locked in here just to please him. He has not come here for three days, and likely he has forgotten about me again. Until he returns, I am alone."

"Not anymore." Lestat took his hands and pulled him to his feet, steadying him as he swayed. It had been two days since he'd last eaten. Louis leaned on him, obediently allowing him to take him to the bed, where he was helped to lay down.

Lestat slowly slipped the simple tunic off of Louis' body, caressing the smooth flesh beneath his hand. He touched his lips to Louis' throat, trailing his way down his chest and stomach, and then down between his legs where he took Louis into his mouth. Louis groaned and arched his back, allowing his head to fall back. Every sensation was pleasurable. He could feel Lestat's tongue, every breath he took, the sheer heat of his mouth. Louis ran his fingers through his own hair, trying not to faint or black out. He bit his lip and looked down, watching Lestat as he worked. Was this creature real or was he just dreaming? Would he wake up in a few seconds and find himself alone in his tower again? His questions disappeared with his climax, and he fell back against the mattress gasping for breath.

"Are you all right?" Lestat asked, crawling up the length of his body and laying on top of him. "I haven't hurt you, have I? Please say I haven't."

Louis shook his head. "No, I....I've never...no one's ever lain with me...just for me. I've...always been the one...to..."

"Shh..." Lestat grinned, kissing him again. "You've got a lot of love to catch up on, and I want to show you how much I love you. Will you let me?"

Louis nodded faintly. "Do you truly love me?"

Lestat kissed him deeply, denying him breath for several seconds. "With all my heart." And he slipped back down to demonstrate.

The next morning, Louis woke up in an empty bed. He sat up, looking around himself, and placed his hand on the other side of the mattress. Nothing. It had been a dream. Tears welled up in his eyes. The door opened and the miser came in, locking the door behind him.

"Good thing you're in bed already," he laughed cruelly.

Louis felt his heart split in two.

Louis cried even as he slowly eased out of the flea-bitten bed. His body was sore, so tired from the beating he'd received. His master loved to hear him cry. Louis gingerly made his way to the window seat, collapsing finally in his usual position where he could watch the birds. He fell asleep there, since he could never force himself to sleep in the bed.

Beating wings roused him from his sleep. He opened his eyes to find the hawk swooping into his room and alighting on a bedpost, where it repeated its shape-shifting routine. In a flash, Lestat stood before him, cape swirling around his ankles.

Louis felt he would go insane. He started to cry, burying his face in the crook of his arm. Confused, Lestat knelt beside him and tried to see his face. He had not expected this sort of reception.

"My love, what's the matter?" he asked, grasping Louis' hands. "What's wrong?"

"I'm dreaming," Louis sobbed. "I must be. In a moment I will wake up and find my master on top of me, and this will be nothing but a fleeting memory!"

"No, it's not a dream," Lestat insisted. "I'm here, I'm real!"

"But you will leave me!"

"Never, I will never leave you!"

"But...this morning--you were gone!" Louis argued, close to yelling.

Lestat lowered his eyes, slowly shaking his head. "I had to go. If I fell into the sunlight, I would fade away to nothingness. I can only be here at night. Louis, I had no choice."

"Do you love me?"

Lestat nodded. "Yes. I love you."

"You hardly know me."

"I know you better than I know myself. I know your dreams. I know your deepest desires. And I know that you love me."

"Then take me with you."

Lestat sighed. "It isn't so easy as that. A hawk cannot carry a person, and to carry you down in my arms is so dangerous--"

"I don't care, I would rather die than stay here," Louis sniffled. "You don't know what it's like, having to serve someone I hate, letting him have me in every way. And then I suddenly find a ray of hope...if you leave me, I'll throw myself from the tower, I swear I will!"

Lestat put his fingertips on Louis' lips, shushing him. "All right, I will. I'll take you away from here. But you have to trust me, truly trust me with all your heart. Can you do that?"

Louis nodded shakily. He was about to say something when the door was abruptly thrust open, and Louis' master strode in angrily. The old man had a long dagger in his hand, and as he stepped inside he threw it straight at Lestat. The metal embedded itself deep into Lestat's shoulder, and he cried out in pain, falling to the floor.

"Hah! I knew I heard voices in here!" the old master laughed. "Now tell me how you managed to get up here, and perhaps I'll give you a swift death!"

The vampire tried to pull the dagger out, but he couldn't reach the hilt. Louis bent down and jerked it out, wincing at the fount of blood that poured from the wound. He spotted his master stepping towards them, another knife at the ready.

"No!" he screamed, grabbing the miser's hands. They both struggled over the knife, sliding over the floor, but Louis was weaker and quickly lost the upper hand. He was pushed toward the window, where his owner forced him halfway out of the window. Louis, knowing he was about to go over, grabbed his master, and together they plummeted from the window.

Time seemed to slow down. Louis could see everything with perfect clarity. The stars were like pin points, the moon was crisp and the clouds looked as if they were only inches away. He glanced aside and saw the miser slowly screaming in terror. The ground was rushing up at them, he could almost count the rocks embedded in the hard soil. Then he looked up, and he noticed Lestat leaping from the window and falling towards him. Louis smiled.

Lestat's arms wrapped around his body and drew him tight, and he kicked away from the tower, catapulting them sideways in a broad somersault. He landed on his feet, and his hold cushioned his lover's impact on the ground. There was a loud thump beside them, and they looked aside to see the miser spread out like a mass of ground meat, arms and legs jutting out from the red pile. Louis put his arms around Lestat's neck and laughed for joy.

"I'm free, Lestat, I'm free!"

Lestat just sighed and shook his head. "And I'm still shaking. I pray we never have to do that again. I was afraid I wouldn't catch you."

"You'll always catch me, won't you?" Louis smiled, kissing him.

Lestat grinned. "Of course. Now, what say you to finding some suitable clothes for you?"

Louis looked down on himself and blushed furiously. He hadn't put anything on since Lestat took his tunic off the night before. Lestat just laughed and unclasped his cape so Louis could cover himself until they found a decent tailor. Together they disappeared into the moonset, Lestat eager to enjoy his new companion and Louis about to discover just how bratty his new lover could be. There would be quarrels and the ocassional fight, but that is to be expected in a relationship, and all in all, they lived happily ever after.

The End