|
"Jamie, Jamie, wake up," Henri said urgently, patting his cheeks, waving smelling salts under his nose.
"Where am I? Where's Paul?"
"Sorry, I had to pinch a nerve in your neck to make you appear to die," Henri said dabbing Jamie's blood from off of his vampire's lips with a fresh handkerchief, "Please excuse the bite. I had to make it convincing. I swear I didn't drink one drop of your blood."
"You're truly a vampire," Jamie cried still dazed, putting his hand to his throat.
"Oui, I guess we have never been formally introduced. You may call me Henri. Henri will do. I long ago gave up all those messy titles. Those de what du whatever. So, I'm just Henri. And much as I enjoy a good chat. I must ask you to hurry. Louis may decide to come back looking for your, ahem, body, and that would not do at all," Henri said over his shoulder.
Going over to pile of Jamie's scant clothing, Henri made a face, not at all wanting to touch the stained sweaty garments. "Well, these will have to do for now. Never mind, it gives a splendid excuse for us to visit my tailor."
Bravely, he tossed Jamie's wretched clothing and his books too in a valise. "My dear come along. I must say, it was wonderful how your wanting to kill yourself to be with Paul worked to our favor, mais really my child, who do you think you are Romeo? And I can guess who your fair Juliette is. All nice and tragic I guess. Mais still killing oneself is never a good ideal. Ever, understand me young man, certainly not for love! It's a good thing Louis was too weak, and Lestat was too distraught to tell your death was trumped up. Now isn't the time to scold you. You mustn't keep him waiting."
"Who? Paul?" Jamie said over his raging headache.
"Of course Paul," Henri said, worriedly scooting down on his haunches behind Jamie, "Or at least what is left of Paul. I'm afraid he is between life and death."
"Mais how? I saw him dead in his coffin."
"Non time for the chit chat. Oh dear, I know you are bursting with questions. Who can blame you? Now," Henri said, throwing the valise out the window, "Out you go. Your life is in extreme danger."
"From who?"
"The very vampire who almost killed," Henri said, grabbing Jamie by the arm, leading him to the window, "your Paul. And almost killed your cousin, Louis. I mustn't even speak his name till we're safe with Bianca. Bianca's human spy, Katherine, informed us of everything going on."
"Katherine, the girl who had the abortion, she is addicted then to your blood?"
"Oh heavens non, we pay her. Works better actually," he picked Jamie up in his arms, leaping out the window. Gracefully landing on the ground, he put Jamie down on his feet, then he hurried to Jamie's valise. "At Bianca's request, Marius flew me here without his knowing why. I hurried here as fast as I could. Only to find you being menaced by Lestat of all vampires! I know you must be in shock Jamie, mais you must ride."
Mounting a young, strong, steed, Jamie raced alone with Henri though the vaporous heat and dense air to the dock.
Boarding onto the Saint Jean, Henri escorted Jamie to his private cabin.
"Non, I do not want to be inside, please," Jamie cried, "I want to see the ship take leave of the dock."
"Wear my cloak then, and my hat. There you look lovely," Henri said sincerely, "Let's go top side."
:The two hung on the rails. The sails flapped in the breeze. With a jerk the wooden ship creaked out into the ocean. Jamie tried to talk. Henri put his finger to Jamie's lips, shaking his head in warning.
The ship went further out into the dark sea. The motion under their feet rocked them back and fourth Lightening lit up the darkness lighting up their surroundings for Jamie to take a short glimpse of New Orleans's shoreline. Some rain fell pattering down upon the deck.
"What do you mean Paul is not alive or dead?"
He's both. He's in a poison induced coma. My dear Bianca, a first rate poisoner, poisoned Paul the night he went to talk to Louis about your affair with him. She went through the French doors, forced the liquid down Paul's throat while he was unconscious The plan was for Paul to collapse. Louis was supposed to believe Paul had a heart attack or a brain aneurysm."
"The fall didn't kill him?"
"I was afraid it had! Armand throwing Paul down the stairs was completely unexpected. Paul didn't even feel the fall. He had already passed into his coma when Armand held him up in the air just before Armand thew him down the stairs. The night after his funeral, after he was interred in his crypt, Bianca took him out. Neither one of us were sure if we were going to be successful. I was so upset I even went to Louis after he was attacked by Lestat. Louis was unconscious. I talked to him about Paul, asking for his forgiveness. I assured him Paul was gong to be in a better place. Hopefully alive and going to Venice! "
"Mais why, why did you choose to help us? I don't understand. I don't even know you."
