"Companions on the Devil's Road"
by Kabuki
August 1999
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
** Special thanks to Marlena for Beta Reading! The characters within this
spec are not my property. They belong to Anne Rice. No infringement is
intended
and no money is made from this work. The concept, though, is mine.
The seat of the wooden booth beneath me was anything but comfortable as I
sat in the mortal bar awaiting the arrival of my guest. How can mortals endure
remaining in such positions for even a few moments I will never know, and
once more I shifted uncomfortably. It was two hours past sunset, surely he
would
be awake by now and on his way. I stared at the garishly colored frozen
drink I had hastily ordered, marveling in the tiny ice crystals and the
prismatic
quality of the water droplets forming outside the glass. In my time, priests
would have proclaimed such production of water from seemingly nothing as a
work of the gods. Now I know the scientific explanation, and as I sat in the
darkened booth I was almost sorry for the excess of knowledge. Condensation.
Amazing to think what explanation mortals can conceive for even the simplest
things, as though by giving it a name and a supposed reason they hope to
control Nature herself. I smiled to think of what my angel lover would say of
these thoughts, then actually chuckled at the entire situation.
Lovers. Imagine!
A woman nursing a noisy baby nearby gave me a strange look and, scanning her
casually, I discovered that she thought I had become drunk. I shook my head
and could not help but feign a drunken and potentially menacing smile in her
direction when next she looked. The reaction was predictable and I chuckled
again, this time more loudly, as she hurried away to pay her tab. Ah, I
believe he is rubbing off on me.
Well we certainly can't have that now, can we?
I smiled, my face lighting up more than it had since leaving Maharet those
many years ago. "Lestat. I was wondering where you were. Have trouble finding
a meal?"
He flashed one of his breathtaking smiles in return and once more I am taken
aback by the sheer brilliance of his face. The generous and all too
seductive lips, the golden halo of hair wafting around his head, the way his
leather
jacket clings to his body in ways that make me want nothing more than to give
in to my carnal delights. He slid smoothly into the seat opposite me, and I
couldn't help but brush my lips against his in the darkness of the booth. He
smiled, lips turning up around mine temptingly as I pulled him to me. My grip
is enough to crush even a two hundred-year-old vampire such as he, but his
blood is strong enough so there was no fear, only pleasure as our tongues
dueled. Finally he pulled back, sliding his tongue across my lips teasingly
before settling into his own seat. "So, Khayman, finally found time for me in
your
busy schedule? Maharet isn't so thrilled about you having a secret lover I
gather? Especially not me."
He smiled a rather sad smile, as though he had expected more from this
entire thing. I sighed. "And I suppose your precious Louis would be decidedly
happy to welcome a new lover into your long list? Has he been keeping count or
does he even care?"
I knew he was hurt and trying to rouse anger in its place. I shook my head.
Khayman you are an old fool! I am truly out of practice in the art of
socializing, let alone pleasing anyone. I hadn't had a lover, let alone a
companion,
since Maharet. We had not been lovers long and had drifted apart years ago,
yet still she watches over me as though being the most powerful of the tribe
makes me some sort of a threat to her. As though by opening her heart to me
she has somehow betrayed her duty. But how can I blame her for those few
eccentricities? She has been working hard since Akasha's death to keep order
in a
group that never has and never will have any sense of order or peace.
Sometimes I wonder why we even bother with the idea of a coven. Couldn't we
just be
friends instead of a monarchy?
But what would I know.
"I'm sorry, Lestat. I didn't mean to..."
"Yes well you did so just forget about it."
I tried a new tactic, smiling as I did so. "Look, I'm really sorry. That was
rude. But look, I have a surprise for you." I didn't even need to see his
face to know I had peaked his curiosity and I tried not to give the game away,
keeping my mind locked up tight and my body language untelling. "I thought it
was something you'd like so I simply bought it." He was practically dripping
with curiosity now and I dropped my eyes, lowering my gaze in a way people
on television might do in this modern world. "But... now that I've seen you
aren't in the mood..."
"No. Show me please? I'm in the mood!"
I pretended to consider it, then shook my head slightly and in that elderly
fashion so often used by Marius to annoy the poor little brat. "No. No. I
really don't think so."
"But... I really want to see. Let me be the judge. Khayman, it's not fair to
taunt me like this!"
