(http://digitalmidnight.simplenet.com/archive/sosindex.html) By Lady Black Death, © 1995 [EMAIL PROTECTED] PC POLICE STANDARD WARNING: This spec contains spoilers to the Vampire Chronicles. OFFICIAL STATEMENT: This is a non-profit, amateur effort and does not intend to infringe upon the rights of Random House/Knopf, Lestat de Lioncourt, Howard O'Brian or any other copyright holders which I may be unaware of. SPECIFIC SPOILER WARNING: If you are going to read Elements, the sequal to Shadow Dancers, read this later. Elements is based upon this work. Be further advised that this also contains indirect spoilers to the series "The Incarnations of Immortality" by Piers Anthony. The rain misted down from heaven like a fine web, coating everything it touched with a blanket of purest spun silver. It was the kind of gentle, warm rain which brought out the freshest scents, the brightest colors, inspiring a feeling of peace and well being in all who walked within it. All creatures stirring that night danced within the rain with the exception of two preternatural souls who trudged through the night as though saddled with lead. The Vampires Lestat and Laura. Us. Small wonder that I noticed the rain at all. It was progress of a sort. Lestat, a wraith walking grimly by my side, seemed not to feel the rain slicking his hair, dribbling into his collar, soaking his shirt. If he felt it, he most certainly did not care. His emotion of choice at that moment was the bitter, gut churning fury which eats away at the unfortunate soul foolish enough to harbor such a destructive companion. Anger at the world, all within it, heaven, hell, and most especially himself. Everything existing except me. I was the only creature on the planet he would suffer to come near him now. Anyone else, living or undead, either stayed far away or died on the spot. The only time Lestat had turned his murderous rage on me was when I dared suggest removing Louis' belongings from the house, perhaps sending some to the Talamasca, donating others to charities. It was not a mistake I ever made again. His wrath was murderous, dangerous, and went on for several nights. I hadn't bothered to track the time which had passed since Louis' death. It was warm then, it was cool now. Not that it made any difference. The pain had faded into a constant ache, rather than the stabbing, paralysing grief we knew before. But it was just as continuous, our most faithful companion, numbing us to the world outside our own black cloud. And so it was with a start that I found myself responding instinctively to something heartbreakingly familiar. As soon as I caught myself I jumped, as though someone had grabbed me, and let out a startled gasp. "Lestat?" He stopped at once, looking at me with haggard concern. "What is it, cherie?" Frowning deeply, I sought out that which had triggered the reaction. "I thought..." Bewildered, I finally met his puzzled gaze. "I don't know. Someone... touched me." He looked around. "We're alone." "I know. I mean," I tapped the side of my head, "_touched_ me. Almost like..." I didn't dare complete the sentence. Even without saying it, Lestat knew the rest. Louis and I, both children of Lestat, spoke heart to heart while he lived - on a purely emotional level. It was something Lestat had longed for, but could never participate in. As our creator his mind was unalterably closed to us. Unmistakable - it was that which I had responded to. A purely mental hug, a warm embrace from a dearly beloved friend. If I hadn't known any better... "Let's be on our way." Lestat's words were clipped. Nodding, totally confused, I followed him down the dark Garden Districtsidewalk. When it happened the second time I was more prepared, my mind leaping to track the source. Unbelievably it seemed to come from all around, the ground upon which I walked, the air I breathed, but no single origin. Moaning, I sank into a puddle, hugging my shoulders. "Laura?" Lestat hissed, kneeling beside me. "Mon Dieu. Again?" I nodded, tears suddenly running down my face. "I'd swear..." He cut me off with an impatient gesture. "Impossible." "I know it's impossible!" I began shivering. "Just get me home. Please." He helped me to my feet and we immediately took to the air, covering the short distance to our house in mere seconds. It stood dark and cold, once a home, now simply a dwelling to shelter us from the sun. After the incident with Louis' belongings, I didn't dare suggest moving out, though the thought had crossed my mind more than once. We landed in the courtyard, our little fountain bubbling cheerfully in the rain as though to welcome us back. I frowned again. What an odd thought! In times past I loved the fountain, made up of sweet faced cherubs pouring water from shells into a glittering basin. Louis and I had spent many pleasant evenings sitting next to it, talking or simply being together. I hadn't even noticed it since his death. "Lestat..." He turned to me impatiently. "Nothing." When I hesitated by the fountain, he dismissed me and walked into the house, even the door swinging shut behind him sounding testy. I had no idea what to make of my odd mood. It was as though... A crash within the house broke my train of thought. Immediately I dashed in. "Lestat?" A single light shone in the living room and I skidded to a stop just within the door. "What..." What I saw caused my mind to simply shut down. No thought, no emotion stirred within me. For all practical intents, I died. Lestat stood in the middle of the room, every muscle rigid, a broken bowl lying shattered at his feet, water soaking into the carpet, orchids strewn across the floor. He