"I know Paul. Paul is like a nephew to me. I refused to see that villain murder him! It doesn't happen everyday, but there are few precious times when a rogue tricks a powerful, master vampire. I know Paul's recovery rests with you. I would have come sooner, mais I dared not come to you while Armand was loose."
They traveled the sea for many nights. Henri's chattering did its best to make Jamie's spirits more buoyant.
Jamie thoughts were on the whores, Old Sally, Yvette, the slaves he grew up with, the emigrants, the free people of color, and the pure Africans. And he hurt for them. He wished he could make them all blind at least to the color of people's skin. He couldn't help, but feel he was deserting those who lived in his adopted country.
"Why didn't you try to save Louis?" Jamie asked, quietly, as he took a stroll with Henri on the deck.
"We ran out of poison," Henri said sadly, playing with his walking stick, catching Jamie by the arm when Jamie almost fell. A strong gust of wind caused to ship to lunge forward. "I really couldn't save Louis. I wish I could have. He doesn't belonging in New Orleans. At least I feel he doesn't. He belongs in Venice. With us. Mais, as it is, there is no help for him."
"We should go back, and take him with us," Jamie urged.
"Non," Henri said, "His lover Lestat would not allow it. His eyes, lips, hands, fangs, are greedy for Louis. Besides, I do not trust vampires dreadfully in love. They have been known to do foolish things. Look what Lestat almost did to you. I will not risk Paul's life, I'm afraid, not even for Louis. It's pains me to have to sacrifice one over the other, mais tough decisions have to be made in life. I must retire to my coffin. Please remember for the sake of your life stay away from it."
After months of traveling at sea, they arrived finally during a fine drizzle of rain to Venice's docks. Jamie gingerly walked down the gang plank, relieved to be standing on firm ground rather than the rough roll of the sea. The dock was filled with ships with all kinds of foreign, exotic flags. Musky spices, and the faint whiff of fish, and sewer filled the air. All sorts of commerce was busily being conducted by captains, merchants, money changers, and money lenders.
Jamie was greeted by a woman of splendid blond almost white hair. Her slender body was a dainty sight in her elaborate open gown. He could see half of her fair, small, pert breasts above the low cut neckline of her dress. She wore a huge soft-crowned hat with lace curtains around the brim of it, around the crown was tied an enormous red bow. "We shall not stand on ceremony, you and I!" bainite said thrilled, throwing her arms around him.
"You're the conjurer who saved Paul's life?"
"Oh no," Bianca cried, pleasantly embarrassed, already loving the handsome brown lad with his hair burnished with tints of bronze. "I'm not a conjurer my dear. I am but practiced in herbs and the ways to bring a man's heart to a stop still."
"You most certainly stop heats, and rule over them with your magic," Henri gallantly said, putting his arm around her small waist.
"Ha! So you would persecute me with slander and lies about my effect on men? I have no magic, other than what nature gives me," she coyly said , hitting him with her fan.
"Never! Nor would I slander your effect you have on women. All hearts are in a state of suspension till but one kiss causes them to palpate then beat passionately alive," Henri said.
"Jamie," Bianca said, leading them to a hired gondola. "You must have the same allure Henri is teasing me about having. Merci to me, I have put your dear love's heart into suspension Blame me not for a cursed murderer. For what was I do under the circumstances knowing about Armand's intentions were towards Paul? I took Paul to Greece. To my Master Marius for safe keeping. I noticed Marius started to have a disturbing attraction towards the unconscious boy. So Henri and I moved him out here to Venice. Ah, I am glad we escaped Armand. My dear brother can be quite overly domineering. It has given me pleasure to no end that I, a so called weak woman, and Henri, a so called pathetic, effeminate creature, have defeated my all powerful brother. "
"Am I so effeminate?" Henri asked, rolling his eyes.
"Oui, mais from what I have heard you are not so in bed," Bianca said, cheerfully assuring him.
"It's somewhat of an exaggeration on my part," Henri said to Jamie, "I camp up my mannerisms a bit. Act like a silly sodomite to attract the rough boys. It makes for interesting opportunities for a meal. Also it keeps the ancients who might want to harm me away. They laugh at my act, discount me as being harmless, then leave me alone."
