The sounds of clawing could be heard resonating through the castle,
reverberating off the stone walls and floors of each corridor and room so
that the beast sounded ever closer. It could be heard moving with a
growing determination, slowly coming to an awareness of the dining hall
and moving through the adjoining rooms and corridors at a horrific pace.
Lestat could envision the invisible servants suddenly, some scattering as
the thing approached while others tried in vain to block its path.
Whatever was out there, it tore through the spectral aides like nothing
Lestat had ever imagined. Lestat felt for his sword and pistols before
remembering that they were in his room beneath the plush four-poster bed.
It seemed then that Black Cat's prophetic statement of only moments before
would come to pass. The sounds of the creature's snapping fangs and
rumbling growls were as a death knell. "Black Cat, what will we do?"
Silently the sleek feline gazed at the massive wooden double doors of
the dining hall. The tapestries on either side moved with ripples as gusts
of wind, or perhaps the fleeing servants, swept through the castle. The
beast had reached the outer chamber, its entrance signaled by the sound of
a doorway crashing to the ground and the massive weight of the thing as it
crushed antique tables and chairs. Lestat found himself instinctively
backing away from the doors and toward the painting of Louis. Desperately
Lestat wished he had a weapon – any weapon!
When Black Cat finally spoke, his voice was as emotionless as the wind
and his eyes seemed glassy, almost dazed. "Lestat, were Louis to appear in
tangible form, could you find it in your heart to love him? Not just as a
friend, but truly love him. It would mean giving up your quest, your
family, and your inheritance. It would mean a change for you in many more
ways than I can describe -- a new life, a new livelihood in this castle
and at his side. Would you do it? Would you remain with him forever?"
Lestat was afraid but genuine as he nodded, his eyes darting back to
the double doors with every monstrous sound. The thing was banging upon
the doors with all of its strength, and with each blow the sound was
nearly deafening. "If you were there, Black Cat, I would. To hell with my
father and to hell with all of this idiocy. I'm tired of playing a minor
role, of being only a puppet in his meaningless life. Besides, I don't
think I even want a wife." He licked his lips, his eyes wide as he tried
to find a means of escape for the two of them. They were well and truly
cornered. There was no other entrance to the dining hall save for the two
main doors. "If only I had a weapon!"
Black Cat nodded. "Oh but you do."
The thing was clawing at the doors, its razor sharp talons poking
through the wood in places. The ancient doors were sturdy and would hold,
but just barely. Time was swiftly running out. Lestat looked at his feline
friend, the terror clearly settling in him mind. "What do you mean? Damn
it stop talking in riddles! I don't have anything to fight this beast! We
are doomed, surely!"
"But look here, my friend." And as though by magic or sheer luck, Black
Cat indicated a dagger beneath the great oaken table. "I mean the dagger,
the one you used against the demon wolves."
Lestat dove for it without thinking, his mind in the grip of panic
eager to latch onto anything that might stave off the impending death. He
grasped the handle firmly and, righting himself, held it at the ready.
Lestat pulled the dagger from its sheath, eying it skeptically. It was
certainly not large enough for an effective weapon against a monster of
such size. He may be panicked but he wasn't so stupid as to believe a
dagger, no matter how helpful against demonic wolves, would be any match
for the talons sported by the snarling monster. The thing barreling toward
them was gargantuan. "If this is all I have, then it'll just have to
do."
"Lestat, I haven't finished."
The wood groaned, the hinges slowly being warped as the doors began to
weaken. Lestat swallowed hard, gripping the dagger with clammy hands.
"Can't we discuss this later?"
"No, Lestat. I need you to do something for me. Something very
important. You owe me this, Lestat."
The youngest son of the Marquis shot Black Cat a cold glance. "Couldn't
this wait until the monster is gone?"
Black Cat scratched Lestat's leg angrily. "No, listen carefully. We
haven't much time." Black Cat paused, unsure of how to proceed. The beast
meanwhile finally pulled the doors apart enough for its distorted visage
to come into view. It peered into the room at this prey that had caused it
so much trouble and snarled, a sort of laughing growl that bubbled up from
its misshapen throat at the sight of Lestat. A thin ribbon of drool fell
from its impossible jaws as it held Lestat's terrified gaze. Black Cat
took a deep breath and continued. "I want you to take the dagger and slice
off my head."
Lestat stared incredulous. "What? But... you can't be serious..."
"Lestat we haven't the time for your foolishness now do as I say! I
have cared for you this long, always coming to your aid. Now do as I say
or else you, me, and the painting will be destroyed!"