didn't move, he didn't speak. Like me, he didn't even breathe. For across the room, cloaked in shadow like a wisp of smoke, stood Louis. He regarded us calmly, but with deep underlying emotions. The little twitch by his right eye, the involuntary clenching of his jaw, the spasm in his right hand, all betrayed his feelings. For an eternal moment the three of us remained locked in our positions, like a painting hanging on a wall. Then, so slowly that at first I thought I imagined it, Lestat raised his right hand, reaching toward the specter in our living room. Louis inclined his head slightly, as though testing our reactions. At once Lestat froze, fearful of frightening the ghost away. For surely that's what it was... If indeed a ghost, the healthiest one I had ever seen. Unlike Louis' classically pale features, this creature boasted lightly browned skin, perfect skin tone in fact. He simply glowed youth and health, lacking completely the vampiric gleam in his eye, the skeletal frame, the preternatural sheen to skin, hair and nails. The "ghost" grew weary of the game suddenly, for he crossed the room in three strides to clasp Lestat's outstretched hand. It was as though he had been burned; Lestat flinched violently as Louis' long fingers twined with his. His shoulders shook as he gasped, drawing a long trembling breath. "Can... can you speak?" he asked, voice tight and not at all like his normal, deep tenor. "Yes." Louis replied. "I didn't want you to faint." Oh, that voice!! His own dear voice, and yet altered - so slightly mortal ears may not have detected it. The amplified resonance was gone, to be replaced by a certain power, a richness of tone lacking before. I felt my knees going out from under me and forced myself to move, only enough to lurch to the nearest chair, landing in an ungraceful heap. At once he focused on me. "Laura, are you alright?" Amazingly, I began to laugh, the first time I had laughed since Louis' death. In fact, the entire situationwas so perfectly absurd that my laughter took on a hysterical edge. "Am I alright?" I gasped, holding my sides. "Fine! Perfect! And you, Mssr. le Fantome? How are you?" He smiled softly, breaking my heart all over again. "Come find out." he beckoned with his free hand. Hysterical or no, nothing would have stopped me from going to his side. And at once we three were tangled in each other's arms. Oh, real. The feel of him, the gentle sound of his heart beating, even the smell of him, wonderfully, vitally real. Our tears mingled, soaking into Louis' shirt, and when he raised his head I gasped, receiving another shock. "Louis, your tears!" Lestat looked up, his expression incredulous. He gently traced the track of Louis tears down his aristocratic face, his fingertips brushing the clear moisture away. "So warm... so soft..." he murmured, his fingers lingering against the his smooth cheek. "How?" he whispered. "Mon cher... how has this happened?" Louis faint smile held a trace of, not bitterness exactly, but _knowledge_. It was a knowing look, an expression one earned, rather than wore. "I am the master of Hell, Lestat." he said quietly, his voice still sending us into fresh bouts of disbelief. "I am vampire no more." "Mortal then?" "No, not that either. Come." He gestured to the sofa before the fire. "Sit down." Neither of us wanted to let him go, even enough to move to the sofa, a situation which rapidly became ridiculous. Tugging at us gently, Louis pried himself away just enough to lead us to sit down. I immediately curled around him, my frantic mind praying I'd never wake from this strange but welcomed dream. Lestat was a bit more practical. He hovered close, his arm around Louis' shoulder, knee drawn up in a nearly defensive position, as though to ward off reality. Then we both waited with an expectant hush. Louis seemed to consider for a small eternity, choosing his words with exaggerated care, even for him. "You were deceived, Lestat, from the beginning, regarding the position." "When they offered me the position of Satan, you mean?" "Yes. Of course." "I had come to that conclusion." Just a glimmer, but definitely there, of Lestat's devilish humor. "I was the target from the start." He made a small, helpless gesture. "As you no doubt surmised, they felt it necessary to go through you..." "Otherwise I would have died to protect you..." "... and I would have turned it down regardless. The position must be taken voluntarily." "Voluntarily?" I raised my eyebrows, remembering the last time I had seen Louis - when he had been trapped into taking the position of Satan in order to save Lestat's soul. "They were willing to accept a technicality in this case." "They lied to me." Lestat ground out. Louis looked at him patiently. "What did you expect? Honestly, Lestat, you are so naive at times." "Who is this "they" you keep referring to?" I asked, puzzled. "God and Satan?" "Yes, them, but working in tandem with the other Incarnations." "Incarnations?" "The Incarnations of Immortality." Disentangling himself once more, he stood to slowly pace before the fire. "The mortal realm, as we know it, is actually governed by seven beings, who's charge it is to administer the events shaping mortal destiny. These offices are held by mortals, who, during their time as office holders, are rendered temporarily Immortal." The concept was unbelievable, even for ones who had seen as much as we had. "What offices?" Lestat finally demanded. "Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil and Good." He smiled slightly. "The former incarnation of Evil, known as Satan, chose to retire. He had served since the time of the Great