I smiled. "Oh alright. Come here."
He stood and slid into the seat beside me, possibly expecting me to be
searching through a pocket or to magically reveal a shopping bag or box. I did
nothing, and he stared at me for a long time expectantly before jutting out
that
lower lip in the pouty way he has and drawing his golden eyebrows together.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Now he was irritated. "My gift! My present! Whatever you brought for me that
I am in the mood to receive!"
"I don't have one. Sorry."
He sighed, rolling those gray-violet eyes in a parody of exasperation, and
not for the first time I was amazed at the expressive capabilities of such a
seemingly chiseled face. "You are perfectly impossible! If the others knew how
you act around me, they'd promptly strip me of my title and hand it over to
you."
"I'm sure."
"And then you'd be followed by fledgling wannabe's gaping and pleading and
groveling..."
"Lestat?"
"... and the women scream 'Oh! It's the vampire Lestat!' PLOP! And they
faint all over my feet, and scuff my boots -- my Italian leather boots of all
things! -- and I have to just keep walking and hope they don't recognize me
but
*no*! Not *that*! That would be too convenient!"
I grabbed his arm, startling him out of his tirade, and pulled him close.
Our eyes met and before he could open his mouth to speak I had brought my lips
to his, slipping my tongue in his eager mouth, deepening the kiss quickly. He
made as though to move away, but I held him tight and soon his squirming was
no more. His arms wrapped around behind my neck and chest and a moan escaped
his lips as I pricked his tongue of his empowered blood. I suckled for a
moment before slicing my own tongue on one of his wolfish fangs and letting
our
blood mingle.
So much power enclosed in two simple fleshy vessels, it is truly a wonder
that we had not come together before. No danger of accidentally bestowing too
much power made us hold back. No fear of crushing our lover nagged at our
minds. Our true emotions were allowed to show, and we could adventure together
as
no other vampires could. We could hear one another's thoughts and coordinate
appropriately. I had dreamed of the two of us travelling the world on great
adventures. In these dreams we hunted together, crossed oceans together,
shared a bed in the earth together. Like Grecian statues buried beneath time
and
dirt we clung to each other by day while on such trips, but only when we
could get away... from our "other interests".
I emerged from my reverie as we pulled back, neither breathless because we
had no need of breath, and watched each other. After these many weeks we were
still wary of our collective motives. I wondered if he was using me as a
means to gratify himself in ways that the far weaker and more fragile Louis
could
not. He questioned my motives, my staying power, and was afraid on some
level that I would hurt him. Human weaknesses. Human fears. And yet they had a
potent effect upon our relationship, and I wondered if I could ask the
question. Best to try though. Make the best of my chances and all that, and I
could
no more ignore my feelings than he could quench his curiosity. "Lestat?"
He smiled, obviously enjoying the way I pronounced his name with my ancient
Egyptian accent. "Oui?"
I could think of no way to form what I wanted into coherent speech, and then
a long ago passage of his biography returned to me and I could think of no
better way. "'From my stone pillow I have dreamed dreams of the mortal world
above. I have heard its voices, its new music, as lullabies as I lie in my
grave. I have envisioned its fantastical discoveries. I have known its courage
in the timeless sanctum of my thoughts. And though it shuts me out with its
dazzling forms, I long for one with the strength to roam it fearlessly, to
ride
the Devil's Road through its heart.' I have to know, Lestat, have you found
anyone able to join you since that passage was written? Have you walked the
Devil's Road with another, trusted another, since Gabrielle left you to your
own devices so long ago? Do you think you could still want anyone and ... " I
paused for a moment, my conviction wavering before I continued, "And if so...
would you consider me?"
He was shocked and a little confused, possibly even embarrassed at having
his own words thrown back to him, and I realized I may have made yet another
of
those annoying social blunders. His eyes misted ever so slightly and I
needn't read his thoughts to know it was Louis or David who had come into his
mind.
I decided I would take it back, say my good-byes, and leave him before I
started any more trouble. Cowardly as it was, I could think of no worse crime
than to make this stunning being sad or to cause distress in his heart. I made
as though to stand, trying to be swifter than he could follow, but I had
forgotten his power and before I could stand fully erect his hand caught my
arm
in a desperate grip. I cringed, loathe to meet his gaze but it seemed to be
what he wanted and so, hardening my heart and features, I lo
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