"You have to be rather deceptive when you're a rogue," Bianca said, getting into the gondola.
"Bianca and I didn't dare say Paul's name when we left New Orleans with him We referred to him as my "luggage," Henri said smiling.
"I suppose I gave him too much poison. When I tried to give him the antidote to wake him up from his deathly sleep, his heart would beat then die! Henri would beat on Paul's chest while I would drain more antidote into him. Sometimes it would take nights to chase him back from being dead back into being in a coma."
"But, his mind will it not be destroyed?" Jamie worried.
"Oh no! Have no concerns over that! Everything is turned off in him. Like a candle blown out, except for the faint beat of his heart. People are well suspicious of the poison I used on Paul. Many times practitioners like myself poison people for trade. These victims are buried alive. They wake up weeks, months in their graves. Only to be gradually smothered to death as they scratch at their coffin's lids to be let out! Why do you think Marquise De Sade asked in his last will and testament? That his body be kept forty-eight hours in the chamber that he died in, and that the coffin not be nailed shut. Well he knew the possibility of being poisoned and the terror which could occur from waking up in one's coffin! It's the most perfect of crimes!"
She delicately coughed noticing the wide eyed stare on Jamie's face. "Of course," she said smiling, patting his arm with her gloved hand, lying to him, "I never poisoned a victim in such a hideous manner to cause anyone such horrific harm."
"We're hoping if you read to him, talk to him, if he just hears your voice, his life will be spared," Henri said calmly, "Jamie, we could take him on the Devi's Road. Make a vampire out of him."
"Non, please don't. Let me try to revive him till you seriously consider such a deed. I, I do not think," Jamie said his eye lids falling almost down over his eyes, "I do not think it would be right to make Paul a vampire without his being able to consciously accept it. Please forgive me for saying so. You are both so kind. I mean no offense to either of you."
"We understand," Bianca winked at Henri. "Nor do I think we should give him the dark gift. Not until he regains consciousness and asks for it. I take no offense. I'm sure I speak for you too Henri."
"So you do. Mais, Jamie you may have to make the choice for Paul. Jamie if you can't revive him, then it is a choice of death or undeath. I cannot help mais feel his being in a vegetable state for all eternity is too tragic for Paul, " Henri said gently, "Life at any cost sometimes can be more tragic than death."
"I will try my best," Jamie said under the gondola's canopy.
The gondola docked at a fashionable town house. Jamie followed then into their home.
His eyes never were never gifted with such a luxury of visual feasting. Baroque art was every where mixed with Greek vases. Everywhere was Byzantine virgins with the solemn faces. A beautiful oil of a nude, red headed goddess who was lounging with a horned faun and a cupid by Varacci was hanging above a marble mantle over a roasting fireplace. A dazzling oil of Saint John the Baptist by an anonymous pupil of Raphael hung over the divan.
"That Saint John the Baptist with his husky shape and nicely portioned legs, his auburn hair, and his youthful face, ah, it is the spitting image of your brother Armand," Henri said.
"You like my nude of Armand? For your information," Bianca said cheerfully, "Armand posed for that nude."
"Really, I thought so," Henri said drolly.
"Does it make your heart all fluttery?" Bianca teased.
"Non, it makes my stomach all fluttery, and nauseated," Henri said with a sniff.
"My brother he has that effect on people," Bianca shrugged.
Jamie spun himself around and around, amazed and yet more amazed at the glamour in the room. His eyes became arrested to a Greek stature of two naked, rugged, wrestling males. One was seemingly preparing himself to mount the other one. He gasped in embarrassment, turning swiftly way from it "This is all so overwhelming."
"Oh my, I suppose it can be," Henri said blushing, siding up to Bianca, whispering into her ear. "I thought my cherie, I requested you put that particular piece into the closet before I brought Jamie here."
'"Don't be ridiculous. I love that piece," Bianca whispered back. She took Jamie's hands, saying out loud, "You'll get used to being pampered!" She clapped her pretty hands.
A very delectable maid came in carrying a tray of huge black grapes, cold meats, fresh baked bread, oil, olives, and cold liqueurs.
"Who says one such as we should give up glasses?" Bianca said happily, pouring herself a glass of red liquid from a bottle in a bucket filled with snow, "My dear papa, Mairus, he flies to the Alps and fetches me this delicacy of snow. He is not really my papa in a biological sense. It excites him to hear me call him Papa Marius."