Lestat looked at the beast, closed his eyes, and then looked at his
friend. "I don't know if I can." Then he narrowed his eyes, his jaw
setting in renewed anger. "How can you ask this of me!"
Black Cat uttered a low keening meow, his eyes large and pleading,
constantly darting toward the door. The monster was in a frenzy,
splintering the wood with its ferocious claws. The doors were ancient and
made of the finest, thickest timber, but even they were no match for such
murderous determination. "If you don't, everyone is doomed. I will die
anyway, as will you and Louis. Everything you've worked toward will be for
naught. There is a curse upon this castle, and to break it you must behead
me. As the life flows from me, all in the castle will be restored to its
previous form, and menace will be obliterated." Black Cat sighed, looking
to his human companion with pleading green eyes. "I cannot let you die.
You have been chosen to lift the curse, but instead of a mellow transition
I'm afraid action must be swift. You have to save Louis and yourself
through my small sacrifice."
Lestat looked at the dagger, then at the painting of the beautiful
young man with the emerald eyes. His _expression_ was so sad, yet something
about him was irresistible. Lestat imagined the monster crashing inside,
rending the painting, himself, and Black Cat to shreds. He shivered. "You
would die for Louis, your master?"
Black Cat nodded. "And for you, Lestat."
Lestat stared at the dagger solemnly, the light of the dining hall
candles glinting off the blade as the sound of wood splintering resounded
all around. "Something about the portrait draws me. But, Black Cat, I
can't do this! You have been more kind to me than anyone in my entire
life. You were the first person to help me without asking for anything in
return. What was the point? Its all for no reason if my quest is a failed
one. I... I love you. I don't know if I'm mad or if this castle is even
real, but I love you. Please, there must be another way."
"I'm sorry, Lestat, but there is not."
Lestat was weeping, his fingers gripping the blade tightly. "You will
leave me no other option, will you?"
Black Cat nuzzled Lestat's leg, then his hand as Lestat sat on the
floor heavily, numbly stroking behind the ebony ears. "We all do as we
must, Lestat. Now do as you must, or else all is lost. One way or another
I will die. I'd rather perish upon your blade than in the jaws of a
monster."
The sounds from the beast were deafening and despite his better
judgment, Black Cat had a point about not wanting to die in those
monstrous jaws, yet the decision was all too painful. What would life be
without his dearest friend – Louis or no Louis? It was something Lestat
was loathe to try, yet despite all the arguments it was the _expression_ in
the eyes of his friend that told him the act was necessary. "Truly I don't
know if I can. I've never killed someone I cared for so very much."
"It's only a little death, Lestat. Now be quick else it will all have
been for nothing."
Lestat gazed at the dagger, remembering how those wolves had scattered
in its very presence. With a flare of hope he thought that maybe it would
work the same way with this creature; but the hope died just as quickly as
it had come. Black Cat would have thought of that.
It was with a heavy heart then that Lestat brought the dagger close. He
hesitated, closed his eyes, and plunged the metal blade deep into his
friend's throat. Black Cat made a sound that could have been a hiss, and
blood rushed from his mouth. Lestat hitched a breath, "Ah, God!" and
grabbed the furry little neck in his hands, breaking the fragile bones
with a few twists. He was good at killing animals; but to kill someone he
cared for, though to all appearances an animal no more special than any
other, was unbearable. He had never tried to kill without pain or
suffering, and as Black Cat's head hung limply to the side, his tiny pink
tongue lolling, he felt the world seem to shift and slip, falling away
beneath him.
He was dimly aware of the sound of wood groaning, as though trying in
vain to warn its dead master that Black Cat Castle was being invaded.
Nothing mattered, not anymore, except for the agony of slicing through
flesh and bone to separate that which should never be separated. He felt
hot breath on the back of his neck as he cut through the final bit of
skin, cleanly slicing through the final flap of flesh which still served
as connector. Once the job was done, he gasped, lifted into the air by a
pair of matted taloned hands, their claws sinking into his flesh. He
closed his eyes, feeling that it had all been for naught, but at least it
was over. "It is done as you wished, Black Cat." The beast was behind him,
its hot breath causing the hair on the back of his neck to rise to
attention. The sickly smells of old meat and mushrooms were everywhere. "I
wish..."
Then there was a blinding flash of light. The thing, the monster,
unleashed a keening wail as white light filled every inch of the room, and
the world simply ceased to
exist.