Inquisition. His replacement had to be chosen with great care, in order to maintain the balance of power within the mortal realm." "And so they chose... you?" Lestat's voice rose in disbelief. "Had groomed me for the position almost from birth, as it happens." He seemed almost eager. "Lestat, you'll not believe this, but it was Fate herself who guided you to take me that night, to give me the Dark Gift." "Fate did it. Not me?" "We all have free will, naturally. But when a much larger picture is at stake, the Incarnations will sometimes take a hand, and influence the course of events." "And so when I was offered the position of Satan..." "It was carefully planned from the beginning. They knew you could not resist the offer, just as they knew I would follow you to the cave. And when they seemed to betray you yet again, they knew I would come forward." "So what happened?" My voice was sharper than I intended, reflecting the open wound of Louis' "death". Louis looked at me thoughtfully. "I was reborn." he smiled. "Again. Into yet another new life." "And this new form?" Lestat asked. "Simply an aspect of new power." There was that look again, full of knowledge and secrets and... "You're happy." My tone held accusation I had no strength to conceal. "Yes." he said simply, and smiled in such a way as to break my heart once again. "More content now than ever before." "How?" "Satan is just an office, as are the rest of the Incarnations. My soul had to be essentially burdened with evil in order to take the office, as two hundred years of murder will certainly do. But an office holder cannot change the balance of good and evil in his own soul until such time as the office is relinquished." "I don't get it." I blinked, trying to follow all the new concepts. "My soul is evil now, burdened with the murders I have committed for two hundred years. However, I've been given a second chance - an opportunity for redemption. Should I administer the office of Evil well, I will actually gain good for my soul." His smile was angelic. "I shall be redeemed." "Wait a second." Lestat came off the sofa, waving his hands to stem the flow. "You're telling me that by being the best devil you can be, you'll go to heaven when it's all over?" "Essentially, yes." I stood as well, frowning uncertainly. "So what do you have to do, exactly? Within this office, I mean." He smiled so unexpectedly that for a moment I forgot my question, simply drinking in the sight of him. "There are duties which call for my personal attention. But for the most part my day is spent administrating." "Administrating...?" Lestat prompted. "Hell, of course. It's a large realm, and needs constant supervision and maintenance." "Oh, of course." Lestat shrugged, an obvious "Gee, why didn't I think of that" gesture. "I have capable lieutenants." Louis continued, his smile positively unnerving in it's complete happiness. No trace of his old sorrow or melancholy could be detected. "I inherited them with the post. But they have served for centuries, and grow weary as their former master did." Lestat cocked his head, suddenly, folding his arms across his chest. For a long moment he said nothing, simply staring at Louis. Then he slowly turned and looked at me, his expression at once conveying a wealth of meaning. "Louis... have you come here to offer me a... job?" "Both of you, in fact." "Both of us." Lestat rapped out. "Yes." "As your lieutenants." "Yes." "In Hell." "Yes." "In real life, fire and brimstone, Hell." "Correct. Lestat, will you come?" The concept took much getting used to. Fortunately Louis gave us that time. "What would happen to me? To us?" Lestat finally asked. Louis understood at once. "Your forms will be protected, enhanced, while in my service. And when you retire, they return to normal." "And the soul?" "That depends on how you conduct yourself within the office." Louis said quietly. "No debts come due until physical death." The opportunity was simply staggering - overwhelming. There was never any question... only the process of gathering nerve. But as I looked at Louis, the serenity in his newfound life shining in his emerald eyes, how else could I have answered? "I will come, Louis." I said softly. "If Lestat comes." Lestat looked at us, uncertain still. "To serve in Hell?" I smiled then, recalling Milton's famous line. "To rule in Hell... to serve in *Heaven*." I corrected gently. I moved back into Louis' arms, feeling an enormous weight lift from me as they tightened around me gladly. "The three of us together again... what else would you call it?" "A miracle." Lestat confirmed at once. "Heavenly." "You'll come then?" Louis extended his hand. Lestat hesitated only a moment more. "I'll come." He grasped Louis' outstretched hand, and once again we were gathered into an enormous, all encompassing hug. Then, much to our surprise, we began to sink into the floor. "Where are we going?" Lestat demanded, looking about in alarm. "Purgatory. It's where I live now. Just wait until you see the castle, Lestat." Louis actually laughed. "There are flames outside in the moat fashioned into the most... well, you simply have to see them." I close the chapter of our chronicles for now - I am too busy to keep them current in any case. Both Louis and Lestat, as the Twin Princes of Hell, have shown quite a flair for the work. I myself am a capable administrator, basking in the simple joy of being with them. What does the future hold for us? I have long since given up trying to predict. Whatever it is, we will face it together. And life, or death, is blessedly good.
************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