She swirled the blood in her glass, then she slowly licked the hard rim, poking her tongue inside so the tip of it touched the blood.
There is a lot you'll have to get used to I'm afraid," Henri said consolingly.
"This is the vampire who tried to kill us?" Jamie said going to the oil of a tightly muscled youth wearing a halo around his breath taking angel's face. In the painting Armand was wearing nothing but an innocent face. He was pointing the way to heaven. "Why did someone this lovely want to kill us?"
"Oh, he was damnable jealous of you and Paul, and horribly jealous of Louis," Bianca said, taking a sip of blood.
"Did Mairus paint this?' Henri said cocking his head, studying it.
"Ah, do you think Mairus could have painted a masterpiece as this?" she laughed.
Upon reflection" Henri said, "Non."
"This Armand he's without his breeches, and he's supposed to be a saint. Didn't saints wear robes!" Jamie cried.
"The Renaissance was famous for homosexual erotic art depicting saints, " Henri said, to placate Jamie.
"I am allowing myself to forget Paul in all of this," Jamie said ashamed, "Please take me to him."
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to eat first? Have a glass of liqueur? It's made from the finest of pears," Bianca said nervously.
"Non, please gracious lady, I would put a veil between me and all this beauty for a glance of Paul, please."
"Jamie, prepare yourself," Henri warned.
Henri took him into a bedroom which came straight out of the tales of Arabian Nights. Henri parted the silk material hanging around Paul's bed.
There amongst the many pillows was a pathetic, skinny child of fifteen. His skin white, and veined with blue. His nostrils pinched, fallen in. His carefully kept clean hair was as dry as a corpse's.
Trembling, Jamie fell to his knees taking the bony claw of Paul's hand.
"All I ever wanted to do was touch you again" he cried, tears falling freely down.
"We're going to leave the two of you alone," Bianca said, putting her hand on his shoulder, kissing his curly hair.
"Jamie, all is not lost. You know we can bring him back to you. All it would take is for Bianca and I to, well, Jamie. We would bring him back. He would just be well, he will be altered. Mais he'll still be Paul," Henri said.
"Let me try to talk with him first," Jamie said in a small voice
"Of course," Bianca said, pulling Henri along with her, "Tell me all about all the New Orleans' gossip. Is it true! Louis is trying to live on animal blood! Ah, do you think it may cause a trend amongst our kind? I think never! Mais, what do you think! Does such a diet make him more beautiful, Henri? Non? Then animal blood will never catch on. Do you think Louis is in love with Lestat?"
Once alone with Paul, Jamie said, "I can not yet read the kind of stories I think you would like to listen to Paul. I will someday. I promise you. I can tell you a story. There was a woman who was made to spin and weave all night long by a causchermare, a witch. Her poor husband was nightly turned into a horse. Every morning Mantel, her husband, would wake up worn and hag ridden. He bewitched the cauchermare with a loaf of bread soaked in beer. Mantel said a particular prayer, and the cauchermare, she disappeared in smoke and hell fire. Ah, Paul what can I say to you? I love you. Wake up. Shall I work a prayer? Should I feed to you some potion? Paul, mon amour, please wake up. Was it really you who visited me when Lestat was going to kill me, or was it a devil? An angel? Talk to me Paul."
Jamie felt as if ice was being pressed against his lips, "Paul," he whispered, putting his fingers to his mouth.
Running out of the bedroom, he grabbed Bianca by both shoulders. "You are using a potion, mais you are leaving out faith and magic."
"Jamie, there is no such thing as magic involved in my potions and poisons. What do you want me to do? Say a prayer for Paul?" Bianca said haltingly.
"Oui, and I want you to dance, and sing. Collect for me snakes."
"Snakes!" Henri cried.
"Oui snakes, who taught man about life and death, but the scaly one, your devil, and my snake spirit Dambala? We will use God's snakes to help open the passage way between this world and the spirit's world. And we will bring Paul back!"
"Jamie, this is nonsense," Henri said cautiously.
"Everything is nonsense up until it has been tried, and then proven to work!" Bianca said smiling, "Oui, Jamie if it is snakes you want, snakes in plentiful you will have."
"Big snakes? Non, we are not talking about big snakes, ca va? Little snakes right?" Henri said shivering.
"As big and as thick around as you can find Bianca and Henri," Jamie said earnestly. | 